Citizen Bar

Doesn't Recommend

hcorbay21

Joined 5 years ago

Do Not Plan An Event Here. "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.

Doesn't Recommend

CaptainFoodie

Joined 5 years ago

Biggest DBag Bar In The City. 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!

Doesn't Recommend

roxygirl7246

Joined 5 years ago

Bad food, no drink menu, pretentious. 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.

Doesn't Recommend

justhoweyeseeit

Joined 5 years ago

big call but...... 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.

Recommends

gingerrogers

Joined 8 years ago

Awesome happy hours and event. 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!

Recommends

smithsam81

Joined 6 years ago

Great Brunch. I came here for the $15 bottomles mimosa/food deal and it was aweosme! My friends and i absolutely loved the food! they have an open faced omelette called a frittata, and you can add whatever ingerdietns you want. i had about 4 mimosas- a huge fritatta with potatoes and it was only fifteen bucks. i think this is the best deal in the city when it comes to getting drinks with your breakfast. PLUS we were able to eat outside in their huge heated tent! I think this is the only bar/restaraunt in the city that has an outdoor heated tent, so it was pretty cool. I will be coming back for sure.

Recommends

alana2424

Joined 6 years ago

Awesome Lunch. I started going to Citizen on my lunch break last month and have been going every day since.... The food is awesome. It has an Italian flare, and it comes out really fast. I take clients there all the time, and they are always impressed. The music is good, and it's on just at the right volume. There are always drink specials as well, so it's pretty fun to stop in there after a long day. I like the staff, they are all really knowledgable about their food and quick to get you what you ordered.

Doesn't Recommend

johncoctosin

Joined 6 years ago

what a joke. do not be fooled, this joke of an establishment is the poorest managed bar in chicago. pathetically horrible staff, rude and incompetent managers, and average food that does nothing due to the wait, service, and staff. embarrassing music, disgraceful busboys, and the most arrogant staff that even M TV could not assemble for a reality show.

A blonde female named jamie that bartends friday nights is easily the most disgusting person i have been served by, ever. without a doubt the most miserable person in the service industry.

citizen bar makes me re-think how and where i spend my time and money. this place fails so hard a movie should be based on it's existance. for all that want to know how to run a horrible business, visit citizen. on a friday. ask for jamie. then their gm, steve, his napolean complex will impress.

Doesn't Recommend

lcb501

Joined 6 years ago

Avoid anytime. Hey asr455--i beat up Jimmy D'Ambrosio in HS

He's a complete cheat and a little weasel. Do not go here!

Doesn't Recommend

asr455

Joined 6 years ago

horrible owner & manager, slow service. jimmy must be the most awful owner of any establishment in this city. telling patrons "i am through having this conversation with you" is NOT the way to speak to a group of people who just paid over $500 for dinner. his manager, steve, is terrible as well - it shocks the conscience to think he is gainfully employed by anyone. they both sucked up to our table ("is everything ok? this restaurant is my baby!") & then were complete jerks when we actually HAD a problem.

service was incredibly slow (who brings bottles of wine to the table without opening them?) & 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.") i may have actually seen a mullet. i am struggling to find any redeeming quality of this bar.

could not believe the line in front of this bar as we were leaving - who would stand in line for this place? how did this bar win an editorial review? trying to be the trendy new "it" bar - but they need new servers, a new manager, & an owner who is not so completely inadequate.

jimmy would do well to sell his "baby" to someone w/ a clue and an ounce of people skills. save your business for the great bars in chicago that deserve it...rockit, luxbar, meritage & spoon are all better options if you want a nice bar w/ an outdoor space.