(312) 640-1156

364 W Erie St (North Orleans Street)
Chicago, IL 60610 41.894 -87.6377

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Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central

CITIZENBAR.COM

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11am-2am

Sat 12pm-3am

Sun 11am-2am

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants, Bars & Clubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour, Bar Menu

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Electronica

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work, Outdoor Seating

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Citizen Bar

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Wood floors, exposed brick walls and four flat-screen televisions set a loft-like scene at this upscale spot, and rectangular lights illuminate the bar itself, which serves cocktails, beer and about 40 wines. The menu offers light European-style fare such as bruschetta and crostini, or strawberry and Nutella panini for dessert. In the summertime, however, the real draw is outside where the large patio and rooftop deck allow patrons to enjoy the Chicago night.

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
In the summer, the big draws are the rooftop deck and giant patio.
Parking:
The two pay parking lots next to Citizen Bar only hold so many vehicles so get there early or plan on spending a good amount of time looking for street parking.
What to Drink:
Offers seasonal beers on tap, including Oberon, Widmer and Rogue Dead Guy Ale.
ambiance
60.0% positive
  1. “Great service, relaxed atmosphere”
  2. “guess if a view is all that's important, you might be willing to put up with obnoxious and slow service and overpriced, mediocre "cal-med" food.”
  3. “Bad service (no drink menu, and the server seemed mystified at the notion of one), bad food (stuff that was made hours before and re-heated), and a pretentious atmosphere (the "chef" walking around in his bright red chef coat chatting on his cell phone).”
  4. “I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to watch the game or meet up with friends in an unpretentious atmosphere.”
  5. “Awesome food and amazing drinks so this should be fun!”
drinks
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “All in all, go to citizen for the awesome patio and drinks after work or BEFORE you go to dinner.”
  2. “My friend and I live nearby and go to Citizen almost every week because they have a great menu, a suprisingly wonderful wine list and really friendly staff.”
  3. “service was incredibly slow (who brings bottles of wine to the table without opening them?)”
  4. “Awesome food and amazing drinks so this should be fun!”
  5. “trying to be the trendy new "it" bar - but they need new servers, a new manager, & an owner who is not so completely inadequate.”
  6. “Bad food, no drink menu, pretentious”
  7. “it has a great patio, which is huge and perfect for nice weather to get some drinks.”
  8. “Bad service (no drink menu, and the server seemed mystified at the notion of one), bad food (stuff that was made hours before and re-heated), and a pretentious atmosphere (the "chef" walking around in his bright red chef coat chatting on his cell phone).”
  9. “rockit, luxbar, meritage & spoon are all better options if you want a nice bar w/ an outdoor space.”
food quality
54.16999816894531% positive
  1. “Bad food, no drink menu, pretentious”
  2. “Other than that, don't expect good service or good food.”
  3. “dined at this place and it was one of the worst places i have had meat cooked at”
  4. “like the staff, they are all really knowledgable about their food and quick to get you what you ordered.”
  5. “Bad service (no drink menu, and the server seemed mystified at the notion of one), bad food (stuff that was made hours before and re-heated), and a pretentious atmosphere (the "chef" walking around in his bright red chef coat chatting on his cell phone).”
  6. “guess if a view is all that's important, you might be willing to put up with obnoxious and slow service and overpriced, mediocre "cal-med" food.”
  7. “pathetically horrible staff, rude and incompetent managers, and average food that does nothing due to the wait, service, and staff.”
  8. “had about 4 mimosas- a huge fritatta with potatoes and it was only fifteen bucks.”
  9. “The food is awesome.”
  10. “If you like soso food that is over-priced and eating with a bunch of people who want you to know how much less you make than them, this is the spot for you!”
  11. “My friends and i absolutely loved the food!”
  12. “Awesome food and amazing drinks so this should be fun!”
menu variety
60.0% positive
  1. “Bad service (no drink menu, and the server seemed mystified at the notion of one), bad food (stuff that was made hours before and re-heated), and a pretentious atmosphere (the "chef" walking around in his bright red chef coat chatting on his cell phone).”
  2. “My friend and I live nearby and go to Citizen almost every week because they have a great menu, a suprisingly wonderful wine list and really friendly staff.”
  3. “rockit, luxbar, meritage & spoon are all better options if you want a nice bar w/ an outdoor space.”
  4. “The menu is extremely limited, which is OK if they had good appetizers that appealed to many different types of people but what they did offer wasn't broad, nor did it taste good.”
  5. “Bad food, no drink menu, pretentious”
service
46.4300012588501% positive
  1. “guess if a view is all that's important, you might be willing to put up with obnoxious and slow service and overpriced, mediocre "cal-med" food.”
  2. “Other than that, don't expect good service or good food.”
  3. “horrible owner & manager, slow service”
  4. “My friend and I live nearby and go to Citizen almost every week because they have a great menu, a suprisingly wonderful wine list and really friendly staff.”
  5. “Great service, relaxed atmosphere”
  6. “his manager, steve, is terrible as well - it shocks the conscience to think he is gainfully employed by anyone.”
  7. “The menu is extremely limited, which is OK if they had good appetizers that appealed to many different types of people but what they did offer wasn't broad, nor did it taste good.”
  8. “Bad service (no drink menu, and the server seemed mystified at the notion of one), bad food (stuff that was made hours before and re-heated), and a pretentious atmosphere (the "chef" walking around in his bright red chef coat chatting on his cell phone).”
  9. “like the staff, they are all really knowledgable about their food and quick to get you what you ordered.”
  10. “trying to be the trendy new "it" bar - but they need new servers, a new manager, & an owner who is not so completely inadequate.”
  11. “If you like soso food that is over-priced and eating with a bunch of people who want you to know how much less you make than them, this is the spot for you!”
  12. “& the amount of unattractive people was overwhelming (think, "over-30, in from the burbs, & looking for a place to pre-party before going to excalibur.")”
  13. “pathetically horrible staff, rude and incompetent managers, and average food that does nothing due to the wait, service, and staff.”
  14. “service was incredibly slow (who brings bottles of wine to the table without opening them?)”
value
75.0% positive
  1. “PLUS we were able to eat outside in their huge heated tent!”
  2. “guess if a view is all that's important, you might be willing to put up with obnoxious and slow service and overpriced, mediocre "cal-med" food.”
  3. “it has a great patio, which is huge and perfect for nice weather to get some drinks.”
  4. “had about 4 mimosas- a huge fritatta with potatoes and it was only fifteen bucks.”
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. “guess if a view is all that's important, you might be willing to put up with obnoxious and slow service and overpriced, mediocre "cal-med" food.”
  2. “horrible owner & manager, slow service”
  3. “like the staff, they are all really knowledgable about their food and quick to get you what you ordered.”
  4. “service was incredibly slow (who brings bottles of wine to the table without opening them?)”
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/07/08

Do Not Plan An Event Here

by hcorbay21 at Citysearch

"You know how to TAKE the reservation, you just don't know how to HOLD the reservation, and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the HOLDING. Anybody can just take the reservation"-Seinfeld

This pretty much sums up my experience with Citizen. I made a reservation for my sister's bachelorette party here over 6 months ago. Confirmed the reservation 2 weeks prior to the event, and reconfirmed it on the day of the event. Whoever I dealt with on the phone was courteous and seemed to be fairly comptent. Sadly the competency ended with the phone conversation. Apparently confirming three times just isn't enough for the staff at Citizen. Upon the arrival of a group of more than 30 people, we were told to wait...and wait...and wait. Unacceptable for anyone who has made a reservation, particularly with a large group ready to give a fair amount of business. Not only were no apologies made for our wait, but we were actually treated as if it were our fault we had to wait. A group of over 30 wasn't going to stand around for an indefinite amount of time, so we went to the nearby Martini Park where we were all accommodated and treated with the expected level of customer service. I can't imagine Citizen keeping their doors open for very long with their lack of organization and customer service. There are far too many bars in the neighborhood to waste your time waiting at this one.

1 Star Rating: Poor

07/02/08

Biggest DBag Bar In The City

by CaptainFoodie at Citysearch

If you like soso food that is over-priced and eating with a bunch of people who want you to know how much less you make than them, this is the spot for you! Guys wearing designer mirrored glasses, lots of hair product... YIKES!

1 Star Rating: Poor

06/15/08

Bad food, no drink menu, pretentious

by roxygirl7246 at Citysearch

I went here on a Saturday night, and it was beyond awful. Bad service (no drink menu, and the server seemed mystified at the notion of one), bad food (stuff that was made hours before and re-heated), and a pretentious atmosphere (the "chef" walking around in his bright red chef coat chatting on his cell phone). After this experience, I thought any positive reviews had to be from the owners/staff themselves plugging their own place, and after reading the review from "gingerrogers", that suspicion was confirmed. Can you make it any more obvious? That's pretty sad that they have to write their own reviews to lure people in. The place should be able to do that on its own. Unfortunately for them, the only thing it will manage to do it shut itself down.

  • Pros: If the only reason you're going to a bar is for the outdoor seating, this place is for you.
  • Cons: Borderline inedible food, bad service
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/10/08

big call but.....

by justhoweyeseeit at Citysearch

i dined at this place and it was one of the worst places i have had meat cooked at

i had the linguine and my girlfriend had salmon lets just say if the food needed to feel like leather as you swallow it then they achieved that with a roaring success....needless to say it was tasteless and rather a shame that the name itself doesn't live up the integrity of a good not great,....food establishment.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/30/08

Awesome happy hours and event

by gingerrogers at Citysearch

A source tells me that Citizen Bar will have an "UnHappy Hour" sponsored by the job site CareerBuilder on Wednesday and Thursday after the Superbowl.

Rumor is that they're serving free appetizers for an hour around 6 or so!!

I've been to Citizen before and the place is great! Awesome food and amazing drinks so this should be fun!

  • Pros: Great happy hours

The Details on Citizen Bar

Place Categories:

  • slow service
  • awesome food
  • great patio
  • worst place
  • rude manager
  • overpriced average food
  • not so completely inadequate owner
  • amazing drinks
  • pretentious drink menu
  • not recommended rate
  • nice bar w
  • not so completely inadequate new manager
  • great bars
  • tasteless shame
  • pretentious atmosphere
  • good appetizers
  • not so completely inadequate new servers
  • good music
  • huge fritatta
  • unattractive people
  • like soso food
  • great menu
  • like staff
  • pretentious bad food

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