We have been coming to Sanibel this week for over 25 years except for the three post hurricane years. Cielo has always been our favorite island restaurant and we always look forward to dining there which made tonight's dinner all the more disappointing. My wife had the mussels for an appetizer. The broth was rather bland. I had the tuna which was old and the dish had nothing that complimented or contrasted the tuna. For my entree I had the pork chop. I was really looking forward to it. When I have had it in the past it was tender and juicy. This time it was overcooked and bone dry. I do have to say that my brother in law also had it also and his was perfectly prepared. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. It was passed around the table but not finished. The ambience was refined and comfortable as always. We have always experienced superb service here at Cielo. Today's was ordinary. When I commented on my entree to my waitress I could tell the feedback wasn't going any farther and she really did not know how to respond or care. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Cielo! Upscale atmosphere makes you forget you're on the Island. read more

Cielo Restaurant - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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We had visited this restaurant over ten years ago and we're excited to see they reopened after the hurricane. With reservations for a birthday dinner we were a little early but seated right away in a busy dining room. I ordered a Shrimp Livornaise with housemade pasta. The dish was tasty and the shrimp were large but the pasta was minimal and just ok. We split a Cedar salad and saw a $5 charge on our bill for the kitchen splitting the salad, of which we were not informed when ordering. Also our bill included a 3% "COST OF DOING BUSINESS" charge when first presented, not knowing if we were paying by Cash or Credit card. Not the same experience as our first visit. read more

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We had a decent dinner here. They've remodeled since we were here last -- over 10 years ago. Luckily, they didn't suffer much damage at all from Hurricane Ian. But as we left, we both said to each other that something was off and we wouldn't be back. I can't put my finger on it exactly. It didn't help that they charge an extra fee for doing business (!) that was on the bill presented to us --even before they knew whether we were going to pay with cash or a credit card -- and that they had a splitting dish charge of $5 (which I had them remove; as it was never explained, only offered). Or that they never acknowledged my husband's birthday. But they did have our reservation correctly and we were seated immediately. The room is large and airy and open. But it's also without any warmth or personality. The large loud table of young couples seated next to us -- who didn't know what most of the menu items were -- didn't help. Our service was okay, too. But here again something felt a tad off and fake. We started by sharing a caprese salad. We added extra balsamic glaze. For our main dishes, my husband had the shrimp Livornese. Large shrimp served with olives and capers in a tomato sauce. The pasta was skimpy and he doubted that it was housemade. I had their salmon. It came with mashed potatoes and a couple asparagus spears. It was good. For dessert, we had the berry cobbler without the ice cream. It was disappointing. And would have been better served hot -- not barely lukewarm. I'm glad we came back to try them. Now we know. read more

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The restaurant is beautiful and romantic, we came in with our little kids and my mom while on vacation. We had reservations and were seated right away. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. All of the meals were fresh and delicious , the dessert could have been better if the pineapple upside down cake would have been served warm. Overall great place! read more

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I came here with my partner to celebrate our anniversary and for the most part it was a good experience! Food: hit and miss. Not sure if we ordered the wrong things or if we just didn't like it... The calamari, which was highly recommended by the server, was interesting and very wet.... It was smothered in a mango/mayo salsa, which I can see how some people like but it was just very different than the traditional calamari we were expecting. I really enjoyed the salmon dish that I got but the dish my partner ordered had chunks of half cooked/cold fish, which made him a little sick. Service: phenomenal! The staff were super kind and attentive. Ambiance: beach fine dining! White table clothes but people were also dressed casually (some folks wearing tshirts and flip flops) Overall, it was a fine experience. Definitely would've ordered something different if I went back but the staff and space as great! read more

Service was good! Food was mediocre, price was high................................................................. Caesar salad was hilarious read more

Ample restaurant with great service and great food. Some vegetarian options and small modifications friendly. We had a great time celebrating my birthay here read more

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Cielo is absolutely stunning the decor is amazing and had a fabulous time. Food and service is great and Charles is a treasure. read more

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Cielo is a lovely restaurant. The server and service were very good. The escargot Rockefeller was bland. The main courses ranged from okay to very good. My issue with the restaurant is prior to ordering I asked about their Veal Marsala dish(the dish I wanted to order) It came with pesto pasta and I asked if I could have the pasta with a different sauce. The menu has rigatoni dishes with tomato sauce so I thought that was a reasonable request. Their answer was no, because (so they said) there is no way for them to bill a different sauce on the tab. I'm sorry but any Italian restaurant that can't make that accommodation and especially for that reason is off my list. read more

Beautiful restaurant with a wonderful menu. Service was top notch. I've never had squid ink pasta and wasn't sure what to think since I'm not a fan of squid but I'm glad I trusted the sever with his recommendation! read more

Cielo Restaurant - Squid ink pasta seafood - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

When me and my boyfriend stopped in, they sat us down near a table of children just jumping and running around. We moved to the bar. The menu looked delicious unfortunately for me it missed the mark. I love ahi tuna/regular seared tuna. Unfortunately it was under & overwhelming on my palette. Too much ginger/ not enough searing. The drinks were okay. We then ordered the special (by this time it was 7ish?). The bartender came back after 3 minutes to say it had been sold out. I believe it was a timing issue and maybe I just had a different craving than what was served. But it would be nice for the staff to know ahead of time was is sold out; so people don't plan around items they're no longer serving. read more

Anyone who follows my dining reviews knows that I rarely ever award 5 to a restaurant. To receive accolades on this level from me means the experience has to be exceptional. And our dinner at Cielo ticked off all the boxes. The minute you step through the door, you know you're in a fine dining establishment. From the white linen table cloths set with Pina lights to the elegant bar area, from the beautiful artwork that adorns the walls to the thoughtful window treatments ... and then there is Scott, the delightful piano player who visited each table introducing himself and asking if we had any requests. This is where the well-heeled on Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Meyers dine. How refreshing to be among patrons who dressed appropriately for the occasion - like my husband and I always do - showing respect to the owner of Cielo, its managers, chef and dedicated team. Our dinner started with two superb adult libations. Lots of fun cocktails to choose from! Mine was called What She's Having and my husband chose One For Mary Jo. Both were very good and recommended. It doesn't usually happen this way but we both made the same choices for our meals. The Escargot Rockefeller was over-the-top delicious. Ditto the Veal Scallopini Milanese, a divine and generous presentation of veal cutlet with Gorgonzola served over salad. We did not have room for dessert, unfortunately. It was getting late and we didn't want to hold up the staff. But we did enjoy a double espresso which was served with a chocolate biscotti. Spot-on! Cielo's is among our top picks for fine dining on Sanibel. We can't wait to return. Be sure to experience it! read more

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My husband and I went for dinner last evening for the first time. The service was not good. We had a reservation and waited for someone to show up at the hostess desk for 10 mins. Finally went into the bar and ask for help. Our waitress was nice enough, but, she also was super slow to come around and check on us. We finished our meal and waited 10 mins before we could get her to bring the check. It was not busy either. The couple next to us waited 15 mins to get anyone to show up at their table as well. read more

Food was excellent Ambience was superb Wait staff was ok BUT they had a chintzy 3% fee due to business costs. Very chintzy. Their house Chardonnay is Saint Francis and you can buy it for $16 a bottle and they charge $13 per glass. Somewhat gouging I would say. read more

We've dined here twice for dinner and both times, had excellent service and food. This evening we chose seats in the bar, as we were dressed a little more casually (jeans). Although I saw another patron in shorts and flip flops in the main dining room, that is not appropriate for this type of restaurant. The service was incredibly attentive and our food came out quickly. We really enjoyed the crispy brussel sprouts appetizer, which were actually nice and crispy as described. The grilled shrimp were served over an English pea and mint risotto which was less minty than expected, but very good nonetheless. I'd also recommend the U-10 scallops - but you'll want to order a salad or some other side in my opinion and the entree is really just scallops with some small dollops of grits. read more

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This place adds on an extra fee when you dine there. When asked why the server told me that this way they don't have to raise the menu prices. Doesn't make sense. They are raising the prices but just try to hide it. I believe they do this and assume most people won't see it. read more

The food here is amazing. High quality and more than sufficient portions. The service is probably the best and most attentive on the island. Great dining atmosphere. read more

long term customer, but not the same. The Filet of Beef is expensive, but its not the same cut they used to have, fatty and not great...the sauce they used to put on top was amazing, but now its a light watery brown gravy. Not good. Plate split fees high, even for a salad, we split it ourselves to save on those high fees. 3% fee for service, is new,...but service at the bar was not friendly, and was poor. Asked for cheese w the oil for the bread basket, missed that. Dishes were not cleared, first time on this. New workers at the bar (2 women). They had super bad attitudes all throughout, which was shocking to me. I finally got one to smile. The attitude look was on both of them, they were new, as prior great bartenders are no longer employed there. Will return one day, after they get it back together again. One thing that really got me, we walk, and usually sit outside in the front waiting for them to open. This time, when 4:30 arrived, they unlocked the door, but failed to open it to greet us in, just really unfriendly just like the 2 women were in the bar. Wasn't going to post this, may end up deleting it. But let it stay up for awhile so the owners are aware of the attitudes these new women bartenders had. just glanced at their Google reviews, and on March 16, a review states the same about the bartender attitude. Its not just me, which is nice to see. Managers pls take note. read more

The food was wonderful but the service was terrible thus only 3 stars. It was my wife's birthday. We put it on the reservation and when we got there I reminded the maitre d' who acknowledged that he knew. They did nothing to acknowledge her birthday. When I spoke to him after the meal he said he forgot to tell our server. While he apologized for that, our disappointment was still there. Any simple acknowledgement would have been appreciated. Then there was the server. I think they were under staffed because she spent a lot of time with other tables. We didn't order appetizers because we wanted desert. We did ask for bread which came when we were halfway through our entrees. My wife ordered a martini with Absolute Vodka but they were out so she ordered Grey Goose. When it came she said it tasted different. When the check came, we saw the server had ordered GRE Goose Orange. While not a problem for her, all I could think about was what if our friend who is allergic to oranges had ordered it. When the entrees came, my wife ordered a glass of wine which finally showed up as she was finishing the entree. The incredible food didn't make up for the service. We won't be back. read more

Manager was very rude and the cook is somehow unable to chop a salad. 3% extra surcharge added to the bill for no apparent reason.

Artsy vibe, premium prices, and forgettable food. My wife's "salad" was three stubborn pieces of lettuce that apparently refused to be chopped. We were also celebrating our son's birthday--something the restaurant managed to completely ignore. Style over substance. Watch for the "3% dining fee" on your bill. read more

Unless you live on Sanibel, it's a commitment to go to Cielo from the mainland. My wife's birthday was on the 26th and 4 of us went there to celebrate. The ambiance is spot on, a 5 out of 5. The server was challenged as they had too many tables to properly provide prompt service. The place wasn't even crowded! Had to get up to get salt and pepper, never offered a dessert, while little things...maybe not. Anyway, most important, our Caesar salads had uncut stalks of romaine, covered by an unremarkable dressing (Caesar dressing in lousy places have a taste) and the "white anchovies" OMG, we love white anchovies, these were white, but frankly the worst tasting I've ever had and I've had many. Now for the entres, the porcini dish was fantastic, that's the good news, the sea bass was dry as a desert, my wife ordered the lobster which was killed by their version of vodka sauce, couldn't taste the delicate nature of lobster. The worst veal marsala I've ever had and I've had many. The sauce underwhelming, the giant pasta not a compliment at all to any veal dish. The basil sauce was ok....the bread, at the serving was less than fresh. In short, a Forgetable experience. Again, the ambiance is very nice, that's about it. read more

Wonderful food, very pretty inside. Good service, maybe a little over-solicitous but that's just me. The pork chop was very good and could easily have served two and the porcini and truffle ravioli was outstanding. We also loved the calamari appetizer which was not your usual breaded squid plus marinara sauce. read more

Cielo or IL Cielo is one of fine dining restaurant in Sanibel Island specializes in seafood with Mediterranean and Asian influences. We celebrated a birthday here with a little drive from Fort Myers. It is conveniently located off Periwinkle within a short drive from the Causeway. The building was set in a tropical environment with trees. I noticed there were two mango trees during our visit. Interior was renovated a few years ago. The Bar is dimly lighted and well stocked with spirits and wines all over the world. Soft live piano music nightly and you can carry a nice conversation without any interference from the music. We shared a calamari Fritti that was well made with sweet chili Aioli, Mango coulis with crashed cashews over arugula. It was the best calamari in Southwest Florida! The crispy baby ribs Asian style was little on the dry side. It has the right flavor but need a little more glaze. The salad was refreshing and prepared right! The Cioppino was delicious! Shrimps, scallops, fish, mussels, clams with a tomato saffron broth and fingering potato just complimented each other so well to bring out the seafood flavor! I dipped the Crostini to enjoy the last drop of seafood broth! Our seared scallops with Rice Pilaf, Mandarin Arugula salad was exquisite! The bone-in pork chops were grilled to perfection with beautiful presentation. We shared a Tiramisu and Crème Brulee with coffee to complete our meal. By the way, if you love Cognac, they do carry Louis XIII at $135 for 1 Oz for after Your dinner drink! The ambience was classy, the servers were knowledgeable, attentive and engaging. The food is top notch. This is a must for foodies who enjoy an upscale dining experience. The price might be a little higher than other restaurant but it is well worth it for a meal that you will enjoy. Cielo does not disappoint! Definitely will be back! read more

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We enjoyed a wonderful dinner meal here 2 evenings ago. The staff made us feel very comfortable and the ambience was very nice as well. I ordered the crab bisque soup which was wonderful and then grilled salmon. my wife enjoyed the apricot chicken with couscous. We shared our meals some and agreed that everything was wonderful. You should try this restaurant if you are in the area. Our only disappointment was the traffic to get there which was really jammed up and slow. Sanibel had a traffic problem at rush hour on some roads. I would recommend renting a bicycle or a golf cart from your hotel to get there much quicker and comfortably. read more

Best dinner we've had in the 45 years coming to Sanibel. Best meal anywhere for that matter. Calamari is beyond awesome. Sea Bass and pork chop were perfection. Yea, I know "who orders a pork chop?!" I did and best I've ever had. Menu prices are typical of any fine dining but worth every penny. Only weird thing was reservation sites showed limited seatings available but place was 90% empty. They need to figure that out with open table, etc. read more

We had a remarkable dining experience last night at Cielo. The restaurant is truly beautiful and the tables are spaced thoughtfully apart so you can enjoy your table mates' conversation. You are greeted warmly by the host as well as the servers. Service is professional and attentive and all the servers seem to thoroughly enjoy their jobs. They laugh and chat comfortably with the customers, making you feel like welcome regulars, even if it's your first night dining with them. We enjoyed Caesar salads as our appetizers and I had a nice glass of wine. They have some wonderful wines by the glass. H had the pork chop and I had the diver scallops. Four large scallops served with an orange beurre blanc sauce. The best diver scallops I have ever had! H enjoyed the chocolate caramel mousse for dessert and I had the Creme brûlée. This is a wonderful choice for a special meal, or just to treat yourselves. A highlight of the experience is the singer and piano player. He has a wonderful repertoire but will happily take requests as well. He visits every table during the evening, thanking the guests for being there and offering to play their favorite songs. He has a wonderful voice and plays beautifully. All in all, a must visit if you are looking for that special evening on this spectacular island! read more

Cielo Restaurant - Dinner at Cielo - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Every moment dining in this restaurant was amazing! Welcomed by the general manager, Marcus Preece, offered excellent cocktails from expert bar tenders, and provided personal service from our waiter, Matthew , who treated us so special. The entrees... well all food was plated as if images were to end up on a famous restaurant display! We ate the wedge salad with the creamiest dressing & sweetest onions, our filet, lobster & pork chop our group ordered were so succulent! When dessert rolled around, room was found to accept ! What a fine dining experience in a beautifully appointed restaurant! read more

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What else can I say but wow! In town for a conference and Cielo was recommended to us. I'm so happy that we listened. Everything was delicious! From the bread with house made garlic and herb olive oil to the dessert. Our server Terri (I hope I remembered that correctly) was so sweet and very knowledgeable of the menu. The zuppa de pesci was fantastic. We really enjoyed the squid ink fettuccine with it. The pappardelle bolognese was delicious as well. All homemade pasta! For dessert we went with the pineapple upside down cake ala mode and it was possibly the best piece of cake I've ever had. So moist and the flavor . I wish we lived closer so we could come here all the time. read more

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The food was fresh and delicious. Each dish was carefully crafted to perfection. The service was polished and professional. We will definitely be back soon read more

This restaurant felt warm and inviting from the moment we walked in. Beautiful black and white decor with a glass wine cabinet floor to ceiling. The piano player & singer adds a nice touch. Our waitress, Christie, was just the sweetest and took good care of us. They had 2 specials that night on a small menu card, which they were out of by 7:45 when we were seated. We decided to order the scallops and the lamb chops. Unfortunately they were out of the scallops. We were disappointed but understood that with Covid restaurants are still figuring out how much food to buy. We decided to have the tuna nachos instead, which were very good. We were sharing the lamb and they plated it on 2 separate plates for us. The lamb and vegetables were delicious. They have an extensive wine list, by the bottle and also by the glass. We enjoyed a glass of Malbec. We were too full for dessert, however we did look at the menu. The chocolate cake served to the next table looked really decadent. Look forward to coming back here. read more

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Great food, drinks, and atmosphere! We sat at the bar and received wonderful service. Everyone working there was very friendly. We had the calamari - it was fantastic. I also had the pork chop - delicious! read more

One of the best dining experiences ever! The food was exceptional. Everyone working here was absolutely fabulous. Super fun, sexy music. Going back. Thank you! read more

Cielo Restaurant - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Food was fantastic; service less so. Couldn't figure out why the martini tasted funny until we saw the bill and realized it had been prepared with Grey Goose ORANGE for some reason, bread served after the entrees were brought and glass of wine with dinner served after the entree. Finished it with dessert. Celebrating a birthday tonight which was noted on the reservation and mentioned twice to the maitre d' but nothing done and no mention to the birthday girl. But the food was terrific. read more

Cielo was amazing. Our server Irma was fantastic. Great personality and she was able to keep up with my rowdy family without an issue! The food was just absolutely delicious as well. We tried a lot of different things and when I say it was all delicious, it was! Great bourbon and martini selection. There is something so elegant about a martini being served in a coop. We will be back! read more

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This place is pricey but the food was great. Had the pistachio white truffle ravioli with scallops. It was delicious. Terry was our waitress and she was really good. Our wine and water glass was never empty. Very good experience. Had live music the guy even walked around to each table to introduce himself and let us know we can request a song if we wanted. When you use the bathroom they have this really nice soap scrub that makes your hands feel really soft. Had a great time thank you Terry.... read more

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We had dinner here on a weeknight and it was such a lovely restaurant, but the food was truly remarkable. One of the best meals of my life!

My most favorite restaurant on Sanibel. The cuisine is creative and always yummy. The menus are seasonal, using local ingredients whenever possible. The decor is so gorgeous. Yes it's pricey but well worth it for a special night out. read more

Great service great ambiance great food Highly recommend the octopus appetizer. The piano man in the background was an extra added bonus. Old school dinning. Loved it. read more

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