My husband and I literally just left this place and I couldn't wait to write the review. The hostess was so sweet and friendly and we were able to get seats on a walk in basis outside on this beautiful night. Unfortunately I didn't catch our servers name but he and his assistant were absolutely fantastic. They were watchful of our tables and made sure we were never low on water or drinks and suggested some amazing food. The beef tartar was excellent, the Halibut special that my husband had was very good and my rack of lamb was also great! They suggested the baklava for dessert with vanilla gelato and it was amazing! Margaritas were stellar as was the vodka shaken! Both drinks were so refreshing. We couldn't have asked for a better date night dinner. read more

Citrine is a great Oak Park option. The menu has improved over the years, and the ambience is welcoming and elevated. Service is generally good. I love going to the bar for a quick happy hour with a friend. And don't sleep on Brunch at Citrine! It's perfect for a celebration with friends - really nice atmosphere and menu. A good, upscale brunch is hard to find in Oak Park, and Citrine has you covered. read more

I had my bridal shower here back in August 2018 (sorry for the late review!) and could not have been happier. We had our own private room and were able to put up the cutest decorations. They were incredibly easy to work with. The food was amazing and service was excellent. read more

I have been a few times. Most recently, though, our waitress was more interested on chatting with couples at the bar than anticipating and serving our small table. Service was very sub par. read more

I took my gram out for an early senior dinner and we wanted to try something other than our usual go-to's. I don't know how I missed this place since it's been open but better late than never! Since it was early around 5:30pm we beat the dinner rush, we were seated right away and immediately offered a beverage. The menu is a mash of Mediterranean and American and perfectly fused. The decor is lovely, modern and clean with not much clutter just elegantly simplistic with a touch of rustic. The space would be great for groups or dates for sure not so much for kids so grab a sitter, it's worth it! The menu isn't huge which I actually prefer but it flowed very nicely and seemed very well thought out. I ordered the steak frites the hangar was cooked to perfection at my requested med/rare and even the fries were elevated, perfectly crisp and soft at the same time over a lovely sauce. The bread that comes out first was also a bit with a lovely rosemary and herb Olive oil. My gram ordered the true star of the show, the short rib, so tender and sizeable served over a delish veg and potato medley in a tasty sauce. The only thing I would give a bit of constructive criticism would be the dessert menu, I have a major sweet tooth but none of the options they have on the menu caught my eye, I would have loved to see an elegant tart, or upscale cookie dessert or pie leaning more on the American dessert side, just my humble opinion :) no matter what I will definitely be back with the hubs for a date night or the girls for a night out, the bar looked great and as wonderful as the service was I'm just the bar is the same! Thanks for a lovely dining experience. read more

Citrine Cafe - Amazing short rib - Mediterranean Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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This one is hard to beat. Great food, great drinks, great service, and reasonably priced. Their menu changes frequently so I go there at least once every two weeks. It's a nice change from the outdated places in Oak Park. Definitely a couples place, group of friends, or family dinner (older kids). I'd like to give the owner an extra * (star) for his hospitality. You can tell he truly cares about the preparation, cleanliness, and professionalism of his staff. read more

The food is really well crafted. Their steaks and fish have been highly appreciated during our visits. Service has been flawless on all visits. I can't say enough good things about their rotating cocktail menu. For brunch, their bloody mary is spectacular. Goes very well with the well done Chilaquiles. We really enjoy their outdoor seating, they have plenty of shade for a comfortable experience on brighter and hotter days. It's a great local alternative to driving into the city for comparable experiences. read more

Really enjoyed our dinner at Citrene! Decided to take advantage of their Restaurant Week Menu and wine pairings with our friends. Favorites 1st course was the Charred Octopus & shaved Brussels sprout salad. Would not order the Gnocchi next time. The Branzino was amazing and Grilled Lamb very tasty also. Alex, our server was very attentive and helpful. We were pleased to meet the owner as he spoke with guests. Nice atmosphere as well. read more

Citrine is an example of a good restaurant, not just " a good restaurant for Oak Park". The food is always satisfying, especially the Steak Diane. However, the real show is the apothecary-style cocktail program. The bartenders are personable, knowledgeable and very willing to educate you on why they are doing what they're doing. read more

Let's remember - 2-stars means 'meh, I've had better' on Yelp. And that's exactly the feeling I had a Citrine, though I will be back to test out other dishes. I've been trying to get here for a while. I live in neighboring Forest Park and we're always up to try a new spot nearby. The atmosphere is great very romantic, nice music (old school R&B and folk were on the playlist the night we went) and big enough that you don't feel like you're on top of the couple next to you. The outdoor patio is really big, though not open this time year. I look forward to enjoying a leisurely 1, 2, or 4 cocktails out there this spring/summer. We both started with the carrot soup special which was delicious. We had high hopes. I ordered the Pork Shank, which is their signature dish. My husband had a pork chop that was the night's special. I ordered one of their house-made specialty drinks: Health Elixir No. 2. It was good, refreshing and something I could probably have ordered several more of. The pork shank was impressively presented which seems to be a theme here. The first bite was amazing but subsequent were just meh. The flavors were pretty one-note and the seasoning didn't have any depth. I got more of the flavor from the crispy bacon on top and the thin layer of BBQ-esque sauce it sat in. My husband's pork chop was equally underwhelming: seasoning wasn't spectacular and the chop was actually a little dry. My shank was saved by the fact that it was super tender and falling off the bone. The shank came with stone-ground grits, which I actually had to add salt to though it still didn't help them much, and sauteed spinach which is really never anything special. The husband's pork chop came with ricotta gnocchi which were amazing. I'll take a bowl of those anytime. Hence, why I said we'll be back. I definitely want to try their pasta and/or fish dishes. Plus, again, me + the cocktail + a warm spring/summer evening = at least a few hours of enjoyment. Our server was pretty good, but he had several tables across the large floorplan so it took him quite a while to come by after our dishes were served. I had to stop eating or else the wine I was trying to order wouldn't have come in time to complement the meal. Thankfully, they ended up comping us the glass (on purpose - maybe). Also, our daughter's dinner was free because kids eat free between 4:30pm and 6:30pm. I don't think we got there before 6:30pm so another solid from our server. In the end, Citrine's atmosphere and staff helped pull the food up a notch and though it still missed the mark, I see its potential. When I'm paying $30/dish I expect it to be pretty spectacular. It wasn't, but I'm willing to give them a second chance. read more

Decided to give this place a chance because I love supporting small businesses and it was mentioned in Chicago Mag for the 30 best restaurants in the burbs. So I came for brunch on Sunday. Not too busy but that's what I like. We ordered the chorizo hash and the lamb sausages. The chorizo hash was too heavy for my liking. The sauce on the lamb was very tasty. We also ordered a bloody Mary and on the menu it says "house made mix" which is what sold me as I love a good bloody. Well, unless they are the maker of Zing Zang, then I would say the mix was truly house made... But I highly doubt it. I saw the bartender opening a fresh bottle of Zing Zang for my bloody and everyone else that ordered it while I was there. So...hence the 2 stars. I wish I came here for dinner since I didn't know they had 2 different menus but now, I think I'll pass. read more

This is a very cute and modern place in the area. My boyfriend and I come here sometimes and love it a lot in the summer. I will say this, there is one guy there who gives great service (can't remember his name). He really seems to care about your experience. I was there maybe about two weeks ago and sat at the bar. It was a chilly night and when the bartender came over to greet us, the smell of a cigarette from him was very strong. It just didn't feel professional and to be honest, I wanted to leave because of that but we stayed because it was cold outside and didn't want to move around. The guy (whom I mentioned before) came over to us and brought us some fried peanuts I guess. I found that as a nice gesture since he was not even the one who was helping us. Someone has mentioned the menu in previous post. Yes, the menu has not changed in a while. We didn't know what to choose from anymore as we pretty much tried everything. Having specials here and there would be helpful as I am sure changing menu can be tricky. They do have $6 rose wines on Wednesday which is a good special during the week as their wines are good. The food has downtown prices which doesn't always reflect the quality or portion. It is still worth a try and I will come back. read more

Good food but very limited on vegetarian/vegan options. There was one appetizer I could eat and the rest were sides.

The ambience was something that was amazing to me! The food was packed full of flavor and love! To top it all off we had great service!

Had dinner here last night. Made reservations and was seated immediately. Interior is well lit and very nice. Runner was there to bring bread and fill water without delay. Waiter, we'll call him Toolbox, took 15 minutes to show up. Toolbox then dropped off a drink menu and left for another 10 minutes. Toolbox then returned to "talk about" (his words) drinks. As Vampire Bill Compton would say, I was "perturbed" by the drink menu. The website lists several beers that are not available. I had my heart set on downing four or five Abita Ambers which I could not get. Anyway, Toolbox recommended some other beer (Belgian amber) which was okay. Toolbox said he'd return later to "talk about" entrees. Appetizers were good but small. We'd finished our apps before Toolbox took our dinner order. Oh well, more drinks I guess. The menu itself is very limited. If you like seafood you'll do just fine. If you don't like seafood your choices are a burger or a sirloin steak. I got the steak. As the night went on I had several different beers and settled on something called "Snaggletooth...". The steak was excellent. Toolbox got better as the night went on or maybe it was the alcohol. Anyway he got 20%. The rest of my party enjoyed their food. Dessert was very good. I'd give the place another visit should I find myself in the People's Republic of Oak Park again. read more

I REALLY wanted to like this place and was hoping for a great new spot. Nope. Everything we ordered was missing something. The eggplant caviar had just a weird taste and was bland. I am a huge eggplant fan and love brown butter, but this was just not good. The pork fritters also had a strange taste. we did not even finish these. I got the homemade sausages and honestly had better at our 4th of July BBQ. My husband had the short rib, which was in desperate need of sauce and seasonings. The winner of the night was the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler, but we changed the gelato from mint to vanilla. It is a great atmosphere, but is priced high for mediocre food. probably won't be back. read more

Update: I visited Citrine again recently and loved their fall menu. Specifically, there was a delicious addition to their specialty cocktails: the Cinderlatte, which is a perfectly crisp fall drink. The combination of pumpkin puree (made fresh, not from a can), aromatic spices, cognac, vodka, and baileys was uniquely satisfying for a cool autumn evening. I highly recommend this drink! I also had a mushroom risotto entree, which I give 3.5 stars out of 5. The texture was on point, as well as the mushroom selection and pistou. It could have used a stronger cheese instead of marscapone, to give it more of a punch. read more

Citrine Cafe has excellent, modern brunch choices and fantastic drinks. I highly recommend the burrata avocado toast. Also, we had very attentive, friendly service. Great place to go for brunch and would love to eat here in the summer on their patio. read more

We visited Citrine a couple of times in recent weeks: once for brunch, once for dinner. We were warmly welcomed for brunch and had an enjoyable meal. Dinner was OK. VIBE: At brunchtime, the dining room at this north-east corner location is cheerful, airy and bright. Comfortable table spacing. Visually warm wood tones. Very pleasant. For dinner, we sat outside; it was pleasant, the occasional CTA across the street notwithstanding. SERVICE: The place was not busy at brunch, and the service was cordial, enthusiastic and attentive from the server and the proprietor. For dinner, we had a different server who was a bit full of himself (though he became less so as the meal went on); food arrived in a timely manner. GOOD: At brunch, I liked the chorizo strada, though it was a bit bready and not as vibrantly flavored as I'd hoped. Others enjoyed the Citrine Breakfast plate (a very substantial portion, as was the strada). Lamb sausages were tangy with harissa. A waffle was tasty, rich and light. At dinner, nothing rally stood out; a whitefish entrée was OK. NOT SO GOOD: At brunch, everyone was satisfied, though the flavors generally seemed a bit subdued. Food was good, but not outstanding. At dinner, the house sausage entrée was saltier than I like. Citrine was OK, especially for brunch. I wish I could give it 4*, but it's not there yet. This seems to be the case in Oak Park generally - many 3* restaurants, but none that I'd rate 4*, generally due to shortcomings in cooking and/or lack of polished service. read more

I guess it may be pandemic issues but lacking service, average food. Beet salad was good. Ambiance nice. May be it will get better in time

Everything we had here was amazing. From well-mixed drinks that weren't too sweet to dishes that were balanced in taste and texture. Our waitress's recommendations were all great and the service was outstanding. Plates were taken away quickly (but not too quickly) and food was brought out in a great cadence. I recommend the shrimp and grits, wedge salad (that bacon!), boar pasta and short rib. read more

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We just tried Citrine tonight to celebrate a birthday, and it was fabulous. The food, the presentation, the ambiance, and the service were all top-notch. 5 of us each ordered a dish and felt compelled to have everyone else try it because they were all so good. The lamb sausage and octopus appetizers were great. I especially like the steak frites and the pork shank. And the carrot cake was one of the best I've ever had. I highly recommend this place. It has a cozy, neighborhood-y feel. We will be back. read more

A follow up to my last review. After our not so fun dining experience we did go back to meet friends at bar for cocktails. Drinks are great and bartenders are awesome! We went back a third time to bar only and again enjoyed our drinks and bartenders. The GM however is the most snooty being I've ever met. She just walks around and around and around. Not sure what she is doing because most of the bad reviews on here complain about service. She threw The Dawson out in our conversation as just because they own that my thoughts were invalid. What? Not there to make the customer happy at all. I was also told by the GM that they do not care about bad reviews guests post. Again, what!? So sad for our Village that a Restaurant owner like this would open here. Go to Maya we'd here the owner cares about his guests! read more

From beginning to end our experience at Citrine was mostly very bad. The hostess, a Senior Citizen type, was so aloof and unhelpful she came across as rude. The only tables for two are banquette style and she never helped by pulling out the table. The paper menus she left were spotted and one had a round grease ring. No one brought a wine menu. A pleasant young gentlemen brought us water and another bread and what was a nicely spiced and flavorful olive oil. There was still no sign of a waitress . Only one copy of the requested wine list was eventually delivered. The two tables to our left and one to the right were annoyed that they were still waiting for their checks, their grumblings were whispers but it did nothing to contribute to what we came for; a relaxed convivial dinner with outstanding food and service. The menu online showed Prince Edward island Mussels which were not on the menu we were given. Our waitress was not at all helpful or knowledgable about the wines and didn't mention the specials until we asked. When the food arrived it was not as expected; my hamburger was not medium rare but well done, the cheese on top was so melted it looked like a piece of transparent orange cellophane. The french fries were so over salted I couldn't eat them and the eggplant caviar that the menu said was served with flatbread was served with a crusty peasant bread, The strangest dish was: "House Made Sausages -- Spring Bean Cassoulet, Artichoke Mustard-, Sweet And Sour Cauliflower." There was no sweet and sour cauliflower but rather a twist of pickled zucchini, the mustard was good but I didn't see any artichoke, the beans were bright green, very firm or even hard and had no resemblance to cassolet in flavor or appearance. I have always used a white bean when making cassoulet. It was just a pile of bright green beans that were slightly warm. There were 3 flavors of sausage and two of them were quite fatty. The dining room was mostly empty by this time but the check never arrived and I'd been sitting in Citrine's very uncomfortable chair for over 90 minutes - we had wanted a decaf espresso and desert but changed plans and again requested the busser to find our waitress as we wanted to leave. Citrine probably deserves one star as there was nothing positive about the experience; food was over salted, overcooked, greasy, or totally bland (beans), water was tepid, chair was uncomfortable and hard, room was stuffy and warm, service was dreadful (bus boys were ok) hostess was not welcoming, menu is too limited and seating layout is awkward as almost every party of two will have someone facing a brick wall. I was hoping to find a new favorite local restaurant but will continue to frequent my Chicago haunts; MK, Sepia, Benny's, Bistronomic and local favorites; Autre Monde, Trattoria 225, Hemingway's, Taste of Brasil and Jerusalem Cafe. read more

Such a wonderful restaurant! I had the short ribs and they were phenomenal. Our waiter had excellent suggestions for food and wine. We were not disappointed. I can't wait to go back, and I highly recommend that others try this place out. read more

The atmosphere is wonderful and fun! The pork was so tender it slid off the bone and it tasted amazing. The ribeye was also tender and I actually liked it with the shisito peppers even though at first I thought it'd be weird. The sweet sauce with the ribeye was tasty as well. We wanted to try the Korean Fried Cauliflower and we're glad we did! Definitely reminds us of Korean fried chicken ;) Would come back again especially since we love Oak Park! read more

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Food is good, and occasionally great. Actually, the Korean Fried Cauliflower is superb. My problem, and thus 2 stars, relates to the service, which set a new benchmark for poor last night. If the server had introduced herself, I'd have a name to share. Alas, this did not happen, nor did so many other things that are fundamental to service. Here are a few random ideas: 1. I taste the wine, then you fill the glasses of my guests. When you bring the wrong bottle and I send it back unopened, don't act like you've done me a favor by finding the correct one. 2. You cannot possibly serve all the dishes standing in one spot. This is not a diner. I am not inclined to pass plates. 3. It's ok to forget things. You're human. It is not ok to act put out when asked to correct a mistake. That makes one think you have chosen the wrong profession. 4. Please thank the busboy for bringing my wife's tea. An unfortunate example of garbage service undermining an otherwise nice restaurant. read more

Citrine is one of those restaurants that makes you feel like you're on vacation along the Adriatic Coast. I have been coming here for three years and have never had a bad meal! My partner and I recently ventured out for a date night on a rainy evening to Citrine to escape our COVID woes. We sat indoors. The restaurant was very clean, tables were spread out for social distancing, and staff wore masks. We ordered GTO cocktails, Spiced Lamb Sausages, Korean Short ribs, the New York Strip Steak, and Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert. My favorite meal to get at Citrine is their branzino fish, which isn't on the menu these days but was offered as a special. I hope they don't get rid of it completely! I can't wait to go back on a nice day and sit on their patio. read more

The branzino was a true delight, considering that some reviewers thought it lacked flavor. But Branko, the owner, mentioned as he passed by that the preparation varied seasonally. What I enjoyed was a rich lemon and capers sauce on whole fish with root vegetables, presented in a deep pan. And try that Serbian pinot grigio too. Sat at the bar and appreciated the balanced staff interaction. read more

Good ambience, tasty food, great service. Recommend their crab cake, tomato bisque, and salmon. Kid meals come with 1 scoop of ice-cream.

My 3rd time there and we absolutely live this place. The ambiance is perfect, the food is exceptional, and the service is incredible - especially when Fabian is looking after you. Great location, great cocktails. The place has some energy but it is still easy to have a conversation. I can be a picky guy and I can't find anything I don't like about this place. read more

Excellent and consistent. Grilled octopus is fantastic. Great bar and friendly bar tenders.

Best restaurant in Oak Park, hands down! The food is unique, high quality and sooo flavorful. The ambiance in the restaurant and outside patio is modern and sleek, and the service has always been great. We love this place!! read more

Top restaurant in Oak Park. Fantastic food and service. Kids eat free mon-thursday with adult entree. Patio in summer is great.

We ordered the Christmas Eve special and everything was perfect! Amazing prime rib, delicious masked potatoes, perfect green beans! Yum!! And their premixed cocktails are a must - delicious, boozy, and flavorful! read more

I had dinner here with my wife & daughter on a Saturday night. We had a reservation but didn't need it since we ate early. The place filled up later in the evening so reservations are advisable. The food was very good. We had the Half Amish chicken, Great Lakes whitefish & the Hangar steak dishes. They were all very good. My daughter is gluten-free and they don't have a GF menu. However, the server was able to tell us which plates could be made GF-and there was a very good choice from the menu. The prices were a little high for the entrees. The drink prices were about right for the area. I would go back again. read more

My wife and I are vegan and were going to Citrine as part of a party. We looked at the menu and as you can see not really what you would say approaching vegan. My wife called ahead and explained our diet and I was so FUCKING IMPRESSED (!!!!!) with their response. The wait staff knew what was up and we were served a deep fried tofu pieces with sautéed veggies and some sort of delicious sauce. Great food. Really wonderful dish. We told them to put it on the menu it was so good. Fingers crossed!! read more

The food was amazing. Service was exceptional. Atmosphere was so pleasant. I can't wait to go back.

I've been to citrine a few times, and each time the food was delicious. However, despite its deliciousness, I feel like it's a bit over priced. The atmosphere is amazing- a really trendy feel and great outdoor seating. Our service has been hit or miss- sometimes outstanding, sometimes very slow. The burger is amazing and a fair price. I would definitely go back for that. All the cocktails I've had have also been great. I'd say go for the drinks, chic atmosphere, burger, and outdoor seating for a casual night...or make it a special occasion place for the other entrees. read more

Very nice place !!! Nice ambience and atmosphere. Food was very good the service was impeccable. Sunday Brunch Highly Recommended !!! read more

Citrine Cafe - Sunday Brunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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