Cliffs notes version: elegant fine dining with zero snobbery We dined here tonight as a couple with two school-age children. Ambiance: Very relaxing atmosphere, a fantastic piano player on a grand piano lit by candles, and greeted by a polite and down to earth maître d' who made us feel welcome despite us having two young children in tow. Drinks: excellent selection on the wine menu, delicious creative cocktails, and fantastic mock-tails for the kids. My jalapeño infused tequila with chartreuse and lime was outstanding. Food: The kids menu was excellent. Not the usual chicken nuggets, but healthy options including salmon with vegetables. If you have rowdy children, you may feel out of place. However, reasonably behaved young children do well here. The cioppino was amazing with a blend of local seafood in a well balanced tomato broth. read more

Cielo Restaurant - Cocktails - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

My Mum and I came here for our last night in Sanibel. The food was really delicious and we were serenaded by a pianist while we ate. I had a mojito, and it was a little too heavy on the rum (who actually says that?), but otherwise good. The bread was served with a pesto/oil dip and it was soooooo scrumptious. We got the Pan Seared Grouper, and the Ahi Tuna, and the entire dining experience was excellent. I am a little disappointed that I wasn't offered some cake for my birthday, but the South continues to disappoint me in many ways, so I'll just add this to the list. read more

Cielo Restaurant - Pan seared grouper and ahi tuna. - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

This was such a breathe of fresh air on our last dinner on Sanibel. It's high season and my mother and I had my two kids in tow hoping for a nice dining experience for the end of our trip. It was booked solid but the two warm and welcoming host staff told us to make our way to a table in the bar (we arrived early, at 5). It was perfect. We were out of the way of other guests and enjoyed the cocktails, appetizers, dinner and desert! Restaurant was extremely clean. The value of our bill to the service and atmosphere (and the food! ) Was perfect. We were out just as the service picked up for the night. We had the escargot, mussels, ribs, house salad, tile fish and lobster bisque. Oh! And let's not forget the desert and cocktails!! Really a wonderful meal and experience. read more

Cielo Restaurant - Chocolate caramel mouse cake. It was incredible! - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

One of best meals and dining experiences in a while. We started with excellent cocktails and apps. I had the steamed clams in tomato broth - omg! Hubby had the cesar salad. Don't even talk to me about the fresh bread and flavored oil! Diet killer!! We shared the two entrees. Rib eye and a black grouper specials. Both perfection. I should have skipped the extra drink and the appetizer so I could have the dessert. This is a beautiful spot, there is piano music in background which is a nice touch. Highly recommend. read more

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End of our vacation highlight outing. Atmosphere was very nice. Carlos our server was the best, very attentive and not intrusive while being quite charming while having to deal with some of the pickiest eaters. I had the New York strip special and it was the best steak I have ever had! The wife had salmon and felt the same. We highly recommend. Thanks and we will see you again! read more

If you need only one reason to go to Sanibel Island, it would be for THIS restaurant. Truly a "destination restaurant." Need I say more?

Cielo is one of my family's favorite restaurants on Sanibel. It is classy, yet relaxed. The food is divine. Last month, we went and each dish was more impressive than the last. Even the pea-soup, which on the surface doesn't sound that exciting, was magical. The calamari appetizer, the duck main course, and the adult ice cream sundae were all stand-out dishes on our table. I was disappointed they took their lobster ravioli off the menu, but their sea-bass with pork and asian pear dumplings more than made up for it! Our waiter, Jose, was phenomenal. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and just the right amount of attentive. Topping it all off, every time we have gone there has been a live pianist/singer, which just makes the experience super fabulous. I included Cielo in my YouTube video about my favorite restaurants on NYC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_6llgddacM&t=264s Skip to 3:47 in to see the review of Cielo with photos/videos of the location!:-) My family and I are STILL talking about the deliciousness, two weeks later! P.S. I am from NYC, and have access to pretty fabulous fine dining and diners, drive-ins, and dives all the time. Even amongst NYC restaurants, Cielo would be a stand-out. I wish I had more stars to give it!:) read more

Cielo Restaurant - The calamari appetizer has everyone at our table swooning! - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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I can not say enough great things about our experience. We all had different things and we shared everything. I would love it if they put the tempura shrimp in a Thai chili sauce on the permanent menu. It was the best I've ever had! I consider myself a shrimp connoisseur ;) The escargot, caprese salad, grouper, the scallops and the veal were amazing and the desserts were absolute perfection. Talking about perfection I can not forget to mention Matthew, our amazing and informative waiter. The ambiance is beautiful and the piano man was so fun and played beautifully. Next time I'm coming early to have a drink in the beautiful bar. Almost forgot, the bathrooms are even fabulous and they have real towels. I highly recommend and will be back many times! I'm so glad my sister lives her and now I'm even more jealous! read more

Parents live on the island. Had friends in town, we were a party of 7. Dining room not even half full. Atmosphere great, piano player excellent, we had high hopes. That's where the good news stops. An hour and a half after ordering, we had to personally ask the management staff where our food was. They apologized, informed they would comp all drinks, and food would be delivered within 2-3 minutes. All seemed well, however 25 minutes later no food had left the kitchen (not ours, not any other table) and management staff and waiters hid in kitchen to avoid all patron interaction. We promptly left, no waiters / waitresses / management staff in site to apologize. Everyone else in restaurant equally upset. Highly do not recommend, we left and took our business to lazy flamingo. Parents (who again live on the island!!!) will highly recommend against restaurant to locals and visitors alike. We welcome the restaurants response, because this visit was nothing more than an absolute joke. read more

We had an absolutely wonderful dinner at Cielo. For us, the highlight was the playing of Scott McDonald, a top notch jazz pianist. Even if the food was merely ok, his playing alone would have made for a delightful dinner. Fortunately, the food was also excellent. We started with the poke appetizer, which was yummy. On the advice of Terry, our server, I had the scallops, which were divine! As delicious as any seafood dinner that I can remember. My wife had the swordfish, which was also quite good. Sadly, we were too full to try out dessert. Would we return? YES anytime we are looking for a special night out -- where the food and music combine for truly special evening. Prices were a little higher than some of the other good restaurants, but only modestly so. Well worth a visit. read more

Horrible experience at the bar. Pork chop was rubber after it was recommended. When I told the bartender she just charged us for the full price. Later the head bartender came and said they would have comped us the meal. They didn't do anything or say anything after we paid, which was horseshit, and clearly made it awkward between the two. It was my anniversary this was the worst experience since they acknowledged it and did nothing. I hate leaving bad reviews but it was a slap in the face and they acknowledged it and did nothing. Still waiting for my refund. read more

A delightful exception to the island ordinary. Sanibel Island offers many family-friendly choices. Service, atmosphere, cuisine, and entertainment are not strengths of most of the restaurants on the island. Cielo is an exception. Maybe the best exception. The atmosphere is fabulous. Live music fills the space with a mix of standards and classic rock. The service is attentive without being intrusive. The best part? The food. The grilled octopus is sensational. The tuna tataki is perfect. Our halibut was fabulous. The mussels were large and wonderfully prepared. Make a reservation. Cielo is the best of Sanibel. read more

Capresse salad was very good. It is very large so should be shared. I had seared tuna that also was beautifully presented and was delicious. The special was a Chilean sea bass that was delicious. No room for dessert but they sounded fantastic. Can't wait to return. read more

My friend and I stopped in for dinner after seeing their menu. From the minute we walked in to the minute we left we had a great experience. From the decorations to the ambiance it was just a preamble that the best was yet to come. Our waitress Christine was by far the best server I've had in quite some time. The way she described the food made you want to try it. Trust me you won't be disappointed. If you are, she will make it right. She brought a basket of fresh focaccia bread with an olive oil dip (which had something which I can't recall) let me tell you, it was good. Make sure you try it. We started with the corn bisque, and house salads. The house salad is absolutely divine. A party in your mouth that will set your palate for the next dish. I ended up getting the special which was a pork shank braised in a Chianti and served with a potato croquette and some delicious vegetables (carrots, bock choi, green beans and asparagus) the croquette was perfectly crunchy outside and deliciously seasoned on the inside. The pork was falling off the bone. Absolutely glorious. I didn't even want to try it but after Christine's description I knew I had to have it. Save room for dessert. The chocolate mouse is perfection. Go to Cielo and enjoy a nice night out. You won't be disappointed. read more

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This is our go-to fancy dinner spot on Sanibel! It's great for a celebratory dinner and a great meal. They recently renovated the inside to be more open and the new bar area is very nice. There is a piano player their every night. There are at least two "must-orders." The first is the poke tuna appetizer. Absolutely UNREAL. The second is the rack of lamb. The only problem is I don't think I will ever NOT be able to order these two items. Can't wait to come back! read more

Outstanding. Elegant decor and artistically presented delicious cuisine is what you'll find here. Dine in the bar area or in the dining room and enjoy live piano music while sipping craft cocktails and experiencing a unique meal. The escargot is wonderful and presented in a ramekin with creamy garlic sauce and spinach. Crispy crostini helps you get every drop. So good. For my entree, I had the scallops, which were big enough to cut each one into fourths. The presentation is outstanding, arriving with a domed lid and upon removal, a billow of soft smoke fills the air. Oh the aroma! I was too full for desert but I did have a cosmo and watched as the bartenders created one amazing drink after another. The prices are high but it is worth the splurge - this is a dining experience not just dinner. read more

We loved everything! Staffing, ambiance, piano time and of course the fabulous food! Calamari had a unique twist and so delicious! Bar time unique as well. Entertainers and the best mixologists! read more

Wonderful atmosphere, superb staff but just average food. Claim their specialty is 'beef' but steak (and a fraction of the cost) can be found tastier at Longhorn Steakhouse. And their creme caramel was overcooked. Just order some salads and appetizers. read more

Great food, drink and dessert menus. Second time there and they did not disappoint. This restaurant has an upscale vibe although you still can show up dressed somewhat casually. The food is excellent and the service is probably some of the best I've had at any restaurant. The staff is extremely attentive, and Irma was an outstanding server. A little pricier than some other restaurants on the island but well worth it. read more

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One of the hosts was extremely unfriendly and unaccommodating. Perhaps it was about our beach attire he did not approve (to be fair, the restaurant seemed to have a dress code) but we weren't told anything in that regard. Food was fairly good but nothing spectacular. The ambiance suggested the restaurant is created to milk local rich retirees by appealing with white cloth tables, live piano and a gigantic selection of wines. It had overall an overly polite but cold vibe of a country club that we the passing strangers intruded into and startled their regulars with our unfamiliar faces and "obnoxious" exteriors. read more

Excellent! We visited Sanibel Island for our anniversary this year and booked reservations with Cielo for dinner. The food was great and the pianist was very good! Our server Jeff recommended the calamari appetizer, it was delicious. I'm glad he made that recommendation. My husband and I both had the Filet and it was also delicious and melted in your mouth. Great experience, thank you! read more

4 Stars! Bring your taste for delectably rich food, break out the fancy pants, and make sure to leave the bathing suit and board shorts at the beach, as Sanibel's laid back island-esque mantra takes a back seat to this fab fine dining spot. Conveniently located right off periwinkle (not too far from the causeway), but perfectly nestled within the beautiful dense vegetation that makes Sanibel Island so special. Delish combo of land and sea dishes off the regular menu, but the specials menu looked doubly delish! For apps, we went with the cheese & truffle saccotini pasta purses and the roasted beet & feta cheese salad off the specials menu. Only $10 each -- very fair prices for fine dining standards. Both dishes were absolutely delectable and ample, but I especially loved the creamy, cheesy pillowy pasta. Sorry gnocchi, me thinks I found my new stuffed pasta love! For entrees, went with the special Tempura Battered Twin Lobster Tails. When you see $30 for a lobster tail you say yes please! Was so excited for the Asian prepartion and the perfectly matched sides (jasmine rice and snap pea mix). While the lobster meat, sauce, and sides shined, the tempura batter was on the soft and soggy side. Slight bummer as I was super looking forward to that crispidy crunchy factor. The other entree choice came off their regular menu --- pan roasted local fish topped with blue crab, a sweet potato mash, and a side of asparagus. Fish was a phenomenaly flakey grouper prepared in a succulent sweet chili garlic butter. The sweet potato mash made my tummy smile ear to ear. Everything about this dish was just spot on and well worth the $32 price tag. To end an already indulgent meal, we ordered the Tropical Bavarian dessert (chocolate almond sponge, coconut honey, pineapple caramel). Delectable and beautiful presentation and not for the faint of "sweets"heart! My one gripe and reason for a 4 star review (although a truly 5 star meal) is due to the $5 appetizer sharing charge. Never heard of such a thing for an app! Luckily we saved our appetites for this special occassion meal, so we were planning on an app each, irregardless of the app sharing charge. But generally, this is a completely unfair menu mandate from a cost and "tummy too full" standpoint! App sharing charge aside, btwn the classy decor, "white glove" service, and superb menu selections, we had a very enjoyable meal here and look forward to a return visit! read more

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Very elegant yet reasonable ... not just another typical island/florida knockoff. Food very very good and reasonably priced. Service is outstanding. Atmosphere is quietly busy with a piano/ entertainment adding a nice touch Filet & Mahi was awesome. Highly recommend. read more

What an amazing evening. MORGAN made the experience! She is not only knowledgeable about the menu, but she is so kind and wonderful. The food was fantastic and the drink la were amazing. We cannot wait to go back and obviously Morgan will have to be our server. read more

Went to Cielo for our 10 year wedding anniversary last night. Our kids had the Alfredo and Wagyu meatballs and they loved them. I had the NY strip and half lobster tail and it was delicious. Great atmosphere and and the guy playing piano was amazing. Thank you all for making our night special. read more

Cielo Restaurant - Wagyu Meatballs, Lobster Ravioli, Ahi Tuna Poke, lobster tail and my strip - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Cielo was delicious. However, it seemed a bit overpriced for the quality of food. The drink bar is terrific.

Very underwhelmed and quite disappointed. The only thing saving this review from 1 star status was the ambiance, because the food was flat out not good. Group of 4 shared the mussels and mushroom/escargots to start. The mussels were fine, but the broth lacked the garlic flavor you look for in a mussel broth. The mushroom dish was devoid of flavor entirely: no garlic, no salt, no funk. There was also a tin-like aftertaste, so maybe the snails weren't fresh (or the mushrooms)? I had the crab ravioli for my entree, and the theme of 0 flavor carried through. I'm not even confident that the crab was fresh; it honestly tasted like nothing, for a lack of a better explanation. My wife and friend's tuna was no better, and again, simply didn't taste like anything. There wasn't a lot of care put into the food, and certainly no salt. The only item that any of us even slightly enjoyed was the banana cream pie, which honestly could've also used a little bit of salt, but at that point it was a welcomed dish because it actually tasted like something. Not sure if the great ratings are older clientele or maybe blissful vacationers, but either way they must not be very discerning, given how sub-par the food was. The snack bar at our hotel had better tasting items. At least the space was nice, and the piano player rocked some Elton John. read more

What a first class operation- the ambiance, the professionalism of the staff, and the execution of the food was magnifique! The seafood pot pie and the watermelon salad were exquisite! read more

My husband and I were on vacation and trialed Cielo for our end-of-vacation dinner. We started with cocktails. My husband had an old fashioned, which was served with a smoky haze. The bartender was very happy to customize a cocktail for me. For appetizers, we tried the ribs and char grilled octopus. The octopus was grilled to perfection and came with a lovely olive tapenade (though I wish it came with more of it!). the ribs were sweet and savory. I had the scallops with saffron cream sauce for my entree. Initially, I was somewhat skeptical of the price- and I can say it was worth every penny! My husband enjoyed a rib eye with a peppercorn sauce and ate every bite. We also enjoyed dessert and the creme brûlée was exquisite. In addition to the food; there was also an excellent singer who played and sang with the piano just loud enough to facilitate conversations. I have been traveling to southern florida for over a decade and I have never encountered cuisine as excellent as at Cielo. I intend to return for sure during my next trip! read more

Cielo Restaurant - ribs - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Six years later we came back here as Cielo is still highly rated and I thought maybe I was overly harsh in my review 6 years ago. Tonight again I found it pretentious and the food was just OK. Octopus carpaccio was salty and fishy. We complained and they took it off our ticket. But why serve this dish on an island surrounded by ocean? My wife had the Sea-bass entrée which I thought was quite good and she enjoyed greatly. I was craving a seafood pie. It came out lukewarm, apparently sitting in the kitchen for 25 minutes. Disappointing. There is live piano music, did not love it either, especially the voice. If you want to get dressed up in suit and tie, tux, or maybe you have a wedding party or a major birthday, this could be your place. I brought shorts and T-shirts to the island-- making me feel awkward here, although they did let me in the door with blue jeans and a shirt. Overpriced, yacht club atmosphere-- pretty much what I sensed 6 years ago. read more

This is a FANTASTIC place to eat. The ambiance is wonderful and the service is top notch.

What a treat! Awesome diverse menu. Superb bartender who hit on all my unique drink request along with some humor and insights. Experienced bartender Greg made our night. Superb quality food prepared with care and attention. Ranks as our favorite place in the island. read more

great ambiance with live piano music the night we were there. enjoyed the mussels as an appetizer. entrees included a coffee encrusted salmon and shrimp scampi. tasty cocktails and great service. a must when at Sanibel read more

One of the if not the top restaurants on Sanibel. Love the bar and the bartenders particularly Chris. They do craft drinks that are second to none in the world. Look forward to coming back many times. read more

We came here to celebrate a family birthday, and I can't say enough great things. We had the entire back dining room to ourselves. Every dish & drink we ordered was perfect. The best part of the night was our server, Christie, making us feel like family. She gave us the gift of such a special night by being kind, attentive, and witty. Superb food and unforgettable service. read more

We had dinner on 12/29 at the Cielo Restaurant. The establishment has a great atmosphere with a piano player in the background that added to a wonderful and comfortable ambiance. The menu had a good varied selection. I ordered the filet mignon medium rare (waiter recommendation) and my friend ordered a chicken and pasta dish. When I received my dinner the filet was cooked medium well, I asked the waiter if he submitted the order the medium rare? When he saw the steak he agreed it wasn't cooked as requested. Understanding these things happen I patiently waited for a new filet while my friend ate her dinner. The waiter never apologized nor was there any offer of inconvenience. It's important to note, Cielo presents itself as a higher end restaurant with the entree average pricing of $30.00. My entree was $45.00 and my friends pasta dish with chicken $26.00. After receiving the bill I advised the waiter I was disappointed that there wasn't an offer of inconvenience ie, a complimentary drink or dessert. The response we received was the manager declined the waiter of any offer and the waiter tried. Not impressed with the customer approach by this establishment which is disappointing since it has great potential. read more

The restaurant is beautiful. The service was superb. I ordered a filet which was over cooked. They brought me another but I felt it was not a good piece of meat for the price.50$..We mentioned it was our anniversary and they were happy for. At the end of our meal the people sitting next to us celebrating a birthday received a complimentary dessert. WE WERE OFFERED NOTHING..! read more

Cielo Restaurant - The restaurant and bar area! - New American Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Excellent dining experience! From top to bottom, excellent service by Matthew (possibly the best server I have ever had)! We had appetizers (octopus)- which were a work of art. The cocktail selection is impressive- I personally had the Sanibel Fairy... it was spectacular. The U-10 Scallops were cooked to perfection, and the duck (my wife's meal) was absolutely amazing. For dessert, I had the Adult Sundae; my wife had the creme brûlée and my father-in-law the lime tort. All were delightful. I highly recommend this restaurant. From the professional service to the wonderful pianist and the cozy atmosphere, this was the best dining experience on the island. I highly recommend this restaurant to any adults looking for a wonderful date night, or last night on the island. read more

One of the best place on the island to eat by far! The staff are amazing a d the food is to die for! It's pricy but worth every penny! I'll be back for sure!! read more

Decided to try again and this time our experience was so much better. Our server, Dylan, was attentive, but not overbearing. App, salad and entree were memorable. Still pricey, but the restaurant and grounds are so well done read more