Every time we are in Montomgery on business we eat wt Central. Excellent food and exceptional service

First things first, ask for Raven because she is awesome. Next, the restaurant had a very nice and rustic atmosphere which complemented the menu very well. I went with some good friends and we had a variety of menu options, we enjoyed all the w entrees, desserts and drinks! We did not enjoy the smokey flavor on the pimento cheese but felt confident that we could select something we may all enjoy next time! During a peak busy time parking may be a bit of an issue so keep this in mind if you are coming during prime time to allow yourself enough time to get parking and get to the restaurant. read more

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10/10 experience. Everything from the waiter helping us make decisions to the ambience to the actual divine taste of the food itself was absolutely fantastic. The beef tartine appetizer is an absolute and the short ribs were worth the hype!! Appetizer: beef tartine Entree 1: beef short ribs Entree 2: teres major Dessert: beignets read more

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Appetizers were great. Then came the entrees - heaps and piles of salt. The lamb was so salty it was unedible. Manager comped a desert but we left extremely thirsty...... Yes you're supposed to season your food but if everything tastes like salt to the point of bitterness then something has gone wrong. read more

Hands down my new favorite restaurant in Montgomery. The chefs know what they are doing. Our server recommended the Rubbed Lamb Ribs. I could order this again and again. The candied pecans with the fall off the bone meat, definitely mouth watering. Entrees we had the Navy Bean & Basil Ravioli and Braised Lamb Shank. Each bite was so flavorful. Cooked to perfection. Each paired with the most complimenting side. Dessert we had pecan pie and beignets. Both give you just enough sweetness to calm your sweet tooth. My favorite was the beignets in the Carmel dipping sauce. Loved everything. Decor, staff, food. read more

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One of the nicest restaurants in Montgomery. Their brussel sprouts and steak are to die for.

Every time we eat here we leave absolutely amazed by the food. Amazing combinations of flavors that leave you completely satisfied and your palate happy. Tonight we had the pork tenderloin- absolutely awesome. I have eaten at restaurants across the world and the way the chef is able to combine a variety of different flavors into one awesome entree is nothing short of unique and amazing. If you are in Montgomery or anywhere even remotely close and don't eat here- you are missing an experience of a lifetime. Can't recommend highly enough. read more

Horrible experience at a restaurant that has fantastic food. Do not eat at the bar. I waited 50 minutes for my food. The bartender was more concerned with socializing with her coworkers than waiting on her customers. Restaurant was not busy at all. Disappointed experience read more

Erin was a very good waitress. Very knowledgeable. We had oyster sliders and duck egg rolls for APS and Sunday sauce and tere major. German chocolate donuts and lemon pie for dessert. I had Zinfandel. The only issue I had was no bread . Other than that great dining experience. read more

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Love!!!! Ok this is sophisticated urban dining. This restaurant is as good as any in Atlanta and new yor Old montgomery cocktail- yassssss Fritto miso Grilled oysters Halibut Soft shell crab Came back next day! Strawberry salad Halibut Short ribs read more

It was such an amazing dinner in a beautiful atmosphere. I can totally see why it's the highest rated restaurant in Montgomery. I had bookmarked a few must see places before leaving Tampa. This was one of them. The five star reviews are all correct in my opinion. It was the best dinner experience I had the entire trip. The service was awesome! The hostess was so nice to us. We didn't have reservations, but we were early enough to get a nice table away from foot traffic. She got us all settled comfortably right away. Taemon was there shortly after to take our drink orders. He was very professional & attentive, and had great recommendations. He brought out the mocktails menu for me. The Pineapple Apricot Lime Punch was exactly what I needed after a long day of exploring the city. It was delicious, tart and refreshing. I initially had my mind set on getting the Gochujang Rubbed Lamb Ribs and sharing appetizers with my brother. I ended up deviating from the original plan once I saw the fish options. The Wood Fired Gulf Catch of the day was redfish. It was served over a seasonal blend of field peas, collard greens, and potlicker jus. The succotash blend was just as delicious and tasty as it sounds. The fish was pan fried perfectly, and crispy on top. I ate every bit of it. I refrained from licking the potlicker jus off the plate (but I was tempted). My brother had the Bearnaise Crusted King Ora Salmon. It was equally as good, and served over roasted Lyonnaise potatoes and green bean almondine with a red chimichurri sauce. I tasted it, and it was another amazing dish. Again, cooked perfectly but this one was topped with the tastiest bearnaise sauce that just complimented everything on the plate. He loved it! We would have ordered dessert, and believe me when I say that I really wanted to do just that. But, we had eaten a lot of sweets that day so we passed on the dessert menu. I do hope to revisit this spot in the near future with my husband. I think he would like it very much. The booth seating looked very comfortable for couples. The ambiance is sophisticated, yet not pretentious on a weeknight. Some people were dressed casually, and others were dressed for a night out. The main entrance is on Coosa Street, with plenty of metered parking that is free after 5pm and all weekend long. I believe you can enter the bar area from The Alley. The restaurant opens at 5:30pm, and it's closed on Sunday and Monday. It's right across the street from SpringHill Suites and the Trilogy Hotel. It's very close to the Riverwalk Stadium and Legacy Museum as well. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation if you want booth seating, or just pop in early on a weeknight like we did. It was a very memorable visit! read more

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Don't walk RUN, to this restaurant. Came here for my birthday and was not disappointed, the food was phenomenal. The chefs deserve a golden statue in their honor. I'm not joking. My husband ordered the 50 day aged ribeye and I got the Filet. Ohhh my goodness, the flavors were spectacular, almost to die for really. I'll be back and when I do I better see you all there! read more

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Still the number one place in Montgomery! We love coming here on date night. Really easy to get to from the interstate also. Not a lot of parking so be aware. We get the early and it's always an easy in and out. Service is always great. Staff is truly Jonny-on-the-spot. Never had an issue that wasn't resolved. They go out of their way to make you happy. 10/10 read more

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Bottom line: great ambiance, alright food, probably won't return. The evening didn't start off great. We had a large party to celebrate a birthday, so we made a reservation. We were seated about an hour after our reservation time. When we were finally seated, our server was really nice and very attentive. That was definitely a plus. The food was alright. I got the salmon with lemon risotto. Neither one was flavorful at all. I felt very underwhelmed by the meal. Everything on the menu was pretty overpriced as well. Overall, I thought Central was fine but not worth the price. read more

Central - Salmon Cedar Plank Salmon - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

Top two restaurants in Montgomery. Outstanding food, service and ambiance, can't say enough.

I took a colleague and his family out to celebrate a career milestone. As always, the food was amazing. I loved the service and ambiance. It was a perfect evening. Thanks, Central. read more

I enjoyed our meal here. The quality of the service, ingredients and presentation was outstanding. The teres major steak I had was a superb cut, and cooked perfectly on the interior, but I just wish it had been seared at a higher heat to have a more flavorful exterior crust. The accompanying Boursin mashed potatoes and mushroom reduction were just ok. The flavors were somewhat weak/muddled, and the textures were a bit limp. The design of the space is extremely appealing and curved banquette booth was comfy. Not a lot to choose from in Montgomery at this quality/price point, therefore I recommend. read more

Central - Teres major steak with Boursin pomme de terre and mushroom reduction. - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

The service was great, but food was mid at best. Our table had the gochujang lamb chops, hot honey Korean fried chicken (x2) and the venison. The only person happy was the 10 hear old who ordered chicken tenders and fries (available but not on the menu). The food was fatty and pretty flavorless. Total letdown from a location almost 5 stars. read more

Wonderful service but the food is just A-Okay. I came here for a nice dinner with husband. The interior design of the restaurant is very nice, with sconces with live flames in them that gave a "by the fireside" feel to the atmosphere. I liked sitting at the booth and watching cooks do their thing. Our waitress was amazing and so attentive and treated us like Kings and Queens. However, the food was disappointing. The best thing we ate were the lamb ribs. They were decently good, just my issue with them is they were extremely fatty. I don't enjoy just having blubbery fat in my mouth. The Gulf catch was too salty in my opinion. It was a white fish, some parts of it were dry. It laid on a bed of collars greens and bacon, i didn't enjoy the bacon in there, I don't feel like it goes well with the fish anyway. My husband got the fried rice. It was just okay. Not much crab in it and not very flavorful. I've had way better fried rice for cheaper. Overall I recommend going somewhere else than this restaurant for satisfying foods. I'm interested in trying the BBQ restaurant nearby, Dreamland. read more

Central - Lamb ribs - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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Hands-down the best fish entree I've ever ordered. The fish rotates based daily catch and Chef recommendation. I had the absolute pleasure of stopping in for what I thought would be just a drink. After reviewing the menu, Nigel and Joe quickly asked if they could help with a cocktail or recommendations. They both discussed the fish so I thought I'd give it a try. And, WOW! SIMPLY WOW!! Single-handed the best fish dish I've ever eaten! The ingredients melted together like a symphony in my mouth. While the snapper rotates, I sincerely hope Central keeps this dish on the menu. The Chef came by my table and jokingly asked if I was enjoying my meal. (I think he could see the evidence of it all over). The Chef, Christian, is spectacular and the Central is lucky to have him and his team. The hostess, Frances, also checked on me with her beautiful smile. Overall, a very beautiful, delicious, and unexpected experience. Central is the absolute BEST!! read more

Central - Snapper Special - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

First time here and we arrived at 5:25pm for a 5:30 pm reservation. Told to go out to their hot waiting space until they were ready to seat us because they don't seat until exactly 5:30pm. Attitude and disrespectful from the minute we get there. Then we're seated in the middle of three main walkways. By far, the worse table in the restaurant. Hate it. We asked for a booth or out of the way and we're told all booths were taken. Definitely felt disrespected. (See my picture of a 100% empty restaurant). It was 90 min before the booths were full. While typing this review they suddenly found a booth. I realized the waitress station was 3-4 ft behind my seat and they saw me posting my first review. So they went out of their way to set a bad tone with us. Waitress was excellent and food was okay. Servings were small and the food was okay. I won't be back for their attitude, rude staff and basic food. Especially not worth it when you pay $230 for just two people. I rate the food 3 out of 5 stars. Service a 1 of 5. Only get a 1 because our server was friendly. My wife and I were expecting a really nice time based on the reviews on line. We dressed up and wanted a professional experience. We didn't get it here. Within a few minutes, we were both ready to leave. Attitude at the front desk; snappy and testy lady from the beginning!!! Excuses and lies about getting a different table. Management - train these people. Nothing worse than a bad attitude from staff. read more

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Went with some girl friends before seeing a concert at MPAC. We didn't have a reservation, but had a drink at the bar while we waited to be seated. Our server, Raven, was incredible. She walked us through the specials and kept a close watch on the time to make sure we were out in plenty of time to make our show. Cocktails were fun and good. We had the scallops, teres major, and the chicken and dumplings. All were fantastic. The only thing we had that wasn't phenomenal was the pimento cheese, and they were happy to remove it from our check. We also had the lemon meringue pie and the chocolate marquis. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Looking forward to coming back the next time we're in town. read more

Food, service and ambiance all on point The oysters were awesome as well as the gumbo.

Amazing atmosphere. Their charred octopus was amazing and all of the desserts looked decadent. Their staff members were super friendly and knowledgable of things going on in the city. Do recommend! read more

The food was awesome and the service was too. Our server Taemon is good. He is attentive and knowledgeable and he is respectful. Awesome! This place is a gem in Montgomery, Alabama. The drinks are awesome and so are the bartenders. They have limited hours and it was packed all three times we went while in Montgomery. The ambiance speaks for itself, this place is awesome and the decor is also. If you ever in Montgomery, you have to give this place a visit! read more

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Great food, service and ambience. We were there for an event in a private room. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the pear margarita was delightful. read more

Central is hands down my favorite restaurant in Montgomery. I absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is very attentive! The menu features a variety of dishes made with fresh, high-quality, and in many cases, locally sourced ingredients. I highly recommend trying their signature cocktails and the house-made desserts (the mile-high lemon pie is my fave! Note: the menu changes seasonally. Central Restaurant is a must-visit spot for foodies in Montgomery. read more

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Wood Fired Cajun Oysters on the half shell *GF Pimento cheese & nduja - a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the region of Calabria in Southern Italy. Crispy Skin Duck Breast Duck fat confit mushrooms, celeriac & white chocolate emulsion, honey roasted brussels, bing cherry & coffee jus Braised Lamb Shank Graham marsala & coconut braised Lamb shank, spinach saag, garlic fried basmati rice, naan, cilantro, mint Thank you Central Restaurant (Montgomery's BEST restaurant) for a wonderful dining experience - exceeded expectations from beginning to the end! Our server, Lauren, was outstanding! Excellent service! read more

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Who guessed Montgomery Al would have such a gem? From making the reservation to our servers the evening was a big win. We tried the wedge salad, she crab soup, short ribs and splurged on the dessert flight of 3 awesome unusual desserts. The servers were exceptional and we had such a memorable evening. We will be back next year!! read more

I lived in montgomery for 7 years and never visited Central. Well, while in town for a retreat, I decided to finally try it out. I was staying downtown and really did feel like driving anywhere so, why not? Upon entering the restaurant, I stood at the host stand for a strong 4 mins before making eye contact with two employees standing at a nearby table. One approached and asked if I had been help. I believed that they saw when I walked in and me standing there but, maybe then didn't.... Well, I was then seated in Brandy's section. She made great recommendations and checked on me periodically while maintaining a safe distance. I read great reviews about the brussel sprouts so, I ordered the Salmon which came with them as a side. They definitely lived up to the hype. They arrived a little cooler ( temp wise) than I would like but, not so bad that I complained to my server. They oysters were sold out by the time I arrived, so take that in mind when dining closer to closing time. I also tried Pi, a cocktail. It was absolutely delicious and refreshing read more

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Absolutely incredible. Thank you for an amazing experience. This meal was phenomenal, the tres major literally melted in my mouth, the space was beautiful. Thank you for a wonderful wonderful meal read more

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Great food, great service and really nice vibe in the restaurant. The charcuterie board was great. The steak was cooked perfectly and my wife absolutely loved the short ribs. The Brussel sprouts are excellent! The cream brûlée was very good and the chocolate tort was okay. Best restaurant that we have eaten at since we moved to the area and we will definitely go back. The menu is seasonal so we are looking forward to trying the different options. read more

Excellent food, service, and ambiance! Everything we tried was great, but the teres major (beef shoulder) was truly a revelation! Our server kindly offered me a small sample of a beer I wanted to try but not buy. I favor less hoppy beers and ended up enjoying the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It was a fun beer to drink, giving you just a hint of bourbon in the middle of each sip. read more

I often get asked for eating recommendations and I love that! BUT if you are ever in Montgomery, don't ask; just immediately plan for Central on Coosa Street downtown. It's in my top few restaurants ever! I don't think I've put one bite in my mouth that I didn't love. And if you know me, you know I tasted every dish set on the table. The Peach & Pig Salad was a plateful of flavors and textures. Fresh peaches, burrata, speck, ham, radishes, pickled onions, chia seeds, and shallot vinegar pearls. Beautiful, creative, delicious. The Fried Chicken Steam Buns were superb! As were the tempura fried mushrooms, asparagus, and shisito peppers with a black garlic and yuzu aioli. Entrees were the 1895 Grilled pork Chop, Beef Filet, Crispy Red Snapper, Short Ribs, and Scallops. ALL amazing. The sides are every bit as good as the main dish! I added the Brussels Sprouts to my meal because I remembered how much I loved them last time. These are the gold standard as to which all others should be judged. Sweet, spicy, smoky, perfect. As if there was room for dessert...we indulged anyway. Maple Glazed Beignets topped with candied bacon and bacon powder, served with salted caramel and chocolate. 10/10. Jake's Mile High Pie. Graham cracker crust, vanilla bean ice cream, lemon curd, and torched meringue. Also a 10/10. Strawberry Rhibarb Cobbler topped with a sugar cookie dough crumble. 8/10 They also have a creative cocktail menu and extensive wine list. Beautiful atmosphere and always great service. Make a reservation!*I have been back several times since this visit and the food and service was impeccable every time! #HeatherEats read more

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Went there for date night. I can highly recommend Central. Excellent service and exceptional food. Will definitely return. read more

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Out of my years yelping I would say this is the highlight of my reviews. I discovered this amazing place through the incredible reviews from real fans of this obviously. We were in town for a birthday celebration and we made reservations. We were so intrigued with their starters that we never even got to order entrees. We ordered oysters which were the BEST I have ever had. Fresh and delicious! The lamb was cooked to perfection , tender and juicy. We ordered about 3 of oysters and 2 orders of the lamb . I didn't quite get a photo of the octopus but omg it was smoked and the presentation was perfection. We loved the food so much we raved about it to our waitress Laura who by the way was so accommodating to our questions and always had recommendations. She even brought the Chef Alesana out which we wanted a photo and applauded him for a job well done and we will be back for more on the menu. Amazing food , the atmosphere is upscale, the people are friendly & walking distance from a lot of the hotels downtown. We stayed at the Renaissance which was about a 10 min walk or less. read more

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Good atmosphere, good food, good prices for the experience and portions. I went with a group of four and we order three apps to the table and they were all awesome. The specials were great and our server did a great job. Call ahead for reservations! Parking downtown is usually packed on the weekends but most of it is free. read more

Nice atmosphere but too pricy...... I ordered scallops but they brought me fish....... The waitress could not even tell fish or scallops when I asked her and showed her the fish...... read more

Wow, fastest time I'm starting a negative review ever. This restaurant is about 70% empty on a Saturday night and our party of six was seated at a clown table - partly in bench seats and others in hard wood seats. When we asked to move they said there was no other table that accommodated a group of six. All this said with a straight face no less! The benches sank (for a 150 lb diner) so much that he was left eating like a marmot with his hands at head level. That said, the food came out relatively quickly and was half decent. Appetizers were meh, lamb very fatty. But entrees were good, flavorful, albeit on the salty side. Desserts were delicious. Finally, although the seating was ridiculous, the rest of service that night was attentive and generally good. So while this started as a one star review, I end up probably giving between three and four stars. Also on pricey side especially for Montgomery. read more

Was not impressed. This was my first time at Central, I went on my birthday. We had a reservation, they were seating us at a table in the middle of the restaurant. I asked if we could have a booth instead, there were several open. I was told no because they had a lot of reservations? I wasn't happy about that. The table we had was not level. Our server Josh was wonderful, he was the only positive part of my experience. We had a group of four people. When the entrees arrived, only two out of the four came out. We had to wait another 10-15 minutes to get the other two entrees, and of course the first two were getting cold because you don't want to start eating until everyone has their food. The restaurant was very loud. The food was just okay. All in all, not a good experience. I probably won't return. read more