Citizen Cafe

Citizen has the best scones in town, fantastic homemade sausage, a well-selected wine list, and the three day pork roast is reasonably priced and worth coming back for tomorrow. Welcome to 38th St, Citizen!

Why is everything prepared with a hint of sweetness! Seriously, my potatoes were sweet, my friends serrano/bacon salad was sweet! Did the chef mistake sugar for salt?! First and last time diners. We live in S. Mpls and are still in search of a decent dinner place... Al Vento, Caps, and Dominguez aside (love these restaurants, just want a bistro/cafe that is worth eating at 2-3 times per week!) \t\n\t\nAll I can say is, terrible. If you can't get bread and salad mix correct, then go home!

If your palate was satisfied by the industrial-sized canned food of Sweet Lorraines, then, yes. The fresh, msg-free food of Citizen may taste bland to you. Comparing Citizen to Sweet Lorraines is like comparing The Wedge to the corner Kwik Mart, the farmer's market to vending machine sandwiches. My advice is to ignore all the reviews and judge it for yourself. Here is my impression: The muffins were moist and flavorful without being too sweet and heavy. The homemade jam was an illuminating tribute to raspberries. The french toast was soft and comforting on the inside with a delicate crisp on the outside. The pulled pork was juicy and uniquely flavorful. Not a tin can in sight. And the entire bill was less than $15!!

My husband and I went here last night after reading the review in MplsStpaul magazine. It was disappointing, not terrible, but I wouldn't go back. The french onion soup tasted more like left over beef broth with very few onions. My husband got the reuben which is quite different from normal reubens. They cure the corned beef there, which I thought was pretty tasty. The side pasta salad was worth one bite and then pushed away. I had the short ribs with mashed potatoes and side veggies. The potatoes and veggies were amazing! Just wish the short ribs had matched...they were way overcooked with not much flavor. The meal had some things that were right on, but just as much misses. The chef uses fresh local ingredients, but does injustice to some of them.\t\nIt is sort of like the decor. Their name isn't carried through the place. It is decorated with framed 1950's advertisements, has a 1920s craftsman feel and then very modern Ikea-ish lights. \t\nI may give it another try for breakfast, but doubt that we will return for dinner.

My husband and I went here last night after reading the review in MplsStpaul magazine. It was disappointing, not terrible, but I wouldn't go back. The french onion soup tasted more like left over beef broth with very few onions. My husband got the reuben which is quite different from normal reubens. They cure the corned beef there, which I thought was pretty tasty. The side pasta salad was worth one bite and then pushed away. I had the short ribs with mashed potatoes and side veggies. The potatoes and veggies were amazing! Just wish the short ribs had matched...they were way overcooked with not much flavor. The meal had some things that were right on, but just as much misses. The chef uses fresh local ingredients, but does injustice to some of them.
It is sort of like the decor. Their name isn't carried through the place. It is decorated with framed 1950's advertisements, has a 1920s craftsman feel and then very modern Ikea-ish lights.
I may give it another try for breakfast, but doubt that we will return for dinner.

We went for breakfast on xmas eve in search of something to tide us over until dinner. It was very clean and I liked the decor. The coffee was great but a little pricey. The meals were plain and somewhat lacking. The concept is cool but, I think this place could be great if they just put a little more effort into the meals. Asked for Ketchup and was given a homemade version, very watery and bland...

Breakfast at the Citizen was excellent. Indeed, it is a change from the once Sweet Lorraine's, but they opt to buy local and they offer a lot of organic. The coffee is organic and delicious. The Brioche French toast had very fresh blueberries and strawberries. Also tried was the eggs scramble (then you get your choice of 2 ingredients), hash browns (not greasy, thank you!) and fruit, was awesome. The only negatives I could find: substitutions are discouraged and no half orders. They have patio seating which is great in these short MN summers. Don't expect your greasy breakfast meals here. If you are amongst the people that are eating better and looking for it to be delicious, give the Citizen a try. The prices, too, are reasonable and the menu is trendy.

As we were regular visitors at Sweet Lorraine's we were curious as to what the new place would be like and decided that we would visit this evening. We waited for a table even though there were only two other diners inside the tables all had soiled paper. \t\nOur server quickly got our beverages and took our order. The bread plate arrived with the iced tea and lemonade: One sourdough slice of bread, one wheat roll, one sourdough roll, a bowl with about one tablespoon of butter, and a bowl of what was maybe herb mayonaise. The butter was not enough for three people so I tried the other bowl. It was odd at best on the roll with a decided lack of flavor whatsoever.\t\nI ordered the shrimp po'boy, my husband ordered the Reuben, my daughter the BLT. I fared the best with five lightly battered shrimp on a branded hoagie roll, the mayo somewhat fugitive but all in all tasty and good.\t\nMy husband did not fare as well as the corned beef was laking in flavor depth, the coleslaw that stepped in instead of kraut overpowering all other flavor.\t\nMy daughters BLT was not on Brioche, it was texas toast, the tomato was ripe and good but the loose mayo and tough, chewy bacon, and warm slightly wilted lettuce made for a real challenge in eating not wearing the sandwich. Both my husband and daughter liked the homemade chips that came with the sandwiches.\t\nWe will take another trip in under advisement, maybe later after more time to get things sailing smoother.