As reported by Koucar managing director Joe Caradonna in what’s the “potentially biggest private development currently,” Cibo is slated to open in Cambria Detroit. According to Caradonna — also a co-owner of Cibo — the Mediterranean restaurant will be out of construction in September and will be open for dining in October 2023.
The new restaurant will be located at 600 West Lafayette Boulevard, part of a much larger development project run by Caradonna, and other unnamed partners. Cibo will be housed in the same building as Detroit Taco Bodega and Cambria a 154-room hotel.
The head chef James Sumpter shared with What Now Detroit that the environment of the joint is set to be “a Mediterranean paradise in the middle of Detroit.” Sumpter revealed that the kitchen will be open-concept, “the diners could see the food start to finish.” The main dining area will greet patrons with two large 10-foot palm trees and vaulted ceilings with gold finishes.
The entrance of Cibo will be lined with travertine flooring and the windows will be an accordion style to open up during nice weather. Along with the indoor dining space, there will also be a 6000-square-foot rooftop allowing larger parties to host special events, and the other half utilized for a lounge vibe with live music.
The Mediterranean-focused restaurant will have a menu with a twist. The food will be a fusion of Mediterranean fare with Middle Eastern, Greek, and Italian cuisines. The Middle Eastern fair will be focused on Lebanese, Israeli, and Palestinian cuisines.
Sumpter expressed that there will be a “refined” breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. The restaurant will have mainly gluten-friendly options, as the head chef stated, “I don’t use starches and flours to thicken my sauces or add filler to the food.”
As well as an array of gluten-friendly options, the restaurant will also feature vegan and vegetarian-focused dishes on the menu, for those who have alternate dietary choices. “Things like hummus will include sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds to avoid using any allergens.” The restaurant is set to have a nut and legume-allergen-free kitchen.
Cibo will have an extensive bread program, including lafaa, flatbreads, focaccia, and ciabatta. It doesn’t stop at an extensive bread and food menu, there will be a large cocktail and wine selection with a focus on “keeping things along the Mediterranean vibe.” beverage director, Chris Vanderginst shared with What Now Detroit on Wednesday.
Cibo’s partners emphasized, “This restaurant is not just for Cambria guests, it is open to the public as well. We will be offering room service to guests of the hotel though.”
Nicole Miller, partner in the project, stated, “We want people to walk down the street and feel comfortable walking in.”
Editor’s Note: Updated with comments from partners in the Cibo restaurant project. Updated Chris Vanderginst’s name, as it was misspelled, his title was also updated to beverage director.
