Why I Love Connaught – UNA and CIBO Pizzerias

July 22, 2013
By Cody Battershill

Why I Love Connaught Calgary – UNA and CIBO Pizzerias

When you live in the Calgary beltline and find yourself with a huge craving for pizza, how do you choose between two of the best pizzerias in town?

UNA and Cibo both have their Napolitano handcrafted, wood burned pizza crusts down to a fine art. Though choosing between the two might be difficult, take comfort knowing that you will never be disappointed with either of these competing Connaught pizzerias.

UNA Pizza & Wine

UNA is an amazing downtown Calgary overnight success story. The two young owners Jamie and Kelly couldn’t have imagined that their restaurant would sky rocket to become THE hottest spot in Calgary.

A true neighborhood restaurant serving Mediterranean influenced cuisines with an emphasis on thin-crust, fresh topped pizzas & wine, UNA is intimate, artsy and certainly a place to see and be seen.

Take note of the seasonally changing local artwork that covers UNA’s walls, they get very creative in there.

The Food…

Their daily pinxto changes, but is always $2.5 per piece, spiked with a skewer or toothpick and is generally regarded in Spanish countries as a cornerstone of local culture and society, a way in which to socially start the meal with just a little bite of heaven each.

The prosciutto wrapped, walnut stuffed, balsamic drizzled dates are a must try, as are the Sambuca flame broiled prawns. The menu is relatively small with only three salads, one pasta, one fish, one steak, and less than ten pizza options, but let me assure you that every single item is tried, tested and true.

A favorite of mine is the 4-maggi, a blend of four incredible cheeses baked onto a perfect crust with a honey truffle oil drizzled on top. I tend to add fresh arugula and tomatoes to this succulent pizza just to cut the richness with a bit of freshness.

The staff is so friendly and the food is so good that this spot, if it’s not already, will soon become equally socially important to you as you’re neighborhood pub. Good thing you chose to live in Connaught. Find out more at UNA Pizza Calgary Restaurant Review.

CIBO

At Cibo, traditional dining rules do not apply. The food is made to share, made fresh, and is served when it’s ready. Cibo is an affordable large scale sister restaurant of the fine dining restaurant Bonterra (also in the Calgary beltline).

Worthy of note, Cibo’s vast interior is decorated with building materials that were repurposed from various heritage buildings throughout Calgary and Fort Macleod. Ask the staff about each unique piece; their master carpenter really hit the nail on the head with his vision (pun intended).

Cibo seats small tables, large tables, has private dining rooms, and boasts an absolutely stunning patio adorned with flowers arrangements, potted spices, and super cool industrial / strung lights. They really cater to a variety of clientele and have nightly specials Sunday through Wednesday.

The Food

Sunday’s feature is $25 Rotisserie Roast, Monday you can get $0.50 Meatballs & $12 pizza and spaghetti, Tuesday offers any pasta for $12, and Wednesday is $5 Wine night. Don’t forget about Cibo’s Happy Hour either!

Be sure to try some of the Scodellina to start. They are small in size, but mighty in flavor, the ricotta with apricot chutney and spiced sunflower seeds is absolutely fabulous, so are the golden beets with hazelnuts and goat's cheese.

Don’t leave without trying the Arancini (saffron rice, tomato, basil, fresh mozzarella), the Caprese salad and the Prosciutto pizza with radicchio, caramelized onion, fig, arugula, and grana padano; a perfect combination of tart, sweet, and savory.

Cibo is great spot for lunching, snacking, diner, or drinks. On the famous Red Mile and close to all Connaught condos, Cibo is worth stopping into on your next stroll through the Beltline. Find out more at our CIBO Calgary Restaurant Review.