Ciano’s Modern Latin Flavors

Announced they were closing. Guess a lot of people had issues with customer service. they were always oddly empty.
I loved the food– something out side the box. It’ll be missed.

I took a friend out for her birthday and this is the place she wanted to go to. I am so happy she picked Ciano’s.
Lets start by saying that they have $ 5 sangrias on Tuesdays. They have three types on sangrias, mango, peach and the traditional sangria. I had the mango one, and I was very pleased with the drink. It was made so perfectly that I couldn’t even taste the tequila. Oh, which I forgot to say, the mango sangria has a splash of tequila.
The menu is pretty extensive, lot to choose from. We wanted to try the chipotle albondigas but they had ran out so we had the ceviche instead. The ceviche was ok, it has mango in it.
We ordered the pollo en mole and the lomo saltado. I don’t even know how to begin to explain how amazing the lomo saltado. Cooked to perfection, the meat was so tender and the sauce they use is so flavorful. The dish comes with rice and veggies. This entire dish was very very good.
The service is also good. Everything is welcoming and very attentive.
I highly recommend this place if you are looking for latin food with a twist.

We ventured to downtown Campbell for a bite to eat early Sunday evening. We were planning on going to Blue Line, but weren’t that hungry so we decided to stop in Ciano’s for a starter or two.
We sat at the bar, which was empty because it was 5 o’clock on a Sunday. I had been here once before and I remember the drinks on their menu were too sweet for me so I ordered a beer. Our bartender informed us it was still happy hour and gave us some menus. We ended up ordering more than two starters.
Tacos al Pastor (pork belly), pretty yummy
Chori-​queso, it was over cooked so the cheese was hard
El Trio –Guacamole, salsa huevona, and black bean hummus, the salsa was yum!
Albondigas al Chipotle – meatballs w/​black bean tamal, just okay, the tamal seemed old
Fritata con Mote– Carnitas and hominy, again, the carnitas seemed refried or something
Dominicano Sliders, really good
Pepito Sliders-​short rib, again overdone, a meat was crunchy
Overall it was good for the price, food + 5 beers was about $ 60
I am really giving this place 4 stars because our bartender was awesome. The only complaint I have is that he delivered some items to the table that should have been sent back. Just because the kitchen is willing to send out food that’s ill prepared, doesn’t mean the staff has to serve it. Quality control. If it were me, I would have told the kitchen to make another one, rather than deliver it-​hoping that my customer would not complain. I’m not sure where the accountability lies here though, sometimes the guys in back are d_​_​_​s, that may be why this place is struggling a bit.

Witn no reservations, we found the first restaurant available on a busy Friday on OpenTable. A little worrisome that they had availability, but the restaurant looked nice and tapas looked promising. Next door to Opa and a burger place, the restaurant was pretty big with a nice bar area.
They sat us at a really high table with low chairs. Being short, I felt really uncomfortable and they were gracious to move us to the table next to it. The hostess came by and let us know it was a handicapped table, so that’s good that they have accomodations, but not our cup of tea.
Waiter was great, kept our drinks flowing, and patient as we caught up before we ordered.
2 people ordered the vegetarian flatbread, which looked good, but too cornmeal-​y for me. The empanada was a decent size and tasty from what my friend said. The winner was my torta. It was called El Jefe, and felt perfect for the heifer in me. I was starving! On a huge toasted roll was a black bean spread with a pork loin, chorizo, cheese, a fried egg, and with pickled onions, jalapenos and avocado on the side. I really enjoyed this dish! Messy to eat especially with the fried egg, and had to resort to fork and knife. The pork was a little rough though, but all the flavors went well together.
They had a live band, which could get super loud at times and we had to yell to talk to one another even though we were in the far back, but overall, liked the ambience and food options here. Food is also decently priced.

Came here for dinner, my group had the small plate trip, chopped salad, el hefe sandwich and a chicken plate.
Pros
–Excellent sangria
–tasty food
–good portions
–nice ambiance and outdoor seating area
Cons
–very slow service for food & drinks
–staff seems inexperienced
–very high prices

Ciano’s is one of the newest additions to Campbell Avenue, housed in the same structure as Opa! and Mo’s. (Which can definitely get a bit confusing if you’re seated in the front patio.)
I’ve only been here for after-​work happy hour on a few occasions, but feel it’s a solid 4-​star joint.
The décor is fun, the bathroom is spotless, the servers are polite (but could be faster, especially during happy hour) and the food and drinks are, well, 4-​star worthy.
I always order the Dominicano Sliders, which are just about perfect:
«A juicy, natural, wood flame grilled ground sirloin,
Dominican style „CHIMI“ burger served with
beefsteak tomato, pickled red onion, cabbage, and
awesome sauce, on a pretzel bun»
(Not sure what the «awesome sauce» is, but it’s appropriately named.)
I usually wash that awesomeness down with a Palomita or two:
«Tequila Blanco, grapefruit juice,
meyer lemon juice, ginger beer, simple syrup»
Five stars are on the horizon, if they make their drinks a bit stronger, and their service a bit faster (at least during the happy hour time crunch).
Overall — a great addition to the Downtown Campbell scene.

Delicious food at a horrible value
I ordered the Chinichurri steak. It was somewhat pricey, but I figured I would fill up on sweet potato that came with it. They must have purred one sweet potato for the whole restaurant, because I am still just as hungry as when I came in.
Despite that, it was really good tasting. The steak was cooked well and had nice flavor. The purée and spices were a great mix with it, and it came with some kind of crispy kale that mixed well.
If you already ate dinner and want a second entrée, or want to spend a fortune on a few items, then this would be a great choice.

Sangria was totally worth the visit, very fresh, and still strong. I ordered the Mango Sangria BTW. Food was okay, but nothing great. I ordered the sandwich with egg, and avocado, and bacon. It was a little heavy, so I ate it minus one bun. It just wasn’t the best.
The service by the BARTENDER was good. He actually went out of his way to service us. Like, I’m talking, walked around the bar to serve us and ask us if everything was okay, for that, he deserves a BIG compliment. He was very kind, and helpful.
However…hmmm…the reason we ate at the bar, and not the nice gorgeous patio they had outside was because the waitress was serving people in a middriff… what.the.heck? I used to be a waitress, and one big rule of thumb, is to dress appropriately. I mean, a laid back bar, at night, okay, I completely understand a middriff top, but c’mon a nice, higher-​than-​average-​price restaurant? The last thing I want to see at eye-​level while I am trying to enjoy a nice dinner is your stomach. Management really needs to step up their game. Some waitresses/​servers, actually, ALL the other ones were dressed much better. I don’t think I will ever come back to eat dinner/​lunch, just because this was the second time I saw the waitresses baring their stomachs. Please train your servers/​waitresses on appropriate dinning etiquette.

The atmosphere is nice. However, the place must be run by new staff and what tastes like a new kitchen.
Our meals came with soup, however we needed to remind the server of this. She didn’t seem to believe us at first, but after pointing it out in the menu, she had them brought out.
The «delicious butternut squash soup» admittedly had some nice flavors. Unfortunately, it was masked by what tasted like a cup of salt. The meatballs AND the skewers were no better. You’d think after the salt-​water soup, everything else would be milder in comparison… Yeah, no. Just as bad. At this point, dinner was over…
On the flip side, the sun was nice… but that normally doesn’t come with a 49 dollar bill. The El Jefe sandwich was pretty tasty… totally worth the two stars that it redeemed for this place.

No wait on a Friday night. No crowd. Score… NOT!!!
With our lack of patience, we ended up at Ciano’s for dinner. We decided to share many small plates instead of the main entrée.
We ordered:
— El Trio = Guacamole, salsa huevona, black bean hummus, and root chips.
— Morada = Crab meat with an awful pungent fishy smell. I could not stand the smell or the taste of it. Very odd because I love crab meat.
— Azteca = soup with grilled chicken, sour cream, tortilla strips, avocado, and ancho chile. The only thing that tasted decent that night.
— Skewer sampler = two skewers each of: chicken, steak, and fish. BLAND and TASTELESS! What happen to the seasoning!!!
— Fritada con Mote = Pork carnitas confit, aji panca orange sauce
warm hominy salad, pickled vegetables, queso fresco. Not flavorful but I do like eating the hominy by itself.
My tummy was dissatisfied. Food was underwhelmed. Service was so-​so and slow. Drinks was flat and boring. Overall, a disappointing restaurant.

A group of co-​workers and I went to Ciano’s after work for dinner.
We were seated a long row of tables. One of them was extremely tippy. After we said something to the server, a guy came out and got under the table and tried to fix it. He was under the table while we were sitting there for about 5 minutes. Unable to fix it he swapped out the table.
Two of us ordered the seafood stew and three ordered the lamb shank. They brought out two lambs and one stew. About 5 minutes later they brought the second stew but not the other lamb. We said something to the man who brought it out and he said there was only two. The server arrived and the server and man argued for a minute. The server came back later and said the receipt jammed and so it only looked like 2. (If a receipt jams, wouldn’t you double check? Or how could you read it at all? I didn’t buy this reason.)
The food was good. It wasn’t cheap but it was delicious. It was well made.
Our server was friendly. She didn’t know some of the information about the drinks but she got the information quickly.
I like the décor. It’s modern and interesting.
While we were sitting drinking and talking, they turned on the lights. It was about 9:30pm on a Tuesday. I normally would think they would stay open until 10pm but 9:30pm is fine. I thought turning on the lights was extremely rude. It felt clear they wanted us to leave. I know they would have to clean up for at least another hour. I don’t know why they couldn’t just say «we’re cleaning, but stay as long as you like.» Instead they turned the lights on like it was last call.
Food: 5
Hospitality: 2

El Jeffe, the flank steak sandwich.
Both great sandwiches, meat in el jeffe crispy deep fried pork loin was seasoned the bacon and the cilantro spread avocado
Shut Up!!!
Flank was marinated al pastor a flavor I never tire of.
The bread on both was this light crispy bread that excellently surrounded meat and fillings. The Pozole!!!
The Pozole was the best broth I have ever, ever had!!!
They bring you a bowl that is layered with
Hominy, red cabbage, and the roasted turkey shredded in big shreds. Then the waiter picks up this pitcher that looks like a pitcher for cream, and out pours this deep reddish brown broth into the layered dish
Unbelievable
So kudos to you guys out there at ciano! You impressed me

Frankly, I’d say the ambiance speaks more than the food.
Service was good, I thought, despite my dinner date thinking our server lagged on getting to us. Dish presentation was about right: pretty and pleasant; however, the food just didn’t quite match our expectations. Every dish just seemed so small. I mean, I totally get portioning out your meal. But these dishes were small — like the, «…get your own food, I can’t be sharing…» — small. No Bueno.
The El Trio from the «Small Bites» menu is not an understatement. The Ceviche Peruano doesn’t give you much to munch on either. Their Jicama and Chayote salad was good though. Probably the most filling… and it’s a salad.
The bar and restaurant is beautiful. The high ceilings and bright ambiance really make this place what it is. Little disappointed I can’t say the same about the food. Check this place out if you are really just out for a light bite. cuz that’s really all you’re going to get.

*2.5
Friday night in downtown Campbell is a rush, especially with all the restaurants on the strip that do not take reservations. My group and I decided to play restaurant roulette: put our name down at a few restaurants, and go which ever calls first. My first choice was Opa, but Ciano called first. We decided to do CIano for drinks and appetizers and go to Opa for dinner. What a mistake.
The good:
Cianos has AWESOME drinks. I tried the Ciano Lemonade, so good. VERY tart, and very strong drink. The vibe here was very trendy also, I would come back here for drinks at the bar. Waitress was gorgeous as well. The food also had amazing presentation.
The bad:
WARNING: Our food took forEVER to come out. Our pager rang for Opa 5 minutes after making our apps order, so one of our friends went ahead to Opa. 20 minutes later, still no appetizers, whereas my friend at Opa had already received his drink and food order. We tried to cancel the order but before we could one of the 3 apps came out. 10 minutes later the other 2 apps arrived.
The food:
Very pretty, good tasting but was not worth the tab. Our 2 drinks and 3 apps cost $ 60. We ordered the Albondigas, Chips and Salsa Trio and Empanadas.
Would come back here for drinks, if I had a lot of time to kill, I’d want to try their other small plates.

The Sangria hooked me but the food totally sold me. This is a restaurant soon to be a regular destination.
We had the Agua Chile, raw scallops served wrapped in cucumber then dipped in a chile and mango powder and served in tasting spoons with avocado water. It’s got a nice kick cooled by the cucumber.
The carnitas served over Posole was simple yet delicious. No fuss, just good hearty food.
The pastry chef here is quite good, serving up stylish presentations of the classics.
The Tropicana features katafia with Dulche de leche, plantains and mango sorbet. Fabulous finish.

I have been here several times since they opened a few months ago! Love the food, atmosphere, staff, and the overall experience is always ⁵⁄₅ for me!
FOOD: The sauces really make the dishes here. Some of my favorites: empanadas with a jalapeño pineapple sauce, the Albondigas al Chipotle (sirloin meatballs on a black bean tamal), the bolinhos (salt cod and yucca fritters — tastes just like melted cheese), and of course, the ceviche!
DRINKS: So delicious! The Sangrias are must-​tries (especially the Ciano’s) and the bottomless mimosas on weekends (especially the blood orange house-​made purée).
The desserts are amazing and beautiful! The Sueno de Sangria is heavenly and has a genius contrast of flavors — chocolate mousse, malbec, orange bourbon chocolate, lemon ice, lime caviar, chocolate … chocolate … my table ordered three more after trying mine!
It seems like the low reviews are from people expecting Mexican food at Taqueria prices, and that’s not what Ciano’s is at all. Clearly by the name, this is a MODERN twist on LATIN cuisine, and the chef makes the dishes into a modern art form. Presentation is still always part of the price. There’s definitely a new kind of culinary revolution in Downtown Campbell, and maybe it just needs getting used to.
I’m always overall very impressed, especially since Ciano’s is only a few months old! The interior is gorgeous and the friendly staff really complete the 5 star experience! And then, of course, there’s the exquisite food and drink!

I just have to give an updated review. We have visited Ciano’s many times since their opening, for both drinks in the bar and dinner at a table. We have tried different menu items, but this weekend we both ordered the hamburger. We had seen another couple order one on our previous visit, and it just looked amazing. Note: The servers have NEVER suggested this as a good entrée, so we had never tried it. I think that was a mistake!
It was! Our hamburgers were so good we almost couldn’t believe it. We both loved them, they were juicy and so flavorful. Not to mention that you don’t need any of the typical sauces (ie ketchup, mustard) because they have such great flavor with the ingredients they use to top it. For two people who consider themselves a little bit like hamburger connoisseurs, we were very much impressed that we found a five star hamburger at a Latin fusion restaurant!
I still think the only thing lacking at this restaurant is great service. It’s the reason behind my missing star. Don’t get me wrong, the servers are all beautiful women, and they are friendly. I just haven’t been happy with the service at all. It hasn’t ever been «bad,» it just is a little slow still. Hopefully that is just the freshness of the restaurant and that will change so I can give it five stars! :)

**************************** REVIEW 885 ********************************
3.5 Stars
Ciano’s is spacious, lots of room in between tables, an out door patio perfect for people watching, modern but not as warm setting.
We tried a few dishes, all were OK, nothing stands out.
— Albondigas al cihipolte
— Fritada con Molte
— Bolinhos
— Taro and Plantain chips was actually good.
— Ceviche Peruano was OK, not as tasty as I would hope for.
— Pollito — the chicken breast was probably the best dish of the night.
— Hamburger — i don’t know why my broski wanted to order this at a Latin resto, but we sent it back because it was over cooked.
Sangria is good but pricey for a pitcher at $ 40! We also ordered 2 bottle of wine, 1 was a Rose, the only one on the menu for $ 45. They don’t have the ice bucket to ice the bottle for us correctly. Limited wines list, high mark up on wines! Good service for a new restaurant! Especially Mike at the bar, he’s genuine and nice. I understand it’s a new restaurant and they need time to settle in. Although, the service is really nice and I will come back to try other dishes soon!

Let me start by saying that I would give this place a 2.5, but Unilocal doesn’t have that rating.
I went when the place was pretty crowded, but we got a table quickly with no wait. The interior of the restaurant is very nice and the way it opens up to the patio is great for summer days.
Service was attentive, but lacked information (outlined below).
We only tried two dishes: Chilaquiles (typically a Mexican breakfast dish) and their Chicken dish. Both had good presentation. Taste was average for both. Nothing special, but not bad.
The big big downside to this restaurant is that they really give you small plates, but the menu looks like a traditional appetizer-​entrée-​dessert type of meal. This is completely wrong. You need AT LEAST an appetizer, entrée and dessert, plus probably share one or two others between you to have a meal. This is fine for me if they informed us of it. I would have ordered four or five dishes and had probably a 4 star meal. But when we ordered just an entrée there was not a peep from the waitress.
So, my advice to you — order a lot of dishes otherwise you will be eating an appetizer sized main course and wondering where you should go after the meal to fill up.

After my second experience at Ciano’s — I left with mixed feelings. While dinner was great, lunch was terrible.
It took 25+ minutes for our salads to come out to the table. Salad.
Upon arrival, my coworkers and I were highly disappointed by:
SIZE– if I had ordered a side salad, it would’ve been acceptable. But this was supposed to be a lunch salad.
PROTEIN — the portion was miniscule. Each side (we all ordered different proteins to be added) literally came on the side. Luckily, I ordered the steak which was decent. The chicken was plain and unseasoned. I do not know how the shrimp tasted — there were only 3 on the plate. $ 4 for three shrimp? try again.
(lack of) FLAVOR– The jicama y chayote salad was incredibly bland. zesty orange juice and habanero vinaigrette? What a joke. There were no tomatoes in sight, heirloom or otherwise.