Restaurant

Citrine Café

Name: Citrine Café
Address: 100 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL, 60302, US
Telephone: (708) 948-7328
Price range: value

Mediterranean•Oak Park•value

Citrine Café is one of the best mediterranean restaurants in Chicago for dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Oak Park.

Oak Park tends to get dismissed as a pass-through suburb rather than a dining destination in its own right, and Citrine Café is the kind of place that quietly makes the counter-argument.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Oak Park tends to get dismissed as a pass-through suburb rather than a dining destination in its own right, and Citrine Café is the kind of place that quietly makes the counter-argument. The menu is global in a way that feels considered rather than random — the range spans Moroccan braises to Spanish-style seafood to fire-roasted American poultry, and at a price point that makes comparable cooking in the city look like a bad deal. The crowd, by all accounts, skews local and returning, which is generally a more reliable signal than any review: people from the neighborhood are coming back on weeknights, not just wandering in once. The menu centers on a handful of dishes that diners consistently point to as the reasons they return. The Moroccan Spiced & Braised Short Rib is the anchor — a slow braise built around warm North African spicing, reportedly the dish that defines what Citrine is doing at its best. The Grilled Spanish Octopus has a reputation for hitting the technical marks that kitchens at higher price points routinely miss, and the Fire Roasted Half-Amish Chicken is known for the kind of careful treatment that a quality bird actually requires. The PEI Mussels signal that the seafood side of the menu isn't an afterthought. The House-made Lamb Sausage tends to fly under the radar relative to the bigger proteins — based on what regulars report, that's an oversight worth correcting. Practical reality: the room fills on weekends with people who already have a table, so a reservation is the smarter move. The format lends itself to four people ordering across the menu — the short rib and octopus as the centerpiece, the lamb sausage alongside. If you want a conversation that doesn't require leaning in, the back of the room is your best bet.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cheap Eatsneighborhooddinnerlocal

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.3/10

Rating (Google) 9.4

629 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.3/10

Taste Score

Google 9.4 from 629 reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Oak Park | 100 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.3/10

Phone

(708) 948-7328

Menu and ordering

Citrine Café menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Citrine Café is listed in the Good value price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Moroccan Spiced & Braised Short Rib

whipped hummus, blistered shishito peppers, demi-glace reduction, cilantro, mediterranean tomato salad, pickled red onion

Grilled Spanish Octopus

haricot vert, pickled fennel, fresno chilis, tzatziki, crispy potatoes

House-made Lamb Sausage

roasted pepper sauce, tzatziki, arugula, naan pita bread

Fire Roasted Half-Amish Chicken

crispy confit potatoes, sautéed green beans, baby carrots, ginger-scallion vinaigrette, guajillo chili oil

PEI Mussels

harissa beurre blanc, grilled sourdough, shallot, herbs

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Citrine Café worth the move

Citrine Café is a reliable mediterranean choice in Oak Park in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. PEI Mussels and Grilled Spanish Octopus also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 629 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 629 Google reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Style

Mediterranean in Oak Park

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cheap Eats neighborhood dinner local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 629 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: PEI Mussels, Grilled Spanish Octopus, House-made Lamb Sausage

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Citrine Café

Be the first TastyPals diner to reviewFirst-hand reviews are moderated before appearing publicly.

Google snapshot

9.4 from 629 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Citrine Café yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 100 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA
Phone: (708) 948-7328
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.3/10
Google rating: 9.4 (629 reviews)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Oak Park

Read guide

Restaurants in Oak Park

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Citrine Café serve?

Citrine Café is a Mediterranean restaurant located in Oak Park, Chicago. Oak Park tends to get dismissed as a pass-through suburb rather than a dining destination in its own right, and Citrine Café is the kind of place that quietly makes the counter-argument.

What is Citrine Café best for?

Citrine Café is best for cheap eats, neighborhood, dinner, local. Citrine Café is a reliable mediterranean choice in Oak Park in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. PEI Mussels and Grilled Spanish Octopus also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 629 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Citrine Café?

Citrine Café is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.4 from 629 reviews

What should I order at Citrine Café?

Start with Moroccan Spiced & Braised Short Rib, Grilled Spanish Octopus, House-made Lamb Sausage and Fire Roasted Half-Amish Chicken. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Citrine Café worth visiting?

Citrine Café holds a 9.4 Google rating from 629 reviews. Citrine Café is a reliable mediterranean choice in Oak Park in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. PEI Mussels and Grilled Spanish Octopus also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 629 Google reviews.