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    Le Central

    3.5 (458 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Open 11:30 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Le Central Photos

    Business Info

    LE CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Le Central

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    Escargot
    Samantha A.

    Cute little place with great food. Attentive service, will definitely be going back again.

    French '75'
    Tina W.

    I have many fond memories of this iconic and intimate restaurant while working in the neighborhood in the 90's and oughts. That continues. The French 75 was expert and excellent and our service was attentive and professional as per usual. But I expected more from the menu. All the standards remain, familiar and comforting. Execution of those dishes however was uninspiring. Both our mains (salmon and the roast chicken) were plated on the dry side, not as savory and toothsome as we recalled. The pommes puree with the salmon was the star of the dish, the asparagus was there to fill out the meal but nothing special. I would return but it would be for a light meal of the onion soup and frites with a cocktail.

    Jen L.

    This place has a very old school vibe with lots of classic French decor. We got seated in their side room for weekday lunch. I got their chicken dish which came with gravy, greens and fries. It was a large portion for lunch and the prices also are on the higher side for a lunch. My dish was decent, good for causal lunch. They also gave us some complimentary bread and butter to start

    Mussels
    Richard H.

    Being a native kid from San Francisco I would walk by LC when I worked in the Downtown area and it was always on my bucket list of restaurants to try. After all, it has a great story as being a bastion of where business deals were cut by folks such as the former Mayor Willie Brown and other movers and shakers. The former Chronicle Columnist would always throw in a barb or two about LC along with mentioning the famous Haberdasher Wilkes Bashford. On a recent Thursday afternoon, I met a colleague for lunch and pictured are what we had. Really enjoyed the coziness of the dining area along with the old school bar. Highly recommend dining here and capturing a bit of San Francisco.

    Onion Soup Gratinée
    Jessica Y.

    The portions were tiny, especially for the high price tag. I didn't find this place to be authentic french food and the food they served was pretty generic. I feel like I could have been better off buying french Trader Joe's frozen dinner. I appreciated the service though and the ambiance was nice.

    Red wine
    Reyna P.

    The food here is great. I loved the ambiance--it wasn't too dark inside like most French restaurants. The server was very attentive and recommended a Bordeaux that paired excellently with the beef bourguignon. As for the food, the beef bourguignon was very tender and not extremely oily. The onion soup had rich flavor and was very filling. As for the dessert, the crème brûlée was just good-- I wish the crust was a bit crunchier.

    Pommes Frites- happy hour $5
    Diane T.

    Quaint, delicious, and intimate make for a fun evening when lunch was too much for a loaded meal. Happy hour is a great deal & all the kitties add up to a perfect amount when you're not ready to have multiple courses. Carlos was a terrific bartender; great attitude and courteous throughout our time here!

    Dungeness Crab Cake Beurre Blanc
    Scott N.

    We were here for lunch, so not quite as intimate as it may seem in the evening. That's okay, because we were here with a group. Our server was pleasant and helpful. He was only slightly too familiar, but not enough to remove any stars. His service was great. We ordered several appetizers. I'll say I didn't eat much. We ordered the Dungeness Crab Cake Beurre Blanc, which looked delicious. The Escargot Bourguignon also looked delightful. I did try some of the Fries, which I don't see on the menu. They were delicious. I ordered a Salmon dish, which again I don't find on the current menu. I am 99.9% certain it was served cold and it was fantastic. I must say all the food was plated beautifully and everything I ate was very good. There are a gazillion and a half restaurants in San Francisco and the Bay Area. I'm glad we chose Le Central for our team's lunch.

    Creme Brule
    Winston L.

    Located right by the Dragon Gate, the interior was cozy and decorated traditionally. Food was alright for its price. I enjoyed the cheese on the french onion soup but it was on the saltier side. Beef bourguignon was quite solid but nothing to rave about. However, I will say that they did a great job with presentation and plating the food.

    Beef Bourguignon
    Karen Z.

    Really liked the onion soup - full of cheese on top and a rich taste - salty but sweet. Crème brûlée is also a highlight, very crispy on the top and not too sweet. The main was okay. The restaurant itself is a little old, their sofa has cracks on the surface making sitting there a little uncomfortable. The server was also not very available - we sat for ~20mins before the server came to our table to get our order, and they had to separate drink and food order due to restaurant being too busy despite we were ready to order both. Then he got our bill wrong and charged 1 extra item.. $70pp post tax and tip

    Sautéed Petrale Sole
    Alex L.

    Came here for the SF restaurant week menu. Decent sized food for the price we paid ($45 each) Service is good. Ambience is very good. Very few parties and quiet (we dined late at 8pm) we were seated by the window by the plants, I liked the deco of the restaurant. Belgian endive salad: beautifully presented, good flavor, the honey walnut is a nice touch to balance out the bitterness of the vegetable. I think adding some vinaigrette will make this dish so much better. 7.5/10 Escargot: this is my favorite dish. Great sauce, perfectly cooked. And the olive oil/garlic based sauce is a great sauce to dip the bread in. 8.5/10 Sole: the fish was ok. The fish lacks in texture and the sauce was alright. It's not memorable. 6/10 Beef: the wine was a bit overpowering however the overall flavor was good. And braised beef is very thoroughly cooked. 7.5/10 Chocolate mousse: was ok. 6/10 Crème Brûlée: was very good. 8/10 Overall it is 7/10.

    Salmon
    Benjamin D.

    Highly recommend the salmon here. My colleague got the steak frites medium and it was very rare, so that wasn't great. Everything else was delicious!

    Crème Brulee

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    Mijoté - Celery root, apple, hazelnut

    Mijoté

    4.4(230 reviews)
    2.2 miMission

    Hidden away in the Mission District, Mijoté is in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot. Located on a…read morestreet corner with no signage, you'd be surprised to find such a fine restaurant with such little exterior flare. The inside of the restaurant is charming, with plentiful bar seating to watch as dishes are prepared in front of you in an open kitchen. The menu itself is constantly evolving and may be different with every visit. That being said, the main menu is a prix fixe 4-course meal with the option to add on 2-3 additional dishes to share. The meal starts with a amuse-bouche, generally a cold soup. For us it was a chilled golden beet soup, which tasted a bit like a nice, creamy sweet corn. One of the add-ons was the pâté de campagne, a blend of pork and fatty liver. Paired with a dijon mustard and fresh sourdough bread, it was surprisingly elevated for such a simple dish. Next were a pair of fish dishes that were the highlights of the meal, including sierra mackerel with fennel and peach, and monkfish and smoked butter. The monkfish was a particular standout as it was coated with a dill sauce, and complimented with the sweetness of diced rhubarb and earthiness of hazelnuts. The monkfish featured a smoky and lightly spiced flavor. The dish was extremely well-balanced and paired sweet, savory, sour, spicy, and smoky to a tee. Really excellent. The octopus and yukon potato was an add-on - the octopus was extremely tender, not rubbery at all, and the potatoes were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and soft like a mashed potato on the inside. The meal ended with a hanger steak which was solid, but compared to the other dishes, less extravagant. The dessert featured a rose sorbet, with milk foam and strawberries. As a whole, Mijoté dishes are simple, layered and extremely satisfying to eat. While presentationally may not blow you away, the taste will leave you feeling satisfied. The blend of French and Japanese culinary tradition and cuisine, Mijoté is comforting, elevated, and balanced. Very rare to find fine-dining that tastes so great while also feeling homey at the same time. If in SF, absolutely worth a visit.

    A solid place to go to for creative and fun food. I booked this place to celebrate my birthday and…read moreit was a good choice but because it's prix fixe, all they do for birthdays is put a candle in the dessert that's already part of the menu. The vibe is relaxed and a little irreverent. The staff are all nice. The food was overall solid with the sauces taking the dishes up a notch. They serve a sourdough from Josie's that is to die for. On the day I visited, the menu was a follows Chilled carrot soup amuse - this was a refreshing starter Yellowtail, golden beet, yellow peach with an orange sauce - the sauce was delicious but I felt the yellowtail was a little stringy and the pieces of fish, beet, and peach were too big Asparagus, white shrimp, ramp - I loved the sauce on this dish despite the shrimp being a smidge overcooked Beef cheeks, baby carrot, pistachio - the star of the show. The cheeks were meltingly tender. No notes Cherry, geranium, milk - a refreshing end to the dinner

    Photos
    Mijoté - Dessert with view from counter

    Dessert with view from counter

    Mijoté - Nectarine

    Nectarine

    Mijoté - DOMAINE LES SALICAIRES Torlit 2022

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    DOMAINE LES SALICAIRES Torlit 2022

    L’Ardoise Bistro - Prime Black Angus Rib Eye Steak

    L’Ardoise Bistro

    4.5(1.5k reviews)
    2.2 miDuboce Triangle
    $$$$

    C'est magnifique!…read more Authentic French cuisine with the cozy vibe of a bistro in France. Food is simply amazing, and some of the best I've tried ever. Have been here twice now and have left extremely satisfied. Over the past visits I've tried: Goat Cheese Salad: 4/5 very fresh and tasty, the walnut vinaigrette pairs so well with the balsamic. On the bitter side but I liked it Tiger Prawn Ravioli - 5/5, super unique and melt in your mouth. The sauce has an umami flavor and the dish is one of the best bites I've tried Steak (Filet) - 5/5, one of the best steaks I've tried. The seasoning is spot on and is very rich and flavorful Crispy Chick Breast - 10/5, my personal favorite dish. The chicken is seasoned to perfection, and the sauce lives up to the French rule that a perfect sauce is just as, if not more, important to the success of the dish. Love the mashed potatoes as well, my plate was wiped clean Desserts: 5/5 Apple Tart and chocolate cake - très bien The restaurant is tiny but it's part of the ambiance and reminiscent of a classic French bistro. Service is great, very friendly and attentive. Parking can be challenging as it's in a neighborhood and spots are usually limited, so plan in advance. Highly recommended.

    Probably 4.5 stars! Very strong, flavorful, traditional French cuisine in a warm, cozy,…read moreenvironment. Someone in our party booked this and I remembered coming here a couple of years ago and wondered why I hadn't come back yet. Lovely neighborhood bistro that's charming atmosphere with a classic feel and attentive service. We enjoyed the variety of tasty French dishes available daily and a few specials. We started with an order of crispy pommes frites and their special crab puff pastry. Both were nice starters. Then we followed that with Bijou Goat Cheese salad. They also had a nice wine list and we selected a good Napa cabernet sauvignon. For entrees, I had the Chilean sea bass that was breaded nicely and cooked perfectly tender over a bed of mashed potatoes and greens. The others in my party had the rack of lamb, duck confit and special entree of pan seared dayboat scallops and risotto. All dishes were solid but probably the best were the rack of lamb and seabass. For dessert, we shared the creme rules and chocolate fondant cake and I had a decaf latte, too. Both desserts were nice and rich but creme brulee was especially smooth and creamy. We were all full to the max! We left happy and I was glad we came back here for an early Mother's Day dinner!

    Photos
    L’Ardoise Bistro
    L’Ardoise Bistro - Duck Confit

    Duck Confit

    L’Ardoise Bistro - Espresso

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    Espresso

    Chez Maman West - Moules Poulette w/ White Wine, Bacon, Shallots, Cream & Parsley ($14)

    Chez Maman West

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    1.4 miHayes Valley
    $$

    Les Moules ! Les Moules!! Le Moules!!!…read more I tried Thai inspired Moules this time and it was incredible! Thank you for the recommendation (forgot our waiters name but he was awesome) We were just there for the mussels, wife ordered poulette, daughter got mariniere.....I also got a warm goat cheese salad and a beer as well! They also boast some of the absolute best French fries in the city, and plain or how ever you dip them ...incredible No food wasted, nothing to bring home, truly perfect dining experience! 5/5 .

    There's not too much that can go wrong with a burger. The portions for the fries were huge and the…read moreflavor was great on the burger. I didn't have that big of an appetite to try much else for appetizers or entrees. Maybe next time. The desserts are extremely sweet, more than I am used to. The things that knocked down some stars are weird particles in my beer that I noticed towards the end. My friend had the same beer with nothing. I've also had this beer many many times and there shouldn't be anything in it. There's also a lot of flies outside in the booths so it makes eating a bit annoying when you have to constantly swat around. The servers check up on you almost a little too much. By that I mean a different person coming up to the table to ask if you're done and when you say no, 5 min later, another comes up to ask the same thing. It felt like it was being rushed.

    Photos
    Chez Maman West - Steak Tartare (Half Portion - $8)

    Steak Tartare (Half Portion - $8)

    Chez Maman West - French Onion Soup ($6). Good but not as cheesy as the original one in Potrero Hill.

    French Onion Soup ($6). Good but not as cheesy as the original one in Potrero Hill.

    Chez Maman West - Beef tartare & Dijon mustard , capers, shallots , quail egg and toast points.

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    Beef tartare & Dijon mustard , capers, shallots , quail egg and toast points.

    Galinette - Escargot, puff pastry, cream of mushroom $15

    Galinette

    4.4(177 reviews)
    6.4 miParkside
    $$$

    Enjoyed an afternoon lunch here and was so excited to check off one of my bookmarks. We opted for…read morethe outdoor seating since it was nice and sunny that day, and who doesn't love people/dog watching?! since it was my first time here, i wanted to try as much food as i could by ordering a bunch of tapas and have myself a girl dinner spread. Beef Tartar (4/5) Raw beef, capers, cornichons, shallots, whole grains mustard, raw quail egg. it was pleasantly rich and paired wonderful on the bruschetta with the chicken liver mousse! Chicken Liver Mousse (4/5) drizzled with balsamic sauce and served with baguette, stone ground mustard, pickled red onions, and dill pickles. the pate itself was okay, it was very irony on its own, but as you build your little toasts with more toppings, it all comes together very well. Escargot (5/5) sooooo rich with buttery garlicy goodness topped with a breadcrumb and parmesan crust. this dish brings me back to Paris eating at an outdoor bistro. this goes wonderful on the chicken liver mousse bruschetta P.E.I Mussel Mariniere (5/5) White Wine, Shallots, Garlic, and Celery. This is a whole meal in itself! full of juicy mussels and plenty of that delicious white wine sauce on the bottom. i lowkey wanted to slurp the entire thing but that would be unsightly :) Service was very good. our server recommended a great bottle of white wine to enjoy with our food and he was happy to refill the pickled red onions and mustard upon request. since it was a Thursday afternoon, it wasn't as packed as the dinner crowd but i believe they have music on some weekends! great for date nights and small groups. take a walk on the great highway (sunset dunes) after your meal to end a great day!

    We decided to try Galinette as we've seen it on Yelp for a while and wondered if it was good, we…read moreparked on the street since there's no parking nearby. We came in to a pretty empty restaurant with some people on the other side of it. We got the escargot, chicken and a burger and beef tartare, and the escargot was average. Not much flavor but wasn't too bad to be honest. The reason why I gave it a 3 was the service, it wasn't bad but it was very uninviting, the people who was helping us didn't seem enthusiastic to have served us and kept a very straight and monotone voice was talking to us. half way through it felt like they wanted us to leave. Overall this was a decent place. For the food: the chicken was huge! though it was very standard and pretty dry in certain parts, the burger was much better in my opinion and actually worth getting maybe with some fries but they are 7$. The beef taretare was delicious and we devoured it.

    Photos
    Galinette - Beautiful mural

    Beautiful mural

    Galinette - Half Organic Roasted Chicken, Brussels Sprouts, Dijon Mustard Cream $24.

    Half Organic Roasted Chicken, Brussels Sprouts, Dijon Mustard Cream $24.

    Galinette - Escargot w/ puff pastry, cream of mushrooms | $15

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    Escargot w/ puff pastry, cream of mushrooms | $15

    Chez Maman East - Basic Burger w/ frites + cheddar & avocado

    Chez Maman East

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    2.0 miPotrero Hill
    $$

    I've been constantly passing by this place and seeing a busy line so finally had to try one…read moreweekday. Was busy as usual but I came with a group of two(highly recommended) as the seating was much faster than the larger parties. The portions for some of the entrees are huge so be mindful not to over order! We tried the mussels which were delicious and the sauce it came with was great with the fries from the hamburger. I found the burger to be way more luxurious than what you'd normally expect. Again be prepared some things can be quite large. we also tried the soup of the day which was this lovely tomato basil soup and the pork chop which was perfectly cooked with another great sauce that i kept on dipping the fries in. One last note is the atmosphere it definitely feels like a nice cozy cafe that makes you wanna stay and chat with ur neighbors. Had a blast and i'm looking forward to trying their other entrees someday!

    chez maman has been on my list for awhile, and i finally got to try! with a party of 2 on a sunday…read moreat 6:30pm, there was a 10 minute wait which was perfectly reasonable. we sat at an outdoor table which was slightly slanted, but it was manageable. the french onion soup was soo good. the flavors are very nice, and the textures of the cheese, bread, and onion were incredible. the croque madame was also quite good, it was a fried (?) ham sandwich with an egg on top. the arugula salad had wonderful dressing. lastly, the mussels were decent, i wanted to try them since theyre a standard french faire but i was a bit let down by them. however, the fries were really great! overall, i would definitely come back to chez maman and get the french onion soup and another croque madame. really recommend this place!

    Photos
    Chez Maman East - Baked camembert and roasted garlic. Spread the garlic and then the warm cheese and get happy

    Baked camembert and roasted garlic. Spread the garlic and then the warm cheese and get happy

    Chez Maman East - Basic Burger (medium) with Frites - add Fried Egg and Brie

    Basic Burger (medium) with Frites - add Fried Egg and Brie

    Chez Maman East - French Onion Soup

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    French Onion Soup

    Gary Danko - Matcha cake

    Gary Danko

    4.5(6.1k reviews)
    1.4 miRussian Hill, Fisherman's Wharf
    $$$$

    If you are looking for the pinnacle of fine dining in San Francisco, Restaurant Gary Danko remains…read morethe gold standard. From the moment you walk through the doors, the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between high-end luxury and genuine warmth. The Service The service here isn't just attentive; it's intuitive. A standout moment of the evening was the seamless coordination of the staff--they actually slid the table out for me to ensure I was seated comfortably, a rare touch of old-school class that you just don't see often enough anymore. Every need was anticipated before I even had to ask. The Menu & Wine The decor & ambiance is very romantic, low lights. Nice art on the walls. The flexibility of the menu is a major draw. Having the option of a 4 or 5-course meal allows you to tailor the experience to your appetite, and every dish was a literal work of art. To pair with the meal, their wine selection is world-class; the sommelier offered impeccable recommendations that elevated the entire evening. The Finishing Touches What truly sets Gary Danko apart, however, are the "extras." We ended the meal with a beautiful complimentary treat from the chef, which was a delightful surprise. To top it all off, we were sent home with their signature pineapple breakfast treat. Enjoying that the next morning was the perfect reminder of a flawless night. Verdict: An absolute must-visit for foodies and anyone celebrating a special occasion. Five stars doesn't feel like enough! Small gripe: only 1 rest room. Unika B. & Co. Mindset Maven

    I booked this through OpenTable, where reservations open up about 60 days in advance. Since I was…read moreplanning a 50th birthday and really wanted the private room for our group of seven, I actually set an alarm for midnight to snag a Saturday night spot right when it dropped. For the private room, you have to choose between a 5:30pm or 8:45pm seating. Even though I've been hearing about this place for decades, this was surprisingly my first time actually eating here, and it did not disappoint. For parking, they don't offer valet so the easiest options are to take an Uber or park a block down at the Ghiradelli Square garage. We showed up 15 minutes early and were escorted to the private dining room in the back, up a few steps. As noted on the reservation site, there is no wheelchair access to the private dining room. The room had a great vibe. Much quieter than the main dining room and dimly lit but not so dark that you couldn't see anything. Even though the large oval table seats ten, it was perfect for our group of seven; we had plenty of space to stretch out. They kicked things off with a massive wine list and cocktail menu. I thought about bringing a bottle of wine but corkage was $100/bottle. Our party stuck to cocktails, and I started with the "Breakfast of Champions." It's a twist on an Old Fashioned made with cereal milk-washed Maker's Mark, which was interesting and actually pretty good, but for the second round, I just went back to a classic Old Fashioned, my go-to drink. Their menu is available as a 3-course ($130), 4-course ($165), or 5-course ($185). The menu lets you pick from appetizers, seafood, meat and game, a cheese selection, which they curate, and dessert. The cool thing about Gary Danko is that you don't have to follow a set order. You can customize the whole meal however you want. If you really wanted to, you could even just pick main courses! We all went with the 5-course meal. Why not? I chose 2 appetizers and 3 main entrees: 1) Crab salad - although it appeared "small", it was beautifully plated with a fresh spring salad, grapefruit and orange wedges, and 4 pieces of dungeness crab leg pieces on top of an avocado quinoa "cake". It was the perfect dish to start with. 2) The lobster and rock shrimp risotto was the star of the show! While I expected a small appetizer portion, the dish was surprisingly generous. It was packed with seafood and was the best risotto I've ever had! 3) Next up was the roast lobster, and it definitely did not disappoint! The plating of the tail and claw was stunning (see my picture), and the sauce was next-level. I actually had to use some bread to soak up the leftover sauce, yes, it was that good. 4) Keeping with the seafood theme, I went for the seared scallops with fregola, cumin carrots, and arugula pesto. The scallops were perfectly seared, and the whole dish was so flavorful that I had to grab another piece of bread just to get every last bit of the sauce. By now I was stuffed and had no idea how I was going to fit the 5th course coming up! 5) To be honest, by the time the beef filet with potato gratin and bone marrow béarnaise arrived, I was already so full I could barely enjoy it. The steak was incredibly tender and came conveniently pre-sliced into four pieces, which made it easier to pick at, even though I was stuffed. The timing of the meal was perfect, with about 25 minutes between courses so we never felt rushed. The service was also top-tier and the staff moved in sync to present everyone's plates at the same time, kept our water glasses full, and cleared everything quickly. Plus, they kept the table stocked with fresh bread between every course. I wish I went easy on the bread and butter. The several slices I ate definitely put me over the top! Since we were celebrating a 50th birthday, they brought out a slice of chocolate cake with a candle. It arrived right alongside the chocolate soufflé one of my friends had ordered as a course, so we all just dug in and shared. That soufflé was incredible. They also included two plates of petit fours to share. Because there wasn't a booking after us, they let us hang out as long as we liked, and we finally headed out around 9 PM. It was honestly one of the best dining experiences I've had. If you have a group of 6 or more, I highly recommend booking the private room, it makes the whole night feel so much more intimate.

    Photos
    Gary Danko - Inside (12/27/25)

    Inside (12/27/25)

    Gary Danko - Seared Ahi Tuna

    Seared Ahi Tuna

    Gary Danko - Chocolate souffle

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    Chocolate souffle

    Le Central - french - Updated May 2026

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