by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger for Vero Vine
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Tucked away in the Village Shops just a little bit north of Vero on the A1A is this fantastic little eatery that I discovered at the Taste of Vero in early April. If you read my review on the Taste of Vero, you know that they came out as my number 1 pick for my Top ATE dishes from that event. They served Ahi Tuna over Asian noodles and it was exceptionally good. I’ve been looking forward to visiting them and trying more of what they have to offer. Earlier this week I got that chance to visit for lunch and taste a few of their most popular dishes, and dessert too. Let’s take a closer look at Citron Bistro and see what they have to offer!
After you park your car near the J. McLaughlin shops out front, you need to walk between the buildings to the courtyard area behind to find the restaurant. It’s a beautiful courtyard with mature palm and oak trees, brick paver walkway, and some comfortable looking outdoor furniture to relax in.
It was a beautiful day so I chose to sit outside in the courtyard. Their tables are white with blue placemats and napkins, and directors chairs for seating. They were quite comfortable.
Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!
Honduras Blue Mountain Light Coffee 12 oz – ($2.45) – I read another article about the coffee they served being made with a French press, so I thought I would give it a try. They feature the Rio Coco Coffee which is roasted locally in Vero and ground fresh daily in house. I added some cream and sugar and it was the perfect cup of coffee.
Shrimp Bruschetta – ($15.00) – The first starter they brought out for me to try was this stunning interpretation of the classic bruschetta. It had jumbo shrimp served scampi style and was perfectly cooked. It was served with tomatoes and scallions on grilled sourdough bread, and was finished with micro greens as a garnish. The sauce on the plate was a lemon ver blanc sauce with balsamic vinegar for decoration. It was outstanding!
Crab Stuffed Avocado – ($16.00) – The second starter they brought out for me to try was this beautiful dish. The avocado half still had the shell on it to help hold it together and was generously filled with lump crab meat and fresh herbs. It was finished off with a zesty buerre blanc sauce, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and topped with micro greens as garnish. The crab meat filling was very generous and seasoned perfectly. The avocado was slightly warm and very fresh tasting. The side salad was a nice spring mix with red onion, diced tomatoes, and olives to finish it off. The salad dressing was light, tangy and sweet.
Now on to the main courses!
Maple Balsamic Glazed Salmon – ($29.00) – Would you take a look at the color on that salmon fillet? Wow, it’s absolutely gorgeous! As I flaked the salmon open to see the cook on it, and as thick as this fillet was, I was expecting it to be undercooked slightly, but that was not the case. It was perfectly cooked through, and succulent. This salmon is Scottish and one of the most flavorful I think I have ever tasted. The rice was of the wild variety and was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Fresh green beans were the vegetable of the day, which I thought were a bit crunchy and under seasoned for my taste. French fried onions and micro greens completed the presentation.
Half Roasted Chicken – ($22.00) – The color on the skin was beautiful, and the chicken was perfectly roasted. As I was removing the leg, the bone pulled out cleanly. As I cut further into it, the thigh meat was tender and juicy. The roasted potatoes were buttered and salted and had a slight crunch to the edges. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you will know that I am not a fan of broccoli, but in the interest of the article, I did try a small piece. It was cooked and seasoned nicely as were the rest of the vegetables, but I’m still not a fan.
Now on to dessert!
Banoffee Pie – ($8.00) – To round out my tastings, I was presented with this house made dessert. It has a graham cracker crust, lined with bananas, toffee filling, topped off with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa on top. It was smooth and creamy, and the predominant flavor was the banana, with the toffee being more subtle. An excellent way to round out a fantastic meal!
In Conclusion:
What a fantastic dining experience I had while visiting the Citron Bistro! The food, the atmosphere, the staff, all contribute to a superior dining experience. I had an opportunity to speak to the manager, Jessica Lawson, and she is a true delight and seems to know her stuff when it comes to running a restaurant. With Chef Tibor Andrejszky running the kitchen, and Jessica managing this place, it’s definitely a winning combination that is sure to please anyone that stops by.
Have you tried Citron Bistro? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts.
Atmosphere – 5 Forks
Service – 5 Forks
Food – 5 Forks
Ratings Scale Legend:
1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent
Citron Bistro
6260 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963