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Central Michel Richard, Washington, DC

Central Michel Richard

4.7
4.7
7637 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Charming
Michel Richard's modern American brasserie and winner of the 2008 James Beard award for best new restaurant. Central is Michel's tribute to great American cuisine, both modern and classic, with a French accent known for our award winning fried chicken & decadent desserts.

A vibrant happy hour with a great wine list, beer & cocktail menu, Central offers a lunch & dinner 3 course prix-fixe menu.

Located on the corner of 11 St. & Pennsylvania Ave NW , walking distance to the White House, Theatres, Capitol One Arena, The National Mall & Monuments.

Private dining for up to 16 guest, semi-private for 20 guest, & private events for up to 200.

We offer a $10.00 parking discount for dinner guests that park in the 10th St. garage between E St. and Pennsylvania Avenue starting at 5:00 PM from Monday-Saturday. Please ask the host or your server to receive a validation ticket.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, French, Contemporary French / American
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:30 pm–6:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (202) 626-0015
  • Website
    http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    David Barigault
  • Catering
    Order online for pick up only.
  • Private party facilities
    Join us at Central Michel Richard for your next business meeting or special occasion. Our private dining rooms or regular reservation are available for lunch and dinner In addition we have a semi-private dining area that can seat up to 35 guest. Accommodations available for up to 200 people as a buyout, we look forward to hosting your event.
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004
  • Neighborhood
    Penn Quarter
  • Cross street
    Corner of 11th Street & Pennsylvania Ave NW<br />Across Waldorf Astoria
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Walking distance from Archives/Navy Memorial, Federal Triangle, or Metro Center
  • Entertainment
    Join us @CentralMR for event and entertainment updates.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Menu

Central Michel Richard's menu was last updated on 7/20/2022.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 7,637 people are saying

Central Michel Richard reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Central Michel Richard offers a delightful dining experience with "impeccable service" and "fabulous food." Diners rave about the "fried chicken," "profiteroles," and "gougères." The restaurant maintains a vibrant and lively atmosphere, perfect for both intimate dinners and group gatherings. Located conveniently downtown, it is a go-to spot for lunch and pre-theater meals.

7,637 Reviews

  1. Christine

    Washington DC3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Customer Service was awesome! most of food was really good .

    Is this helpful?

  2. Steven VIP

    Washington DC69 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Central Michel Richard is my go-to destination for a downtown lunch. The food is consistently well-prepared and there are plenty of inviting options to choose from on the menu. Equally important, the service is crisply efficient, so you aren't left searching the horizon for your waiter while you sweat about making your 2:00 pm post-lunch meeting. Every once in a while, you need to treat yourself to the gougères and the glorious fried chicken. The Niçoise salad is listed as an appetizer, but it really is an entrée-sized salad with traditional oil-preserved tuna, mild anchovies, beans, small potatoes and butter lettuce, all perfectly dressed. It really is a gratifying taste of the Riviera in the middle of D.C.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Robert VIP

    Baltimore101 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was great Our waiter, Richard, was a dream… very accommodating and contributed to a beautiful experience for us

    Is this helpful?

  4. John VIP

    Washington DC81 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 29, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is spectacular, as is the menu. Service is top notch, and the patio overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue and the Old Post Office is one of the best in the city.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Deborah

    Washington DC3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely ambiance and interesting to be able to see the chefs at work. Delicious food and quiet enough for conversation. Service was a little slow.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Daniel

    New Orleans2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for lunch on a dreary Saturday and the staff was great and were very accommodating of our two young children.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Gina

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely loved the outdoor seating area- we had really nice weather and loved how big that space was. Really appreciated that the GF options were marked and that there were a couple of choices (although more options would have been nice). All of the food presented beautifully and was delicious too.

    Is this helpful?

  8. N VIP

    Washington DC40 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I tried the pre-theatre menu. The kale salad was good. The fried chicken was great. The dessert, a chocolate bar, was fantastic.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Nicole VIP

    Washington DC21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    You can’t go wrong with Central for a DC lunch. I literally dream about the chicken schnitzel and cheese puffs!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Joan

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was exceptional. The food was delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Central Michel Richard offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 626-0015.

Central Michel Richard is rated 4.7 stars by 7637 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. District of Columbia
  5. Penn Quarter

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 14 times today
Google Map for Central Michel Richard

1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Corner of 11th Street & Pennsylvania Ave NW<br />Across Waldorf Astoria
  • Neighborhood
    Penn Quarter
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:30 pm–6:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, French, Contemporary French / American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Walking distance from Archives/Navy Memorial, Federal Triangle, or Metro Center
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    David Barigault
  • Entertainment
    Join us @CentralMR for event and entertainment updates.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Website
    http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/
  • Phone number
    (202) 626-0015
  • Catering
    Order online for pick up only.
  • Private party facilities
    Join us at Central Michel Richard for your next business meeting or special occasion. Our private dining rooms or regular reservation are available for lunch and dinner In addition we have a semi-private dining area that can seat up to 35 guest. Accommodations available for up to 200 people as a buyout, we look forward to hosting your event.

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