The story
Citrin is a one Michelin-starred modern Californian cuisine restaurant by Chef Josiah Citrin, located on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. The space carries forward the attention to detail and pursuit of excellence that defined his landmark Mélisse restaurant for two decades, but with a distinctly different energy. This is a fun, welcoming, and approachable experience. A large bar anchors the room, and guests can choose between an à la carte menu or a prix fixe – a fresh take on hospitality that balances excitement with delicious food.
Chef Josiah Citrin’s culinary philosophy, “In Pursuit of Excellence,” sets the standard across all his concepts. He discovered his passion for food early, growing up in Santa Monica and Venice with a mother who was a caterer and a French grandmother who cooked family meals. After training in Paris and working alongside chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Joachim Splichal, he opened Mélisse in 1999 to critical acclaim. At Citrin, that same dedication shines through in a more relaxed setting, where modern Californian cuisine is the star – rooted in seasonal ingredients and global techniques.
Whether you settle in at the bar for a casual meal or commit to the full prix fixe journey, Citrin is designed to adapt. The restaurant also houses an intimate 14-seat backstage dining room called Mélisse, where Chef/Partner Ken Takayama guides guests through an 18-course symphony fueled by California’s finest suppliers. It’s a restaurant within a restaurant, but the main dining room stands on its own – proof that Michelin-level cooking can be both refined and genuinely inviting.
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