March 8, 2008
Citrus City Grille
2765 Lakeshore Drive
Corona, CA 92883
951-277-2888
Citrus City Grille in Corona is located at Dos Lagos, off of the 15 freeway and Weirick Road, now renamed Dos Lagos drive.
This wasn’t our first destination. We tried to have dinner at the Taps Brewery and Fish House, also at Dos Lagos, but they were filled due to two very large parties. So, we walked to the Citrus City Grille. I hadn’t yet been there, mainly because someone I know ate at the Citrus City Grille in Rancho Cucamonga at the Victoria Crossings and said it was only so-so. I wish I hadn’t listened; I would have eaten at Citrus sooner.
Ambiance:
The moment we walked in, we were greeted by a pleasant woman with menus to seat us. It was busy but not the chaos that I often find in large “shiny” restaurants.” And, it smelled good in the restaurant. The lights were low but not so much that “geezers” like me couldn’t see the menu. There is an open kitchen that looked efficient and clean.
Seating is comfortable, the decor clean and neat but not sterile. Linen tablecloth and napkins. The flatware is heavy and very clean. All in all it was a comfortable, attractive atmosphere.
Also, the ladies restroom was squeeky clean and offered thick, soft paper towels. Someone once told me that you could judge a restaurant’s kitchen by the state of their restrooms. If this is true, they passed with flying colors.
Service and Cocktails
So the evening started out promising. Although they have an extensive wine list of excellent choices at, what I thought were reasonable prices for that caliber of wine, I decided on a cocktail instead and ordered a vodka martini with olives.
Our waitress was Susan. She was friendly, efficient, and pleasant. She gave me a choice of Vodkas—a good sign that the bartender and the waitpeople are well-trained. This is a big plus in my book. I find it a bit annoying when I am in a supposedly first rate restaurant and the waitperson is clueless about ingredients or what’s available in the bar. I am, for example, often met with a “deer in the headlights” look when I order single-malt scotch or ask about ingredients in a dish. But I’ll save that for the “Restaurant Rants and Grouches” section.
The The martini came promptly and it was delicious. I can say it was probably one of the best martinis I’ve ever had. When I told the waitress that the martini was really good and that the food was excellent, she sent the manager over. Adam was pleasant, welcomed us and shook our hands.
:-( The only thing that wasn’t right the whole evening was that someone forgot to give us bread and balsamic. I wouldn’t have even known if a young man, looking a bit harried, hadn’t rushed over to the table mid-meal with a basket of bread and a saucer in which he poured balsamic. OOPS!
Food
When Susan took our order she pointed out that the dessert was chocolate souffle and asked, right then, if we would be wanting it. I though this was odd until I learned that it was made fresh and took 30 minutes. Since I can’t eat cane sugar, I declined. David also declined although I saw one being served and it looked divine.
Anita:
I ordered the Organic Mesculin Salad (mispelled in the online menu as “masculine.”)
For the main course, I ordered Maine Jumbo Scallops, wrapped in prosciutto, with sauteed asparagus spears and arugula risotto.
Note: on their website, the scallops are “whapped” in prosciutto.
The salad was fresh and delicious. The balsamic vinaigrette was just the right balance of vinegar and oil.
The scallops were heaven on a plate. Cooked just right, the softness of the scallops with the slightly crisp wrapping of prosciutto was divine. A little butter sauce on the plate was just right. The Asparagus was crisp-tender and delicious. The arugula risotto was creamy with just the right amount of chewy bite. I can’t say that the arugula added much to the flavor but it looked good as streaks of brilliant green throughout the whiteness of the rice.
We sat and talked after dinner as I sipped my decaf coffee—very good. No one hurried us out or made us feel rushed in any way.
David:
I ordered King Salmon with green beans, and added garlic mashed potatoes. The fish was cooked very nicely and was quite flavorful, as were the green beans and potatoes. I was driving, so I passed my usual shot of tequila. I had a sip of Anita’s Martini, and it was one of the best I ever remember.
The restaurant seemed well managed, with wait people attending to the orders that were ready, so that Susan did not have to keep an eye on our order. When she came to the table to ask how we were enjoying our meals, we told her how much we were enjoying our experience. She mentioned to the manager, Adam, and he came to the table to introduce himself and thank us for patronizing the place.
:-( The only fault I have with the service was the tardy arrival of bread--about two-thirds through the meal.
We over tipped, because we were so pleased with everything. However, if I had ordered a drink, and we tipped about 25%, the check would still have been about $100, with no desert.
It definitely is on the list of places to go for an excellent meal, with attentive service, in a pleasant atmosphere. By the way, the men’s room was also pristine, and the extra heavy paper hand towels were appreciated.
Pricing:
Dinner, with tip ran about $100. This isn’t in my budget as a place I will eat in everyday, but for a treat or special event, dinner there is on the top of my list. Also, on the website, you can view their menu (typos and all). The lunch menu has delicious sounding choices for $10 and up.
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