A charming French bistro atmosphere and excellent attentive service. The food was a limited Thanksgiving menu and not very French. Seemed a bit pricy for fairly simple food. But I do love the ambiance.
Nicholas
We came in on a Thursdy night. There may have been one other couple there on our arrival, but eventually we were alone. We had drinks, then a 3-course dinner. I ordereded the duck confit that was entirely correct and tasty. My lady guest ordered salmon; woefully under cooked, with string beans virtually raw. (I gave feedback to the waiter.) This outpost of Parisian culture is SO imortant in our downscale Rhode Island dining scene. I really hope they can fill up on weeknights,, and that the chef can get some coaching on how to produce truly Parisian food. I want to add that the service was entirely professoinal -- and welcome. NB
Dan
I had four dishes to try out the place. The first, their lobster bisque, was a good soup but without a hint of lobster. I think I would have felt better if they had not included the word, "lobster." The second was their duck liver mousse, which was find, a good dish. The third was the Dutch pancake that appeared to be based on the popover crust used in the popovers several customers seemed to be enjoying. The pancake included country ham and Gruyére, It was good as essential food but lacked any character. In fact, it lacked taste. A smoked, salt-cured ham would have been an improvement. The final item was the chocolate bread pudding. I expected something other than the white bread with a smattering of chocolate laced into the bread. I believe I was misled by chocolate being the first word in the menu. The service was quite attentive and accurate, but the server insisted upon mentioning every action she took. I don't believe it's necessary to be told that she is picking up the money or returning the change or delivering each dish. Good service is done smoothly and quietly. All in all, it was a decent brunch, and I would likely go for just its popovers next time. The chef appears to be a bit timid about being even slightly bold about his food.
Linda
Always a great dining experience. The soups are excellent, especially the Usher corm chowder. The local oysters were very fresh. We both enjoyed the hanger steak which was cooked to perfection. The cocktails are always interesting and the wine list is very notable.
Maria
We arrived thirty minutes early for our reservation and were seated right away. We were greeted by our server immediately and brought water, we were given time to settle in with our guest but never ignored. The oysters were delicious, the steak frites right on point, steak perfectly cooked and the fries had just been cooked. The grilled lobsters not overcooked and the accompaniments delicious! We had no room for dessert but look forward to our next visit! Service was friendly and never intruding, selection of wine by the glass covered our needs. The restaurant was not crowded so conversation was easy with minimal noise. We had a great experience.
Barbara
Le Central is one of our favorite restaurants in RI; we travel over 3 bridges to get there! The menu is well curated with something for all tastes. The wine list has great choices with helpful descriptions. The staff is always friendly and helpful in pairing wines with dinner options. Highly recommend this little gem!
Frances
Food and service always very good. Could be a bit more generous on the wine pourings. I ordered lobster on grilled country bread...unfortunately the bread wasn't grilled and arrived soggy. Otherwise, good dining experience.
Susan
Lovely bistro with a wonderful wine list and delicious cocktails. Food is always outstanding. The duck liver mousse appetizer was the star of the meal. Coq au vin delicious slightly heavy on salt pork but worthy of trying. Hard when you compare to the oldest restaurant in Paris. The ambiance is lovely.
Christine
We had a lovely meal. The duck was outstanding. The drinks were delicious. The service was great and we enjoyed the casual atmosphere
Sara
We have always enjoyed the fine service and the interesting and excellent dining choices. The food is always delicious.
Fabulous, delicious, innovative food. Cocktails were also wonderful. We loved every bite. Highly recommend!
Kathleen Marini
After walking around we decided on Le Central for late lunch. We were not disappointed. Delicious! The corn chowder was the best we have ever tasted. The lobster sliders perfect. It was a great choice. Thank you for making our visit perfect.
ziya
Very predictable! Food is great! Very warm and welcoming staff. Great wine! Our server, Ellie has been wonderful as usual.
Charity MacLean
I’d heard whispers about Le Central’s “charm,” so I stopped in on a quiet evening expecting classic French bistro fare with a touch of New England polish. What I experienced instead was a masterclass in culinary complacency and managerial absence.
The dining room was mostly empty, but you wouldn’t know it from how long it took to be seated. The host (I believe also our server?) greeted us with all the warmth of a damp sponge and deposited us at a table directly next to the swinging kitchen door. The smell of scorched butter and fryer oil wafted through with every pass. Très authentique, if the goal is to evoke a strip mall brasserie in decline.
The wine list leaned heavily on markup and nostalgia, offering middling bottles priced like collector’s vintages. I chose a chenin blanc that arrived room temperature and tasting suspiciously oxidized. When I politely asked if it had perhaps been left open too long, I was informed, without irony, that “it’s supposed to taste like that.”
My entrée, the duck confit, was presented with all the flair of a microwave dinner. The skin was flabby. The interior was dry. The plate was ringed with an inscrutable smear of something orange that I was informed to be sweet potato puree. It might as well have been squirted out of a Gerber pouch for all the flavor it lacked.
The side of pommes frites arrived limp and pale, with all the texture of cafeteria hash browns left under a heat lamp. I left most of them on the plate, though our server didn’t notice or didn’t care.
Dessert? A crème brûlée that had clearly been torched in a rush. The top was patchy and barely crisp, while the custard underneath was ice-cold in the center. Charming.
When the check arrived, it felt like the final insult: $70 before tip for one person, one disappointing meal, and one long drive home wondering how anyone in charge here feels pride in this experience.
I’ve eaten at bistros in Paris, Boston, and even tiny Vermont towns where the food is plated with love and served with presence. Le Central seems content to ride on its past reputation, and it shows.
Would I return? Non. Would I recommend it to anyone who actually enjoys food? Absolutely not.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
David
Excellent dining experience. The ingredients in the Negroni were a pleasant change from the usual. The Moroccan chicken and steak frites were delicious. A pleasure to eat at a restaurant that knows how to grill beef rare. Will return soon with guests from out of town.
A charming French bistro atmosphere and excellent attentive service. The food was a limited Thanksgiving menu and not very French. Seemed a bit pricy for fairly simple food. But I do love the ambiance.
We came in on a Thursdy night. There may have been one other couple there on our arrival, but eventually we were alone. We had drinks, then a 3-course dinner. I ordereded the duck confit that was entirely correct and tasty. My lady guest ordered salmon; woefully under cooked, with string beans virtually raw. (I gave feedback to the waiter.) This outpost of Parisian culture is SO imortant in our downscale Rhode Island dining scene. I really hope they can fill up on weeknights,, and that the chef can get some coaching on how to produce truly Parisian food. I want to add that the service was entirely professoinal -- and welcome. NB
I had four dishes to try out the place. The first, their lobster bisque, was a good soup but without a hint of lobster. I think I would have felt better if they had not included the word, "lobster." The second was their duck liver mousse, which was find, a good dish. The third was the Dutch pancake that appeared to be based on the popover crust used in the popovers several customers seemed to be enjoying. The pancake included country ham and Gruyére, It was good as essential food but lacked any character. In fact, it lacked taste. A smoked, salt-cured ham would have been an improvement. The final item was the chocolate bread pudding. I expected something other than the white bread with a smattering of chocolate laced into the bread. I believe I was misled by chocolate being the first word in the menu. The service was quite attentive and accurate, but the server insisted upon mentioning every action she took. I don't believe it's necessary to be told that she is picking up the money or returning the change or delivering each dish. Good service is done smoothly and quietly. All in all, it was a decent brunch, and I would likely go for just its popovers next time. The chef appears to be a bit timid about being even slightly bold about his food.
Always a great dining experience. The soups are excellent, especially the Usher corm chowder. The local oysters were very fresh. We both enjoyed the hanger steak which was cooked to perfection. The cocktails are always interesting and the wine list is very notable.
We arrived thirty minutes early for our reservation and were seated right away. We were greeted by our server immediately and brought water, we were given time to settle in with our guest but never ignored. The oysters were delicious, the steak frites right on point, steak perfectly cooked and the fries had just been cooked. The grilled lobsters not overcooked and the accompaniments delicious! We had no room for dessert but look forward to our next visit! Service was friendly and never intruding, selection of wine by the glass covered our needs. The restaurant was not crowded so conversation was easy with minimal noise. We had a great experience.
Le Central is one of our favorite restaurants in RI; we travel over 3 bridges to get there! The menu is well curated with something for all tastes. The wine list has great choices with helpful descriptions. The staff is always friendly and helpful in pairing wines with dinner options. Highly recommend this little gem!
Food and service always very good. Could be a bit more generous on the wine pourings. I ordered lobster on grilled country bread...unfortunately the bread wasn't grilled and arrived soggy. Otherwise, good dining experience.
Lovely bistro with a wonderful wine list and delicious cocktails. Food is always outstanding. The duck liver mousse appetizer was the star of the meal. Coq au vin delicious slightly heavy on salt pork but worthy of trying. Hard when you compare to the oldest restaurant in Paris. The ambiance is lovely.
We had a lovely meal. The duck was outstanding. The drinks were delicious. The service was great and we enjoyed the casual atmosphere
We have always enjoyed the fine service and the interesting and excellent dining choices. The food is always delicious.
Restaurantji Recommends
Fabulous, delicious, innovative food. Cocktails were also wonderful. We loved every bite. Highly recommend!
After walking around we decided on Le Central for late lunch. We were not disappointed. Delicious! The corn chowder was the best we have ever tasted. The lobster sliders perfect. It was a great choice. Thank you for making our visit perfect.
Very predictable! Food is great! Very warm and welcoming staff. Great wine! Our server, Ellie has been wonderful as usual.
I’d heard whispers about Le Central’s “charm,” so I stopped in on a quiet evening expecting classic French bistro fare with a touch of New England polish. What I experienced instead was a masterclass in culinary complacency and managerial absence.
The dining room was mostly empty, but you wouldn’t know it from how long it took to be seated. The host (I believe also our server?) greeted us with all the warmth of a damp sponge and deposited us at a table directly next to the swinging kitchen door. The smell of scorched butter and fryer oil wafted through with every pass. Très authentique, if the goal is to evoke a strip mall brasserie in decline.
The wine list leaned heavily on markup and nostalgia, offering middling bottles priced like collector’s vintages. I chose a chenin blanc that arrived room temperature and tasting suspiciously oxidized. When I politely asked if it had perhaps been left open too long, I was informed, without irony, that “it’s supposed to taste like that.”
My entrée, the duck confit, was presented with all the flair of a microwave dinner. The skin was flabby. The interior was dry. The plate was ringed with an inscrutable smear of something orange that I was informed to be sweet potato puree. It might as well have been squirted out of a Gerber pouch for all the flavor it lacked.
The side of pommes frites arrived limp and pale, with all the texture of cafeteria hash browns left under a heat lamp. I left most of them on the plate, though our server didn’t notice or didn’t care.
Dessert? A crème brûlée that had clearly been torched in a rush. The top was patchy and barely crisp, while the custard underneath was ice-cold in the center. Charming.
When the check arrived, it felt like the final insult: $70 before tip for one person, one disappointing meal, and one long drive home wondering how anyone in charge here feels pride in this experience.
I’ve eaten at bistros in Paris, Boston, and even tiny Vermont towns where the food is plated with love and served with presence. Le Central seems content to ride on its past reputation, and it shows.
Would I return? Non.
Would I recommend it to anyone who actually enjoys food? Absolutely not.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Excellent dining experience. The ingredients in the Negroni were a pleasant change from the usual. The Moroccan chicken and steak frites were delicious. A pleasure to eat at a restaurant that knows how to grill beef rare. Will return soon with guests from out of town.
Loading...