El Cielo

Me gustó la experiencia !! Una manera muy muy diferente de disfrutar mi tierra colombiana, la food es deliciosa, cada platillo que llega a la mesa es una experiencia visual con un sabor único. El servicio muy atento, nos explicaron cada platillo y que consistía aparte un poco de historia y en que se inspira el chef para hacerlo. Me encantaría volver y espero ser invitada por ustedes. Viajaría allí de nuevo por volver

We loved it. El Cielo was an unforgettable experience with an intimate and elegant ambiance, setting the perfect tone for a special night. We started with the tuna tartare, which was beautifully presented and bursting with fresh, delicate flavors. For our mains, we had the bison and quail, both cooked to perfection, tender, and rich in depth.My husband had the "Chimberito", a sour sop-infused cocktail that added a bright and refreshing contrast to the meal. I enjoyed the "Don't Give Papaya", a mango-infused drink, along with a glass of Tempranillo, which paired wonderfully with the bold flavors of our dishes.To finish, we had the heart-shaped dessert, which was not only fantastic but also the perfect touch for our marriage celebration. Every single thing was presented with such grace and creativity, and the service was immaculate. Every course felt like a work of art, making the entire experience truly special.If you are looking for an upscale, immersive dining experience, El Cielo is absolutely worth it.

Overall a great Michelin-star restaurant with great service, ambiance, food presentation, and appetizers/mains. I recently went here with three friends for Restaurant Week dinner and we were seated immediately at our reservation time. Except for being a little rushed as we ate (servers coming to collect our dishes well before everyone was done), we had outstanding service from start to finish, with our server explaining every dish. The restaurant had lots of Caribbean, Colombian, and indigenous art, with plenty of natural light and wood. There are also vegetarian and pescatarian-friendly options.We each got a different dish for the three courses and shared the dishes. We also got the yucca bread service before the appetizer course. The presentation for all dishes was outstanding and Michelin-caliber. Here's a breakdown of each dish:Yucca bread service: This included a yucca flour bread stuffed with cheese, brown butter, roasted tomato sauce, and cilantro sour cream. The bread was outstanding, with tons of delicious, melty cheese. All the spreads were great and the presentation of the bread and spreads was the definition of a Michelin-star dish.AppetizersTuna Tartare: I loved the fish-shaped corn crackers on top and the sauce added good heat. While the tuna was fresh, it was extremely salty.Corn Soup: A delicious combination of corn with different textures-puree, crunchy corn, and dumpling-like chunks.Lulo Ceviche: The star dish of the night and one of my five favorite dishes I've had this year. The hiramasa was extremely fresh, juicy, and perfectly marinated. The lime added brightness and acidity, the lulo added a unique flavor, and the quinoa added fantastic crunch. The dish was stunningly presented with great color contrasts and beautiful shapes. EntreesRockfish: The rockfish was good, although nothing spectacular. I loved the whimsical fish-shaped presentation and the quinoa was cooked well.Yucca Gnocchi: The yucca was a delicious flavor, the gnocchi were cooked perfectly, the sauce was rich and creamy, and there were just the right amount of mushrooms to add umami without overwhelming the dish.Unfortunately, both desserts offered as part of Restaurant Week tasted bad enough that I gave El Cielo a four-star instead of a five-star rating. Although visually stunning, the Winter was astringent and acidic with the pine and eucalyptus. Additionally, the other components were tasteless. The cholao was slightly better but still extremely acidic. I was surprised that El Cielo chose not to highlight Colombian chocolate and/or coffee in their desserts, both of which would have provided ample opportunities for creativity and being true to Colombian cuisine. However, we did get a completely edible white chocolate candle to conclude our meal as we were celebrating a special occasion, and the candle was delicious-multiple kinds of white chocolate, including pop-rock-like crispies inside.Although I would not order dessert, I would still recommend El Cielo for your next special occasion!

My husband and I were very excited to get a reservation at El Cielo on the very last day of DC's Winter Restaurant Week!As many of the other reviews have commented, getting reservation was not the easiest - but that is to be expected with a Michelin Star restaurant during a busy week!!Needless to say, all of my persistent and efforts to get a reservation were WELL WELL worth it! The experience was amazing.From the minute we walked in to the restaurant, it felt as if we were teleported to Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos' Medellín escape in Washington DC. The decor is such that you really do feel the personal touches that have been added, that not only make you feel the fine dining experience - but also with a touch of homeliness.The Restaurant Week menu offered 3 amazing courses, with three options to choose from for each course. My husband and I also went for the cocktail pairing to ensure the full experience !I was definitely blown away by the vast array of flavours, textures, preparation and all round vibrancy with each of the courses as well as the cocktails. I can truly say that each course during was one of a kind - and stimulated all of the sense.The service -- as one would expect from a Michelin Star restaurant was impeccable!! From the help when choosing what to order, through to the changing of cutlery and delivery of each course throughout the meal. The execution of the service was skillful and polished.If you are looking to celebrate a special occasion, treat yourself for a small or big accomplishment, or have been curious to try El Cielo - go for it! You will not be disappointed.

Amazing, amazing experience! Had date night here with a girlfriend and we had such a great time. Initially we had a ressy for the gastrobar, basically a la carte. Our waiter, who was fantastic, sold us on the chefs menu, the 10 course one. There is a larger one but unnecessary for us. Where do I begin? I'll just talk about my favorites, otherwise this will be VERY long. Okay first off, the staff is amazing and so professional. They truly are putting on a show for you, every step of the way. We started with the truffle buñuelo and it stuck with me the whole time. I could've had 5 of those easily! The corn broth was wild - different textures, different flavors, yet all complement each other. I love corn! The tuna is so fun! Came out with those fishies and you can create your own thing. Place a tuna on the fish shaped bread, and then add the toppings. The bison was amazing!!! So tender and juicy. And then the funnest part of all - chocotherapy. They brought out a big bowl and poured chocolate on you and then added espresso that basically exfoliated your hands. And then you guessed it, you eat/lick it! This is fun to do and a little sexual. It was delicious! Ahhh such a wonderful experience. I can't wait to bring my man here!

Solo diner review- What a delightfully whimsical night at El Cielo! For some context, I had a reservation for 5pm on a Wednesday night. When I arrived I was the only diner for the first hour I was there (what an unexpected way to have a private dining experience!). I did book an early reservation for a weeknight because I chose to do The Experience menu and knew it would take 2-2.5 hours. The service was impeccable throughout the meal -- not just when I was there alone -- and they definitely kept the courses coming out at a steady pace. The staff was friendly and attentive without hovering and gave good advice about eating strategies, but less about the inspiration for some of the dishes.Some menu highlights were the Truffle Bunuelo (a single gooey bite of garlicky goodness), the Corn Broth (exciting mix of textures and temperatures), and the Coffee Field with dessert. Both the meatier dishes (quail and bison) fell a little flat for me. The quail was beautifully seasoned, but was overpowered by the sauce and the bison dish lacked salt (for my taste). Others have commented that El Cielo's presentations (Chocotherapy, the Rose Petal, Coffee Field) have felt a bit gimmicky and I can see that. But if you're in the mood for experiential dining this is a fun place to go.Paired wines were right on. Admittedly I doubted their choice to go back from a rose to a white, but the pairing was amazing. There are two single stalled bathrooms in the back of the restaurant. Other diners ordered cocktails that appeared creative. Tables are large and well spaced out -- dining room was quiet without feeling awkward. I felt perfectly comfortable as a solo diner, but this really is a solo experience. Please keep in mind that this is four stars for a Michelin starred restaurant; I'm giving no handicap on that rating.

This review is long over due. Hubby and I had a date night here and were very excited about it!We had been to "La Cosecha" (the Latin marketplace next door) a few times but had never realized El Cielo was right next door. La Cosecha has a great Latin vibe and great eats so we were eager to be blown away by El Cielo.I'm all about first impressions and details-- specially when it comes to high end restaurants or Michelin restaurants, I believe the focus should be on creating an unforgettable experience for all the senses, not just taste. So upon entering El cielo I was pretty underwhelmed by the aesthetics and ambiance of the place, it looks like every other modern cafe with not much attention to detail, specially for it being a Latin restaurant, they could have done a better job at transporting you to vibrant Colombia with the design. The bathroom looked like it belonged in a "hole in the wall" restaurant, not a Michelin one, so I was highly disappointed. But that was only the first impression, I was eager to try the food and be blown away...And unfortunately we weren't. The presentation of the food was the best thing out of everything- they have done a great job at creating beautiful plates. But for the most part the dishes were forgettable. Nothing was amazing or tasted like something we had never eaten before. Service was decent.Overall we had a nice evening.

Topline: the food at El Cielo is fantastic and inventive -- probably closer to 2 Michelin stars. The service and atmosphere, while lovely, is probably what pulls this down to just one. A friend and I did the gastrobar experience and loved the food. Some of it, like the ceviche and the shaved ice desert, was exceptional. And everything I ate was delicious and unique -- the "tree of life" bread had a texture like I've never seen and was plated so inventively. One course, the chocotherapy, is pretty much just lotion, but, it's still pretty fun to do! I'd be excited to come back for the longer tasting menu, both because the food was so good, and also because I actually left a bit hungry after just the gastrobar experience. Drinks: I got cocktails, and thought they were good -- about the quality that you'd find anywhere else. At $25 a pop, I didn't feel like they were worth it. At other equivalent places in the area, the drinks were the best flavors of the night. Here, they were just cocktails. Service: our server was very kind and attentive. But, we were extremely rushed through our meal. At one point, we were still eating the previous course when a new course came out. My friend was never able to finish her drink pairing for a course before they brought out the next one. I think they probably brought a new course every 15 or so minutes. Atmosphere -- as another review said, it feels like a regular nice restaurant. If i'm being nitpicky -- which clearly I am -- the bathroom had some peeling paint, a bit of rust, etc. It was still clean, it's just something that you'd think a restaurant of this caliber (and which no doubt has higher aspirations) would probably fix.

Nestled in La Cosecha in NOMA is Elcielo. The 22 course tasting menu is a beautiful tribute to Colombian Cuisine. Every movement and bite was carefully crafted to tap into all of our senses from scent, taste to touch (wait for the chocolate course ) The food and ambiance transported us to the beautiful beaches of Cartagena and the mysterious corners of the Amazon jungle.The dishes ranged from intricate qe to whimsical like the Chocola-therapy where we washed our hands with chocolate and sea salt or The Tree of Life, a Yucca bread served fresh from the oven on a wire bonsai tree representing the lung of the world, the Amazon rainforest.It's no surprise why they've earned that Michelin star but you'll have to go visit to check out the rest of the surprises they've got in store. *| Our Menu |* Aguardiente& Passion Fruit ToddySpring Blossom SorbetTruffle BuñueloTapioca & FoieTuna, Peanut & Yuzu Guajira's Dry Shrimp RiceCarimañolaChocotherapyTree Of LifeCorn BrothShima Aji, Lulo & QuinoaLobster, Corn & Lemongrass Quail, Wild Onion & Rice Bison "Al Trapo" Mango Cone CholaoTamarind ProfiteroleGuava & Amaretto TartCoffee FieldRose Petals

4 stars for a pretty solid Columbian restaurant experience.We were looking to grab a nice dinner one evening and (after getting through the website's annoying popup on every page) saw that El Cielo had some availability for the Chef Choice option. I booked us for 9pm (which the restaurant called soon after and moved us back to 8pm), and we soon after headed over to the Union Market location.We arrived at the venue to find a very nice dining area with tall ceilings, a bar in the back, and generally solid decorating. Per my friend who previously dined at the venue, the ala carte and Chef Choice option are in the front of the restaurant, while the The Experience 20 course option and bathrooms are in the back area of the restaurant. We took our seats and our waiter came over to take our order. He was generally fairly pleasant and provided us with solid service throughout the night. He handled and/or explained most of the dishes either by himself or with the assistance of the chef or an assistant. In terms of the dining, we started off with cocktails (which were good) and a spring blossom sorbet, which was a nice start. We then moved on fairly quickly to the truffle bunuelo and tuna, peanut, and yuzu dishes, which were each quite solid. Next, we underwent the "chocotherapy" part of the dining, which essentially involves washing your hands in some chocolate. A little weird, but I guess it was a nice activity to try out.Soon after finishing our chocotherapy, we received our tree of life, corn broth, and shrimp aji. In terms of the tree of life, which included several dips and an awesome bread style tree, it made for a great snack for all of us to share and admire. in terms of the corn broth and shrimp aji, the former wasn't really that great while the latter was quite tasty and memorable. The main issue that we ran into for this meal (and thus the reason for the paragraph separation in this review) was timing. It took quite a while for our next dish (the bison) to come out. The bison was served by the chef and was quite good, so we were ok with the wait at that point. We then again waited a pretty long amount of time for the dessert dish (the cholao). However, the dessert was quite good and probably one of my favorite dishes of the meal, so we again were ok with the wait. We then waited about 20-30 more minutes for the final "dish" in the tasting, which were rose petals that essentially were moisturizer for our hands. The check took another 10-15 minutes, making the last 4 courses of the tasting take more than half our 3 and 1/2 hour time at the venue. My guess is that the timing was thrown off due to coordination with The Experience, but other reviews show that this is a problem that the venue really needs to consider fixing.Overall, El Cielo provided us with a pretty solid meal. The venue, service, and food overcame the timing issue for the most part.