Great food great staff and great atmosphere!

I am so glad my husband and I decided to eat lunch here. The outdoor patio was lovely as was the service and the food. Best mussels I've ever had as well as delicious fried chicken, lobster hamburger, and Kit Kat ice cream. We will be back..a lot!

My husband and I went for our anniversary on the first night dc restaurants opened for outdoor seating. They immediately seated us outside and far enough away from all other guests that we had no concerns. Our waiter wore a mask and in the midst of everything they’ve gone through, they gave us a free bottle of champagne for our anniversary. Food was delicious and appreciated the service for our first night out in months!

Fantastic food, amazing service. This place has not lost its edge. Absolutely fantastic.

Excellent food and service. I've been many times over the years and I think this was the fastest we got our food. The food was delicious as always and reasonably priced considering the quality

I haven't eaten at Central in more than a year. The food was subpar. Fries were cold; salad was limp; fried fish as not crisp batter.

Dinner was absolutely delightful. I think I may have asked for a spot tucked away and we were led directly to a table towards the back with a gap and a post between it and next two top with banquet on one side. Enables watching other diners and in a big mirror, the hustle, bustle and amazing orchestration - choreography - that is a kitchen producing delight, delicious, and visually lovely food. Staff was attentive, pleasant, and professional - perfect! The food and drink were wonderful. My husband did order the Birthday special that was available and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hadn't been in a while, but now looking forward to going back again. Thank you, Central Michel Richard, for a thoroughly enjoyable dinner!

Every time I eat at Central I wish I ate there more often. A wonderful meal and experience each time.

Four of us had a terrific preconcert dinner. the food, wine and service were really good. We hope to return very soon,

Best French food in DC

The manager, a gorgeous French woman named Isabelle, was so helpful & knowledgeable about the food and wine. She is an asset to this restaurant & my company will always hold business meals here !

Excellent service prior to a show at the National Theater. Very loud which made conversation challenging. Faux Gras & Country Pate was excellent, a couple of us enjoyed the filet mignon , our vegetarian enjoyed the mac and cheese.

Great restaurant! Entrees are a little heavy on the oil but so delicious!

The food was delicious. The service was professional but slow, reminding me of my last visit. Additionally, my companion was hit by an ice cube that a patron threw at her husband (and missed). No one apologized until I called it to the attention of the man who was serving them. I found that surprising. The restaurant was boisterous and loud, more that what I would call energetic.

The most delicious mashed potatoes I’ve ever had! Brussel sprouts cooked perfectly!

We go here every time we’re in DC once a year sometimes even twice a year. I enjoyed my Osso Bucco but five of our guest ordered their usual fried chicken and they all seemed to say it wasn’t as great as it normally is. The mashed potatoes were great but the chicken wasn’t. Also couple of our guys ordered the Filet but they weren’t too impressed but then again they’re from Texas so their standards might be higher then the norm lol. We did enjoy the oysters, Kit Kat bar and drinks! Till next year...

This visit to Central was excellent as usual - always enjoy it but I have to say that I was really blown away by the mashed potatoes that are made with cream cheese and the dessert was like nothing else. The banana split is not what you would expect - it takes that tradition up 10 levels. The best ever!!

Food is reliable, but the noise level interferes with the experience.

Central was perfect as always. The Sunday brunch was delicious. The pancake was the best I've ever had. The fried chicken eggs benedict was awesome, as was the lava cake for dessert. I'll be back!

Our first visit to Central. We had 4 different dishes, all excellent: fried chicken, bouillabaisse, scallops & salmon. Plus delicious mushrooms. Service was great, & we got out in time for theater. Valet parking was helpful. We will be back!

Fried chicken the best - large portion.

We started with the charcuterie tower which was HUGE! Definitely good to share with at least four people. The fried chicken was tremendous, but what really made it to die for were the garlic mashed potatoes.

We love it here. The food and service is consistently excellent!

This place is really overrated. First off, the dining atmosphere is casual, and the dining room is very loud. Second, the service is indifferent, and sometimes just rude. Certainly not fine dining, but with fine dining prices. Food is average up and down the menu. It’s the kind of place that people want to go to for the name—but overall it’s a dud.

My dining experience was great. The food, service and venue was lovely.

Always superb food & service. Will continue to be my 'go-to' place, with either local or out of town friends.

Four of us had lunch recently with two of us ordering the hamburger, medium rare, with blue cheese. The burger came out nearly well done and the blue cheese was sparse. Central is a long way from its glory days.

Went with friends for anniversaries - wonderful meal all 'round. Great wine, great service. But the restaurant has an open kitchen and is loud but not painfully so.

Too noisy. Food was good. Service excellent. Will never sit near the kitchen again.

We love eating at Central. Fried chicken is delicious. Onion soup is yummy. Hanger steak was amazing!!

I have eaten here many times before. Even had my daughters bridal shower in their private room but I never had the ahi tuna burger. It was unbelievably delicious. However they seasoned it or however they stacked it, it was an explosion of flavors right from the first bite.

When we called to confirm our reservation we were not told that because of Valentines Day there was a fixed menu. This would not have been a problem except there was nothing on the menu that we could eat.

We went for Valentine’s Day a

Our reservation was at 5:30 pm and we arrived at 5:00 pm they sat us in the small back room passed the kitchen. The tables were so closed together that you would hear other conversations around us, especially the kitchen discussions! We passed so many lovely tables in the main dinning room. Our waiter was lovely. I wish I knew this was a fixed menu on Valentine's Day, we preferred to have a full French menu. Only two main items on the fixed menu steak was cold and the fish was cold too. This is not a place to go on a special occasions. We will never return here. I wish we were at Bistro l'Hermitage in Occoquan.

Food good but the ambiance is terrible. Carpeted floors and tacky furniture makes it seem like we were eating in a cafeteria. Tables too close together. Used to be very French inspired enviro and now it’s just bleh.

We had a fabulous pre-Fords theater meal. The branzino and salmon dishes were top-notch. This place also doubled as our Valentines Day dinner; the staff makes every day dining a special occasion.

Central never disappoints

I, and my guests, would have enjoyed my birthday dinner a bit more if the noise level at the restaurant was not so "energetic". We asked for a quieter spot and we were put directly next to the open kitchen, so not only could we hear customers' conversations we could hear the rattling of the pots and pans of the kitchen. (Note to hostess: seating by the kitchen is not quieter.) We had to get the attention of a number of people before we were moved - this time to a quieter spot, but one near the door, so when customers held the doors one for any length of time were were subjected to a blast of cold air. The food was very good. Classic bistro fare of which I am very fond. Don't think I'll be back though.

Food was disappointing: pate appetizer and osso bucco were bland. Wine list not very extensive and expensive. Service is gracious but much too rushed; you clearly get the sense they want you in and out!

For a business lunch, yes. For dinner, not so much. For a special dinner, no way.