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Michelin Star me PLEASE! I'm a foodie and when I told my friend I was one, he asked how many Michelin Star restaurants I'd been to. I chuckled, because honestly I'm not a foodie snob but perhaps I need to be. Pre Bday dinner before heading out of the country he chose El Cielo to celebrate me first! Located in Union Market, El Cielo hides in plain sight on the corner. Parking is always a win at Union Market hence why I am always there! Ambiance: dimly lit, reservations only, couples galore, and definitely an intimate atmosphere. Service: TOP NOTCH this is why you pay the big bucks! Nothing was amiss! My friend has experience with high‑end restaurants, Michelin star restaurants to be exact so his perspective added a helpful benchmark with what to order. He took the lead and ensured I tried all the top favorites! *They do offer an À la Carte Menu, or traditional Pre-Fixe menu* Let's get into it! Tree of Life - Yucca bread, Brown butter, Cilantro sauce - Such a cute presentation! Butter is amazing! Ensaladita Caliente - Grilled Romaine letuce, Parmigiano, Hearts of Palms, Kumquats - Soooooo Good! Yes to this dish! Catch of the day - SeaBass Buttermilk reduction, Green oil, Chontaduro - Perfectly cooked! Loved it! Yucca Gnocchi Pecorino cheese, Shitake mushrooms, Sweet plantain, Added Truffle - VERY YUMMY! Flan - Vanilla, Salted caramel - Fantastic! Mucholate - Rum Ice Cream - I mixed both this and the Flan! Loved it!
My friend and I dined at El Cielo this past Monday evening to experience their Restaurant Week (Winter 2026) three-course meal for 65pp. We were able to select a starter, entree, and dessert each. There were plenty of upgrading options, but we decided to stick to the basics. Both of us enjoyed a glass of wine each, and I tried their current rosé offering for 18 per glass. I don't drink alcohol often, so I can't comment too much on flavors -- I did enjoy the fruity and bubbly wine throughout my meal. -- STARTERS -- TUNA TARTARE A deep red tartare topped with peanuts drizzled with an earthy, smooth paste that had the consistency of ricotta along with a single chicharrón. There was a bit of cilantro mixed in, but surprisingly, I didn't notice it as much as I thought. The tuna tartare was light in flavor, but fresh and enhanced by the toppings. The crispy chicharrón paired well with it. Solid tartare, no complaints. Only wish we had more chicharrón to enjoy the tartare with. BEEF TARTARE The beef tartare had a golden egg yolk perched on top and came with a few small arepas on the side. The tartare was very flavorful, with a lot of pungent aromatics from the raw onions and miso, yet silky smooth with the yolk mixed in. The arepas were nicely charred, but a bit too burnt for my liking. -- ENTREES -- DUCK BREAST & ATOLLADO RICE My first bite was the atollado rice, and wow, it was smoky and warm in the best way possible. It was incredibly creamy and rich, definitely cooked with a fair amount of spices to get that deep flavor. The duck was cooked perfectly -- each bite was tender and juicy. The calamansi sauce on the side provided a sweet and surprising tanginess. Solid entree, definitely a richer and more savory option. CATCH OF THE DAY The catch of the day was black cod, which was cooked to perfection -- soft and buttery with a mildly sweet flavor. There was a green salad on the side that was a bit bitter when eaten alone, but was a harmonious combination when eaten with the cod along with the two different sauces (buttermilk and a mildly sweet brown-colored reduction). This is the entree we'd recommend if you want a more delicate and lighter option. -- DESSERTS -- MUCHOLATE The dessert would've been better without the rum, though rum-forward desserts just aren't our thing. The chocolate bark was a nice touch, but I didn't really like the white chocolate one. The ice cream was smooth, and the chocolate crumble was delicious. The mousse(?) on the side was nice, too. FLAN Silky and smooth flan -- texture-wise, this is as perfect as it can get. It sat on top of a caramel-based reduction, which was a bit too sweet for our liking. Given how thin the flan was, we thought there was too much reduction. Overall, the food was fantastic, with only a couple critiques on the two desserts. The portion size isn't the most generous, and I was ready to snack once I got home after dinner. However, we enjoyed a fancier dinner out and got to taste Colombian fine-dining! It's also a bonus that El Cielo was on inKind, which helped us save quite a bit on our meal.
I snagged a reservation do restaurant week and was happy with the results. The seating was prompt and it felt very warm and welcoming walking into the restaurant. I started with the tuna tartar (without the chicharon ) and it as delicious. The flavors were very interesting and oh so flavorful. The next was the gnocchi which I opted to top with the truffle. It was okay, not my favorite. It was served on the colder side which was I didn't find too tasteful. My dessert was the flan and it was amazing. It was my second favorite dish and that's saying a lot. It was wonderful! I will take a moment to hype the tree of life. It had the consistency of cloud bread but a bit more textured and firm on the outside. The butter that accompanied it was amazing. Very good and I would order again i opted to go back, I will sat there was a pretty big hiccup with our drinks. I had ordered a wine flight and my friend ordered a cocktail. After waiting thirty minutes and having our first course, including watching tables after us order drinks and get theirs, we realized they must have forgot. It was hard to grab our servers attention and we ended up finishing our first course sans drinks. This kind of ruined the wine pairing. When we did get his attention he made note that there was an issue at the bar, but the wine wasn't served at the bar, so it seemed sit was just forgotten and they were speeding to make them happen. We were comped a glass of wine which was nice, but my friend didn't drink wine and wanted her cocktail. When we both ended up with our orders drinks, we were happy. It wasn't too big of an issue in the end, but put a damper on the excitement we had for this meal since it almost took until our main/second to get it our drinks.
TLDR: Warm ambiance, great service, flavorful elevated Colombian dishes. Absolutely worth visiting for their extended restaurant week menu. Perfectly warm lighting, professional yet comforting service, and truly delicious food. Located right next to Union Market, it is an easy and convenient choice. As soon as I saw they extended their Restaurant Week offering through March 30, I made a reservation. You really cannot go wrong with any of the options. The duck was incredibly tender, and the beef tartare with arepas delivered impressive depth of flavor. The rice was a complete flavor bomb and tied everything together beautifully. This is a reliable spot for elevated Colombian cuisine, and I left feeling very satisfied and comfortably full. My only small notes are that the miso egg yolk on the tartare was slightly too salty for my taste, and I wish the duck breast skin had been a bit crispier. Overall, a lovely dining experience that I would happily return to.
We reserved the last table of the night, and wow what an immersive experience. Every dish was a visual moment. Presentation across the board was a solid 5/5. What I loved most was how intentional everything felt. You're not just eating, you're learning about Colombian culture through the ingredients, the storytelling, and the progression of the meal. The most memorable dish of the night was the Coffee Fields. Absolute standout. Make sure you have your camera ready for that one. I actually had to ask where the beans were from because it was that good.
This was truly a wonderful and memorable experience for me. I fancy myself as a foodie with plenty of experience in fine dining and I believe this meal was on par with Alinea in Chicago as well as other multi Michelin Star experiences I have enjoyed. The quality of the ingredients, the originality of the experience, the knowledge and presentation of the staff, and the value for the experience was superb. My favorites were washing my hands in chocolate, the feeling of clouds as I sipped freshly brewed Colombian coffee, the tender bison, the crispy quail, and the beautiful presentation of bread that was truly a meal in itself. Also, the venue itself is beautiful, modern, and was very comfortable. I look forward to going back soon and hosting an event with friends and family there before year end. It's only a matter of time before this venue earns another Michelin Star.
What a treat to have been taken here for my birthday. Being Colombian myself, I had to try the only Michelin star Colombian restaurant in the states and it did not disappoint. From beginning to end the experience was a surprise to the palate. It was almost like being taken on a tour of my beloved motherland. The attention to detail and hospitality by the servers was also unmatched. The interiors were beautifully decorated, the music was just loud enough to set the vibe but also allow you to hold a conversation. I 100% recommend El Cielo for the experience for a special occasion, you will not regret it. Won't post pictures of the dishes bc it's so nice to be surprised.
Easily the most unique (and expensive) dinner I've ever had! Highly recommended! Staff, meal, presentation and ambiance was 10/10!!
Back to El Cielo-the only Michelin-starred restaurant we're eager to revisit. Once again, it delivered an unforgettable experience. While our beloved Tree of Life and Yucca Gnocchi never disappoint, the Truffle Buñuelo completely stole the show with its explosive flavors. We'll definitely be back!
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.
We came to El Cielo with low expectations. We weren't very big fans of Colombian cuisine, nor did we have much experience in it aside from trying local shops and Mita (very disappointing). Wow, we were blown away! Every dish was presented with finesse and flair. Each bite was great and it had enough Latin American influence in the food to be recognizable but also wasn't so immersed in that style that it would be daunting for less adventurous diners. I really enjoyed their truffle bite as well as the raw tuna and fish arepas. While expensive, it was a worthy experience and better than many other Michelin restaurants we have been to. Pay for the extra Birthday experience-it's a nice addition to the meal.
I went there with friends for their restaurant week experience for a birthday. The restaurant is modern and nicely decorated. Staff is very welcoming and we were immediately seated. The food was delicious, from the chefs complimentary offering to the bread to the entree, everything was fresh and made with thoughtful ingredient. The cocktails were also delicious esp the sour sap one. The highlight for me was the duck and the bread. Tuna tartare was good but I feel it was missing the spark, something about it felt less fresh or flavorful. Our server was amazing and attentive. They even brought a fun complimentary dessert at the end, which pops in your mouth like a cracker lol. See pictures attached.
I went to Elcielo for Restaurant Week and I ended up having a wonderful meal! The appetizer I selected was beef tartare. It had a delicious zesty sauce, a confit egg yolk on top, and some little arepas to eat it with. I thought it was delicious and very rich. I wonder if a crispier side (plantain chips?) would have been better to mix up the textures, but the flavors were all lovely. The main I went with was yucca gnocchi with shiitakes mushrooms ina very rich cream sauce covered in Parmesan with a few dots of plantain honey. It was so rich and filling and delicious. Things got a bit salty on the right side of the bowl with the sheer volume of Parmesan, but that's a minor thing and the sweetness of the honey was so good in with it. I especially liked how the shiitakes tasted in the sauce. Again, I think maybe some little crunchy topping would have been nice, but I really thought it was a standout dish and would recommend trying it for sure. For dessert, it felt too cold for their rum ice cream, so I went with flan. I was surprised at how classic it was. The sauce was a bit too sickly sweet for me, and I think maybe a darker/saltier caramel or one infused with something like coffee would have cut through more. The texture was absolute silky perfection, though, and I'm always happy with a good flan. Service was kind and attentive. Presentation was beautiful. I definitely want to come back and try some of their a la carte items like the cheesy yucca bread, but the price point is definitely very high. I was grateful to get to try the menu for Restaurant Week and I appreciated that they offered their full, regular tasting menu where others often skimp. I would definitely return to try it again this summer and order the dishes I didn't get this time!
I decided to have El Cielo be my main birthday celebration for the year and I can definitely say that I enjoyed myself tremendously. The venue allowed for an intimate feel while also allowing us all to not feel like the different tables were on top of each other. The service was impeccable (the only hiccup being that they didn't let us know that we would have to tell them how we wanted our bison cooked well in advance). Lastly, the quality and execution of the meal were amazing. We opted for the twenty course option, which allowed us to sample a variety of bites which were rooted in Colombian flavors. Some of the favorites were the passion fruit toddy (a nice warm and tangy start to the night), the tapioca and fois gras cube (which was crispy and not too rich), the tuna "empanada" (the presentation alone is definitely worth getting this), and the ceviche (tangy, fresh and overall excellent) were my favorite savory items. Although all of the desserts were great, my favorite were the pumpkin and sapto cone and the cholao. Although most of the menu suited my tastes I found some of the flavors to be either very similar or repetitive. A lot of the items had a tangy and fruity quality. I also found the last dessert (the guava tart and tamarind profiterole) to be underwhelming. The flavors were complimentary (but again tangy), but beyond the dry ice element the desert itself seemed very simple for a venue which wowed us so much at the start of the dinner. Overall, I enjoyed myself, however I probably will not be back for more (4/5). read more
Went to El Cielo for my birthday with a friend. The entrance was locked when we arrived and one of the staff members came to open the door for us. We were shown to our table which had my name and menu on it which was cute. The decor was nice and staff was friendly, however the experience was a huge disappointment! I felt like focus was more on the theatrics than food. We decided to go with the journey which is a smaller version of the experience. It's 14 courses but 2 of them weren't really to consume. 1. Canelazo reminded me of a hot spiked apple cider. It was nice and warm which was great because it was a bit chilly in the restaurant. This was really good. 2. Azotea bunuelo was brought out before I could even sip my canelazo. It was a a fried dough filled with some type of crème. It was good but I wish I knew what was inside. 3. Aborrado was a small dime sized snack that also came out with the 1st 2 dishes. At this point it was hard to understand which dish was what as the staff wasn't clear and talked a bit fast. It was ok, was on the sweeter side. Since 3 came out right after the next, we asked to have the food to come out slower but we're told these were the snacks. 4. Crab empanada was shaped like a crab but didn't have a crab filling. They were also very tiny and we were told to break open the crab and stuff it with the pineapple salsa and a meat filling that didn't taste like crab. If this was crab then the seasoning was very overpowering. 5. Chocotherapy was not an actual course you consume. The waiter poured chocolate over our hands and then told us to rub our hands in it and then lick our fingers. I'm sorry...but I didn't get to wash my hands before this "course" and didn't seem appropriate to be licking my fingers at a Michelin star restaurant during my meal. 6. Tree of life was really good, warm and had a cheese filling. The brown butter was delish! 7. Onion and white chocolate soup was good but came as we were just starting the tree of life. The white chocolate was interesting to add to the soup and was decent. We felt like we weren't able to enjoy the tree of life because the other dish came out as well so again we asked for the food to come out slower. We were told the bread was for the entire evening...but if that's the case then why didn't we start with that? 8. Lobster ceviche roll felt very out of place for a Colombian restaurant. Not only that, I could only taste the vinegar/pickles in this dish. Not good at all. 9. The yucca gnocchi dish wasn't great either. The mushroom and truffle made sense but the gnocchi was like a sweet dessert. Flavors didn't go well imo. 10. Black cod was very salty, quinoa was ok and the baby corn was just baby corn. Sauce was overpowering. Overall way too salty for my taste. 11. Quail fiambre was ok, the banana leaf it was wrapped in with fragrant and the quail was tender but the filling was mushy. 12. Lick me was and ice cream lollipop covered in tajin with a shot of liquor. It was good and the coating popped in your mouth. 13. Honey was nicely presented. The bees were soft, thought it was crispy. The honeycomb was crispy. The ice cream was good but the other one was thick and gooey and wasn't good on its own. 14. Last was the rose petals. Another "course" that wasn't edible. We were told to rub our hands with the rose petals. It smelled good and moisturizing but again...I didn't get to wash my hands first. Overall, dishes was tiny, flavor was a moss on the majority of the food and service was ok (never got refills on my water). read more
Came here on a Saturday night for dinner. We participated in the 20-course dining experience. The restaurant space is utilized effectively and not overly large or small. Service was top notch throughout the entire 2.5 hour dinner. Cocktails were diverse and flavorful with an extensive wine list as well. The progression through the 20 courses is thoughtful and well planned. There aren't too many heavy, starchy dishes stacked side by side. There are lighter meals placed next to heavier ones to help you progress through the experience. The ceviche and the truffle were probably our favorites. Overall a wonderful experience and we will definitely return. read more
We came on a Friday night for the 20-course El Cielo experience after seeing El Cielo's superb reputation for their restaurants in Columbia. Especially for the price point, the experience was disappointing and underwhelming. The dinner took almost 3.5 hours, and likely would have taken longer if we had not requested a speed-up in service. There was no reason for the pace - some courses had a ridiculously long wait time in between. Kitchen was not prepared for timing. Highly recommend just going for the smaller course menu if you do want to try El Cielo. Many of the desserts and snacks were not worth the extra time/cost. 2 of the courses on both menus are not food - just be aware. The one shining star was the front of house staff and the lead server for our table - Alexandra. She was remarkable and it was fun learning about the culture and history of the dishes. Each snack course was essentially a bite, with the mains being small dishes and desserts being a combo. Some of the courses were delicious and delightful, others were very disappointing. The tapioca and foie - there was no taste of foie and the tapioca was dry. The quail was way too salty - kitchen basics! Most of the desserts tasted similar - overly sweet/syrupy and little character. We didn't finish 3 of the dessert courses because they were so disappointing. They did bring out a thoughtful edible chocolate candle to celebrate the occasion - that was probably the best dessert. Lastly, not sure why the restaurant is prepay/nonrefundable. The restaurant wasn't full the entire night we dined. read more
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. read more
Enjoyed a multi-sensory dining experience with the full tasting menu at El Cielo. What a surprising and unique experience! The service was impeccable. They even lock the doors once dinner has begun so they can focus on their clients for the evening. Everyone was friendly and informative on our food. They even provide a personalized menu with your name on it. The tasting takes you on a culinary journey to experience Columbia literally and metaphorically. Some of the experiences are certainly not for everyone, like washing your hands with chocolate or licking a plate. I thought these were quirky and fun. The food was excellent. My favorites included the aborrajado, potato cone, lamb artichoke onion, and yes the bread tree of life is fantastic! The food was pleasant to the eyes and belly! It was during the Cherry Blossom Festival so the cherry blossom dessert was beautiful! A wonderful bonus was my edible birthday candle I got, which was also tasty! This is a wonderful treat and experience for a special occasion, but again, you have to be open to some unique experiences! read more
Wow. Worth every single penny you will spend here, they EARNED their Michelin star. We did the 22 course dining experience, that truly represented a Colombian-inspired culinary experience. You will learn a lot about the culture, food, and traditions of Colombia. The atmosphere is classy and upscale, but feels very personal and intimate. We ordered several of the cocktails (including the flight), and were impressed with every single one of them. Our favorite was their signature drink "Don't Give Me Papaya"- Which was very refreshing and was served in a fun animal head. The menu is ever-changing (with a few items remaining the same, season to season). Some of the signature items/experiences that were really fun to take part in and taste were the chocotherapy (washing your hands in chocolate), the tree of life, and the coffee field (served with Colombian emeralds and the yellow butterfly). The "tree of life" was the BEST bread I've ever had (be careful not to fill up on it!!). My favorite dishes were the seafood "soup" (included squid, mussels, and clams), the yuca gnocchi, and the duck. My favorite dessert was the raspberry sorbet that you licked off a plate (seems awkward at first, but is more acceptable with the entire restaurant doing it). I thoroughly enjoyed every single dish (except for one- the blood sausage with green apple and blue cheese)- they were all creative and flavorful. This restaurant is worth the experience, I really can't say enough about it. The service was top notch- they brought us an extra round of flights (that they "accidentally" made") and brought my friend a birthday candle (edible dessert) for her birthday. Warning- you will leave full!!! After the first 8 courses I was concerned I was going to leave hungry (they are all bite size), but then the entree portions begin to arrive and they are large portions. Be prepared to spend about 3 hours here for your dining experience. Would HIGHLY recommend coming here and doing the full 22 course menu (not the abbreviated menu). read more
5 stars for the food and cocktails. 4 stars for being seated in the front in winter. There are several other reviewers who have already echoed my thoughts, so here is my warning so that you can have a more comfortable experience: In the winter, if you get seated in the front room, it is a bit chilly -- layer-up or ply yourself with a few cocktails -- the front seating is drafty due to the nature of the building. However, in the summer I bet it is beautiful! We did the 22 course taste experience with a few friends and had an awesome time. We didn't get the wine pairing, so I can't comment on that, but the cocktails were expertly crafted and delicious in their own right. I would recommend skipping the wine pairing and getting 1 or 2 gorgeously prepared cocktails. 2 will easily carry you through the whole dining experience :) Overall, the meal was well-paced with all the dishes and flavors being perfectly executed. Some of THE BEST flavor combinations I have had, including one course that was onion and white chocolate... Say what?!? You read that right, but the dense, earthiness of what seemed to amount to the very essence of French Onion soup was balanced by the little beads of white chocolate hit with liquid nitrogen, creating a sensation of hot and cold / savory and sweet -- SHEER PERFECTION. Though I enjoyed everything, the Seafood Soup, Lamb, Salt Crusted Rockfish, and Crab Empanadas were the other highlights of the night for me. And the Yucca bread that makes up the Tree of Life course is AMAZING when paired with the accompanying spreads (I believe that one is always on the menu). I also don't care what other people say, I enjoyed the theatrics of some of the courses. Chocolate was once used as currency in Colombia and plays an important part in their history, the Chocotherapy is an homage to that significance and smells wonderful while being both delicious and exfoliating (ALSO - I come from Hershey, PA... home of the chocolate spa... you don't want to know what people pay to be scrubbed down entirely with chocolate - and you don't even get to eat it!!!) And if you are worried - You.Will.Be.Full - I am always worried that I will leave after a tasting menu and still be hungry (happened at Mini Bar even though each course was a gastronomical wonder) -- but I was actually pretty full at the end of the meal. The appetizers are bite size, but between the two soups and three to four entrees that are much larger portions, I don't think you could leave hungry. read more
"The Experience".... a 22 course tasting menu that provides thrills and excitement for 2 1/2hrs. El Cielo is making a splash in the DC restaurant scene with its amazing and flavor filled dishes. While serving amazing dishes such as the Crab Empanadas and Hamachi they also come right behind that with "Chocotherapy" that is not only delicious but such a treat to experience. Although 22 course may seem like a lot trust me when I tell you that you will be ok. The beginning 3-4 course and the last 4-5 courses are all single bite courses. Although they are small I can tell you from experience they are flavor filled and all plates are presented in the most amazing away. The "Tree of life" is definitely the most visually stunning meal out of the 22. It is a simple yet delicious bread presented a "tree". This course was great and I really enjoyed it. The staff is a orchestra that is perfectly in sync. They move effortlessly through the dining room to ensure your dining experience is the best it can absolutely be. The restaurant itself is beyond gorgeous, and it's even more of a treat when you take part in the "The Experience" or "The Journey" and get to eat right in front of the open kitchen. Wonderful, wonderful experience. Well deserved of their Michelin Star. Highly recommended, a must go to. This restaurant is the true definition of a "special occasion " restaurant. Tip: If taking part in "The Experience" I would suggest 2 or more people in your party. read more
3 years ago
I visited Elcielo recently and it was a very unique experience. I think if you're really into unique dining experiences and are an extreme foodie/not afraid to try things outside of your comfort zone, this would be a fun place to try. We did the 20 course experience and it lasted 3.5 hours (which is long). At times, it did feel like the experience was dragging, but I imagine it takes time to prepare all the dishes, even though they are small. We didn't leave here feeling stuffed but we also didn't leave feeling hungry. 20 courses sounds overwhelming, but all the courses are very small, and some courses aren't traditional food, like the chocotherapy, where chocolate is poured on your hands and you taste it. The 20 course option is almost $300. If you ask me if it's worth almost $300, I am not sure, but it's definitely a special experience that had very good food with bursts of flavor. read more
El Cielo is such a cool experience! It's in a trendy neighborhood of DC and the entire restaurant is only 11 tables so you really feel well looked after throughout the meal. The dinner is about 3 hours and features 22 courses (19-20 you eat) taking you all around Colombia. It was such a unique way of experiencing a dinner and I really appreciated the presentation of each course. Everything was so well executed and thought out. It was very playful and unique! One issue was due to the sound in the restaurant it was hard to hear and understand the servers. Luckily we had the menu on the table as reference but we did a lot of nodding and asking each other what the course was. Also I didn't love the papaya cocktail I had - it was straight booze. I wish I could give El Cielo a 4.5 because the meal was excellent! There are so many dishes that I really want to experience again! read more
Inside La Cosecha, a food hall/market celebrating Latin America, near Union Market is the world's only Michelin star Colombian restaurant helmed by the youngest two Michelin star chef in the world. Mic drop. It's the place to be! With free street parking nearby or in Union Market's open lot, the moment you walk up to El Cielo, you feel back the pieces of this masterpiece. There's outdoor dining on warmer days during the pandemic. The first room is where diners enjoy the a la carte menu with a bar serving house cocktails and wine. The back room is the chef's tasting menu near the open kitchen concept. The entire restaurant is designed simply with plants inviting you into a D.C. escape. The menu itself is superb. A few standouts: - Crab empanadas and arepas - Yuca gnocchi and the cheese foam they swim in - Ceviche (among the best in the city) - House cocktail (papaya, mango, lime and mezcal in a very ornate glass) Dining at El Cielo is a experience from beautiful atmosphere to superb service to divine food. The cherry on the top is that they make you feel like family. read more
My girlfriend decided on this place for her birthday dinner. I was a little worried because her birthday was booked more than a month out but Pedro and the restaurant worked with me to set up a time slot on that day so big shout out to him for that. Weird thing though is a few days before they moved our 6pm time slot to 4pm which sucks but we rolled with it and they did offer us a gift and some extra wine courses for our trouble. Took a second to figure out where the restaurant was. We walked into La Cosecha first and couldn't see it but then walked back out and found it at the corner. We were greeted as soon as we got in by multiple people and directed to our seats in a smaller dining room, adjacent to the kitchen. Our table was a little crowded due to a large plant on either side of us. Now we opted for 'The Experience' with the wine pairing so this was about 22 courses so I won't go into all of them. Our favorites were the Corn Bunelo, Chocotherapy, Tree of Life bread, Pumpkin soup, Yuca Gnocchi, the duck, Lick Me! (it's wild to even type that), and the Columbian Emerald. The Chocotherapy and Lick Me! specifically were super fun and the Rose Petals as a lotion were super crazy as well. All the wines we had were great compliments to each course and we're not usually great at being able to tell. We were convinced to try the cocktails as well, which definitely wore us down later in the meal but the presentation and flavors were super great there as well. The staff was super friendly, the food was on point for every course and it seems like they could tie every course back to Columbia which was a great plus. They even brought my girlfriend a nice birthday treat! Pretty blown away by the whole meal. Luckily we came during their one year anniversary so we got a gift bag and letter as well! Big props to the El Cielo team for the great experience! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
They did not lie. The tasting menu here is truly THE EXPERIENCE. We wanted to treat my parents so we went here for the 4pm seating for their birthdays and got the 20-course tasting menu. The restaurant itself is aesthetic (modern, wood) and it felt intimate with only about 10-12 tables total. After sorting our wine order with the sommelier, the amuse bouche came out pretty fast. The whole dinner was well paced, and although I was so certain I would not be full after indulging in the first couple courses, I was wrong. I was so full by course 12, and thankfully, most of the rest were desserts. I've been to my fair share of tasting menus and this one is my favorite to-date. What differentiates El Cielo outside of the food is the presentation, the experience, and the context that comes with it. It gives you not only a taste but also a feel for the country the dishes were from -- Colombia. Our servers, with our main one being Sebastian, were attentive the whole time and made sure our experience is great. I don't want to spoil anything else as it would be delightful coming in blind, but 20/20 will always recommend. read more
Presentation is everything and this place did not disappoint. Plan to spend some time there because we spent almost 2 1/2 hours. The place is loud and it's hard to understand the server when he describes the dishes. I found myself nodding a lot. It was helpful using the souvenir menu for a point of reference.. We did the 22 courses. Some dishes were better than others but I think it's just that everyone may have different preferences. I love lamb and my husband doesn't, there isn't substations but we just made the most of our tastings. As for wine pairings... we chose to order a bottle of their Tempranillo, goes with everything. They don't sell wine by the glass. We had excellent service. The staff was helpful and friendly. I thought they were really attentive. They take your coats/jackets for you plus they have a stool at the side of their tables to place your purse. It was so convenient. This place is perfect for special occasions or a date night. But at their price point it's a bit steep. I'm glad we tried it. Would I go again... maybe if someone else is paying, lol read more
I came to El Cielo with my fiance and our friends to celebrate my fiance's birthday. The meal was great (see pictures), until one of the people in our group got sick. The staff, particularly Cristobal, handled the situation extremely well. We asked for many things and got all of it and more to deal with the situation. They were very accommodating as we dealt with the situation. The type of service needed in that situation is rare, and everyone was amazing! We were very thankful for it. read more
Tried the wonderful experience/tasting menu at El Cielo this past weekend, and will definitely return. Unique and interesting courses, solid ingredients and techniques, a fun concept/story and good service, this was one of my favorite recent meals and maybe one of my favorite tasting menus in the city, and definitely deserving of the michelin star. Came for lunch - it is a big meal, so come hungry. By the end, courses had slowed a bit and I felt very full, so my one critique would be to keep the pacing of the meal through the end, we were ready to go after the long meal. Other than that, the food was very good, loved the opening bites and smaller courses, some of the mains didn't quite hit the mark for me but they were still good. Desserts were wonderful. The space is intimate and open to the kitchen. read more
I'm still in awe at how amazing this dinner was! Came here for Valentine's dinner, and the amount of detail in everything - from the moment you walk in to the food and service - was phenomenal! The tasting menu we had was called "The journey", and rightfully was a culinary journey the entire way through. We decided to do the drink pairing with dinner and have no regrets doing so; I don't drink often anymore and have a pretty low tolerance to the burn of alcohol but even I found 2 wines I loved. This dinner was a sensory journey, I don't want to spoil anything but I will tell you the dinner is very interactive with the food in ways you don't expect. I loved learning about Columbia's history and how it's expressed through their food, and I was delighted to taste fruits I've never had together like Yuzu and lemon in their sorbet. This dinner was so good I've decided to learn how to make Colombian food at home, and I can't say enough great things about ALL the staff. Every person we interacted with was wonderful, our server was very knowledgeable about each plate, and the sommelier was kind enough to answer any questions we had about the wines. This is a great place to go to for a date night or any special occasion, I look forward to coming back! read more
My boyfriend surprised me with a 23 course experience here (have to count the birthday cake) and I have to say I have never experienced anything like it. The flavors, aromas, ambiance, ritual, and culture was simply amazing. You don't have to do the tasting and can order off the regular menu but it was a treat to enjoy Colombian cuisine. The cocktails were very good and unique. We ordered la playa and chimberito. La playa was a yummy coconut drink and chimberito was very refreshing with thyme in it. The food was spectacular. The bunuelo, yucca gnocchi, pumpkin soup, tree of life (best bread ever), and mandarin sorbet were some of my favorites. Everything was so creative. Who knew I could bite into something that looks like an emerald but have it be chocolate? The experience piece constituted washing my hands in chocolate, licking raspberry sorbet, and enjoying coffee while daydreaming about the mountains of Colombia. The staff was also great - they described the traditions and asked how we were enjoying our food. I would love to come back since everything was made with such love and care and tasted phenomenal. I thought I would still be hungry, but I was full by the time the entrees came. read more
I must admit they nearly had to wheel me out after 20 courses and experiences. I chose the entire Journey through Colombia for my 41st birthday dinner. I was seated and began my two and a half hours of eating. We began with a welcome shot and small bites. The blend of flavors were unexpected and incredible. I ate everything and I am a pick eater. Passion fruit and avocado together? Absolutely. Lobster ceviche topped with roe? Yes. Every delicacy you can imagine was featured. Quartered quail and quail eggs, lamb chops. Tamale. Empanada. Savory bon bons. Crystallized rock confections which looks exactly like the stones found in the mountains. And that's just the food. There were so many experiences. Like pop rocks suspended in a Turkish delight type gelatin, topped with dippin dots exploding in my mouth even after I swallowed my bite. The hot corn porridge with a frozen corn garnish to be eaten together. The choco therapy blending touch, smell, taste. The presentation truly was a journey from an iron tree to a bed of river rocks with a single bite which blended in so well I had to be warned to only eat the food items. Even my birthday candle was a gold flake layered chocolate filled with ice cream but able to be lit. I was so worried by the time the finale began because I was so full from the perfect pacing of my journey. But I was relieved to be greeted by pour over coffee and a rain forest light theatric scene and a rose petal to rub on my hands ending the night with the beautiful and serene. I cannot capture all I experienced in this review but everything was amazing and well thought out. Bravo. read more
2 years ago
Incredible. I had "the experience" with my husband for our anniversary. The 22 course tasting menu was inspired and delicious. I don't even like coffee or aguardiente (a popular Colombian liquor), but the chef made a drink with both ingredients plus passion fruit and orange peel and OH MY GOD. It was one of the most delicious drinks I've had in my life. The staff were incredibly welcoming, kind, attentive, and helpful. The chef and the owner both came by to talk with me, and the chef was more than happy to describe the ingredients and the cooking techniques. I definitely recommend the Krug experience. That was very creative and unique to this restaurant. They made my anniversary romantic, fun, and unforgettable! They even gave us little extra desserts to take home along with a Polaroid instant photo of my husband and I. read more
4 years ago
A fantastic tasting experience. We did the full 20 courses and each bite was good and interesting. The pictures will speak for themselves. Overall the appetizers and small bites were more flavorful packed and unique than the entrees. While still good, the entrees felt more classic vs the uniqueness of the appetizers. The deserts were delicious as well. Each dish is well crafted and has a unique presentation style. Only thing is pacing was a bit slower than expected. We started eating around 4:00pm and did not finish until close 7:45pm. read more
Visited El Cielo on Friday evening with my partner. While I expected to be wowed, it pains me to say that we sadly left underwhelmed by the experience. Our reservation was for The Journey which promised 14-16 courses, but ended up being 13 (2 of which were sensory experiences and not edible.) To keep the review brief, we loved the amuse-bouches, the Tree of Life, the corn soup, the popsicle and the complexity of the Cholao which had a nostalgic feel of pop rocks. The restaurant is also beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. For the things we didn't love..we thought the wine pairing was overpriced and would not recommend as it was $110 for five pours (most were ~1 oz) that were not appropriately spaced over the course of the meal. Secondly, while the servers were really nice and accommodating (we were running a bit late due to traffic,) my partner had a shellfish allergy and although it was noted on the reservation it was not acknowledged when we arrived and we had to tell our server as we were seated. Even after us noting the shellfish allergy twice, he was served crab with the crab empanadas- thankfully we caught the error- but this left us questioning many of the meals the rest of the night. Not the level of service we'd expect for the cost. Additionally, with the acoustics inside, we couldn't hear the presentation of what was in each order. After a few attempts of trying really hard to hear our servers, we just smiled and nodded. Lastly, the Posta Negra was one of the dishes we were looking forward to because it was heartier than the amuses was almost too salty to enjoy. While I was glad to have the opportunity to try El Cielo, the $1,000 cost and status led us to have high expectations that unfortunately were not met and the experience was more 'ok' than 'great.' read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
El cielo was a great experience. The tasting menu was an intense and cohesive experience. Every dish was special and the service made it even better. Our server Sebastian was kind, helpful and knowledgeable. The ambiance was perfect, perfect amount of decoration and great music. I really enjoyed every second of it. read more
El Cielo will allow you to experience Colombian cuisine and take your taste buds on a journey. You will experience food from San Andrés to Cali to Bogota to Medellin to Cartagena and everywhere in between. The dishes are masterly crafted and the precision of the presentation heightens The Experience. The Experience is a 22 course meal that starts with finger foods like empanadas then works it way to main dishes like lamb then it is followed up with desserts then to finish the evening a coffee. The food was delicious and rarely did a course have something that missed the mark. The one dish I did not enjoy was one of the desserts that were paired with the coffee. Likewise, the last course wasn't a meal but was a rose pedal with lotion for your hands. It was a nice addition but it shouldn't have been called a course. It was an added flare like the fog they create when you are served coffee at the end to simulate the fog in the mountains. Nonetheless, everything else was amazing. The tree of life (bread served with caramelized butter), mango sorbet, the lamb, the fish, the yuca gnocchi, the seafood stew, the onion soup with white chocolate, all the finger foods (crab empanadas, empanada de iglesias, tostones with guava, Chorizo, and the buñuelo), the passion fruit shot served along side the cinnamon panela drink, and the other dishes were fantastic. Also, La Playa is one of their drinks that is served in a coconut on a plate with sand. This drink is perfect if you enjoy coconut. Finally, their margaritas are good too. All in all, this place is a place to go if you want to try Colombian inspired food. It's not going to be the exact dish you get in small towns in Colombia but the main ingredients are there. The ingredients are heightened and presented in a delicate manner that one would come to expect in a Michelin star restaurant. It is worth a try! read more
One of the coolest dining experiences ever! From the service, to the presentation of each dish, but mostly importantly, the food, everything was top tier. Part of the beauty of fine dining is the experience, in addition to the food, and the chocotherapy was a unique and fun experience! Highly recommend trying out this Michelin star. read more
El Cielo felt like a Colombian PF Chang's in Epcot: all pomp, little substance at a ridiculous price point. Even on Valentine's day, at $250pp, I expect so much more. Everything was gimmicky. We licked plates, participated in a chocolate hand wash, discovered that the flowers at our table were a cocktail, and had fog rained down upon us during coffee, meant to elicit fog from the mountains. Some of the dishes were very good and nothing was bad, but the unnecessary theatrics took away from the culinary experience. The waiters themselves sounded like machines reading from a teleprompter. They couldn't answer even simple questions about our dishes, to the point where we stopped asking. The acoustics in the restaurant are horrible, which made it extremely difficult to understand what they were saying. I still have no idea what was in most of the food. The biggest failure was the wine pairing, which seemed to be sourced from the Trader Joe's a few doors down. For $150pp, I don't expect to be greeted with Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut as my bubbly. Not a single wine was memorable, let alone remarkable. I've been to two other DC one stars (The Dabney & Bresca) and a former star (Blue Duck Tavern) and all were superior. I have no idea how this restaurant weaseled itself onto the list. If this place isn't knocked off next year, I'd be shocked. n.b., as we were leaving, someone asked us for feedback, particularly which dished we didn't like. Given the mechanical nature of the staff all night, I gave a few pointers, but didn't give her the earful perhaps I ought to have. read more
This was quite the birthday experience! Food was amazing (20 courses) and whimsically presented. I did the wine pairing and my husband the cocktails. We shared and thoroughly enjoyed both. Wine pairings were fabulous and the cocktail presentation just so much fun. The vibe was great except we both had a hard time hearing our waiter over the music. Don't get me wrong I LOVED the music, it was just a bit loud. Sommelier was super helpful and informative. It was evident everyone who worked there truly enjoyed what they were doing. My only real complaint is this. What exactly is the 20% service charge? What does it cover? Who does it go to? I have zero issue paying for an amazing meal and experience but what precisely am I paying for? I know this is something DC is trying out (Initiative 82) but even after reading up on it, it is unclear whether or not this goes towards the tip. We did tip regardless since we wanted to make sure the wait staff was compensated for their efforts. Would have give 5 stars had this service fee either been omitted or better explained. Overall we loved the experience! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Went to try the Bar Experience and it was an amazing experience. From the bartender to the food, definitely recommend checking out this place. All the cocktails were really good and paired really nicely with the courses. Personal favorites for cocktails would have to be the Cimberito and The playa. Really recommend the Tree of Life and Halibut for food. read more
We were super excited to come here for the full experience because we've never had Columbian food before nor 22 courses and it was for our anniversary dinner. We were greeted at the door and they offered to take our coats. I noticed that there were a bunch of coats on chairs at the front counter and it was a little strange because I guess that's their coat check? The night started off strong because the staff at El Cielo had laid out rose petals across the table for our anniversary. It was simple, but super cute and such a thoughtful touch. We were asked about food allergies which we don't have, but we let them know that we weren't the biggest fan of cheese or butter, so if that could be substituted for oil or removed, that would be great. Our first courses were the passion fruit mistela and canelazo. The passion fruit mistela was so refreshing and cooling, but my favorite was the canelazo. It reminded me of a hot apple cider and was so warming and brought me back to Christmas times. What's weird was that the food was not brought out in the order of the menu. Next on the menu was the azotea bunelo, but we got the aborrajdo which were plantain chips which were pretty good. The potato cone was cute but a little embarrassing for me to eat because when it's served, it's placed into another one of the animal head figured and surrounded by quinoa or some type of dried grain. When I chomped into the cone, the grain that was inside, just scattered everywhere on the table. That only happened to me. I guess my cone was wedged deeper into the grain than my husband's haha. I was super excited for the crab empanadas because I've never had crab empanada before. The empanadas were shaped into little red crabs to represent the red crab migration and were super cute! We were instructed to open the crab and fill it with the crab meat provided and the pineapple salsa. This was fun, but didn't feel like eating an empanada because the crabs were small and it was hard to stuff anything in them. There was a chocolate dish where they pour chocolate onto your hands and you're supposed to rub your hands together like you're washing them. I was very hesitant because I didn't want to dirty my clothes nor get any chocolate under my nails and we had been touching all the silverware and plates and we didn't get to clean our hands before this. They said we could also just lick the chocolate off of our hands. The staff members were just watching and waiting on us to be finished so they could pour water on our hands to get rid of the chocolate. I felt like it was weird to be waited on like that, but I can definitely see how this could be fun. I just wish I didn't feel pressured to do the whole activity because while I get the point of it is to get the benefits of the cocoa butter on your hands and feel how soft it is after while also getting to eat it, I would have preferred having the chance to just eat the chocolate on its own. Next was the onion and white chocolate soup which is weird sounding, but the presentation was fun. My soup was heavy and I was getting a little disgusted by it, but I looked over at my husband and he was drinking everything up while I had half a bowl left. I asked my husband how he could drink all of it when it was so buttery. He took a sip of mine and was surprised because his had no butter at all. He asked the staff about the soup and wanted to see if I could get a small bowl without the butter and the staff said that they didn't change our dishes and asked us how we know that it has butter in it which felt a little rude because we could taste it. Later I was asked by one of the staff members if I could eat pork, which was confusing to me because I didn't mention any food allergies except not wanting butter/cheese in my food if possible. The next dish came and my husband got the cod dish and I was told that they had replaced my cod with pork. Strange, but then I cut into my pork and tasted it and found out it was a mushroom. We asked about why I got pork instead of the cod on the menu and the staff member told us that the dish was supposed to be pork. Clearly on the menu, it said cod. Then we pressed and asked why the pork turned out to be mushroom. There was no answer for the cod-pork-mushroom switch up nor the soup from earlier. Eventually Yolanda, the hostess came over to speak to us. We let her know about our experience and she was super apologetic and so kind. She was able to find out about our soup and since the kitchen had moved on from that course, she asked if there was anything they could give us for the mishaps. Super sweet, but we didn't really need anything. Overall Yolanda saved the night. Her patience and kindness were very much appreciated! The other staff were a bit standoffish and curt. The food was mediocre and nothing stood out. read more
A surprise dinner from my girlfriend. A one-star Michelin restaurant in DC that I hadn't heard of? Shame on me, but to be pleasantly surprised is always nice. As a total package, the food, presentation, experience, and service were top notch. I wasn't sure what to expect going in. While some may think some of the courses are gimmicky (chocotherapy), I felt they all worked in trying to tell a story about Colombian cuisine. I won't bore you with the specific details on each course, other than they all impressed. A very enjoyable experience (with wine pairing)...would love to return!! read more
More info about El Cielo
1280 4th St NE
Washington, DC 20002
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(202) 569-9855
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https://elcielo.com.co
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Ask the Community - El Cielo
What is the dress code? Should men wear jackets?
There is no need to wear a jacket. You can wear one if you like but it is not required. I just wore jeans and a nice shirt. Some people are dressed up while I saw someone wearing a t-shirt
Where's the closest place to park or do they have complimentary valet?
La Cosecha as a whole (where El Cielo is) has a parking garage adjacent to it. It's free for the first three hours, no validation needed, and after the 3 free hours, it's a $15 flat rate.
Can they do vegetarian friendly tasting menu? Is it still good/worth it?
They do a vegetarian friendly tasting menu, just call to let them know. I did it and it was worth it!
Are you still hungry after this experience?
Definitely not. I was forcing myself in the end. You'd think you're going to be hungry but they certainly fill you up as the dishes continue.
Is there an A la carte menu in addition to the "Journey" and "Experience" tastings, or do you have to do a tasting menu?
Yes there is! You don't have to do the experience to enjoy the food.
Is this place kid-friendly?
I would not bring kids. The experience is more for a date, business, fun adult time. Now if you want to spend 300$+ for your kid to eat go for it. I would say 16+ I go there…
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