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Citrine Cafe

4.1 (274 reviews)
Closed • 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM

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CITRINE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Citrine Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Jazz S.

This is definitely a gem in oak park! Ambiance is lovely. Service was very good. Food was also very good and prices were not crazy as they tend to be in oak park. Definitely recommend it for brunch! Plenty of parking spots around.

concentrated lighting
Gray S.

Had a reservation for 2 on a Friday at 7. We got there and were seated quickly & our waitress was great and very attentive. I would give 3.5 stars if I could. I liked the interior decor but I wish the tables weren't so close together because the two tables on both sides of us cut into our conversations twice because they could hear everything we were saying. The combo of the roasted pistachios, fig jam, & burrata were really good flavor wise but I do wish they would preassemble things because it's kind of messy and we had to get more crostini because the ratio was way off. The margherita pizza was really tasty but the mac n cheese was an absolute skip. So dry and flavorless. The steak frites and the drinks were good. Overall the prices here are kind of absurd & I feel like a $200 dinner should knock my socks off but I'm not currently running back. It's worth the try at least once. They also do "last call" for the bar and kitchen relatively early before closing so keep that in mind.

Balkan red wines
Laura P.

Unfortunately I only took menu pictures to remember what things were called because I was too wrapped up in the experience. We had a party of 3 before going to the Arts Center and wound up having only appetizers and drinks - I will definitely be back to try a full meal. The room is really pretty and open and the music they had playing was perfect, but what really made this place for me was the staff. It's a family restaurant and the owner's son Stefan came by to chat and our server Lauren was a long time customer before she became a server which really says a lot about the management. I was early so I sat at the bar and tried a Balkan wine, which was new to me, and the bartender Nate walked me through the flavor profiles of the 5(?) they had on the menu and the one I chose he was spot-on. This is really no where close to my house, but completely worth the drive.

Steak- rare.
Tina G.

Great food. We shared the burrata for an appetizer and it was absolutely fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture, if you can- do try! Fun location. Conveniently located in Oak Park. Along with the steak we split the kale salad 3 ways and it was a great decision!

Shrimp Grits
Chezney C.

Food - delicious Service - great! Ambiance - high ceiling, wooden chairs and tables, bar This was my first time visiting Illinois and a friend took me to their favorite brunch spot. The outdoor seating area was beautiful. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. I had an orange mimosa which was great, along with shrimp and grits. The shrimp and grits had chorizo in it which I absolutely loved but there was a lot of oil in my bowl as well. I know it was from the chorizo and I did my best to eat around it. Maybe next time we could drain it? Other than that, the entire experience was wonderful and I can't wait to visit again!

Wedge salad
Riley C.

The outside seating is comfortable and enjoyable to watch people walking past. Inside is trendy looking and nice music. The set ice was nice and a friendly-attentive server and host. The food was good, nice flavor and was fresh. The beverage choices are nice, however the wine goblets are too big for the amount of wine in the glass. It made it hard to drink and felt it was going to pour out. That is the only complaint. A nice place to eat all around.

White fish

This little gem is nestled right on Lake street, if you happen to come here you wont be disappointed. The ambiance and food was absolutely amazing. Great service by our waiter Sebastian. This is a place oak park should be proud of. It was our wedding anniversary and we were not disappointed. Great job Citrine Cafe, we will be back

The Concentrated Lightning And Hummus
Steve A.

Beautiful looking classy restaurant in the middle of downtown close to nightlife and fun. Citrine is only open in the evenings usually, so hit it up late. It's among the nicest restaurants in Oak Park. Lots of great cocktails so have one or a few but probably not too many because these are expensive. The food prices are kind of high but save some by getting the appetizers and shareables. After getting off at the Green Line station we made the quick walk to here a few blocks away. It's convenient to get to by public transportation so no need to drive. The place had just opened for the evening. It wasn't busy yet and we got seats at the bar. The cocktail menu is what people seem to like most about this place. It's about $13 for the cheapest cocktails. The one I got was the Concentrated Lightning. Kind of spicy and sweet concoction. This was made with chili liqueur, elderflower, ginger syrup, lemon, and Prairie vodka. As for the food, most of the entree menu is meaty. The appetizers as well. At least there was the Hummus. It's $13 for a pretty big portion. There's feta, but you can get it with just the cucumbers, olives, pitas, red onions, and tomatoes. For a classy good time stop in here after getting off the Green Line. It's only open for the evening except for brunch on Sundays. The menu is mostly carnivorous stuff but there's a few things for vegetarians.

Old fashioned and mezcal paloma
Marianne D.

We went back to Citrine for pre-concert eats on our way to Chicago. This is a Mediterranean-type restaurant. Cocktails are good, food is good. Service is impeccable. Our server this visit was Theo, and he was attentive and friendly. The other staff from the young woman who sat us to the guys who delivered food and cleared the table were attentive and always gave us a smile. My husband and I started out with a glass of wine and a cocktail. We decided once again to share small plates together. We had the New York strip steak tartare. It's absolutely fabulous so we had to have it again. Fresh steak with a raw egg on top that oozes into the steak as you break it, it's perfection. We also got the homemade lepinja bread served warm with a couple spreads. I can't eat nuts or seeds and it came out covered with sesame seeds. No problem, Theo was more than happy to take it back and have bread made just for me without seeds. That's great service. We then shared the roasted beet salad which had arugula, goat cheese, avocado, and orange. It was a very small salad for the price of $14. Having said that, the salad was fresh and I liked the different textures, but it was the size of a small side salad and not worth the price. I would pass on this my next visit. The final dish we shared was the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were large and grilled perfectly, the grits were creamy. This dish was packed with flavor and some heat. Delicious. Citrine accepts reservations and parking is paid street parking. I definitely recommend this restaurant and you must try the steak tartare. So damn delicious!

Charred Spanish Octopus

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9 years ago

Love Citrine. The food is fantastic, the service is great and the lemon cake is the best dessert in town.

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10 years ago

Nice servers, service a bit slow, beautiful location, but the food was average.

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10 years ago

It was just ok for me. The space was nice and it was easy to park, but the food was just ok. Not amazing and I probably wouldn't go back.

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Does this restaurant offer bottomless mimosas for their Saturday brunch?

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Maya Del Sol

Maya Del Sol

4.1
(1.2k reviews)
0.0 mi
•$$

Came for dinner while in town. Super cute restaurant, great lighting, seating, and bar area. Our…read morewaiter was very friendly, giving us great recommendations and great to talk with. The meal started with complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered a mezcal margarita (fruta picanta) and my friend got a mango cocktail (mangasa). I liked mine a lot, my friend didn't care for the tajin rim on hers, and the waiter offered to replace it, but she stuck with it and liked it in the end. There were so many great sounding things on the menu, with gluten free and vegetarian options. We ended up splitting the calabaza- an acorn squash stuffed with mushroom risotto and also the wild mushroom tostada. The calabaza was great for winter, warm and filling. The tostada was lighter but really delicious, it was probably my favorite of the two. It was a great dinner, that I would definitely visit again if I'm back in town.

After attending the Candlelight Concert of the Beatles in Oak Park,we made reservations for this…read moreLatin American gem . On a Friday night it was busy! Thank goodness we had a reservation and were seated immediately. Our server Meyah was super friendly. We started with a few cocktails ..one being the Oaxacan Old Fashion..smokey and delicious. We tried their Market Ceviche which was on their Weekly Specials menu..Cured Mahi Mahi Brazilian Papaya,Tangerine Habanero sauce served with Sweet Potato chips.fresh and delicious. For our entrees we tried the Barbacoa Tacos and Blackened Fish(Tilapia) tacos. Both entrees were 21.00 for 3 tacos but no rice or beans on the side so a little pricey in my opinion. Street parking is a challenge but they do offer valet for 5.00. They have a fantastic patio that is open in the summer so we will definitely be back to enjoy a few cocktails and Latin American eats.

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Bar area
Bar area
Chile Relleno
Chile Relleno
Outdoor ambience

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Outdoor ambience
Hoja Santa

Hoja Santa

4.0
(64 reviews)
0.1 mi

We went back to Hoya Santa last Friday night. I'd say it's an upscale Latin restaurant serving…read moreflavorful food and well-crafted cocktails. I've been here a few times and have always enjoyed the experience. We started with cocktails, old-fashioneds for the guys and a mojito mocktail for me. The three of us shared everything we ordered. We started with an item called the Volcan, which was crispy mini quesadillas stuffed with mashed potatoes and cheese then topped with shrimp al pastor. I loved the crunch of the quesadillas against the creamy filling. Next we shared a carne asada pizza. This pizza had a perfectly thin and crispy crust topped with grilled skirt steak with a cilantro pesto sauce. So flavorful! For the main event we shared a 22oz bone-in ribeye with truffle fries. A medium rare tender and juicy steak and truffle - c'mon, need I say more? Oak Park has some of my favorite restaurants, and Hoja Santa is one.

Hoja Santa, features flavorful authentic Mexican food dishes with a little flair…read more Located on lively Lake street in Oak Park, (perfect for people watching) street parking can be difficult; however, there is a budget-friendly parking garage within a block of the restaurant. The vibe inside is perfect for an intimate evening or afternoon lunch. Dark wood seating, an ample sized bar with dim lighting makes this a comfortable, chic spot. There is street side outdoor seating; however, there were no table umbrellas during our visit. The staff greeted us immediately and was happy to review the menu with us. We had the mole with roasted broccoli and cauliflower, unicorn pescado tacos and a Plato Fuerte with shrimp, lobster and chicken in a tasty creamy sauce. We loved all of the entrées; however, thought the mole was a lacking the traditional mole flavors we've tried before. The unicorn fish tacos were the standout and were crispy and delicious! We also appreciated the 4 taco serving, which was perfect for two. Prices were on point with other similar style restaurants in Oak Park, slightly elevated but fair for the quality of ingredients. Let's not forget the cocktails...outstanding!

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Interior
Interior
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted Butternut Squash
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Quesabirria

Citrine Cafe - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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