This is a delightful spot which in the past had nice food, good service. Location is delightful. THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE. We were the only party seated in the restaurant and it took 1 hour for the food to be served. Upon asking, we were told the fish just came in. Really? So why take the order if you have no salmon? The croque monsieur sandwich which was always the best now comes on some soggy type of bread. It was not edible. The Salmon Nicoise was simply OK--not outstanding. The French onion soup was very mediocre and there was no longer creme brûlée on the menu. On my last visit, the crème brûlée came out like mush without a crusted top. I thought it was just a glitch on that day . . . In the past, lovely French crusted bread and butter was served at each table. Now for $3, they supply you with a very tiny (and I mean very, very tiny) loaf of bread for two people. Other than the lovely location in downtown Bristol, I'd pass on this eating establishment. Sad, as it was always my very favorite. I sincerely hope the owner reads all this bad reviews and improves the food so we can once again return to this lovely spot. Others concur "it's sad, as this was once a great restaurant. Does the owner not care? read more

Completely in love with this place! I have already decided this is where I want to be for New year's Eve, my birthday and my anniversary!! :D Romantic atmosphere without being stuffy, or also good for groups! Or double dates. Service was spot on and the food and cocktails were amazing. Beer selection was small, but the wine and cocktail list didn't disappoint. Menu had a little bit of everything and the coffee smelled amazing! Looking forward to going back for brunch one Sunday!! I hoped this would scratch my itch for wanting to go to Paris, but I think it just made it worse! I love you Le Central!!! read more

Le Central - Peach Bellini for brunch - French Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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What an incredible meal! Everything cooked to perfection. You could the stock was really cooked the old fashioned way imparting such deep flavors. We can't wait to find an occasion to go back! read more

Have dined here 5 times and it is always sub par. Lovely waitress but overly salted food. Great location with lots of potential but, unfortunately, the food has always been disappointing. read more

French Without The Attitude Been going here for a couple of years and have yet to have anything other than a great experience. Others will remark about the food (it's wonderful!), but I want to add a plaudit for the atmosphere: Whereas other restaurants nearby have tables spaced cheek-by-jowl and are decorated with hard, noisy surfaces, no tablecloths nor curtains, and distracting ESPN TVs, here you can actually hold a conversation. Hoorray!!! The cuisine is most inventive. Tip: Sign up for the email notices for mid-week chef's specials. You may be tempted to try something you've never tasted before, and you'll be utterly amazed! read more

My wife and I had a nice dinner at Le Central in Bristol over the Labor Day weekend. Although the place gets solid reviews and it was a busy weekend at many locations, I was surprised we got a reservation easily on Thursday for Saturday night. The location is very open, nicely decorated and furnished. It is also nice for an evening with fiends. A party of 4 or 6 could enjoy a very comfortable dinner. It reminded me of the open cafes in Europe. However, for a romantic dinner for 2 it wasn't perfect. The conversations of the other tables seemed to be right on top of us even though they were not close by. The staff were excellent! They were professional and available without hovering. I had the crispy black bass over a corn chowder. The description in the menu simply didn't hit me until the plate was in front of me. It was a nice piece of delicious and crispy (pan fried, I think) black bass floating on top of a large bowl of delicious corn chowder. The chowder was not a deep layer but enough to scoop up with a spoon. I haven't ever seen anything like this - fabulous. My wife enjoyed the backed Sakonnet lobster which was a baked lobster body shell where all the meat from the tail and claws had been removed and placed back in the body cavity. Easy to eat, no mess. Desserts were the creme brûlée and the crepes with fresh fruit. I vote yes to both! A great dinner in a quaint town - we loved it. read more

My husband and I dined here on a late Saturday afternoon. We each thoroughly enjoyed our meals, the ambiance and the service. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable without being overbearing. My avocado and grilled shrimp salad was nothing short of divine. The avocado was at the peak of ripeness and the shrimp were perfectly grilled and served on a fresh bed f greens with a lovely dressing. My husbands chicken sandwich was a hit as well and we both throughly enjoyed the French fries which were the best we've had since being in Paris. We finished our meals off with a homemade dark chocolate turtle that was divine. read more

Very cute restaurant in downtown Bristol. Nice wine selection and affordable entrees, most of them under $20. We started with a charcuterie plate which was nice and delicious. There was some pâté, mousse, sausage, pickled vegetables, crostini, etc. I ordered the Cod Provencale and it was light, flaky and nicely done. My BF got the hanger steak and it was just so..so.. Our friends liked their entrees...Lamb and chicken. The service was very attentive and prompt. It was nice, but if I am in the area, I would go to Eli's for a tastier menu and greater value. read more

Food, service, and environment was great. I had the swordfish nicoise which was delicious. read more

Le Central - Swordfish nicoise - French Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

Quatre etoiles! Ima cut to the chase: days later I can't get one of the most memorable drinks I've ever had out of my head. - the refreshing PERFECTION of the Granita Mojito. My husband and I stumbled in weak, weary and a bit wet on our way home from the Newport Folk Fest. I saw "mojito" on the specials menu and once I got past my moment of judgement (uhhh, mojito at a French restaurant? - isn't the season of everyone-and-their-mother -including MY mother- serving craptastic mojitos sooooo 2009? .. .. yeeeeeeah, that sounds good.) we ordered two. Not knowing what granita was, t'was a most pleasant surprise to see a couple of tall glasses served with a floater of cool green frostiness on top. Perked us right up. House-made scoop of mint and lime granita, somewhere between a sorbet and a Italian ice, with a taste that shifted from tart to smooth. And all this wonderfulness drifting into the cocktail itself - ah! bliss! As we gushed at our server, she told us they serve it all summer long and have fans banging at the door for it by the first warm day of March. I believe it. And will become one of them. I love the simplicity of the French bistro menu with lots of small plates to choose from in addition to entrees. Most were hits with a few just-OK items - a salad special and uber-flaky tomato tartlette. The roasted corn chowder and the iconic French onion soups were generous and terrific, as was the hanger steak and crispy/soft potatoes Anna. Couldn't have asked for better service; we were even invited to a larger table after seating ourselves at a deuce. Nice and spacious atmosphere with French music and pleasant decor, though I did have to laugh reading Kay R. point out the 80's drop ceiling because I too noticed that the stars dangling from it really do "accentuate" it. Had a great experience at Le Central - fab food, friendly, very reasonably priced - can't wait to come back for brunch or a date night. read more

Tre magnifique! The food was out of this world! Great atmosphere and the service, ohhhh the service was brilliant. I highly recommend this fine restaurant while visiting Bristol. The lobster BLT was great, the salmon was dive and the French onion soup was exquisite! A must while on Hope street! read more

If you're craving French, this is a great place! Delicious menu. We had the charcuterie and steak frites and it was lovely. Love the atmosphere Nd servers are super nice. Fantastic wine selection too. read more

Le Central - Charcuterie - French Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

We tried this place for the first time last night with a Groupon and loved it. Great atmosphere, food and service. We had shrimp and avocado salad, curried carrot soup, steak frites, Moroccan chicken, lemon ricotta crepes, apple tart, wine and coffee. Only weak link was the steak which was just average but everything else was a home run. Our server Kristen, was super! Warm and helpful, she helped make our experience here. Wish it wasn't an hour drive from our house! read more

Every experience I've had here has been exceptional. I've been recommending this place to everyone I come across. If you're looking for a nice date night this is a must go to. Was just in on Wednesday for the stimulus meal and the striped bass was perfect. My mother came down from Michigan to visit and she loved the stimulus meal. Stimulus is such a unique experience and ideal for those who are open to new flavors and experiences. And what a good deal it was. A must try! read more

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After reading the great reviews I was so excited to try out this restaurant. Boy was I disappointed! I had reached out to the owner numerous times and the final attempt received an email back, but never a phone call. My son is getting married in Bristol, RI in October and I was considering having the rehearsal dinner at Le Central but after last night I will no longer consider having it there. I asked to speak to Jesse and introduced myself and my son and he was most receptive and suggested that after we finished our dinner he'd show us around the place and give us the information that we had asked for. Such was not the case. He left without telling us and that left a bad taste as did 2 of our three meals. The steak fritte was the only dinner that was cooked to perfection. The Coq Au Vin was so saturated in red wine that I might as well have asked to drink a bottle of wine. The rack of lamb was good but the Ratatouille was so overpowering with Cumin that one couldn't taste the vegetables. The lemon ricotta crepes were to die for and the fruits that came with it were fresh as well. The Chocolate Bread Puddding was nothing more than a mushy French toast however the Creme Fraiche was delightful. We will be back up there with family & friends in October and unfortunately this is not a place that I will recommend. read more

This is probably the best restaurant in Bristol/Warren. The skill of the chef is what sets this apart. The food is absolutely wonderful, creative, awe-inspiring and incredibly fresh. We came here for brunch occasionally years ago, moved away for 6 years and returned to the area and now it is a 2-3 night a week experience and we love every minute of it. read more

Party of eight Mother's Day breakfast $200 tab No toast or English with omelets Left hungry First time and last -Sorry read more

Didn't even get to eat ‍. Provide a jab card or they'll tell you to wear a face diaper unless you're consuming. No thank you not spending my money at places that ask for personal information. Plenty of other establishments that aren't covid crazy. read more

I was celebrating one of my friend's birthdays at Le Central. I didn't know what to expect but it turned out to be an excellent place to go! The food arrived at a good time even though the place was pretty busy and the staff were polite. The restaurant had a rustic and elegant feel but was still warm and inviting at the same time. My only complaint would be that there was a limited selection on the menu and the portions were rather small. Other than that, the food was extremely delicious and fresh, my first experience with Le Central would definitely be positive. read more

Le Central - French Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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Visited Le Central with my boyfriend and his parents last night and had a delicious meal! The atmosphere is classy but not stuffy, service was excellent, and the food was superb. Definitely worth a visit if you like French cuisine! I got the duck and it was absolutely delicious, tender and well seasoned. We shared the pâté as an appetizer and raved that it was the best we'd ever had. The biggest indication of the quality of this restaurant was that when our dinner came out, they told us that one dish did not turn out well, they were remaking it, and it would be on the house. Shows their dedication to delicious, quality food and customer service. While my boyfriend's mom waited for that meal, they brought a glass of wine from a bottle the restaurant had received as a gift and would complement her meal. Happened to be her favorite wine and was quite good. Dessert was delicious -- we got one of everything and shared. Apple tart was the favorite but I loved the lemon ricotta crêpes! read more

I used to absolutely love this restaurant but now it's not the same. The quality of the food has gone down hill but not the prices. The salad was small. The chicken was very fatty. The shrimp cocktail was awful. The shrimp were tiny. It's sad as this was once a great restaurant. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Bristol. It's very quaint with a lovely atmosphere. My boyfriend and I went there and loved it! He said it was the best burger ever! I had the Coq au vin which was outstanding. Portions were medium to large amount of food, but not too big. It's enough to satisfy a large appetite. I ate half of my dinner and took the rest home to eat the following day. I've actually gone here several times and have never been disappointed! read more

This restaurant is fabulous! Everything on the menu is top notch, well prepared and flavorful. We had the moroccan chicken and duck confit. In terms of cuisine, atmosphere and style -- best restaurant in the area. Reasonably priced too. Big plus is that the tables are spaced out enough that you can actually have a conversation. read more

Another great meal- this place never disappoints- great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Bristol's hidden gem.

I went on sunday for brunch. Overall, they do a very good job and there was only one flaw that I noticed. Our server was great. She was kind, outgoing, and funny. At one point, she spilled a little of my fiance's bellini, but then brought us a little champagne to make up for it (even though she didn't have to). We ordered quite a bit of drinks. The brunch menu has a surplus of champagne based cocktails. I ordered a mimosa, bellini, and a pomellini (champagne and pomegranate juice). My fiance ordered a bellini and some sort of Chambord drink (I can't remember the name). They used quality dry champagne, so none of the drinks were too sweet. They also used real juices, which is refreshing at brunch. They served us bread from Pan D'Avignon (Hyannis, MA), which was fantastic (as always). That was a great way to start because I was starving. For my meal, I ordered the Lobster and Mushroom Omelet, which was a special. The filling was lobster and mushroom in some sort of creme sauce. The mushroom and creme sauce combo was killer. The mushrooms were sweet while the creme sauce cut the sweetness with fat and salt. It came with a side of root vegetables which was perfect. The only concern I had about this dish was that it seemed that the lobster was undercooked (there was just something off about it). I felt that this was not up to the standard of the rest of my meal. My fiance ordered Eggs Florentine (which she asked to add bacon to). It was like some sort of breakfast corn mac and cheese. It was fantastic. Worth a try if you stop in (add bacon, always add bacon). Also the Cinnamon Popovers possibly could be the greatest food creation of all time. I would say it is worth popping in in the morning, ordering some, and heading home if you want an incredible and cheap breakfast. read more

Le Central is a lovely place for a casual brunch in Bristol. The menu offers everything you'd expect to find in a bistro, with Croque Monsieur and Moules standing out. The front of the restaurant has large windows that allow the room to be filled with natural light. Keeping with a very French bistro-theme, the floors are back and where, there is a counter towards the back with bar stools, and a private dining area towards the rear. French music played and several other tables seemed to be enjoying their brunch as much as we were. The tables aren't packed in, so I can imagine this being a great spot for a romantic date night. The service is good - subtle, warm and efficient. We were seated immediately, given water and had our order taken within 5 minutes. The food was good and fresh, but nothing special. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't go out of my way to come here again. read more

We went here for a graduation celebration and had the best experience. The service was amazing, every course we had was fantastic (especially the tuna ceviche) and the dessert was great. Start to finish the whole expensive was perfect and we plan to come back! read more

Mary and I went to Le Central after an event at Roger Williams University. I think we went into the restaurant because we were hungry. Certainly we wanted a nice meal, but we left thoroughly happy. I wish that I could remember what she had, my meal was the duck confit (always like having it out when available since it's rarely available in supermarkets). For what it's worth, I was raised in Bristol in the 70s and 80s so downtown has always been near and dear to me and my family. I have been a big fan of the transformation it has had over the last 5-7 years. However, I was skeptical about a French cuisine restaurant as the population is mostly Italian/ Portugeuse/ Anglo and very traditional in those respects. Glad to say that I was wrong given how busy the tables were and others were coming in at almost 9 at night. I wish Le Central a long and happy life in Bristol, they deserve it. read more

Came here for a Sunday morning post wedding brunch hosted by the newlyweds. The bread basket full of fresh pastries ROCKED. Their eggs benedict were so simple but so perfect, and I loved my quiche - lots of hearty breakfast meats mixed in with the eggs. Such an awesome brunch! read more

Le Central, is just an easy little bistro that serves up good food without the fuss and muss of a trip to Paris. Clean, white table clothes, comfortable booths, big bright windows facing the sidewalk and most of the trusty entrees you'd expect on a bistro menu. I had the Caesar Salad which was delicious. The bread and olives that were served before the meal were very tasty. Prices are decent and service was good. PS. This restaurant is undeniable very French influenced NOT Portuguese. read more

Terrific neighborhood bistro, the menu is fresh, creative, and wonderfully prepared. We really enjoy their tapas, as Le Central is one of the few restaurants around that offer tapas. We haven't been disappointed with anything we've tried and we love sampling many little plates. Tonight we tried the tuna panzanella. The tuna was just a tad past rare, but despite this, the dish was delicious. After a string of sub-par cuts of tuna at other restaurants, the piece I had was very nice indeed. My wife had the grilled lobster with a cilantro pesto-like sauce (I'm blanking on the name, and it wasn't chimichurri...). The summer corn chowder was divine, rich and creamy, without causing that heavy "lead sinker" feeling in our stomachs, like so many chowders do. We ordered the hangar steak for our kids. They all loved it and the kitchen did a really nice thing and split the dish up so that each of our kids had their own (perfectly sized to boot) serving. March 3, 2012- Visited again. The food was excellent. Again. The service was abysmal. The restaurant was 3/4 empty, we got there shortly after 5 p.m., the service was glacially slow, and our server messed up our order to boot, completely omitting one of our ordered entrees. Hope this is an aberration and not a trend... read more

Disappointed. We went here for brunch. The menu was limited. I had the mussels but turned out it really only have a small pot of mussels with nothing else, no side, no frites. The taste was mediocre. Totally overpriced in this case. My friend had a soda. It was a tiny glass and of cause he refilled for more. Turned out they charged per glass and my friend ended up paying for 8-9 dollars for his coke. Seriously??? We didn't remember seeing it in the menu (either drink price or no refill). I brought my friends here and I totally felt bad and embarrassed cause I brought them for a ripe off!! The waiter should at least have the courtesy to inform us when my friends expressed he will need a lot more soda when he ask for the first refill. the burger was dry and again with almost nothing on the burger except the patty. The only good thing was the fries. So mussel, burger, and 3 soda costs us almost 40 dollars for lunch, with a nit so generous tips. If I had known the check before my bf pay for it, I am going to complain. But he stopped me cause we were with our friend. Btw, this was June. I started the review but then too angry to finish it then. But I definitely will never come again. - Update - Re: jesse j. of Le Central Couple things: I am just trying to write an honest review about my dining experience. I am very disappointed by your reply. It sounds like you are accusing me of lying. I never bad mouth any restaurant. I remember how many soda I ordered and I know how to read the itemized receipts. By the way, I was there on 6/15/2013 about 2pm, if you care to find that receipt. The only reason I wrote this review was to give information/warning of refill charge cause I was assuming the staff know their job. I know some restaurant do charge for refill and it is okay as long as customers are informed. Now I guess I would say make sure you know exactly how much you will be charged for each item and check your bill and see if the amount is what you expected, if not ASK QUESTIONSSSS. My bad for thinking there may be more from your dish, I should have just stick to what your menu says. Considering that, it is still over-priced, both the burger and the mussels. I know how a bad review may ruin things for a restaurant, that's why I am always careful about giving a bad rating. Your response seems to justify the rating I gave. And re-reading the first review that I did give 3 stars, I kind of have it coming that the dish is overpriced for what it actually offers. read more

I went to a shitty wedding and found this place by accident... I have never felt so happy in my life.. Ever

I really want to love this place. Super cute decor, extremely friendly and helpful servers, and a 'classic French' menu. But, after several visits for dinner and a brunch - I like it. The best description of the food is a metaphor with the decor (ha - that rhymes): Beautiful black and white broad checked tiled floor - bistro tables nice for an intimate meal, or larger tables for Gram's 85th birthday celebration with the fam. Red punch-tin (or tin-looking) stars hanging from the... what? 80s-drop tile ceiling? Seriously? Lovely drop pendant lamps and... I can't believe it... 90s-some-burn-out-track-lighting? Really? It's the almost - but not quite. Very few probably notice it, but I do. So easily fixed! The decor may take a little $$ investment, but it is the cherry on top - the finishing touch that truly makes it, or breaks it. That is also Le Central's food for me - so close! But not quite. Brunch was by far my best experience here - nice mix of breakfasty-lunchy foods to satisfy the culinary cravings of a group with eclectic appetites. My mac n' cheese was okay. My dining companion could not stop raving about her savory crepe - food envy ensued. We'll probably be back, but there are other Bristol establishments that top our dining out list. read more

Had a Groupon to Le Central so we stopped by on a Saturday to enjoy an early dinner. However we left feeling "Meh." We went around 5:45 and were the second ones in the restaurant. We got a strange vibe from our waitress that lasted the whole meal. She didn't seem very pleasant, in fact she was bland which turns out to perfectly describe their food. I got the Catlan Cod and Clams and my gf got the Atlantic Grilled Salmon. The cod and clams tasted pretty good, but probably something we could've made at home, especially for 18 bucks. It comes with 4 clams and two small pieces of cod in a small pot with some veggies. The catlan noodles come on the side, and again were very bland. My GF said her Salmon was alright. It was light though again the price doesn't match the food. Like a previous reviewer mentioned, the place is buzzing with fruit flies. The service was below-average considering there were only 5 tables seated, with two waitresses working. We probably won't come back since the quality doesn't match the price. We wouldn't mind paying full price if it was worth it. Not even sure it is worth the Groupon price. read more

Le Central is something of a hidden gem in downtown Bristol, serving simple, well-prepared food made with fresh ingredients. You can't go wrong here with classic bistro favorites like the Salade Maison, Onion Soup, Steak Frites, and Coq au Vin, but there are some less traditional choices on the menu available too (the Lobster Mac & Cheese is a tasty indulgence when in season!). Portions are "European" sized, which suits the character of the place. Price is quite reasonable for the quality-If this same restaurant was in the Boston area all the dishes would cost at least $10 more. Atmosphere is simple, but nice and inviting. Bathroom is very charming and clean. Service is always extremely pleasant and accommodating. Not really much else to say! read more

Yum! We went looking for brunch and all the greasy spoons had long waits so we strolled into Le Central around 11:00 on a recent Sunday morning. We were seated immediately at a nice table in the window. I had an omelette which was excellent; my wife lemon ricotta crepes and she was tempted to lick the plate. One of our guests had hash and eggs and the other a BLT on brioche. The warm bread from the kitchen was a delight but they only brought a few pieces at a time (my one negative). Service was attentive and helpful. We were served promptly but never felt rushed. A breakfast oasis compared to the hustle and bustle of the places we couldn't get in to! read more

This place is just OK when it comes to dinner. There are other restaurants just as good or better in Bristol and the surrounding area. What makes it stand out is their very cheap and very elaborate tapas menu, which you can't find just anywhere. Of course, it runs from 5-6:30 and it's only during the week, but you can get things like Jambon Ham and Gruyere for $2, Roast Green Beans & Goat Cheese for $3 (YUM), hot or cold oysters with different sauces for $4, or grilled salmon or duck confit for $5. The tapas menu must have 50 items on it. Back to dinner though... Everything I've had here has always been pretty good. Nothing has stood out or made me want to come back (other than the cheap tapas), but it's good. read more

With all the choices we could've made for New Year's dinner we are so thrilled we chose Le Central. Each dish was perfectly crafted. Chef Jesse's handling of the veal and lamb dishes was flawless. An incredible meal from beginning to end. Jocelyn and Brenna, wonderful service as always, thank you so much! We have been a few times now and Le Central is officially a favorite. read more

We're locals and like to take advantage of Groupon/Living Social when we get the chance. This place seems to ALWAYS have one... which is a little suspicious. It's a pretty nice restaurant and I've had an awesome steak here. They are a bit pricey, but not overly expensive. Why we won't go back: The manager, or owner, nickeled and dimed us when we wanted to use an EXPIRED Groupon. As you know, when it expired you still retain the cash value. He fought us on it and lost a customer. Just a silly, silly thing for a manager to do. Having been here several times I can tell you that it's never been busy. Food service isn't prompt, but there are only ever three tables with people. Poor decision and a bad way to run a business. read more