This place is absolutely incredible--we're officially hooked! Every dish has been a hit, from the appetizers to the paellas to the desserts. It's rare to find a spot where the food is this consistently amazing. What really sets it apart, though, is the atmosphere. You can actually relax and enjoy your meal without feeling rushed, which makes the whole experience even better. The staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, and the beautiful indoor-outdoor setting adds such a special touch. Bonus points for being both kid- and dog-friendly--honestly, it checks every box. We're already looking forward to our next visit! read more

Food - 3.5/5 Nice variety - from pinxtos to apps, to entrees and paella. Vegetarian options or modifications are plenty. Paellas take 50 mins to make but everything else comes out pretty fast and they tell you about the paella well in advance and put the order in first. Quality is good. Heavy on the seasoning so everything including the cake is salty. We also tried the beet salad which was so refreshing. Drink: 4.5/ 5 I'd call this primarily a bar with tapas. Because their cocktail game is strong and stronger than the food. Such a huge seasonal classic and main cocktail menu, beautiful variety. So well balanced. We tried a bunch and liked almost everything except the matcha fizz. Ambience: pretty. Lots of bar, countertop, indoor and heated patio seating. You can reserve ahead and easy access. Lots of free street parking. Hosts and service is a bit off. Hostess especially was a bit rude. Overall, worth a try if you're in solano beach read more

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Oh my god this was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. All of the vegetables were so delicious and charred to perfection. The paella, I swear took me to another universe! And for $70 I feel like it's actually a good deal for all that seafood! It is also a gorgeous restaurant with great ambience and the service was spectacular! Only thing I'd say to skip is the mocktails. read more

CTZN - Seafood paella - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Among meal albeit not normal menu. It was a pre fix sort of meal for valentines. Everything was delicious. Service was excellent. Bathrooms were spotless. read more

CTZN - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I have been very excited to try this new place in Solana Beach ever since it opened a few months ago. There are not many (if any) Basque restaurants in San Diego, so this was a fun treat! My boyfriend and I came around 5:30pm on a Saturday evening without a reservation. We were told they were actually completely booked for the night (nice!) but that we could sit at the bar, which was fine by us. The ambiance was chic but warm and the bar was a perfectly lovely place to sit for dinner. I had a Basque Txakolina white wine which was lovely and unique! Since their main items are tapas/shareable items, we ordered a bunch of things and shared. Charcuterie for Two, added Iberico ham for +$15: The selection was pretty good and I loved the Iberico ham, but adding it was not worth the extra $15 in my opinion, as the serving size was quite small. It is served with toasted baguettes con tomate, but I think they forgot the tomate. 4/5 Pulpo: This was delicious! I rarely have octopus, but I could tell it was done well. The octopus was flavorful, tender, and plentiful. It was served with some lovely marinated beans and shishito peppers which all worked very well together. We loved this dish! 5/5 Patatas bravas: It is gorgeously created and presented with tons of layers of perfectly crisp, yet soft potatoes and plated with a tomato based sauce and garlic aioli. I really enjoyed this dish, but my boyfriend thought it needed a little extra oomph (perhaps more salt or flavor depth). Regardless, I thought it was a winner. 4.5/5 Croquetas de pato: Honestly these were a last minute addition and at this point in the meal we really didn't need another dish. However, they were flavorful and yummy. A bit small for the price, but good all the same. 3/5 Wild berry Basque cheesecake: The reason why we wanted to come here in the first place! It took a while for them to get this to us, and they graciously gave it to us on the house, which was a nice customer service touch. However, it was well worth the wait! Creamy, perfectly sweet, luscious, delicious. This is a must get dessert if you come here! 5/5 All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our first time at CTZN and we are looking forward to coming back to try more dishes on their menu! If you're looking to try this Basque cuisine, my only suggestion is to make a reservation because this place is gaining popularity by the week! read more

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Such a great experience. Staff was amazing. The aesthetic is perfection. Bathrooms were clean. Love that the kitchen is open. Got so many dishes, patatas bravas were divine, the pan con tomate was amazing, the pulpo was 10/10 ... the "fall salad" was a little odd. I feel like that was least favorite dish. Having a spring salad maybe? And then we went with the Seafood Paella - sooo freaking good. And lastly the basque cheesecake. Hot damn i will get that dessert every time i return. So happy to have a tapas place in Solana! I wish CTZN the best keep it up! I should have taken a pic of the cheesecake but we devoured it! read more

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I feel compelled to do an update just for the patatas bravas because they are ~ what dreams are made of ~ The pork secreto was also a big hit! read more

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One of the newer restaurants in Solana Beach is CTZN. It is located on the Coast Highway, just South of Loma Santa Fe. The restaurant sits on top of a large underground parking area, which makes parking very easy and convenient. The restaurant has large outdoor seating area which will be nice come warmer weather. The theme and servings of the restaurant is shared plates (tapas). They have an extensive menu including a few key main courses and Paella. We had a table of 4 persons. We ordered a recommended Spanish red wine and then selected about 7 starters and 1 paella. Everything was well prepared and was provided with very good service. Overall, highly recommended. read more

CTZN - Great Deserts - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Group of friends went there during a weeknight without reservation. They could accommodate us in few minutes. Cocktails are ok, inhad vspr and black manhattan, they are forgettable. The duck croquette was ok. But after that it was all amzing, the lobster pella with squid ink, it was to die for. It has fish, lobster, shrimp, clam and what not. It is a must order for seafood lover. The beef paella wasnt bad either. The octopus grilled is something i will remember for months. The shrimp grill, we ordered extra bread to wipe the gravy. The service was quick and attentive. Excellent place! Try out before there is a line outside. read more

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Some new businesses have popped up this year along the Hwy 101 corridor in the Solana Beach community including CTZN. This is a tapas bar that has been described as serving Basque-California fusion cuisine. There was a lengthy wait for a table on the evening that I visited, however I was fortunate to find an empty spot at the bar where the full menu was served. It was an open-air setting with lots of small tables spread across the bar and dining area. The one-page food menu was filled with a long list of small plates and shareable items. The latter included charcuterie and paella. There were eleven choices in the Raciones category. These were slightly larger servings than traditional tapas. I had to pick the Pulpo which was wood-fired Spanish Octopus served with marinated gigante beans, charred shishito peppers, chorizo romesco, and a grilled lemon. Their version of this dish was generous with multiple grilled tentacles on top of the other components. It was cooked well as the protein was soft. For a main dish, I ordered the Secreto Iberico. This was fire-roasted pork served with escalivada (roasted vegetables) and arbequina (olives). The meat was from a Black Iberian pig that had heavy marbling. I have rarely seen Iberico pork prepared at other SD area restaurants so it was a rare treat. There were ten thin slices placed on top of the veggies. I think a puree of some root vegetable to add a contrast in texture would have nicely complemented this entree. The service from the bartender was good when I had his attention. Other waitstaff that were supporting the bar brought the food to my seat. For the quality and price of the food that I tried, I gave a four star level rating for my dinner at CTZN. read more

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This is our second time here! The food is consistently delicious, I love being able to sit outside during warmer months but inside is very pretty and open so it doesn't feel like you are stuffed inside. Try the olives, pan con tomate. Croquetas, kampachi, pulpo, and carrots! read more

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When we first invited by my partner's aunt and uncle to CTZN, we were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant was in an older part of Encinitas that seems to be in the middle of being revitalized. They are next to Rustic Root on Highway 101 close to the Solano Beach Amtrak train station. We sat outside, at around 5PM on a Saturday evening at the end of September, so the weather was pleasant. Going off the recommendations of my aunt and uncle in laws who had been to Spain a few times, they knew what dishes they wanted to order to compare with their experiences that they had when they travelled. We decided primarily to order off of the tapas menu and to share between us. A few of the drinks we ordered: - Verde San Sebastian Old Fashioned - "Say Cheese" cocktail Tapas: - Patatas Bravas (Crispy potatoes) - Croquetas de Pato (Duck) - Pulpo (Octopus) - Pan Con Tomate (Tomato bread - forgot to grab a picture) - Local Beets - Grilled Prawns Dessert: - Wong Mango & Basque Cheesecake Verde San Sebastian Old Fashion was smokey and very unique cocktail as reported by my partner given there is a little bit of their chili flavor - the combination of smoke and spiciness was well balanced and interesting and definitely a unique twist on a traditional Old Fashioned. The "Say Cheese" cocktail was super interesting and had a slightly sweet, tart and cheesy flavour. Hard to describe but as someone who doesn't drink, the couple sips I took were surprisingly good. The Patatas Bravas were super impressive. I loved their take given the potatoes are layered which definitely takes more effort and as a result more delicate. Being layered is different and was unexpected by my aunt and uncle-in law. That doesn't take away from how tasty they were. The Local Beets were fresh, the Croquetas de Pato were good, but I couldn't really taste the duck so it was less memorable. Grilled prawns were also very good in flavour but also less memorable in that though they were all excellently made they didn't sear into my memory like the Pulpo and the Pan Con Tomate. The real stars of the show were the Pulpo and the Pan Con Tomate. The octopus was SOoooo goood. I mean, look at how juicy those legs are. Perfectly tender, not rubbery, but still had a nice bite to them -- basically, it was as perfect as octopus legs could possibly be. I haven't had as tasty of an octopus since Kettner Exchange which was almost 8 years ago. I often feel guilty whenever I eat an octopus (I have recently learned they are super intelligent creatures and unsustainable to farm), but given the other pictures shared, it was difficult for me not to order since I do love octopus. I try to be selective when I eat it, and this was one of these times I decided to eat it. The Pan Con Tomate was also perfect - I'm a huge fan of tomatoes though, so others might not have the same experience, but it was perfectly seasoned and not soggy, applied over what appeared as cristal bread (which is the tastiest bread - soft but not overly soft, pliable yet crispy right on the edges - I recommend people to find it in their store if they're able to find it). And then the dessert - I have not had basque cheesecake before, but a dessert that has the word "Mango" in it will always pique my interest. The mango flavor wasn't strong despite being topped which was too bad, but the texture of the cheesecake was nice and like a combination of cake and pudding making it creamy. The burnt top part of the cheesecake made it so the dessert wasn't super sweet and even had a slight bitter taste which complemented with the rest of the cheesecake so well. A basque cheesecake is without crust and I think after having the basque cheesecake I might prefer it to traditional cheesecake. (I love creamy desserts like creme brulee and pot de creme, and this falls into that category). Our waiter was super helpful with recommendations and were prompt with our requests. Very attentive. No complaints from any of us. I personally really liked the atmosphere of the place - I didn't know what it was like inside since I didn't take a look, but the outside is a really nice cozy set up though I will say the seats (at least the benches) felt a bit lower in comparison to the table. There was not any music playing on the outside if anyone is worried about that. 5 PM was a perfect time to come because it wasn't yet full, but by the time we left about 2 hours later, the restaurant was definitely very busy and full. It's perfect if you are looking for a quieter setting than inside (judging from other comments from it being loud inside). Definitely want to come back and try the remaining tapas - those wild mushrooms caught my eye but did not have room in the stomach this time around. Recommend to go if it fits your budget - the food and the service are excellent. read more

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We had such a great experience at CTZN! The short rib paella was absolutely delicious--rich, tender, and full of flavor. The chicken croquettes were excellent, perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy inside, and the olives were a simple but standout bite. The ambiance inside was incredible--modern, stylish, and lively, it felt like we had stepped out of Solana Beach and into a city spot with an amazing vibe. Our server was very attentive and made the whole evening flow seamlessly. Overall, CTZN impressed us with both food and atmosphere. Definitely a place I'd come back to for date night or with friends! read more

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I would have given CTZN 5 stars but a few things kept me from doing so: 1. Noise is unbearably loud. The floor is cement, the ceilings are tall and there is no fabric on the tables or chairs and they also have very loud music playing. . We sat at the bar and the bartender couldn't even hear us and we had to keep yelling and repeating ourselves. It was so loud it was almost painful. 2. The avocado and Talo was tasteless, it just tasted like mushed avocado. 3. The Talo was NOT Talo. I have eaten Talo in Basque country and what they served has no resemblance to it. The supposed Talo served here was hard, tasteless and appeared to be made with whole wheat flour. It was kind of like fried whole wheat Pita bread with no flavor and a bad texture. They definitely need to work on their "Talo" or at least call it something else. The 5 Star parts were: 1. The friendly bartender 2. Friendly hostess 3. The drinks (there were no mocktails on the menu but the bartender created yummy mocktails for us). 4. The other 3 dishes: Blue Fin Tuna Tartar (which actually was Hamachi Tartar) but delicious The Fall Salad The Pulpo. I would go back and order these same 3 items again but there are more items I also want to try. The people next to us raved about the Patatas Bravas. All the portions were really good sized. These are not traditional Tapa portions. I am a BIG eater and I ended up taking home half the Pulpo and 1/3 of the Fall Salad. They were both delicious the next day. In summary, I would like to go back and sit outside in hopes that it won't be so noisy and I will not order the Avocado and Talo or anything that comes with Talo. There are lots of other choices I do want to try though. read more

I was visiting for work and stopped in due to another restaurant being closed for a private event. I was pleasantly surprised as this (apparently newer) spot is gorgeous inside!!! The bar is beautiful!!! The menu is delicious and the crowd was great! If I lived in the area I would certainly go again! read more

Such yummy food. Esteban was a great waiter who didn't rush us and was knowledgeable about the dishes. We had Gilda which were spot on, the pulpo was so tender and marinated to perfection then the paella was on point. It was like being in Euskadi. Although I don't think paella is from the region, but I know the other dishes are and can't wait to try more food on the menu. read more

The vibes in here are beautiful. The staff is fun and friendly. Definitely a spot for the locals. A great place to grab a drink and appetisers. read more

CTZN - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

everyone here including Freddy and chef are incredibly talented and kind. The food is amazing. I'm so happy to have an authentic tapas bar in North County. The basque cheese cake is off the charts read more

CTZN - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

My wife and I sat outside on one of the many very comfy couches and relaxed with drinks while pondering the menu. We were looking for a few nibbles rather than dinner this time around, but will be back with another couple to sample more of the menu. Very attentive wait staff. Nice selection of shaken and stirred cocktails. I loved the "Say Cheese" cocktail - highly recommended. We shared the Tuna Tartare, the Patatas Bravas (served as slices of a casserole - crispy, layered slices), and the Fall Salad with prawns, and Croquetas de Pollo. Although the paellas and full plates where tempting, this was perfect for us on this evening. Highly recommended, and looking forward to returning soon! read more

I had a reservation for 7 on a Saturday, we waited for about 10 minutes at the front before a hostess showed up. It was windy so I picked up some menus that were flying around in the front seating area. They seated us directly in front of the front door. My seat blocked part of the door. The other door was very squeaky and that got annoying quickly. We had to wait 15 minutes before a waitress came to acknowledge us. The noise level inside was almost unbearable, we were very close to leaving before the waitress arrived. Bluefin Tuna Tartar had pretty good flavor, the talo tortillas tasted burnt. Pulpo was cooked perfectly and the flavors were amazing. Would order again. The Pork Secreto was chewier than expected and the veggies seemed too heavily oiled. The cheesecake was amazing. Not to be missed. read more

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Mr. and Mrs. C friends who live in Solana Beach were excited to introduce us to CTZN, a new tapas spot next to Rustic Root. We had a 5:15pm reservation for four and were seated right away, but unfortunately at a table directly by the door on a very chilly evening. Every time the door opened, a rush of cold air came through. We asked if we could move just a bit farther inside since the restaurant was nearly empty at that time, but were told that every table was already fully booked. The lack of flexibility and hospitality here is ultimately why this visit landed at 3 stars instead of 4. Food-wise, we ordered a wide variety of dishes to share. The fall salad had good flavor, but the large pieces of red and green cabbage were tough to cut and eat. The beet salad was fine, though the avocado mousse was the only standout component. The roasted carrots were the favorite of the night--perfectly cooked with a nice kick of spice. The jamón ibérico was thinly sliced and enjoyable, and the sautéed whole squids (four pieces with tentacles) were well-prepared. The lobster paella, however, was underwhelming; it tasted more like fried rice than a true paella and the lobster were very dry. Dessert was the highlight: slices of Basque cheesecake with berry compote that ended the meal on a warm, satisfying note. Everyone enjoyed their cocktails and glasses of red wine, and our server was attentive, checking in often enough to make sure we were taken care of. Overall, a mixed experience--good company, some enjoyable dishes, and a great dessert, but the initial seating situation and lack of hospitality set the tone in a way that CTZN could easily improve. read more

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As big fans of Basque and Spanish cuisine, we were excited to find CTZN - a modernized Basque inspired tapas spot in Solana Beach. We did have a rather long wait upon arrival despite having a reservation but were able to enjoy a few drinks at the bar while waiting. We ordered the gilda, pan con tomate with jamon iberico, cana de cabra, croquetas de pato, grilled prawns, pulpo, patatas bravas, wood fired squid, short rib paella, and wild berry basque cheesecake. Among these, our favorites were the grilled prawn (so flavorful - wish it came with more bread to soak up the sauce), pulpo (so tender), patatas bravas (super crispy hashbrown style), and short rib paella (melt in your mouth short rib was excellent and delicious dish though paella didn't have much of a socarrat). The jamon iberico was the biggest letdown for us -- it tasted as if it had been out for a while and didn't have the beautiful essence that we wished for of bellota. The basque cheesecake was delicious but not quite basque, more NY style - didn't have a burnt top or melty inside. All in all though we thoroughly enjoyed the food and would definitely come back! read more

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Everything about CTZN was excellent! The welcoming staff, the gorgeous design and feel good ambiance & vibe was perfect, the bartenders were super kind, knowledgeable and attentive. We only came in for a drink and a couple of appetizers, but will absolutely return when back in town again. We had 2 glasses of wine (their wine list was extensive with affordable options), the chicken croquettes were crunchy, creamy, flavorful and fresh tasting. They also had a fig, goat cheese, hot honey bruschetta as well that was incredible. Food is a bit pricey for portions, but it was quality and delicious. read more

CTZN - CROQUETAS DE POLLO, CAÑA DE CABRA TOAST - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Tapas style... very busy and loud. Great service however. Food was pretty amazing. The salad was huge. Bluefin tuna ceviche was great, tortilla a bit too thick and crispy. Octopus cooked amazing, maybe a little too much smoke in it. Overall, a wonderful experience, we went on a Wednesday night and it was crazy busy! We will be back! read more

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This was the perfect dinner to end my birthday in San Diego. My boyfriend suggested this place to me! My boyfriend and I came for the Safari Park and dropped by Fletcher Cove Beach before walking to the restaurant. To start, we ordered a cocktail and a mocktail. My mocktail was a version of the Zaintza they made for me. I loved it so much!! Then we opted for vegetarian tapas. We ordered the avocado & talo. We added the cana de cabra toast. We were able to enjoy both as we awaited our vegetarian paella which we were told would take 30-45 min to prepare. It's lively and modern in the restaurant. We were seated at a table for two just inside, entrance adjacent. Service was attentive enough and friendly. The paella was delicious and we took the rest to go, eating it for lunch the next day! We also took a slice of Basque berry cheesecake with us and shared it on the train back to LA. It was memorable like really good! read more

CTZN - My boyfriend and vegetarian paella - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Had a wonderful Girls night out and I am soo glad I checked it out in Solana Beach, love the short rib paella, love the charred carrots and the mushrooms, also love the iberico pork it just melt in my mouth, the staff is soo friendly and the atmosphere is soo inviting. Come check it out. read more

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Awesome new tapas spot located right off the 101 in Solana beach. Solana is starting to get a lot of new restos and this place can hold its own with all of them in the area. Really good cocktails, great small plates and the paella had a nice little citrusy twist. The place is laid out quite nicely too, enjoy! read more

CTZN - Seafood Paella - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Finally got a chance to have dinner here and so glad we did! We didn't have reservations but decided to do a walk in. All tables were reserved but they told us the bar and high tops were open seating. We were lucky to find 2 open seats at the bar which was perfect. Service was very friendly and great recommendations on food and drinks. Very lively atmosphere which made it really fun. I had a really nice tempernillo and my bf had a smoky old fashioned, both were great. I did see the cucumber margs going out and those looked really good. We had the mushrooms which were delicious. The tuna tartare was also a big hit. Then we shared the vegetarian paella. Excellent, but could have used a little more asparagus. That was more than enough food for 2 people. Loved this place for food and ambience. Would definitely go back. read more

I really wanted to be a fan of this place! To start off, the ambiance needs some work.. we were seated in a corner with little to no lighting and the table lamp in front of us was out of order but even after we asked for a replacement, it barely gave any light. The tables are much higher than the seat I was in which felt disproportionate. The music choice was a bit off... there were cricket noises playing at one point haha The drinks were great, I loved the parmesan on my martini. The Pan Con Tomate (not pictured) didn't deliver with heirloom tomatoes. The Patatas Bravas were very anti-climatic but the $14 caviar add was a complete waste. They should either charge more and add a substantial amount or completely get rid of the option... The Paella was also very lackluster but beautifully presented. For the steep price-point, we've had better and won't be rushing back for food. read more

CTZN - Patatas Brava add Caviar ($14), Say Cheese - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Our experience here was about a one star as soon as we got here. Reservation at 7p turned out to be getting seated 30+ minutes later with a confusion in between where we were being ushered to the table from the bar that was ended by realization that the table was still not ready. Once we finally were seated there was just a meek apology maybe? We were all pretty hungry by this time so ordered some starters/pintxo, which took... I don't know... quite awhile again to get to the table. One of the orders was Spanish olives and we had to order bread as an addition. We had to ask for the bread a few times after getting olives and were told they were being toasted. Maybe it sat in the oven too long because to our dismay 2 of the 5 toast came burnt (partially black). We alerted the waitress and her condescending reply was that the bread was "toasted" so do we not want it toasted? We had to explain "see, 2 of them are black and 3 other ones were fine" This type of attitude is perhaps what you would receive from an overworked, careless teenager at Chilis but not at a new trendy restaurant that charges $13 for 2 small coquetas or $25 for cocktails! Other dishes we had were duck coquetas, prawns, short rib paella, ny strip, guacamole and talo. The paella, prawns, and steak were good but not worth the price and service. The potatoes that came with the steak were so salty that all five of us were shocked at how salty it was. When we told the waitress, she once again justified that it was salt cured etc as if that salt bomb was in anyway palatable. There are tastes that are personal preferences and then there's this - simply unpalatable. We suggested that she taste it if she didn't believe it but it didn't matter because at this restaurant, they are always right and we are wrong. Anyway, she did bring us a pan con tomate instead and that was fine. Overall, CTZN is a restaurant with small portions, but big inconsistency, big prices, and bigger attitude. read more

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So excited for this new restaurant that had the Grand Opening today. As I was in Solana Beach to go to another place and my friend and I were observing the beauty of the furniture and the look before the final touches...took some pictures and talked to a lady that designs several things for the restaurant and with another gentleman who explained this is a Basque-SoCal fusion. I wanted to be the first one to check in! More coming up soon:) read more

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Dined here tonite with my family and we all thought the food, service, and amosphere were all wonderful. We feasted on a variety of dishes large and small. The largest dish, paella with short rib, was delicious and large enough for three. The meat could be cut with your fork and had no fat. The calamari and octopus sides were among the best we've had. Other dishes includes potatoes and croquettes that were also excellent. A creamy basque cheese cake with mango completed this exceptional meal. The wine list is excellent with many regional wines from Spain at very reasonable prices. Service from our server Madeline was warm, friendly and very helpful. She was enthusiastic and took pride in the restaurant and the food. She knew each dish and wine and made great recommendations. Overall CTZN is wonderful addition to our home town of Solana Beach. Can't wait to go back. read more

This restaurant brings a diverse options of food in this area, with its Basque flavor :-) We were in during their soft opening in August. Tried: Saint Sauveur Des Basque Pina-Jamon-Ada Tuna Tartare Carabinero Prawns Croquetas de Pato Calamares Fritos Jambon sec superior Overvall, everything was good, but will skip on the jambon sec and focus on the other cooked dishes next time. The Basque cheesecake is not to be skipped, it has a great texture, not super sweet, melts in your mouth - it was so so so good. They should make an options to purchase it as an entire cake to purchase and take it home for the family. Owners are super friendly, very hardworking, and doesn't appear to skimp on quality. Definitely recommend it. read more

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CTZN, Solana Beach's newest Basque-style restaurant. The space hums with a warm, communal energy. This isn't just a place to eat and socialize though; it's a place to gather and celebrate food. With a selection of pintxos, the small, masterful bites that are the heart of Basque cuisine. The Gilda, a classic skewer of anchovy, olive, and guindilla pepper, was a perfect, briny wake-up call for the palate. The el bulli olive was a revelation--a spherical, liquid olive incapsulated in a delicate membrane that bursts, releasing a powerful, concentrated burst of olive flavor. It's an intense and surprising sensation that completely redefines the familiar taste of an olive. I've had the pleasure of enjoying so many dishes over the few times I've already been to CTZN. Everything from any of the paellas, to the tuna tartar, the grilled chipirones, the calamares fritos, finishing with the decadent mango basque cheesecake.. Beyond the food, the service at CTZN was exceptional. Our servers and bartenders were not only attentive but also incredibly knowledgeable, guiding us through the menu and sharing which of the fantastic signature cocktails paired well the each of the dishes. Their enthusiasm was contagious and truly enhanced our dining experience. read more

My friend visiting from out of town recommended this place as she'd dined the night before. She is Vegan so sometimes finds local offerings can be a challenge. I was happy to try CTZN with her for her second night in a row. We had the carrots, salad and pan con tomate. It was all so lovely, pleasantly flavorful and fresh. The carrots had a perfect slight char which wasn't too overwhelming and a hint of spice. The flavor balance was exquisite. The pan con tomate was toasty and refreshing at the same time. The salad had stunning presentation and was also delicious and garnished with gorgeous fresh herbs. Finally, the service we received was splendid. The first available seating area at the time was in the bar and my friend and I never felt forgotten or neglected. I forget our server's name but she was so nice! All these factors make me excited to discover this new restaurant and to return here with my husband. One thing I would like to note is that other reviewers complaining about portions seem to misunderstand the concept of tapas-style. If anyone is unfamiliar with it, a little research can be done to educate... or simply ask your server. The place gets busy, but is lively. The layout is rather open concept so a bit loud, but this did not bother me. Hope anyone who tries this place enjoys it as much as I did. read more

CTZN - Carrots (partially eaten), pan con tomate and salad - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I love tapas and was really excited to try this place. We made reservations and were seated promptly. Cute place but despite the restaurant being empty when we got there, we were seated by the kitchen door. Tried the cocktails and they were great. They don't have beers and my husband settled for wine which was ok. We started with the patata brava, con tomate and the salad which were all really good. And then it was disappointing- the vegetable paella was bland.no flavor and no salt with barely any vegetables. My husband got the chicken dish and it wasn't cooked well. It wasn't a busy night and was very disappointed with the entrees. Service was great with Kai and that got me to a four rating from a 3.5 rating. read more

Vibes are there fam Food brought me back to Spain, and it was actually better than the food in Spain. Believe me bro. Cocktails were spot on! We'll be back Service was unmatched, it was like a well oiled machine! Esteban and Ella were great! Treated like a VIP Make sure you order the "Cana de Cabra Toast" CHEFS KISS read more

This place was happening! Pretty busy on a Tuesday, we had a reservation. Service was excellent. Cocktails were unique and tasty, and strong!! They had a great selection on the menu with some smaller tapas plates and some regular entrees and bigger plates. We had the patatas Bravas of course and they were excellent, the sauce with them a bit of sauce, very flavorful. Duck croquettes - my friend liked them but I have a texture issue and when the meat and everything is pureed it's hard for me. I learned croquettes were not for me in Spain. Cana de cabra toast - fig and cheese-decent flavors but just ok. Fall salad was good and that squash in it was killer! Short rib paella - short ribs were perfect, melted apart. The rice had an interesting flavor I couldn't place but it was like a smoke or a miso which I don't care for so it really threw me. I've had paella before but not with this flavor. The mixed berry cheesecake was ok- the cheese texture was a little off for me and didn't get much of the berries. Overall, fun place and good food. read more

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Unfortunately, I was not impressed by this restaurant. Although our server was nice, the service was so slow. We waited almost 30 minutes to get our drinks. We ordered the patatas bravas and octopus for appetizers. The octopus was good but the patatas bravas were honestly horrible. They had no flavor and they were not the traditional ones / they were like hashbrowns. For an entree we ordered the vegetarian paella which was a good size (one is big enough for a whole group) but again, lacked depth and flavor. I like that it had a lot of vegetables on top but I didn't think it was overall that good. We were going to order more for the table but decided that it wasn't worth spending more money on food that I didn't think was that great. Also, we were sat outside and it was super bright lighting, which affected the ambiance. I feel bad writing this review but hopefully it helps them make improvements to their menu. read more

Had an amazing dinner at CTZN in Solana Beach! We ordered the Pan Con Tomate with Iberico ham, Patatas Bravas, Grilled Prawns, Pulpo, Trucha a La Navarra, and Basque Cheesecake, along with a Verde San Sebastian Old Fashioned and a Citrus Fruit Spicy Mocktail. Every dish was very tasty and perfectly cooked -- from the tender octopus to the flavorful trout and creamy, caramelized cheesecake. The presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were balanced and creative without being over the top. Great service and stylish atmosphere too. Definitely worth a visit if you're looking for elevated Basque-inspired dining in North County! read more

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