Unfortunately disappointing - we didn't realize that they would be serving the same exact menu as the week prior ($175pp) for $350pp on Valentine's Day. It's a bit of a price gouge and we didn't realize until we sat down and ordered drinks- we had assumed it was $350 per couple, considering that the day prior the menu was $175pp (x2 = $350). I've seen restaurants do this in the past but they typically offer a different and more elevated menu when upcharging for the holiday. Citrin chose to offer the same exact menu as in 2/12, 2/13 but charge double for it. The wait staff was fantastic, but the meal was nothing special- especially at two Michelin star pricing per person ($350pp), when they only hold one star. read more

Citrin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

found street parking about a block away in the residential area, so lucked out on that. they do have valet parking right in front though. had a reservation time for 730 in the patio. glad i picked the patio since it was a super awesome low key atmosphere out there. inside the restaurant and bar it was super noisy. service took awhile. eventually it was the manager who came around to take our drink order. we basically only saw the server like 3 times. when he took our meal order, 1 more random time during the meal, and at the end. other than that the busser/runners touched our table way more since they had to clear dishes, bring new silverware, and brought our plates out. the actual server only took our food order. in the end when we got our bill i noticed we had 2 drinks comped. im assuming because of how long we had to wait for service, but no one said anything about it or bothered to tell us anything. food and drinks were exceptional. after a disappointing lunch at another michelin starred restaurant, i was happy that this one was at least delicious, even if the service was not as on it as the other place had been. we got the prix fixe and added on the egg caviar. upon server recommendation we got different items for each of our prix fixe so that we could try different dishes. though the dishes themselves are small, so having only half of something is not a whole lot. and because each dish took forever to come out, though there werent as many plates, we were full by the end just from sitting so long. amuse bouche in the beginning was tasty and refreshing as it was watermelon based. the egg caviar was also super tasty, got it because everyone on yelp raved about that one, and it did not disappoint. the breads were ok. sourdough did not taste like sourdough, more like a standard french roll. though the basil one was tasty. the prawn dish was really good, and the sauce was a good dipper for the bread. one of those dishes though that if youre sharing, it is not a lot to try and split up. hamachi was good. though not what we are used to (being from hawaii). so it was a bit bland by our standards. truffle risotto was good, though the risotto was a tad overcooked. lobster bolognese. if you didnt tell me it was bolognese i would have liked this a lot better as it seemed more like a tomato basil sauce the beef dish was tasty, 3 different cuts, all super tender. the eggplant puree on the side really made the dish the duck was a little disappointing compared to the rest of the dishes strawberry pavlova was delish and one of the things i had looked forward to since its hard to find pavlovas where im from. the chocolate dessert was super rich and fluffy the complimentary dessert at the end was very refreshing. sorbet on top a bed of mango "boba" i would definitely go here again. while the service was lacking, they made it up for it by how tasty the food was read more

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A one Michelin star restaurant by the same chef of Melisse. In fact, they share the same roof, the building is split in between Melisse and Citron. The main difference being that Melisse has two Michelin stars compared to Citron's one star, however, Melisse is only a prefixed menu at $300 per person whereas Citrin offers a prefix for $150 a person or à la cart options. I chose Citron because I wanted somewhere special to celebrate a special birthday, and we were not disappointed. Service was really great, and they were very attentive. The restaurant is not very large, although they do have a very large bar. We sat in the main dining room in one of their booths and felt it was a great table. I will say that it is a bit expensive, a little more than it should be, however, they do have great flavors. Our bill was about $350 for two persons and we did not order alcohol. They offer valet but do not have a dedicated parking lot. We were able to park in the retail parking lot that is located behind the restaurant, otherwise your other option would be paid street parking. We ordered: * Country Roll & Basil Brioche * Crudo * Hamachi Yellowtail Collar * Escarole and Persimmon Salad * Salad Melisse * Butternut Squash Soup * Brandt Beef Eye of Ribeye * Pineapple Soufflé * Pear Pavlova I would say my favorite of the list was the Crudo, the butternut squash soup, and the ribeye. They are all pretty small-sized portions, so no one dish will fill you up, it's more so that each dish is packed full of flavor. Overall, it was a great dinner, although it is not my favorite of the Michelin star restaurants in Los Angeles. Providence and a few others edge this location out, but I do think it still deserves five stars, and would recommend to anyone looking for a very special dinner. read more

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This place is really riding on its reputation. Sure, the dishes are full of fresh ingredients that are well executed. But the dishes are uninspiring, the portions small, and the service so subpar, I was questioning the tip after being charged so much for the meal. I've been to plenty michelin places, and I'm surprised this place has held on to their stars. A good meal, but nothing special and def resting on their laurels. read more

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* Egg Caviar 8/10 Soft Hen Yolk, Cauliflower Mousseline, Crème Fraiche, Kaluga Caviar * Crudo of Japanese Buri 10/10 Green Chili, Onion Blossom, Purslane, Celtuce, Sourdough * Truffle Egg 10/10 Truffle Sauce, Black Summer Truffle, Toasted Brioche * Santa Barbara Spot Prawn 10/10 Carolina Gold Polenta, Snap Peas, Yellow Wine Sabayon * Truffle Risotto 9/10 Age Acquerello Rice, Black Summer Truffle, Brown Butter-Truffle Froth * Maine Lobster Bolognese 8/10 Fresh Capellini Pasta, Basil, Brown Butter-Truffle Froth * 16oz Prime Rib Eye 10/10 Potato, Maitake Mushrooms, Leeks Condiment * Selection of Fine Cheese 9/10 Seasonal Preserves, White Gold Honey, Toasted Nut Bread read more

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I've had Citrin happy hour twice now. The first time was amazing and the second time was good. It probably lost it's novelty to me. I recommend a visit at least once. I was able to find parking in the neighborhood. I like sitting at the bar there. read more

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Had such a great time at Citrin for DineLA. Located on the corner of 11th and Wilshire in SM, it was a little tough to find street parking on a busy evening. Luckily, there was a convenient valet service out front. I was immediately greeted by multiple smiling staff members when I first entered. Walked into a lovely establishment with classy decor and an inviting ambience. Got there a little early for our reservation so hung out at the bar while we waited for our table. I ordered the "Just What I Needed" cocktail. After a busy week, it really was just what I needed...a perfect concoction of vodka, passion fruit, creme de peche and lime. Not too long after, our hostess directed us to our table, a cozy booth in a prime location of the restaurant. From there, the wonderful and attentive service continued throughout the evening. We ordered the DineLA tasting menu and added on the supplements. -The amuse bouche was a refreshing oyster presented on a bed of pebbles. -The bread was a basil brioche which was soft and spongy and just superb! But the butter, omg...so creamy, so indescribably delicious! -The first course was a supplement and an absolute must! It was the egg caviar, which was phenomenal! Best enjoyed when you get a bite of all components (the caviar, hen yolk, cauliflower mousse and cream fraiche) to really appreciate its complexity. -The second course was also a supplement, their famous Maine Lobster Bolognese. It was elegantly presented under a blanket of brown butter truffle froth. It's no wonder it's their signature dish. It was certainly my favorite course from the meal. The pasta and lobster were perfectly textured and had a light and flavorful taste. -The third course was the brandt beef eye of rib eye (medium rare). This unfortunately was my least favorite course, as the meat was a little dry and bland. It tasted boring compared to the prior courses. Sadly, a bit of a letdown. -Citrin quickly redeemed themselves with the fourth course. The dessert was a dark chocolate turtle cake, which was delightfully rich and had so much depth in flavor. Goes great with a cup of espresso or tea. Our server was fantastic. She was attentive and personable. We had an ongoing joke throughout the evening about the butter. To be silly, she gave us a little gift box of the butter to take home. It was fun and lighthearted way to cap off our wonderful dining experience at Citrin. read more

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Sorry about the late review but i just ran across the picture of the menu in my memories and realized i never left my one. If i could give you a minus 1, i would..... we came in to the restaurant after a long day of sightseeing. We came all the way from the east coast and had looked up your restaurant. I tried to make reservations through open table but my internet was not connecting. We walked in and asked if we needed reservations, it was 7:07 pm on March 28th, 2025, they said we could stay and seated us. We were driving and did not want anything to drink (alcoholic) so we got soft drinks. We also did not want any appetizers and opted for the shareable steak. The waiter came back over and stated that the steak would take approximately 50 minutes (for a medium rare steak) for our entree to come out and wouldn't we want to order appetizers or drinks while we waited for it. Then the head waiter then came over to us and stated that the chef didn't like to rush his orderers and wouldn't we like something else. We again said no. We felt pressured at this point and uncomfortable so we left. Very dissatisfied and frustrated. Very unprofessional and we felt like we were pressured to leave since we didn't want anything else. This is not a way to treat customers. I would never recommend this place because of the lack of hospitality. read more

Citrin - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

food was really good, dog friendly too, but service was a bit too much. they were often trying to take my food before i finished it

They changed their name/ concept a bit. It's called Citrin (they also have a Citrin bar, not to be confused with the restaurant). Anyway, some of the menu is the same when I was here last year. Family wanted to come for their tasting menu, not remembering it was Melissa from last year. Unfortunately my rating has not changed. It's still 3 stars. While the food all had flavor, I would rate it above average. Coupled with the price, it's not that good. The server was very nice and overall service was excellent. The weird thing is that their kitchen/management won't allow you to order from the a la carte menu if you do their tasting menu. I would think they would want you to order extra food but nope. They wouldn't even let us add one additional appetizer. So either you stick with their small $99 tasting menu or order the same items a la carte for their higher prices just so you can order more. For my menu: * Complimentary bread - honestly the only tasty thing of the night. Freshly baked and the basil bread was so flavorful and soft. They give you the bread to keep you full since the rest of the meal was tiny. * Complimentary amuse bouche - some sort of panna cotta on the bottom with a grapefruit foam. Good as a palate cleanser. * Sweet pea soup - good * Alaskan halibut - small portion, cooked correctly * Beef sirloin - I think the original tasting menu published online showed wagyu beef and tonight, it didn't say that. It was a bit tough and quite frankly kind of dry * Dessert was some kind of panna cotta too, with fresh fruit and fruit drizzle. It was only okay. Nothing spectacular My friend ordered the artichoke agnolotti. That tasted better than my sirloin. But portions are small as well. I don't think I'd come back again. read more

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Disappointing Experience - Michelin in Name Only As someone who frequently dines at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, I've come to expect more than just high-quality food; I expect a seamless dining experience with precision, service, and a sense of ceremony. Unfortunately, Citrin failed to deliver on all fronts. I visited for my birthday and selected the $165 per person tasting menu. My dining companion and I opted to share the dishes to try as much as possible. Despite clearly communicating this to our server, random items were placed in front of us without regard to our request, making the experience feel disjointed and uncoordinated. The waiter never asked about our food preferences, which is a standard expectation at this level of dining. It wasn't until we were almost finished and nearing dessert that he casually mentioned he hadn't asked--something that should have been taken care of at the start. Additionally, we were surprised with extra charges for items we hadn't agreed to (supplements), and the server failed to disclose these costs beforehand. As for the food, it was mediocre at best for some dishes. The caviar egg lacked any flavor, the asparagus was not only tough but also hard to cut and eat, and the veal was equally difficult to cut, rendering it nearly impossible to enjoy. I was not even able to have a slice. Not a single dish stood out in terms of taste, creativity, or execution. The bread was served cold and stale, further detracting from the experience. Service also fell short. The waiter asked if the courses had been explained to us--something that should be automatic. We had to ask for fresh utensils and sharing plates multiple times, and the descriptions of the dishes were often mumbled or unclear. The overall experience was lacking the elegance and rhythm that you expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant. The entire meal felt more like a transactional experience rather than an extraordinary one. Perhaps most troubling is the sense that, knowing many guests will likely not return after such an experience, Citrin seems to take advantage of the fleeting opportunity to charge as much as possible. The final bill came to $540 (before gratuity) for two tasting menus, three glasses of wine, supplements we didn't order, and an unexpected 4% health fee that was never communicated. In a truly fine dining environment, every part of the meal should feel worth the price, but this was far from the case. If the meal had been exceptional, I would have gladly paid the price. Instead, it felt like an attempt to "milk" guests who may not return to voice their dissatisfaction. This sort of practice is a disservice to the culinary world and diminishes the trust diners place in Michelin-caliber restaurants. Unless you've never dined at a true Michelin-starred restaurant, you might mistake this for one--but for those who know the standard, Citrin falls far short. I won't return, and I won't recommend it to others. Such a disappointment on a special day. read more

I was a little disappointed when I found out our reservations were for Citrin and not Melisse but I had a wonderful time here! Luckily we had reservations so we got seated right away when we arrived. The overall vibe I was getting was cozy, casual and warm. I will not write about the food because the tasting menu can change at any time but I will definitely write about my experience. I always get so nervous when it comes to wine and sommeliers; I feel like sommeliers judge me .. for everything HAHAHA The food runners, servers and the sommeliers at Citrin was not intimidating, they were very welcoming and a very good company. It was a great balance of small talk and explaining the dish and the sommelier was AWESOME. Because it was a tasting the wine was already selected and given. I recommend the tasting because you get a little bit of everything but that's just me, I like to try little bits of everything than commit to one thing. I'd definitely come back! read more

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The food did not wow us at all. We had cocktails, wine, the caviar service, lobster bolognese, and the chicken for two. The chicken was moist but nothing special. The lobster bolognese tasted off. Unfortunately one of us ended up very sick a few hours later. The staff is friendly but chaotic. For a Michelin restaurant you would think the staff would be more organized. For a $600 dinner we expected a different experience. read more

Citron's Michelin star sets high expectations, but our experience fell notably short. Despite noting dietary restrictions (vegetarian, shellfish allergy) at the time of booking, these were neither acknowledged nor accommodated proactively. The server didn't ask about allergies, offered no explanation of the menu, and seemed unprepared to suggest alternatives--especially disappointing for a tasting menu experience. The dining room was elegant but uncomfortably cramped, with tables so close we could hear neighboring conversations more clearly than our own. Service was uneven: long waits between courses, bread that arrived only after prompting, and a general lack of attentiveness. At this level, hospitality and precision should match the culinary ambition. Instead, Citron felt like a beautiful restaurant struggling to meet the basics of a fine dining experience. At its price point, and with its star, the bar should be much higher. read more

Divine presentation and flavorful food. I was less than happy with the lamb. It was too chewy. Came for Dine-LA, everything else was sublime. I want to come back for the happy hour! read more

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I'd like to first note that I'm basing my overall rating on the quality of food for the premium $$ Michelin star cost. There was a lot to like at Citrin, but unfortunately the food overall fell flat. THE FOOD: Our table ordered from the Tasting Menu which was a flat $145 fee if you ordered items without an additional cost. This came with a first, second, third, and desert. I ordered: -- Tomato Soup: 5/5 with a beaaaaautiful and surprising presentation. Most interestingly this was my favorite dish of the night. -- Sweet Corn Agnolotti: 3/5 and I was glad to be able to swap this in for my second versus the other offerings. The corn was sweet and flavorful. Perfect portion too, I think a larger dish of this would have been too sweet for me. That being said, it did feel like a dish I could experience elsewhere. -- Brandt Beef Eye of Ribeye: 1/5 while the meat was perfectly cooked, it was chewy and had very little flavor. Being that this dish was the "main" I was expecting mouth melting wow, and instead this was the most disappointing dish of the evening. -- Peach Pavlova: 3/5 the frozen sheep's yogurt had me wanting to lick the plate but the rest gave me "moon food" vibes with a weird mouth texture. THE SERVICE: Service was fantastic and we were especially pleased with our wine connoisseur who had just recently picked up our favorite wine, A. Rafanelli's hard-to-score Zinfandel. Thank you again for the great service! TLDR: The cost isn't worth the food experience. HOWEVER, while I wouldn't come back for a full meal, Citrin has a really wonderful offering Tuesday-Saturday from 5:30-7pm called "Glass Off" where select food offerings are basically half off. At that price, a fun bar-side evening with friends, drinks, and a couple starters is well-worth the trip. read more

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Came here on a Thursday night at 6:30. They have valet but we managed to find street parking. Bar seemed like it still had open seating but we had a reservation and went to sit outside. Food: Into the vegetable garden: pretty good and interesting dish with a lot of different vegetables Custard: would probably pass. Hamachi crudo; best dish of the night! Artichoke pasta: didn't really taste the artichoke. The pasta tasted fine but wasn't special Lobster bolognese - pretty good! Definitely more lobster than expected Duck: was alright. Sauce was good Ribeye (not 16 oz) was alright Overall, I wasn't amazed but everything was well made and well presented. It took them 2 hours to get us four courses which seemed a bit long. read more

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Happy hour is your best bet if you like to try items of the menu for a great price. Oscar our bartender was very knowledgeable and attentive. Food and drinks didn't disappoint read more

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We'll start with the food, which is why you'd go to Citrin in the first place. The food is largely excellent, the 16 oz. ribeye steak was perfectly prepared, great cut of meat, marbled with just enough fat. At $100, it was not unreasonable, and the quality was equal to any steakhouse. The mashed potatoes on the side were creamy and good. We also had the chestnut pasta, which was sublime except for the very tiny portion, and $43 for just a few bites was awfully pricey. The bread at $15 was forgettable. Drinks were solid. The problem was the service. Friendly for sure, but the server forget 2 of the 5 menu items we ordered, and when it comes down to it, the most basic job of a waiter is to take the order and deliver the food. He forgot our appetizer and side dish, and while mistakes happen, this was a pretty big blunder. At first they were going to grab the ribeye off of our table and send it back to the kitchen (!) which would have been worse, so we just lived without the other two items. The waiter was very apologetic and offered to bring them afterward, but it just didn't work after we had our main entree placed in front of us. They did bring us a free dessert, some passion fruit thing with coconut sorbet which was so-so, and not something we'd have ordered on our own. The dessert took a good 25 minutes to arrive after they cleared our plates, and I finally just asked for the check, which of course triggered our getting the dessert a minute later. Overall, the service was more clumsy than bad, and again, they were very friendly about it, but when you're spending a lot of $$$$ for fine dining, you expect the service to just be better. read more

Such a great experience. Service is kind and friendly. Fabian, the general manager, is the best! Felt so welcomed. The dirty chicken is one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had in my life and it is more than enough for two. Suuuuper tender and not dry at all. Their basil bread is out of this world. Restaurant is modern with fun art. Great place for date night! Would drive back from Orange County just for the chicken and peach pavlova alone. Can't wait for the next visit. 10/10 recommend my friends! Cheers! read more

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Amazing experience at Citrin! We came here with a recommendation from a colleague regarding its one-star Michelin status. I was thoroughly impressed with the food, although not all of them. FOOD: To start off, they give you a palate cleanser. Then an option for basil brioche or a normal dinner roll. The dinner roll was super hard and plain. However, the basil brioche was soft and amazing. They have a 4 course tasting menu which is a little small compared to other fine dining restaurants. For the around the same price, we've gotten more courses in restaurants. But the food was goood! Nothing that blew me away but still really good! They also have a very extensive wine list! ENVIRONMENT/SERVICE: Great service and very friendly! Sometimes it was hard to get our water filled tho. When you walk in, you'd get an instant shock with your eyes since it's so dark and the outside can be so bright. Good ambiance inside with comfy seatings and unique light fixtures. read more

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First time here was with my friends trying the regular tasting menu, and it was an amazing experience. We came again during Dine LA Week and this second experience was not as pleasant. Food was okay but our server of the night has been extremely impatient. I even saw her roll her eyes a couple times. She provided the check only 1min after serving us dessert although she kept saying "no rush". I felt very uncomfortable about her attitude. To me seems like they do not welcome guests during Dine LA Week then. Sharing two pics to prove that I did came twice. read more

Citrin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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A great place to celebrate my birthday!! Delicious dishes, extreme creativity and bursting with flavors! Will be back for my next birthday! read more

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Earnest but in no way deserving of a Michelin star. Oddly wide booth tables make for obtrusive service with distracting musical choices in the dining room. Waitstaff were forgetful with requests (bread, ice, check). Food was just okay, definitely not an experience of great interest or value, even for dineLA. Overall it reminded me of the victim's monologue from the film "The Menu": "Every dish you served tonight has been some intellectual exercise rather than something you want to sit and enjoy. When I eat your food, it tastes like it was made with no love. Even your hot dishes are cold." I'd prefer to pay more for less, or vice versa! read more

We came here on a date night. Reservations are required and they do charge a fee if you cancel less than 24 hours ahead. Their menu had two sections: you can either do the Pre Fixe (4 courses), or A La Carte. If you choose the former, they do ask for your entire table to do it also. We chose the latter since we couldn't finish 4 courses each. This is what we ordered: Lobster bolognese: 4/5. Perfectly cooked pasta, a good mix of lobster in the sauce, and the flavor was almost perfect. There was a truffle foam on top that was VERY subtle. I wish I tasted a little more of the truffle since the dish we had could have had no foam and still would have tasted the same. The portion size was also smaller than I imagined - this was definitely more of a dish between appetizers and entree's. King Crab risotto: 3/5. Not a favorite. The risotto was slightly undercooked - not soft or unctuous as you'd expect a risotto to be, but more on the crunchy side. The king crab was generous BUT disappeared in the dish. I could visually see it, but couldn't taste it. The vegetables in the dish were the stars and they were fresh and vibrant - but this wasn't called a vegetable risotto. Sea Bass a la vapor: 5/5. A steamed fish with lemongrass infused broth and an assortment of fresh veggies (zucchini, tomatoes, onions, spinach, carrots, green beans). This was by far my favorite dish of the night. The dish was substantial yet light - fish was cooked perfectly and was soft and flaky. The veggies were a perfect pairing with the delicate fish and it reminded me of the Cantonese steamed fish I ate as a child. I later found out from our server that the chef was inspired by the Hong-Kongnese style steamed fish - which makes sense! This is what I grew up eating! I felt full yet light after eating this. I would highly recommend giving this dish a try. Dark chocolate sphere: 5/5. My favorite dessert of the two we got. The Dark chocolate added a nice hint of bitterness and depth to the dish so that it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. The crunch with the ice cream and chocolate sauces were perfectly married together and the overall dish was well composed and balanced. Berries: 4/5. The base was a vanilla panna cotta with crumbles, berries, and mint on top. All the Ingredients when eaten together was a great bite, but I thought the dish lacked depth and a little personality. Very expected and a little boring to me, personally. Nothing was BAM! No flavor punch. Service: 3/5. Service was very meh. The hostess was super nice and I wish she served me instead. We waited quite a while after we've sat to receive water. It took us reviewing the menu, ordered our food, then another 10 minutes before we had any water. Our server did a fine job but lacked warmth and spirit. This was probably the worst part of our experience - although it wasn't awful. Parking can be a little tricky. There are metered parking around and we thought there would be valet, but when we arrived the valet was no where to be seen. Considering the price and overall food quality, I can cross this off my bucket list but I would probably not return. read more

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Fantastic Glass Off/Happy Hour at the bar! This is definitely one of the best spots in the city to snag a delicious meal, especially at the HH price point. As such, you definitely want to arrive early. My friend and I got there right when Citrin opened on a Thursday. Within 15 minutes of opening, all the seats at the bar were taken. None were vacated until after HH was over, so don't try to sneak in an hour in! If you want to eat here, arrive on time. In terms of food, we tried every single dish except the duck ragout on the menu. Everything was great, but there were a couple standouts : - The Melisse burger: yes, yes I know burgers are a dime a dozen, but Citrin has a delicious burger that's super reasonably priced. If you want to fill your stomach, order this. - The albacore/scallop: my friends favorite and I agree. Lovely sauce and good amount of fish for the price. - The cocktails. At $11 each, they're a steal. All delicious, you can't go wrong. Service was good, although I did have to flag down the wait staff a few times. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice too. Do yourself a favor and go to the bathroom to check out the wallpaper I'd recommend parking along Wilshire as meters are free later in the evening. Neighborhood parking has permit restrictions. read more

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We had eaten at Melisse years ago long before the pandemic and picked up takeout food during the pandemic. This was our first visit since then. Feels like a Michelin star restaurant. The setting, service and food are amazing. We arrived early for our early Saturday night reservation but they still sat us. You have a choice of the tasting menu or ordering a la carte. We chose the latter. We ordered bread, sweet pea soup, crudo, risotto, lobster bolognese and a sweet fruity dessert. We also had specialty cocktails that were delicious and strong. Service was impeccable. Main server was super friendly and knowledgeable. Everything came with an explanation. Make sure to book a reservation in advance. Can't wait to return. read more

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Talk about a next-level experience! This place was out of this world. The ambiance, drinks, service, and food were all perfection. It's no surprise they have 2 Michelin stars. I definitely recommend checking out this restaurant for a celebration or special date night. Starting from the beginning, we were seated at a nice table that they set with a sign that said "Happy Anniversary" since we were celebrating our anniversary. This was such a nice touch that really made us feel special. We ordered the Just What I Needed and the Comfortably Numb cocktails. The cocktails were reasonably priced at $16 and WOWW they were delicious! The Just What I Needed is one of the best drinks I've ever had and can't recommend it enough. Throughout dinner we also ordered the Queen Bitch and So Divine. Each drink was truly amazing. To start the meal we ordered the Crudo of Hamachi and the Salade Melisse. Each bite of the Crudo of Hamachi melts in your mouth. The sauce was incredible and the tangerine was so fresh. The Salade Melisse was ok. I wasn't blown away and don't think I would recommend it or order it again. The portion size was quite large, but the shaved vegetables were raw and lacked flavor. The salad smelled delicious of truffle from the truffle vinaigrette, but the taste was pretty mellow. For dinner we ordered the Lobster Bolognese and the Steamed Bass. If you've read any of the other reviews, you should know that the Lobster Bolognese IS A MUST. The maine lobster with the brown butter truffle froth and those amazing noodles is not like anything you've had before. I wish I could have that dish again and again. The Steamed Bass with asparagus and endive was served in such a flavorful green curry broth. When we were finished with the meal they brought us an amazing array of desserts to help us celebrate our anniversary. We got a delicious ice cream with yuzu, boba and cara cara oranges, some chocolates, and this amazing gummy with gold flakes. It was such a perfect end to an already incredible experience. I highly recommend this place for innovative drinks and dishes. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Citrin and Melisse were not created equally. In fact, during the difficult Covid time, Melissa's take out was the predecessor of Citrin. This is a place where fine dining is A La Carte, where customers can order what they fancy to eat on the visit. The menu are textbook material from Chef Citrin's own cookbook, these are going to be classic American-French cuisine made in California (Santa Monica - to be specific). I brought my visiting college friend here on the DineLA occasion, prior to his return thru LAX back home. It was a great meal to remember sitting at Citrin's new patio which used to be parking lot (also a product out of Covid). The patio is covered above, with heaters all around, surround by beautiful olive trees and each table set with a cute fat boy lamp (btw great natural light for photography). Now, there is only one restroom for patio, Melisse and Citrin, so it will be a bit of walk for the two seatings, definitely will bump into more guests than usual for fine dining, not an issue for me though. On to the food and wine. The food is delicious but service lack experience at Citrin. I have asked for wine list three times before the tablet was handed to me, by that time, we were two courses into the four course meal. I made a note to our somm that we'll take the unfinished bottle to go and the server who did not deliver our wine list just keep pouring until I ask him to stop. The highlight of the meal was the basil flavored pastry, it was made with love. The pastry and desert were so good. Definitely had a good time here at Citrin and pay about half the price tag of Melisse. Just remind myself that we are perhaps been served by younger generation that we possibly can't expect everything to orchestrate perfectly, at least, dining here isn't paying the Melisse price tag. read more

Drinks: Incredible cocktails! And so well priced at happy hour! Food: I keep going back just for the egg caviar. What a perfect dish! I also enjoyed the lobster bolognese and chocolate dessert. The steak was pretty blah though - I'd skip it. Service: Attentive and friendly even when they're busy Ambiance: Fancy, old school read more

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Hubby and I really enjoyed Citrin's HH! Food is excellent and so beautifully presented. Portions are ridiculously tiny (as is typically the case for fancy-schmancy frou frou restaurants) but for HH prices, we're not complaining. However, if we paid full price for just a mouthful of pasta, we'd be beyond annoyed. Needless to say, come here for HH and avoid their regular dinner prices. PORTIONS ARE THE SAME SIZE FOR HH!! Midnight Margarita - 5/5 Hubby really enjoyed this black drink Just What I Needed - 5/5 Yummy Citrin's Selection Red- 5/5 Nice pour Lobster Bolognese - 5/5 So yummy but it's literally just 2 bites and it's gone. Melisse Burger 5/5 THIS IS THE BEST THING ON THE MENU. Definitely order this when you come here. Super juicy. tasty and worth the price. Snake River Farms Beef Sirloin 5/5 - Yummy Black Bass -5/5 Mmmm! Service - 5/5 Bartenders we super nice and friendly. read more

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Came here on a Thursday for happy hour which was from 5:30pm-7pm (bar seating area only). The inside of the restaurant felt warm and classy with tea light candles along the bar. The bartenders, servers and staff were very welcoming which made the experience all the more enjoyable. Now for the food, drinks and dessert. EVERYTHING was delicious, BUT if I had to pick my favorites, it would be the ones I noted with stars next to it. We ordered the following: Food - Crudo of Hamachi - Lobster Bolognese ** - Artichoke Agnolotti** - Melisse Burger** - Potato Crusted Halibut Drinks - Never Gonna Give You Up - Midnight Margarita - Just what I needed***** everyone loved this drink - House Margarita Dessert - Pineapple curd** - Chocolate fondant** read more

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Citrin is among the few upscale restaurants in Santa Monica. It's located in the same building structure as Melisse and share the same chef, cooks, outdoor patio seating at the back lot. It had been less than three months ago that I dined at Melisse and had a wonderful experience. Last night, was my first dinner under the Citrin menu. Each item was plated artistically and service was just ok, perhaps freshman green and unpolished. I particularly enjoyed the Foie Gras terrine which paired nice with my citrin French martini. While the pumpkin caramel pie looked simple, it tasted extraordinary and yummy :) The temperature did take a dip and got cold, limited heat lamps made is unbearable for me, so we didn't have a meandering dining experience. As a frequent diner of fine dining restaurants, mostly in Beverly Hills, I usually measurably compare to my favorite Spago so there's my parameter of standards. Citrin and Melisse... both restaurants are wonderful but I still feel it lacks the true 5 star caché it can attain in all aspects: uniqueness of ingredients, artful presentation and excellent service...all these aspects still needed to be perfected. Probably ok for bohemian Santa Monica standards :/ However, I will be generous and round up from 4.456 to 5. Despite sunshine during the day, if you're planning a visit soon during these winter months, the restaurant lacks sufficient heat lamps, So Wear warm attire! read more

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Citrin is a sister restaurant to Melisse in Santa Monica-- parking is street or valet. Finding the restaurant wasn't so hard. When we checked in, there was a full bar out in front. We got seated at a middle ground round table facing the center of the restaurant. Lots of foot traffic for the booth seating servers. Poor layout of the seating options here. The server had a good attitude and gave great recommendations. We did the course menu for two. My favorite was the lobster pasta and appetizer. The lamb was too salty and had to send it back. Some other server refilled my still water glass with sparkling water... not cool. It wasn't the $$$$ experience I had expected from citrin/melisse and I was quite disappointed. read more

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Food was great! We opted not to do the tasting menu and honestly thought it was the better option. I would say we spent the same amount as we would've had we done the tasting menu, but we were able to choose dishes that we wanted to try + a better cut of meat (I believe we did the prime rib eye). Service was amazing and they were so accommodating for my boyfriend's birthday. Thoroughly enjoyed this dinner. Lovedddd the caviar and bread! read more

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Best happy hour anywhere in LA. Luckily I found it before they got the Michelin star. Will come back as often as I can get a seat at the bear. Phenomenal food and drinks. Great staff. Cool understated fun ambiance. Love taking my friends here and sharing a wow worthy experience. Make sure you get dessert. read more

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Dine LA..... it's absolutely delicious!!!! Food was cook to perfection. Thank you chef and friendly staff. read more

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Citrin tasting menu was yummy, especially the egg caviar and their country rolls . Although flavors were good, everything except the appetizers were a bit salty for our taste. If they had just used a little less salt, it would have been a 5 star review. Pics only show my pescatarian meal and not the beef and lamb they had. read more

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Recently celebrated my daughter at Citrin with a party of 6. The staff was very prepared and had options for our party which included a vegan. The service was great. Food was delicious. The only snafu was wine service. We started with glasses of champagne and then ordered a bottle. It took about 30 minutes before someone came out and said they didn't have the bottle. During the 30 minutes we went without a drink and there was no measure taken to accommodate the issue. Once mentioned to the server she said she would speak with the manager. One glass was comped but not the round. That was a bit lackluster from a professional service standpoint, especially when your bill is over $1,000 and you are dining at a Michelin restaurant. Having said that the food was delicious and all in all a wonderful time was had! read more

Disappointing My wife and I have had dinner several times at Melisse (2-star Michelin), which we thoroughly enjoyed. So, we were very much looking forward to trying Citrin (1-star Michelin). We even booked a hotel in Santa Monica that was within walking distance. As a reference, we have experience with many starred restaurants in CA, and elsewhere. Unfortunately, Citrin was a profound disappointment. Melisse has moved to a separate, much smaller part of the building. The Citrin space now includes a bar. The restaurant was busy, and the bar quite noisy. We choose the $165 four-part menu, with two wine pairings, the regular one at $100 and the premium one at $200. These prices are higher than average, and portions were small. The food was generally good, except the unappetizing lamb dish that had a bigger than normal chunk of fat. The wines were especially disappointing, with variable quality and minuscule servings. Worse, the service was uneven. Synchronization between dishes and wines was poor. I even had an argument with the server who said that the "Fleurie" beaujolais wine to be paired with the turbot fish was a white wine. This was obviously wrong when poured, but speaks to the training and competence of the staff. The Dry Creek cabernet was pretty good, but the tone was that this wine was so rare that I should be grateful to get the last few drops in the bottle. Overall, this was overpriced and totally lacking in the special touch expected of a 1-star restaurant. We will not go back. read more

Citrin - Turbot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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