New downtown Danville eatery opens

Crowds of hungry people filled a new downtown Danville eatery Thursday to try out its lunchtime menu of salads, sandwiches and soup.

After two days of a soft opening, 316 Cibo hung out its “We’re open!” sign and welcomed its first flood of customers.

Connie and Jake Eckman were some of the first wave of customers for lunch. The couple owns Jakes’s on Main, which is only open for dinner.

“It’s so nice to walk across the street and get breakfast and lunch,” Connie Eckman said. “No more fast food for us!”

Jake Eckman said the opening of 316 Cibo means there is now food available throughout the day at that end of Main Street.

“Now we have breakfast, lunch and dinner covered in downtown,” Jake Eckman said.

Agostino and Brandi Pugliese purchased the building in October 2010, and have been remodeling it since, while continuing to operate Dell-Anno’s Pizzeria in Brosville Station and Katie’s Pretzels in Piedmont Mall.

Brandi Pugliese was on hand Thursday and said the remodeling project simply took longer than they expected.

“Everything you see was custom made,” Brandi Pugliese said. “We’re only two people and it took a while to get it together.”

“Cibo” is Italian for “food,” and is pronounced “chee-bo.” The number 316 comes from the restaurant’s address: 316 Main St.

Customers were glad the wait was over.

Sue Davis, superintendant of Danville schools, said she was thrilled to be able to walk across the street for lunch, and echoed the comments of other diners who said the food was “great.”

Susan Stilwell, a real estate agent who lives and works downtown, said she, too, was thrilled to see the restaurant open.

“I think I’m eating in Soho in New York City,” Stilwell said. “The décor and ambiance is unprecedented in Danville.”

Anne Moore-Sparks, project manager for Danville’s economic development department, also dined at 316 Cibo on Thursday.

“This is the way you do things,” Moore-Sparks said. “It’s absolutely gorgeous, and has great food and great service. I’m so glad they came here.”

Brandi Pugliese said some of the special features of the menu include an oatmeal bar at breakfast that features an array of toppings; a coffee bar, with options for cappuccino, latte and espresso; and huge salad bar that gives customers dozens of choices in greens and toppings; and large sandwiches.

The salads range in price from $5.79 to $7.99 and the sandwiches range in price from $5.99 to $6.59.

The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday.