I first tried Cibus back in August of 2025 for a quick drink and appetizers, so when my friends…read moreasked where we should go for dinner, I didn't hesitate to suggest it. I may add that I live 90 minutes from here and only come to this town 1-3 times a year. So, my friends usually take my suggestions and a group of eight of us showed up on a Saturday night with no reservation, and somehow the universe blessed us with a table. The place was packed, even the bar had people standing around it; so we knew we were in for a good night.
One thing I loved about Cibus that night, is the crowd. It's a great mix of Hispanic and non‑Hispanic diners, which tells you the food speaks to everyone. The décor is warm and inviting, and the dimmed evening lighting gives it that cozy, "we're about to eat well" vibe. Parking was easy too. I have to admit I thought it may be harder to find parking but we found a spot right behind the restaurant, though street parking is also an option, but was packed.
Our server, David, deserves his own shout‑out. Super patient, friendly, and ready with answers for every question we threw at him. He checked on us often without hovering, and everyone at the table agreed he did an excellent job.
Now, the food...my favorite part. If you've read my reviews before, you know I eat everything but have a soft spot for Asian cuisine. And even though I'm Hispanic, I rarely go out for Hispanic food because I cook it well at home and most places don't impress me. Cibus, however, did not disappoint. Not one dish missed the mark, and the whole table agreed. We even ordered extra food to take home.
We started with the Garlic Shrimp with Mofongo. The creamy orange sauce caught me off guard because it's not the usual style, but it worked beautifully. The flavors were balanced, the mofongo wasn't dry (thank you!), and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. We liked it so much we ordered multiple plates of this one; plus two Cuban sandwiches to go. The Cuban was tasty, though it could use a little more meat and sauce. The Ropa Vieja was another hit. Plenty of meat, plenty of sauce, and the black beans were flavorful. A sprinkle of fresh cilantro on top would have made it perfect, but that's just me being picky with my extra flavors and aroma. We also had the ceviche, the trio of little mofongos, and the Chips and Guacamole -- and yes, they make their tortilla and plantain chips in‑house. Not a single crumb survived.
I tried the Tostones Sliders with pork, and I wouldn't change a thing. They were loaded with meat, had the right amount of veggies and sauce, and were just delicious. The only dish that didn't wow me was the Maduro with cheese. I love maduros, but the melted mozzarella felt a little plain. There's so much potential here, instead of Mozart maybe try some queso Mexicano, a small side of meat sauce, chimichurri sauce, or even a spicy drizzle could take it to the next level.
Speaking of spice, I asked for hot sauce and was surprised to get a watered‑down Frank's RedHot. For a Latin fusion restaurant, something like Cholula, El Yucateco, or Tapatío would fit the Latin fusion theme so much better and elevate the dishes.
But overall, Cibus is doing so many things right -- great service, great food, great atmosphere. I'm already planning my next visit and bringing new people with me at end of May.
