Welcome to Ciccia Osteria, an exciting new concept in authentic Italian cuisine located in the vibrant neighbourhood of Barrio Logan.
Ciccia is a term of endearment, similar to “sweetie”, that parents in Italy often call their children, and this love-child of renowned Chefs Francesca Penoncelli and Mario Casineri was born from the culinary artists’ experiences cooking in kitchens all around the world. In Italy, an Osteria is a restaurant serving simple food and wine, with a menu of traditional recipes based on the daily availability of ingredients. Customers traditionally order and pay at the counter, and then sit at the table of their choice—there are no reserved tables. The osteria is usually run by l’oste or host, who sees to the satisfaction of the guests.
At Ciccia Osteria, we have embraced this concept to bring our customers delicious, affordable cuisine in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. From our hand-crafted pasta to our perfect-ending desserts, our dishes have at their heart the time-honoured recipes we learned in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ kitchens in our native Italy, interpreted with a modern touch. Our wines are carefully curated to enhance the enjoyment of every dish. We invite you to experience for yourself the simple pleasure of authentic Italian cuisine at Ciccia Osteria.
Set in a converted home in the heart of Barrio Logan, this adorable osteria is a true family operation—Francesca Penoncelli, who hails from Turin, leads the kitchen with her husband Mario, a Milan native, and both share duties serving tables. The quaint former living room now hosts a deli counter (where your bill will be settled) but tables in the welcoming, tree-lined courtyard are most coveted.
Despite their limited space, the kitchen team turns out an impressive menu, with more than a dozen handmade pastas (three of them gluten-free). As a freebie, you’ll get to sample the feather-light focaccia with a spicy, savory mascarpone-ricotta dip, but the decadently cheesy mushroom flan and delicate olive-flecked tuna tartare are well worth their modest prices.
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