Rancho Cielo Youth Campus - Salinas

Dinner at Rancho Cielo is a wonderful experience in every way! We first enjoyed a glass of wine on the outdoor patio with a beautiful view. This is a relaxing way to wind down from a long week. The dining room is very nice and the service is terrific. The 3 course menu offers something for everyone. The presentation proportions are just right, and the tastes are delicious. The dining room atmosphere is casual and friendly. The entire pleasant evening is topped off with a sense of supporting these students who are being equipped to contribute to society and to have successful lives. Rancho Cielo is a win for everybody!

Had a wonderful meal! My DH had the chicken; I had pasta-so we each tried both. Salad tasty and beautifully presented. Service was super; our server was Zoie and did a great job!

What fun to enjoy good food cooked by and served by the students in the culinary arts program. Check out their dinner menu on line and make your reservations early as they are nearly always sold out.

Had dinner with friends. The location was peaceful and and the training concept for young people added a level of positivity. We enjoyed the service and food. The salads and entrees were especially good. I encourage you to support this important program and experience the beautiful surroundings and great food.

I found out about Rancho Cielo by accident. I only wish I had known about it sooner; the food is excellent. My entre of short ribs was first rate. The meat was very tender and served on a broccolini bed. The side dish was a roasted potato-celery offering which I hadn't had before last night. It was quite good. My companion had what she called the very best squash dish she has ever had. She usually orders a vegetarian entree when she can and commented several times during the meal how much she liked it. She isn't usually so vocal about food but this meal was an exception. I had a couple of bites and she was right, it was very good. Dessert was satisfactory. I had one eye-popping bite when I bit into the ganache, cake, raspberry, cream and mint garnish simultaneously. That one bite told me my desert should have been carpeted with mint to make the entire dessert exceptionally tasty. My companion had a cheesecake. I'm not a cheesecake fan and she didn't rave about it but she finished it. Again she isn't vocal about food. The only negative thing you can say about Rancho Cielo is it's only open on Friday nights until June. The menu is prix fixe. There are four seatings on the half hour until 6:30. I can't speak to the wine offerings as I don't usually drink wine. The beer offerings are typical for Salinas. The restaurant is way off the beaten path nestled on Fremont Peak's foothill. Salinas is a mile or so to the south so it's a drive from wherever you are in the area. Regardless, it's definitely worth the effort.