Review Cielo Resto-lounge-bar - Benoni

Awesome department lunch, the waiters were very accommodating and allowed us to have fun, be loud in our own space and just be ourselves. Being a group of 30, they were well prepared and managed our orders to perfection! The team loved it and the venue is always stunning, beach theme on the Benoni lake!

It's a very wonderful place, with a cool atmosphere, we enjoyed though our food arrived 30minute late, besides its a cool spot.

Lovely atmosphere near the lake. Amazing lighting coming in from the restaurant. Nice little swinging chair for pics.

Their food🥰👌🏽 The area has this beach feeling because of the sand and colour coordination on furniture. There is a nice breeze from the lake. We had platter for 2 and Gin & tonic drink and they were sooo good .

Great ambiance and vibe. Only issue when it's parked toilets are an issue. But definitely a place to be whether with friends or as a couple. Oh! never try coming in heels if you will be chilling by the sand 🤣

It was a nice place to visit. Nice chilled vibes. The mocktails I had were not so nice ended up drinking cranberry. The food was nice it didn't really take long for it to be served after we had ordered.

What a lovely setting!!! The vibe just takes you in. Outdoor seating parted enough for privacy and to adhere to Covid-19 Regulations. Foods presentation is magnificent, no matter what the meal. Not to mention extremely tasty 👌🏻

the place is so beautiful but their service 👎 waited 45 minutes for drinks the food we ended up cancelling the order because it was 2hours of waiting already and nobody came to explain the problem

We hosted a bachelorette at Cielo and the waiter was friendly and fast with service. Everybody loved the food. The wild mushroom risotto was everyone's favorite along with the salad and fried fish mains. Some said the spaghetti and meatballs were the best they ever had. The scenery was beautiful and there was a great vibe. We thoroughly enjoyed the day!

Situated besides a bed of water, the restaurant is very fancy and clean. I love the general look of the place. The food was also really good we had a meat platter. It was a bit busy though so it was hard to judge the friendliness of the staff as everyone was fully occupied but overall it was a chilled vibe

A real gem of an establishment on the edge of the Benoni lake. A beautiful view and colorfully furnished; makes for an awesome break from the usual places. The service is excellent and food is great. There’s even a play area for the kids, albeit unattended. Highly recommended!

Mediterranean restaurant with a great beautiful view. With a beach where you can spend the day basking under the sun, on powder fine, white sand or take a dip in their inviting infinity pool. The service is exceptional and their stuff is friendly. The food is full of flavour.

A wonderful vibe The service could be better, the waitress we had left us for a long time and people who came after us were served before us. Overall a great place to feel like you've gotten away from the bustle, especially if you sit close to the lake

It was the first time going to Ciello, I must say it wasn't that bad,the waitress was friendly and we didn't wait that long for the food and it was well presented and very tasty.The only problem I had was the loud music the dj was playing but the waitress said it's because it was Saturday and there are people who booked the place for parties.And please can the waiters and waitresses wear name tags.I will definitely go back for food and dessert.

The place is out of this world you feel like you out of Sa,that's how beautiful it is and the food to die for�

Good day. I noticed all the bad comments here and felt the need to share my experience. I have been there a while ago and must say, the food was simply amazing. I couldn't complain about the service either, the friendly waiters had good ethics and was paiten as I couldn't make up my mind. Cielo had a feel of elegance to it and i was impressed. I will certainly be there again.

Cielo is da best place to b at i enjoyed everything evn da service tnk u

The best and far most classy restaurant in the east rend,oh can I say Jo'burg.,very relaxing and refreshing,with the swift brez from the beach, let alone the pool while having your Cielo best cocktail..an Experiance of a life time

Amazing food though preps took some time it was worth it ...Amazing vibe. ..we'll definitely come back!

Asked for steaks rare and surprise surprise they were perfect! Impossible to find a restaurant on the East Rand that knows how to do rare steaks, but think we finally found one!

service needs a serious jolt. GREAT Food and setting is seriously let down by uninterested, unmotivated and forgetful serving crew.

We celebrated Fathers Day at CIELO and had an awesome time. The service was fast and attentive, the food warm and absolutely delicious.

Great place to get together with friends. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is fantastic. Not to mention the 'beach' right outside the front doors. Not for scruffy crowds as this is an upmarket Restaurant and Conference Centre!

Go only if you like dry, overcooked food, drinks that never arrive,and staff who get aggressive with customers. I have never in 26 years in the hospitality industry experienced a more shocking and undesirable evening Ever. The service was fine , however not much product knowlegde of the menu. First order of drinks took 20 minutes. Starters was fine. The mains took long and, after getting it,it was wrong. A burger medium was well done, food was dry . NO management interaction at all, as he spent most of his time on his cellphone. Our second order of drinks-they never arrived. The manager (Tasso) did not come to the table after we asked someone to call him . He never once went around to any tables, to check on customers. Again, I had to go check for the drinks. Apparently our drinks order was lost at the bar. The managers attitude seemed like he was used to having complaints about the food, as he wasnt surprised, and never aplogised. As for the Chef - Head Chef Christopher Kristiaan, argued with me with regards to the burger being "their medium" which was well done, and dry. We asked for the bill and were told Christopher said there was no bill at all . We paid the waitron a tip and left. When we were outside, the restaurant Head Chef Christopher Kristian came outside to argue with us and got rather agressive and became rather abrut with us because we complained about him rather garnishing a cake than checking on the kitchen. He was not expiditing nor on his pass at all. No concern for the customer or care at all . We called the Owner Elvis and his mannerism was a lack of care saying he would look into it and call me tomorrow. We will never go back again.

The service was not to bad. But the food is very expensive for what you get " samples"

Thank you to the CIELO Team for the excellent service we received yesterday. Special mention to our waiter Christopher who went out of his way to ensure that our function (30 people) went smoothly. Food was delicious! A very special day thanks to CIELO

I like the generous portions given to patrons and the music playing in the background. Would be nice if they had some covering for people who want to sit outside while it rains. Felt a bit squashed inside . However, the location is picturesque 🤩

Starters were beautifully plated and tasted good. the main course was not that great, but beautifully plated nonetheless. The Malva pudding dessert was amazing, warn and very tasty! The plating overall was very impressive but the taste of the food was just okay except for the dessert! Very nice setting, ambiance and the service was great! Definitely going back!

This is a great venue for brunch and sundowners. Their cocktails are the best!<br/>The faux-beach is really cool and the vibe is really serene.<br/><br/>The service does tend to get lob-sided, and it becomes the luck of the waiter/waitress that assists you.<br/><br/> Other than this, it is a must see venue! <br/>Tip: dress casually (think beach wear) and you’ll have a great time!

Beautiful ambience, average food and not the most pleasant experience with their cocktails... 🙂🙂<br/><br/>Should be perfect on a sunny day with kids! Do try it out, also because kids aren't fussy with food 😁😉

Great and relaxing ambience. Lots of seating area options. However one of our meals was served almost cold, not sure if the serving plates are warmed up before being plated. Also ran out of Lemonade, was offered Sprite. Otherwise all in all, food is great, awesome views. Can spend hours there. Hoping to make it a regular place.

We came her for a girls luncheon and wasn't impressed. The service was poor and food not that great. The atmosphere was nice, and it's is child friendly as they can swim etc.

Ambiance awesome ,, food deliciously filling , very big (huge portions) ,drinks cucumber amd mint gin just to my liking had me going home in a very happy mood... I love the plac its so serene I would go there again amd again.

Recently had lunch at Cielo, I expected more of the decor and vibe, but the food was good.<br/>I had the spicy Lamb Pie which is a phyllo dish which was really good, other delicious meals included the seafood pasta and the burger meal and some delicious milkshakes.<br/>

Perfect setting and atmosphere, I could chill there whole day. The outdoor area is huge enough to book for an event. The burger had the perfect patty

I had the opportunity to go to this beautiful restuarant with my collegues. The menu was great and our waiter could make suggestions. The service was slow but we enjoyed our meal thoroughly. Hoping to return soon.

We have been here 3 times, not a single complaint! The cocktails are amazing, fresh and crispy! The food is definitely created with love and a creative flair. Clean flavours beautifully matched. Staff are fun and lively. The stuffed baby marrow had me craving for more for weeks thereafter!

The entire complex is huge and this restaurant has lots of different seating options, including a beach bar next to the lake (it has a Mediterranean feel). Service was good. The menu is quite varied. I ordered the biggest burger I’ve seen in a while, with some tasty chips. I’m told the chicken parmigiana was a hit. Beware that smokers have free reign on the deck. It’s quite close to the highway.

Had an amazing time at Cielo with my girls yesterday, chilled vibes, music was on point the place keeps getting better & better each time I go, the waiter was friendly, food was delicious their decor makes the place great 🙌🏽🥂

Food: I got the chance to sample some of the menu items. Everything so tasty! Portion sizes are great and worth the price. <br/>Ambience: A very calming place. Something about it is breezy. The decor is also stunning! <br/>Service: Great service! The waiter was attentive and very helpful in terms of meal suggestions and all other asks.<br/><br/>Will definitely visit again.

Good service great ambience and Oreo Cheesecake to die for! Lounging in the waterside beach front is a blast. Love the Mediterranean feel and mood!

Loved everything, except the sausage on the platter! Sucked that we couldn't enjoy everything by the lake. Can the cocktails also just come in the same size jars!

Not good, service and food quality poor. The ambiance is good however with the view of the lake, green grass and trees. DJ present with pleasant bar music<br/><br/>

Lovely place. Will be back soon. Hope they maintain the clean fresh beach look<br/>The food was great. Service is quick. The ambience and setup is beautiful

I recently went for dinner with my family (in celebration of my sister’s birthday) at Cielo Restaurant. It's based at The Lakes Hotel in Benoni. The restaurant is Mediterranean style with a wide selection of tapas and platters. Cielo’s also offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Being a little late for the celebration, I skipped the starter and went straight for my main meal. But not before ordering a cocktail. The barman makes a mean Cosmopolitan ;-) For my main I chose the beef burger with plum tomato, red onion and greens which was accompanied by a side of hand cut potato fries. The menu boasts their homemade sesame bread buns. I enjoyed my burger and while the home ground beef patty was good, I was disappointed with the infamous “homemade bun” I'd been looking forward to. It was not freshly made and to be honest I found it quite dry. My thick hand cut potato fries however, were perfectly cooked with a crisp outside and deliciously seasoned. Some of the other meals ordered by my family included the fish and lamb dishes. Both looked good. I tried some of the fish dish which was quite a tasty portion of gurnard served in a creamy sauce with a subtle lemon bite. Beautiful sauce, pity the fish was slightly over cooked.

Location is nice for drinks. Nice to take a walk on the beach sand and to see the boats and skiers pass by on the boats. We ordered starters which were average. Service was okay.

As always the food is great. However, if you like red wine the new wine list is very disappointing not a single blend on the list!!!!!! The next time you change your wine list call me, PLEASE!!!!!!!!! The new bar tent may bring in the bucks but is destroying the view.<br/><br/>They upgraded the place and decided not to provide a dry smoking area for guests so I guess we will not be back again. Support places that still make decent smoking areas. Sorry guys.

Beautiful place but trash service. They immensely overcharged a function I attended and a barman assaulted the person who inquired about how the bill got to that point. Not the first incident I've heard of them scamming corporate functions. Shitty staff and shitty manage.

Went there for year end party. <br/>Shambolic Must have been about 5 or 6 other companies there which I suppose is not their fault.<br/>However at our ' beach ' there was not enough seating. Huge day beds provided but hardly comfortable and not appropriate to be on day bed with colleagues. <br/>Limited shading as well.<br/>Beer was hot and the wine awful. Welcoming cocktails were supposedly alcoholic but that was suspect.<br/>Platters of food were served with vegetarian and beef hamburgers.<br/>Again companies choice but didn't look too appetizing.<br/>Maybe dinner / cocktails in smaller group would be better ?<br/>Something disconcerting with having a faux beach and then watching cars speed by on the highway🙈

My friends and I went to dinner there on a friday night. The waitress and overall service was terrible. They then got my order wrong and tried to turn it on me that I was wrong so then i refused to pay for the meal. We proceed to pay our bill and leave but they locked the gates claiming that we had not settled the bill but they had miscalculated. We have often enjoyed ourselves there but after that horrific encounter we will not be returning.

The restaurant had terrible service and the manager was even worse and rude. I'd be glad to never come here again. Terrible customer service after the waitress got an order wrong

Food is very exclusive and excellent!<br/><br/>Slightly pricey but overall very good food. Also has a nice , young vibe and beautiful interior and exterior however the service is shocking. Waiters definitely need training. Food took forever and drinks were never topped up. <br/>

We went here for dinner during the week and it was pretty empty. The restaurant has a lovely setting and I think it's much nicer as a sundowner spot. The service was good, the food was a bit of a hit or miss. For starters we had the kudu carpaccio and the mussels. The kudu was too thick for carpaccio, it was also not cold but more frozen. The mussels contained a few that were still closed after cooking. The mains however were great, the mushroom risotto was cooked to perfection, not too mushy. Our pork chops were succulent and the prawn and almond crusted kingklip is also something I would recommend. All in all a good experience and I would go back, they probably have one of the best views of the Benoni restaurants.

This is NOT only a quick bites sort of place, it has the most amazing food! We were fortunate enough to be here on a cold night, so it was not too busy, the service was great! The food, greater! Nice one Chef!!

Very nice ambience. The food delicious and very good wine. Definitely a restaurant I'll come back to.<br/>Bravo!!! We enjoyed very much. See you soon

Best atmosphere! <br/><br/>We decided to have a few drinks here @ Cielo during the weekend. This restaurant is vibey with a great view overlooking the lake. <br/>They also have a DJ playing some really good music, not sure if this is every night. Great experience and relaxed environment.

This place is amazing. Went there late afternoon on a Saturday. I was really impressed with the vibe there. The sand on the beach was clean and the staff at the bar really friendly. I would suggest that you make a booking there especially if you plan on eating there or if you are a big crowd as it gets quite busy later on in the evening. We went up to the restaurant to eat but we waited really long for someone to help us and take the order and needed to ask 3 times for someone to help us. But their food was tasteful.

A friend and I decided to go out for high tea. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that Cielo does one for R85 a person. The presentation was stunning. The eats were really tasty. The little pies and desserts were really pretty and tasted pretty good. Definitely one of the nicest high teas around and it doesn't break the bank.

We booked well in advance as we as a family like to share Valentine's Day together. We were seated outside on the deck for lunch which was nice. Drinks, although taking forever to arrive, were good and refreshing. The menu choices are not big, but food was presented well and good. Service was really slow, luckily we had a friendly waitress, who tried her best, but they were so busy setting up for the evening's Valentine's dinner that the afternoon's customers were feeling let down.

The venue is amazing! I love it, the food is good, depending what you order, the service is lacking. Not sure if they are short staffed, but whether they have a busy beach party day or a normal chilled Sunday lunch, you need to grab someone's attention, they ain't coming to you. <br/>It sucks the freeway which is in your face. Although I dig it for a date. If you have ever been to dubai, it's practically Barasti, the look... That is...

I was there for a birthday, was a large table and was the first to arrive.was shown to table and then took more than 20min to order a drink, rude waiter told me it was my problem that I couldn't eat cus cus when I asked to get substituted for salad.<br/><br/>Will never return

I have only ever been to Cielo's twice. First time the food was really over priced and the drinks were even worse. Today I went for a drink with a friend because it's his birthday. At 4:30 I was refused entrance for 1 drink. That was the last time I try Cielo's.

I've had this place on my to do list for a while and thanks to restaurant week we decided to make a booking. Who knew that we had a gem of a place here in benoni. Ive probably driven past it over a 1000 times. It's like a hidden treasure. The decor and the colours give that true Mediterranean feel and it's bright and open over looking the water and the guys skiing. It's got a chilled vibe indoor or out, and has a semi beach effect for those who want a different experience. Management, staff and the chef were very friendly welcoming and on hand throughout our time there.<br/><br/>We booked for lunch which was the 2 course. Either coffee crusted rib eye with artichokes and dirty mash or the chicken parmesan. Dessert was either baked alaska or sticky toffee pudding. My excitement was at its peak when I saw baked alaska on the menu as it's something I've never seen on menus before. I have made one years back which was quite successful.<br/><br/>For the food I opted for the chicken parmesan and the other two decided on the rib eye steak. There was nothing I could fault with mine. It was cooked to perfection the chicken was tender and juicy the flavour was spot on I didn't need to add salt or chillies which I had on hand just in case. The homemade spaghetti was just right as well as the sauce. As for the steaks those also went down extremely well, the dirty mash was divine and I even tasted the artichokes for the first time it was cooked in a vinegarette and I was pleasantly surprised with the flavour.<br/><br/>Dessert. Well after my excitement I think this is the only thing that fell short for me. Baked alaska should be ice cream on a layer of cake and topped with meringue and baked. Ours were mainly cake and meringue (torched) and it took quite a few bites before I eventually found the ice cream so that was a let down for me as the cake was a tad dry. But as for presentation it was so eye appealing/ appetizing that the ladies on the table next to us asked to order one as well. If I wasn't so stuffed I would've ordered carrot cake as they walked around with the biggest one I have seen.<br/><br/>We also ordered some cocktails that were light and refreshing for the summer heat and some sparkling wine.<br/><br/>I would definitely go back here and even have a function here if needed as it's truly a lovely venue.<br/>#restweeksa #restaurantweek15

The combination of whites and turquoises creates a tropical feel which allows one to wind down with friendly and competent staff. The location is the down side as it is very close to the freeway. The road noise on the bamboo and synthetic grass patio spoils the tranquil atmosphere

I’ve been here twice now, once at night and once in the morning.<br/>Both times had a unique and different atmosphere. <br/>Night: view of the lake and colors of the restaurant<br/>Day: feels so comfortable and relaxing with the deck opened. (will make you feel like you not in jhb)<br/> <br/>Food, I think the presentation is fantastic. But the food itself could be done better.<br/>The “bread for the table” is a mezzo, pita bread with 3 types of dips. – great touch.<br/>I’ve had: Fritto misto de mare: Fried prawns, calamari and potato strips with a tomato dipping salsa. (starter)<br/>It is nice and crispy, but little over done, so the tomato dipping salsa helps. Tomato salsa was cold, feels<br/> <br/>A spinach and strawberry salad. (salad), very refreshing and great combination of ingredients , I enjoyed this with a virgin mojito, but personal opinion, tad too much balsamic dressing.<br/>And the waffle (breakfast menu) – as it is for breakfast and not a dessert, it wasn’t as sweet. Which was a good balance.<br/><br/>Cappuccino: illy coffee, awesome! <br/> <br/>Waiters: very friendly and attentive.<br/>Managers are around to make sure things are running smoothly too.<br/> <br/>Overall: I love the atmosphere and setting of the restaurant. Comfortable and relaxing.<br/>Food, it is good but could be better.<br/> <br/>

We were welcomed very warmly by the host at the door and were told that we could choose any table that was free. The decor and modern and relaxed. There are cushioned seated and tables with normal chairs. <br/><br/>We were then greeted by our waiter and asked what we wanted to drink. We ordered a bottle of water for the table and while we waited on a friend to arrive. We were also given out menu as well. <br/><br/>For our meals, we ordered the following, 1) fritti misto starter, 2) pepper duck and 3) Norwegian salmon. We also ordered a red wine go go with our dinner. <br/><br/>The fritto misto de mare is a dish that comes with prawns, calamari, potato strings and a spicy tomato dipping sauce. This the shrimp and calamari were done well and were nicely done. The potato string were also done well by were more like thin chips. <br/><br/>The pepper duck was a dish I was most looking forward to and was a left a little disappointed. The duck was overcooked and was rubbery and tough, also there wasn't near enough sauce I thought. The shallots and black cherry were soft and well seasoned. The best part of this dish was the wild rice chick pea cake. Well seasoned, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. <br/><br/>My friend ordered the salmon dish and she has nothing but good things to say about her meal. <br/><br/>To end off we ordered coffee. <br/><br/>All in all not a bad night. Food is good. I would come again and I hear breakfast is even better.

Wow!where does one start..from service , food , wine, atmosphere, decor...you are transported to the Mediterranean. An amazing experience! We will definitely be back.

We decided to try this restaurant for brunch. It was a complete waste of time and money. They disregard the smoking regulations which means there is nowhere to sit if you like fresh air. I ordered a decaf coffee - but it wasn't decaf. My food ( a pasta dish) was inedible. Another of our meals was undercooked. This was after a wait of more than 45 minutes. The owner/ manager was disinterested in us and the wait staff stood chatting together. It's really not worth the effort or money.

Ciello to me was a quite a unique experience and not exactly what I am used to. I was staying at a hotel nearby and thought I should give this place a visit.<br/><br/>The decor was great, and very eye-catching. It is next to a lake which is quite beautiful. The atmosphere was a bit strange. In the beginning they were playing their music quite loud in the outside section, to the point that we had to change seats. I am assuming it was the owner's/manager's friends (as they seemed to know him quite well), they were very loud, and just making everyone uncomfortable. To me this was very unprofessional, and quite unusual. It is almost as if this restaurant didn't know whether it was a club or a restaurant.<br/><br/>Besides that everything else was great. I had the pork meal. Although it was a bit on the dry side, the meal was delicious, rich in taste. The sides complemented the dish quite nicely, the pear and apple added a different dimension to the dish.<br/><br/>The portions are quite generous, and very filling, so no complaints there. I definitely left the restaurant full.<br/><br/>The dessert was a let down. Quite bland with a strange consistency. We also asked whether we can take the desserts "to go". The waiter made the whole process quite complicated as if nobody has ever asked him this before.<br/><br/>In conclusion, if you're in the area, "why not". I know I gave this place a low/medium rating, but this was due to the service, atmosphere, and their desserts, not because of the food (mains) because that was great.

Very nice place. Beautiful setting right next to the lake. A bit difficult to get there if you don't know the area. Only one bad thing was the fruit juice was expired. But will give it a try again

Great breakfast experience. Friendly staff members. Good value for money. Yummy coffee. Nice beach feeling. It's definitely worth a try.

This ones a little pricey but thought we would try it anyways Food is ok Cocktails are great and if it's warm enough to do outside its a stunning view

Food fabulous.  Although the portions were small, they were not undersized. Food is prepared with pride and presented very well, and sometimes you pay extra for the finer details.  Been there a few times, and only once the fruit juice was off, but otherwise very worthy of a second chance.

We visited the establishment once prior to scope it out and book for a surprise 21st birthday party. On the first visit the seating service was good but they took our drinks order and never arrived with it. Eventually a waiter arrived and took another order. The food was excellent as we all had different paninis and although they are not cheap I felt it was fair for the very tasty food. All in all on this visit the service was average but food brilliant. <br/><br/>We arrived for the 21st birthday party a few weeks later but on this occasion the service had dropped from average to poor. We had 2 dedicated waitresses for the table but they were never around. You could go and find them at 1 of the waiter stations talking to each other if you were so inclined or you could sit with an empty glass for 30 minutes. The tables were never cleared and eventually became so cluttered we began clearing it ourselves as there was no arm rest space left. <br/><br/>We had ordered 3 platter at R1000 each which is quite expensive. There were chicken and beef sosaties that were very tasty and tender. There were also bread finger foods that were also very tasty. Lastly there were lots of mini burgers but these were unfortunately very dry and tasteless as it was 70% bun and 30% patty with a very small garnish and no topping. <br/><br/>The floor manager was very friendly but could have done more to ensure improved service.

Disgusting food and really poor service. Over priced and with a management team that really seem clueless. <br/>Wrote to the owners to lodge a complaint about substandard food & service, didn't even receive the courtesy of a response, clearly they don't care about client satisfaction.

Great Atmosphere! Food Just above average, friendly service! Relaxed environment! Only negative comment is prices are very expensive for the portion size, But will see me again!

Where do we begin..... chilled yet vibey atmosphere coupled with amazing service from management and waiters. Topped only by the out of this world meal. A definite jewel in the east.

I think food portions are way too small for the amount you pay, other than that great venue for cocktails and drinks with friends. Great vibe

Great food, beautiful decor, lovely ambience and great service, awesome place, will definitely go there again. <br/>