Cibo is a name most foodies across Bedford Borough will already be aware of, and while the closure of the Newnham Street eatery was a shock, it’s now made way for the next generation of the Bosco family to make their mark on Bedford’s culinary history.
Now located on Riverside Square, Cibo is serving delicious New York Deli subs, the kind that anyone who’s been to the Big Apple will have enthused about to their family and friends upon returning home.
Serving hot and cold subs, full to the brim of Italian meats, salads and homemade sauces, it’s hard to decide which from the varied selection to choose. Thankfully, Daniele, who has taken over the reins, has kept the menu purposefully limited.
The most popular sub they tell me is the Chicken Parm (breadcrumbed chicken cutlet, marinara sauce, pistachio pesto, nduja spread, mozzarella, grana padano), so I ordered one of those to find out why, and a Hail Caeser (Italian turkey, ranch dressing, smoked streaky bacon, garlic croutons, lettuce, tomatoes) to give me a chance to sample a hot and cold sub.
Others, inspired by Italian pop culture include the Fat Toni (Pistachio mortadella, spicy Calabrian salami, salami Napoli, olives, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes) and My Cousin Vinny (Spicy Calabrian salami, Italian nduja, Cibo pistachio pesto, roasted peppers, provolone cheese).
Chatting to 21-year-old Daniele, he tells me that while his mum and dad, who are working and supporting the new business, were happy to call it a day with the former Cibi, he had other ideas.
“I didn’t want to just throw the Cibo name away. So we’ve had a rebrand, changed the concept and simplified things. It’s now got a younger and more refreshed kind of feel to it and we’re just focused on what we’re best at – sandwiches,” he said.
Standing there at the counter, it does feel like Daniele knows that while the place has a good vibe, it’s the subs that will do the talking,
“You’re gonna eat a lot with these subs,” Daniele says with a smile, “We fill them to the brim with genuine Italian foods but add our own twist. We have a special each month too so we can try new things.”
So what of the subs? Do they live up to the hype? Now ready and perfectly wrapped to be taken away, I headed home and unwrapped them.
The first thing with the Chicken Parm, being a hot sub, is the smell of the Italian marinara sauce that hits you. I must say my mouth began to water almost instantly.
Taking a bite took it to another level.
The soft Italian sub (baked in-house) gave way to rich tomato and moist chicken wrapped in crispy breadcrumbs. It’s a real treat, and it’s easy to see why it’s their most popular offering.
Meanwhile, the Hail Caeser, a cold sub based on the famous caser salad, was just as enticing. The creamy sauce perfectly pairs with the crisp lettuce, soft sliced tomato and sliced Italian turkey.
Violet who was tasting the subs with me exclaimed it was “the best sandwich I’ve ever bitten into”. High praise from a fussy 11-year-old indeed.
The servings themselves are huge and many may have trouble finishing just one of them in one go. But sharing them with the family made me quite popular with smiles all around.
And that’s another great thing about Cibo and emphasises the people behind the name, it’s a family affair both behind and in front of the counter. Whether your sub is to get you through a busy day at work or college, something to share with a friend, or a treat for your family (smaller subs are available for kids) they fill any hungry hole perfectly.
Cibo Italian Subs can be found at 2C Riverside Square, Bedford MK40 1AR
Tuesday – Wednesday: 10am – 3pm, Thursday – Saturday: 10am – 9pm, Sunday: 10am – 3:00pm
Order in-store or online at ciboitaliansubs.com.
