Citron
Categories: French, American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Oakland5484 College Ave
(between Forest St & Kales Ave)
Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 653-5484
- Hours:
Mon 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Tue 11:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Wed-Thu 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri 11:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
122 Reviews for Citron
One of Citron's Favorite Reviews
I came here on a Monday night...my friend and I were dressed *very* casual, and we were seated immediately. The service was great - very friendly and responsive servers. The atmosphere was relaxed without being too pretentious.
Both of us tried the Chef's menu...which is basically a 3 course meal for each where we get to choose 3 items total from lists of appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The waiter informed us that we could mix and match as we please (ie 3 main courses, 1 main course and 2 desserts, 1 of each, etc) for the same fixed price. Between the two of us, we enjoyed the lobster bisque (tasty), cheese of the day, sonoma lamb (so tasty! the meat just fell apart), crab with risotto cakes (also tasty), mango-raspberry sorbet, and some cocktails (the cocktails were great...the catharsis with the chile-infused vodka was quite pleasant).
Granted, our dinner came out to be about $125 between the two of us, but it was delightful and I'll be coming back in the future. If you have the wallet and a nice occasion to go for, I would recommend this restaurant.
Expensive but it's the real deal if you're looking for French food. It doesn't have "Chez" in the title but then again it's not pretentious. Still, it's not the kind of place you wear jeans.
Their Chef's Tasting option of several dishes (optionally with an appropriate wine for each) is fantastic. It's not available every night, however, so check with them.
We had a delicious Saturday brunch at Citron yesterday. We got there at 10am just as the restaurant opened, and were promptly seated by the window (a nice change from most good breakfast/brunch places, which always seem to require a long wait). My bf had the red flannel hash with a side of fruit, which he declared "absolutely awesome", and I had three big, fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes (I wasn't hungry again until 8pm!). The orange juice was delicious and fresh-squeezed. The service was pleasant. Also noteworthy: in addition to the more traditional breakfast dishes, they also had lunch options such as sandwiches, etc. available.
Update: we went here again recently. This time I had the eggs/potatoes/sausage breakfast, which was also good. Once again, we arrived shortly after 10am and didn't have to wait at all. Citron is definitely a "nice" place for brunch -- meaning that there are tablecloths, cloth napkins, etc. But you won't feel weird if you show up looking like you rolled out of bed. :) Once again, the waitstaff was pleasant and welcoming.
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Fabulous.
Works by gourmet/tasting menus. A bit pricy but good and fun to try
many small different things prepared with extreme care.
The best by far I have been here for now.
Had best service since a long time. Food made me remember renamed restaurants in France (but with waiter bitter faces). And yes, don't go there when you are so hungry you can eat half a buffalo on your own.
If you have an important meeting with some one important for you or a special day, this place won't fail or dissapoint. Went for dinner for my ex- anniversary and we both loved it.
Let me know if you go how you liked it.
Oh how awesome! The restaurant has a very warm feeling with thick gold curtains and mellow yellow lighting.
The wine menu is seriously steep, but if you bring your own wine - the corkage is worth it. I mean really, the cheapest for a glass of wine is $13 - that's insanity.
I had a montage of yummy food starting with french fries (of course), pate with apricots, cranberries and hazelnuts, roasted white corn soup and super tender lamb. I ended the spectacular meal with a decadent bite of a Black Forest Cake that knows what's what in the land of cakes.
I have to say that the lamb was really the rock star of the night - it was slow cooked and literally melting off of my fork - so easy to pull apart it truly put my fork to shame.
This is a great choice for dinner. This was also my first time in Rockridge and I was so surprised to see how hip and understated the city was - if those to words can ever be used in tandem, this city has achieved it.
Oh yeah, and word to the wise - I booked my reservation on OpenTable for 6pm because this restaurant is rated as a 1,000-point reservation between 5pm - 6pm. For reference, if you rack up 2,000 points on OpenTable you receive a $20 diners check to use at all restaurants that use OT's software - that's no laughing joke. To a great dinner at a cute new place in a cute town!
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"What?"
That was us to the whispering waitstaff at brunch. Me: "Oh, he said these are complimentary beignets" G/F: "He said something when he put the plate down?" Maybe they were trying to be unobtrusive, but it was pretty annoying having to get them to repeat themselves over and over. It wasn't just one person; it was every person that came to our table and opened their mouth. You don't have to shout, but kick it up a notch, please.
Went here rather than try the "maybe half hour" wait at the Rockridge Cafe next door. Were seated pretty much immediately.
His: Chilaquiles Verde - 2 eggs, any style with Slow roasted pork, salsa verde, guacamole and sour cream + side of potatoes. Tender pork. Delicious accouterments. Nicely poached eggs.
Hers: Ricotta buttermilk pancakes with blackberry/maple syrup. Light fluffy pancakes, perfectly cooked and a yummy fruity syrup.
Service - In addition to the low volume speech, the service was not that attentive. We had a hard time flagging down someone to get a refill on our coffees as well as getting our check at the end of the meal.
Food: 4+ stars
Service: 2 stars
Overall: 3 stars
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3.5 stars. Maybe I was just hungry but their bread and butter was so good! My caesar salad was not bad. It had these intentionally burned pieces of sardines sprinkled on I think and they were tasty. My hanger steak was not very good but I tried my coworker's gnocchi and it was tasty. I ordered the bruleed rice pudding with pineapple that was not good but my coworker's lime ice cream was!
I think I have food envy.
I've been here a few times and have had a darn good dining experience every time.
We got a free teeny appetizer soon after being seated - fun!
My only complaint is that my salad was a bit overdressed and I am particularly critical of that in salalds............
The salmon was cooked to perfection and they split the entree for my bf and I without us asking - nice touch.
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I made reservations for a birthday celebration. I was a little concerned after reading some negative reviews of the restaurant. Our experience could not have been any nicer.
Due to poor time planning, we arrived 30 minutes early for our Tuesday evening reservation and were immediately seated. At 6pm on a Tuesday, table availability was plentiful. Still, our initial greeting was friendly and pleasant, just the way it should be!
On to the good stuff. We each began with a Vodka based cocktail. I don't recall what it was called, but it contained a bit of citrus juice (lemon?) and a touch of peach. I must admit I'm not much of a "cocktail" person, but this was wonderful, and at $14 per drink, it was the only item of the evening I thought was pushing the price limit . . . but it sure was GOOD!
We both chose a three-course meal with wine paring. Again, other reviewers had commented on the small portions, so I was a little concerned, however, I found the portions to be anything but small . . . if anything, the portions were much larger than expected.
I began with the Butter Lettuce Salad. The toasted hazelnuts, sliced pears and Stilton cheese was a nice combination of flavors. I was totally immersed in my salad, as the birthday boy enjoyed his cannelloni appetizer.
For my main course I chose the Lamb and it was AMAZING. I will admit I am including one full star just for this dish, it was outstanding! I don't recall what the dining companion ordered . . . he claimed it was good, and it was all about the lamb for me!
Desserts were good, but now all I can think about was the lamb!
Our service was very friendly and we enjoyed talking with our servers. The restaurant was not busy, which allowed more time to interact with our servers and enjoy wonderful service.
As for value, I thought the three-course meal with wine paring was a very good value at $65. The wines were of nice quality and pared very nicely with the food.
I feel like a fool to have lived in Oakland for the past 3 years and having just discovered Citron. We will return soon.
This was my first time at Citron (went for my birthday! yay!!! ), and I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I had the salmon, which was excellent. We also got a great appetizer plate that had an unusual combination of items on it - that was fabulous too.
We had something chocolate for dessert, but my recall of it is a bit fuzzy, as I had half a bottle of cabernet in me at that point.... (since we ate almost all of it, I'm sure it was fabulous though!)
I would most definitely come back here again! And thank you to my lovely friends who treated me to dinner here for my birthday - as always, your taste is impeccable!
Wholeheartedly recommend this place. The menu is VERY good- they even have a dessert menu, cutely titled, "A Sweet Ending." The food is wonderful, and the staff is very nice.
The one thing that was weird, was that there were plenty of seating available when my boyfriend and I arrived, but the hostess made us wait a very long time. After waiting a good 5 minutes (and mind you, it does not feel comfortable to be the only ones standing at a relatively quiet restaurant), the lady said that we had to wait 5 MORE minutes! (?!) She went over to the table, and put 2 wine glasses on the table, and told us that the table was now ready for us. To this day, I do not understand why we had to wait so long for her to put 2 wine glasses (which we didn't even use) on the table, but I found it in my heart to overlook that because the other staff members were just so polite, and my eating experience there was just fantastic. The pork chops are YUM!!!! The artichoke souffle was to die for!
A good gem on this part of college. Wanted to take my gf somewhere nice before i went home for the long weekend, while she has to stay up here during her finals. It was my dad's birhtday.
The food was very good, her pork chops were better than my salmon. My salmon was not bad, but not as good as spengers would probably do it. The porkchop was real good, and it was my first time trying souffle so cheers to that. the waiter was really nice the hostess not so considerate in the beginning.
What happened to this place? It used to be good...
I've eaten here a few time but my last experierence makes be feel like it will be the last time I will dine here.
Their timing was off. We waited a long time for our entree after our starters. Then when it arrived, it was cold. If we had any wait staff stop by, we would have told them... but no one did. If the food was fantastic, I woud forgive... but no....
With alot of competition on College (a favorite A Cote next door, and Oliveto's and Wood Tavern down the street), I don't think I will be dining here again.
i been this restaurent food and service bith are okey but the food price is too expensive.i like to go back again when i have enough money in my pocket.
Brunch for 6. I had the eggs benedict with smoked salmon and spinach. Others had roasted beet hash, a gnocchi dish, a different benedict (mushrooms and spinach), a croque madame and the brunch special (caesar salad, lamb and a slice of ice cream cake). The food was tasty, except for the benedicts. The eggs were cooked through - no runny yolk! Also, the service was soooo slow. It wasn't even crowded! The biggest surprise: they don't have sugar packets. We asked for sugar for the coffee and at first, the waiter said they didn't carry sugar.... except that the plate of donut holes that were placed on table when we sat down (nice touch, btw) were sugar-coated. He went back to ask the kitchen and came back out with a little plate with sugar scooped onto it. Weird.
I might come back for dinner, just to check out the food options. Hope service is better at night.
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Came here for dinner with my friends. We were promptly seated but there was only 1 other table (this was a weeknight around 6pm). The items on the menu sound fancy but I was pretty disappointed when the food came. For the price, you would imagine food so yummy, you would want to find out how the chef prepared it. But nope, the food left no impression with me. Maybe a few years from now, I'll come back to try brunch.
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Unfortunately Open Table fudged our reservation and on V-day no less. The Citron hostesses was so kind and accommodating. We were seated pretty much immediately- I was so happy! Such a sweet intimate space with very good service and wine pairing menus. Excellent location for an intimate date or brunch Lovely, lovely little patio and great location.
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I'd give four stars, except that the negative energy some staff exuded put me off. I was early for the rez, so one friendly waiter suggested that I wait in the bar area. When he asked another waiter to show me to the bar, the other waiter rudely brushed him off and said "in a minute." The friendly waiter took me to the bar, which is EXTREMELY cramped. Staff kept hitting the back of my chair in their frenetic pace to get drink and food orders out. Several servers stepped behind the bar, but never asked me if I wanted a drink. After several minutes, the friendly waiter noticed I was just sitting there and got me some wine. Another friendly waiter kept refilling my water glass. The rest of the staff was quite rude to one another. I felt like I was a guest silently observing the mayhem at a dysfunctional family dinner.
Anyway, the food was fine. We did the 3-course tasting ($44) w/wine pairings ($65): butter lettuce salad, with hazelnuts, pears, stilton cheese and a lemon vinaigrette (served with a champagne); petrale sole and prawns, with currants, greens and riso pasta (served with a bordeaux); and a chocolate brownie, with ice cream and a vanilla custard with rhubarb glaze (served with a port). Our waiter never told us what wines were being paired until the port (a 20year Portugal port that was quite yummy). That annoyed me. We shouldnt have to ask that question. He was kind of inattentive throughout. When it was quite obvious we were done with dessert, our plates sat for a really, really long time, even after our waiter asked us if we needed anything else.
My friend said brunch is very good, so I'll try that and see if the mood is better on a Sunday afternoon.
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Great brunch, so so dinner. When I went to brunch with a few gal pals we had delightful experience. Nice service, great food. I highly recommend the Chilaquiles Verde for brunch. They have a Syrah mimosa that is super yummy too ( a buck less than your meal for the drink, but worth it!). For dinner, I wasn't too impressed. I can't recall what I had -- but when I don't remember what I ate I know it's a bad sign. I will be back for brunch, but I doubt I'll be back for dinner.
Not impressed at all. I had the gnocci, and it was waaay to buttery and I literally felt the oil seep through the pores on my face. So not a good thing when you're there on your anniversary dinner. My boyfriend had an eggplant entree, and it was a little bit better, but still not great. And they charge you how much for this food? So don't go there when Garibaldi's right down the street.
This is another one of those places I go to when eating with my parents. I had not been here in years, but generally remember it being good food, good service and not too loud. The not too loud is the only reason this place deserves a star.
The waitress was 19, and tried to pretend like she understood when my dad asked a complicated question on French wine. Don't lie, go get someone who is legal to drink.
Our empty plates sat in front of us for 10 or so minutes after each course.
The menu is overly complicated with a chefs menu, and a la carte menu.
And the food was BAD. Like I went home hungry, after 3 courses because I did not want to finish any of my food.
Their poor single malt selection was the topper.
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We will not be coming back to this place ever. Although the atmoshphere is lovely, the food and service were horrible. If you want to wait 10 minutes for a cup of coffee and later no refill, lousy food (which was overpriced) then by all means dine here.
We love Citron. I can't say enough nice things about the terrific food and excellent service! Thanks, Citron, for making our little dinner party last night so much fun.
My friend and I wanted to participate in Dining For Life by going to A Cote. They did not have reservations which were not early or late. We decided to try walking in but the wait was an hour! Lucky for us they had a dining for life poster in the door and Citron was also on the list. We went next door to Citron and asked about the wait. The person helping us was not sure but was very eager to assist. It turns out another waiter had just served the check to a couple of people leaving. Score! The wait was only about 10-15 minutes as the party finished and they prepared the table for us. We started with the asparagus appetizer. It was fresh and tasty. I had the steak entree which was more like overcooked medallions. The fancy tater tots and chard tasted better than the meat. My friend had the pork chop cooked to perfection. I was extremely jealous as her entree was much better than mine. It also came with a small lovely souffle. The wine and mixed drinks were exquisite. The bill came to about $100 for 2 drinks, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees including tax and tip. It was a nice meal and I'm glad that 25% of our bill will being going to Vital Life Services.
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My mom, who just moved to Oakland, wanted to go here for her 67th birthday dinner, so I looked it up on YELP to see what to expect. From all the negative reviews, I was expecting the worst, but it turned out to be PRETTY GOOD AFTER ALL.
Good things:
1) soup of the day, in flutes, for free? A strange practice, like doing tequila shooters but with soup. but still, fun and delicious soup
2) quiet - how many "fancy" restaurants are really loud? a lot of them. This one was quiet and i liked it that way.
the food was excellent and the service was friendly. Dunno what so many yelpers are yelping about, frankly. If your mom wants to go, my advice is : take her!
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Citron was the first five star restaurant I had ever been to in the East Bay. I was a clueless law student who had been invited along with fellow interviewees by a law firm to experience a five tasting course menu. Just a piece of advice for interviewees--dress to kill, even when you are going to a restaurant. Do not wear a baby blue peacoat with a barette in your hair because you will be judged, even if the law firm rep says that this is a "casual" dinner. I have a five course pre-fixed menu which five, six years later, is still memorable.
I'm not that impressed by brunch, but I think you need to do a tasting menu in order to get the full experience of the cooking. Chef Rossi is one of the best chefs in the Bay Area. And yes, the tasting menu portions are small, but the quality is extremely high and my husband and I have never left feeling hungry.
My favorite dishes at citron is the grilled hangar steak. My father-in-law once had a slow roasted pork loin and said solemnly that you could tell that a true master was in the kitchen.
The ambience is reserved and formal, but we have never had anything less than the best service.
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I have eaten here many times over the years, and, sadly, they have some serious work to do if they want to get back to being one of the top East Bay gourmet restaurants as they once were.
I had dinner at Citron recently and had a very nice time because of the company and the pleasant service, but no one mentioned anything about the food the entire meal. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly interesting in any way either. The strangest thing was the portion size - these weren't tapas, they were full meals in miniature. My salmon was maybe a 3 oz. fillet. We also got a "steak" that was three thin slices of a steak, a fillet of sole that was a coin of sole, and a ravioli appetizer that was 2 very small ravioli. My cheesecake dessert was the size and appearance of an airplane meal portion, and not too far off in flavor as well. For my tiny ravioli, my mini salmon, and my airplane cheesecake, I paid $36 (not to mention drink prices on top of that) and left hungry. Never again.
I have never been a fan of A Cote, their small plate restaurant next door, which has been notoriously stingy with their portion sizes and drink pours while still charging top dollar. Now Citron has adopted some of the same practices (and some of the dark atmosphere too). I hope they change things because I used to love eating here - the owners should try eating around at BayWolf, Jojo, or even Garibaldi's to get an idea of what portions sizes should look like - not that I need to gorge myself, but there is such a thing as value for money. Or maybe they should change the name of Citron to Lilliput.
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Terrible service, from the unjustifiably-overwhelmed-acting server that neglected to really check up on our needs, to the busboy that was a little unclear on the concept of being unobtrusive as he would loom over us and alarmingly snatch up our dishes.
The food was ok; I'd give it a pass because my "usual" breakfast wasn't all that expensive, but geez, provide me with only a tiny portion of potatoes and mouse-sized slices of baguette and a small rarely-refilled $3 cup of Illy coffee, and the bang-for-buck just doesn't really feel like its there.
When you mix in dreary velvet draperies, mostly geriatric patrons, and staff that wears a stained tablecloth instead of an apron, you start thinking that maybe the brunch spot a couple doors down was much busier for a reason.
Everything took so long - from getting seated at any of the numerous empty tables, to getting water, to getting asked for drinks, to getting asked about food, to receiving food, to getting the bill... sheesh. I ended up paying an undeserved tip well over 20% simply because there was no way I wanted to wait around for change.
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A very ho-hum experience. Went with a friend on a Friday night. Met by an "all-business" hostess (which was weird, the restaurant was pretty empty) who sat us right away.
Decided on the tasting menu and requested the lobster bisque, grilled steak and gnocchi with squash. Oddly, the waitress didn't ask how I wanted my steak and I had to yell after her "medium rare"!
I felt the lobster bisque was okay, but my companion noted it was on the salty side. My "steak" was underwhelming and more closely resembled some very bland roast beef. My friend fared better with the roast chicken which was quite tender and flavorful.
When asked how the food was, we indicated we weren't that stoked on it and the server didn't inquire further but just walked off. Not good!
We both had the gnocchi and it was bland and on the cold side. The sauce tasted like someone had just poured some butternut squash soup on top. Very thin and too sweet. It could have used curry or saffron to cut through it.
As I was leaving, I got "regreeted" by the hostess who then realized I had already dined. Focus people!
Not a great experience. Not sure how the brunch is, but I'd give dinner a miss.
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bland, tasteless and overpriced. I wasn't the only one in our party who thought so either. Service was decent.
Big Dog and I make a mean breakfast, so we usually cook weekend brunch at home. But sometimes it's just nice to have someone make it for you - and clean up. When we're in the mood for a little pampering, we head to Citron for brunch, and have never been disappointed. I love their Benedict so much, that I usually stick to that - having ventured out only to the red flannel hash, which was also great. During crab season, I have had the Benedict with fresh Dungeness crab -- a decadent treat. This weekend, I had it with the equally nice - although not as sinful - poached salmon and spinach. The Hollandaise is made with Meyer lemons and is breakfast perfection - adding a hint of sweetness that nicely pairs with the salmon. Add the Bloody Mary, made with freshly grated horseradish, and the start of the weekend is complete!
Citron's elegant brunch deserves raves, but the restaurant itself could use a bit of sprucing, as it is looking rough around the edges.
the best word I can think of to describe this cute little restaurant is gracious. You walk in and the host (cute girl, I think her name was Chloe), is friendly, smiling and escorts you to the bar for pre-dinner cocktails. Drinks were perfectly made. We were seated right on time. Our server was super nice, not snobby or weird, just really nice. I asked him all sorts of questions which I am sure foodies would have cringed at, but he didn't.
I tried a tasting menu (four courses) and everything was great, chicken, steak, salad and a mimosa sorbet which polished off my dinner really well.
This is a place that wants you to enjoy yourselves and their food and tries very hard to make it happen.
They have 3 restrooms. The big one is really nice. The other 2 were okay and clean but could be remodelled.
I will definitely be back.
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I decided to try Citron one night with my boyfriend after seeing it on several Best of Oakland lists. Either we're way too picky about our food or the restaurant is just overrated.
We started off our meal with the Tapas de Citron. The oysters were so salty they were inedible. The empanadas were so overcooked that the crust was dry and crunchy. Everything else on the plate was just average. Nothing stood out as being particularly delicious.
At this point our hunger was really starting to set in after having a highly unsatisfying appetizer. We decided to order three courses from the chef's menu. I started out with a salad while my boyfriend had some type of lamb dish. The pieces of lettuce on my salad were too large and the nuts and fruit overwhelmed the amount of lettuce on my place. The dressing also needed some type of acid to balance it out (which I find quite interesting considering it was a lemon vinaigrette). My boyfriend's lamb was average. For my next course I had Petrale Sole while my boyfriend had the cassoulet. My sole was overcooked and flavorless. The riso pasta underneath was the only upside to the dish. The house-made sausage and the sow belly in my boyfriend's cassoulet were good in comparison to the rest of the meal. The duck leg was dry, but I could taste a hint of smokiness. At this point we began discussing what pizza place we were going to hit up after we finished eating at Citron. Between the meager portions and the unwillingness to force ourselves to eat another bite of bland food our bellies were growling. To finish up the meal, I ordered the orange creme dessert while my boyfriend had the fromage du jour. The dessert was actually quite delicious. The cheese was creamy and was slightly tangy. The only downside is that they served about .5 oz. of cheese with half an apple, half a cup of almonds, and 4 slices of bread. There just wasn't enough cheese to go around.
The service was friendly and upbeat, but our waiter refused to move us to the empty table next to us when my boyfriend decided he wanted to sit next to me. The waiter kept serving his food on the opposite end of the table while we both tried to fit on my side.
In order to return to this restaurant, the meal would have to be free and even then, I would be upset that I was wasting a free meal on Citron.
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Took a big chance one morning and stopped by Citron without a reservation. Luckily, we were welcomed by a very nice hostess and seated immediately. Soon after, drinks were ordered and it was time to take in the vibe and atmosphere of Citron. Immediately, I was impressed with the decor and feel of this unpretentious restaurant. Attractive colors on the walls graced by appealing art work and photographs.
The menu was easy to follow but did not appear to be overly "French" as you may expect from a place deeming itself a French restaurant. Nonetheless, the selection looked wonderful. So much so that my friend and I ordered 3 plates because it was so difficult to choose! The food arrived shortly after and I was immediately impressed by the presentation and aroma. The food was equally delicious as it was great to look at. Also, I can be a little critical of coffee in restaurants but the coffee was wonderful.
Between the great feeling/atmosphere, the great food and great service, Citron does exactly what it's in business to do: deliver the perfect meal. Although I was there for brunch, I can assume that Citron takes the same care with their dinner as they did with our meal. I would return without question.
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Always great food, fairly reasonable prices considering the fine ingredients, and friendly (but often fine dining slow) service. I'm just a quick turn - a food whore - what can I say.
There are good reasons this chef Chris has been invited to NYC more then once to chef at the James Beard House. He rocks, and rocks and rocks!
Some times the service seems a bit slow (even during seemingly non busy moments), but MAYBE I eat too fast. :-)
What I love about the place is that they take food so seriously yet it's unpretentious. It's College Avenue and during lunch and brunch, it's very casual and friendly. For diner it's a great special occasion or treat destination.
I'm in love with Chris' falafel balls - a must try lunch staple.
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Definitely overrated. Went here for brunch and the dishes looked great, but didn't taste right; everything was either over seasoned or a bit off in one way or another. The service was also sub-par. Our server didn't crack one smile nor did she ever check-in with regards to our food. I had to ask to have my coffee refilled several times.
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Our family went at end of December 2007 for a birthday celebration. The service was friendly, even with 3 kids, the food good, , but is was not stellar. What happened? Before I used to dream about my dinner and wonder when I could go back.
A Cote next door has become one of my favorite restaurants and there the food is memorable and top notch.
I ate Sunday brunch at Citron. I enjoyed the red flannel hash: bacon, beets, carrots and potatoes! It was so good. The fresh squeezed orange juice was a nice touch!
The service was marginal at best. It took far too long for someone to take my order. I was charged for someone else's table at check out. Perhaps it was the Christmas rush, but...
Citron sits in a prime shopping location. A table near the front window is best for people watching. I would give Citron additional stars once the service improves.
Edited to add: I returned to Citron three weeks after my first visit. I had the chevre bread pudding, coffee and some exotic chocolate and pear dessert. The servers seemed more attentive than they did during the Christmas rush. Citron gets one more star from me!
It's been awhile since I ate here, but it was for a special occasion and I remember being very pleased with the whole experience. I also remember that dessert was fabulous--home-made chocolate and vanilla ice creams on a chunk of chocolate gateau, with fresh whipped creammmm and some of the best coffee ever.
An OK restaurant - probably one of the "better" ones in the East Bay, but it is far behind the normal standards of a fancy restaurant in S.F.
Service was good - water was filled up all the time... although I don't remember the waiter ever checking up on us. I had to wave him down to get another glass of iced tea.
We all ordered the Gourmet East Bay menu. Portions are more on the small size.
For appetizer, I ordered the Butternut Squash soup. I thought it was rather good. I'm a huge fan of butternut squash soup so I'm already biased. Maybe also because it was wet and cold outside, drinking the soup made me warm and fuzzy. Excellent. Only complaint: should serve more!!
For entree, I got the roasted chicken. When it first came out, I was skeptical - oh no, it's chicken breast, which means dry. But nope, the chicken was tasty and tender. I thought it was a good pairing with the mixed veggies.
For dessert, I got the brownie. Disappointed!! The brownie was thick and bone dry. It was like eating cardboard. I didn't finish. It could have used some ice cream to balance the density of the brownie.
Overall, not the greatest. This is one of those restaurants that I would try once and call it a day.
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