" Solid Afternoon Hangout "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

Yesterday found me dropping by Citizen as my afternoon work spot. Had previously been there several times for drinks in the evening and always enjoyed the place. Great drinks, nice atmosphere downstairs (have never sat upstairs, but it's got a patio up there also) and cozy. My only pet peeve is the smokiness when it gets crowded, but this is China and I've resigned myself to a few tumors here or there after so many years here.

Arrived in time for the set lunches which are 48 for soup and salad, and around the same for soup and sandwich (possibly slightly more if i recall). Had a late breakfast so I had a drink first and ordered a Salade Nicoise later on. They had an afternoon set for 39 or so which includes one non-alcoholic beverage and a snack selection (mostly sweet stuff, but there was a ham and cheddar sandwich with fries also) but I still went with the salad for 42 as a good one is not so easy to find.

The salad was pretty good, maybe a touch on the salty side with the dressing generously poured on. I'd probably have it on the side next time. So much tuna mixed into it, that you wonder if Citizen is single handedly responsible for the depletion of tuna stocks in the world's oceans. Not often one complains about too much meat in a dish huh? Anyways, great flavours, everything was fresh and crisp and I'll definitely go back again for the food now as well as the drinks. Oh, had a housemade lemonade also. Nothing spectacular, basically some smashed up lemon slices in some sweetened water. Have had better elsewhere, but it's not they're robbing you at RMB 20 either. Well, maybe i'm in denial.

All in all, this a great place for the setting, solid for drinks after work, and I'll come back for the food too after finding the Salade Nicoise quite to my liking. Great service too - no hovering as someone else mentioned, something I also find to be an issue in other places.

" Overrated "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

This is an overrated place. food is not so good, but expensive.
seem they lack stuff as well, didnt have banana, so i couldnt have crepe, didnt have mascarapone either so i couldnt have the cheesecake, so i had to take something else...

" Generous Ginger Martinis "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

I have not yet had a full meal at Citizen. Just snacks here and there, like their nachos, which are more like a meal I guess. But what keeps me coming back are their Ginger Martinis. I love them! Just the right combination of peppery ginger, tangy lemon, and sweetness, with enough vodka to make it worth it. I've always found service swift and friendly, and nobody hangs around the table watching you, which I prefer.

" My Hot Chocolate Place! "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

One of my favourites for those grey, rainy and cold winter sunday afternoons in Shanghai. Their hot chocolate is good, large and the boudoir style decor really nice to chat with girlfriends on the said sunday afternoons :)

" Taste Was Just Like Batter "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

After being disappointed (again) trying to visit Pier 39 my wife and I went to Citizen Cafe as its just down the road for the first time. We ordered Salt and Pepper Calamari and a steak sandwich and both meals were totalling different from expecrtations. The salt and pepper calamari was battered? and the actual calamari was tiny inside. The taste was just like batter. The steak sandwich arrived looking like a chinese stirfry on a bun, absolutely covered in melted cheese and seemed to come back again and again in the latter day. As we had tried for Pier 39 and its constantly full I would have thought increased business for Citizen would have been positive but ... no!