Great finer-dining spot in downtown Montgomery right near the alley next to Dreamland. It's essentially higher-class southern cuisine. Wine selection was extensive, deserts were unique and the main courses and appetizers were fantastic. Our service was impeccable and the atmosphere is probably the best in the area. Just a beautiful restaurant. read more

Atmosphere was great, perfect location and great food. Central is a trendy bar/restaurant. Folks show up here casually dressed; some very dressed up and everything in between. It's a bit spendy for Montgomery, but worth the $$ if you on a date or out with co-workers. I'd describe the food as new Southern with a flare. You'll find pimento cheese croquettes, pork jowl & cornbread, greens, etc. If you're not a Southerner, Central makes trying these foods fun, tasty & approachable. Give them a try. read more

Not at all what I was expecting. I've been told that Central is the nicest place in town, so I had high expectations. The crowd was not what I expected (people sitting next to me in yoga pants and baseball caps) and it had more of a bar feeling than a fine dining establishment. The Brussel sprouts were way too salty, my steak was over cooked, and I over all just wasn't impressed. I'll try again and hope for the best. I had been before for Easter Brunch and really enjoyed it that is the reason for the 3 stars. read more

I come to MGM from ATL often for dinner and dine here EVERY SINGLE TIME. I typically order the lamb, but tonight opted for the Her ford ribeye and Brussels. Amazing is the only word that describes the meal. I paired it with a lower-priced Italian Red Blend-gran passions rosso . Can dining get any better in Montgomery? Maybe...but probably not. I will continue to come here every trip because the service is top-notch like that of an upscale restaurant back in ATL or any other major city. The food is amazing, and the and wine is great as well. read more

Central - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

We had a nice meal, although not worth five stars. Our server, Howard, was terrific. The downside was that the fish that was not well liked. It was slightly overcooked and some of the flavors were off. We enjoyed the salads and the desserts the most. read more

The best spot downtown. Killer menu, awesome staff and and valet parking. The interiors are amazing and the food is legendary.

The atmosphere is comfortable and southern casual elegant. The staff is helpful and polite. Most of the dishes here are very yummy and occasionally assaults by the salt monster in the kitchen. As the menu evolves with the seasons, expect a little something different from time to time. read more

In the past this place was a solid 4.5-5 stars. Staff has changed as has the menu and just doesn't quite seem like it did a yr ago. Ordered the fish dip appetizer which tasted more like cream cheese than fish. Even the Old Fashion left a bit to be desired. Still great atmosphere but...service has declined! read more

Gabby was awesome. Her recommendations were on point and the food and drinks were great. As a cocktail lover their bartenders also know their stuff. read more

I have been coming here since 2013. When I first came I was blown away at the delicious food I could get my taste buds on, mainly regarding the famous Pork Jowl on cornbread which strangely enough was an appetizer.(Sweet food god above I could sit and eat it all day if allowed.) That and the pasta at the time was ADDICTING. [Take note that I visited here once every two months, sometimes even more due to that stupid appetizer I miss dearly] Fast forward to 2015. I came back with a friend and took him to dinner to celebrate a raise in his job, to my astonishment that the menu had changed. Not something I was surprised about, as they had seasonal menus but the appetizers all stayed the same. Especially their money maker. But unbeknownst to me, the original cook had left the place and taken that delicious mouth watering menu along with him. We ordered some pasta(I can't remember which) and were pleasantly.... disappointed. It was such a blow to a fantastic restaurant that I could eat out almost every single day if I have the money, now reduced to something like this. After that fiasco I decided to wait another year before heading back again. I came alone this time and was hoping that the God grade dish had returned. I was then crushed yet again, however informed of what happened. Having this knowledge I wasn't informed of before hand, I didn't hold it against the staff and decided to order their duck dish on my medium rare palate. I will tell you that something was still the same, the wait time. It felt like they had already had it prepared for me as soon as I walked in through the door, which made me feel very happy and upbeat that they may possibly have bounced back into the swing of things. This turned out to be a massive red flag that I normally wouldn't have missed, but being ignorant in the wonderful bliss of having my favorite restaurant back I dug in.... Immediately I noticed that it was cooked.... well, no it wasn't. It was purely, and unapologetically, raw. This was a massive blow to the night, and it didn't get any better. I called the waiter over and asked him, just to double check to see if the meat was properly cooked.(In all honesty I know little about cooking the meat than I do about how it should be cooked to meet what I like) And he did indeed confirm it was raw, and promptly asked to take it back to the kitchen. I agreed and thanked him for the help. After waiting ten more minutes it came back, with the pieces and slight inside cooked properly. I then thanked the waiter and ate two pieces before finding out they had just cooked one side to make it look like it was cooked properly. This is the part of the story where I lost my cool inside. After eating the side items(because I was going to be throwing this away) I sent for another waiter to take the plate away. Naturally he asked if there was anything wrong with the plate(as it was nearly untouched) to which I informed him about the situation. He then apologized and took the plate away asking if there was anything he could do to make it up. I refused(politely, I'm not a monster) and just went for desert. The desert was some chocolate cheese cake decorated with, cocoa Cocoa Puffs? I mean, come on people. That was the best you could do? $12 for the cake, it was alright and tasted like chocolate so it met the requirements. However, it wasn't anything to go out and pay $12 for. It was small, not artistic(except for the wood serving plate it came on I guess) and really had no reason to be that much in my mind. In fact, a Dairy Queen ice cream cake tasted better and was a lot cheaper than this. In the end, the manager came out personally and apologized for the mistake that happened and said not to worry about the duck on my bill.(Which I was going to pay for anyway and made up for in the tip) I appreciate the amount of service they have here, but for heaven sakes Central... GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. Living on service alone is not going to keep this restaurant afloat. read more

The great staff at Central let us in 10 minutes before afternoon closing time for an excellent late lunch. We had the fried green tomatoes topped with quest with Texas caviar for a starter. The tomatoes were piping hot and perfectly seasoned. The DH has the catfish tacos. I love wedge salads and the one served here was perfect! The teenager had a delicious cup of tomato soup with a triple decker grilled cheese sandwich. There's no kid's menu but they did whip up nice, crunchy chicken tenders with hand cut fries for the little one. An excellent lunch. read more

On a locals recommendation, our party celebrated the conclusion of a long work event at Central. It did not disappoint. We kicked the night off with the quail, oysters, and bread/cheese platter appetizers, which were fabulous. For my entree, I savored the lamb fillet, which was exquisite as well. I'd like to leave a huge shoutout to our two waitresses; Brandy and Haley. Their personal recommendation for the "Montey Mole" drink was mind blowing. The Montey Mole is a local secret not typically featured on the main drink menu, but one that Brandy and Haley highly recommended. It was smooth, sweet, and made you appreciate good times with good friends. The only reason this hidden gem is not 5 stars is because the Montey Mole isn't prominently featured on main menu for the world to enjoy. read more

We were in town to see some museums and used Yelp to find this place. I cannot day enough good things! The place is beautiful and has a lovely atmosphere. The staff, from hostess to food runners, was amazing. Our waiter Tanner gave us the perfect amount of attention, with Southern charm on the side. The fried green tomatoes are a must-have! Delicious! Also the "yard bird" sandwich is scrumptious! My best friend and I had a wonderful experience here. Prices are reasonable and you will not regret eating at Central! read more

This place was amazing! From the fun cocktails to the cheese board and desserts (I opted for the donuts with chocolate sauce, but the meringue got a lot of positive feedback in the group), this is a gourmet place worth a second visit. read more

Beautiful decor and attentive staff. Had the salmon. My only complaint was that you should let the kitchen know if you prefer it cooked less than medium well. It was overcooked to me. Husband had the striploin which was cooked to just above rare as ordered. The chocolate, peanut butter dessert was divinely rich. read more

I visit Montgomery once a year for work. Coming from the food capital Chicago, I know good food and service. Central is by far the best place in Montgomery. Make it your fist and repeated stop when in town. Say hello to Gabriel and Lindsey -best servers- for me! read more

Disappointed. Two stars are for service. Our server was excellent. Nice space and design but the food. Not even average and for this price it is simply unacceptable. I'm spoiled in Birmingham. Good restaurants, really good ones are everywhere. Hopefully this isn't an example of the Montgomery food scene. I like the Alley but if I go back Central is not an option. Hamburger covered in salt or at least tasted like it was. Amberjack cooked correctly but the sides were atrocious. Oyster appetizer nasty. Hummus or whatever the hell that was, nearly inedible. Frankly the place was a bit of a joke food wise. Oh well, perhaps Montgomery has more to offer. This place sucked. read more

The food was really good; albeit small portions and pricey. The big issue here is they don't know their drinks at all. Kept bringing out the wrong whiskey and beers. Oh well.... read more

Been here twice now, and hope this relative newcomer to the Montgomery scene sticks around - they're turning out some of the best food I've had around here in a long time. The pork belly and peaches starter is so good that a gospel choir should accompany it to your table and bust out in song with each bite (if you have never had the crispy, melty goodness that is pork belly, order it and I will wait patiently for your thank you note). Between my own choices and what my three friends ordered, I've probably sampled about a third of the menu. So far, I haven't been disappointed, and will definitely be back. read more

Wait, am I still in Montgomery, Alabama? My husband and I met up with my in-laws for a Friday night dinner and this place was bustling. With the high ceilings, modern decor, dim lighting and a good balance of noise with music, I felt like I've been transported back to New York City. I absolutely LOVED the atmosphere and the service staff totally contributed to that factor as well. As for the food, we loved everything we ordered. For appetizers, we had the chilled oysters and crispy calamari (which is definitely enough for 4 to share). As for entrees, my husband had the steak frites was very good but the steak portion was a bit small and the plate was over crowded with french fries. The wood fired grilled flounder was very good and the fish portion was generous, I really loved the vegetables and gnocchi that was served with it. My mother-in-law had the red fish, which she commented had a Cajun flare to it, overall she really enjoyed it. We will definitely be coming back here. Great food, great atmosphere, and great people! Love it! read more

Recently in from Houston and hosted a business dinner for a group from Japan on tour. Great service including repeat personal visits by Jerry Kyser, Owner. Not only was Jerry very helpful, he speaks Japanese !! And best of all he introduced me to two great red wines !! Wood fired snapper was top notch. Buttered squash risotto was wonderful, and until now I have not been a fan of risotto. Thanks Jerry! read more

Montgomery's best chef, without question is Leo Maurelli, III. He's obsessed with local, seasonal, fresh food and it shows. Seasonal menus change often and he uses fresh produce from the EATSouth Urban Farm just a few blocks away. Everything will be cooked perfectly and will often surprise you with flavor combinations and seasonings you'd never expect. Good cocktails and an above average wine list round out the dining experience which is outstanding both at lunch and dinner. Service is always earnest and good intentioned and seems to improve every time I go there. read more

I held my hubby's Bday party at Central in July. Although it was touch and go a few days before the celebration, Michelle, the manager stepped in and renewed my confidence in their ability to get it done. Our friends and family are still talking about that night. Since then, I've been back for a wine tasting. The staff was extremely attentive, professional and downright pleasant to be around. Turned out to be another great night! read more

While it is quite a bit pricey, the food is awesome! So, when you're in the mood for dining high on the hog, this is the place you should go! read more

Food was great, service was not. Slow to get drinks, appetizers, and the food. We ordered a second round of oysters...we got them for free because it took them so long. I expected better service for a Tuesday night. read more

We just had another flawless dinner at Central. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants. We have not had one thing on their menu that was not top notch. Their presentation is BEAUTIFUL. Our waiter Tanner made sure that we were well taken care of. Will definitely be having dinner there any time I'm in Montgomery. read more

This is a wonderful restaurant and one that we will continue to visit when we pass thru Montgomery on our way to the beach. We tried the pork jowl bacon and cornbread which was insane!!! Also tried the grilled ribeye, meatloaf and the trout. All excellent!!! Our waiter ( Robert) was so wonderful!! Kudos to an excellent staff!! read more

Perfect! Is is near the Legacy Museum, so we stopped for dinner. We liked it so much, we went back the next night. The wedge salad was huge, with generous creamy blue cheese dressing. The dressing was rich but not overwhelming. The Fall Green salad was amazing. it had a browned butter apple dressing. It was like a light apple toffee. The short ribs were hot, caramelized exterior with a hot moist interior. The glaze was phenomenal. The pork tenderloin was flavorful and again an amazing glaze. The chocolate peppermint creme Brulee was too decadent to completely consume, but we tried. The apple bread pudding was just perfect! One of us fell in love with the sweet potato cheesecake and had it on both nights. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. The ambiance was upscale with subdued lighting, but my old eyes could still read the menu It isn't often a restaurant can pull the entire dinning experience together, but this one has. Amazing! read more

This place bills itself as an upscale restaurant. It's a nice space, and it has a pleasant bar to sit at and eat or nice tables to dine at. However, the menu is way overpriced given the amount of food and overall dining experience that you received for that money. I had the salmon on the menu. Although I was given a bread plate, when I asked if they had any bread for dinner, they said that although other customers in the past have asked the same thing, they don't have any bread! Frankly, I don't know why they gave me a bread plate because they had nothing to make use of that plate. On a positive note, the service was good oh, the servers were very friendly and attentive, but after spending close to $55, I left the place hungry and headed down the street to a local pizza place where I had a single slice of plain pie which filled the spaces in my stomach. I think they skimp on things like bread and other things because they want you to buy dessert, which is also overpriced. All in all I will probably never visit this restaurant again until I forget about my experience there and then I will haplessly wander in and give it another try. read more

I'm very torn about my review. The service was great but the food was really mediocre. We ordered steak + frites & the salmon dish. The garlic fries were definitely on point, as well as the way the salmon was cooked. However, it's not a dish I'd be paying $25+ to eat... Maybe just because it was in Montgomery. We notified them earlier for reservations for my 1 year anniversary and we were offered champagne on the house- an extremely kind deed. But we were later charged for it and the server apologized saying it wasn't supposed to be on there... I've worked in a restaurant before and I never sent out a tab without double-checking the costs on it. read more

went to central this weekend to celebrate an anniversary & we loved it!!! had the fett sow fries (which were amazing!) the shrimp and grits and then the meringue pie. the food was awesome and our server nora took such good care of us and all of her suggestions were spot on! will definitely be back! read more

Superb experience! The menu is so eclectic and unique. I love the decor, it's so modern and the staff! Amazing! The food ranged from salads, appetizers, pizza, sandwiches...I know right, so what?!?!! ..... with a twist in all dishes. The burger was phenomenal. TRUST ME, this was not an ordinary burger!...it was my cheat day too, so I used it wisely. The service was on par and very quick! read more

We stayed in downtown Montgomery and ate here for dinner. The menu is excellent. We had salmon, steak and scallop dinners. Oh and tried the fish corn dogs. Everything was excellent. Service was great. Nice wine list. I had a cosmo and it was perfect. read more

I have gone back several times now for lunch and dinner. I kept waiting for the food to live up to the decor. I don't think that will happen. As it is a restaurant and not a gallery, I fear I won't be heading back. read more

Outstanding menu, service, drinks and experience. Went here twice while on a business trip and want to find reasons to return to Montgomery just to go here again! Such a fresh menu with very unique options. Drinks list is amazing as well. Not to mention they cater to kids well also! With their very unique menu, I was worried about bringing my daughter there my second time (even though she is a pretty adventurous 8 y/o). They don't show it on their menu, but they do chicken fingers and mac/cheese for the kiddos. MUST eat here if you are down for high-end dining with a great experience. read more

We had our best meal of our weekend in Montgomery at Central. The food, the ambiance and the staff were the best.

Ribeye medium substitute potatoes with grits ... 5 stars ... This is one of the best ribeyes I be ever had. The grits taste stone milled and the mushrooms Melted in my mouth. I think that was a gravy or some kind of meat juice all over the plate. First time eating here will not be the last. read more

I had a reservation tonight (2/13) at 6:30pm for my husband and me. I arrived and was pointed to a small 2 chair table that was placed directly in front of the entrance. Who wants to sit in front of the entrance door and very close to the hostess desk? There were other empty tables but I wonder why I couldn't sit at those tables. Something to ponder. This is too nice of a place to expect someone to sit in the doorway. Also the hostess at the door was not friendly at all. read more

Great restaurant. Excellent food. Super helpful staff. Great location. Had a private room for a large group. Couldn't rate it higher. Hope to return. read more

Wow, we had a great experience-- the food and sevice were both excellent! We had a babysitter so it was our date night. Central is fancy but casual, so we felt comfortable dressed up but also saw the usual crowd in AU tees and cargo shorts... Atmosphere is great: enough noise so it doesn't seem awkward, but not loud enough to drown out a conversation. The kitchen is open, so you can see the staff preparing the food. The bathrooms were clean and private. The bar area was spacious and clean. For dinner we sat in a booth-- also clean and comfortable. The bar opens 90 minutes before the restaurant, so we sat and enjoyed some drinks-- they have a nice selection of signature cocktails. The bar staff was very friendly. We had the charcuterie board appitizer and it did not disappoint. When it was time for our reservation the hostess found us to let us know the table was ready, but didn't rush us at all. Our server, Beth, was great. She made recommendations and seemed to know the menu well. We ended up ordering the "pork and beans" and fried catfish. The pork steak was huge! It was perfectly cooked and married well with the sides. The catfish was alsoa big portion, and tasted fresh (not muddy tasting at all). We had desert too-- the pecan pie is excellent! Some places have good pecan pie filling but the crust and ice cream is just meh. But this *whole* pie was delicious. Overall we spent about $150 for the two of us, but that's with 3 drinks, an appitizer, and desert. We had outstanding service, and none of the staff seemed rushed or irate. read more

Central - Signature cocktail: Corsair's Cup (if you like a good gin and ginger, you'll love this!) - Bars Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama