DonRocks Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 One of the servers waiting on us was green I realize the talent pool in this city is stretched thin, but when Citronelle begins recruiting people from Mars then it's a signal for the industry to think about FOH wage increases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Slater Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I realize the talent pool in this city is stretched thin, but when Citronelle begins recruiting people from Mars then it's a signal for the industry to think about FOH wage increases. This was me earlier in the evening at staff training: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Okay, sooooo, remember when the sun explodes five billion years from now, that I'm the guy who went to Cafe Monti, Temperance Hall, and Citronelle Lounge in the same day. A Pistachio Marjolaine ($10, like all their desserts are) is eighteen (18!) layers of pistachio mousse, hazelnut mousse, and chocolate mousse, each the size of a mignardise, stacked one atop the other, each separated by a thin layer of chocolate, the long, narrow rectangular prism knocked down onto its side like a fallen Pez dispenser resting atop a pool of Creme Anglaise, and topped with a little crescent of house-made pistachio ice cream. It's an interesting dessert, a dessert worth knowing, a dessert worth ordering, and a dessert close to being very good. Cheers, Rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotteeM Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Okay, sooooo, remember when the sun explodes five billion years from now, that I'm the guy who went to Cafe Monti, Temperance Hall, and Citronelle Lounge in the same day. Still trying to map this (and glad you had a good dessert out of it all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Cafe Monti, Temperance Hall, and Citronelle Lounge Did someone say: not sure how citronelle fits into that... i guess it was behind door #3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meaghan Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Did someone say: not sure how citronelle fits into that... i guess it was behind door #3 I went to the snack machine and Vidalia on the same day! That's a deal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutty Buddy Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 A Pistachio Marjolaine, ... a dessert worth ordering, and a dessert close to being very good.Cheers, Rocks. You've GOT to be kidding me. Close to being very good? I don't even see how you can say that after the beautiful description you provided. Forget your damning with faint praise. This dessert is incredible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Man I had no idea this 'lounge' existed. Too bad there are no reservations accepted. I hate that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lackadaisi Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Too bad there are no reservations accepted. I hate that.I've never had much of a problem getting a seat. Except for outside on a pretty day when, understandably, people like to linger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 One day The Machine broke down, the machine that was running things. An emergency phone call was placed to an expert who came in, opened the door to the warehouse-sized room which housed the machine, and walked inside, escorted by company executives. She quietly walked through the room, observed the situation, then went up and pushed a button, and the machine started working again. Before leaving, she tendered her bill: $450. "What the hell is this? $450 for pushing a button?" The expert took the bill, rewrote it, and handed it back. It now said: "For pushing a button, $1. For knowing which button to push, $449." Okay, so it's An Old Joke, but it has relevance to A New Vichyssoise ($14), which I've now had three times in the past two weeks. Made with "potato flakes and leek milk," my guess is that the total cost of ingredients in this dish is less than a dollar - it is, in essence, a bowl of potato chips with flavored milk poured on top. And yet it's worth every penny of $14 - not because it's full of expensive ingredients, but because it was born of genius. This masterpiece is a classic Vichyssoise presented under the guise of being a simple bowl of Corn Flakes. But when integrated with the potato flakes, the persistence of the leek milk on the palate is endless, and becomes even more intriguing when paired with a large glass of 2005 Borgeot Bourgogne Blanc ($8). Trickery, simplicity, and duplicity - they all apply here, without shame and in full splendor. One of the best cold soups I've had this year, and worth a special trip to experience at least one time before summer ends. Cheers, Rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 If you haven't ever put them together before - the Hendricks & house tonic with cucumber is splendid with the smoked salmon. Add attentive service, some interesting people-watching & eavesdropping, and a pat on the back from the self-described "big boss" (who called me "young lady" ), and it's a snack that makes one happy to be alive. Be warned that it's a huge potion - Scott had the remaining half for breakfast this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngfood Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 If you haven't ever put them together before - the Hendricks & house tonic with cucumber is splendid with the smoked salmon. Add attentive service, some interesting people-watching & eavesdropping, and a pat on the back from the self-described "big boss" (who called me "young lady" ), and it's a snack that makes one happy to be alive. Be warned that it's a huge potion - Scott had the remaining half for breakfast this morning. The fried chicken is a generous portion as well and, man, it's good! Several golf balls of intense chicken flavor with a creamy dijionaise. And the Tuna burger seems to have undergone an Asian-inspired update. Where before there was tomato and mayo, now there is a lovely sesame seaweed salad. I was a fan of the old, and I'm a fan of the new. I tend to stick to the lower priced end of winelists, but the Sancerre by the glass was a great value at $12 a pop and I was pleased to see that there were several other interesting options at that price point or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdt Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 If you stop by, have the pistachio marjolaine for dessert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pressley Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Several golf balls of intense chicken flavor with a creamy dijionaise. Ahhh...but do they hold together after the impact of a 3 iron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRocks Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Happy birthday chef Richard! I went to Central last year for my birthday, and for your birthday this year, I went to Citronelle. My dad and I had the mushroom cigars, the tuna burger, the fried chicken, and the french fries. I heard that you got an award for being the best chef in the country and now I know why. Happy birthday once again. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Landrum Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 With the civility at hand, or on offer--either in the dining room or in the lounge--and the precision and precise excellence that IS Citronelle, one wonders why one would choose any place other than this to dine. Except for Komi, Eve, Palena, Obelisk or Cordoroy, of course--goddam do I love this town--that is. God bless Michel (present in full force), Mark, and the rest of the crew, that let's me dress so bad and eat so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPop Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Last night the fiancee and I had our first pricey meal out in a while, breaking both our diet and our self-imposed limit on spending. "Why didn't we go to Proof tonight?" she asked. I shrugged my shoulders, not knowing why we wouldn't spend our first upscale night out in months at our favorite spot in the city. Thanks to Michel and the staff at Citronelle's quaint little lounge, we left dinner last night with no regrets. The Mushroom Cigars are a great appetizer (if about $5 too expensive at $14 for 6 chapstick-sized little rolls), as they have the substance we were looking for when we arrived starving but were not so overwhelming as to fill us up before our mains. She'd been dying to try the Lobster Burger at Central last year and figured that this would be the perfect time to give it a while. A thick patty of tender (and a little bit overcooked lobster) with impossibly light breading and a nice mayo hit the spot, as did the perfectly dressed side salad received with it. I decided on the Tuna Burger, which I loved. Great meaty flavor and well dressed with a tomato salad and a potato crisp. The highlight of the night, however, was finding the hands down best French Fries that I have ever had. Double-fried to give them an extra crust and thick enough to keep the interior creamy, I couldn't stop eating these well after I was full. They come with an excellent ginger mayo and an out-of-place bowl of dijon mustard in a portion that would be hard for one person to finish. Outstanding and better than the best ones I have had at BB, Cork and even in France and Switzerland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 Last night the fiancee and I had our first pricey meal out in a while, breaking both our diet and our self-imposed limit on spending. Say hi next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Slater Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 Say hi next time. Yeah, what he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezepowder Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Fun meal at the lounge. Highlights included the macube appetizer which is lightly crispy cubes of macaroni and cheese coated with black truffle powder (though I didn't taste truffle flavor). They looked like a pile of black marshmallows, and they came with a sour cream and cheese dipping sauce. I also had the adorable Snowman dessert which is on the menu again (chocolate covered marzipan hat, meringue body, and vanilla ice cream on top of whipped cream and raspberry sauce plus some chocolate crunchies). Though with the warm weather, I haven't adjusted to thinking that it's November and the holidays are coming soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldman Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 We ate here last week for the first time in way too long. What a great place that receives too little attention in the pop-buzz-of-the-minute restaurant discussion (and, if last Thursday night was indicative, may not get as much business as it deserves). It's no more expensive than many many places in town - and for not that awfully much money (especially if you make a meal out of appetizers) you get a variety of awesome tastes with the trademark Michel Richard creativity. Eggplant gazpacho. Escargot tart. Goat cheese ravioli. Etc. etc. Apps in the $10-15 range, and a couple of those plus desserts will leave most people happy. Very friendly service. Remind me to go more often, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty L. Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Remind me to go more often, please. Sam: Go more often. Invite us. Glad I could be of service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithstg Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 The restaurant opens at 6. Does the lounge open at the same time or earlier? If earlier, does it serve food earlier? Does the dress code apply to the lounge? The dress code does not apply to the lounge (or at least it didn't ). Not sure on the opening time,in that you might be able to order drinks at the bar prior to 6, but I believe food service in the lounge begins at 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_5198 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Stopped in for a quick dinner the other night and enjoyed one of the best dishes I’ve had in months. Salmon with oxtail and carrot jus* featured a braised portion of wild salmon, bathed in two wonderful sauces: the rich, aforementioned jus, and a spinach and carrot green coulis (?) that was poured tableside. Gently cooked spinach leaves were tucked under the fish (one of my favorite components); shoestring fried carrots and sliced braised carrots were on top. I should stop in more often. * Excuse inaccuracies in my description: I’m not that smart and was caught up in the deliciousness of this entrée. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 * Excuse inaccuracies in my description: I’m not that smart and was caught up in the deliciousness of this entrée. On the contrary, you are that smart for enjoying the moment, and not worrying about every last detail of what you were going to write on the internet a few days later. It's called "knowing how to enjoy life." Do I hear an "amen?" Cheers, Rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldman Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 At the risk of repeating myself (see above) - a great place. Rather than talking mostly about the food, which was absolutely delicious as ever, I want to praise the vibe - especially since in some quarters online you tend to see people grousing about the vibe they perceive in Citronelle's main dining room. I've never had the slightest problem in the main dining room, but my point here today is that the lounge has always been incredibly welcoming. Tonight I was there in my usual obviously-not-important look, with my partner and our tween son for an early dinner celebrating his birthday. Let's just admit that the three of us were definitely not the cool crowd. The staff at all levels were funny, helpful, warm and gracious. It is an excellent spot for feeling like you are part of DC, having fun and eating good food while observing the Attorney General or whoever the big dog of the evening may be. And the food is so excellent that you don't need me to repeat that part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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