Ciao Cafe & Wine Bar

Olde Cary Commons, 201 W. Chatham St., Cary.

469-3021.

Cuisine: Italian.

Rating: ***

Prices: entrees $11 to $16.

Atmosphere: intimate wine bar; patio.

Service: charming and knowledgeable.

Recommended: grouper seviche, cheese platter, chicken liver crostini, panini.

Open: lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday.

Reservations: not accepted.

Other: Visa, MasterCard, American Express; beer and wine; smoke-free; get a sitter.

The N&O's critic dines anonymously; the newspaper pays for all meals. We rank restaurants in five categories:

**** Extraordinary.

*** Excellent.

** Good.

* Fair.

Zero stars: Poor

See Greg Cox's weekly e-picurean column and check out the searchable restaurant database at http://triangle.com/dining/.

This story was originally published January 30, 2004 at 1:55 AM with the headline "Ciao Cafe & Wine Bar."