Watermelon Basil
CitronelleSyracuse

CitronelleSyracuse

113 Walton StNY 132021224, Syracuse, United States

Wine • Pasta • Coffee • American


"Service and ambiance were excellent. We ate on the late side on a Friday night and most tables empty and therefore quiet. The waitress was very personable. The kitchen seemed very slow. We waited a long time for anything from the kitchen. Citronelle-Syracuse claims an Asian fusion theme, but it was pretty subtle on the menu and I didn’t happen to choose any of those dishes, except the crispy skinned chicken entree had a pleasant five spice flavored sauce. We wound up sharing oysters and salad to start, then chicken and salmon for large plate entrees and coffee, creme brûlée and a selection of pumpkin ice cream and three sorbets for dessert, an unexpected gesture from the kitchen in response to me saying , “you decide.” The best things were the ginger pear sorbet and the oysters. The oysters were perfectly shucked, wonderfully cold, and served with a bracing mignonette. I wonder what would have happened to my salmon if I hadn’t ordered it “medium.” I think it may have inspired the chef to overcook it. I am not a fan of the current trend in my area (greater NYC) of having salmon with a cold center like a rare steak, so maybe I caused the over correction. It was pretty uninteresting even apart from being somewhat overcooked. It was supposed to come with beet orzo, which I had hoped was beets in the shape of orzo, like cauliflower rice, but it was simply a beet flavored orzo, which was fine. The crispy skin chicken had the potential to be a stunner. Corrections needed are to serve the chicken on top of the sticky Asian flavored sauce not underneath it and to back off the sweetness in the sauce a bit for my taste. The sauce of course completely undid the excellent crispy skin. Desserts very nice, but coffee cool. Wine list fine and cocktails well made. I will be back when in the area."

Shangri-la Vegan

Shangri-la Vegan

4001 Linden St Oakland,, CA 94608, 94607, United States

Tea • Soup • Asian • American


"I have written reviews for Shangri-La before but I feel it’s time to write another one. I have been eating here for at least 25 years. It may have been named something else back in the day but it’s always been the same. Vegan, macrobiotic, local, etc. In 25 years and probably 1000 meals, I have never had anything but amazing. It doesn’t matter if you are a carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, the food here is Magical and medicinal. I’ve always made it a habit to stop in if I’m feeling depleted, if I just got back from a big weekend, we’re recovering from illness However in recent years I was diagnosed with long Covid and my health has really taken a turn for the worse. I have episodes that hit me out of nowhere in which I have to stay in bed for three or four days at a time. I can say with 100% confidence, when I’m ready to eat again as soon as I eat a meal from Shangri la, The healing begins. I know that if I eat one of their meals the next day I’m going to wake up feeling like myself again. I know the food is extremely nutritious but I think it’s more than this I think they put love into it. I could never come up with enough good words to say about this place. It has literally been a lifesaver. I try to tell all my friends about it. This is a business that is an anomaly in our world. Not only of the highest integrity, I truly believe that they pour Love into their nutritional food because it has healed me during my hard times 100% of the time without fail. No words could ever thank you. I am a diehard faithful customer for 25 years now nothing but exquisite experiences. I love you guys so much. I don’t know what I would do without you to be honest"