SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. (April 30, 2013) – Sanibel Island’s Il Cielo announces plans for its summer season including new hours, menu enhancements and entertainment additions.
Meaning “the sky” in Italian, Il Cielo is located at 1244 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island and features eclectic fine dining as well as the more casual Cloud 9 Grille.
Beginning May 1, Il Cielo will be open five nights a week, Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The restaurant also plans to bring back its baby grand piano to the Cloud 9 Grille and offer lighter summer fare and price-fixed early-dining options.
Il Cielo’s recently added happy-hour menu in its Cloud 9 Grille with specially priced appetizers and drink specials will remain in effect through the summer. From 4:30 to 6 p.m., patrons can enjoy eight appetizers priced at $6 each and two-for-one drink specials on all domestic bottled beer, well drinks and house wine selections. Happy-hour appetizers include meatballs with gravy, shrimp cocktail with golden tomato gazpacho, parmesan-white truffle French fries, angus beef sliders with house-made pickles, salmon rillettes with crostini, Caprese flatbread, free-range chicken wings with redhot, honey and sriracha, baked blue fin crab cake with lemon caper tartar sauce and seared Ahi tuna with roasted garlic ponzu and wakame-cucumber salad.
“We believe in continuing to change and evolve as we move into different seasons and in response to our patrons’ desires,” said Erik Vandenburgh, operations manager of Il Cielo. “We will continue to offer innovative, flavorful dishes that represent local fresh ingredients.”
According to Vandenburgh, after Memorial Day, live entertainment will begin in the Cloud 9 Grille on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. A three-course $35 per person price-fixed menu, complete with one bottle of house wine per couple, will also be added Tuesday through Thursday evenings from 5 to 6 p.m.
“Chef Neil is finalizing our summer menu that will include smaller plates, lighter fare with local, fresh fruits and produce, summer dessert selections and family friendly menu options,” said Vandenburgh. “And with the later summer sunsets, we will be serving dinner up until 10 p.m. so patrons can come for an early meal or dine with us later.”
In addition to the two dining areas, Il Cielo’s interior also allows space separate from the main dining room for private functions or community events as well as outdoor patio dining.
Il Cielo features a full liquor bar with a wide selection of wines as well as homemade desserts.
The casual Cloud 9 Grille, located in the lounge area of Il Cielo, is ideal for those seeking a nice, yet relaxed meal. The focal point of Cloud 9 is an original glasswork called “Cloud 9,” which separates the space from the main dining area. The sculpture is a 20 inches tall by 30 feet long rounded glass divided in six sections that sit atop a three-quarter rounded dividing wall with booth seating in the lounge and table seating on the opposite side.
Local glass sculptor Lucas Century created the one-of-a-kind piece for the restaurant. More than 15 of Century’s individual pieces of his fine glassware and original works are also featured throughout the restaurant and are available for purchase.
The compliment to Century’s glass works are the vibrant and colorful paintings by Jupiter artists Carmen Lagos and Gustavo Castillo that are hung throughout the restaurant, all of which are also for sale.
Menu items range from $4 to $38.
For more information, visit www.ilcielosanibel.com or call (239) 472-5555.
