Buon Cibo brings a specialty Italian market experience

When Tom Tarantino opened Buon Cibo Italian Specialties in Scripps Ranch, he was not trying to create another restaurant. He wanted to build a niche neighborhood destination – a specialty Italian market and eatery where locals could stop in for lunch or dinner, discover a premium bottle of wine, pick up an organic pantry item or simply enjoy something handmade with care.

Tarantino’s roots trace back to Sicily. Both his grandfathers, and father Mario, were fishermen, and the kitchen belonged to the men of the family. That history now shapes Buon Cibo inside the Livia community on Spring Canyon Road.

After creating and co-founding RoVino, an award-winning Italian restaurant during his years in Little Italy, Tarantino saw an opportunity to create his first solo venture in a different format. Buon Cibo brings together an Italian deli, specialty market, wine boutique and eatery under one roof, with a focus on traditional handcrafted food, artisanal products and a warm neighborhood atmosphere.

The menu is built for everyday use. Guests can order Italian sandwiches, or try Roman-style pinsa. The market shelves feature specialty Italian groceries, organic pantry staples and premium imported goods, while the refrigerated case offers ready-to-heat individual meals and family-style trays that guests can finish at home.

Everything Buon Cibo prepares in-house is built with five ingredients or fewer – real, organic food with nothing artificial.

For Scripps Ranch families and professionals, that convenience is intentional. Tarantino knows how busy weeknights can get, and he wanted families to have a fresh, handcrafted alternative to fast food – meals they can pick up ready to eat or take home and finish themselves.

The wine boutique is another major part of the concept. The wine list was carefully crafted with more than 100 bottles of wine. The standard was direct: no matter which bottle a guest chose, it had to deliver a spectacular tasting experience. The selection
spans Italy, California, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile and Oregon, with bottles chosen for quality, story and value.

Still, Tarantino says the goal is not only to sell food and wine. It is to build a local gathering place where handcrafted food, specialty products and neighborhood hospitality come together.

“We want Scripps Ranch to feel like this is theirs,” he said. “A place to grab lunch, bring a friend, discover something new, or take home dinner when life gets busy.”

Buon Cibo Italian Specialties is located at 10380 Spring Canyon Road, inside the Livia community. To learn more, visit buoncibosd.com or follow @buoncibosd on Instagram.