Incredible food. Wonderful atmosphere and the staff were incredibly cordial.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
N L
Bottom line: a delightful French bistro with absolutely delicious food, a casual, cozy vibe, and an excellent value. Something different in the East Bay. An underappreciated gem.We’ve been going to Le Central for a few years and recently rediscovered just how good it is. The vibe is French bistro, complete with black and white checkerboard floors. It’s casual, relaxed, and cozy. It feels like French comfort food.The menu is thoughtful and amazing for how truly delicious the offerings are. It’s a ‘who’s who’ of some of the best French dishes, without pretense or weirdness (no snails or frogs legs). Starting with the table bread, half of a baguette, perfectly toasted and partly sliced, with soft butter and some olives on the side.The onion soup is full of melted Guryere cheese, caramelized onions, rich beef stock, and toasted baguette slices, served in a ramekin. It’s perfect and utterly irresistible. Pair it with a salad and it’s a meal.The Salad Nicoise has perfectly cooked green beans, roasted fingerling potatoes with butter and parsley, roasted red peppers, a bed of arugula, a nice filet of perfectly poached salmon, and a mouth-watering lemon-caper compote. It’s hearty enough as a main course for lunch or dinner, and is deliciously satisfying (and I’m not usually a salad person).The hamburger might be one of the best you’ll have. A hand formed patty of organic beef on a toasted Brioche bun, served simply with tomato and lettuce, cheese (cheddar, Guryere, or Roquefort) and applewood smoked bacon optional, and a side of ultra-thin and super-crisp potato frites (too good to be called mere ‘French fries’). We love burgers, and both think this is hands-down the best we’ve had in the area (it’s the spiritual opposite of Chomp burgers which are excellent in their own right but very different with many heavy, spicy additives that make for a ‘wet’ burger). Le Central’s hamburger stands on its own simply with the highest quality ingredients prepared perfectly (like the rest of the food).Coq au Vin (chicken with wine) was a revelation. A half of a Cornish game hen (breast, leg, and thigh), braised in burgundy wine, served in a crock brimming with mushrooms, sauteed onions, and bacon, in a rich, thick, velvety stock, and a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. Just the smell made my mouth water before even taking the first bite! It was heavenly, deeply satisfying, and very hearty and filling.There are always some specials, often including an omelet. Recently we’ve had asparagus and brie, and mushroom and Guryere, variations. They were spectacular, served with a side of potato frites. They turn brunch into a special experience and feel decadent despite the modest price. They offer a full brunch menu that looks yummy, though we haven’t (yet!) tried it.Desserts are homemade. Our favorite are the Rochers (“rocks”), chocolates like turtles. Dark chocolate filled with the specialty of the day, various nuts and fruits. Order at least one if you’re stuffed and don’t think you can fit in anything else, but a plate of 4 goes down easily with tea.The drink list is massive. In the spirit of a French bar there are dozens and dozens of liquors of every kind. A nice offering of about 20 wines (French of course), every one we’ve ever had has been a winner. Some beers, and even several ciders, apple and pear varieties, from Normandy!This area has tons of typical bars/pubs/taverns, seemingly one on every block, along with Portuguese (Portuguese-ish) and Italian restaurants. Le Central stands out, both for being unique in offering a great selection of the best of the best of French foods, and for the amazingly high quality and reasonable prices. It’s one of the great, underappreciated secret gems of the East Bay area. If it was in Boston the prices would be more than twice as high and people would be raving about it.We’ve been finding it hard to go more than a week between visits.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fingerling Potatoes, Olive Medley with Bread, Soup, Bistro Burger, Baguette, Moroccan Chicken, Cheeseburger with Fries, French Onion Soup
Robyn Label
Exceptionally delicious food and wonderfully attentive and friendly service. This is the most “under the radar” restaurant on the east bay! Been there for brunch and dinner… loved the omelette, salmon nicoise, burgers, onion soup and terrific drink selection. Highly recommend.
Came here for our anniversary lunch and will definitely be back for again, next time for dinner. We had mussels,lobster bisque, croque madame and hangar
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Louise Scott
I was very disappointed when I asked if I could have a dessert that was on the pre fixe menu and was told to check back next week and if they had any left I could buy it then. My husband would have ordered dessert and coffee so they lost out on another $25. We spent over $125 are locals and was our first time there....and our last. Good customer relations are extremely important in the restaurant business. So disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jesse P
I've been to this quaint little Bistro first during the summer; July of 2023. Ever since then, I've managed to go back on a multiple basis and have never been disappointed. The food was/is always amazing; possibly the best French food in the area, and cooked and presented with a modern flair. (I'm sorry to say but Le Moulin Rouge is just TERRIBLE in comparison and no competition hands down - Ritz crackers and cheese-whiz, the nerve!)Although the restaurant is not of a particularly large size it is accommodating and has a good enough ambiance to the atmosphere; dim lighting, tiled black and white floors and clean.The coq au vin is my general go to for this place as is the duck con fit; with the weather turning cold, these are the best soul and comfort foods to have during the upcoming winters!The coq au vin is reasonably portioned, well cooked, perfectly seasoned, with delicious sliced mushrooms, onions and bits of bacon in this gorgeous wine-based broth! I'm not sure how they make their rich red wine sauce that it is is cooked in, but it is wonderful, creamy and just packs a punch of flavor!Not overtly priced and with a good portion of food, one could not really go wrong with this as a choice for supper - the lunch menu is mainly sandwiches, which is unfortunate as I'm not one for a sandwich, but the options are varied and pleasant.The crème Brule is perfection as is a many of their desserts.But what makes this place so great is the staff. Always accommodating, thoughtful, respectful and kind and very attentive! They make this the experience that it is! We both appreciate all the hard work and kindness shown to us and we simply can't wait to go back!P.S If one ever wants to try modern French cuisine, I highly recommend this place! And, no offense to Le Moulin Rouge - - but I'd spare the trouble of NOT going there; make your reservations for Le Central now!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trish Frisbie
Nice cozy place but has an air of sophistication with its parisean flair n food. Get the bread for two..hot crispy bread with softened farm butter n a multitude of olives. You can have as much bread you want after first order. Bread is about 6 small slices but delicious. Onion soup very sweet, with a strong wine taste, endive n roasted beet salad delicious but could use more beets. Monsier sandwich - good size n delectable, steak frites- salted fries that comes with it are so good as well as the arugula, steak is cooked to its tender state and made in wine- so good. An enjoyable experience..
My family loves this restaurant. We come everytime we visit Bristol, which is several times a year. The staff is wonderful, the food delicious and a quaint atmosphere. We will be there tomorrow! Can't wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites
Matt Florell
We had an excellent Friday night meal here. We had specials and regular menu items and they were all great. It wasn't too loud, and the service was great too.Parking: Plenty of free on-street parking right in front of the restaurant, even on a Friday night
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Liver Mousse
Sharon M
This was a pleasant surprise and best Steak Frites this side of France - in fact better! I will go back even though it was a 35 minute ride from Newport where we stayed - worth the ride.
Sunday brunch was wonderful , Eggs Benedict is prepared just right. My wife enjoyed her omelet with asparagus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adeline Staulo
I took my brother here for his birthday Sunday night. We were excited to have French food. What a huge disappointment!! He ordered a spinach salad, that was on a small plate that overflowed. My onion soup was fair...no onions! Dinner was so awful. He had the Coq au Vin, which he described as an old taste with no flavor. A wing and a small piece of breast that was very dry. I had the Moroccan chicken. The description of it was full of wonderful spices, root vegetables. It had none of the spices described, the sauce was so bland, and the root vegetables were a pile of heated salad, with a couple of shavings of carrots, and a very bitter taste.The waitress was very pleasant, but never asked how's dinner. It was Sunday of labor day weekend and the staff was in such a hurry to close. Needless to say, it was a waste of $100+, and would never go back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Shereen Khoo
Had a wonderful meal here today with my mom! The food was absolutely delicious! Kristen was our server, and she truly went above and beyond in making sure we had a great time. Will definitely be back!
Rafael Cardenas
I went on a Wednesday night. Very casual. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. The food was excellent. Will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baguette
karenvan345
Everything including the waitress was fabulous! The food was terrific…. Our dinner was so great we thought let’s try dessert which we never do and split the crème brûlée and no surprise was great. Typical French bistro food done very well. We will go back!
Incredible food. Wonderful atmosphere and the staff were incredibly cordial.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bottom line: a delightful French bistro with absolutely delicious food, a casual, cozy vibe, and an excellent value. Something different in the East Bay. An underappreciated gem.We’ve been going to Le Central for a few years and recently rediscovered just how good it is. The vibe is French bistro, complete with black and white checkerboard floors. It’s casual, relaxed, and cozy. It feels like French comfort food.The menu is thoughtful and amazing for how truly delicious the offerings are. It’s a ‘who’s who’ of some of the best French dishes, without pretense or weirdness (no snails or frogs legs). Starting with the table bread, half of a baguette, perfectly toasted and partly sliced, with soft butter and some olives on the side.The onion soup is full of melted Guryere cheese, caramelized onions, rich beef stock, and toasted baguette slices, served in a ramekin. It’s perfect and utterly irresistible. Pair it with a salad and it’s a meal.The Salad Nicoise has perfectly cooked green beans, roasted fingerling potatoes with butter and parsley, roasted red peppers, a bed of arugula, a nice filet of perfectly poached salmon, and a mouth-watering lemon-caper compote. It’s hearty enough as a main course for lunch or dinner, and is deliciously satisfying (and I’m not usually a salad person).The hamburger might be one of the best you’ll have. A hand formed patty of organic beef on a toasted Brioche bun, served simply with tomato and lettuce, cheese (cheddar, Guryere, or Roquefort) and applewood smoked bacon optional, and a side of ultra-thin and super-crisp potato frites (too good to be called mere ‘French fries’). We love burgers, and both think this is hands-down the best we’ve had in the area (it’s the spiritual opposite of Chomp burgers which are excellent in their own right but very different with many heavy, spicy additives that make for a ‘wet’ burger). Le Central’s hamburger stands on its own simply with the highest quality ingredients prepared perfectly (like the rest of the food).Coq au Vin (chicken with wine) was a revelation. A half of a Cornish game hen (breast, leg, and thigh), braised in burgundy wine, served in a crock brimming with mushrooms, sauteed onions, and bacon, in a rich, thick, velvety stock, and a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. Just the smell made my mouth water before even taking the first bite! It was heavenly, deeply satisfying, and very hearty and filling.There are always some specials, often including an omelet. Recently we’ve had asparagus and brie, and mushroom and Guryere, variations. They were spectacular, served with a side of potato frites. They turn brunch into a special experience and feel decadent despite the modest price. They offer a full brunch menu that looks yummy, though we haven’t (yet!) tried it.Desserts are homemade. Our favorite are the Rochers (“rocks”), chocolates like turtles. Dark chocolate filled with the specialty of the day, various nuts and fruits. Order at least one if you’re stuffed and don’t think you can fit in anything else, but a plate of 4 goes down easily with tea.The drink list is massive. In the spirit of a French bar there are dozens and dozens of liquors of every kind. A nice offering of about 20 wines (French of course), every one we’ve ever had has been a winner. Some beers, and even several ciders, apple and pear varieties, from Normandy!This area has tons of typical bars/pubs/taverns, seemingly one on every block, along with Portuguese (Portuguese-ish) and Italian restaurants. Le Central stands out, both for being unique in offering a great selection of the best of the best of French foods, and for the amazingly high quality and reasonable prices. It’s one of the great, underappreciated secret gems of the East Bay area. If it was in Boston the prices would be more than twice as high and people would be raving about it.We’ve been finding it hard to go more than a week between visits.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fingerling Potatoes, Olive Medley with Bread, Soup, Bistro Burger, Baguette, Moroccan Chicken, Cheeseburger with Fries, French Onion Soup
Exceptionally delicious food and wonderfully attentive and friendly service. This is the most “under the radar” restaurant on the east bay! Been there for brunch and dinner… loved the omelette, salmon nicoise, burgers, onion soup and terrific drink selection. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fingerling Potatoes, Soup, Bistro Burger, Goat Cheese & Spinach, French Onion Soup
Came here for our anniversary lunch and will definitely be back for again, next time for dinner. We had mussels,lobster bisque, croque madame and hangar
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was very disappointed when I asked if I could have a dessert that was on the pre fixe menu and was told to check back next week and if they had any left I could buy it then. My husband would have ordered dessert and coffee so they lost out on another $25. We spent over $125 are locals and was our first time there....and our last. Good customer relations are extremely important in the restaurant business. So disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I've been to this quaint little Bistro first during the summer; July of 2023. Ever since then, I've managed to go back on a multiple basis and have never been disappointed. The food was/is always amazing; possibly the best French food in the area, and cooked and presented with a modern flair. (I'm sorry to say but Le Moulin Rouge is just TERRIBLE in comparison and no competition hands down - Ritz crackers and cheese-whiz, the nerve!)Although the restaurant is not of a particularly large size it is accommodating and has a good enough ambiance to the atmosphere; dim lighting, tiled black and white floors and clean.The coq au vin is my general go to for this place as is the duck con fit; with the weather turning cold, these are the best soul and comfort foods to have during the upcoming winters!The coq au vin is reasonably portioned, well cooked, perfectly seasoned, with delicious sliced mushrooms, onions and bits of bacon in this gorgeous wine-based broth! I'm not sure how they make their rich red wine sauce that it is is cooked in, but it is wonderful, creamy and just packs a punch of flavor!Not overtly priced and with a good portion of food, one could not really go wrong with this as a choice for supper - the lunch menu is mainly sandwiches, which is unfortunate as I'm not one for a sandwich, but the options are varied and pleasant.The crème Brule is perfection as is a many of their desserts.But what makes this place so great is the staff. Always accommodating, thoughtful, respectful and kind and very attentive! They make this the experience that it is! We both appreciate all the hard work and kindness shown to us and we simply can't wait to go back!P.S If one ever wants to try modern French cuisine, I highly recommend this place! And, no offense to Le Moulin Rouge - - but I'd spare the trouble of NOT going there; make your reservations for Le Central now!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice cozy place but has an air of sophistication with its parisean flair n food. Get the bread for two..hot crispy bread with softened farm butter n a multitude of olives. You can have as much bread you want after first order. Bread is about 6 small slices but delicious. Onion soup very sweet, with a strong wine taste, endive n roasted beet salad delicious but could use more beets. Monsier sandwich - good size n delectable, steak frites- salted fries that comes with it are so good as well as the arugula, steak is cooked to its tender state and made in wine- so good. An enjoyable experience..
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Croque Monsieur, Steak Frites, Soup, Onion Soup, Salad of Endive
My family loves this restaurant. We come everytime we visit Bristol, which is several times a year. The staff is wonderful, the food delicious and a quaint atmosphere. We will be there tomorrow! Can't wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites
We had an excellent Friday night meal here. We had specials and regular menu items and they were all great. It wasn't too loud, and the service was great too.Parking: Plenty of free on-street parking right in front of the restaurant, even on a Friday night
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Liver Mousse
This was a pleasant surprise and best Steak Frites this side of France - in fact better! I will go back even though it was a 35 minute ride from Newport where we stayed - worth the ride.
Restaurantji Recommends
Sunday brunch was wonderful , Eggs Benedict is prepared just right. My wife enjoyed her omelet with asparagus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I took my brother here for his birthday Sunday night. We were excited to have French food. What a huge disappointment!! He ordered a spinach salad, that was on a small plate that overflowed. My onion soup was fair...no onions! Dinner was so awful. He had the Coq au Vin, which he described as an old taste with no flavor. A wing and a small piece of breast that was very dry. I had the Moroccan chicken. The description of it was full of wonderful spices, root vegetables. It had none of the spices described, the sauce was so bland, and the root vegetables were a pile of heated salad, with a couple of shavings of carrots, and a very bitter taste.The waitress was very pleasant, but never asked how's dinner. It was Sunday of labor day weekend and the staff was in such a hurry to close. Needless to say, it was a waste of $100+, and would never go back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Had a wonderful meal here today with my mom! The food was absolutely delicious! Kristen was our server, and she truly went above and beyond in making sure we had a great time. Will definitely be back!
I went on a Wednesday night. Very casual. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. The food was excellent. Will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baguette
Everything including the waitress was fabulous! The food was terrific…. Our dinner was so great we thought let’s try dessert which we never do and split the crème brûlée and no surprise was great. Typical French bistro food done very well. We will go back!