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

good food . arrived at a quiet time ; 20 minutes early for a 5:30 table and we were seated ( party of 2) at a tiny table and the larger booths weren't occupied by the time we were finished eating. Also made a note that there was a Birthday on the reservation and there was no acknowledgment of that . Good food , good wine . Service was ok . We would visit again to sample more of the menu , but will be on guard for customer service read more

CTZN delivers an exceptional dining experience from start to finish. The staff's warmth and attentiveness immediately set the tone, while the kitchen's culinary artistry and the bar's skillful precision shine in every bite and sip. The décor is comfortable yet elegant, creating a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a memorable meal. Owners Karine and Willy are passionate about not only great food but also culture, making guests feel both comfortable and inspired. Special thanks to Aaron, whose professionalism, knowledge, and kindness made the evening seamless. CTZN is more than a restaurant. It's an experience you'll remember long after the final bite! read more

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A wonderful dining experience. Great food in a delightful setting. Our server was Esteban and he was knowledgeable, attentive, and professional. We've been to Spain and the food was authentic. This was truly a great venue for dinner and we will definitely be back! read more

I wanted to give them a 4 star but couldn't given the misses on the dishes we ordered and the prices. The Patatas Bravas was the most creative and tasty dish we had. I was expecting the standard tapas version and it was far from it. The Con Tomato was very odd. The waiter recommended it and we added the jamon. They should fix it or remove it from the menu. The croquettes were yummy but the serving was surprisingly small for the price. The beets were solid, but the consistency was off. Some were mushy and some were crunchy. DO NOT GET the Avocado dish. It is tasteless guacamole with soggy chips. That has to leave the menu. The trout looked great and had some good flavors but was a little dried out. GO there for the Basque cheesecake. We will go back to try the Paella. I hope they fix the portion to price ratios. read more

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Great service, we were seated immediately and the server was on it. The cocktails were not the best (it was a weekday and it's a new place so might still be figuring out the bar). The old fashioned was all bitters, my cocktail had a questionable flavor profile. The patatas bravas and the basque cake were the best we have ever had!! A must order. I had the El Bulli olive and was able to forgive the $6 price because it was good. I don't have anything to compare it to though so don't take my word for it. We were very disappointed in the sea food pallela, it was mushy, very low on any flavor or seasoning and the fish was overcooked. Might have been a one off but we didn't eat much of it. Overall good ambiance, food and service. We would recommend it! read more

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Been to Spain multiple times and this upscale tapas place captured the tastes perfectly (with a little extra SoCal flavor kick!). Brought a group of artist friends and we loved every single one of Chef Matthew's creations. Glad we snagged a reservation on a Friday night cuz it was packed! Despite that, the food came out in a steady flow paired with super unique cocktails!! Everything was fresh, tasty, and picture perfect. Highly recommend the duck croquettes, octopus, patatas bravas, short rib paella, and basque cheesecake. All tastes were perfectly balanced with nothing too sweet, salty, nor spicy. We were so impressed!! Still dreaming about all the flavors. Be sure to snag your table soon cuz with the upscale energetic vibe, excellent food, easy parking, and a block near the beach, this is becoming one of the hottest spots in SoCal. Run don't walk!!!! read more

CTZN - Short rib paella, patatas bravas, prawns, octopus, apple tart, basque cheesecake, charcuterie - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

We went on a Saturday and had such a wonderful time that I'm still smiling thinking about it! We ordered six tapas, and every single one was a hit. The tuna tartar was so fresh and flavorful, and the chips it came with were addictively good. The beef paella? Perfection--perfectly cooked, so tender it practically melted in my mouth. The drink menu is next-level. Our bartender, Freddy, is a true artist and one of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. I told him the flavors I liked, and he whipped up a completely custom drink for me--so good, I immediately ordered a second without even asking what was in it! My husband tried the Say Cheese cocktail, and wow... it was unlike anything I've ever tasted--fun, creative, and absolutely delicious. Even our teenager was treated like a VIP, with Freddy crafting her a gorgeous, colorful mocktail that she adored. The atmosphere is perfect--beautiful location with a refreshing ocean breeze. Parking is a dream: a free covered garage plus plenty of street parking. Even though the place was full, the noise level was perfect; we could actually talk without shouting. We sat at a table, but the bar area looked super inviting, too. CTZN is a refreshing, one-of-a-kind experience. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Run, don't walk--this place is a must! read more

The food is excellent. Best meal I've had since moving to San Diego. The Grilled Octopus and short rib Paella were both exceptional. Service was on point and responsive. When you're enjoying dinner with good friends the ambience is always nice. read more

I went to CTZN, one of the new restaurants in Solana Beach for cocktails and appetizers. The service and ambience were great! Incredible craft cocktail! My appetizer was very nice. Looking forward to going back and trying other items on the menu. read more

The snapper paella was bland and full of bones. Questionable. I talked to the manager and he was rude and unprofessional. Stay away. read more

Great new place. Couple of the drinks are a little strange but the food is really good. Staff is friendly and willing to adjust whatever is needed to please. Good date place read more

CTZN - Sirimiri - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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SO LOUD!!!!! as too be physically painful. I do not recall if the food was good or bad....I could not get out of there quick enough due to the pain in my head from all the noise!! read more

Food was delicious! Small portions but perfect to share tapas style. Menu was very diverse. Atmosphere was chill but very nice and service was great, super attentive and warm staff. Loved it and will be back! read more

CTZN - Say Cheese cocktail, Sirimiri cocktail, chicken croquettes, prawns - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Mediocre experience at best. Night started on a good note at the bar with a couple of drinks made by a really kind bartender. When we moved to the table is where the down of the night started. My wife and I were really looking forward to try the lobster paella, our waiter told us was not available because the spiny lobster is not seasonal (why is on the menú yet then?!) and he can replace it for pranws for less of the marked price ($90). After talking with the chef, he came back to us saying the chef won't cut the price down because they are low on prawns and the they are sushi grade (biggest BS ever). Ordered it anyway because we were craving seafood, paella came with literally 4 shrimp, not even prawns, shrimp. Tasted good yes, absolutely not worth the $90. Funniest part tho is the charcuterie board chef selection, which we upgraded for an extra $ to jamon iberico. How a chef with a minimum of common sense and experience put in the same plate of "chef selection" two pieces of prosciutto di parma that was cut AT least two days ago next to some jamon de bellota in a spanish charcuterie?! Service was ok, guy was nice, for sure inexperienced but at least he was a nice guy. Another yet overpriced and mediocre restaurant in Solana beach, good job you guys. read more

Service is fabulous, room is beautiful and the food is spectacular. Highlights were the shrimp, pulpo and mushrooms. And very interesting wines, too. Special shout-out to our server Freddy who made my birthday dinner SOOOO special! I haven't had that kind of "over and above the call of duty" attention since I ate at Eleven Madison in NYC. read more

Fantastic addition to the Solana Beach food scene! We sat outside on the heated patio and we were well looked after. You can eat tapas style or entree style - either way, we loved the creative recipes. Blue fin tuna and pulpo raciones were outstanding. Decent drink menu too but, for a basque inspired place, wish they offered sagardoa (admittedly hard to come by in the US). read more

Great food, great service, nice location. Rare to find a restaurant that does Spanish food in a more authentic style. Paella was very good, tapas met our expectations. Our server (Alberto) was fantastic. He listened to what we said we liked and made recommendations that suited our taste. We'll be back. read more

Delicious food and great service! The ambiance is really fun. Highly recommend the lobster paella, pulpo, and pan con tomate. So good!

What a great gem of a restaurant in Solana Beach! The Reyes rib, paella and seafood paella were amazing. We got a number of Papas that included the Pulpo, the Patata, the fall salad, and the olives! The flavors were rich and crisp! Man... that salad! Yum!! We could not go wrong with anything we chose. The staff was amazing and extremely responsive! The ambience is cool. Gentlemen, come in your snappy casual wear. read more

OMG what a delicious place to dine. Bailey was our server and took wonderful care of us. Everything we had was so tasty from the mushrooms to the patatas bravas to the Iberco. So good! Thanm you to Bailey and Freddy who made this place so wonderful and the chefs who made the food so enjoyable and tasty. Highly recommend. read more

CTZN - Shrimp, octopus, mushrooms, drinks - Basque Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Pretentious yet still gets it wrong. This place, at least on our visit, is the opposite of food culture in the basque region: inflexible, serious, and overproduced. And that tone is set from the hostess stand onwards. If you've never eaten or heard about Spanish food before you might have a reasonable time being exposed to what they have to offer. Waitress managed to spill half a big bowl of oil and olives across the table then mop it up with guest napkin as a first act. Accidents happen I get it. Avocado tasteless and a mess. Steak overcooked. Paella charred within an inch of its life, could have been fried rice with chicken except it was $50. And let's be honest Paella isn't even from the Basque region it's originated from down south so I assume the Basque thing is more a Marketing angle and pretence than a legitimate raison d'etre. Spicy carrots. Service was ok but our waiter disappeared for ages after food up so didn't have opportunity to triage the experience better. Ambiance they are aiming for elegance but sitting outside is a freezer. It's great for the place to be inspired by Spanish food but you also have to be able to execute. Do the simple things well, then elevate that if necessary. I didn't hate this place, and wished our experience had been different, but couldn't see a reason to return in a hurry. It could have been so much better. read more

The service, ambiance, and food were absolutely divine. Anthony, the head bartender was nothing short of kind. Freddy, a spectacular bartender! Maali, the barback was incredible kind, sweet, and professional! The food was delicious, tasteful, and beautiful plated. The kitchen and head chef did a stellar job. read more

Exceptional service and food! We will definitely be going back! My wife and I went last Friday and had the tomahawk steak and octopus. It was some of the best we've ever had! read more

Excellent service and food was outstanding! The pork was some of the best I've ever had.

The waiter guided me through the menu and patiently answered my questions. Had a fun time as I broadened my palate experience! The food was delicious! It was a relaxed atmosphere as everyone was enjoying themselves. I'll definitely be back. read more

CTZN was amazing start to finish. We had a 8pm reservation so parking was super easy to find. The restaurant is beautiful inside and out. The entire restaurant from the bar to the table seating even the bathroom is stunning. Obviously the best part was the food! The croquetas de pollo were amazing and we wished we ordered more. One of the special of the evening was razor clams which were mouth watering, some of the best I've ever had. We also ordered pan de tomate, a jamon flight, the NY strip steak with the duck fat potatoes-which were all simply cooked beautifully. For dessert we had the Basque cheesecake and the peach tart (which was a special). Both were very yummy. The food is delicious as ever however the cocktail I had was the BEST. The Sirimiri 12/10 would go once a month just to have I'm so serious. Our experience wouldn't be possible without our server, Megan, who made our whole evening even better. All in all the whole experience was one of our favorites in San Diego. We will be back soon !! read more

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If you're a millionaire or a billionaire, perhaps a $26 tapas dish with four local squid is worth the money. If you're a regular person that enjoys eating out than likely, this is not the place I found citizen to be overly exclusive and mediocre quality. We came on a Tuesday night and found the restaurant was half empty yet the hostess told us there was a two hour wait for a table. So we sat at the bar. We ordered appetizers and we're just shocked at the menu and at the prices. Not worth over $100 per person in tapas dishes only to leave hingry. We left still hungry. If you want to eat European food, then it might be worthwhile saving the money and just flying to europe read more

Went to try this restaurant as it was showing all over instagram and the food looked amazing, which it was. However, I'm so disappointed with the way the food was presented. For such an elegant tapas place with good flavor, they should train their staff on how to plate the food elegantly. we ordered the Patatas baravas and they were somewhat cold and did not look very appealing but tasted ok. Then the chicken croquettes were brought to our table and they looked nothing like how they presented in the instagram video. Maybe they just do the plating for the food bloggers I guess. We paid a total of over $200 and tip additional but not very pleased with the playing. Staff is super nice though! read more

I love the concept of bringing Basque/Spanish food to North County as my family is from Spain. Regarding the food, the croquettes and squid were solid. Gilda peppers were too tiny. Wish they would bring bread by default with our jamon and tapas order. I'd pass on mushrooms. Basque cheesecake tasted great but the presentation was sloppy. Excited to try more dishes. Service wise, we ordered drinks, tapas, and entrees together assuming things would come out staggered with the drinks first, then a few tapas at a time etc. It ended up that most of the food came out at once and then we had to ask about the drinks which came out later. I'd recommend staggering your order to force correct spacing/timing between drink and dishes. In terms of atmosphere, on the patio, the overhead light bars are way too bright and cool hued, almost fluorescent. It feels like you are under a spot light. For dinner, it would be great to switch to the non-light strips with warmer bulbs dimmed, and maybe a small light at the table for ambience. I'm excited to try CTZN again in the future and just leaving the feedback in hopes it's even better next time! read more

Arrived about 4:45 and hostess was friendly and seated us immediately. Server was friendly and explained the concept of the menu. We have had Tapas previously and are familiar. Summer salad was just okay. Wild Mushrooms were tasty. Shrimps were good. Short rib croquettas were tasty. Rotisserie chicken was tasty. We have definitely had better Tapas. But, it was good. read more

I was really underwhelmed by this place. Our waiter seemed stressed and rushed which made me feel uncomfortable about being there (we got there at 7pm) one dish was $12 for two little bites and there was nothing remarkable about any of the dishes read more

If you're looking for authentic Spanish tapas, this is the place for you! The restaurant has casual and chic vibe! Love the yellow chairs in their bar! Service was attentive and we felt really welcome and taken care of! We tried the vegetarian paella, chicken croquettes, pan con tomate, octopus and prawn tapas. Each dish was prepared perfectly and presented so beautifully. The food was so delicious, I didn't even stop to take photos! We dug right in. Good selection of French and Spanish's wine To pair with !! We ended our meal with the Mango basque cheesecake which was so soft and light. Overall, was a great experience and I would come back again. Do give the restaurant a try - you will not be disappointed! read more

We live in Solana Beach and tried Citzn last night for the 1st time. We had a 530 reservation and were sat on the side patio. My husband took the chair and I took the bench seating. Hostess told me I may want to use the pillows behind me to either place behind me or sit on which was a little odd. Ended up doing just that as the bench seat is so low As for food we started with a wonderful cheese as well as the pan n tomate. Both very good. For a main we shared the seafood paella. It was quite dry with the rice all stuck to the bottom. Definitely overcooked For $75 wasn't impressed. The flavor was there but portions of seafood were very small. The cocktails were good I used the restroom and will say it was not clean. And we were 1st seating of night. read more

Fabulous addition to Solana Beach! The grilled octopus is one of the best I've ever had. Olive dishes, and unique cocktails were all amazing, and the paella was a hit. I want to go back and try all the various paella's. Great coastal casual yet polished ambience. Wonderful service. Perfect place for date night, or just drinks and tapas. read more

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Ambience was the best thing about the restaurant. The food though was meh. I was actually served a dish that was supposedly flash fried with a melted center, but the center was frozen. The cocktails are good so I would say come for the cocktails but eat elsewhere. Not worth it for the high price tag. My server was quite nice though and attentive. read more

Service: amazing! Our server Aaron was very informative and gave good vibes throughout the whole experience. Loved it!! Ambiance: beautiful! Food: Incredible!! Loved everything we ordered! Including the drinks!!!! Definitely coming back!!! :) read more

I had the opportunity to try out this place during their pre-opening. The food was absolutely fantastic! I would highly recommend any of the paellas. I personally could eat the beef paella and the chicken croquets for an eternity and still not have enough. The drinks, and this is not an understatement, are a work of art and compliment the food menu beautifully. In terms of ambiance, the vibe is seamlessly cool. A place where community is the foundation but everyone feels like a VIP. The service is the glue that makes it all come together, the service staff was knowledgeable and made recommendations based off what my party was already enjoying and the bar staff was equally as accommodating. Overall, I truly cannot recommend CTZN enough. I look forward to dining again. read more

Great new place in Solana Beach, so excited to see more fun and delicious restaurants in North County.The service was excellent and the food delicious. The vibe is fun and loud. If you want more quite I would recommend outside seating. read more

great food! no complaints, best beet Salad i ever had, great service. I am a jerk and a food snob. I just dont give out 5 stars. I have had better food. But for the price, its super strong read more