Ciao

Reviews

• Stephen W.

  star star star star star_border 4 June 2026

  Starting a nice restaurant in this area of Westtown is a challenge because it is a dry town. BYOBs are great because you can bring your own wine, potentially saving money. But I prefer that restaurants both have a liquor license and also allow you to bring wine, even if there is a modest corking fee. This gives you the convenience of choice, and if the bar is well stocked and run, a cocktail choice as well.
  
  But the main problem with dry towns is that it makes the financial formula difficult for the restaurant owner, since the markup on drinks is far higher than on food. It's easier to attract customers with a license, and few people remember to tip their wait staff higher, to compensate for the loss of drinks charges.
  
  This means that the only way to overcome these financial obstacles is with great food that generate good customer traffic. Ciao, located in a corner near a Wallgreens pharmacy, is located in a spot that has had at least two previous Italian restaurants or pizzerias that could not make the finances work. Hopefully, the third time will be the charm.
  Ciao is not overly charming, can be a little noisy, but has real tablecloths and an attentive (if slightly inexperienced) staff. More importantly, it has owner/chef Sandro and his menu. Others have written about Sandro's gnocchi, describing them as 'light as a feather', "pillows", and "better than my Italian mother's". All I can say is that they are a revelation of pasta creation. Too often, gnocchi is a boring lump of pasta and flavoring, disguised by a heavy sauce. Generally, they came out of a zip bag minutes after you placed your order. Not at Ciao.
  
  The special two-cheese version we tried on our visit were huge, and almost unbelievably light, sitting in a fresh red sauce that complimented the dish rather than overpowering it.
  
  We are big believers in ordering the specials, if they sound good, wherever we go. When you do that, you not only get a dish that is not always available, but I find that the ingredients are usually fresher, and the chef tries harder to prove his creativity.
  
  This evening was no exception. We started with an arugula salad topped with mango and sliced strawberries in a light oil dressing. An excellent start. (We can never order arugula without thinking of a scene from Steve Martin's My Blue Heaven - one of his best, and least appreciated films).
  
  We shared the gnocchi, knowing that most would find its way home with us. For the mains, I had the braciole special - a terrifically seasoned roll of tender beef in a light sauce, over a grilled homemade polenta. My wife Elaine had a white fish in a lemon caper sauce. The filet was something between flounder and grouper and was excellent. I cannot recall it's name, it was described as a Pacific fish. Both dishes had zucchini and perfect broiled potato. We could not look at the dessert menu, having oversampled throughout the evening.
  
  Throughout our meal, chef Sandro came and greeted the diners, knowing several of them by name. He described (and sold us on) the specials. He also thanked us for the glass of Amarone that we sent back to encourage his efforts.
  
  If anyone deserves to overcome the financial obstacles this part of the county foolishly sets up, it is Ciao. We cannot wait to revisit and try other menu options

• Stacy C.

  star star star star_border star_border 30 May 2026

  Took 45 minutes just to get our appetizer. Although the food was good the service is lousy. Sat for 15 minutes and had to ask if we had a waiters. Then the waiter never asked us if we wanted anything to drink.  Also it's extremely noisy, couldn't hear my husband who was across from me over the noise.  In the future I'll only do
  
  OK so we tried it a second time and thought maybe it was the holiday that made the service and food poor. But I was wrong we went again on a Saturday -no one in the restaurant and it took 25 minutes to get an appetizer my chicken Parm was tough and my husband's veal was cold. The prices are astronomical for what you get in the spaghetti taste like it came out of a cardboard box. I won't give it a third try

• Chad M.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 22 May 2026

  My family went for a special dinner on Mother's Day and we made a reservation.   We were so hoping the food would be good because we live close and would love a quality Italian place next to us.
  
  Unfortunately our experience was similar to other negative reviews we read. We waited 20 mins for someone to take our order and then an hour for our food to arrive. We were about to leave when the food showed up. The food was decent but not worth the price and definitely not the wait.  There were other tables going through the exact same thing with the poor wait staff left to deal with upset customers.
  
  We had some quality conversation with the family but by the end my wife was ready to lose it.  Go at your own risk.

• Tom E.

  star star star star star 21 May 2026

  Ciao Restaurant is tucked away in the corner of a strip mall with a Walgreens across the street from the strip mall with Planet Fitness/Amish Market, right where Routes 926 and 202 meets.
  
  It's not easy to see from the street but you can't miss the sign stretching across the front pillars when you pull in. There are plenty of free parking spaces - something you won't find in nearby West Chester or Media.
  
  Another thing you won't find is Italian food equal to the finest you find in South Philly or New York City. You WILL find food that equals the best in southern Italian cuisine at Ciao.  I know - it blew us away.
  
  We arrived early - as in 4PM early - so we knew there was a good chance we would be the only customers at that hour. We were. It is a BYOB so we brought a nice bottle - no cork fee. Already we are pleasently surprised.
  
  The restaurant is nice, sparsely decorated.  A mix of Italian music plays quietly in the background.
  
  The chef greeted us and shared that night's specials.
  
  We ordered the pasta e. fagioli soup and the ercole calamari as appetizers. For our main dishes, we both went with pastas since all their pasta is made in house - my lady getting the pappardelle pasta with shrimp, porcini mushrooms, roasted red peppers in a mushroom sauce and I went with the shrimp Fra Diavolo with jumbo lump crabmeat over linguine.
  
  The soup was spectacular. Classic homemade stock, cannelloni beans and UNBELIEVEABLY DELICIOUS homemade al dente noodles to die for.
  
  The fried calamari are a family recipe which includes shrimp and mussels in a spicy marinara.
  
  My lady's pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauce silky with the mushroom taste perfect, not overpowering. My Fra diavolo was spectacular - nice size shrimp, pasta just right in a delicious red sauce.
  
  For dessert we had a complimentary tiramisu - soaked in expresso, decadent whipped cream - a must our next trip.
  
  I must warn you - this food is not cheap - but good ain't cheap and cheap Italian food ain't good. Our main courses were $23-25 BUT there is so much food you'll get two full meals out of it. That was dinner last night and it was BETTER the second time around.
  
  This is the first time in years that I obsessed about my meal the following day - as did my lady. We will be back - soon and often.

• E A.

  star star star star star 18 May 2026

  Had dinner at Ciao Restaurant last night with friends.  This is an excellent restaurant.  BYOB!  The food is by far the best Italian food in Chester County!   My compliments to Chef Sardo.