Moon Child Eats Goes to Ciro Food & Drink in Delaware

Ciro Food & Drink is located in Wilmington, Delaware on the riverfront. I was looking for a place for my foodie partners in crime (my mom and sister) and myself to go for happy hour. As usual I wanted to try out some place new. I searched on Google for happy hour spots and also OpenTable. If you aren’t familiar with OpenTable it is a site/app to book reservations at many restaurants. . My favorite part about it is that I don’t have to make the phone call! My sister looked up Ciro Food & Drink on Facebook to see if she could find any food pics. While she was looking she saw they do an awesome happy hour deal. The deal includes 4 glasses of wine and 4 plates for $39; what a deal! I had looked at the menu and decided it sounded right up our alley!

About Ciro Food & Drink

Ciro Food & Drink is a new tapas and wine bar in Wilmington, Delaware. The restaurant, which opened about February 2019, shares a space with Veritas Wine and Craft Beer owned by Venu Gaddamidi. Venu had been only serving Indian inspired lunches. Until he decided to collaborate with Michael DiBianca and open Ciro Food & Drink. Michael DiBianca is the former chef of Moro and a former James Beard Nominee. Just these two things pretty much means you should be looking forward to an exceptional meal.

Let’s Go Inside and Get Seated

Initially, when I first walked in to Ciro Food & Drink I was a little confused on which side to go on, but then saw the seating and server to the right. The server greeted us immediately and sat us. The restaurant is small and intimate; seating about thirty people at once. I had contacted the restaurant earlier in the day to find out if a few mocktails (fancy non-alcoholic drinks) could be substituted for a couple glasses of the wine due to the fact that everyone was not drinking. I shortly realized that I was in contact with the owner, Venu, and he informed me that it wouldn’t be a problem. Without saying much the server knew we were the group requesting the mocktails! He returned with a couple fancy drinks and a glass of wine. I was intrigued by the Ernest Hemmingway quote along the wall.

The First Two Plates

The first plate we ordered was Escargot and the second being the Crispy Brie. We are big escargot fans and this one did not disappoint! The escargot was served in a delicious blend of butter, white wine, roasted garlic, herbs and a crostini on the side. The crostini is a necessary accompaniment to this dish to help sop up all those flavors at the bottom. Next, we enjoyed the Crispy Brie. The brie was wrapped in a spring roll pastry wrap, crisped and served on arugula. Marcona almonds and a pear jam accompanied the brie. The jam kinda reminded me of applesauce. I could have did without it and would have loved a nice homemade chunky jam but it didn’t take away from the meal.

The Last Two Plates

Next, we ordered the Tuna Tartare and a 3 Cheese Board. We love sushi so the Tuna Tartare was an obvious choice. It came out very well plated. The layers of mashed avocado on the bottom and layer of tuna on top were a beauty. Micro Greens and a mixture of seeds and a powder topped the Tuna Tartare. I could not figure out what the sprinkle was but it added a little bit of a texture contrast that was appreciated. The lemon aioli added a nice zing of flavor contrast to the course.

The Cheese Board

Lastly, the three cheeses we chose for our cheese board were Drunken Goat, Manchego and Truffle Tremor. Let me tell you that I have learned to love the stink of truffle! I once could not stand the smell of truffle but in my old age have learned to really appreciate the smell and flavor. The cheeses paired with pear jam, pecans, sliced apples drizzled with honey, dates and fresh figs. All the cheeses were very tasty! It definitely is not fig season. The figs would have been a great addition if they were ripe but unfortunately maybe one was sweet and pleasing to the palate. Overall, the cheese board was enjoyed by all.

General Consensus

Ciro Food & Drink in Delaware is most definitely a restaurant worth making a reservation at when you get a chance. Our server was very attentive and top notch. The atmosphere was perfect for having casual conversation with friends. The menu has a variety of options to either keep you in your comfort zone or allow you to try something new. Both of which are sure to amaze your taste buds.

Check out all the foodie pics here