Ciano (CLOSED)

After reading some exciting things about Ciano, naturally I was eager to try this place. Suffice to say, I not sure I'm convinced that this place is living up to the hype. To start with it took way to long to get our drinks and with the prices they charge one would think they would sprint out with them. Secondly, they wouldn't give us any bread until after we ordered. Admittedly, I have never had bread offered as a reward for ordering and thankfully we ordered lavishly hence the consequences. As for the food, its a mixed bag. The artichoke salad but not great. The pastas were the main highlight and they delivered especially the pasta with crab and speck. As for the mains I had the duck which was prepared nicely but void of any flavor. My wife's bass wrapped around crab was tiny and tasted off so we sent it back. Her replacement of striped bass was better but nothing special. The deserts were good and nothing better. Sure, I would go back for another plate of pasta but only if I was in the area. I haven't written Ciano off just yet but they better strp up if they want to play with the big boys.

I have eaten at Ciano 3 times since the restaurant has opened. I normally sit in the main dining room w/ the beautiful fire place. The last time i was in I was brought to the upstairs private dining room (only used to public when a private event is not scheduled up there). I must say i absolutely loved this room. It's has a beautiful atmosphere, alittle quieter then main dining room, and very romantic spot! With that I was STILL able to take advantage of the wonderful food and wine program. Can't wait to go back!

Be forewarned: If they show you to the "Wine Room" for dinner, run! The "wine room" is a claustrophobic, matchbox of a room located upstairs from the main dining room, and it's the worst example of "Restaurant Siberia" I've seen in 25 years of Manhattan living and dining. It appears to have no relation to the bustling restaurant filled with pretty people that you have just entered, except for the same menu and stratospheric prices. The reservationist will make NO mention that YOU could be exiled there when you book. Upon your arrival, the imperious and condescending "gatekeeper" at the maitre d's desk will size up whether you are chic enough or young enough to be seated e-ven-tu-al-ly in the main dining room, while you put away a few $$$$ cocktails with your BFFS at the bar. The "rest" are sent to the "Wine Room," which is gloomy, dismal, moribund and complete with empty tables and some folks sitting alone, reading. There you will be sentenced to dine, hidden away, along with other unfortunate souls who are affluent (or stooge) enough to pay the same tab as everyone else, but who are otherwise too pedestrian or wrinkled to be "seen." Having dinner in a graveyard would be much more festive and enjoyable. Dare to complain? You will be "thrown out" (pay attention to the other reviews here concerning the "horror show" of a floor manager). With so many wonderful restaurants in this neighborhood where management and staff know how to treat customers "right," don't waste your time, and money, on this place. It's purely "bush league." So "skip it," unless you are, of course, on the arm of a six-foot-tall glamazon, under age 30, of either gender.

Went to Ciano last night for dinner and had a great dining experience. Everything from the service to the food and wine list were outstanding. The restaurant has a very rustic setting. If possible, request to sit with a view of the fireplace. The wine list, although somewhat on the high side, is unique in that you can order a half bottle of almost any bottle of wine on the menu for half the price of a full bottle. This is great if you are not looking for a full bottle or want to try different wines. We started with the rainbow beet salad and veal meatballs. For our main course we shared the bass and cavatelli. I would highly recommend all of the dishes and look forward to returning soon.

We are seasoned restaurant diners and had an unusually awful experience. last evening at Ciano. We were four people with an 7:45 reservataion. We weren't seated until 8:20. We didn't see water for another ten minutes. After ordering, our salad appetizers came along with a bread basket which the waiter so proudly presented to us while describing each piece in it. Unfortunately, there was only one sample of each and we were four people. By 8:15, our dinner still had not arrived and we began to get itchy. Many of the tables were empty, so an overwhelmed kitchen couldn't have been the reason. When asked, we were never told of a problem, but, that they were "working on it". Finally, at 8:30, just shy of two hours past our reservation when we still hadn't received our dinner, or any considerable explanation, we asked for a check, which they gladly gave us, and we paid for the drinks and the salad that we had; in full! I tried to speak to the young man in a suit or seemed to be in charge, but, he shrugged me off saying that his job involved the food direction and that I needed to speak to the manager who he then pointed out. The manager, all of a very young man, looked at me annoyingly as I explained our disappointment and that we were leaving his establishment after two hours and were never served dinner. I suggested that he probably shouldn't have people leave under such circumstances without an offer of a coupon for another time, a discount off of our existing bill, a business card to contact him, something! His look was of disgust for our complain. After reading the above reviews , I now know that this situation is not unusual. Needless to say, we will not be back.

We were excited to try this new restaurant in our neighborhood and waited a few weeks for our reservation. Should have skipped it. The place is pretentious and way overpriced. We were with friends and all felt the same. Two of has had the pork, which was fatty and hard to eat. We called over the waiter who in turn called over the host and we were told it is a shoulder and has fat! No other explanation or sorry was offered. We did not finish our meal and then walked over to Eataly and picked up desserts and other things because we were hungry. Would not recommend and would definitely not go back!!

I am an Italian food lover and have cooked at some of the cities best Italian restaurants. I was naturally thrilled to try Ciano. I left somewhat enjoying the food, but completely blown away and bewildered by the check. Be careful of what you order. The system that Ciano uses for selling wine is quite clever. You will order what you see on the menu, for $12/glass. The captain or sommelier will then visit your table to forcefully "offer" you a different, but similar and fabulous wine which they happen to have open, which you will find on your check was charged to you for $18-$20 a glass. Quite a difference from the original glass that you ordered! This might not be a big deal until you find yourself having 3-5 courses paired with 2-3 glasses of wine, per person. The hidden costs add up. Additionally, we ordered one dish from the market menu which did not have a price associated with it. It was a small tasting portion of braised meat, which was sold to us for $38. I moderately enjoyed my meal while I was at Ciano, and left with zero appetite to return.