Citizen Smith Restaurant

(310) 461-5001

1600 N Cahuenga Blvd (Selma Ave.)
Los Angeles, CA 90028 34.0999 -118.3294

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Neighborhoods: Hollywood, Central LA

citizensmithhollywood.com/

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11:30am-3:30pm and 5pm-2am

Sat: 5pm-2am

Sun: 11:30am -3:00pm and 5pm-2am

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Late Night Dining, Celeb Hangout, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Steakhouse, New American, Traditional American

What People Are Saying About Citizen Smith Restaurant

Featured Review

Martha Burr

Contributor

The Scene – Designed by Thomas Schoos (Koi, Wilshire), this sensuously glam space is one of the shining stars of the once-rundown Cahuenga Corridor. It casts a decadent spell through three stunning areas: A grand front dining room, sultry back lounge, and starry alley patio ideal for smokers. Tall mirrors, votive candles and flickering chandeliers cast eerie shadows over celebs and scenesters chilling at cowhide-clad alcoves, the luxe mahogany bar and packed tables. – – The Food – Southern-tinged comfort food is deftly and generously turned out and attractively…

Editor's Tips

Look Good:
Make reservations to avoid a long wait behind the velvet rope. There's often a two-hour time limit on dinner tables.
Save Money:
The lounge menu offers scaled-down options like sliders, chicken skewers and jalapeno mac and cheese.
What to Drink:
Those on a budget need not fear the wine list, with several good choices under $40 and a handful of new and old world labels by the glass. Corkage is $25. If cocktails are your poison, check out the peach Schnapps martini.
ambiance
91.49999618530273% positive
  1. Overall, I would definitely recommend this restaurant for dinner or for a fun place to hang out with friends for drinks!
  2. Great atmosphere!
  3. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was so beautiful.
  4. The decor is really interesting, the food fantantic (horseradish mashed potatoes, yum) and the service attentive.
  5. Reservations were very easy to make, once there, the atmosphere and sceneary was great but too bad thats where the greatness stops.
  6. The decor is beautiful, they have two bars, and our bartender Brad was amazing--remembered our names, our drinks and everyone else's while dancing up a storm to the live music.
  7. The crowd was fun, and relaxed.
  8. The decor is the best I have seen in LA and the food and staff were extremely friendl and knowledgeable.
  9. also love chilling there Sunday nights when there's few people, the music is mellow and the atmosphere is very cozy.
  10. The O-Bar folks have succeeded again with great decor, but came up short at CS with service and food.
  11. Music and crowd was fun.
  12. Understated but great atmosphere and service.
  13. The ambience is cool but not worth the food and service that you have to deal with.
  14. They have very interesting cocktails on the menu so i'm sure it'll be a fun experiment.
  15. highly recommend this place for dinner and for atmosphere.
  16. The atmosphere is a little more lax & comfortable than lounges or clubs in Hollywood, but still cool- & that's why I like this place.
  17. While the atmosphere is fantastic, the overall dining experience is barely above average for the cost.
  18. Awesome atmosphere with really high ceilings, dark colors, candles, kinda goth I guess.
  19. Fabulous ambience, but the food is mediocre.
  20. The decor was not Thomas Schoos's best but I guess it was aiming for a swanky Texas ranchhouse kind of feel.
  21. Decor is very nice as is the ambience.
  22. The decor was really cool and the service extremely friendly.
  23. This is my favorite spot in Hollywood for a Burger and great ambiance.
  24. Then my friend invited me to this "cozy little place in hollywood
  25. will say that it is a great "date" atmosphere.
  26. The website of Citizen Smith claims, and I quote, "The unique ambiance and friendly atmosphere provides an inviting place for everyone to enjoy.
  27. The decor in this hip, chic, very New York feeling establishment is amazing.
  28. The hostess was rude and unbecoming a restaurant that obviously wants to be the next BIG thing, and the food was boring, the ambience uninspired and the service perfunctory at best.
  29. Amazing decor, great vibe, very cozy and warm with a fantastic outdoor dining area.
  30. The decor is so cool.
  31. Great food, Beautiful people, Amazing ambience.
  32. The BEST food, atmosphere, music and ambience EVER!
  33. anyways, the decor here is really really nice.
  34. the decor was beautiful
  35. The ambience was very romantic with lots of candles and dark furniture.
  36. It's probably not the place for a nice quiet romantic evening but for rocking it with your significant other or friends, I think it can't be beat in Hollywood.
  37. The decor is fantastic, the service was great(when I was there), and the staff was totally down to Earth.
  38. good place for a romantic rendezvous.
  39. the drink was pretty stiff...., great decor, industrial/vintage feel high ceilings.
  40. Great food, good service, beautiful decor
  41. great place for romantic dinner.
  42. Great food, hip atmosphere
  43. Love the ambience, great place to take a date.
  44. really beautiful location in what was once the rundown part of town.
  45. The decor is brilliant but the food, staff and management is HORRIBLE!
  46. amazing ambience.
  47. There is a very unique ambiance, yet, quite to the contrary of their claim, Citizen Smith does not have a friendly atmosphere, nor does it prove inviting to anyone, let alone everyone.
  48. The atmosphere has a romance of class and charm adorned with candles and gothic chandeliers and the staff is friendly and accommodating.
  49. The lighting is VERY dim, but you can tell the decor is really cool -- vaulted ceilings, cool wall treatments and lots of mirrors and chandeliers.
dessert
87.5% positive
  1. Great vibe and great desserts
  2. We had two full meals with sides, a bottle of wine, 2 desserts and coffees and the bill was more than reasonable.
  3. really enjoyed the dinner, dessert and service.
  4. The cake was really good and I am not a chocolate fan.
drinks
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. After eating I grabbed a drink from the bar, the bartender was extremely nice and had a smile on her face the whole night.
  2. After a round of drinks I was ready to take out a loan - overpriced and overwatered.
  3. always have a great evening there and they do these deals on mondays and i think tuesdays where you gt 50% of the food or wine depending on the day.
  4. had a great female server that was really sweet and attentive and had no problems with the bar.
  5. was at Citizen for a closed event and liked the space and the tray service so I opted to take some friends there for dinner and drinks.
  6. It's a little expensive so I wasn't able to try all the wines they offer, and I didn't get the filet (i'm big fan of filet) but I did get the mac and cheese (As was suggested on here) and salmon.
  7. Cab and sparkling wine were good.
  8. We had two full meals with sides, a bottle of wine, 2 desserts and coffees and the bill was more than reasonable.
  9. Very attentive service, great food and the GM came by our table several times to tell us about the new menu and drinks!
  10. love the interior and think this is a great place to have drinks, but not so much to eat.
  11. the drink was pretty stiff...., great decor, industrial/vintage feel high ceilings.
  12. must also say the wine selection by the glass is very extensive, there must have been dozens to choose from, and we partook quite often, and it is also complemented by a bottle menu for those wanting to get some very nice wines indeed.
  13. The two main focal points appear to be the impressive and well-stocked bar and the glass back wall which opens into a lovely patio.
  14. In fact, the last bartender that served us was, arguably, the best I've seen in LA - instead of dealing with a model wannabe, we actually got killer drinks - and that speaks well of the folks behind the Citizen Smith.
  15. The sommelier was lovely and I settled on his recommendation (Conumdrum), a pleasant white table wine with a lovely floral bouquet.
  16. The bartender (also nice but not too bright) was unable to find a wine list, and made me a terrible martini (which is what I settled for when it became clear that I wasn't going to get any wine).
  17. They have very interesting cocktails on the menu so i'm sure it'll be a fun experiment.
  18. Good value and they have special Monday and Tuesday night bargains - i think they have a special 50% off wines or something.
  19. The salad was poor, the steak was good, the Mac N cheese was better and the drinks are pricy.
  20. Overall, I would definitely recommend this restaurant for dinner or for a fun place to hang out with friends for drinks!
  21. It is a great place if you want a nice meal for dinner, a late night bite or drink (they are open until 4am), have a private party, or just get a drink with some friends.
  22. When we asked for the wine special (A Soave - I LOVE Soave) which was written on the huge chalkboard on the wall, she said "Um, I don't know if we have that.
  23. changed my drink because a rob roy in their system is really a roy rogers..., the rice and peas (risotto), and jalepeno mac and cheese, both were delicious as was my friend's mahi mahi, a rec from the server.
  24. $10 drinks, cold mac & cheese that only had flavor of jalapeno's.
  25. cocktails were good, appetizers as well.
  26. Great bar and hang out spot as well.
  27. great place for drinks and socializing.
  28. Service was attentive throughout our stay; appetizers, cocktails and the main courses arrived with little wait as the restaurant was filled to capacity that evening.
  29. Great beer selection, friendly staff.
  30. at anyrate, the drinks were a little pricey and we didn't have
  31. The decor is beautiful, they have two bars, and our bartender Brad was amazing--remembered our names, our drinks and everyone else's while dancing up a storm to the live music.
  32. The drinks are still overpriced, the hostess was rude and abnoxious for no reason.
food quality
84.07999992370605% positive
  1. The portions, however, were gargantuan - you'll pay a lot for the terrible food, but you'll get a mountain of it.
  2. So, the food is not amazing, but you won't pay through the nose, either.
  3. We had some bland food (pasta, mushroom appetizer, spinach) that we couldn't finish, but we also had some decent stuff like the ahi (cooked how it should be) & the creamy mussels.
  4. And the time it took to get our food and our waitresses attention was not acceptable.
  5. had the burger which was SO good!
  6. liked the food & ate all of it, but I am not a food snob.
  7. used to love this place I thought they had a great menu but I just went there again recently and apparently the chef changed and so did the menu so all my favorite dishes were replaced with something else.
  8. LOVE the citris shrimp!
  9. Also, really recommend the shrimp.
  10. The food was great as well and I highly recommend the jalepeno mac and cheese along with the tower of onion rings to start.
  11. The interior is super cool but the food was the worst.
  12. We got the Nachos, which is more like a big flat mexican crispy pizza, Onion Ring Tower, Chicken Strips, Sliders Hamburgers, and last but certainly not least, the tastiest Macaroni and Cheese I have ever had.
  13. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was so beautiful.
  14. Great spot for lunch, a far superior alternative to the fast food franchises and pizza joints surrounding it
  15. Went to Jar instead and had an amazing dinner there with fantastic service and wonderful food.
  16. The staff and management were gracious (no LA attitude but cool) and the food was incredible the jalape?
  17. We cannot even tell you what the food was like because we got to the restaurant and waited at the host stand for 5-10 minutes without being acknowledged.
  18. Thanks for the great meal.
  19. But other then the gross gritz/rice pudding/baby food, everything else is good to eat.
  20. Our watiress was kind and attentive but not too much and the food was fantastic!
  21. They concur with us that something has happened at good old Smith and the food is absolutely to die for.
  22. with more than just great food.
  23. had the ahi tuna salad and thought it was as good as any I had ever had, really fresh fish and not too drowned in dressing, altogether a great healthy lunch.
  24. The ribeye was delicious and you have to try the jalapeno mac n cheese.
  25. It is without a doubt, the most gorgeous space PERIOD in the entire hollywood area, the staff is sultry and polite, the food is great and they throw a great party.
  26. But the food ain't half bad and, if you like looking at pretty people they're usually
  27. Very sultry, great food, couldn't ask for a better evening!
  28. The food is good, but nothing to write home about.
  29. was told last year when I went to Australia that Australian beef was the best in the world, but the New York Strip at Citizen Smith was the best steak ever.
  30. The food is good.
  31. liked it a lot as the sauce was very tasty.
  32. What a beautiful interior, attractive , friendly and courteous staff, and the food was incredible.
  33. the service was excellent, and the food was even better.
  34. perhaps i like things too spicy, but i wished it were a little spicier; chinese chicken salad - my friend liked it; chopped cobb salad - again my friend liked it, but i wasn't that tempted.
  35. The O-Bar folks have succeeded again with great decor, but came up short at CS with service and food.
  36. Best of all and most important, the food is always excellent.
  37. My ribeye steak was very good, juicy, well-seasoned and a large cut at 20oz.
  38. The place has great vibe, style, mood, look and food.
  39. Excellent service and the food was amazing and surprisingly affordable.
  40. The food, I am sorry to say, was not good.
  41. Great food, hip atmosphere
  42. and this interesting little salad thingy, and some potatoes which i could take or leave.
  43. only asked my friends to my right and left ,because I really was with a big group of girls, how their food was.
  44. Very friendly staff, melt in your mouth filet, awesome Citrus Shrimop, and the best Mac'n'cheeze I have ever eaten (I add bacon, it is to DIE for!
  45. Our group had the following: house salad - simple, fresh, mesculun greens with plump sweet tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette; fried chicken skewers - 4 large chicken tenders - very juicy, but a bit large - good for sharing; jalapeno mac & cheese - good; n
  46. mostly bland food (except for the ahi, which was awesome), and an impotent managerial staff who did nothing to speed up the service or quell the attitude of the waitperson serving us.
  47. The ambience is cool but not worth the food and service that you have to deal with.
  48. Fabulous ambience, but the food is mediocre.
  49. The decor is really interesting, the food fantantic (horseradish mashed potatoes, yum) and the service attentive.
  50. Flavorless ahi that was cold ( not sushi) potatoes that were watery and service that was slow and poor she barley came over to check on us.
  51. Fried chicken was pretty good, not the best I've had but not bad either.
  52. always have a great evening there and they do these deals on mondays and i think tuesdays where you gt 50% of the food or wine depending on the day.
  53. All in all, if you want to go out for a nice meal, this is as good a place as any for an upscale dining experience.
  54. The salad was poor, the steak was good, the Mac N cheese was better and the drinks are pricy.
  55. ... there are so many better places in LA to dine with good service, excellent food, great tunes, and beautiful people who don't have to work so hard!
  56. Reasonably priced for such good food in such an attractive setting.
  57. BBQ shrimp, Jalepeno Mac, Nicoise, for starters, all amazing.
  58. The food came on time and there was a friendly staff to help.
  59. the food is so savory and simply delicious!
  60. It is a great place if you want a nice meal for dinner, a late night bite or drink (they are open until 4am), have a private party, or just get a drink with some friends.
  61. The decor is the best I have seen in LA and the food and staff were extremely friendl and knowledgeable.
  62. Very cool interior, food is bland
  63. EXCEPT this gross gritz/rice pudding/baby food this that comes on the salmon plate.
  64. had the lobster linguine; smothered in a flavorful fresh buttery sauce.
  65. Although the music was a bit loud at times, I found the dim lighting to be mood setting and the food was as good as I remember.
  66. Decent steak if you can survive "the scene
  67. changed my drink because a rob roy in their system is really a roy rogers..., the rice and peas (risotto), and jalepeno mac and cheese, both were delicious as was my friend's mahi mahi, a rec from the server.
  68. Great food, Beautiful people, Amazing ambience.
  69. And I love comfort food.
  70. In short, if you're into an establishment that has no regard for their clientele, and serves mediocre CHILIS/TGIFRIDAYS/APPLEBEES food.
  71. Caesar salad acceptable.
  72. The hostess was rude and unbecoming a restaurant that obviously wants to be the next BIG thing, and the food was boring, the ambience uninspired and the service perfunctory at best.
  73. The decor is brilliant but the food, staff and management is HORRIBLE!
  74. My date's lamb was also amazing.
  75. Born and raised in the Midwest I know a great steak when I taste one, and the filet mignon I had at Citizen Smith was thick, juicy, flavorful, and without doubt, a supurb cut of prime (properly aged) beef.
  76. My husband and I brought 2 very close friends from back east, we all loved the BBQ shrimp , the cedar plank salmon was cooked to perfectionj.
  77. We ordered and had a great meal.
  78. Head turning crowd, decent food, and good music
  79. The BEST food, atmosphere, music and ambience EVER!
  80. Great food, Best on the weekends.
  81. Just a super cool venue and the food matches the f.
  82. like the setting food was amazing and good serves
  83. fantastic food, and great service.
  84. Very attentive service, great food and the GM came by our table several times to tell us about the new menu and drinks!
  85. have never taken the time to write any comments or reviews of any kind but this dining experience has prompted me to warn others to avoid this bad food.
  86. However what made it expensive and dissapointing was that the food was so mediocre and bland.
  87. The food was perfect and the waiter was HOT!
  88. would have to say that the food is just ok, but it's a great date spot.
  89. would have given it a five but the apps were fast and the food was a bit slow.
  90. There are plenty of other restaurants with great food so don't waste your time here.
  91. loved the music and the vibe, but I was even more impressed when the food came.
  92. ordered the BBQ shrimp, since it is my favorite app.
  93. Seems to me if the food aspect is not what they want they are risking alot by allowing themselves to be seen as such a icky place to go-word of mouth is everything and hey just read the reviews here.
  94. Friday/Saturday. BTW the food was good.
  95. Barring the onion soup, which was decent, the steak, burger, tuna, and numerous appetizers were huge disappointments.
  96. havent had a steak that good in a long time.
  97. Finally a restaurant that gets the balance of chic, cool, amazing food and reasonable prices.
  98. The food was great, prompt service, and we had a large party in a private booth.
  99. Great food, good service, beautiful decor
  100. It's a little expensive so I wasn't able to try all the wines they offer, and I didn't get the filet (i'm big fan of filet) but I did get the mac and cheese (As was suggested on here) and salmon.
  101. Good food for the most part, but busy
menu variety
70.83000183105469% positive
  1. Very attentive service, great food and the GM came by our table several times to tell us about the new menu and drinks!
  2. So I think with all the choices of places to eat--the foods not that good to come back to and the place has lost it pizazz
  3. used to love this place I thought they had a great menu but I just went there again recently and apparently the chef changed and so did the menu so all my favorite dishes were replaced with something else.
  4. They have very interesting cocktails on the menu so i'm sure it'll be a fun experiment.
  5. must also say the wine selection by the glass is very extensive, there must have been dozens to choose from, and we partook quite often, and it is also complemented by a bottle menu for those wanting to get some very nice wines indeed.
  6. Patient to explain our queries about the menu ( as a server should but he was just nice) One of our friends brought 2 bottles of a Syrah blend and a fabulous Pinot Noir.
  7. Great beer selection, friendly staff.
  8. forgot how pricey the menu is--the mains being $22-$48.
overall
88.24000358581543% positive
  1. great place for romantic dinner.
  2. All in all, if you want to go out for a nice meal, this is as good a place as any for an upscale dining experience.
  3. We went to LA for a few days and wanted to eat at a great place.
  4. My favorite restaurant in Los Angeles
  5. What a great place!
  6. It is a great place if you want a nice meal for dinner, a late night bite or drink (they are open until 4am), have a private party, or just get a drink with some friends.
  7. good place for a romantic rendezvous.
  8. dinner/appetizers. But still, good looking place, very good looking people, and definitely great music.
  9. It was always noting more than a hyped-up Hollywood hypster hangout with 8,000 candles, but it actually now is a great restaurant with amazing people working there.
  10. Even if you ate there before and did not have a great experience, the place recently did a 180 and everything is top notch.
  11. Love the ambience, great place to take a date.
  12. Citizen Smith is very chilled, quite understated but is a great place for a date.
  13. Really, aside from the fact that the booth we sat in was hard to get in and out of, we had a great time and although I have read mixed reviews on the place I have to say that I really enjoyed myself and would highly recommend this restaurant to my friends
  14. great place for drinks and socializing.
  15. best place in hollywood, period.
  16. So I think with all the choices of places to eat--the foods not that good to come back to and the place has lost it pizazz
  17. love the interior and think this is a great place to have drinks, but not so much to eat.
return potential
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. So I think with all the choices of places to eat--the foods not that good to come back to and the place has lost it pizazz
  2. The first time my girlfriend and I went the service was nice and we thought it was fine so we figued we would return with some friends.
  3. Well two thumbs up and all stars from me I will definitely go back and recommend this to my friends, it was a unique, and refreshing dining experience where everyone seemed to genuinely care and where everything was just perfect!
service
76.60999774932861% positive
  1. hope it can maintain its friendly vibe under the club glare.
  2. DJ, don't know his name, was rocking out and the bartender, also very hot, recommended a martini I had never had called a lychee martini, I think that's how its spelled, it was perfect!
  3. Terrible service before we even sat down
  4. The mussels were spectacular, the service great and I was treated like royalty.
  5. The staff is friendly and attractive, but not entirely on top of things.
  6. Great beer selection, friendly staff.
  7. The food was great, prompt service, and we had a large party in a private booth.
  8. Flavorless ahi that was cold ( not sushi) potatoes that were watery and service that was slow and poor she barley came over to check on us.
  9. Understated but great atmosphere and service.
  10. fantastic food, and great service.
  11. Our watiress was kind and attentive but not too much and the food was fantastic!
  12. The decor is really interesting, the food fantantic (horseradish mashed potatoes, yum) and the service attentive.
  13. What a beautiful interior, attractive , friendly and courteous staff, and the food was incredible.
  14. Patient to explain our queries about the menu ( as a server should but he was just nice) One of our friends brought 2 bottles of a Syrah blend and a fabulous Pinot Noir.
  15. we really love the vibe and people.
  16. Go for the scene (pretty people, nice room, friendly staff), but eat somewhere else.
  17. Our busser was really nice and attentive, but the waiters were amateurs lacking in customer service skills.
  18. There is a very unique ambiance, yet, quite to the contrary of their claim, Citizen Smith does not have a friendly atmosphere, nor does it prove inviting to anyone, let alone everyone.
  19. Would not recommend this pompuss place to any caring, hard working business people.
  20. The staff is generally pretty good.
  21. Our server helped me pair it with a wonderful cabernet and I was set.
  22. It was always noting more than a hyped-up Hollywood hypster hangout with 8,000 candles, but it actually now is a great restaurant with amazing people working there.
  23. starting using this service a while ago and am just now getting around to sharing my experiences of my favorite places in LA and wanted to start with Citizen Smith because it's my absolute favorite.
  24. Now, with horrible new seating arrangements we spent the next 15 minutes without a server.
  25. the service was excellent, and the food was even better.
  26. It is without a doubt, the most gorgeous space PERIOD in the entire hollywood area, the staff is sultry and polite, the food is great and they throw a great party.
  27. In this day in age where there is so much competition in eateries you would think that the owners would step it up and make changes , especially if there is poor mangement and staff issues.
  28. The hostess was really friendly and quite beautiful, as is required for all hostesses in LA, right?
  29. But the food ain't half bad and, if you like looking at pretty people they're usually
  30. dinner/appetizers. But still, good looking place, very good looking people, and definitely great music.
  31. As reviewed, the service was slow and a bit lacking.
  32. The first time my girlfriend and I went the service was nice and we thought it was fine so we figued we would return with some friends.
  33. The staff was friendly and didn't sport a 'tude.
  34. are a lot of attractive young customers and wait staff in a restaurant, the place "sucks
  35. The waitress managed to salvage the night for us, overall I liked the place but was expecting more.
  36. ... there are so many better places in LA to dine with good service, excellent food, great tunes, and beautiful people who don't have to work so hard!
  37. We were given a complimentary appetizer, & our waiter was great (& adorable) & more then made up for the hostess.
  38. The entire staff there is quite pleasant and easy on the eyes (as all Hollywood places are).
  39. Great food, good service, beautiful decor
  40. The hostess was rude and unbecoming a restaurant that obviously wants to be the next BIG thing, and the food was boring, the ambience uninspired and the service perfunctory at best.
  41. The website of Citizen Smith claims, and I quote, "The unique ambiance and friendly atmosphere provides an inviting place for everyone to enjoy.
  42. The first thing I noticede when I arrived was the very courteous staff, the hostess was extremely warm and gracious.
  43. Our waiter was a very jolly fellow, extremely friendly who made us feel very "at home" and not merely like customers, who attended to every detail and we were never left wanting for anything to the very end.
  44. The ambience is cool but not worth the food and service that you have to deal with.
  45. second every complaint so far- rude and obnoxious staff, too long of a wait to get seated (30 minutes after my reservation time), too long of a wait to get served (50 minutes!)
  46. The bartender (also nice but not too bright) was unable to find a wine list, and made me a terrible martini (which is what I settled for when it became clear that I wasn't going to get any wine).
  47. The decor is beautiful, they have two bars, and our bartender Brad was amazing--remembered our names, our drinks and everyone else's while dancing up a storm to the live music.
  48. The staff and management were gracious (no LA attitude but cool) and the food was incredible the jalape?
  49. The atmosphere has a romance of class and charm adorned with candles and gothic chandeliers and the staff is friendly and accommodating.
  50. Service was very attentive, yet they knew when to leave us alone if we were talking, etc.
  51. I'd heard of a crazy club vibe, hollywood types sliming up every corner (and, to be fair, there was one table that looked a little "Entourage-y"), rude service staff, etc.
  52. mostly bland food (except for the ahi, which was awesome), and an impotent managerial staff who did nothing to speed up the service or quell the attitude of the waitperson serving us.
  53. also love chilling there Sunday nights when there's few people, the music is mellow and the atmosphere is very cozy.
  54. Our waiter was very nice and on top of his game.
  55. The room is gorgeous (sort of Shabby Chic meets Sanford and Son), and the staff are all incredibly nice - but none of them are going to be rocket scientists any time soon; they've all very clearly been hired for looks and not ability.
  56. To make the experience even more enjoyable, our waitress was very accomodating.
  57. After eating I grabbed a drink from the bar, the bartender was extremely nice and had a smile on her face the whole night.
  58. The food came on time and there was a friendly staff to help.
  59. The service (except the bartender who had a lot of attitude and was unfriendly) was wonderful.
  60. had been here when it first opened, and liked the general vibe but was a bit turned off by the crazy trendy crowds and the "too cool for school" attitude conveyed by the servers.
  61. By L.A. standards, our waiter was impressive.
  62. The decor was really cool and the service extremely friendly.
  63. And the time it took to get our food and our waitresses attention was not acceptable.
  64. The service is good.
  65. The service here was the worst that I have ever received in any restaurant.
  66. The staff was not great.
  67. There's a full back patio that opens up and you can fit quite a few people back there.
  68. The food was perfect and the waiter was HOT!
  69. Great food, Beautiful people, Amazing ambience.
  70. Excellent service and the food was amazing and surprisingly affordable.
  71. Food was better than expected, and service was expectedly bad.
  72. The decor is the best I have seen in LA and the food and staff were extremely friendl and knowledgeable.
  73. was at Citizen for a closed event and liked the space and the tray service so I opted to take some friends there for dinner and drinks.
  74. The O-Bar folks have succeeded again with great decor, but came up short at CS with service and food.
  75. place where the important people want to feel important and the beautiful people want to be seen, or scene.
  76. would highly recommend this place to people.
  77. The service sucks a big one.
  78. had a great female server that was really sweet and attentive and had no problems with the bar.
  79. Service was attentive throughout our stay; appetizers, cocktails and the main courses arrived with little wait as the restaurant was filled to capacity that evening.
  80. We got real entrees (my blackened catfish special was divine), a nice Malbec for the table, and a bright unpretentious server who managed to make it happen without passing out headshots (I know.
  81. really enjoyed the dinner, dessert and service.
  82. Very attentive service, great food and the GM came by our table several times to tell us about the new menu and drinks!
  83. The decor is fantastic, the service was great(when I was there), and the staff was totally down to Earth.
  84. The service was very friendly and helpful.
  85. Went to Jar instead and had an amazing dinner there with fantastic service and wonderful food.
  86. If you can get over the fact that the "hostess" does not make you feel welcomed, has a big attitude and is rude then this place is great.
  87. The drinks are still overpriced, the hostess was rude and abnoxious for no reason.
  88. Very friendly staff, melt in your mouth filet, awesome Citrus Shrimop, and the best Mac'n'cheeze I have ever eaten (I add bacon, it is to DIE for!
  89. changed my drink because a rob roy in their system is really a roy rogers..., the rice and peas (risotto), and jalepeno mac and cheese, both were delicious as was my friend's mahi mahi, a rec from the server.
  90. sure, if you want to go to the next trendy restaurant for the next six months go, but dont expect good service.
  91. have not seen that many beautiful people in one room in a long time.
  92. The decor is brilliant but the food, staff and management is HORRIBLE!
  93. In fact, the last bartender that served us was, arguably, the best I've seen in LA - instead of dealing with a model wannabe, we actually got killer drinks - and that speaks well of the folks behind the Citizen Smith.
value
55.56000232696533% positive
  1. Barring the onion soup, which was decent, the steak, burger, tuna, and numerous appetizers were huge disappointments.
  2. The ambience is cool but not worth the food and service that you have to deal with.
  3. She made the comment first saying the Mac and Cheese was dry and not worth the carbs.
  4. The drinks are still overpriced, the hostess was rude and abnoxious for no reason.
  5. When we asked for the wine special (A Soave - I LOVE Soave) which was written on the huge chalkboard on the wall, she said "Um, I don't know if we have that.
  6. After a round of drinks I was ready to take out a loan - overpriced and overwatered.
  7. valet is overpriced, though.
  8. We ate in Citizen Smith last month - it was amazing, with huge portions of
  9. Good value and they have special Monday and Tuesday night bargains - i think they have a special 50% off wines or something.
  10. However what made it expensive and dissapointing was that the food was so mediocre and bland.
  11. Finally a restaurant that gets the balance of chic, cool, amazing food and reasonable prices.
  12. There are lots of places in this price range and it can be really pricey if you order the main entrees.
  13. Excellent service and the food was amazing and surprisingly affordable.
  14. The portions, however, were gargantuan - you'll pay a lot for the terrible food, but you'll get a mountain of it.
  15. at anyrate, the drinks were a little pricey and we didn't have
  16. It's a little expensive so I wasn't able to try all the wines they offer, and I didn't get the filet (i'm big fan of filet) but I did get the mac and cheese (As was suggested on here) and salmon.
  17. always have a great evening there and they do these deals on mondays and i think tuesdays where you gt 50% of the food or wine depending on the day.
  18. forgot how pricey the menu is--the mains being $22-$48.
wait time
31.81999921798706% positive
  1. second every complaint so far- rude and obnoxious staff, too long of a wait to get seated (30 minutes after my reservation time), too long of a wait to get served (50 minutes!)
  2. havent had a steak that good in a long time.
  3. There was 1 heat lamp for a table of 7 girls, and the lamp kept turning off every couple of minutes which made for a very unpleasant experience.
  4. As reviewed, the service was slow and a bit lacking.
  5. Flavorless ahi that was cold ( not sushi) potatoes that were watery and service that was slow and poor she barley came over to check on us.
  6. have not seen that many beautiful people in one room in a long time.
  7. Now, with horrible new seating arrangements we spent the next 15 minutes without a server.
  8. would have given it a five but the apps were fast and the food was a bit slow.
  9. Had to wait 20 minutes before they took our order, not a good start.
  10. We cannot even tell you what the food was like because we got to the restaurant and waited at the host stand for 5-10 minutes without being acknowledged.
  11. Hostess was very slow to seat us and crammed our party into a small booth outside (although we had reservations and the restaurant was virtually empty, they would not seat us elsewhere).
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/24/12

Best Spot For Tonight

by jwall09

Big Wang is an awesome restaurant! The food it offers is delectable, and drinks are inexpensive! Definitely a wonderful spot for a relaxing night out in town. Highly recommended to all the yuppies in the area.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/18/10

The Best Birthday Experience Bar None

by Elizabeth Mint

Went here on a recommendation from a friend for my husband's 44th birthday with 6 of our friends and was not disappointed.

The decor was absoulely gorgeous at night with all the candles there must have been hundreds!!!! The first thing I noticede when I arrived was the very courteous staff, the hostess was extremely warm and gracious. We were seated at an antique marble table that went perfectly with the unique and old world style of this place. Our waiter was a very jolly fellow, extremely friendly who made us feel very "at home" and not merely like customers, who attended to every detail and we were never left wanting for anything to the very end.

I must also say the wine selection by the glass is very extensive, there must have been dozens to choose from, and we partook quite often, and it is also complemented by a bottle menu for those wanting to get some very nice wines indeed.

As far as the food the selection is best described by the chosen classifaction of American as there is everything from fish to steaks and we pretty much ordered all over the menu. All of our food both appetizers and entrees were very good I must say, very good. And it left me wondering why I had never heard of thisplace before.

Though I didn't think I had room the restaurant provided a complimentary dessert and candle for my husband (southern style bread pudding with a "to die for" sauce on top. So having eaten a bite or two of that I and a few of our friends ordered the desserts from the menu. Without belaboring the particulars, all very good but what was interesting to note was that the waiter, Dusty, indicated that everything was made there, everything.

Well two thumbs up and all stars from me I will definitely go back and recommend this to my friends, it was a unique, and refreshing dining experience where everyone seemed to genuinely care and where everything was just perfect!!!!

  • Pros: Great Service, Great Food, Great Ambience
  • Cons: Too Many Calories to Eat There Every Week
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/14/10

Tasteless and Uninviting.

by Luger

Citizen Smith is a poorly managed establishment and the cuisine is hit-or-miss, but mostly a miss. The website of Citizen Smith claims, and I quote, "The unique ambiance and friendly atmosphere provides an inviting place for everyone to enjoy." There is a very unique ambiance, yet, quite to the contrary of their claim, Citizen Smith does not have a friendly atmosphere, nor does it prove inviting to anyone, let alone everyone.

In regards to restaurants in Los Angeles, Hollywood in particular, service and quality are key; however, Citizen Smith does not live-up to these aspects, resulting in an experience to be remembered only as: Tasteless and Uninviting.

  • Pros: Unique Ambiance.
  • Cons: Unfriendly and Unwelcoming.
3 Star Rating: Average

12/08/09

cool spot for a disent price

by rose 32

i like the setting food was amazing and good serves

  • Pros: i like the class croud
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/22/09

GREAT FOOD, GREAT VIBE, GREAT FUN!

by AustinSteve

Just went here for the first time! I guess it is just starting to get very popular. I was unsure of what to expect, but immediately after walking in I knew this would be one of my new favorite spots. We arrived around 11 with a promoter so getting in wasn't a problem. The bouncer was very nice, and politely let us in. Refreshing to find in Hollywood. I can tell you that it is better to arrive early, and I noticed that they were not letting people in after about 11:30 without bottle service/cover charge.

We sat down at our table and ordered some food, and it was A++. After eating I grabbed a drink from the bar, the bartender was extremely nice and had a smile on her face the whole night. The crowd was fun, and relaxed. After people were done with dinner, everyone got out onto the floor and started to dance the night away.

There is also a bar outside on the back patio, so it's nice if you don't feel like walking all the way back inside to get a drink. I definitely recommend this place! It has the ambience, and energy that you need for a perfect night. Reminded me of a smaller version of the club Hwood.

  • Pros: Food, Drinks, Staff, Atmosphere
  • Cons: Crowded back patio, but still fun!

The Details on Citizen Smith Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • great tray service
  • beautiful decor
  • friendly entire staff
  • mediocre chilistgifridaysapplebees food
  • great hip atmosphere
  • good music
  • slow service
  • great birthday experience
  • beautiful people
  • not that good pompuss place
  • rude hostess
  • nice meal
  • highly recommend wonderful restaurant
  • very good ribeye steak
  • just perfect everything
  • incredible beautiful interior
  • rude service staff
  • favorite roll spot
  • recommended visited citizen smith
  • romantic dinner
  • all amazing bbq shrimp
  • great desserts
  • great food
  • great general vibe
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