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- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:00 - 0:00
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
£££
- Good for Children:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
6 reviews for Citation Taverne and Restaurant
All Reviews
The Merchant City has taken a bit of a doing since the recession, so it's good to see the vast and impressive (from the outside at least) Citation continuing to do well. Attracting YPs, office workers, and a few of the haggard old Bet Lynch types that invariably find their way into any Merchant City bar. While it's not a bad crowd Citation attracts, it is a fairly bland one, but inoffensive at least.
Despite the fairly opulent decor, and the surprisingly reasonable prices, it does have a somewhat soulless feel, and in some ways reminds me of a giant Wetherspoons. It 's not a huge issue though as I don't think the punters have the social awareness to pick up on atmosphere, or lack thereof.
I had always wondered what it was about Citation that made it such an unsatisfactory place to calm the pangs of hunger or quench a raging thirst.
The location is favourable: the magnificence of the south gable of the old sheriff court is unmatched.
Their prices are not so outrageous.
Somebody suggested it's problem is the mixture of inoffensive young professionals, old curmudgeons, students and refugees from local shops and beauty salons. who make up the client base.
I reckon that the problem is that it has no soul. It is just another bland and characterless place where the staff try to mix cocktails, but fail; where the kitchen tries to send out appetizing dishes but never quite manage.
If you want to visit a place that is so destitute of character as to be incapable of either offending or delighting then Citation is your place! If you are prepared to risk disappointment in order to be delighted then there are plenty of places nearby that will fill the bill.
Citation is a swanky, swanky bar that sits in the centre of the swanky Merchant City. I first came across this swish establishment when I went for some post-work drinks with some colleagues.
Citation oozes young professional vibes and the leather seats and velvet booths can be quite intimidating if you are wearing causal clothes.
Drinks are expensive but then they have to be given the size of this bar and its prime location. The music really impressed me as they were playing a jazz version of Common's greatest hits - an unusual but very welcome choice.
I enjoyed a meal with colleagues at Citation at the end of December 2009, dining from the breakfast/lunch menu. I chose Croque Madame, which was fantastic, with a side order of fries to go with a pint of Peroni, and would have paid £12-£13 for that if I hadn't been splitting the bill with folk who had slightly more expensive meals. Ultimately I couldn't complain about the price - you know what you're in for from the location and the decor, and I thought the prices were about right.
The service was friendly and swift, which I was surprised at given that 11 of us just wandered in without a reservation. Catriona M is spot on in saying that it could be quite intimidating in casual clothes, as it's clear Citation is positioning itself as an upmarket establishment. Having said that, it's not as if the staff looked down their noses at those of us in jeans and trainers, so I must applaud them for making us feel welcome.
Almost typically for places with such an upmarket target audience, the ketchup and mayo came in tiny little thimble sized containers, which did not really lend themselves to sharing between the group. We had to ask a couple of times for replacements, taking up the time of the waiting staff for something that would be unnecessary if they'd just be sensible with the portions in the first place.
It's not the kind of place I'd visit too frequently, but I'd like to go back to Citation once in a while as a treat when I want a little bit more than a beer and a bog-standard burger.
Citation offers al fresco dining on the neighbouring calm and picturesque Brunswick Street in the middle of the Merchant City.
For such a grand building (the pillars look lovely lit up at night), prices are actually more than reasonable. Soups start from only £3.95, main pastas £8 and desserts such as the delicious cheesecake £5.95.
The only downside to this restaurant is that it can sometimes feel rather empty and soulless, because a lot of people clearly take one look at the place and think it's out of their financial ballpark.
Citation Taverne is in the old Sheriff Court so it's all quite intimidating and I think that Jamie is right in saying that people are put off by how expensive this joint looks. The food is really really good and they obviously care about the quality of the food a lot. However, their menu seems to have no recurring themes - it's all a bit chaotic.
