| Address | 1001 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC |
|---|---|
| Phone | (202) 626-0015 |
Maybe expectations were too high, but for whatever reason I left disappointed. My beef cheeks were delicious and served with a perfect sauce, but for some reason they were served with two starches, sweet potato mash and creamy pasta, which seemed a poor choice and made the plate way too heavy. Service was a little pushy and while the glass enclosed kitchen is nice, the space otherwise felt too cramped and boring. I'd go back, but only for the burger or a late evening appetizer at the bar (the cheese puffs were delicious).
Central is the closest thing to a genuine French Bistro we have in DC. There are many imitations but none match the craftsmanship and heartiness of Central’s many stand out dishes. I am always skeptical when I hear the word bistro used to describe a restaurant. In America, bistro can mean everything from a fast food joint to a stuffy dining room- when in fact a bistro truly falls somewhere in between. Admittedly even the word “bistro” has a storied provenance. Some say it emerged when the Cossacks yelled “bystro, bystro,” meaning quick, quick in efforts to encourage their French cooks. Still others say that bistro comes from the French term bistrouille for brandy mixed with coffee often served at informal little cafes throughout France. Nonetheless, in my mind a bistro above all else should offer comfort food in a somewhat relaxed environment with tables that do not boast more cutlery than a Tiffany show room. Central offers exactly that. I have been to Michel Richard’s more illustrious (and expensive) restaurant Citronelle several times but I still prefer the comfortable ambiance at Central. Where Citronelle serves aesthetically pleasing food that fosters intellectual rumination, Central serves up fried chicken that elicits nothing more than a few licks of the upper lip (and what a relief!). You can’t visit Central without ordering the frites so I would definitely suggest an order for the table. The fried chicken, hanger steak and braised short ribs are all perfect choices. I would also suggest a Kir Royal or a French Sixty-Nine to further compliment the Francophile spirit of the evening. Regardless, if you are nostalgic for a little French bistro faire and can’t afford to hop on a transatlantic flight, Central just might do the trick.
Central is a treat to go to. There’s just no other way to explain it. The atmosphere is nice and whimsical, in fact it reminded me of the scene in Beauty and the Beast where all the plates and cups dance. You can see the kitchen from your table, and it is lively and vibrant without being annoying or too loud. This restaurant really is a crowd pleaser. Not only do they execute traditional dishes extremely well, but they also offer a great variety of interesting and unique dishes. Because of this, I think it’s safe to say that any group or assortment of individuals can go here and order something delicious off of the menu without feeling as if they’re settling or being forced to try something they aren’t comfortable with. In fact, the most popular and recommended dish from our waiter is their fried chicken. Since this restaurant is so versatile, you could go here either for a business meeting or a date.
I decided on the rabbit since I had not tried rabbit before. The rabbit was very interesting. It tasted like chicken, but with the texture of pork. I liked it, but some parts of the rabbit seemed to have different textures, as if they came from different physical parts of the rabbit rather than from the same place. The best part of the dinner was definitely the cheeseburger. It was cooked to perfection, and even though it was a plain burger, it was topped with crispy potato pieces and bacon. We rounded out the night with an amazing banana split. I think we could have easily made a meal out of the burger and the dessert.
Our waiter was annoying and provided spotty service, but we forgave the restaurant as a whole for his mistakes. This restaurant was not that expensive. Like other restaurants, you can get many great dishes for not that much money. The burger was $18 after adding a few dollars on here and there for cheese and bacon, while mine was $31.
I really enjoyed this restaurant. I have been disappointed by many of the 'hot' restaurants in DC, but this one deserves its' reputation. I had the goat cheese Caesar salad, which I would not recommend. It was drowned in salad dressing, although a huge portion size. This could be used as an entree. The mussels with white wine and garlic were outstanding. My companions ordered the burger, which generously comes with French fries. They said it was no equal to the burger at Palena, but was made with quality ingredients. The kitkat dessert was interesting, but the chocolate mousse was excellent with a raspberry sauce at the bottom.
The buzz about Central is well earned. On a recent visit, I had the best burger ever! It was cooked perfectly and barely covered with a homemade buttery bun. The scallops were sweet and light served on a bed of tagliatelle seasoned with rosemary and accompanied by string beans. The meal ended with mango sorbet and chocolate ice cream, creamy and delicious.
I would go back to Central, for sure.
this is definitely a fun place to grab a bite before or after a movie. ordering a couple of appetizers will be enough to fill you up. rich flavors, good service, and casual in a sophisticated way...probably a good "first date" kinda place too. Entrees portions are just right and you definitely want to save room for the desserts.
I was looking forward to our dinner at Central and had even secured a reservation two weeks ahead of time to get there. It was a beautiful restaurant, and I especially enjoyed sitting next to the kitchen (as a budding food enthusiast, it was amazing to watch the chefs in action!) The atmosphere can best be described as LOUD and some patrons could be turned off by the sound of the place -- personally, I was fine with it.
Because this was our first (and possibly our last, due to the sheer expense) trip to Central, my boyfriend and I both concluded that the appetizers (Steak Tartare and Gougeres) and the dessert (Le Kit Cat) were the best part of the meal. The dessert was fabulous! The entrees (A lobster burger and cheesburger) were "pas mal" (not bad) but not fantastic. And if anybody is inclined to argue, "that's what you get when you order a burger," Don Rockwell and others insisted that this was the best burger in DC, so as a burger enthusiast I felt compelled to try it... and I was disappointed.
We had a waitress who made great recommendations, but I had the sinking feeling that when we were trying to decide what to order for appetizers and relying on her to make a suggestion, that she was pretty fed up waiting for us to decide. Or maybe she just looks impatient 24/7. I do have to say that one of the other waiters took care of our table more than the waitress, coming to ask if we were enjoying our meal, so I can't completely fault them for their service.
All-in-all, I was slightly moved, but not impressed with Central... it might be more affordable than Citronelle, but it's not that affordable, and the food is okay. Bottom line: I think it is simply a new restaurant trying to find it's footing. I might go back after the hype.
Somehow we finaged D.C.'s impossible Saturday night reservation at Central, and it was well worth all the hassel. The space itself is rather downscale (magenta accents?) and the wait staff and hostesses are rather inept, but the food makes up for it. The gougers are to-die-for, and the moules and short ribs are delicious as well. I was the told the lobster burger was the best one companion ever had, and the wine list is great. The service was well-paced, but the waiter, being French, didn't seem to completely understand the concept of American restaurant hospitality. Book in advance, and prepare for a treat!
Central is a bit more casual for those of you who are used to the pizazz of Citronelle. The atmosphere is nothing new. The staff was exceptional, but the food was not as spectacular as I would have expected coming from chef Michel Richard. Namely, the fried oysters had a great texture, however they left much to be desired when it came to taste. Equally as bland were the belgian cheese puff appetizer and the belgian fries were a bit overcooked. However, the crab cake and leak salad appetizer was worthy of the entree list and the Kit Kat made everything worthwhile!
A great chance to experience the work of Michel Richard. While not cheap, it's much more affordable than Citronelle. A place you can go dressed relatively casually but get a top tier meal. Bonus points for the extremely friendly staff, no attitudes!
A great chance to experience the work of Michel Richard. While it's not cheap, it's more affordable than Citronelle. Central is one of those treasured places where you can dress relatively casually, but get a well-dressed meal. And the staff is very friendly, no attitudes!
