Tue, 02/20/2007 - 4:25pm

Review of Cafe Citron

“This place reminds me of Barcelona in the summertime: hot, flavorful, and full of what my Spanish roommate calls ‘¡fiesta loca!’”

1343 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
(Dupont Circle Metro, South Dupont exit)

If you seek a quiet lounge to chat over martinis, Café Citron is not the place for you. This sizzling restaurant and club will have you trying foods and dance moves from all over Latin America. The margaritas, Latin beats, and buena onda cast a spell over its diverse crowd. There’s no question about it -Café Citron knows how to ¡fiesta!

I’d wandered by Café Citron on several Saturday night outings around Dupont before I ever went inside. The outside was nothing too flashy: just a small sign displaying the name, yellow trim, and large windows with an inside view obstructed by curtains and décor. In short, it was hard to feel out the atmosphere without planting my face against the glass for a quite conspicuous peek. As I discovered, Café Citron is not a book to be judged by its cover. Even just by pausing my stroll for a few extra seconds of window shopping, something attracted me to the Café until one day I was caught –hook, line, and sinker. The blasting Latin beats as my bait, I was through the door faster than the bouncer could say, “ID, please.” Literally. I guess I really wanted a mojito?

From the moment I entered the Café, I left DC and, en un instante, found myself in another world. Bright, neon lights, blasting reggaeton, and the urge to shake my hips like Shakira. This was no regular DC night out, and it was only dinnertime. Suddenly, as I was struck by the overwhelming desire to party until dawn, I understood where the citrus-inspired name came from. This place reminds me of Barcelona in the summertime: hot, flavorful, and full of what my Spanish roommate calls “¡fiesta loca!”

Okay, it wasn’t too loca yet, after all it was only 7:30pm. But the way this place affected me after stepping in the door was really something else. The Café’s long, narrow layout creates a small aisle between the tables and bar. What might inspire claustrophobia in other venues is lost in the magic of the dancing wait staff that uses the pathway as a salsa platform –and not because the jefe told them to. How could they not want to dance? Even the scantily-clad mannequin can’t help herself from taking permanent residence atop the bar counter.

Dinner at Café Citron is something to be experienced at least once while in DC. Weekday Happy Hour can be quite crowded –still fun but the madness can detract from the overall experience. The best time to eat dinner is Saturday Happy Hour, which is a bit of a hidden secret and lasts until 8pm. Drinks and certain foods come at a really decent price, and where else can you do Happy Hour on a weekend?! It’s the perfect start of a Saturday night on the town as you fill up on tasty Latin American food and drinks. You’ll still have the time and budget to continue the fiesta later (at CC or elsewhere). Guaranteed you’ll be amped to party somewhere afterwards. It’s the only place where I can hardly keep still during dinner because the booming music has me doing salsa in my seat.

If you stick around after dinner, be sure to wander downstairs for free the belly dancing lessons and performance (other nights offer different dancing events, such as Monday’s flamenco night). The only bummer in lingering after dinner to party is that the rest of the DC night crawlers will be awhile in joining the fiesta. Things pick up for dancing after 11 o’clock, which makes Saturday Happy Hour and dancing a long, drawn-out affair. Once the party gets started, though, the Café’s mannequin might not be the only one dancing on the bar counter. ¡Ay papí!

Café Citron Menu Features

The menu offers a diverse selection from all over Latin America. Here are couple items worth trying.

o Mojito

Crushed mint leaves and rum in a citrus blend bring Cuban flavor right to your table--and to your spirits.

Rating: ¡Me gusta!

o Fried Plantains

A Latin American specialty combining sweet and salty flavors, served with a rich and creamy chipotle sauce. A MUST-HAVE!

Rating: ¡Ay Dios mío!

o Island Shrimp Curry

Caribbean, curry, chow-down.

Rating: ¡Me gusta!

*Still can't decide on your Latin flava? Try the method of my friend Tim: pick the food or drink of the country you want to visit the most! That way you’ll have an intro to Argentine cuisine or be groovin’ like a Peruvian before you even get there!

About the author
Nikki-Rae Alkema is a freelance writer who has lived in Southern California and Spain before moving to Washington, D.C. This world-traveler with a dangerous wanderlust loves to scout the flavor of new places. When not out for a night on the town, Nikki-Rae also enjoys photography, surfing, and playing indoor soccer.

Photo courtesy of DCFlamenco.com

Categories:

• Restaurant Reviews
• Bar Reviews