Some of the best food I tasted in years from any restaurant, definitely in my top 3 places to go for a splurge.

This review is for the Hootennanny we attended for the horses and farm animals. This benefit had all the makings of something memorable in a better way. Settings were beautiful the weather was perfect central coast. The Money Band and Peter Pedrazzi sang and played flawlessly. The tri-tip and smoked chicken were delicious as promised. They had a silent and spoken auction that went smoothly. So why not five stars? After the first set of music and dancing they took a well deserved break and said they be back in 15 minutes. It was 8 o'clock. Suns going down and it's still warm. And it seemed like it was over. A crew cleaning off the tables and stacking chairs pulling the lights down. People started leaving. No announcement to stay or anything like that. I believe the music was in a program till 10 o'clock. Seems like we were pushed aside so the crew, cooks and staff could continue there party. Last words...somewhat disappointed. read more

This was our first time dining and definitely will not be our last. The service was top notch and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the corn bread appetizer--you will want a second helping!!! We cannot wait to go again!! read more

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after years of wanting to dine at Rancho Cielo, I finally remembered early on to make a reservation many months before And we were fortunate enough to get a sitting. It does take some planning since the sitting times and evenings are limited to Friday dining only but it was well worth the wait ! The three course meal was wonderfully good . Loved everything about it , from the hors d'oeuvres All the way down to the desert . Loved to see the students in action, interacting with the patrons and giving advice on the food as well as suggestions on different plates that are offered. We loved it so much that we are on their cancellation waitlist . read more

Wow! My new absolutely most favorite restaurant on the planet and I have been everywhere. Rancho Cielo is extraordinary. The service is impeccable. The food is unbelievable. I shall try to get a reservation there every night I will be back our server Demi was fabulous. read more

Food was amazing and so was service! Really enjoyed seeing the students learn and grow. read more

Rancho Cielo's dining experience never ceases to amaze. The quality of the food is unbelievable, the students are so well trained and personable, and the Rancho staff goes so far above what is expected. I always enjoy my food and time when I eat at the restaurant. read more

The students and guest chef's really outdid themselves for the last dinner of the year. The food was delicious and the service from Tony was great!! We will be attending dinners in the future!! read more

We had a great time. Everything were delicious from appetizer, salad, entre and desserts. Very helpful and courteous staff (students and volunteers) read more

What a wonderful experience. The service was definitely a 5-star and the food was delicious! This is my 3rd time going to dinner at Rancho Cielo and hopefully there will be many more times to come. read more

This was the "soft opening" and the kids did an excellent job. The dishes were original and amazing. I particularly recommend the honey sorbet made with the ranch honey and pollen. read more

We have visited Rancho Cielo for dinner on many occasions and always have a very positive experience. The menu selections are creative and delicious. The wait staff is knowledgeable and engaged. The experience that the students receive from the academy is top notch and will definitely prepare them for a career in the restaurant industry. read more

A truly unique dining experience, Friday nights only, get reservations! The culinary movement happening there is the real deal. They are transforming at risk youth into positive members of the community. The food is epic too. read more

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Rancho Cielo is going to be the best kept secret in North Salinas. This is my second time for the current season and the meal and service was excellent. Upon seating and waiting for our other guests, we were served an small starter of a mushroom bisque. The meals are 3-course pre-fix dinner; averaging about $27 per person not including refreshments. They do have a beer and wine list. I ordered the Caesar Salad, and the Ranch Steak (center cut strip lion) that was cooked to order and dessert was the Bete Noir (flourless chocolate cake). All the meals are prepared and cooked by the students under the direction of the chef I am amazed that these students learn a little bit every week from each of the dinners that are held here. Reservations are required. Make sure you party is there on time. Plus, on a clear night you can see the lights of Salinas and bits of Monterey if you look really hard. The program at Rancho Cielo is awesome and will continue to support these Friday night dinners for the season. read more

Wasn't sure if my phone reservation would be accepted as a voice message states you may need to wait at least 2 business days for a response. I reached out to Rancho's social media account and Laura gladly accepted a Facebook reservation. Thanks Laura! GPS directions were easy to follow but part of the city's main road is in serious need of repairs. Campus scenery is beautiful and is surrounded by lush, green hills. Signs point you towards the Drummond Culinary Academy and the walkway leading to the restaurant is paved with red bricks honoring donors who assisted in Rancho's development. We dined at 5:30 p.m. and were able to witness the changing sunset. The dining room was still fairly empty so we were inundated with greetings upon arrival. The room is connected to a partially open kitchen so you are able to view the students preparing meals. Our attentive server was Dani, who has been with the academy for two years. As this was our first visit, we chose different items from each course in order to taste everything. The Cauliflower Purée, Osso Bucco, and Lava Cake were my standout performers. I informed Laura that this evening was a celebratory dinner, so the students prepared candles atop the desserts and sang Happy Birthday. At the conclusion of the evening, we were asked to survey our overall experience. Dining at Rancho Cielo is an unusual and original treat. You will not find any other restaurant which strives to provide a student-driven, fine dining atmosphere in an educational setting. I look forward to my next visit! read more

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We are glad we learned about Friday dinners at rancho cielo! Everything we had was delicious! We ordered the beet and citrus salad, asparagus soup, steak entree, chicken entree, waffle Sunday and chocolate mousse. The ambiance and presentation of the meals was great. There is a lot of time between courses so we were able to enjoy the sunset. read more

Just go! It's amazing and it is only on Fridays for a seasonal period. you will be treated like family and fed pure love! We had short ribs, perfectly seasoned chicken and a beautiful crab risotto. read more

The view is exceptionally peaceful with rolling hills. Hit the 7:30 PM dinner service and watch the sunset in May. Service is efficient and attentive - pleasantly unexpected. The food is served at the right temperature, perfectly seasoned, flavorful, and elegantly presented. What an experience! The youth program at the culinary school is a unique and much needed program in the community. I look forward to the next Friday night dinner experience. (They only serve dinner on Fridays, 5:00 PM [I think] and 7:30 PM). Call to make reservations. read more

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Excellent food and attentive service. Beautiful sunset during dinner. Our server was Myndy and she was great. She even gave us her recommendations when we asked. $50 well spent for good food and support a good program for young people read more

We finally had the opportunity to have dinner at Rancho Cielo and we were not disappointed. First of all, the food was amazing and just as good as the food served at the finer restaurants in Monterey and Carmel. My wife had the beef short ribs and I had the mushroom & walnut tagliatelle. Both dishes were flavorful and cooked perfectly. You can bring your own wine, but they also have a pretty decent wine list from local wineries. We shared a bottle of Folktale Pinot Noir. Second, our server was very personable and pleasant and provided us with great recommendations despite the fact that it was her first time as a server. If you are local, you should make every attempt to dine at Rancho Cielo. The dining room is only open on Friday so you normally need to maker reservations well in advance. read more

My husband and I sat out on the patio and it was the perfect way to end the week. We were greeted with seasonal menus and blankets next to the heaters. The food came out in a timely manner, the presentation was beautiful, and the food was delicious. We had the pleasure of being served by Jolie who was terrific. The view of the sunset was gorgeous and the music set the mood. We were given a desert recommendation by a gentleman named Joaquin who said he made the Creme Brûlée with love and there is no doubt he did. Will for sure return! Especially because you don't need reservations for the beautiful patio. read more

Rancho Cielo - Spring Patio Menu - Specialty Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

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My Son goes to this school and the driver Cisco is very unprofessional and unfair to the students. Favoritism is a big part in this issue. There will be days will my son will be on time in the normal pickup spot but cisco is running late because of a another student but when my son is running late he leaves him and rushes him texting him telling him to hurry up. there has been days where i'm late for work because i have to drop my son off. my son forgot his field trip paper one time and he had ask to come back and get it but the driver said no it was too late i had to drop it off but couple days after my son told me that some girl had forgot something and he went back for her why couldn't he go back for my son but for a girl he can i don't think this is right. read more

Way to expensive. Also the music was good but way too expensive. Please lower the price for music.

Wonderful experience, truly high end food and inspiring place. My husband surprised me and asked me to drive, he just kept telling me where to turn and it was an adventure way out in Salinas valley off crazy Horse Canyon. This Friday night only restaurant is a culinary training facility for older teens and young adults who need vocational experience. Big time donors, volunteers and awesome young people make Rancho Cielo and supporting programs a success. The food-most outstanding, affordable menu we've ever had. Started with cauliflower soup and pear/radish salad. Both excellent. For entrees, my osso bucco and veggies were generous, rich and tender. My husbands fried chicken had a great crunch, perfect hot sauce and creamy potatoes au gratin. We shared everything! Finally, Creme brûlée & lava cakes hit the mark. Fantastic wine list! The Service- we walked into smiling, welcoming young people. Jolie was our server and we were her 2nd table ever. She was confident, attentive. Food was served quickly, nice & hot. Wine was poured by older adults who have volunteered at the bar for year. We got an overview of the program by Mark and was told the founder was in the dining room that evening. Former Monterey County judge and now County Supervisor John Phillips had a large party and was definitely enjoying turning his vision into a reality that continues to grow. All the front and kitchen staff came out and Jolie said a few words. Again, stellar dining experience and happy to support this transformative youth program! read more

Rancho Cielo - Specialty Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

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Wow. We had such a lovely evening here. It's s unique dining experience, more meaningful than your average restaurant as you know the students are working super hard to provide the best food and service. The servers were all kind, courteous, and respectful. And the 3 course prize-fixe meal is just outstanding- the salads fresh; the pasta dish, exquisite, and the desserts decadent. Highly recommend this unique experience! read more

The food was great and the ambiance was incredible. It is awesome to see a program that helps our youth prepare for a career in the culinary and hospitality industry. Keep up the good work! read more

Rancho Cielo - Specialty Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

This was my first time dining at Rancho Cielo and I assure you that I will return. The young staff are dedicated to their roles and eager to learn. The food was excellent and showcased the riches of our Salinas Valley. Thank you to all who make is project such a success. read more

Place was in a warm setting outside a windy mess. So glad we came out to dinner with our friends. Laura and her hostess were a delightful entrance to our night. The servers were ready and willing to make our night the best. We started off with a amazing cauliflower purée and on a cold night it was very satisfying. Then for the main course was Oso Buco and so tender then finishes the night with an apple caramel crepe. We will most def go back to this place agin. Great Job RC this group was amazing. read more

We came here with a group of 10 for the last dinner service of the school year and they accommodated us well enough. They started us off with a complimentary shrimp cerviche shooter which was a nice surprise and good. After getting our drinks they took our food orders. You can't be in any type of hurry or time crunch here because they take their time between courses. I started with the heirloom tomato salad. I would have liked to have seen slices of a full size tomato, not 5 halves of cherry tomatoes. It could also use more vinegrette. It was pretty dry. My husband had the tomato bisque it was ok and only luke warm. My friend had the Cesar salad which was excellent, best dish of the night. We had to wait about 40 minutes to get our entrees. I was starving and disappointed in the really small portions of everyone's dinner. I had the fillet with 1 tablespoon of potatoes and 1 tablespoon of roasted carrots. The fillet was cooked properly but was barley luke warm. My husband had the shrimp and pene which he said was good. My friends both ordered the special of the night, halibut and 1 plate was completely missing the sauce that was supposed to come with it. My other friend had the Cornish game hen but had to send it back because it was cold. Desserts tasted good but were so small. My husbands flour less chocolate cake was not even the size of a golf ball. It was like a mini brownie bite. 2 bites and it was gone. I had the cheese cake which was more like mousse. My friend had the bread pudding which was really good and bigger than any other dessert. There service was really good hence the 3 stars. We were here for almost 3 hours. Not sure if we'll come back. read more

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WOW where to start!! Last Friday i attended a dinner at Rancho Cielo, and everything was amazing!! Nick our Server was very professional! The night started off with a complimentary fried goat cheese with a jam that was absolutely delicious!! i then had the citrus and frisee salad, the braised beef dish that was served on pasta, and ended the night with a tiramisu, and a few bites of the lemon tart :) At the end of the night the chefs and servers all came out and it was nice to see the faces behind the food. Rancho Cielo is amazing i love everything that they do and everything they continue to do for the community. read more

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Excellent dinner with great friends. Really enjoyed he evening and attentive staff. Great program to teach young adults skills for cooking & working in restaurants. Will recommend and come back next time we are in town. read more

Rancho Cielo Youth Campus' Drummond Culinary Academy's dining room is an incredible opportunity to support at-risk youth while you eat an excellent meal. Under the thoughtful direction of Chef Paul Lee and Sarda Desmond, the Front of House Manager, culinary academy students cook and serve wonderful pre fixe meals. At around $30 for three courses, the meals are an excellent way to do date night, be socially responsible and not break the bank. I also really love the view from the dining room which overlooks the rolling hills on the 100 acre ranch. Sunsets from the dining room are absolutely beautiful. The dining room is open every Friday from October 19, 2012 through June 28, 2013. Seating is done between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and by reservation only. I have eaten at the culinary academy twice and was pleased both times with the quality of my meal and the pride and attentiveness each student showed in their service to me and other customers. While the students are still learning the ins and outs of service they are extremely polite and eager to please their customers. Today I was treated to lunch and my first course was a lovely Caesar salad, followed by a farfalle pasta with pommodoro sauce, spicy sausage, kalamatas, pine nuts, and tender crisp broccolini. I chased this with a lovely white chocolate creme anglais and citrus tart. The crumb on the pastry was absolutely perfect and it was accompanied with a fresh raspberry coulis. YUM!!! The Drummond Culinary Academy is a unique vocational training program that enables at-risk youth to earn their high school diploma or GED while they learn to work in commercial restaurants, so you can feel that you are doing good by giving them your business, even if your waist-line isn't so sure. :-) read more

The Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy is a fine-dining restaurant on Friday nights from October through July. This is a true hidden gem in Salinas; a diamond in the rough. My wife and I have been here several times, and we continue to be very impressed. The food is professionally prepared and beautifully plated under the watchful eye and guidance of Chef Paul Lee. Although there are students responsible for prepping, cooking, plating, etc., these are very well-trained students and it shows! I would highly recommend the Culinary Academy for a night out of great food and great service at very reasonable prices. And, to top it off, you'll be supporting a great cause. read more

What a fabulous evening with the most delicious food, beautiful presentation & delectable flavors. The youth that provide 100% of the food preparation, wait & server service are remarkable, professional and a delight to chat with. This is truly a wonderful work experience and life skill for many of these young adults to prepare for their future. We were absolutely impressed with everything. Moses, Jessica and many of the other youth are top notch! Providing excellent service, skill and delicious good. We will be bringing more friends to experience such a wonderful experience. read more

I don't have anything to say but great things about this place. We had my Mom's 75th and my sister's 50th birthday here and it was absolutely awesome! From the moment I drove up and saw the green rolling hills covered with bright yellow flowers I knew this place was it. Laura was wonderful, she had answered my questions promptly and we had pulled off the party in less than 3 weeks! The food was superb, our guests were quite happy and satisfied. The service provided by the staff from the food preparation to the venue were nothing but excellent! I hope there will be more parties to come your way :) read more

Rancho Cielo - Specialty Schools Near Me - Salinas, California

We toured Rancho Cielo as a work outing last year and got to dine at the incredible restaurant. All the cooks and servers are the students there that are trying to better themselves. It is a very emotional experience, especially if you tour the premises while you are there. We met some of the nicest, more genuine people, who are trying to learn, grow, and become better people. The food and service was exceptional, especially knowing that some of these students had never served in their life. We all can't wait to go back and continue supporting Ranch Cielo read more

What an amazing find this place was! Tucked into a quiet part of Salinas, the culinary academy operates as a restaurant--but only on Friday nights. This means you need to plan well in advance and have a reservation if you want to experience this great program in action. At-risk youth, under the guidance of a top-notch chef, learn how to prepare and serve high-end cuisine. I don't know if it always works this way but when we were there, the menu was a $30 three-course prix fixe spread and it was all great. There were multiple choices for a first course and we all loved our different salads. The same was true for the main courses. The spaghetti with prawns was superb. Others in my party were equally pleased with the steak and chicken entrees. And the desserts? Let's just say I'm glad they were small portions because they were irresistible. Jessica was our server and she was extremely personable and attentive. The whole experience was an unlikely pleasure. Not only that, we felt like we were supporting a fantastic program that is offering a tremendous opportunity to kids who seem to understand how lucky they are to be able to participate in a local success story. I don't know when it will happen, but I plan to make another trip back to Rancho Cielo. It's that good! read more

Ate there on Friday April 10th. Every course that we had was excellent. Kim and I ordered different things and shared. 1st course we had lobster bisk and arugula salad with goat cheese. 2nd we had salmon that was crusted with mustard. We also had the ranch steak, strip loin. Both were cooked perfect. For dessert we had chocolate cheese cake and a cream Bure. All the help were very attentive and our server Stephanie did an excellent job. Will definitely go there again. Has a nice view of the valley and we got to see a beautiful sunset. read more

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I maintain that this is one of the best places to eat in Monterey County. This program shows kids how to succeed in the culinary industry. Food is prepared by students under the careful watch of phenomenal master chefs. Plating and presentation are emphasized with the students just as much as flavor and taste. Prices are prix fixe, and it comes with several choices for salad/soup, main course (beef, chicken, fish, or vegetarian option) and dessert. I had a blue cheese wedge salad, steak, and a Kahlua creme brûlée. Unbelievable. So good. Your server will always be a student---they are courteous, attentive, helpful, and willing to learn. They are always willing to share their story, their dreams, and their plans for their career. The adult management that helps the young people are great mentors to them, and they are so attentive with the guests. Sarda is an asset to that operation! If you go, I have two pieces of advice---make reservations EARLY, and get the wedge blue cheese salad. It's seriously the best one I've ever had. read more

Loved the location, the food, the service, the MISSION of this restaurant! The Drummond Culinary Academy at Rancho Cielo is training at-risk youth to work in the world of fine dining. From what I saw, they are doing a heck of a good job, too! I would have given 5 stars except that I had to request a new set of utensils for my dessert course. Nit picky, yes, but the standard of food preparation and service already set by everything up to that point was impeccable. I still can't get over the fact that the students working and cooking there are in their teens/early twenties! The food was delicious and presented beautifully. I found the set price ($38) for the three-course meal to be reasonable for the quality and level of service. They had a wonderful wine list, with wines donated by local wineries. Truly a gem, nestled in a peaceful, country setting. Reserve a table at their website. Fridays only. Four sittings. read more