The new Sicilian-inspired deli, specialty market and wine boutique will officially debut on Saturday, February 21, located inside the Livia residential complex off Spring Canyon Road in Scripps Ranch. For founder Tom Tarantino, the opening represents both a new chapter and a return to deeply personal culinary roots.
Tarantino is no stranger to San Diego’s Italian dining scene. In 2016, he co-founded RoVino Restaurant + Bar in Little Italy alongside Antonia Buono and Vincenzo Bruno. The group later expanded with Rovino The Foodery in East Village in 2019, an Italian deli and market concept that ultimately closed in 2023. With Buon Cibo, Tarantino is branching out independently, building on decades of experience and a family legacy tied to Sicily and San Diego’s historic fishing industry.
Tarantino’s family hails from Porticello, Sicily. Both of his grandfathers settled in San Diego decades ago, working as fishermen during the height of the city’s once-thriving tuna and maritime industries. That heritage heavily informs Buon Cibo’s identity, which translates to “good food” in Italian and operates under the motto “Eat Like An Italian.”
The concept blends old-world Sicilian influence with San Diego’s coastal sensibility. Tarantino has described the project as a “Sicilian kitchen with a San Diego soul,” and the menu reflects that dual identity, offering both everyday staples and celebratory specialties meant to gather around.
At the heart of Buon Cibo is its handcrafted Italian sandwich program, all served on house-crafted bread. Options range from a classic Prosciutto Caprese featuring imported Prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella, basil and melon aioli, to the Spicy Sicilian layered with mortadella, capocollo, soppressata, stracciatella and hot honey. The Tuto Italiano stacks imported meats and provolone, while a hot Sicilian meatball sandwich follows the Tarantino family recipe. Most sandwiches are priced between $14.95 and $18.95.
The deli case will feature salads sold by the pound, including a Pulpo Salad prepared in the style of Tarantino’s grandfather Gaetano, Antipasto Salad, Caprese and Artichoke Salad, Beet and Feta Salad, Pesto Chicken and Tortellini, and a nutrient-dense “12 Super Food Kale Salad” with an orange pomegranate vinaigrette.
A rotating selection of refrigerated ravioli - including Braised Short Rib, Crab and Lemon Pepper, Veal Osso Buco, Lobster, Pear and Gorgonzola, Truffle Fondue, and gluten-free grilled vegetable - will be sold by the pound for take-home preparation.
Roman-style pinsa, known for its lighter, crisp-yet-airy crust, anchors the hot kitchen. Offerings include The Queen Margherita, Tuscan Spinach and Mushroom, Chicken Florentine, The Classic Pepperoni, and a Spicy Sicilian version layered with soppressata, sausage, ricotta and hot honey.
For families and larger gatherings, Buon Cibo offers full and half trays of Italian comfort dishes including Meat Lasagna, Cheese Lasagna, Chicken Pesto Lasagna and Pasta al Forno. Full trays serve approximately 18 guests, while half trays feed six to nine.
One of the concept’s standout features is its Gourmet Italian Meal Plan, seven rotating artisanal dishes for $85, aimed at busy families seeking elevated ready-to-heat meals. Individual ready-made offerings include Chicken Parmigiana, Braised Short Rib with Potatoes and Carrots, Mushroom Risotto, Baked Breaded Cod with Scampi Sauce, Meatballs, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Penne Vodka and Peas, and Eggplant Parmigiana.
The dolci program emphasizes traditional Italian pastries filled fresh and rotated weekly. Expect cannoli piped to order, tiramisu, cassatine wrapped in green marzipan, torta della nonna, sfogliatelle, bombolini, biscotti, Italian cookies, cannoli cake and assorted breakfast pastries. Weekend brunch offerings from 9am to noon will include Lox Toast, Spinach and Cheese Soufflé, Vegetable Quiche, Avocado Toast, and a house-made “Pop Tarté” filled with strawberry jam.
Beyond the kitchen, Buon Cibo functions as a curated Italian wine boutique, with an extensive list spanning Italy, California, France, Spain, Oregon, Argentina and Chile. Italian selections include Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Amarone, Super Tuscans, Etna Rosso and rare DOCG bottlings, alongside Prosecco, Franciacorta and Lambrusco. California labels such as Brewer-Clifton, Tablas Creek, Austin Hope and Mt. Brave sit alongside French Champagne, Sancerre and Bordeaux, Spanish Rioja and Cava, and Oregon Pinot Noir.
Charcuterie boards featuring imported Italian salumi, aged cheeses, Sicilian blood orange jam, taralli and crostini round out the experience. There will also be an onsite market component with oils, canned and jarred items and more.
The location inside Livia reflects Scripps Ranch’s growing residential density and appetite for neighborhood-driven dining. Rather than a full-service sit-down restaurant, Buon Cibo positions itself as a daily gathering place - part deli, part wine shop, part prepared-meals solution, and part celebration space. After more than a year of development, Tarantino’s invitation is simple: come to the table.
Buon Cibo Italian Specialties opens Saturday, February 21, from 8am to 9pm at 10380 Spring Canyon Road in San Diego’s Scripps Ranch neighborhood. For more information, visit buoncibosd.com.
Originally published on February 13, 2026.
