Excellent wait staff who gives wonderful food and wine recommendations. Great ambiance and food.

I have eaten meals at fine dining establishments in most major cities all over the country. And I am not sure that I have ever had a better meal or experience than I had at this restaurant. I dined alone so I elected to sit at the bar. The bartender recommended the Lion's Tail cocktail. It was wonderful...a variety of flavors. Sweet, sour, and bourbon. I also got the filet and brussel sprouts. The filet was easily competitive with any that I have had. Tender and cooked exactly as I ordered. The bartender also recommended the brussel sprouts. I believe the sides were meant to be shared but the brussel sprouts were so good that I ate them all. And the dessert...the chef's beignets. I made myself miserable. Absolutely amazing. You could not go wrong choosing this restaurant. read more

What a great restaurant, make a reservation to be sure you get in. The grilled oysters skip al the unnecessary butter, bacon and cheese and are simply delicious. The short rib is amazing. But the brussel sprouts stole the show! Service was excellent with a great selection of wine by the bottle. read more

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Stumbled on this place during a trip to the beach. A Yelp win. Very cool spot in downtown Montgomery. Pimento cheese appetizer had a nice kick to it. The loaded fried okra appetizer was a nice twist - whole okra, battered & fried with bacon & cheese was yum. The server gave a lot of great suggestions. Several good salads and flatbreads. If I were around for dinner, I'd definitely check it out. read more

Honestly, when I first saw the menu, I wasn't thrilled but the magic that the chef creates is amazing. We were a big party so I got to try a lot of different things: Fried Chicken Skins! - at first I thought this would be gross but OMG it was delicious! the batter was simply mouth watering! Cheese and Charcuterie Board - great meats and cheeses (made in house, I think?) the sauces they had on the side was the perfect balance of sweet to go with the cheese. The Pork Belly fries - again wasn't too excited about this one but it proved to be exceptional, like everything else! Ragu Pasta - pasta was made in house and there was so much meat! and it just fell apart as soon as the fork hit it! Brussel Sprouts - PERFECTION! perfect complement for any meal The wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive and this particular restaurant has a Farm to Table concept which is a rare find in Montgomery, Alabama. Definitely worth it! read more

Food was good, service was good. We were seated on a bench that sat so low that the table was a breast height. Recommend lower table or better seat cushions. read more

Great service and GREAT food in a nice environment. I had the Special of the day - sea bass. Wonderfully prepared. Thank You!

Impressive, fine dining in downtown Montgomery. Although pricey ($135 for dinner for two, one shared appetizer, two glasses of wine and one martini) we felt it was worth it. We ordered brussels sprouts (a vegetable menu side item) as an appetizer. It was deliciously browned and sweet. For entrees, my wife had braised beef, served in a wonderful sauce over pasta. I had pork chops, which were perfectly tender, with a strawberry glaze, potato cake and vegetable. We were both very satisfied. The service was attentive, and, amidst Covid, we usually tip 25% to thank the servers who risk their own health to serve us. Bottom line? I recommend Central for a special night out. Ours came as part of a two-night, three-day visits to the Rosa Parks and Legacy Museums and the Justice and Peace Center, which were both impressive and moving. It was a wonderful getaway for an old couple that has been penned in by the pandemic. read more

Great restaurant in the heart of downtown Montgomery. The restaurant vibe itself is very nice -- with very high ceilings and lots of wooden decor everywhere, and the service is just as nice. The dishes were also very very good, which I guess is not surprising considering it's one of the nicest/classiest restaurants I saw in the city. I got the grilled salmon, which was done very nicely, and my friend enjoyed their pasta. The cobbler we got for dessert was also delicious! Great place to go for a nice occasion in Montgomery read more

Maybe wasn't the most amazing food, but it was good for the area. The experience was very nice. The ambience was lovely. It's a great place for a date night. read more

We were visiting the Legacy Museum (two doors down) and were starving like no one's business and "ran upon" Central. We caught it right before they were closing for lunch. I honestly thought they wouldn't seat us so close to closing, but they did. STAR! The ambiance is dark wood, open kitchen, and high ceilings. It smells amazing in there. We chose a few appetizers because everything sounded so good, we couldn't decide. The fried tomatoes, okra & pimento cheese dish, and cheddar cheese grits (it's a side but were ordered it as an appetizer0 were amazing. I started with a cup of heirloom tomato bisque. Had the right amount of seasoning and not too much cream. Perfect. I had the fish & grits as my entree. UH-MAZ-ING. Nothing was over-seasoned and were the perfect temperature. The vanilla creme brulee was a perfect ending to this lunch. I now want to back to Montgomery and visit to have dinner there! read more

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Came out here for dinner with my colleague and the atmosphere is amazing and really nice decor. Highly recommended for a dinner date or a group dinner! Great staff and we were lucky to have Jayme take care of us! Her service was truly exceptional! As for the food selection, they have a nice variety of menu items! I had the Alabama poutine and my colleague had the pork dinner dish! I was expecting a bigger portion on the poutine but to be honest it was perfect and enough and extremely delicious! They have a great selection of cocktails, wine and beer! For dessert, can't say no the pecan pie that comes with ice cream on top! That was delicious! 5 Star food! 10 star service! Great dinner spot! Enjoy read more

Central - Alabama Poutine! - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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The new menu and entrees are no where near as good as their previous entrees. The quantity and quality is subpar and we are really disappointed about this! Central has always been our "go to" place for meeting friends and celebrating special occasions. My wife and I had dinner there last week and we were not satisfied with our meal, the very first time this has ever happened at Central and we've been going there for years. The food was bland and not as flavorful, the portion size was very small, and the prices have increased! My wife received 5 each small scallops in a bland sauce for $41, and I received a small piece of Sea Bass in an "okay" sauce with four pieces of asparagus for $48. The She Crab Bisque wasn't anything special and it was an unusually small cup for $12. Regrettably, we will be taking Central off our list and meeting friends and celebrating elsewhere. Dear Central, get your old chef back and stick with the delicious dishes that were plentiful and very tasteful. This is what made Central the extra special place it was. read more

Central - Five barley seared scallops in a bland sauce - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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Food and drinks were excellent. Waitress terrific. Great location and atmosphere. Definitely the place to go n Montgomery!

Ambiance excellent Food good , I had salmon it was delicious! Service excellent Everything was very nice. Southern cooking at its finest! read more

The crab fried rice was so good... loved it ... huge pieces of crab and a lot of flavor. The ambiance was nice and the staff was very organized and had great customer service! I highly recommend this spot! read more

Central - Alabama Gulf Crab Fried Rice - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

The food is always amazing here and the service is exceptional. We have been here several times and never had bad service or food. One of my favorite places in Montgomery to eat! The ambiance is very cozy and welcoming. read more

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Excellent service and the food was amazing!!! I will certainly be back. Parking was a little bit of a hassle but they have valet as well... read more

Central - Smoked Beef Short Rib - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

excellent food. It's actually one of the best meals I had when I was in Alabama. But I found the food in Alabama to be very tasty overall these people really know how to cook. The food pork chop. Excellent. It was cooked very well and very nice we seasoned. It was also huge and very meaty which I really like. That alone filled me up but the size that came with it were also delicious. It came with a Groton which was delicious all of the portions were very huge though I couldn't finish the meal which really makes me sad because I hate wasting food. Lamb chops excellent very tasty and cooked very well. Succotash was terrible we pointed it out to the waiter and the immediately took it off It really had no taste but we've never had it before so we weren't sure if that was what it was supposed to taste like however given it is a traditionally considered a southern dish we were surprised that it wasn't as impressive as the other foods served. Beet salad very good We did not get any drinks. The service was excellent. Servers did everything they could and even the manager came to our table to check on us. Parking is on the street and it's free. ambiance is very nice. The restaurant's very clean bathrooms are very clean. They have interesting decor. Overall I'm glad we had our meal here It was very tasty and very enjoyable. read more

We a party of 6 that had been reduced from 8 at the last minute. The staff was very accommodating to our needs. Wait staff was perfect in that they were attentive without being intrusive. Salads were crisp, well seasoned, and well presented. Diners in the group had salmon, fried rice dish, and the beef shank and all were satisfied. I had the beef shank which was excellent. It was tender and well seasoned with tasty grits as the side. The bread pudding was too dry. The tiramisu Crème Brûlée was a very good variation on the classic. Gratuity was included for the party of six so check closely if you are larger than average group. Highly recommended. read more

I visited on Saturday even about 6. I was in a fairly large group of about 15. The ambiance was very nice, I liked the fact the bar was further into the restaurant and not as soon as you walked in. The wait staff was really nice and accommodating. I felt the menu was a bit pricey and limited too, as a pescaterian I had like two entree options. The cocktails sound very carefully crafted and fun, many in my party ordered them and seemed very satisfied. I had a lot of food here and nothing really blew me away. My entree red grouper was bland for sure. I also had the pimento cheese, which also fell short of my expectations. I think the highlight of my meal was dessert, I had the sweet potato cheesecake and it was really good. I don't know that if I were in Montgomery again that I would return, nothing too memorable about this place. read more

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The ambiance was very Jazz like. Food was different in a good way. Loved the fried oysters sandwiches. Be prepared to bring more than play money. read more

Well. That was one of the best meals I've ever had. We were staying across the street and walked in. It's reservations only, or first come first serve at the bar. We lucked in with a tabletop at the bar. Environment - amazing. Servers - so nice. Drinks - perfect pours. Food? Delicious! Super pricy. This is fine dining, not nice dining. Like suit jacket and dresses dining. We literally had no idea what we were walking into and bounced in head to toe in Adidas. I spent the first 20 minutes trying to figure out how to make my floral sweatshirt look like dinner wear. Oh well! The menu changes seasonally but if they have the Chicken Buns on the shareable menu - order them. I almost wish I had ordered like. 3 of them instead of an entree. I wish I was going to have them for breakfast. And the tiramisu Creme Brûlée? Best desert I've ever had in my life. I will think about it forever. read more

Strange experience. We went to the Central at 6:20pm. Prior to going we checked the website which said no wait. We got there and the hostess asked if we had a reservation. We said no, the website said no wait. She said, you can sit in the lobby and see if we have a table open up. I might add there were many tables with no one at them. Then she said, "but if you don't want to wait there is the Mexican restaurant out the back or A bar b que place down the street. You won't have to wait there." I cannot help but wonder if it was because we have a baby (6 months) with us. I have never had a hostess say, "you can wait around and see if we have a table open up". I am 60+ and have heard "it will be a wait" and have been given an estimated time, or even "we are booked solid". But never "sit around and wait" and see. Not even, we have a bar, you can go get a drink while you wait. Just sit it the lobby and take your chances. It was clear to me for whatever the reason she was not really interested in having us eat here. We where there with my daughter and her husband and child. This is supposed to me one of the best restaurants in Montgomery. Menu looks very good. But it the hostess is representative of the restaurant, I think I will pass. read more

Great food and great drinks. You won't regret a visit--peach panzanella salad is great.

My husband and I had dinner recently at Central. We had a charcuterie board as a starter that was delish. We had beef short ribs and grilled pork chops for entrees. Both were absolutely divine!! I hate I can't remember our server's name as he was wonderful and very attentive. read more

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We (myself and one other traveler) embarked on a pilgrimage to Montgomery to absorb the civil rights experiences that the city seems to be embracing as part of its story at least to degree some these days. Our two favorite meals were Central and Brenda's BBQ. (Both places strive for and succeed in providing completely different, damn near opposite, in fact, food experiences.) Our server was as important to the five star review as the food. Of course at this moment, my brain won't give me her name. I'm 39, I'd guess she's younger than me. African American. Long braids. Glasses. Very genuine sounding voice. That's the best I can do right now.) I asked her to pick my entree out of two dishes that I couldn't choose between. I ended up with the 1895 pork chop as presented on the menu. It was wonderful. I was a little wary that the strawberry sauce would be too sweet, but it acted mostly as a way for the strawberries themselves to taste almost cartoonishly ripe. So I was wrong and wary for no reason, the Central food people were right. She also chose my dessert after telling her I'd like any besides the chocolate option. I ended up with the key lime cheese cake and it was excellent. We also tried the iceberg-y salad with balsamic dressing instead of bleu cheese. I didn't feel shorted by substituting, as my friend has dietary restrictions. In a city where no one seems to be able to give me a satisfying answer to my "what's the one restaurant/meal/snack that I shouldn't miss here?" Question, we were finally pointed in a great direction at Central. Would absolutely come back. read more

Central - Key lime, black bottom cheesecake with lime crunchy pretty topping thing, raspberries, condensed raspberry tears, and whipped cream. - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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**Updated review, 9 Nov: avoid the beef short rib entree--dry like the Sahara Desert! Quality over quantity--that's what you get when you dine at Central. If you're looking for a seasonal menu offering local ingredients then this is your place. I've dined here a number of times and found that I prefer the dinner menu over the lunch menu (like other reviews have noted, the fries are overly oily). With that said, everything is prepared to order. Carefully crafted cocktails can start your evening off right while a carefully curated wine selection will guide you through dinner. Local craft beer is also offered for those interested. I've had just about everything off of the summer menu. The ribeye was seasoned perfectly and cooked to an excellent Med-rare. Every fish dish I have ordered has been cooked superb--fish nice and moist and just glistens when cut. With that said, every time I dined throughout the the summer the local catch special was grouper. If that's your special for an entire season then it's not really "local catch special," it's a routine menu item. Dessert needs some work, but if you're interested--go with the chefs donuts or the creme brûlée. Either will be a good way to end the night. So if you're looking for great entrees served in a southern classy atmosphere then this is your place. If you're expecting buffet-style sized portions then this isn't your place and read more

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Well check this out! Who knew a restaurant of this caliber would be found in an old warehouse in downtown Montgomery? During a recent visit to this city, friends of mine suggested that I had to eat at Central and boy am I glad I heeded their advice! We had an amazing meal coupled with amazing service so it doesn't get much better than that. First the decor- this old warehouse is beautifully redone with the bar in the back, huge oversized lighting fixtures and wood and leather touches throughout to warm this large space. I also hear they have a smaller private dining room on the main floor and a banquet hall upstairs but I'll have to find those another day. Parking is a breeze (either valet or it's free on the street after 6pm) and when I walked in I was so warmly greeted, I felt like I was a regular even though this was my first time here. My friends had found space at the bar in the back to wait for our table. And several people checked in on us during our short wait to make sure we had checked in with the hostess etc as they thought we were waiting too long (we weren't . . .we had come early to catch up over drinks) Our table was a large booth for 4 which we scooted into and began to look at the menu. It was then that our "server extrodinaire", Ariel (sp?) stopped over and from then on, our evening got even better. Now here is a guy who obviously loves what he does and he was engaging, personable and knowledgable sharing with us what he loved about the menu and about the place in general. He was just the type of server I love . . .so much so that I wished he could have pulled up a chair and joined us! The other great thing about the service at this place is that they all support each other. Oh sure- there are food runners and bussers like at most restaurants, but I mean if Ariel was busy with another table and I even looked like I needed something, someone was at the table anticipating that I needed help. Kudos to this amazing team! A funny note- when I needed the bill broken out differently I must have looked liked I needed help as a man came over from the other side of the restaurant to help me out. And if service isn't the reason to go- then the food is. It looks to be a seasonal menu using the best of what the chef can get depending on the time of year. We started with the charcuterie plate and the pimento spread. Both were very tasty and went great with my perfectly poured martini. For my main course I had the short rib with grits (imagine this northern gal eating grits!) but it was delicious. The other hit at the table was the snapper which was the catch of the day with a crawfish sauce which also looked amazing. We said we were too full for dessert but Ariel wanted us to try these amazing donuts with some kind of decadent dipping sauce. Are you kidding me? As my stomach said "no more" my taste buds said "yes, yes, yes" and there I was with donuts and caramel and nuts and sauce, oh my, dripping down my chin! A fantastic evening out in Montgomery. I'm back there for a meeting in a couple of weeks so you'll know where to find me. Think I can get a seat in Ariel's section again? Thanks Central! I get to eat out at some of the best restaurants in the country and I'd stack your food and service right up there! read more

The service is great and the cookies are delicious. I need the key lime cookie and caramel apple. It is out of this World. read more

In Montgomery again for business, I chose to meet a dear friend here for dinner. I remembered that she said it was her favorite restaurant. I now know why. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, Central was a mere five minute walk from my hotel. It's located in a district that has been re-vitalized by the city, so the atmosphere is astounding! Walking in, the service was stellar and never receded from that standard. Quiet and upscale, it was a lovely setting to catch up with an old friend. The dinner selection was amazing and, while I did want to try the steak, my friend recommended the salmon. Whew. It was incredible! Complimented with a creamy risotto, it was extremely tasty and I will gladly recommend it to any patron reading this. While the prices are a bit high and it can get crowded, these drawbacks should not preclude one from trying Central the next time he or she is in Montgomery and looking for an upscale experience. read more

I always research restaurants before traveling to a new town and Central kept coming up at the top of Montgomery restaurant lists. Well, I went there and can see why. It was a great experience, with food and service as good as one will find at a top restaurant in L.A., NYC, etc. In addition to the great service from Taemon and the bartender (can't remember his name but he came over to give us background on our cocktails), the food was great from start to finish. The fact that most of my photos show partly-eaten food indicates that we often couldn't wait to eat it before taking a pic. We got Gochujang lamb ribs and garlic fries as appetizers and they were amazing. Then as entrees we got the beef short rib and a salmon dish that were both excellent. We finished with not one but two desserts (hey, I didn't know when I'd be back!) and this proved a good decision. The cheesecake was great and the beignets were enjoyably decadent - the maple candied bacon wasn't enough, they had to also include caramel and chocolate sauces. Don't come here while on a diet. Cocktail-wise, I think we had four of the eight in the menu and all were great. The Alaskan Polar Bear Heater even came with a story behind it. Overall, my wife and I are foodies and we rate this as one of our best dining experiences. read more

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I like everything about this restaurant I tell you at end why I didn't give 5 start The receptionist was very welcoming The waitress was nice efficient and knowledgeable SteakhouseWedge salad was good the other couple steak was excellent Green garlic linguine pasta. Was also excellent I had beet salad and baby squash all good And the Complementary anniversary lemon meringue pie was outstanding The reason for 4 Star One of my pet peeve's is when they charge you an extra charge for changing a vegetable which all cost the same amount The Entrée is $34 and to change the vegetable they're going to charge me another three dollars I think that's petty and unwise for customer relations To me this Policy is not customer friendly and should not happen in a restaurant of this caliber read more

Great atmosphere of hustling and bustling servers, chefs, sous chefs, greeters, etc. Ambience is nice and is impressive for the area (Montgomery). Tonight I was a later-evening, lone bar dinner-diner.....the bartender was discreet, yet very accommodating.....a silent assassin, if you will. The peach and tomato salad may have been the best salad I've ever had - and I'm a chopped salad guy. The oysters were good.....a little small and shriveled, but being from the coast, that's expected in middle AL. All in all, I'd come back and definitely bring others - they'd love it! read more

Central - Peach & heirloom tomatoe salad - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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This place was a stunning, beautiful experience! From the food to the waiter to the atmosphere. It's such an intimate, cozy space and it's perfect for a date night. The food was phenomenal! I had the Gulf Crab Fried Rice and it was perfectly seasoned and balanced with an array of flavors. It was unique and different to anything I had tried before. I throughly enjoyed my leftovers the next day. My boyfriend got the NY strip and he said it was superb! The ambiance of the restaurant is woodsy and seductive, they have an open kitchen and wood fired grill - which really helps create the atmosphere and everything smells amazing. The portions are beyond satisfactory and leave you full and not yearning or more - unless you want dessert, which we definitely indulged in. Dessert was just as good as we expected for it to be. I ordered a specialty drink called "Pi" and we both had lemon drop, both drinks were perfectly made and gave me the best type of buzz! All in all it was a great background for a beautiful date night, the thought that the restaurant put into making the restaurant the type of establishment that it is really provided a nice cushion for the type of night we had. It is rare to find a restaurant that checks all the boxes - but Central does it with flying colors. I live 2 min away from this place so I am excited to return again and again. We have already made plans to return! read more

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Phenomenal food and service! If you're in the Montgomery area, this is the place to be. Brandy has been our server multiple times and talk about a fantastic experience. She hustles and we love the food there. The scallops are my favorite along with the beignets for dessert. The drink menu is nothing short of divine. Go there and see for yourself this little gem in Montgomery! read more

Central - Brandy, our server, is AMAZING - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

I visit this restaurant two to three times each time I visit Montgomery. The lamb chops, brussel sprouts, and oysters are consistently delicious. read more

Delish filet, pea risotto and asparagus. All yummy, nice atmosphere and friendly wait staff

Staff was welcoming at the door. We went on a Saturday night with a reservation, I don't believe you would be able to get a table (in a timely manner) without one on a busy night like that. We were seated right away. Our server was over within seconds to pour water and ask if we had any questions about the menu. I had plenty of questions and he politely answered them all and gave very good recommendations. We had the Foie Gras for start, very well presented and delicious. I had the Basil and Navy Bean Ravioli, my date had the Manchester Farms Quail, and I must say everything was cooked well and tasted amazing. We ended the night with a slice of Salted Caramel Cheesecake, we were very pleased with this dessert as well. I recommend this place for a nice dinner. It has a great atmosphere and even better service. I have only one complaint, the table next to us had something going on that required a manager's attention, whatever the issue was the gentleman sitting next to us blew the situation out of proportion. He was raising his voice almost to the point of yelling at the manager (and I am not 100% what this was about but something to do with the child at the table drinking from what looked to be a mule cup-so it seemed they were letting the child drink alcohol). This went on for at least 15 minutes and then continued a second round. It was very disruptive of our dinner but nothing to the restaurant's fault. I just wished they had asked him to leave if he was going to cause such a scene. read more

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Great place for a group outing. The food, venue and service were fantastic. Second time there, look forward to coming back!