Sichuan Citizen: Tongue-tingling good

The seemingly always crowded Sichuan Citizen offers more than just a meal from a menu of Sichuan delights.

After cutting their teeth at the beloved Citizen Café, the owners of Sichuan Citizen subscribed to the theory a good meal requires both delicious food and a 'renao' environment.  Renao literally means noisy, to the point of being almost celebratory -- a Chinese concept of atmosphere. But at Sichuan Citizen, it's entirely geared toward Western tastes.

This restaurant, though, is worth celebrating. It offers an inventive drink list with many favorites from the Citizen Cafe menu. (Try the Basil Drop and the Long-Men Island made with chili-infused vodka.) Beyond drinks, the dining options make everyone feel like a Chinese food connoisseur.

Unsurprisingly, Sichuan staples fill the menu -- the best are loaded into the “House Specialty” category together with a heat rating system. This ensures everyone leaves Sichuan Citizen with fond memories and a chili-tinged mouth to match.