Anyway, I went to Citricos on Friday and it was very good. Everything was cooked properly. Nothing was bad ... only a couple of things were not above average in our collective opinions. That said, I'm pretty sure the staff knew we were there to review the food because we ordered almost everything ... for 3 people. So take all of this with a grain of salt.
Here are the highlights from the menu, from the notes of one of my dining companions, with my comments in blue:
Appetizers
- Strawberry Salad - a true love note to the old menu! I didn't get the chamomile in the goat cheese (love the tea / Poppins suggestion here!!) but the entire plate was stunning tastes and visuals. Spunky frisée, salty bacon vinaigrette, and sweet strawberries. The whole thing looked like a spring wreath and was nearly too pretty to eat. $16 (Len: This is one of the 3 things each of us would order again right now)
- Sweet Corn Bisque - I love a dish with drama and the whole show of pouring the sweet soup over the fennel, popcorn, and dill did not disappoint. Simple and wonderful. Piquant flavors from the dill, crunch from the fennel and popcorn, and sweet corn. So well thought out. $14
- Wild Mushroom Arancini - Plant-based - don't be put off by the mention of truffle aioli - it's very mild. Anyone with a yen for stronger truffle flavors should order the mac and cheese. Delicious, filling, a crunchy exterior and a silky, delicious bite. $14
- Berkshire Pork Belly - 100% would order this every single time. Pork Belly is everywhere on every menu, but not like this. Enough to share, stunning visually, delicious, strong flavors. The Boniato and Plantain Croquette is so original and so very good. Perfectly fried panko breading (?) and a creamy filling on the croquette. $17
- Smoked Duck - I don't enjoy duck, but this was smoky and delicate. I do, however, appreciate a properly made pasta. The tagliatelle is house-made and fresh and has the most wonderful bite and chew. I would have been happy with an entire bowl of the pasta with the Purée. $18 (Len's note: this was my second-favorite appetizer after the strawberry salad.)
- Hamachi - very, very strong citrus flavors that overwhelm the hamachi. It's all delicious but you skim over the hamachi with the strong flavors of the blood-orange. $21 (Len's note: this is the one thing we all rated lower on our list. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. We all thought the blood orange taste was strong for the fish.)
Entrees
- Roulade of Chicken - dear sweet baby Poppins. This is the single best chicken dish I've ever had on property. It's just as heavy and filling as the short ribs but created so beautifully and in such an original way that it is well worth the price of $38. Or more. I actually said the words "this kale is delicious" - words that no other human has ever muttered - I'm sure. Gorgeously plated and it tasted even better. The fanciest Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had and I can't wait to go back. (Len: We all had this as #1 on our list.)
- Tilefish- my favorite fish dish of the night. The "risotto" was so impressive and the thick, seared crust on the fish sealed in the most buttery, flaky bites of fresh seafood happiness. I loved this and think it's worth the steep price. $46 (Len: This was my #2 of entree of the night as well.)
- Cobia - This dish was my 3rd favorite entree, but it was still stunning. The grapefruit beurre blanc and the obvious glaze of good quality butter to cook the fish make the dish. I will probably never get to this one again because I so loved the Tilefish and Chicken, but if someone at my table orders it I will sneak a bite the minute it is served - when the fish is at its most splendid. $42
- Rigatoni - Plant-based at its most spectacular. Every single bite was delightful. Far too much for one person if you're planning to share a first course and a dessert. Note the different sizes of the rigatoni pasta - the hallmark of handmade! This is better to me than the rigatoni at Topolino's - an opinion that is sure to get me shunned. $34 (Len: On a different night I might have ranked the rigatoni higher. It's comfort food and it was too hot outside for that for me.)
- Short Ribs - this would be the one entree I would skip, simply because it was so heavy and didn't feel like the right balance to the atmosphere and the rest of the menu. Maybe it was the grits that made it seem like the odd dish out, but I wouldn't get this again simply because I can get short ribs prepared similarly well at other locations. There are too many other, far more special dishes to try here. $50 (Len: I think we all had this as 5th out of the 5 we tried. It came off as heavy on a hot night, and we'd already had great meat appetizers in the pork belly and smoked duck. So don't do that combination of appetizers and entrees.)
- Len: We didn't order either steak. I'm sure they're good.
Enhancements
- Truffle Mac and Cheese - very tasty but SO SO strong and a wee bit played out as a concept. Skip. $21
- Grilled Potatoes - I wasn't a huge fan just because I had too many other things worthy of the calories, but I see the value in the dish. It was beautiful and very good. $11
- Smoked Cauliflower - this is the side not to skip. This is the most dolled-up cauliflower has ever been and it's a good value at $9.00 (Len: The best of the enhancements to me. Comes with a curry sauce that's spicy with heat at the end.)
Desserts
- Apple Rose - I LOVE marzipan and thought this complete bit - the apple, the jam, the sauce, and the frozen coconut milk together were so delightful! Not too sweet to overshadow the apples. Lovely $13 (Len: Marizpan tastes "flat" to me, so as a dessert this required the coconut. And it was good like that, but I hate mixing wet food with dry - it's an abomination and I will not be taking questions - so this was not my jam.)
- Chocolate Torte - the cocoa pattern on the plate matches the organized chaos of the wall that separates the rooms and evening transition. An English country garden in all its glory - the leaves, the ruffled chocolate work at the top of the of the torte in full bloom! This is the most stunning food-as-art item on the menu and should be ordered just for the presentation. While the financier is a French pastry, they put an English twist on it with the cherries and the heavy sweetness. It's far too rich and sweet for one but should be ordered no matter how many people are in your party. A dish to impress! $14 (Len: I literally asked this person "Do you also dislike puppy dogs, rainbows, and love?" There's a lot to like in these flavors. On a cooler night, with some strong coffee, this would've been a higher choice. The cocoa pattern on the plate is a great touch from the pastry team - it shows they're thinking.)
- Blackberry Tartlette - they should bottle the violet glacage. I may have exclaimed a little louder than is appropriate in public when I saw how this was presented. Our lovely pal, Robin, who is a self-proclaimed "cheese for dessert" supporter said this was her favorite dish because of its gentle flavor. This is the exact opposite of the Torte so I say get both for the contrast. $12 (Len: My #2 dessert of the evening.)
- Flan - 100% our favorite dessert ever! It was really more of a creme brulee but it was fantastic!! The orange flavors are happy and bright and a shock when you look at the appearance of this dish compared to the other dishes on the sweet side of the menu. This is totally a romantic and food-addled notion, but this dish is Mary Poppins herself. Plain, serviceable on the outside, but full of tricks and magic when you get to know it. Corny, but true. Even if you're testing the limits of your elastic, order this and try it. Box up the rest. $13 (Len: My #1 dessert. If you want to honor the original concept of Citricos, you end the meal with this.)
- Boxed truffles at the end of the meal - this sweet lagniappe is the "spoonful of sugar" without being so obvious or kitsch. My immediate thought when I saw the tiny box of 2 chocolate truffles was of favors at a wedding. The meal and decor are so well thought out and wonderful that it really did feel like a celebration - especially with the fireworks and water pageant. The chocolates were a charming way to end the evening. They really did think of everything and I can't wait to go back. (Len: Israel, formerly of Victoria & Albert's, is running Citricos for the moment, and this is a move straight from V&A's.)
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