Citrus Restaurant Ojochal

Citrus Restaurant Ojochal is, arguably, the best fine-dining restaurant in the entire Costa Ballena region. Every year it seems there is a new fine-dining restaurant that opens in the area, offering new and exciting options. In fact, I would suggest, that there isn’t a bad fine-dining restaurant in the region. However, even in an increasingly crowded marketplace, Citrus continues to stand above the others.

The reason can best be described in one word: DETAILS

One reason why I prefer Citrus Restaurant Ojochal is that it has been open for nearly as long as I have been visiting and living in Costa Rica – which dates back to 2005. Back in 2005 the only real fine-dining option in Ojochal was Exotica (another amazing restaurant in Ojochal, and some would argue, an even better option than Citrus – we will discuss Exotica in a future post). Marcella Marciano opened Citrus a couple of years later. The exact location has moved between two locations, but the current location is brand new.

Menu & Food

Let start off by saying, “I am NOT a foodie or a food snob.” However, I LOVE the food at Citrus Restaurant Ojochal. The menu is unlike any other restaurant in the area, and does not have a clear definition. On the company’s Facebook page, they state “Gourmet Mediterranean inspired menu”. The Every time I go, I make myself try something new.

There is a lunch menu and a dinner menu (starts at 5 pm). The lunch menu has fewer options and is more affordably priced. The dinner menu is robust with many options to choose from. They also have options for vegans, vegetarians and almost any other dietary custom.

Service at Citrus Restaurant Ojochal

The service at Citrus is always fast, friendly and knowledgeable. They are experienced in providing great service at fine-dining restaurants. Most of them grew up in the area, and if you have a question about either the menu item or the area, they will probably know the answer. After just a couple of visits staff members will remember you and say, “Hi” (even if you are not seated in their area).

My experience is that they all speak Spanish (obviously) and English. I believe several of them may speak French also. This would make sense as the owner is a French-Canadian, and Ojochal is a large French-speaking population from the Quebec area of Canada.

I appreciate that the staff has a low turnover rate, which means that the staff is extremely knowledgeable about the food, drinks and the menu changes. It also shows that there is job satisfaction.

The Chef’s focus on both taste and presentation. Annually, Marcella takes several trips to locations in the world to learn new techniques and to get inspiration for new dishes for Citrus.

Desserts, Coffee

Citrus offers a full variety of coffee, lattes, espressos and cappuccinos. During the day, the price for a specialty coffee is less than you will find at a Starbucks in the world. When one considers the ambiance, service and quality, it is the perfect place for a business meeting or to plan the next days’ excursions.

The dessert options are a mix of decadent chocolate, fruit and a number of other deliciously ‘sinful’ options.

Vacation Rentals Nearby

If you’re a foodie, or if  you’d like to spend your time in Ojochal within five minutes of Citrus, please consider one of the following homes:

Casa Aventura

Lluvia de Brasas (coming soon!)

Ojochal Suenos