Washington, D.C. Restaurants

Citronelle

Fodorite Reviews

Average Rating:  

Citronelle Review

See all the action in the glass-front kitchen at chef Michel Richard's flagship California-French restaurant. Appetizers might include foie gras with lentils prepared three ways, and main courses run to lobster medallions with lemongrass, saddle of lamb crusted with herbs, and 72-hour braised Texas short ribs. Desserts are luscious: a crunchy napoleon with filament-like pastry and the special "chocolate bar," Richard's dense, rich take on a Snickers candy bar. A chef's table in the kitchen gives you a ringside seat (reserve at least a month ahead). The three-course menu costs $110 per person, with an even more adventurous "promenande gourmande" option available for $190, or $280 with wine pairings. The bar menu ($$-$$$) has morsels such as mushroom "cigars" and Serrano ham.

    Restaurant Details

  • Jacket required.
  • Reservations essential.
  • No lunch.

Fodorite Reviews

Average Rating:  
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    Citronelle Review

    fair food, ugly dining room, fair service, tremendously overpriced. very disappointing!

    by luvtotravel21, 9/4/11
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    Citronelle Review

    I had the opportunity to sample four main courses - 3 of the 4 dishes were just over-salted. I appreciate that seasoning is a personal preference, but this was a unanimous reaction at our table. That said, everything is beautifully prepared and presented - food as artwork! Desserts were the highlight (5-star!). Compared to other high-end dining experiences I've enjoyed in the DC area, though, the salt issue at Citronelle is enough of a concern that I probably won't return.

    by VA_Girl, 9/13/10
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    Don't listen to the Debbie-downers!

    Citronelle is a fantastic, uniquely witty dining experience that housed one of the best times I've had eating! I'm shocked that many are complaining about the poor service. It's an expensive place, but if you relax about the price tag and have fun, the staff will too. I went there on the "cheap" (no wine, regular water) and never felt anyone looking down their nose at me. You cannot enjoy the experience fully unless you ask questions about the menu - the dish titles are quite funny if you take the time to listen. The lobster "begula" pasta (begula because it's made to look like beluga caviar)and the floating eel-hamachi starters were divine.

    If you're expecting to be coddled, this isn't the place (what restaurant is??). But if you can relax, appreciate the thought that goes into and savor each dish, you're sure to have the best dining experience available in stuffy Washington, DC - possibly the country.

    by kcdc07, 12/28/07
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    Highly overrated

    Another highly overrated, overhyped, so-called high-class eatery, with uncaring service and too often so-so, indifferently prepared food. A restaurant supposedly this good also needs to deal with its attitude. The staff are bad actors. When you arrive willing to spend this amount of money -- a $95 per person prix fixe menu is the minimum -- you need to be made to feel special, as if they care that you are there, even if you aren't special and they don't really care. But instead they make you feel as if they don't really give a damn if you like the meal, or the place, or anything about the experience. They are like automatons, reading a prepared script on automatic pilot, with pretend, pasted-on smiles. You shouldn't have to ask for more bread, or for your water glass to be refilled -- but you have to ask. If there's a small spill on the table, a place like this should cover it with a napkin. But they don't. And the food? Sometimes interesting and imaginative, but also sometimes shoddily prepared. The fish in the paella was overcooked and dry; the mosaic appetizer was interesting, but the design overwhelms the plate. The veal and sweetbreads are prepared in an indifferent, cloyingly heavy and essentially tasteless sauce. The restaurant should rename itself Michel Richard's Automat. And when you complain, gently and politely? They make it clear they don't give a damn -- just pay the bill, and go. Well, we paid, and we went. And we won't return.It was our 35th anniversary, and what a waste of an evening. If you have any sense, you won't go.

    by wordsmaven, 7/14/07

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