Citrus is a great Upper West Side destination for drinks, dinner or both. It's festive and fun with tasty drinks and food, and friendly service.

Our group of eight met to celebrate my best friend's birthday. We started the night with a round at the bar while we waited for our corner booth to be prepped. If tequila doesn't give you the trouble it gives me, definitely begin with a margarita. You can get the basic types - traditional, strawberry, on the rocks, frozen, salt, no salt, etc. You can also mix it up with flavors like mango or persimmon. During my recent visit, mango and persimmion were huge hits, whereas the pineapple w/rocks was returned for something else. For non-tequila fans, try the awesome white sangria with fresh fruit or an imported beer such as Dos Equis or Red Stripe.

Once seated, we perused the menu largely comprised of Asia meets Latin America fusion dishes. There's a lot to choose from so we made things easier by sampling a variety of appetizers and entrees. None disappointed.

Complimentary chips and salsa held us over until the food parade began. The chips are tri-color and crispy, but lacking enough salt for my taste. The salsa was just ok - no spice, very few veggie chunks and served warm. Still, that didn't stop me from eating my share!

Two plates of edamame (steamed soybeans) served spiced disappeared quickly. For edamame lovers, this is a fun variation on the normal salted beans you'd eat in a traditional Asian restaurant. A chopped salad with avocado was also delicious.

Seafood entrees were uniformly delicious - everything from seared tuna to salmon to sushi to sashimi. Knowing this friendly group, it wasn't good manners that kept everyone complimenting the food. We're an honest, outspoken bunch!

My own dish, barbecued skirt steak with garlic mashed potatoes and onion breath, was terrific. Tender beef and mashed potatoes with just the right amount of lumps.

Citrus saved the best for last: dessert was an experience. We sampled three. The ice cream sundae (with banana, chocolate sauce and caramel) and warm chocolate cake were both great, however the apple caramel pie deserves a special mention. I don't know that a written description can do it justice, but I'll say this: it was fresh, tasted homemade and had the perfect balance of tart apples topped with sweet caramel. I'd go back to Citrus for this dessert alone.

Total damage: ~$38 per person with plenty of food and drinks. Not cheap, but not a bank-breaker either.

For those inclined to take public transportation (and after margaritas, you shouldn’t be driving!), you can ride the 1, 2, 3 or 9 to 72nd Street/Broadway.

It would be easy to spend a whole night near Citrus. Bars like 420 (420 Amsterdam) and Potion (370 Amsterdam) are nearby, and though it's not my scene, I feel I should mention that Bourbon Street, the bar that featured prominently in the original Road Rules, is at 407 Amsterdam.