ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Citrus is a symbol of luxury and hospitality in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily from where the Cicala family emigrated. It is also a dedication to Joe Cicala’s great-grandmother, Clementina. The snake represents Angizia, the pagan snake goddess of the Marsi tribe who inhabited Angela Cicala’s familiar region of Abruzzo.
We are proud to serve authentic family recipes, rooted in the folklore and traditions of Italy’s southern regions.
Benvenuti e buon appettio!
We are a southern Italian restaurant located inside the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel on North Broad Street, in Philadelphia, where husband and wife chefs Joe and Angela Cicala, bring you the region’s most authentic Italian dining experience which focuses on seasonality, sustainability, and most importantly, simplicity.
Citrus is a symbol of luxury and hospitality in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily from where the Cicala family emigrated. It is also a dedication to Joe Cicala’s great-grandmother, Clementina. The snake represents Angizia, the pagan snake goddess of the Marsi tribe who inhabited Angela Cicala’s familiar region of Abruzzo.
We are proud to serve authentic family recipes, rooted in the folklore and traditions of Italy’s southern regions.
Benvenuti e buon appettio!
We are a southern Italian restaurant located inside the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel on North Broad Street, in Philadelphia, where husband and wife chefs Joe and Angela Cicala, bring you the region’s most authentic Italian dining experience which focuses on seasonality, sustainability, and most importantly, simplicity.
JOE CICALA
Owner | Executive Chef
Chef Joe Cicala grew up in an Italian-American household, where he discovered his love for simple, regional, and authentic Italian cooking by way of his mother and grandmother, in their suburban DC home. He moved to Italy at a young age to start his career as an apprentice under Chef Pietro Rispoli at his renowned restaurant Al Cenacolo (Salerno, Italy). While living abroad, he honed his skills at some of the world’s top restaurants along the Amalfi and Sorrento coasts.
Stateside, Chef Cicala’s experience includes cooking with James Beard Award-winning Chef Roberto Donna at Galileo, (Washington, DC.), Georgetown’s celebrity hang-out Cafe Milano, and at the Michelin-Starred Del Posto, (New York City), under another James Beard winner, Chef Mark Ladner.
In 2010, Chef Cicala moved to Philadelphia and became the Executive Chef of Le Virtu, where he gained national attention as a multiple James Beard Award Semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the year and James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. He received the Artisan Rising Star Chef award from Star Chefs for his artisanal charcuterie and has been featured in Philadelphia Magazine, Food & Wine, The Washington Post, GQ, Vogue, and many other print and online publications.
ANGELA CICALA
Owner | Pastry Chef
Angela learned the craft of making traditional Italian cookies and pastries from her mother and grandmother, which they sold at markets and fairs throughout South Jersey and Philadelphia. Later she worked at her family’s Jersey Shore restaurant, and went on to work under Cape May, NJ premier French pastry chef, Michel Gras.
Angela has led the pastry kitchen in some of Philadelphia’s most acclaimed restaurants including The Waterworks, Vernick Food and Drink, and Le Virtu, and she was named a James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef 2022.
Her work has been celebrated in numerous publications including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine, Zagat, Eater Philly, The Washington Post, and National Culinary Magazine.
She has spent extensive time living in Italy, working, traveling, and researching food and culture over the past 25 years. She hosts culinary tours to Italy throughout the year via her company Antico Italian Travel.
PETER YOUNG
Chief of Operations
& Creative Director, Cicala Group
Peter Young, also known as Takis Kouvatseas, is a hospitality executive and creative director of Greek and Italian heritage. His international career spans music, television, stage production, and luxury hospitality, giving him a distinctive blend of creative vision and operational expertise.
Following a successful career as a professional musician and creative leader, Peter transitioned into the hospitality industry in 2010. Since then, he has built a reputation for excellence in operations, team leadership, crisis management, brand development, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
As Chief of Operations & Creative Director at Cicala Group, Peter leads the strategic integration of creative innovation with operational excellence. He is instrumental in developing distinctive hospitality concepts, optimizing service standards, strengthening brand identity, and driving sustainable business growth across the organization's portfolio.
A multilingual professional and seasoned international traveler, Peter brings a global perspective and deep cross-cultural understanding to every project. His ability to anticipate evolving guest expectations and translate them into memorable, high-quality experiences has become a defining characteristic of his leadership.
Philosophy: Where creativity meets operational excellence, extraordinary hospitality becomes a scalable business.