With more than 42 years of international culinary experience, Chef Tuncay is the vision behind La Cibo.
His career has taken him through distinguished kitchens and culinary competitions around the world, with recognition in New York, Moscow and Berlin. Along the way, he worked in restaurants frequented by prominent figures from business, politics, music and the arts, and was involved in hospitality at a level where attention to detail, discipline and service were expected without compromise.
During his years in Turkey, his career placed him among a generation of chefs who would go on to become recognised names in the industry, including colleagues and friends now associated with MasterChef Türkiye.
Ultimately, Chef Tuncay chose a different path. He left behind an established career in Turkey and moved to New Zealand in pursuit of a better future for his children. More than a decade later, that journey continues through La Cibo — a restaurant shaped by a lifetime of experience, sacrifice, ambition and hospitality.
Four decades of experience, international culinary competitions and a career shaped by discipline, craftsmanship and an uncompromising commitment to hospitality.
Fine food is only the beginning.
At La Cibo, the experience is shaped by everything around the table — the quality of the food, the standard of service, the atmosphere, the music, the artwork, the wine and the vision behind it all.
Our kitchen brings together Italian-inspired dishes and decades of culinary experience, while our carefully selected wines, nostalgic surroundings and world-class music from the 1960s and 1970s create an atmosphere designed to be remembered.
From the moment you arrive, our goal is simple: to offer quality, exceptional service and an experience that feels considered from beginning to end.
A quality restaurant is not defined by how large it is, but by the standards it chooses to uphold.
At La Cibo, we believe true quality is found in the food we serve, the standard of our service, the vision behind the restaurant, the atmosphere and ambience we create, and the experience our guests take with them when they leave.
It is also defined by purpose — by having goals, a mission and the determination to continually improve.
Everything you need to know before joining us at La Cibo.
La Cibo isn’t actually from Italy — our story is a little more
international than that.
Our CEO and Master Chef, Chef Tuncay, is Turkish and has more than
42 years of international culinary experience, including over 30 years
cooking Italian cuisine. La Cibo brings that experience to Katikati
with our own approach to Italian-inspired dining.
Because great cooking isn’t determined by nationality — it’s determined by knowledge, experience and passion for the cuisine.
Chef Tuncay has more than 42 years of international culinary experience and has been cooking Italian cuisine for over 30 years. Throughout his career, he has worked in distinguished hospitality environments serving guests from the worlds of politics, business, music and the arts.
For us, experience speaks louder than a passport.
We don’t have a dedicated kids’ menu, however children are very welcome at La Cibo.
If you’re dining with little ones, our team will be happy to help you find something suitable from our menu.
Katikati isn’t simply where La Cibo is located — it’s where Chef Tuncay’s New Zealand story began.
After moving to New Zealand, Chef Tuncay established his first local business here with a small kebab shop. It became the town where his children attended school and grew up, where friendships and relationships were formed, and where the family became part of the local community. Today, another generation of the family is growing up here, with his grandchild born and raised in the area.
After more than a decade in local hospitality, opening La Cibo in Katikati felt like coming full circle. It gave Chef Tuncay the opportunity to bring a lifetime of international experience back to the community where his family’s New Zealand journey began.
Katikati isn’t just where we do business. It’s home.
We’re located in the heart of Katikati, close to the Beach Road intersection and just two doors down from Finer Wines.
If you’re having trouble finding us, simply give us a call and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Absolutely. Groups of up to 12 guests can reserve directly through our online reservation system.
For groups larger than 12, please give us a call so our team can discuss your requirements and arrange the best seating option.
We also welcome celebrations and special events, so if you’re planning something a little different, speak with our team and we’ll see what we can create together.
Of course. Please let us know about any dietary requirements when making your reservation so our kitchen can prepare accordingly.
If you’re unsure whether we can accommodate a particular requirement, give us a call before your visit and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
We opened our doors on 1 January 2026, originally beginning La Cibo as a takeaway concept.
It didn’t stay that way for long. With strong local demand for another sit-down dining option in Katikati, La Cibo evolved into a restaurant — giving us the opportunity to offer not only our food, but also the service, atmosphere, music, art and overall experience we wanted to create.
Bookings aren’t essential, but we highly recommend making one.
A reservation allows our team to know a little more about your evening before you arrive and prepare accordingly. You can use our online reservation system for a quick and easy booking experience, or simply give us a call.
Walk-ins are always welcome when we have availability.
We’re open Tuesday to Sunday.
Lunch: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Dinner: 4:30pm – 9:00pm
Our current opening hours can also be checked before your visit,
particularly around public holidays and special occasions.
Yes. La Cibo gift vouchers are currently available to purchase in person at the restaurant.
For now, we’re keeping vouchers physical. As demand grows, we plan to introduce an online voucher system to make gifting the La Cibo experience even easier.
For us, fine food is only the beginning.
We believe the quality of a restaurant isn’t determined by its size. It’s determined by the quality of its food, the standard of its service, the vision behind it, its atmosphere and ambience, the experience it creates, and the goals and mission that continue to drive it forward.
At La Cibo, food, wine, artwork, world-class music from the 1960s and 1970s, hospitality and atmosphere all come together as part of one experience.
Every detail has a purpose.
Our toilet facilities are located just a 20-second walk from the restaurant. Head through the corridor near the entrance, where you’ll see toilet signs on the wall. Simply follow the signs straight ahead and they’ll lead you to the facilities.