Reviews for El Cielo in 1280 4th St NE, WA
This was the most incredible culinary experience of my life. My partner and I partook in “The Journey” with an additional... anniversary drink special, and we were absolutely blown away from start to finish. I can’t name a single dish or step wedidn’t thoroughly love, and we kept agreeing that many of these dishes were the best “X” (soup, gnocchi, eggplant, etc.)we had ever tasted. We are both vegetarian, and the thoughtful shifts in menu items to accommodate us were incredible. Each andevery dish (and cocktail!) was crafted to perfection and the staff were extraordinarily kind and accommodating. I willabsolutely come here again to see what other magic the brilliant chef and staff create, and would encourage anyone considering asplurge to indulge in this experience. Read more
What a phenomenal dining experience! The chefs artistry was on display from the moment we sat down to our rose covered table. I... won't put any spoilers in this review but suffice it to say this was a gastronomic delight. We were extremely well cared for bythe very knowledgeable staff. Daniella, Alejandro, Yasmin and Anita made us feel like we were home in Columbia and thebartenders made every cocktail an experience to remember! Read more
Amazing Colombian experience, El Cielo is so much more than just a restaurant; It is an experience that everyone have to live. ... Chef Juanma, chef Sebastian, their entire kitchen team and dining room team make every second unique. Every bite, every glassof wine & every breath are new emotions. And the story behind gastronomy is authentic. Thank you all, it has been an honor tobe able to visit you and live the experience El Cielo?????????? Read more
My girlfriend and I dined here mid June 2022. We had an amazing time. Each and every dish was delicious and so flavorful. Well... worth the price tag. Four and a half hour experience. All of the staff were excellent. Top notch service. The wine pairing wasfabulous and so were the cocktails. Best dining experience we’ve ever had. If you’re thinking about it, highly recommend, itis worth the memorable experience. Read more
As the name suggests, this is one of the most amazing dining experiences in the DC area. Unlike other restaurants of this... caliber, El Cielo truly takes you on a culinary tour around Columbia. The food is superb, the drinks are one of a kind, and theexperience is literally equivalent to a show. The presentations are incredible, and the staff do an amazing job of letting theirlove for the food show as they present each dish with its own unique story. Read more
We did the El Cielo "experience" and all in with wine pairings, tax, and mandatory 20% tip we spent roughly $1000 for a dinner... for two. My wife and I have done nearly every high end fixed price experience in D.C. and I bring that comparative lens to thisreview. So this review does not assess whether El Cielo is a good restaurant (it is) or whether it deserves a Michelin star (itdoes). Instead this review is whether the "experience" is worth $1000. In short I'd say no, it's not worth the charge. My"experience" started by arriving to a locked door. There were staff in view and they ignored us while we waved at them andknocked on the door. They left us outside until another patron opened the door and we came inside for our reservation. I said,"Why is the door locked?" To which the hostess replied "We know, thank you.". What a bizarre opening to what one would hope tobe a once in a lifetime meal. We then were asked to sit in chairs by the door and wait for our table in an essentially vacantrestaurant. They kept us there while another couple knocked on the locked door whom they ignored as they knocked and thenbrushed that couple off again when they asked why the door was locked. We were seated and enjoyed a wonderful series ofappetizer courses. The wine pairing is a bit too light at the front end as you get only a small glass of white wine for thefirst 6-8 courses. The main courses were a delight. As expected the food was excellent. I would have passed on the"experience" in favor of the tasting menu. The extra charge is for a chocolate hand wash, a "lick your plate" dish which felt abit uncomfortable to me but my wife enjoyed, and mediocre coffee served over dry ice. The atmosphere is also questionable, theyhave music playing very loudly and with all the servers masked it was nearly impossible to hear the explanations of the dishes(which are complex) additionally, they have reached a point of unfortunate efficiency where guests are moved t Read more
Absolutely fantastic, my new favorite restaurant in DC! We’ve been twice and each time our meal was extremely creative with... amazing flavor. The valentines special had some extra surprises that I won’t spoil here. As a Colombian restaurant, the menuisn’t quite like any other fine dining in DC. Expect chewy tapioca flower bread and seafood as staples. The portions are good,if you have a small stomach you might have to ration space. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The only area ofimprovement I could think of is the meal timing. Some courses had a bigger wait between them than seemed intended. For me foodcomes first though, and the food is fantastic, so the timing isn’t a big deal. Read more
Absolutely epic fine dining experience, replete with a dizzying array of Columbian cuisine-inspired creations presented expertly... by a warm and gracious staff. Of the 14 courses we enjoyed, I would say one was a bit disappointing but as for the rest, mostwere jaw-dropping and the rest just superb. The pacing of the courses was a bit uneven, but otherwise just a splendidexperience. I would allow 3 hours for the full meal (not 2 as advertised). Highly recommended. Read more