Cibucan offers delicious, affordable local flavor

Tucked away in a cozy area off Sansom Street, the casual pedestrian might mistake Cibucan for a simple, no-frills neighborhood restaurant. This would, however, be incorrect, as Cibucan's menu is alive with flavor and variety, but keeps from rocketing out of the stratosphere of affordable price ranges.

The first priority for all those of age is to try the mojito ($6.50). The drink is both delicious and refreshing. If the mojito isn't your thing, Cibucan's well-stocked bar features many other drink choices, including margaritas, coladas and a good selection of wines and beers. While Cibucan does not employ a bartender, the servers do a fine job of mixing the drinks. In addition, they are well-mannered, informative and very efficient.

The atmosphere is quite comfortable. The restaurant is located in one large room, with the kitchen visible to diners behind a long counter. The room's high ceilings and the contours of its design, however, do not make it feel cramped or crowded. The lighting is quite good, with servers lighting candles on the tables once the sun goes down.

In good weather, diners can enjoy drinks at one of several outside tables, and then move inside for a main course as it gets darker or as they see fit.

Appetizers are fabulous and go for between $6.50 and $12. I had the coctel de mariscos, an eclectic mix of shrimp and crabmeat with tomato juice, avocado, onions and jalepenos. It was chilled and served in a large cocktail glass, and was almost an entree in its own right.

Other appetizers include a wealth of soups and salads, such as seafood chowder or watercress and baby lettuce salad, as well as other selections like pan-seared scallops.

For my main course, I had pechuga de pollo, grilled chicken breast with guava glaze, which was served with mashed potatoes. Not only was it incredibly good, it was also just the right portion and a filling one at that. While I thoroughly enjoyed my choice, I did feel a few pangs of remorse at not trying a few of the other mouth-watering options -- sauteed lobster medallions or the grilled beef tenderloin, to name a few. In general, the menu is an excellent balance of the aforementioned types of dishes and more traditional Latin fare, like the baked stuffed corn tortillas.

Cibucan is accessible via SEPTA, a quick walk up from Suburban Station at 15th and Market streets. However, it is also worth the 20-minute walk if the weather is nice. All in all, Cibucan offers excellent food at affordable prices and an extremely pleasant location.

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