Citrine Cuisine reclaims old Brook Road landmark
Style Weekly reports this week that a new Mediterranean restaurant, Citrine Cuisine, has opened in the former Celebrity Room at 7515 Brook Road.
Style Weekly reports this week that a new Mediterranean restaurant, Citrine Cuisine, has opened in the former Celebrity Room at 7515 Brook Road.
Citrine Cuisine is an All American and Italian full service restaurant with limited South Asian (Pakistani style) dishes.It is a Bar & Grill awaiting ABC License.Located at Northside and West End,a block away from Walmart and Shopping complex,is bustling with local area residents long wanting to satisfy their taste buds.The restaurant is a special event facility and meeting place with large screen,dance floor and a banquet hall.
We’ve been to Citrine Cuisine twice now. We understood the first time we went that the restaurant was still new and they would need an adjustment period. I ordered the Citrine Kebabs that night and was very satisfied as the chicken was delicious and the rice (basmati rice with peas) was outstanding. Besides having a waiter that made inappropriate conversation, I was all-in-all pretty satisfied with the place.
A couple weeks later, we returned to Citrine Cuisine for their “Grand Opening Festivus” in the hopes of an expanded menu with Moroccan food, as we were told there would be. We arrived an hour before the festivities began to eat dinner and saw that the menu had not changed. Our waitress was sweet but obviously had little training. We ordered a bottle of wine and received dirty wine glasses and an unopened bottle. We finally walked up to the bar to get the bottle opened. The waitress standing behind the bar said she would have to find someone over 21 to open the bottle and we finally just used their corkscrew to open the bottle ourselves. We finished that bottle only to find out that was the only one of its kind and we would have to order a different type of wine. We asked for new wine glasses at this point and got four different glasses that were dirtier than the ones we had before! We also had some interaction with the same “inappropriate conversation” waiter who did nothing but put down the rest of the wait-staff saying things like “none of these kids know what they’re doing”.
I ordered the Citrine Kebabs again and was very disappointed in the result. What was once grilled chicken was now pan-fried and the rice was completely different and nowhere near as good as it was before. Another person in my party ordered the Salmon with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. The salmon came out missing the veggies and the potatoes were like soup.
The bathrooms, which were upstairs, were dirty with empty Pepsi cans behind the toilets and dirty mirrors. The hand-dryer was rusted and didn’t even work.
We finally finished our meal and asked for the check. Our total check was for approximately $120. We payed with a credit card only to get a slip back that said that only $48 was charged to our card. I couldn’t believe that we actually had to go up to the front to point out that the waitress had accidentally undercharged us. We should have just left as this was a truly horrible and unforgettable experience.
For several weeks now I have been I have been trying to decide if I should leave a comment on an article by Mr. or Mrs. Catlett. This is based on the fact that I was there and recalled the woman and the things she said that were offensive to my family. First of all the bartender Troy who my extended family has been waited on for years has started working there. He walked over to the table and opened the bottle of wine, the table did not go to the bar. The family was making rude comments about the waitress when she was gone.
also heard the waiter who came to the table say “that the wait staff was new and learning so they didn’t know what to do at times.” Troy who is a great waiter and bartender had explained to my family that they had a limited bar for 2 weeks and were paying $50.00 a day for it as that all the profits were to help disabled kids. He also told us that the wait staff was donating their time and half there tips for this event. For this the restaurant should be applauded not have false statements made. Troy got in touch with my mother and let her know they now have there ABC Lic. and told her of another event to help St. Joseph’s Villa which help handicap persons, kids in trouble and who have mental and physical issues. Once again the restaurant donated everything. My family was introduced to several members of the staff and the owners. They are trying there best to be a asset to Henrico County and the community. They also have this great DJ for Karaoke who plays everything from the 50′s to 2000′s. It’s a great place who we in Henrico should support as they are supporting people who need help including kids who are our future.
We have been their several times, find the food great and reasonable. Their pizza is far better than the quick takeout chains.
The Karaoke/DJ, played ALL of my requests, I even got up to sing a few times as did my wife. Atmosphere was very comfortable, and Karaoke DJ made everyone feel like a real singer. I will be back regularly.
I have been there numerous times and have never been disappointed. This past Saturday night was the last time I was there and everything was great. A belly dance school was celebrating in the back room and the restaurant staff managed to serve approximately 140 people almost all at once. That’s pretty darn good for being the new kid on the block. We stayed for karaoke and had a great time. Of all of the times I have visited, I can’t think of a single complaint. These people are true professionals who have demonstrated their commitment to the community and I sincerely hope the community returns the favor.
I really can’t say enough good things about Citrine Cuisine, I celebrated my birthday there recently and they made my day ‘extra special’. The waiting staff were attentive and the food was just awesome (the pizza’s). We all the most fantastic time, the atmosphere was especially enjoyable and we have since returned for the Karoke evenings, the little blond English manager was a wonderful singer and made us very welcome, she was so friendly and we had a great conversation with her infact because of her we intend to visit again.
In response to Mr. Tolsonn, you must have my party confused with another as for the majority of our meal we were the only table in the restaurant.
I have been to Citrine Cuisine several times now. Each visit seems to get better than the previous one. The food and waiters/waitress’ have always been great!! Taha, is one of the best waiters I have ever had in my life. Troy the bartender is awesome! Chef Tigger can cook her butt off!! Lisa and Adnan are the best hosts ever. I will definitely continue to go there. I feel like part of their family when I am there.
Hi all….I am interested in trying this restaurant….can anyone give me a brief description of what type of food is really served there. Thanks
Myself and my family have just moved to the area, and I have to say, after visiting Citrine Cuisine, I have to agree with Adam’s previous comments. All of the waiting staff were professional and very welcoming to my family, the restaurant was exceptionally clean, and even though there were many other tables being served, we did not wait long at all for any of our food which, I have to say was awesome!!!! Our children were made to feel very welcome and our daughter Megan still talks about the lovely lady with the funny accent ( that would be Lisa, one of the hosts who happens to be British!!!) who made an extra special effort to entertain her, thankyou Lisa!!!!
Lisa’s husband Adnane who is the manager also found time to come say Hi to us, which we found particulary warming. I would have no hesitation in recommending this restaurant to families, we certainly left there feeling like one of the family. See you very soon guys!!!!!
I visited Citrine Cuisine recently with my family, and I have to agree with Adam’s recent post. We have just moved to the area and were made to feel SO welcome here, all of the staff were very welcoming and professional and even though there were many tables being served, we did not wait long at all for our food, which I have to say was awesome!!!!
Our children were made to feel particulary welcome, so much so that our youngest child Megan, still talks about the cool lady with the funny accent, ( that would be one of the hosts Lisa who is British!!! ) who made an extra special effort to keep her entertained and give mommy and daddy a rest!! Thankyou Lisa.
Lisa’s husband Adnane who is manager, also made time to come say hi to us which we found particulary warming. I would have no hesitation at all recommending this restaurant to other families, we had a wonderful night,
Thanks guys for all your hard work, see you all very soon!!!!!!!
For BP
Citrine Cuisine is a family restaurant but also appeals to all ages and backgrounds too to hang out, have great conversation and eat. The food is American, Italian with some International Specialities too, try the Bihari Steak Pizza influenced by Pakistani cuisine, Tandoori Chicken and Moroccan Lamb! Its a relaxing place to hang out and if you have kids, they are kept happy and entertained the serving staff! Karaoke is every Saturday night and belly dancing (also family friendly) is every month, the next one is Fri 22nd between 7 and 8pm.
Hope to see you there!
I was suprised to see the restaurant closed,as probably it has shut down or changing into into kinda cuisine.Current manager was unable to run the business in an organised manner.The actual owner started with pomp and show and it sure was a great place to hangout.The International fusion menu with Pakistani spices was a great find.Hope it re-opens soon.
Firstly I regret to inform you that yes we have closed for business solely due to the lack of working capital and not being able to generate the money to keep the place open for the wonderful people we have met over the past few months. Please be aware that we have put our all into the restaurant and this decision has been very difficult! Thank you to all of our customers’ supportive comments and recommendations, it has been a very enjoyable and fun experience! Our final karaoke evening was a night we’ll never forget, and we’re so glad that so many people shared it with us and had a great time! Thank you to our fabulous servers who worked so hard for us,Zach, Nicole, Jackie, Kendell and Jason – you are irreplaceable! Troy’s charisma was invaluable to us and so was his loyalty and faith in the restaurant. Tigger, Jonathon, Michael and Darnell you did absolute wonders in the kitchen and you’re great at what you do, best of luck for the future and thanks for your skill. We hope to keep in touch with our positive customers, its so nice to have met and served you guys! Its so important for small local businesses to have your support to benefit the Henrico community as a whole and to pass on your experiences as many of you have done. Good luck to everyone and we do hope that you try this same location again, no matter what the name! Take care and thanks again!
My husband and I went to Citrine Cuisine 4 times while they were open. Yes, we had the talkative waiter, and even though he was very entertaining, he was not always appropriate with his conversation. We found that food was of great quality the first time, then went downhill fast! Our last time there, I ordered chicken noodle soup. What I received looked like it was the dregs of the kitchen. It was so spicy I couldn’t eat it. To top it off, our glasses were dirty, and the soda wasn’t carbonated. We decided to make that night (early August) our last time. I don’t know what it is about that location, but nothing remains open long. I wish to owners of that property good luck.