On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch, French [Edit]
Neighborhood: North OaklandMon. 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.
Loading...
I'd probaby give this 3.5 stars for the superb service staff.
We thought we'd give Citron a try during the Yelp Eats week. The menu changed during the week so what we had planned to eat was not what was offered.
The Heirloom Tomato soup was very good, the Trio of Summer Salads was ok. I agree with previous reviews, the bread needed help. The Salmon was prepared perfectly and presented nicely. The meat previously on the menu was a Ribeye so I was salivating at the thought of a chunk of raw red meat but instead they offered a sliced Coulette steak. It was cooked as requested but rather civilized and just ok, nothing exciting.
We brought our Bittersweet Chocolate Cake home to enjoy with a glass of port and it was perfect!
Also perfect was our server and all wait staff. Attentive without being intrusive, not hovering but friendly and aware of what was needed without being asked. They deserve 5 stars!
Might try again sometime if we are in the neighborhood but there are so many good places nearby that it might be awhile.
I hate to say it, but this place is very 1995. It's like one of those friends of yours in her early 30's who everyone knows peaked in college.
I'm fairly certain Citron was something special when it first opened up. It seems to have a small but solid cohort of (older) regulars. I've been less impressed with the sister restaurant, A'Cote, recently, but at least the atmosphere there is really something to behold. Citron is just a bit frumpy. Still classy, but without any edge or inspiration. I also found the service to be aloof.
My meal was something I would have been really happy with at a small family restaurant that charged $12-$20 for entrees. The food is filling and well-executed, if a bit bland. The prices on the Citron menu just don't make sense considering the ingredients and set the diner up to be disappointed.
Between my friend's plate and mine, picking off the Yelp Eats! menu, I tried: roasted corn soup, trio of salads, wild mushroom gnocchi, salmon with summer squash, and the "mousse." The soup and salads were fantastic, the entrees were boring but fine, and the cake (not a mousse, and in fact quite dense rather than airy) was sub-par. I loved my cumin-tequila cocktail - ordering that drink in such a staid atmosphere was a wild card and I'm glad I went for it.
They need to switch their bread source, and then whatever they get to replace the sour cold rocks they are placing on their tables to set the expectation of the meal, they should serve it warm and with softer butter.
For those interested in trying Citron but on the fence - my recommendation is to try Garibaldi's, Somerset, or Wood Tavern in the same neighborhood (Somerset is probably the closest approximation for atmosphere and menu). The food at these establishments is similarly priced but much more memorable.
I hate to use this stereotype but this is an East Bay restaurant with SF prices.
To start off:
Bread- a little stale. This is just careless.
Lobster Bisque- more like a lobster puree. It was ok but not the silky, rich experience I expect from a bisque
Rabbit- good but at $28, I really expected much better. The end product was more like a $19-$23 entree at a comparable restaurant.
Didn't bother with desert as I had a pretty good idea of what to expect.
Service- the highlight of the experience.
Its a shame because this could be a great restaurant. However, the kitchen needs to do some serious thought about what they are doing and how they are charging for what they are doing. I won't be back for a long time.
Dessert with the Absolutely Sexy and Smart Man (ASSM). The ASSM likes chocolate. Thats right, how lucky can I be? Citron's chocolate cake was sweet without sickly sugar hangover and they offered a pistachio ice cream, my favorite, with it. How could this get any better? Maybe with the ASSM on satin sheets, but that is a different kind of review....
Other reviewers think that this is a has been, I think that Citron is a staple. Like Piedmont Market when you need really good cheese, Citron seems like it will be there to meet the need. Like dessert. On a brisk November night with stars in the sky and in my eyes.
I really wanted to like this place. But I haven't been this disappointed in a restaurant in a very long time.
The place was full when we got there, except for the one table which was ours. We arrived on time for our reservation, but the table wasn't made, and we had to wait. Why weren't they ready for us? Probably because the staff was almost completely indifferent to us and our dining experience.
Decor was blah. Service was competent, but I felt like our waiter couldn't care less about us. I don't know if he was offended that we brought our own wine ($18 corkage) or if he was tired (we were the last table seated that night), but.... He forgot to bring a spoon for my boyfriend's soup. He forgot to bring me a knife for my entree. The busboy cleared my boyfriend's dishes when I was still eating.
The food: well, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough to justify the price. We shared the charcuterie plate, and two of the meats were completely bland. The pickled vegetables were interesting, though. Then he had the lobster bisque, and it was fishy and had no chunks of lobster AT ALL. I had croquettes of saffron risotto, and that also tasted fishy (maybe they fried in canola?). For entrees, I had the salmon with summer squash, not bad, but not inspiring, and I found less than a whole chantarelle. He had the dover sole with crab, and it was tasteless. For dessert, we shared the sorbet, and the cookies were great, the sorbet was good, and that tipped the meal to 2.5 stars.
I really can't see myself returning to this place. For the price, I can go to Pican or any number of College Ave. small restaurants which are better and more charming.
I was very disappointed in Citron, particularly after all I'd heard. I was taken there for dinner. I started with their Maine Lobster Bisque. Having lived in Boston and spending considerable time in Maine, I was so looking forward to this. Oh, la. It was pureed, so there were no lovely chunks of lobster to enjoy. Even so, one should have been able to detect the sweet taste of the lobster. The bisque was brownish in colour and had a slight bitter taste to it. I ordered the Hanger Steak for main course. It was fine, but there was nothing memorable about it. The peach ice cream I had for desert was okay, but I've had much better.
To me, a really fine meal should, when you take that first bite, cause you to close your eyes and say "mmmmm." Here, thank heaven I had wonderful dinner companions, as the meal fed me, but that's about all I can say for it.
ordered:
1. steak
2. rice salad
3. pumpkin soup
4. salmon
5. chocolate cake & ice cream
6. sorbet
TOO EXPENSIVE for "ok" food. It's NOT that great, and super expensive. If you have that much to splurge on food, go somewhere else and make the food worth your money!
When you walked into Citron it sort of felt like a ghost town. It didn't have the hustle and bustle of neighboring A Cote, is this a sign?
The food was unmemorable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing exactly...but it's definitely not good either.
The only thing I remember about my experience was they had a very delicious apricot tart that they baked in-house. They also had a peach ice cream that they also creamed in-house. I remember it being quite delicious
Maybe you should try A Cote instead.
Really wonderful food. I mean what else can you say. The only down side is the price, but the food is just soooooo good.
The pulled pork is mouthwatering. *drool. I'm starting to rethink why i left this town.
HOLD ON CITRON I'M COMING BACK!!!
Visited Citron for the first time today for my birthday brunch. Cute little place in the Rockridge neighborhood, with street parking readily available. My meal was pretty tame - 3 egg farm omelet with spinach, wild mushrooms and american cheese (which I substituted for goat cheese). My hubby on the other hand had the chilaquiles verde which were awesome! I agree with Ru B. that the portion could be bigger but the flavor was on hit. The one that actually stole the show was a side order of lemon ricotta pancakes that I ordered for my little one, and which were so delicately flavored that they leave you hungering for more.
On our Sunday excursion we decided to come here because of the good drink menu they had on line. More restaurants should take a note of putting their custom drinks on their web sites because that is a big deciding factor for me.
Unfortunately the drink I had wasn't that spectacular. It was called the Moon Glow and it tasted like a regular old Gin and Tonic. The water also didn't have any ice in it. At least put the pitcher on ice so its slightly chilled.
I started off with the Asparagus Soup. My husband and I split it. It was so good. I want to try and make it at home. A very good fresh asparagus flavor with Mayer Lemon Oil drizzled on top. A very interesting combination and absolutely delicious.
I followed the soup up with the Pulled Pork Sandwich. The pork was very tender and the sauce was good. Slightly spicier than I like but was really good with the pickled onions on it. It also came with homemade potato chips. That was actually the reason why I ordered the sandwich was for the chips and I was not disappointed. They were very good.
My husband had the Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict. He said that it was the best Hollandaise Sauce he'd ever had on an eggs Benedict. It looked very good too.
We got to sit in the window bench seat. It was really nice to people watch while we ate and sipped our drinks.
I would really like to come back and try the dinner menu out. Possibly try a different drink.
I've been loyal to this place for the past 3 yrs for brunch and dinner. The brunch service has always been great when I order their red flannel hash or eggs benedict with crab. For vegetarians they have a good omelet. The a la carte brunch and lunch menus are a bit on the high side. The cocktail glasses are a little small & pricey for its size. The pre-fix dinners with the wine flights have always been a great selection & priced very reasonably.
Wonderful Sunday Brunch.
I took my mom here for mother's day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We tried almost everything on the menu, from the eggs benedict to the Omelet. The winner by far was the Chilaquiles Verde. The pork was sooo tender and flavorful, with a nice spicy kick to it. Wonderful dish.
The eggs benedict was scrumptuous. I had it with the ham, but am now wondering how the dungenous crab would have tasted. The hollandais was perfect, not super heavy and the pouched eggs were done perfectly.
The other winner was the lemon ricotta pancakes. We saved them for the end of the meal, and they stayed warm and fluffy throughout. The flavor was amazing, and you can taste the lemon and small morsels of ricotta (I LOVE RICOTTA). We also had the bacon and the chili pepper sausage as sides, and just put over the top.
Unfortunately, we didn't have room for dessert, so hopefully next time, we'll save room.
Lovely restaurant, and very attentive servers. Definitely make reservations or come a little later in the afternoon after 2 which seemed less busy.
One minor critique is that the mimosa was made with a very dry champagne or sparkling wine, which we prefer to have been on the sweeter side (major sweet tooths, hahahha)...
Thanks to Kat B for recommending. I'll definitely go back to try all the dishes.
This is a brunch review, only.
Had a very nice meal here today with my gf. I opted for the "Red Flannel Hash" - essentially, it's Egg Benedict (poached eggs, Hollandaise, bread) with red beets, bacon, onions, carrots, and potatoes. This dish shows some real skill on the part of the person who invented it, as you get multiple textures combined with a nice balance of sweetness (beets, carrots, onions), saltiness (bacon) and starch (potatoes). The eggs were done perfectly. I'd give this a solid 5 stars (but please add just a little more bacon!).
My friend had Eggs Benedict with Dungeness crab and baby spinach. Got to purloin some, and I thought it was really nice. If I have a dish with crab, I want it to stand out - it should be be fresh and you have to be careful not to wipe out its flavor with other ingredients. Very nicely done by Citron: 4.5 stars, at least.
We shared a small bowl of "spring asparagus with Meyer lemon oil" to start. Frankly, kinda bland, because the asparagus didn't have much going for it. I think they got fresh stuff, but it just didn't hold up too well.
Very pleasant and attentive staff and a nice enough room. I'd go back with no hesitation. Why can't we get places like this in San Jose? Don't answer that....
So I totally lucked out here since we were shooting a wedding here and usually as a photographer you get a vendor meal but sometimes you get exactly what the guests get so we totally got to nosh on the real cuisine they server and it was really good. The staff was super friendly and went out of their way to help us out as well.
It's a nice little spot in a part of Oakland I hadn't been to before and everything we had was great. I'm not sure what everything was we had for dinner that night but it was a pretty broad spectrum since it was sort of done family style.
After reading all the reviews about Citron, I was on the fence about dining here. I'm glad we ended up here, as the food and service at Citron really came through.
This is an eclectic French bistro dining experience along with a Mediterranean flare. This is also one a few restaurants which has a fixed price three and four course menu, which are paired with selected wines.
My group was promptly seated, and the curtains were drawn to allow privacy. Our waitress brought out salmon canapes which was a very nice touch.
The menu items are simple, but rich in taste and presentation. I would highly recommend:
Loch Duart Salmon with the Cauliflower Puree which has the same texture of mash potatoes, but well rounds the salmon.
Choucroute Royale grilled pork loin with sauerkraut and roast potatoes. I never liked sauerkraut until now :)
Roasted Chicken Breast with Piiquillo Pepper-Cheve Ravioli. The Ravioli is a good accompaniment to the chicken breast.
We were all impressed with the food, and wait staff.
Really, what a restaurant should be and frankly, used to be. Sunday brunch is so divine. The wait staff is a virtual brood of hot models who just need an agent, the food is an Oscar winner.
Subtle and savory with portions sized to satisfy your stomach and not your eye. Everything is gently prepared and with that I mean, it seems to exude a quality that melts on your tongue instead of bellowing loudly for more. My omelet was made without meat and the extra veggies made it extra special. But those squares of potatoey goodness, WHOA is it the seasonings? Why did I eat them one at a time to enjoy slowly?
This is definitely a quality visit. Highest price for a brunch item was $18/USD (crab dish) and lowest was in the neighborhood of $10/USD (pancakes). Omelet was around $15 so def not a money saver but a rare treat.
Everyone raved about their respective dishes and the coffee was the perfect finish. Be sure to make reservations.
Pricey, somewhat misleading, annoying service.
Dinner for two weekday evening was quiet, with only three tables full. But we came in for the $18 ala carte salmon and were charged $24. And the waiter kept insisting we repeat everything (No, no wine. Yes, two to-go boxes) but also seemed to ignore separate questions (No coffee for me. You? But the waiter was already leaving). The food was not bad, reasonably proportioned but sauces were too creamy and salty for our taste. I'd go back only if something on the menu really looked good.
Date: January 10, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Occasion: Saturday Date Night with Boyfriend
Ambiance: Charming, cozy and classy.
A little tealight on the table.
We liked our cozy round table by the window
Social Scene: Hip and trendy 30's and 40's, The Older and Sophisticated
Service: I was expecting for service to be stiff-necked or formal.
I was pleasantly surprised that the service was relaxed and friendly.
Salud!:
ETOH: Moon Flower : a nice limey, semi-sweet cocktail
H2O: Large Pellegrino
Treats:
Appetizer: 2 canapes with salmon spread (on the house)
Me: Maine Lobster Bisque
Duck Confit Trio
BF: Smoked New York Steak
Sweets: Apple Parfait
Tab: $93.56 (including tax and tip)
I just came back from my sister's house who fed me Pinoy lunch of rice, tocino, lumpia and halo-halo with more to take home with me. So, I was still full when I went to dinner at Citron. That's why I ordered soup and salad in lieu of the main dish.
1. Lobster Bisque was perfectly warm, smooth and oozing with shellfish flavors.
2. The Duck Confit was so good I could have finished two plates. It was a perfect combination of the sweet and savory. The duck meat was tender and moist. It was served with celery root and beets drizzled with sweet quince sauce.
3. Boyfriend said his New York Steak was tender and delicious. However, he thought his steak SHOULD have been bigger. I thought the portions were generous but BF begged to differ. (Believe me, I probably could not have finished it. But this is coming from a petite Asian.)
4.The Apple Parfait was a nice finish to our meal: light ice cream with chunks of preserved apples.
Overall:
Citron is a nice spot on College Ave to have a nice, romantic dinner or just hangout with your BBF for hip, trendy dining.
I really enjoyed this place that I would go back again, probably with a petite GF not a carnivore of a Boyfriend
Boyfriend and I walked back to our car holding hands (which we always do.) Then we saw a couple making out in front of a children's store. Beautiful evening on College Ave last night. Must have been the moon. (Sigh....)
After paying over $100, all I could think was... eh. It's cute enough. It's service is pretty good. It is incredibly overpriced for what it is. And it's shameful next to Garibaldi's. But let's go into details.
1. Sourdough. No. Just no. You're trying to be French. Sourdough is not French. As someone who is French, I find it insulting. And it was served cold. And there was no finger salt. All around a waste of your time and mine.
2. Corn soup: best thing I had all night. It was really good. The biscuit had no business being there, added nothing, only to say, hey this soup has a biscuit in it.
3. Gnocchi. As a vegetarian, I'm also slightly insulted. If you're going to do a "wild mushroom" gnocchi, at least pick some interesting mushrooms. Baby Bellas aren't that wild. Pick some good (slightly more expensive) mushrooms, marinate them in truffle oil, put some more truffle oil when you braze the gnocchi, and maybe then the meal would've had some punch.
4. Chocolate mousse? what mousse? It was a chocolate cake. It was yummy, but false advertising.
5. House red wine. Good, not as good as a house wine would be in France, but not bad.
So if you were located somewhere else, maybe I'd come again, but with Garibaldi's down a block and less expensive and better, apologies...
So Rose, Grace and I decided that we were still going to go out to dinner in honor of our Grandfather...however this year we stepped it up a bit and I told my sisters and their husband and boyfriend to dress nice because we were going to go out in style...
My sister Grace acted offended when I told her that her and Tanner were to wear clothes without holes in them and that she was to clean under her fingernails...
"What do you think we are Becky?"
My response, "Um...Hillbillies!"
So we walk into the restaurant and the first thing out of Tanner's mouth is..."I'm not gonna lie, I don't fit in here and I am a little uncomfortable."
Apparently Steven's collared shirt with "Wrangler" printed down the lengths of both sleeves and the boys' work boots and cameo hats were enough of a hint to the waiter that he was better off sitting us in a corner away from most of the other patrons...
Which turned out to be a VERY good thing!
When the waiter came over to get our drink orders Steven proudly announced that he voted for Sizzler instead of the fancy place. Then he tried to order a Coors Light, and when the waiter laughed he tried to order the "house wine," finally my sister Rose intervened and ordered his drink for him!
When Tanner and Grace started breaking out the stories of the first time they, um...er...consummated their relationship, I thought we were going to be asked to leave after Grace and I had to shush Tanner several times after he got a few snickers from the waiter...
You can take the kids out of the country but you can't take the country out of the kids!
The food was really really really good, the place is older and quite comfortable in the knowledge that it serves great food and drink. A little place, nestled quaintly into the Rockridge district, I would be more inclined to go again on a date or with a more intimate group.
While they graciously accepted our boisterous group - we may have been a bit much for the other patrons, although I think the waiter's had more fun than usual!
I'm definately going back!
Service- 4 stars: frequent visit from waitressES because they were bored.
Food- 2 stars: nothing special. I literally had everything on the menu because we ordered three four-courses. Baby arugula were everywhere; I'm pretty sure I'll be dream about getting lost in a baby arugula field tonight.
This is a great place.
My friend and I came here the other night and had a wonderful time. The food was killer. I had the Prawns on Risotto, she had the NY Steak. Both were incredible. We split the chocolate cake... Zowie!
The server was fantastic and had incredible taste in wine. We each got a glass of something that sounded good to us (white for her, red for me), and they were perfectly fine, but for our second glass, we asked the server for her recommendation. She recommended for both of us, far superior wines. They were exactly what we wished for and described. Brilliant!
I can not ask for more from a restaurant: Excellent food, knowledgeable and attentive service and splendid atmosphere.
This is where we'll go more often, now that Jojo is closed.
Enjoy!!
Went here for Valentine's Day this year, and sat in the back patio area, which was plenty warm and decorated nicely with lights. Very romantic atmosphere, though I'm glad we were on the patio (the actual restaurant would have been a little loud for me). Overall great experience.
While the salads were unmemorable, the wine list was good, our service was excellent, and the entrees were outstanding. I would love to bring my parents back here.
Distinctly some of the least impressive food I've had at a nice restaurant lately. Worse yet, the service was pretty slow, and my water was pretty much constantly empty.
Dungeness crab and prawn cake with a salad of baby arugula, Belgian endives, persimmon and gypsy pepper oil didn't taste as exotic as it sounded, pretty much tasted like a big crab cake with a decent salad on top. I didn't get persimmons either, maybe they ran out, I got some type of citrus instead.
The crispy duck confit was dry and overcooked.
The Meyer lemon scented tiger prawns were good, but not out of the ordinary in any way.
The choucroute royale was decidedly a mixed bag. It comes with a ton of different things to try, but most of them were unmemorable.
On the plus side, everyone did like the desserts they ordered.
Today, Citron was terrific.
Went there to meet a friend of mine for brunch. Everything was superb.
Scrambled eggs ... perfect. Crispy bacon ... perfect. My friend liked her egg hash with everything but the kitchen sink in it. She said it was divine.
We lingered over coffee and champagne and it was a great visit.
Citron is a nice, small and cozy restaurant with good food. For a business lunch for 2 to 4 people,… Read more »
It was good, service was attentive and friendly, but there was nothing about the evening that suggested it is worth returning. I'm quite certain I can cook a better meal at home.
After our first experience dining at Citron just over a year ago, both my husband and I would have rated Citron as one of our favorite Oakland restaurants. So we eagerly awaited our New Year's Eve reservation, anticipating an even better experience for this special occasion.
We are sad to say that we cannot recall a more disappointing meal. We have no idea what happened, but something has changed at Citron, and for the worse. We each ordered three courses. I had the crabcake, lambchops and cheese. My husband had the lobster bisque, pheasant and a chocolate bread pudding. As each course came and went we hoped for something good to enjoy, but everything was poorly seasoned. My lamb arrived cold. The lobster was overcooked to the point of chewiness and the pheasant was dry. While the dessert was passable and cheese is hard to mess up, we were so discouraged by that point we just wanted to be home. Even the wine - Pierre Sparr - was disappointing.
Although our main problem was with the food, the service was also surprisingly lacking. Our waiter was a nice and well meaning guy, but a bit forgetful and certainly not going out of his way. I'll also mention that we were seated in kind of a sad makeshift overflow "room" that was the back porch covered over. Although they set up heaters, it was still a pretty chilly night to be outdoors. They didn't even bother to bus the tables around us since we were the last seating of the night. It was a mess.
Overall, I'd say it felt like Citron was offering less (poorly prepared food, lacking atmosphere and service) and charging more (I think the three courses were about $20 more) than on a regular night). As much as I want to give Citron another try on a quieter night based on our first experience, with all the other restaurants in the area doing it right, I can't say I'll be hurrying back.
We were at least 10 minutes late for brunch, but they sat us anyway. Everyone who worked there was really nice and cheerful, and happy to accommodate us even though they were technically closed.
We ordered the falafel and an omelet with goat cheese and mushrooms... both nothing short of perfect. The falafel wasn't too heavy, and came with 3 Mediterranean salads, all of which were amazing. It was also served with possibly the best flatbread that I've ever had! The omelet was just as good, perfectly cooked with obviously very fresh mushrooms and spinach and high-quality, creamy goat cheese. The home fries "taste like home fries taste in my dreams," according to my girlfriend.
I'll definitely go again, probably for dinner next time.
My only complaint was that there was a bunch of Christmas decor, but I guess other people are into that and it's pretty unavoidable this time of year. Am I the only person who thinks that all Christmas decorations are tacky?
Otherwise, nice decor. A good date place. Romantic.
I am in love with the brunch menu at Citron. Great customer service, excellent drink and food selection. Their night time menu is super good tooo.
I've had the pleasure of going to Citron for brunch a handful of times recently. We've been going on Saturday morning just as they open at 10. This is new for me. I've been a half a dozen times for dinner over the years, but never before for brunch.
Citron is a relaxed place with real table clothes, linen napkins, a brunch amuse bouche. The atmosphere is almost tranquil juxtaposed with Rockridge Cafe's frenetic energy nearby. The servers are pleasant, not overly friendly, not chatty, very respectful of your personal space and time, broad smiles.
Being able to get in without reservation and zero wait were the main attractions. The food has brought us back. Besides the pancakes I've only had a bite or two of, I've had two items from the brunch menu: Red Flannel Hash and Chilaquiles Verde.
Red Flannel Hash: roasted red beets, bacon, two poached eggs, potatoes, carrots & onions topped with Hollandaise & grilled baguette
Of course, I got the hash out the Hollandaise sauce (yuck!) and my eggs over-hard instead of poached (why should eggs run when they can stand still?). Generous portion, great flavors. Beets are what encouraged me to order this (mad about beets!).
Chilaquiles Verde: slowly roasted pork, two eggs any style, spicy salsa verde, guacamole, crema & breakfast potatoes.
With this, I asked if they would make the salsa very spicy. This added some extra time to our order. So much so that we thought we had been forgotten. It was well worth the wait. The waitress explained that the sauce had been made special for me. And, it was very hot and very good. Completely exceeded my expectations!
We'll definitely be going here again. I would've liked to give it 5 stars, but the lack of seasonal fruit is kind of bothersome. Plus, the menu still says Spring on it. Apples and pears are not summer fruit. Where are the berries and stone fruit? They're at the farmers market. They should be on the table.
If you'd rather spend your time sitting at a comfortable table than waiting in line, Citron is worth checking out for brunch. Food is delicious, albeit a little pricey.
Some restaurants are like perfectly cut gems...Citron can be one of those depending on what time during the week you go. I've been here several times, and each time it was different; during the week it is quiet and romantic, And another time I was back and it was on a packed Friday evening and the service was not too great.
The food is exciting and always unique. Wonderful bar. If you are looking for a romantic dinner, this can be the perfect place. Food is done well, and it is fun to try the pr ix fare with all the selections with the wine pairing. Albeit, sometimes the chef doesn't get 5 stars for the small creative tidbits that the wait staff will bring to the table for you to try. I think last time it was a potato chip with green based sauce to dip it in. My boyfriend looked at me like it had to be a joke (after I had raved about the restaurant). I told him...it's free..just try it! The meal itself that we ordered was superb.
"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
3.5 stars.
Great decor and very nice service. We were checked in on several times throughout our meal not only by the waitstaff but also the manager.
Had the spinach salad which was good cause it had a lot of dressing, but the salad itself was warm. Odd.
For dinner I had the rib eye which was prepared like prime rib. I asked for it medium rare, but at least 1 inch of the edge was well done. It was still tender, but when you want red meat, you don't want brown meat,.
For dessert we had the chocolate cake and the apple strudel. The chocolate cake made up for everything that the apple strudel lacked. It was decadent and delicious.
Met a friend at Citron for a 2:15 "brunch" yesterday (Sunday) and left wondering, "why don't I do more 2:15 Sunday brunches?"
The prosecco mimosa was perfect. I was dead-set on breakfast in the afernoon, and their Red Flannel Hash fit the bill. I am a fan of Rick and Ann's red flannel hash, but Citron's was more...well, "Citron" (meaning upscale and a teensy bit more delicate).
Even though we stayed for hours and closed the place down...the servers were warm, gracious and welcoming. I'll be back.
Having had pleasant dining experiences at Citron many times over the past 10+ years, I decided to take Cillesa here for her birthday last weekend. What a disappointment!
We sat for nearly 10 minutes before our server approached to take our drink order. When he did, he didn't even say hello or tell us what his name was; he just asked: "What would you like to drink?" He might not have realized we'd been waiting, and I can kind of forgive that, but at a restaurant of Citron's level, a more cordial greeting is customary. Cillesa and I were looking at each other thinking, "Should we just leave now and walk up the street to Oliveto?" In hindsight, we probably should have.
Our food was just mediocre, with the low point being the baby spinach salad (the spinach leaves were tasteless without any crispness, and the dressing was almost entirely bland) and the high point being the New York steak (which had a wonderful cherry wood smoke flavor but was just an otherwise okay cut of meat).
The service we received over the course of the evening was inattentive and lacked sincerity.
The manager came over and asked how our meal was. We were honest and said it was just okay and gave specifics. We're not complainers at restaurants, so we were were kind and matter-of-fact about it. He remarked on the spinach, that it was difficult to get good spinach this time of year, and that it probably wouldn't be on the menu for the next week. (They should have made that call the week before!) He asked if we'd eaten there before, to which we replied yes, we had. He asked if we were having dessert, and we said we were not. And that was the end of the discussion. Strange, since I had indicated on the Open Table reservation that it was Cillesa's birthday...
Our check came; we paid and left. We agreed that we would probably not return, since there's much better food and service in Oakland at this price point. It's really too bad; I used to enjoy dining at Citron.
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!
every time i've been here the food has been great and the wine selections are also quite good. I had a tri tip here once that was amazing. However it's been years since i've last visited, i hope the food is still as good as i remember.
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.
Wow. Brunch was fantastic.
Went at 10 a.m. for a party of 6 on a Sunday. Seated promptly. Waitstaff was friendly and prompt.
Food was great. The benedict is amazing (sausage is homemade). The lemon ricotta pancakes were amazing. Even the hot chocolate was two thumbs up! The odd thing about the dining was that they had DESSERT menus available after brunch! And let me tell you, it was also two thumbs up! Oh and they bring out fresh bengiets (don't think I spelled that right!) prior to your brunch selection.
Would definitely go back for seconds, and thirds, etc... you know it.
Parking is a breeze =)
Neighborhood: Rockridge
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: French
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Reviewing pseudoakland, one overpriced boutiquish…
local food, drink and other stuff i felt the need…
Places I have found using Yelp Mobile while I was…
You might not get into my pants, but taking me to…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
These are the reasons I loved living here. All…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Bridge and tunnel, my ass. Here are some local…
