Citrin and Mélisse

What Citrin and Mélisse does

Citrin and Mélisse is a privately-held fine-dining restaurant group founded by Chef Josiah Citrin in 1999 and headquartered at 1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, California. The group's flagship is Mélisse, a 14-seat tasting-menu restaurant currently holding two Michelin stars with per-person pricing of $399, accompanied by Citrin, a modern Californian restaurant holding one Michelin star, both operated under a single roof. The group also owns additional concepts including Charcoal Venice, Augie's on Main, Dear John's, and Dear Jane's, suggesting a multi-tier portfolio spanning Michelin-starred fine dining to more casual formats. Mélisse marked its 25th anniversary in 2024, and Chef de Cuisine Ken Takayama has been with the group since 2001, indicating long-tenured operational continuity.

The group's revenue model is anchored by per-cover pricing at its two flagship restaurants, supplemented by walk-in bar service at Citrin, wine and beverage programs, retail gifting through Toast Tab, and ancillary media/merchandise revenue (notably Chef Josiah Citrin's 2011 cookbook). Reservations are managed exclusively through OpenTable, which functions as the sole booking channel across the portfolio. There is no indication of external private equity, venture capital, or other institutional backing; the group appears to be founder-controlled and self-funded.

The customer base is individual luxury diners and special-occasion guests rather than enterprise accounts, and pricing is transactional per cover. The group's defensibility rests on chef-founder brand equity, accumulated Michelin and Forbes accolades, chef tenure, and the deliberate scarcity created by Mélisse's 14-seat format. Operational data, financials, and headcount are not publicly disclosed, which constrains external diligence.

Name

Citrin and Mélisse

Legal name

Citrin and Mélisse

Website

https://citrinandmelisse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Citrin and Mélisse is a privately-held fine-dining restaurant group in Santa Monica, California, founded by Chef Josiah Citrin in 1999, operating two Michelin-starred restaurants — Mélisse (2-star, 14-seat tasting menu at $399/person) and Citrin (1-star modern Californian) — alongside additional concepts serving luxury diners and special-occasion guests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Casual Dining Restaurants (THAFACAB)

Keywords

• Fine dining restaurants
• Michelin-starred cuisine
• California farm-to-table
• Chef tasting menus
• Modern Californian cuisine

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fine Dining Food Service: Revenue from à la carte and prix fixe dining experiences at both Citrin and Mélisse restaurants. Mélisse offers a $399 chef's tasting menu. Citrin provides both à la carte and prix fixe options.
2. Beverage Sales: Wine, cocktails, beer, and spirit-free beverages sold at both restaurants. Wine service policies apply with fees per bottle.
3. Gift Cards: Physical and digital gift cards available for both Citrin and Mélisse in denominations from $100 to $1000.
4. Private Events: Revenue from private dining and large party inquiries, including the 25th anniversary guest chef dinner series events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Citrin and Mélisse operates two distinct fine dining restaurants under one roof at 1104 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, CA. Citrin is a one Michelin-starred modern Californian cuisine restaurant offering à la carte and prix fixe menus with a casual bar atmosphere, while Mélisse is a two Michelin-starred fine dining experience featuring an intimate 14-seat dining room and an 18-course tasting menu at $399 per person led by Chef/Partner Ken Takayama. The group also sells physical and digital gift cards and hosts private dining events and guest chef collaborations.

Product overview

Citrin and Mélisse operates two distinct fine dining establishments under one roof in Santa Monica, California. Citrin is a one Michelin-starred modern Californian cuisine restaurant offering à la carte and prix fixe menus with a casual bar atmosphere, while Mélisse is a two Michelin-starred exclusive dining experience featuring an 18-course tasting menu in a 14-seat private room. The company also offers the Citrin Glass Off happy hour program at the bar and sells branded gift cards for both restaurants through physical and digital channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Citrin Restaurant One Michelin-starred modern Californian cuisine restaurant by Chef Josiah Citrin offering à la carte and prix fixe menus in a fun, welcoming atmosphere with a large bar. Menu items range from $25 (Country Roll) to $226 (16 oz Brandt Beef Rib Eye), with caviar and truffle supplements available.
• Mélisse Restaurant Two Michelin-starred fine dining experience featuring an intimate 14-seat back stage dining room with Chef/Partner Ken Takayama. Offers an 18-course chef's tasting menu at $399 per person, working with California farmers from San Diego to Napa Valley to source the finest ingredients.
• Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards available for both Citrin and Mélisse in denominations from $100 to $1000. Digital gift cards sold through Toasttab platform; physical gift cards shipped via USPS.
• Private Dining and Events Private dining room available at Mélisse and large party accommodations (required for parties over 8). Inquiries handled via email. Includes 25th anniversary guest chef dinner series events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two Michelin stars achieved at Mélisse (historical)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Chef Thomas KellerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2024Guest chef collaboration for 25th anniversary tasting menu event benefiting Ment'or nonprofit organization devoted to inspiring culinary excellence in young professionals.
• 19 LA Guest ChefsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2024Grand Cocktail Party featuring culinary collaborations from 19 prominent LA chefs including Nyesha Arrington, Michael Cimarusti, Suzanne Goin, Jordan Kahn, and others for 25th anniversary celebration.
• Matthew Kammerer (Harbor House Inn)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2024Two Michelin-starred chef from Harbor House Inn in Elk, Mendocino, CA for special one-night guest chef dinner as part of Mélisse's 25-year anniversary celebrations. Presented by Salty Magazine.
• Ment'orminorOthersNonprofit organization devoted to inspiring culinary excellence in young professionals and preserving traditions and quality of cuisine in America. Funds raised from Thomas Keller event benefited Ment'or.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Providence: Two-Michelin-starred seafood tasting menu in Los Angeles; competes for the same luxury diner occasion and price tier as Mélisse in the LA market.
• The French Laundry: Thomas Keller's three-Michelin-starred tasting menu in Yountville, CA; the closest US analog to Mélisse's premium chef tasting format and a direct collaborator on Citrin/Mélisse's 2024 anniversary events.
• n/naka: Two-Michelin-starred modern kaiseki tasting menu in Los Angeles; directly comparable to Mélisse as a high-priced, multi-course chef's-counter tasting experience in the same LA fine-dining market.
• Alinea: Multi-Michelin-starred avant-garde tasting menu in Chicago; comparable ultra-premium, multi-course chef tasting format and direct competition for the US luxury tasting-menu guest.
• Le Comptoir: Intimate LA chef's-counter tasting menu (10 seats) by Gary Menes; closest physical-format analog to Mélisse's 14-seat back-stage dining room, directly competing for the same LA tasting-menu luxury guest.
• Atelier Crenn: Three-Michelin-starred tasting menu by Dominique Crenn in San Francisco; comparable tier of luxury chef tasting experience on the US West Coast competing for destination tasting-menu guests.
• Vespertine: Two-Michelin-starred avant-garde tasting restaurant in Los Angeles; newer entrant in the LA ultra-premium tasting category directly competing for the same affluent occasion-driven guest as Mélisse.

Broad incumbents

• Osteria Mozza: Established LA fine-dining Italian restaurant by Nancy Silverton/Mario Batali; broader LA fine-dining incumbent competing for luxury diners, though operating in a different cuisine and price tier than Mélisse.
• Spago Beverly Hills: Long-established Wolfgang Puck fine-dining flagship in Beverly Hills; broader LA luxury dining incumbent that competes for special-occasion luxury diners across Southern California.

Emerging players

• Dialogue: One-Michelin-starred chef's-counter tasting menu in Los Angeles; emerging LA fine-dining player with a smaller, intimate format and modern Californian sensibility, partially overlapping with Citrin/Mélisse.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/melisserestaurant
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melisse-restaurant

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Citrin and Mélisse