The holiday season is here!

We often find ourselves overwhelmed by the planning, the coordinating, and the prepping for all of the events, happenings, and feasts that take over our calendar at this time of year.

Citronnelle, a cozy BYOB on Orange Street in Lancaster that specializes in unique American, French cuisine, has offered to alleviate some of that hectic holiday hype by offering an assortment of event hosting dinner options—from intimate gatherings to large party reservations.

Check out the guide below to explore the warm, welcoming ambiance of what feels like a Paris eatery right here in Lancaster City and discover new global menu items—crafted just for the season—that you don’t want to miss!

Celebrations At Citronnelle

Cozy, Global Experience Awaits Your Holiday Soirée

Whether you are looking for something low key for a party of four, or want to book a space for up to 30 people, Citronnelle offers an assortment of options catered to your celebration needs.

“Our space is a tiny and intimate five hundred square foot restaurant reminiscent of quaint, chef-owned restaurants you would typically find in Paris or the West Village of New York,” said Susan Louie, Co-Owner of Citronnelle. “The decor is East Meets West, Mid-Century style. The lights are dim, the walls are textured.”

From the charming aesthetic to the cozy space, Citronnelle is a perfect little destination to celebrate the holidays.

“We specialize in intimate celebrations and small group business dinners, with seating for up to 30 guests,” added Susan. “We are a BYOB which means, in addition to serving creative and delicious gourmet cuisine, we encourage guests to bring in their favorite adult beverages. This adds great value and flexibility for our guests!”

Situated on Orange Street close to where it intersects with Prince Street and Gallery Row, Citronnelle is full of historic Lancaster charm.

“The building itself is quaint and historical, built in the 1800’s,” said Susan. “During the cold winter months, we light our small glass fireplace and draw our lush fur curtains to keep the warmth in, making it even cozier.”

Over the holidays, the outside planters and windows will transform into twinkling lights that shimmer and shine.

“We wanted Citronnelle to have the feel of a restaurant you would find in various big cities around the world,” said Rafael Perez, Co-Owner and Chef at Citronnelle. “We wanted it to be intimate, special, and unique.”

People who would like to have a private dinner party for up to 30 guests can send an email inquiry to reservations@citronnellepa.com. Please include the date, the size of your party, and the occasion it is for.

What are you waiting for?

Flavors Inspired From Around The World

Global Flavors And Local Ingredients: A Match Made In Heaven!

Small Lancaster City restaurant with big global flavor—that is Citronnelle’s mantra.

“Since our inception, we have always represented global flavors within our classically prepared French dishes,” said Susan. “France has influenced many cultures around the world, so we are continually inspired by nuances from other countries.”

The global flavors pair well with the the local bounty of fresh ingredients from the community.

“We base a lot of what we offer on what we can get at the Lancaster Central Market,” added Rafael. “It helps Market, and encourages that local connection within our community. We love serving local, seasonal food. We are French, but we also incorporate flavor inspirations from Asia, Spain, and North Africa.”

The team ensures the menu entertains all palates.

“If you are a foodie who enjoys bold flavors, farm-to-table freshness, amazing house-made desserts, cozy spaces, attentive yet warm, unpretentious service, and bringing in your own favorite wine,” said Susan, “come on in!”

New Holiday Menu Items

These Seasonal Options Are Offered For A Limited Time

In addition to their menu, Susan and Rafael added two new items perfect for the winter season, with a unique Moroccan twist:

• Moroccan Harvest Salad: Homegrown heirloom greens, Shaved fennel, Orange, Organic sun-dried fig, Pomegranate, Local Linden Dale chèvre, Orange flower and Argan oil vinaigrette, Cinnamon phyllo hay, Crushed pistachio
  
• Pasture-Raised NZ Lamb Shank Tagine: Israeli couscous, Organic rainbow carrots, Red bell pepper, Zucchini, Dried Plums, Burgundy reduction, Crispy kale, Micro cilantro

“We love lamb. We love Morocco. We love flavorful cuisine,” said Susan. “It’s that simple. Our new lamb shank tagine is tender, fall-off-the-bone delicious and fragrant, combining the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors, crunchy veggies, organic sun-dried fruits and a beautiful French-inspired burgundy reduction. There are so many levels to this dish. We just love it!”

The lamb is presented in a tagine—a special 2-piece (bowl and conic lid) ceramic cooking and/or serving vessel used in North Africa. This authentic presentation represents the rich and exotic culture that inspired Citronnelle to create this special dish.

The other dish was born from their desire to offer a global salad option.

“We wanted to create a unique harvest-inspired salad with a global twist,” said Susan. “The twist this season is our very special vinaigrette, made with orange flower water and rare culinary Argan oil from Morocco. This incredibly healthy Moroccan oil, with it’s lovely peanutty notes is so sought after in Morocco that their local goats climb the trees to eat the nuts. This beautiful vinaigrette complements all of the mediterranean ingredients, creating a layered, colorful, textural and fun salad to eat.”

Each dish is at Citronnelle for a limited time, so make sure to visit soon and order these global favorites before they are gone!

Both Susan and Rafael love to be part of the Lancaster community, and hope to share the holiday season with you!

“We’ve only been in business a little over 5 years, but during that time we watched the city flourish by leaps and bounds,” added Susan. “There are so many things to do now. Downtown Lancaster is so progressive, yet there is still much more change to come, and we can’t wait! It’s a truly exciting time to be in the middle of it all, and we’re very proud to be a contributor to this vibrant, ever-evolving city.”

What You Need To Know:

• Reservations: Email  reservations@citronnellepa.com and make sure to note the number of people and other information you feel may be helpful!
• Where: 110 W Orange Street Lancaster, PA
• Explore: Check out the website for even more information on Citronnelle.
• Follow: Discover Citronnelle on Facebook and Instagram to keep up-to-date with new menu options and more.