Le Central Reviews

Is this the best food I've ever had in my life? No it is not but it was assuredly good. For the best food, you must go to La Rosetta in Rome near the Piaza Navonna I believe. But here? I'd ducked into this oldest of French eateries in San Francisco as the one single splurge of dining for myself on my week stay in the dead of January. They were booked. An hour wait awaited - I could not wait. I trundled not far away to an unnamed French eatery, was promptly plotzed in an alley seat as they returned three times, each time with something else missing - something else they did not have. Once the very nice Chinese couple next to me started arguing, I called it a night - and returned to Le Central. The Maitre D' made the same soliticous and fawning greeting he'd made before but now, voila! There was space for a single diner. So I was put in the middle of a thriving, buzzing hive of Friday diners - with two native San Franciscans, one being a doyenne in the Museum Business. The waiter was sharp as any I'd ever had. The Onion soupe was nearly perfect and the Mignon was not bad. But his attentiveness, his swiftness and his good humor were part of what made the evening so memorable. I can recall leaving, thinking, only were I able to eat out every night - this would be such a place I would grow to become a regular. Do try it. Do not be put off by my reserving "best eats" of my life for elsewhere...fine place this.

atmosphere was cozy and service was awesome! I left my credit card in error, called them and they sent it to my home.. will go back next time I travel to SFO.

This venerable institution serves good food, but as bistro fare goes, it wasn't particularly inspired. The decor is tired and even the waiter seemed a bit tired. My soup was so blah that a week later I can't even remember what kind it was. Some kind of cream vegetable soup that I recall tasting bland and underflavored. The goat cheese and leek tart was good and the frisee and pears were nice accompaniments with it.

Wonderful French food here. It's so good, it is memorable! Always look forward to visiting San Fran to dine at this place.

I don't understand how Le Central isn't busier. Except maybe that it was a Wednesday night. I ordered a glass of Reisling but they don't carry it by the glass, which I'm finding is standard in northern California. But my server Scott walked me through my options until we settled on a white burgundy which turned out to be perfect. I then ordered the fresh oysters on the half shell with a wine and shallot dipping sauce, which Scott again was kind enough to explain to me as they were my first oysters. Quite enjoyed them. My main was the dayboat Scallops Provencal which were perfectly cooked, melt in your mouth good. I finished with the cold lemon souffle with berry compote, which shouldn't be allowed it's so good. The lemon is so lovely subtle that you just roll it around on your tongue, hoping to never get to the bottom of the dish. Coupled with the berry compote it's just amazing. I would go back for this every day if I actually lived in San Francisco.

My wife and I fell in love with the Cassoulet at Le Central 33 years ago when we were living in San Francisco. At the time it had been cooking for over 3,000 days but I hadn't been back since. The Cassoulet has now been cooking for over 15,000 days and is as wonderful as ever. Other classics I saw served looked equally good. Nice ambience, good people. Doesn't get more classic than Le Central. Vas y!

We come to San Francisco every year for an investment conference, and this is our favorite place to dine in the downtown area, just a short walk from Union Square. The food is consistently good and the service is impeccable. There is a very intimate atmosphere and it is never noisy. You definitely feel like you are in a French bistro! I love cassoulet and order it whenever I can, but this is the very best by far of any restaurant. Somehow they manage to get the meat so tender that it melts in your mouth, without overcooking the beans, and the flavor is out of this world. There is a nice selection of wine by both glass and bottle. The only reason I am not giving this five stars is that on this particular visit, my husband had the halibut and it was dry and overcooked, a bit of a surprise, but otherwise the meal was excellent. We will definitely come back again.

Living in San Francisco, I have my choice of all kinds of restaurants. But after a couple of decades of eating around town---upscale, mid-range, dives---Le Central draws me back. Why? Service consistently very good & it looks the same---no stupid catering to the latest decorating trends, just attractive, well-kept, and cosy. The food? Well, like the best restaurants in France, they do a limited number of dishes very very well. Of course there are seasonal additions to the menu, but their go-to dishes are unchanging. They serve the best steak/frites outside of the hexagon, for instance. Le Central isn't cheap, but it's not ridiculously stratospheric either, and you definitely can be sure of getting your money's worth.

Looking at the window menu outside. Probably would have passed had it not been for the friendly invitation from the lady at the door. A somewhat pompous server (playing the part of a Frenchman?) took our order and was generally good at what he did. The Escargots de Bourgogne was the best that we've had in many, many years.

I was treated to a birthday dinner at Le Central, and it was just wonderful from the moment we walked in the door. Great ambiance of days gone by: beautifully decorated, white table cloths, etc. I ordered beef bourguignon which was so tender, I didn't need a knife. It came with delicious mashed potatoes. And I split a celery root salad which was also so tasty. The waitperson was friendly and efficient. A great restaurant.

I stopped in to Le Central late Tuesday night, famished after seeing a play at ACT. they were just down from my hotel, so I stopped in to see if i could get something to go. The kitchen was actually just closed. The bartender and server took pity on me and said to the cook, "can we maybe do a Goat cheese Tarte for her? Cook was so sweet to comply though I am sure he just wanted to go home! Goat Cheese Tarte was awesome as was the salad Frisee served with it. Bartender really great, didn't want to see me go without food, or drink even though I came in as they were closing. It was a cozy little place, and I will be back to experience this place while they are open for business.

Have wanted to eat here in the past but never was able to make it. It was worth the wait. This is the oldest French restaurant in San Francisco. I wanted to try the house specialty, the cassoulet, but opted for the scallops, which were excellent. My wife had the grilled salmon. There are lots of things on the menu we want to try next trip. Great atmosphere, not as large as I had thought, sort of a neighborhood feel, friendly and efficient wait staff.

UNREMARKABLE in every single way. We had the roasted chicken and the cassoulet, both were bland, completely unseasoned, and lacking any flavor at all. And this place passes on the 5% SFEM tax to customers as well! Go elsewhere!

We dined recently at the Central, a restaurant which I frequented and knew well in the 1980s. The bistro style has been upgraded (personally, I preferred the previous ambiance), but the quality of the "poulet/frites" remains unchanged: Excellent. The restaurant was full, as to be expected on a Friday evening, and the noise level was high, but it was a pleasure to return to this old favorite.

My wife and I had the great fortune of spending a week in the South of France on a canal trip. Between us and the other couple we traveled with - someone had cassoulet for dinner each night of the week. We were SPOILED. Upon returning to the Bay Area we have yet to satisfy our craving. We are looking forward to this fall when cassoulet gets back on the menu at L'Escargot in Carmel. In the mean time, our friends had discovered that cassoulet is a speciality at Le Central. We decided to go up to San Francisco for this reason alone! We had an easy time making a reservation on Saturday night, so Le Central is no longer as popular as it may have been in the past. We had an excellent Paté as a starter. We both ordered the cassoulet as our main course. The flavor was excellent, the presentation was very good, the flavors were also very good. The downer for both of us was it was not served as scalding hot as we expected. It was kind of lukewarm. My wife felt there was not enough of the various meats that are part of the traditional dish. In summary, it was average and we would not send someone there just for the cassoulet. They have a large menu and we will try other items in the future, but we will continue our hunt for the best cassoulet in the Bay Area.

An old school eatery that serves solid food and good service. Not a spot to wear blue jeans/sweat shirts and baseball hats. If you want to rub elbows with some of San Francisco's mover and shakers this is your spot. Each time we dine here we spot people we have seen on tv the prior week. Recommend the pate, pasta dishes or steak and frites.

This is alongstanding San Francisco favorite. The atmosphere is inviting yet somehow intimitate. The menu boasts a broad range of traditional appetizers and entrees and the wine list has a wide range of California and Italian wines.I have dined here a half dozen times over the past 40 years o trips from Portland.

Our first time at Le Central, won’t be our last! Small European style French bistro. Requested a quite table and were seated at the last table in the bar area. Even with a large party was fairly quite...would like to try the dining room area. Service provided by a very knowledgeable waiter. Food as really good. Had onion soup, and escargot. A delicious portion of salmon followed and generous crab cake for my husband. Ended our meal with a cold lemon soufflé....perfect dessert. We will be going back for sure!

We enjoyed a window table, and started with a chardonnay and wonderfully fresh butter lettuce salad. The duck dish was good, and the leek and goat cheese tart was excellent. We shared a dessert. All satisfying.

Had several lunch/fingerfood sessions overthere, also nice wines which will perfectly go along. Spot is close to union square.

Le Central has been a mainstay for lunch for decades. It is so comforting to have the food still excellent, service impeccable, and experience flawless!! We even saw two attractive ladies having martiniS sat lunch!! CLASSIC!! Can't go wrong at this place...

Food was good but the waiter can have more of a personality..They offered some very nice specials that included a glass of wine and dessert. The endive salad and smoked salmon was very good.

The ambiance reminded us of a place you could find in France. The service was excellent and was matched by the food. Everything we had was great. I had the burger which was delicious and not too big. My wife had mushroom soup and truffle fries which she enjoyed. The prices were relatively reasonable for what we received. Our waiter was great as well. Fun place.

We went for dinner on a Saturday night. We went a little later, so got a table without a reservation. We had been eating a lot for 3 days, so decided beforehand we were going to go a little light. My husband had smoked trout and blood sausage (LIGHT??? Hmmmm), and I had a beet salad and French onion soup. All courses were delicious! But beyond the food and decent wine....the other patrons were SO entertaining!! We giggled and giggled at the things we overheard.

My husband and I went here with an aunt and uncle that live in the city and frequent this restaurant. I expected the food to be good, but I was truly impressed that the atmosphere almost felt like I was in Europe and the service was really outstanding. It's a little pricey but so are most restaurants in the city... At Le Central I really felt like you get your money's worth! :)

Classic old fashioned French cuisine here in an old fashioned atmosphere. It's lovely and the food is good. Our service was perfect, charming. This is a quiet restaurant where you can actually have a conversation. Wow! Prices are high, but not more than other fine dining places in SF. A pleasant evening with friends.

During a recent trip to SF I went by Le Central at 4 pm on a weekday with several colleagues because we did not have time for lunch. I had fond memories of eating there many years ago. I was at first disappointed that they were not serving food unless one sat at the bar. It turns out that eating at the bar was fine, but not great. We passed on a list of very inexpensive appetizer happy hour specials to have their famous Cassoulet. It was as good as I remember. The bartender was friendly and provided good service and friendly talk. The downside was that it was difficult to talk with my dining partners. Next time I go it will be either for the appetizers or a sit-down meal, but I definitely will go back.

A warm welcome which gets speedily shattered by the 'attitude' of waiting staff and the very poor quality of ingredients, cooking and meals. Wine is overly expensive and of poor quality. To say the food leaves much to be desired is a gross overstatement of the reality. Waiting staff ask if the food is ok, but don't really want to know. I was told by the head waiter that I had an early opportunity to say I was not happy, but the level of disinterest belies this. The restaurant did have the grace not to charge me for my meal - however the level of arrogance and certainty with which one was met, appeared to show that this lacked sincerity. It is very expensive for what it offers - seriously overpriced and lacking in quality & delivery. I would NEVER return and sincerely could NEVER recommend this establishment. You would be wasting your money for a poor experience which only leaves a bad taste in your mouth!

Very friendly service we had the creme brûlée and soufflé both where just great and I had the frank dreamily Pinot which was very good I could of easily had the whole bottle and my friendly had the mascot, I'm very we walked into Le Central

Linda provided exceptional service and made us feel welcomed. Fine service and proper beverages. I’m convinced I need to come back for food based on the quality of Linda’s bar service.

Though I don't live in SF, I have been to Le Central probably 20 times over the years and it is always a treat. Authentic zinc bar French bistro environment and fare. Simple, but excellent menu: the half roast chicken with pommes frites is a classic and never disappoints. If it's on the specials menu, the beef bourguignon is the choice. Cozy place for a satisfying meal.

Meh... last time here was 20 years ago when I worked FIDI and I've told my wife for years they have the best Cassoulet in the world, better than we've had in Lyon, France... yeah, not so much anymore... The Steak au Poivre literally did not have peppercorns but rather was a brown gravy and mushrooms... hey I wasn't born yesterday and I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, I know Steak au Poivre, and this was no Steak au Poivre... The onion soup was tasty as was our reasonably priced bottle of french red... service was goo.b But we cannot recommend.

I know there are other French restaurants in San Francisco that we could go to but we always seem to end up going to Le Central. It's that reliable. They greet you at the door. It has a warm and friendly ambience. People sitting at the bar are usually laughing and having a good time. I love their escargot and pate appetizers, as well as their salads. Their main dishes and specials have been consistently good. It may not be a Guy Savoy or Joel Robuchon or Thomas Keller restaurant. It's more like your simple neighborhood bistro down the street from your hotel in Paris. It's where the locals go for a drink or to catch a bite after work. And Rule #1 of dining when traveling: "Go where the locals go."

So classic. Classy. Delicious. Go for white burgundy! Mussels, goat cheese salad. Everything cooked and delivered perfectly by the professional, friendly staff.

A stones throw from the Chinatown gates this is a central (get it?) spot that should be reasonably classifies as good-not-great cuisine and pretty authentic Parisian bistro ambience. Friendly & efficient staff. Very good bartenders. Decent reasonably priced wine list. It's Union Square meets Financial District meets Chinatown so slightly schizophrenic but it all works. Not quite fine dining but more than casual. Family friendly & lots of kids on last visit though I think it was pre-Nutcracker on Xmas Eve, so a great family atmosphere. Recommended.

We initially stopped in to Le Central for a glass of wine during Happy Hour after a busy day of touring. The restaurant was so lovely that we returned for dinner the following evening. The service is friendly and attentive,the menu varied and the food excellent. Whether you want a burger (yes it's on the menu) or a typical French cassoulet Le Central is a spot where the locals dine. Their location is a short stroll from the cable car so be sure to make a reservation and enjoy this elegant dining establishment.

The previous reviews nail it well: we felt is was better than "very good" though not quite an unqualified "excellent." A bit too noisy and overpriced. Because we are vegetarians, we couldn't try the famous cassoulet there, but the other dishes were just fine. We felt welcomed from the moment we entered. Service was warm and responsive (special shout-out to server Dave and bar server Kirsten). We are Bay Area locals. So we are very likely to return.

Was taking classes and staying at the Hotel des Arts next door for a week. This lovely place became my refuge from the grind and hustle bustle. Gracious, attentive service,an excellent happy hour, an old soul bar tender Kirsten, and wonderful food. What more could you want?

The restaurant has a charming French bistro quality, but the food and service are subpar. The raw oysters were tasty, but miniscule. The crab cake was a salty, doughy, mushy mess with no crab flavor at all and accompanied by canned beurre blanc. Mrs. Paul's can do better. The veal dish, although tender, was ugly and colorless. Also flavorless. The wait staff was unpolished and the host looked bored and depressed. Avoid this tired rip-off.

Highly recommend this restaurant. Good food. Good service.felt very comfortable to be there. Mussel appetizer was tasty.

We had lunch here earlier in the week and it was even better than the last time we were here. Our party of 2 ordered the mussels to share to start and then i ordered the Halibut and by business associate ordered a steak. We had a side of Pom Frites and split a bottle of wine. All was very good and tasty! The service was good and we had a very enjoyable lunch.

Atmosphere and food was like being back in Paris Terrific spot.The service was very good and the food was also quite good Enjoyed our dinner

This long-time SF favorite near Union Square is perfect for French bistro fare. A bit worn around the edges, yet it retains all of the charm of a local favorite with good service and classic bistro favorites from oysters to steak frites.

We sat at the bar and loved it. The food and drinks were great, and the bartender was a delight. Highly recommended.

Up near the gates to China Town in the high end shopping area. Yes, you will still see homeless camping out and trash everywhere but we weren't out numbered here by the crazy and the drugs and the tents. So a pretty nice area and safer than others by SF standards. And obviously the street is not the fault or responsibility of the restaurant so please know I am not blaming the restaurant. Place has been there for like 40 years. Same menu items. We got a little of the early on "oh drat, they have (teen) kids so the bill won't be enough to really bother with them" but our waiter came around and started to treat us like other tables. And we still managed to hit $300 for dinner so there was a decent tip! French onion soup was excellent as was the filet. Cooked perfectly and served hot. Nice display and portion. Burger got good reviews. The chicken and cassoulet also received very positive comments. There was some decent priced wine. Nice atmosphere (yes, the standard crazed street person screamed at the window for awhile but we didn't get the table right by the window. That floorshow of crazy was reserved for couple that had to awkwardly ignore it) and while I will never go back to SF on a dare, this was a wonderful restaurant and the food was great. If you have to go or happen to live there, I would recommend.

It's been awhile but went recently after holiday shopping. Great food and excellent service as we remembered!

Just finished a great meal at Le Central, the oldest French restaurant in San Francisco. You know it must be great to have survived so long....great food. great service at an acceptable price.

How many times do I have to tell all of you! Consistently the best meal I have in San Francisco on our annual visit, The Casoulette has been cooking for 30 plus years, only the best, however prices have raised but the City food prices are soaring! However not outrageous, but who cares when your getting the best food in town for 35 plus years, just ask Willy Brown ex mayor and listen to da Coach

Salmon deviled eggs with caviar was great. Garden pea soup with fresh French bread was tasty. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of a local named Pete. He was once in love (and still loves her) and he was quite entertaining. Kristin the bartender was wonderful. Wine was reasonable (happy hour).

I felt like I was back in Paris. The organic beet salad is to die for and the Cassoulet has been simmering for an eternity. The pear tart for dessert was fantastic. The decor is traditional and the bar is a gathering place for locals.

We stopped at Le Central just before the lockdown. Our party was made up of out-of-towners here for a rehearsal dinner of sorts. Everything looked and smelled delicious, but we were particularly impressed with the wine selection, and highly recommend the brussels sprouts, the roasted bone marrow, the cassoulet and the brie en croute. the only drawback was the noise level, but it is to be expected on a Friday night.

Two of us had late lunch after many years of not visiting Le Central. We had the haricot vert appetizer. The beans were not fresh ( it's not haricot season) but they were cooked perfectly and the vinaigrette was classic French perfect. The cassoulet was good-a less dense and rich version of that in southwest France. My steak frites was excellent. A good cut of meat, cooked perfectly for med rare, and the frites also cooked perfectly.

This restaurant is an amazing little place with french cuisine and some french staff. The bartender/server was very friendly and made the evening a wonderful experience. It has a local feel and is much less touristy than many of the surrounding restaurants in the neighborhood. I had the oysters and a salad, both of which were delicious. They had a good selection of wine that I sampled too. Overall a great dining experience!

Not much has changed over the years at this classic downtown restaurant. If you're seeking innovative, light fare it would not be a good match. But if you like classic dishes served with 'tried & true' sides (roast chicken with pommes frites, filet mignon au poivre with haricots verts) then Le Central is sure to please. Portions are generous. Service is very professional. Tables are closely placed and the noise level can be high, but it all adds to a genuine French bistro experience. Excellent cocktails and a good wine list.

You don't go to Le Central so much for the food as for the atmosphere. There are way more cutting-edge kitchens in this highly foodie town, but then again you won't see the legendary Wilkes Bashford having lunch (as we did) at just any old bistro. This place is the San Francisco equivalent of a great traditional French bistro like Balzar. It just endures. Excellent service from veteran waiters who have been there for decades. The cassoulet is legendary and has reportedly been cooking since 1974. The service is friendly and as polished as an old brass knob. I love this place and make it a point to return on each SF visit.

Don't arrive early for lunch and order roasted chicken as you will get leftover over cooked chicken from the night before. Easy to tell as still cool internally and fat congealed. At $50.00 for a solo lunch, I could have done better ordering room service at my hotel or grabbing a sandwich in touristy Union Square. Highlight was the table next to me where two men were discussing a woman's performance at office. Totally inappropriate especially since they were addressed by name. Doesn't take much effort to know who they were and who they were talking about. Take it to the office boys and keep your inappropriate comments behind closed doors!!!

Have been eating here since the 80's. I believe the Casioulette was simmering then too! The atmosphere, pure S.F.! The brass and wooden Bar; Bench seating along brick & mirrored walls. Intimate. Attentive service. French-bistro type food. Onion Au'Gratin Soup, Steak Pom Frittes. And excellent deserts. Good Wines/cocktails! Bon Appetite'

Excellent classic French food in a bistro atmosphere with great service, elegant wines, and an atmosphere for quiet conversation. The restaurant has been there for 45 years and the cassolet is their stand out. However, the onion soup, duck rilletes, pan seared salmon are all outstanding as well. It's a treat to be there and we will return to explore the menu further.

Dropped in on a Friday night after enjoying some festive cocktails at the nearby Tonga Room. I used to live in the neighborhood, and over the years we've tried most of the restaurants in this "Little France" area of Bush Street. There was one other diner at 8:00 on a Friday...always kind of a buzz-kill. Our food was fine, nothing special. Crab Louie and roasted chicken. The Brussels sprouts were soggy. Good selection of wines by the glass - expect to pay San Francisco (i.e., high) prices. I would say that you'd get much better food at Cafe Claude or Cafe de la Presse, nearby.

We have previously dined and enjoyed Le Cafe de la Presse on the corner of Grant and Bush, but currently that restaurant is closed for kitchen renovations so last evening we dined instead at Le Central. As other reviewers have noted this is a good interpretation of a traditional French bistro - but not cheap - and, until the end, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Our starters of Belgian endives with blue cheese, and asparagus with vinaigrette, were great. Our mains of Le Central's famous cassoulet and the fish of the day were mixed: the mahi-mahi was fantastic but we thought the cassoulet was rather stodgy (but still authentic). We selected the red wine of the month, a malbec from Cahors, but frankly we thought the many malbec wines from Argentina would have been better. Overall, very good so far. But we ended up on a very sour note. I have a non-American accent and our check was presented along with a printed card telling us foreigners we had to tip 20+ percent. (Actually I bet I have been to more genuine French and perhaps even more American restaurants than all their staff combined!) It was very explicitly targeting foreigners such as me and I found this instruction rude, offensive and xenophobic. Of course we looked after our server as usual, with a tip of over 20%, but I did tell our server that this sort of message from the restaurant was totally unacceptable. We would wish to return to Le Central but if we ever saw such an offensive message from them again I would refuse to add any tip whatsoever. It ruined my evening.

After a day of noshing and drinking at other French Bistros & Wine Bars for Bastille Day...it was time for a meal with "substance." So I willing sat at the bar, since tables were full for the French holiday. Le Central is a smart, elegant place where all the staff had on their berets! Such welcoming bartenders who kept my red Bordeaux filled and took time to serve my Cassoulet...it truly was a "when Harry met Sally" orgasmic dish...without "faking it!" Their food is by the book genuinely delicious French fare...I will be back...however, my conundrum will be Cassoulet or one of the other delightful dishes?!

On Bush Street near the entrance to Chinatown. Also close to Union Square. Great food, good service and ambiance. Not open on Sundays.

We visited this restaurant with my family and a friend a few days ago. The concierge at our hotel recommended this restaurant and made reservations last Saturday night. The place is. Cozy and warm, the waiter was a little " intense", he was more worried in us drinking wine than providing a good experience. My children had some soft drinks and every time he would come to the table he would ask "would you like some wine"? Or a variant of the question. It made us uncomfortable The meal itself was good, not great Overall a great visit with our friend but a meal that felt rushed by a waiter trying to peddle wine ... Will not return, SF has too many good places to try and visit

Just a short walk from Union Square this French restaurant is in a convenient location. Service was prompt, the food very good and the ambience pleasant. Nothing exceptional, but worth a visit.

I never miss going to Le Central! I’ve never been disappointed with the food or service. We love sitting at the bar and of course being educated and entertained by the bartender, which on this visit was Shawn👍. If you like steak tartare you won’t want to miss it here! The Filet mignon au poivre was superb and the pommel frites will make you feel as if you are in a Paris bistro.

Returned after several years and found food and atmosphere had not changed. French Bistro menu well executed with very efficient and friendly service. Asparagus salad to start and sole to follow. Both very good. Look forward to returning.

We went to this restaurant because it was across the street from our Inn. We were not disappointed. The service is fast and courteous. The cassoulet is delicious and there is a good choice of wines by the glass.

Pretty much downstairs from Hotel des Artes where we were staying, already reminded of Paris by the tiny elevator. Why eat FRENCH in San Francisco? How about the "cassoulet today" sign the day we were checking out? So we did: cassoulet. How about the very nice chocolate mousse, there, where and when I needed it? Twice. And lovely, kinda formal, maitre d' who was gracious even when all we wanted/ordered was G&T and mousse. It seems like a bit of a neighborhood place, always a good sign. On our cassoulet visit I watched three or four old-ish, male, denizens playing some dice game with a wooden cup that I now think Hemingway described in Islands in the Stream. I think they were playing for the bill. How cool. How real.

Old school waitstaff. Great people watching. Cozy setting. Cassoulet is delicious. A nice escape from the Union Square craziness for an adult lunch. Great place for a business lunch or lad idiots who lunch. Perfect for lunch before a matinee show.

My husband and I used to come here years ago when we were in town on business so we decided to come back while on vacation. We enjoyed our first dinner so much that we came back two more times. This is a typical French bistro so it is small and the tables are tight. However, you can tell how good it is by how crowded it consistently gets. And the wait staff and bartender are all very welcoming. You can order here all through the day beginning at lunch time although in the later afternoon the menu is limited. We arrived early for dinner on our first day so we had to wait at the bar where we started with a glass of wine and shared a dish of Muelles. They were an excellent start. Once seated, we enjoyed Duck Pate followed by Steak and Frites with a bottle of St. Emillion. Our meal was excellent. The fries were crisp and the steak was done to our request. We were late for our second night's dinner as we had to find streets we could cross due to the Chinese New Year parade. I called to explain our situation and they held our table. This night we enjoyed the Lamb Chops with broccolini and mashed potatoes for me and more Frites for my husband. The meal was enjoyed with a French Gros Bois red wine. Another excellent meal. On our last day in town, we again visited but this time for lunch before we headed to the airport. We started with cocktails. My husband enjoyed a Ginger Orange Martini and I enjoyed the Viollette Royal. Both excellent cocktails. For lunch we started with the Crab Cake in Beurre Blanc sauce which was very good. I tried the Cassoulet for my main course. A sign tells you how many days the cassoulet has been brewing which is since they opened about forty years ago. Think "starter" like in sourdough bread. It was excellent. My husband had the chicken with frites and Brussel sprouts which was also quite good and it was a huge amount of chicken. My husband enjoyed a glass of White Burgundy and I had a glass of Syrah. Both complemented our meals very well. Definitely try this restaurant. You too will become a frequent visitor.

With so many restaurants closing Le Central is still a wonderful fixture in San Francisco. Old fashioned food. Fabulous roast chicken. Nice menu. Very very slow service. Unnecessarily so. The restaurant was a third full but took forever to get waited on. Too bad.

Lunch date and they sat us right across from Willie Brown and Wilkes Bashford. The service was perfect and the food delicious. Crab cake appetizer in a buerre blanc sauce that was amazingly light. Then Scallops in a pea mash that was a perfect pair yet again not heavy. Great wines by the glass as well. Great San Francisco experience.

The staff at The Central were very friendly and accommodating, they made sure we had a good time. The food and drinks were excellent Recommend it

Disclaimer- I've been here before and will go back. It's an old SF restaurant with so much history, and the service is excellent! Unfortunately, our food was not up to par this visit. The salad nicoise was inedible and the french onion soup was average. Next time I'll order their famous cassoulet!

My meal was not earth shattering, but it was very good. I ordered a New York Strip Loin, it was good but I have had much better. I really enjoyed the Roquefort plate, but mostly the waiter was excellent, I had a relaxing time and it was close to my Hotel. I would return to Le Central for the trip back in time feeling this restaurant delivers.

We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere with the closeness of the tables, the bustle of activity and the décor. Although the restaurant was busy on a Saturday night, we were not rushed. Our waiter was friendly and the menu selections made it hard to choose what to order. My husband ordered a steak that was prepared as he liked and I ordered an evening special of sole in champagne sauce. Both were very good. The wine list included half bottles of our favorite Chateauneuf du Pape. We were happy! The restaurant was a block from our hotel near Union Square so we also had a nice little walk in the city on an unusually warm evening. We will visit again on our next trip to San Francisco.

Keep yourself away from this restaurant ! It’s very touristic, the food is bad and the service is begging for tips !

The restaurant was busy, but we decided to wait for a table. We required a light meal as we had eaten midday. We were soon seated,although the tables were very close together, it was impossible not to hear the conversations from either side.There was also a $20 minimum charge with each meal. We decided we would be more comfortable at the bar. We had the onion soup, and it was delicious.Followed by a shared portion of berry crumble, which was also good. The bar tender was lovely, and very friendly. We would certainly pop in again for another soup or more...

Decent food overall, a little overpriced, but conveniently very close to our hotel. Save room for the chocolate mousse, which was delicious!

At the outset we are greeted by the hostess with a cartoon that today they had many reservations, but that he was going to give us a table. After many laps and fixating several times on the computer gives us the table. The place was semi empty and when we left an hour and a quarter later it was still as empty as at first. All lies. The food was disgusting, a chicken cooked, dried, with horrible stir-fried chard and a sole that left much to be desired. Expensive, bad and poorly served. Nora color (or smell), the waiter smelled of dirty sobaco and unwashed shirt for a week.

Finding a brasserie that serves typical French dishes in San francisco is a good surprise.cassoulet, snails, onion soup... Decorated with taste and service with little care. It's a bit expensive but worth it.just outside chinatown

This place has decent food...the service was good...vibe is good although the space is tight...price is ok as well.

We were in San Francisco for our 16th anniversary. This restaurant was only about a block from our hotel and we are really glad that we went to it. The host was wonderful and very friendly and the food was outstanding. It was very worth the money that we spent and had a wonderful time.

My husband and I first discovered Le Central when the cassoulet was cooking 24 days; it is now over 15,000! Yes, changes have occured in the intervening years, but the restaurant is essentially maintaining the high standards of the original owners. This time I was initially disappointed to see that creme caramel was off the menu, but as soon as I tasted my first spoonful of meyer lemon souffle glace, I forgot all about it. This dessert is unique and as sublime as can be.

I went to Le Central this past week with a friend of mine on a business lunch. We’ve both been here a few times and can say the food (French) is consistently good. They recently had a menu refresh but still retaining the classic French favorites. We split an appetizer of crab cakes served with a light cream sauce and an heir loom tomato salad with water melon dressed in a light vinaigrette dressing. Both were quite tasty. For entrees I had the roast chicken with gravy served with a side of pommes frites, my friend had the lamb chops with fresh green beans. We had a nice bottle of wine and all was good. Our server was a little distracted as there was a large celebration of life party going on in the room across from ours, but hey, we all have days like that.

I had a cassoulet that was so good that I will go back just for that dish. Our group of 8 was seated as requested together. The staff provided attention without hovering. All of us tried one another's dishes. Each dish was cheered by the group.

This charming French bistro has wonderful food and excellent service. I love steak tartar and have had it all over Europe and the United States. This is some of the best ever! Lots of flavor, very fresh. My wife loved the onion soup - not too salty and great flavor. She also had the grilled wild salmon - scrumptious and not fishy with a wonderful bernaise sauce. We each had a glass of white Bordeaux that complimented the food beautifully. The restaurant is attractive with exposed wood beams and soothing modern art and the waitstaff are very professional and knowledgeable without being intrusive or overly familiar. We returned a second and third time, had perfect crisp and moist roast chicken, then the tartar and wild salmon again. Great experience, every time!!!

Even though it was early on Friday evening the restaurant was bustling with customers when we arrived. We were ushered into a lovely table and given some time to peruse the menu. My partner began with Soupe à l’oignon with French onions, croutons, gruyere and herbs. The gooey cheese was lovely and there were lots, it was pleasantly salty with lots of onion flavour. My partner was very happy. I went for L’escargot bourguignon – snails in garlic butter topped with shavings of toasted cheese. The garlic richness of the butter was perfect for the meaty chewiness of the snails. I used plenty of bread to mop out the butter after I'd eaten the snails. For mains my partner had pan-roasted halibut with maitake mushrooms, roasted summer squashes, Japanese eggplant and saffron. The fish was perfectly cooked for Drew, the mushrooms were crisp and tasty and the sauce was delightful. I had been waiting the six years since our last visit for the Le Central cassoulet a rich well cooked cassoulet with white bean stew with duck confit, Toulouse sausage, lamb and pork. The beans picking up the rich meat sauce and each element of meat tasting very distinctive, rich and generous - a warming welcome back to San Francisco, excellent.

Very authentic, quaint French bistro. Service was very good and staff very knowledgeable. Nice french wines by the glass. the Cassoulet was amazing. Finished with a very good creme brulee. we'll be back.

Delicious French cuisine and exceptional service. Food prepared well and wines by the glass paired nicely. Convient location for public transit.

This has been our go to restaurant for years during the Xmas season. This year they moved into the no return category. Sad. I chose to have sea bass with risotto. The fish as not exceptional and the risotto that came with it was not done...hard as rocks. And who doesn’t have blue cheese stuffed olives these days??? I asked them if they had blue cheese...they did. So stuff the olives for goodness sake! Our waiter was terrific and he stuffed them himself. Good guy, very pleasant. Remembered us from previous visits. The salmon that my husband had was a little undercooked and not particularly good. Disappointed.

I had a very good dinner here,whilst on a business trip, with good service and I enjoyed the scallops as my main course.

Such a safe, friendly, consistent haven! And the food is heaven!! Same staff for years, wonderful "people watching", great bar, best location. And on and on. Just don't miss this gem if you are downtown!! Thanks for the memories!!!

Local, neighborhood vibe wrapped in charming French bistro appeal. Went with intention of taking advantage of the happy hour prices at the bar and was not disappointed. First time visitors (me) mixed easily with regulars who chatted up the bartendress (Linda) who managed to stay engaged while providing equally good service to everyone at the bar and keeping up with dining room orders. There is a limited happy hour menu but also perused full menu. Classic down home French food. Had a delicious onion soup for $12 (wish it was included in happy hour prices) and the butter lettuce salad ($8 on happy hour menu). Portion not that big but really tasty with a wonderful, slightly citrus dressing and small slices of peaches. Enjoyed the $5 glass of house red and fun conversation with two regulars. The ambiance of the dining room made me want to return with my husband someday soon and make Le Central a regular stop when in SF.

This was one of my introductions to San Francisco too many years ago. Unfortunately. I had not been able to return in some time. Yet, the old gal still has it. Classic French food, old world charm, and attentive service. Saturday evening filled slowly. Yet, everyone (from 4 to 70) was having a great time. Everyone mentions the cassoulet. Opted for the lamb instead with a mushroom soup to start. Excellent. This is a gem that should be appreciated by anyone looking for a romantic dinner.

Previous reviews made much of their signature dish- cassoulet - but I found it to be pedestrian. The duck was overcooked and the sausage dry. This is San Francisco -- why bother with a place like this?

It was a rainy Thursday night. The concierge made us a reservation at a French Bistro three blocks away from our hotel, but as we approached we remembered an old favorite - Le Central. Dinner was perfect. A table for two in the window, excellent food and attentive service flavored with old memories of Herb Caen and Willie Brown. Real character!!!

The beet salad was one of the best I've had, a win. The escargot were surprisingly mild, missing the richness of a garlic and butter base, a loss. A traditional cassoulet was a stand out main course, though not as flavor dimensional as found in the Carcassonne versions, this cassoulet was quite satisfying and reminded us of northern France. A true comfort food, a win. However the Beef Bourguignon sadly disappointed. There was very little sauce while the taste of salt overrode the flavor of seasoned beef in that broth. The bites of beef included large sections of fat in the meat, an unfinishable loss. The one carrot was flavorful, if only there had been more of it. No dessert for us and I doubt we would return.

We had a wonderful dinner at Le Central in San Francisco. The food was delicious, the hostesses and servers were charming and the decor was lovely. It is a French restaurant. It is located on Bush Street near the Hyatt Union Square. We highly recommend Le Central

Le Central is a meeting place for locals, a frequent stop for visitors, and a special dining place for many people. The traditional French cuisine is consistently good. You can dine at the bar, at cozy tables in the bar area, or in the lovely adjacent dining room. Menu items range from a burger to standard French dishes like cassoulet, steak frites, beef bourguignon. Everything is well prepared and delicious. The experienced & knowledgeable sommelier can help you find the perfect wine for your meal. This is a restaurant we return to over & over again and it never disappoints.

Great French restaurant where one would envision authors or artists to gather for lunch, chat, drink some wine over solid French cuisine.

Came in for dinner with family from out of town. My step-dad came here back in the 80's and thought it was great, so we ate there last evening and had a similar experience. Courteous service, great wine selection and wonderful French staples. I must say however, my main dish could have used some love... I had the roasted chicken au jus and I found it to be a bit on the dry side. It also lacked in the seasoning department. However, my salad was divine and next time, I will likely order a different main... My mom really enjoyed her salmon with béarnaise as well as endive salad.

We moved away from the Bay Area 10 years ago. One of the restaurants we miss most is Le Central. It is small, quiet with a euopean ambience. The Cassoulet has been cooking for 40 years and never fails to impress. We began with crabcakes which were on great sauce.

This is a relatively small French Restaurant in San Francisco. It appears to be quite popular. The food and service are excellent as is the ambiance. It is very much a restaurant you might visit in France. The menu and wine choices were very good. Prices were reasonable for that type of restaurant. Unfortunately, we were seated next to the small bar where a number of loud celebrants were in full throat. The waitress, without any action on our part, move us to different seats where we could hear ourselves speak. Suggest that if you make reservations ask not to be seated next to the bar. We would definitely return.

We walked past this restaurant the other day and we were taken by the posted daily menu. Absolutely make a reservation as it is a restaurant of the locals. Simply great food. We had the herb baked goat cheese, escargot, braised lamb shank and could not have eaten better. Pleasantly crowded, but not loud. Very attentive staff and a good selection of French and California wine.

Old fashioned place with French decor and wait staff who had been there forever. Good value pris fix menu for dinner. Within walking distance of Union Square.

Sadly this part of San Francisco is somewhat dead now & that was reflected in the quiet ambience of the restaurant. However, it's well decorated, clean & friendly & the staff were professional, knowledgeable & friendly, offering very good service. The food & drink offering was good & the food was flavoursome.

If you are staying in the area, try this very typical French bistro. The service is great (thank you, Cindy and colleagues for being appropriately attentive but not rushing me) and their signature dish, a meaty, creamy, thick, flavourful cassoulet, a filling stand-out. I've been to SanFrancisco twice in the last several years, and sought out Le Central both times for this delicious dish. I enjoyed it immensely on each occasion.

There are several restaurants and bars on Bush St San Francisco that make you think you might have stumbled into the French Quarter. One of them, and possibly the oldest, is Le Central, a proper French Bistro in the Downtown District. The menu is very French, very Provençale. There were three of us for dinner and after cocktails we all started with the Butter lettuce salad, followed by a steak tartare, a filet mignon au poivre, and their famous cassoulet which at that point had been cooking over 14,300 days or over 39 years. All were very good. We lavished the meal with an outstanding Opus One Cabernet from 2010. Service was top class, and the dining room comfortable and old fashioned. A classic! The wine was pricey and chosen for a special occasion, otherwise I can say that with cocktails, appetizers, and main courses, but no desserts, it ran to $68 per person.

My family and I had dinner here last Monday night. We've been there several times before and have never been disappointed. My daughter and I split a plate of oysters, my daughter's boyfriend and daughter in law had the wonderful butter lettuce salad, and my wife had the generously portioned very salad. Everything was excellent and enjoyed. Their Cassoulet is pretty famous in the city and it's fantastic. Two of us had that and the rest of us had salmon, steak and the filet. The berry crumble was delicious. The service was attentive and professional. We bought two bottles of Edna Valley Chardonnay. We paid $413 for the six of us. We'll be back for more.

Four of us enjoyed our dinners here-each couple shared a wonderful slade Nicoise,and plates of excellent Beef Bourgignon. Service was very attentive; no problems with sharing plates. Charming atmosphere.

Traditional French cuisine (mussels, pommes frite, cassoulet, etc). People forget the ambience and comfort of a comfortable French restaurant, with a cozy bar, white cloth on the tables, dark wood ... nice wine list and great service. Walk down memory lane with great food as well

up until 7PM on weekdays you can get a very decent glass of wine for $5 and appetizers that are not only beautifully presented but delicious

It was a Friday evening and we had 6 in our party. This was one of the few restaurants that could accommodate us. What a pleasant surprise. I’ve been to really good restaurants in Paris and this was pretty darn good along those lines. I had escargot and cassoulet. It was really good. The atmosphere was like a boutique restaurant in Paris. Quite a pleasant surprise. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in San Francisco.

Halibut in parchment ... perfect! A cassoulet whose pot had been on the stove for who knows how long ... incredible. We'll be back for sure!

This was a solid French restaurant within walking distance of the Union Square area. We were here for Christmas week 2021 enjoying a getaway trip with our son. Highlights included beef bourguignon, cassoulet and an excellent cheese platter for dessert. After a long day traveling to arrive, this was a great way to finish the evening.

We were in the city on a 96-hour "food coma" expedition with friends and family, but on this last evening, the two of us were on our own. We wanted French Bistro near our Union Square hotel, turned on the Google Machine, and found Le Central. Glad we did; service and food were excellent. The atmosphere was quintessential French Bistro indeed. Our early reservation was acknowledged, and we were immediately seated and greeted by our efficient server. After enjoying a well-made French-style cocktail, we settled on a soup and a salad starter; my wife enjoyed a perfectly prepared beef bourguignon and me the petrale sole. Both entrees were beyond excellent. Bread service was an added cost, but was worth every penny because of the excellent baguette that we inhaled. We each enjoyed a nicely priced glass of wine off of a well thought out wine list. We skipped dessert this meal, if only because it was our fourth glitzy dinner out in a row, and we were beyond full. Highly recommended.

Went for lunch with some friends and had a good time ! Good vibe and service , the salmon was pretty good . As usual wine quite expensive like everywhere in USA !

The food here was amazing. After seeing Wicked we came here for a wonderful meal. The food was amazing. I started with the Escargot which was done perfectly. My main course had amazing purple potatoes and melted in my mouth. Everything about this restaurant is just perfect. A must try!

We had dinner on New Years Eve at Le Central. While I was not advised it would be prix fixe when making the reservation it turned out to be a mostly excellent dinner. Every course was delicious though the first course lobster bisque my husband had was a bit watery. My filet mignon entree was excellent and perfectly cooked. The desserts were also delicious. Overall we had a lovely evening and had fun talking with the couple visiting from Sacramento ext to us. We would definitely return to Le Central.

Had an early lunch at Le Central. Enjoyed (again) the Cassoulet what has been cooking for nearly 14,000 days. Portion looks small but couldn't finish it. Wife had a glass of wine and the best Asparagus Vinaigrette ever.

Nice historic building with a very good happy hour. House wines are good and the crab cake is worth returning for. You have to sit at the bar for happy hour specials but that does not detract.

I have been to Le Central several times for lunch and can say that is consistently very good to excellent. The wait staff and host are always on point and compliment the great menu items that are served here. I was here 2 days ago for a business lunch and ordered the Short Rib Bourguignon, it was outstanding. We had some crab cakes and pom frites for appetizers and had to take a to-go box. The location is very convenient and close to Union Square and the Financial District. They have a great wine list too. Prices are on the higher side here but well worth it.

Very nice restaurant with good food. We had filet steaks with au poivre sauce, both were excellent. Service was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals.

Unpretentious old fashioned french restaurant that gives You the feeling of really being in France.. It has a terrific full bar, good food, a good wine list and very friendly service.

Small french restaurant within easy walking distance from several hotels. We stopped in our first night in SF. The group had the crab and oysters for appetizers. Entries were great and paired well with our wine.

My husband and I have been going to Le Central for approximately 20 years every time we visit San Francisco. The menu is authentic, the food consistently delicious, and the atmosphere makes one believe they are dining in Paris . We have never once had a mediocre meal, on the contrary the food was superb! My daughter and I popped in for lunch to celebrate a successful meeting she just had, and we were fortunate enough to be seated in Kirsten's (our wait staff) section. She was absolutely delightful, charming, enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable about the menu and our wine selection. When you visit Le Central (and you will!), you must ask to be seated at one of her tables. She is absolutely the icing on the cake!!!

Yes, proper French would be "Maison" but this had more of a ring to it. There are newer, more cutting edge places that I love in SF but this long-time little gem of a restaurant has been a San Francisco treat for me for over 30 years, especially (but not exclusively) for its wonderful, earthy cassoulet. There is a chalkboard stating how long it has been cooking since the original starter pot--according to the website, it is now over 14,000 days! Prices are quite reasonable and service is very good.

The famous cassoulet was served almost cold, and was sent back for another zap in the microwave. It consisted of beans and what looked like an Oscar Meyer breakfast sausage in it - an there wasn't very much of it either. Similarly the moulles were good but the broth was cold. The Resturant is a shadow of its former glory

Our hotel recommended this restaurant. It was later in the evening which might have had an impact on the quality of food and ambiance but i would not recommend this restaurant. First of all, the place needs a facelift. It looks dated and somewhat dirty. The steak tartare was ok but my mother had the veal picata and she was not very impressed. The experience wasn't horrible but there are so many nice restaurants in san francisco that i would skip it.

My wife and I dined at Le Central and enjoyed our experience. Le Central is a warm and cozy French Bistro with a full bar. We began by sharing a beet salad that was fresh and flavorful. Our entrees were the beef bourguigon, a savory combination of vegetables, short rib beef and a rich red wine sauce. I chose the cassoulet, which is one of my favorites and a tradition at Le Central. The duck, pork, lamb and sausage were tender and the white beans cooked perfectly. Le Central is a great choice for bistro fare.

Flew in from out of state to enjoy Halloween in SF. Had a reso here for lunch. Cute quaint dining area. Server was super friendly and on point with suggestions. We ordered the escargot and also shared the filet of sole and cassoulet. All was extremely delicious! We would return.

Le Central….. Tres European! When I first learned that we are going to meet friends from out of town at this French restaurant I was a little skeptical….and it got worse when I saw the entrance to the restaurant. However, once we enter the restaurant, everything changed! Is the typical French bistro! Loved it! The food is delicious – except the chicken. Luckily I didn’t order the chicken, but someone in our party did and they were not pleased with it. For desert we tried the crème Brule…..the best I ever had in San Francisco!

Being French but not having been home for long I really enjoyed my dinner at Le central. Very good service and excellent food. The cassoulet is prepared from a recipe not commonly used outside of carcassonne, with lamb in addition to confit and Toulouse-ish sausage. Very tender beans and meat, could have been a little warmer but still excellent. Shame that there is no Minervois on the wine list to accompany it (then a cotes du rhone also works). The crème brûlée also tasted homemade, very nice. Highly recommended !

Been eating here since 1976, Consistently great service and great food. Visit annually never disappointed My all time favorite

Every time we go to Le Central we're happy - there's the excellent location near the Stockton/Sutter garage, the French atmosphere (love the ' Tabac' sign out front), the attentive, friendly and professional service....and the food! I have my favorites (the celery root remoulade salad and the salmon) but last time I tried the roast chicken and it was delicious. Fabulous desserts. Good wine list & full bar. We can't wait to return.

This is a true classic....you'll see the former mayor sitting at his usual seat on Fridays...the food is great, the service a bit snobbish, but a comfortable little gem...

Went for lunch, but menu almost entirely dinner-oriented. Meal uneven with delicious caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, mealy crabcake, and so-so croque monsieur with frites that were very ordinary.

Le Central was a delightful surprise. It had a fun atmosphere and the food was delightful. It felt like I was back in France. We will return again.

Stopped in for cocktails and dinner. Halibut was great. Also, great Hangar One vodka martinis from the young lady manning the bar. I'll be returning.

This is a lovely spot in the heart of SF, with great atmosphere and excellent food and wines. I liked its decorations, the bar and seems a place that go through history not changed. Spotted that are guests that are familiar with this place and probably coming regularly. There is a reason why: it is a lovely spot. And quality is coming with a price... Recommended to try it.

This little place holds its own in the busy restaurant area near Union Square. Busy at all meals, and busy midweek when I stopped in. I was alone but given a lovely window table and all the attention that a larger check might deserve. It was a delightful delicious meal and I intend to revisit, perhaps with company that would appreciate the French cuisine.

Food is consistently high quality, creative, great portions,& super wait staff (ALL have been there for a long time which tells you something about the place) I always have the Cassoulet, often imitated never equalled! You can't lose with that dish

Returned for happy hour after a great meal many years ago. We had drinks and apps at the bar. Really enjoyed the smoked salmon deviled eggs, walnut-crusted brie, oysters and crab cake.

My father ate here 40 years ago and my hubby and I eat here every time we are in the City. I really love the atmosphere, it really reminds of the bistros in Paris of yore. Service is always spot on, Good wines by the glass, French waitstaff and really good food. But don't expect fancy entrees like very expensive places. This place serves the type of food that Bistros are know for....cassoulet, quail, lamb, beef bourguignon, roasted chicken, pates....All yummy. love this place and you are never rushed...just like in France!

We have been fans of Le Central since the mid ‘80’s. Covid was a game changer for quite a few restaurants including this one. We have been back several times since they reopened but instead of the food getting better it has gone downhill, along with the selection. The most disappointing was the French Onion Soup. It use to be our favorite in town, but last visit it was a bowl of bread, even though we asked for the minimum amount of bread they could use. Once we removed all the bread there was less than 1/4 bowl of soup left. Sadly, it was tasteless and had very few onions in it. Server brought us more broth, but it wasn’t even worth eating. One in our group had the beef bourguignon, the egg noodles were dry, hardly any sauce on the dish, some chunks of meat, no veggies. Another in our party have the ratatouille - took 3/4 home. She is the type not to complain, just take it home and toss if she didn’t enjoy. Our server was “annoying”. I don’t know how else to describe it. She really didn’t listen to any of our requests, seemed bothered whenever we put in a request and was obsessed with pouring out the white wine. I don[‘t know if she wanted us to drink faster to order another bottle or was to lazy to bring us a wine bucket. Many of our old favorites are gone. Beef Tartare, Blood Sausage, the boudins….. The Resturant was crowded though , so perhaps that’s a good sign that they may rise to the quality of food they offered in the past. We won’t be back for at least a year to let them have time to get back on track.

In artfully designed dishes out of the 1950s, presented mindlessly by a server who could care less. Not one dish experienced by 4 of us was even close to average in design, preparation or presentation. A wine list by the glass that doesn't even describe the specific vintner and year--only something like "Sancerre $10." 6-ounce Evian bottles for $4 each. Only positive is low noise level probably because the place wasn't full and those that were there appeared to be as dated as the food.

I ate a Le Central with 2 business colleagues all of whom traveled from Texas. We made a reservation thru Open Table and were seated immediately. It's hard to believe that this place is right outside the main gate to Chinatown. The restaurant is chic and quiet, and one feels transported to Paris. We shared a delicious onion tart appetizer. I had scallops that were delicious. My colleagues had steak cooked perfectly and a delicious fish special. We shared a cold lemon soufflé for dessert. It was great! Very affordable food in an expensive dining city. I'll be back.

I dined here recently on a business dinner, and the selling point was the cassoulet, which has been cooking since the dawn of time. Admittedly, it was pretty good, and the portion was plenty to satisfy. I was a bit disappointed in the serving temperature of the wine. The list isn't bad, but our two bottles were both served well above proper temperature, and it frankly took away a lot from an otherwise enjoyable pair from Burgundy. I'd recommend they rethink their wine storage. Nice place, not sure I'd run to go back when compared to other area competition, but it was worth the stop for dinner.

We dropped in after arriving in San Francisco. Restaurant not overly busy and staff quite accommodating.Good choices for my wife who is a celiac. Both salmon and scallop dishes were very good. The waiter was attentive and helpful. A good restaurant for our first night.

I've dined at Le Central many times usually ordering the Cassoulet. Seemed a little heavy for mid day so we opted for French Onion Soup, Goat Cheese and the outstanding Asparagus Vinaigrette. The Goat Cheese and the Asparagus were as we expected but the French Onion Soup was very disappointing particularly since this is one of the menu items this type of place should nail. The problem was the broth that had no flavor. Not sure if they failed to caramelize the onions fully or what but this was not good. I've got to think this was a one time fail and not the version they produce daily as that would just be a travesty here. As noted by others, tables are very close together and the place is not inexpensive particularly at lunch. It's still one of our standbys in San Francisco.

Old fashioned environment and old fashioned cuisine. It's a classic and popular with the old timers in San Fran. Food is consistent and predictable, nothing bad, but no wows. Prices are a bit high.

Our bartender recommended this as it was a short walk from our hotel. Glad we did it was fantastic. Food cooked beautifully and waitstaff were attentive. Bonus was Monday nights the bottles of wine are half price.

Special menu for dinner on a special night out. My husband started with the escargot, I had the onion soup gratinee. Both were excellent! My entree was the fillet mignon Oscar which I love. Request for additional bernaise was graciously accommodated. My husband pounced his rack of lamb as perfect. Nicely accompanied by a French red. Dessert was soufflé glacé for me, my husband's egg allergy ruled out dessert for him. Service was quite attentive. Tables are a little crowded but otherwise excellent choice for a night out in San Francisco!

Right around the corner from Chinatown. Standard lite French cuisine. Excellent servers & bartenders, all very professional and made folks feel welcome. Oldest French bistro in all of San Fran. Nice ambiance. Worth your time.

For our last night in San Francisco we opted for Le Central which promotes itself as the oldest French restaurant in the city. We were in the mood to celebrate and didn't mind paying for it. But we were poured a $14 glass of wine from a bottle that retails for $24. It was nothing exceptional. I also had a $12 glass of Napa white. She much enjoyed the sea bass special with was perfectly prepared. The specialty of the house is cassoulet ($26.50) which has been on the menu for decades. Having first had it in Paris, and on occasions since, it was a total bust. The overcooked beans and meats were just a mush. There was the sense that it was a refire from the day before. There was no texture to the beans or ability to distinguish duck from sausage or lamb. There was a lively group at the bar and they seemed like after work regulars. Other than the few tables of locals the adjoining dining room was empty. There was the sense that this traditional neghborhood restaurant has seen better days.

The restaurant hasnt changed a bit. Menu is pretty much the same, and the food is just as good. Great staff, and good ambiance. Lighting in the dining room is a bit bright. But good atmosphere and good food.

We have been here on several trips. It has been 5 star each time and still is. It is a fun, lively restaurant with professional service from the front, to the waitstaff, to the kitchen. We had the veal on pasta, sort of a stewed veal... a bit like osso bucco without the bone (I know... contradiction in terms). And the sea bass was perfect. The asparagus salad was nice to share first. Nice wine list, especially the 375ml selection. I highly recommend this restaurant. Nice martini, too.

well the prices have increased since 1977, the Quality of Food is alway great, service second to none. I alway order casuolette thats been cooking for 15,000 plus days, Bean stew at it's best. You can go wrong with any dish, simply great food

Especially for someone dining alone. I sat at a table but had I known would have sat at bar. Cute little bar area and friendly bartender. Hardest thing was deciding what to order.. So many great choices. I went with my usual onion soup and scallops. Very good.

I had dinner reservation so I was quickly seated. I already knew I was going to have the beef bourguignon for dinner. The beef was so tender. I wished there was a bit more pasta. The sauce had a little bit of tartness to the flavor. Service was friendly and attentive. Great atmosphere.

Le Central is an old San Francisco restaurant that has continually kept its quality. The food is French (and American). The bar (and the wine) is fun and the food is wonderful. And, if you're lucky (like I was) you'll run into former Mayor, Willie Brown. He loves the place and is there often.

Very very good French food and professional service. The atmosphere is Bistro but the food is fine dining. They have an excellent wine list and good advice is available for choosing just the right beverage. The pork chop was nicely done and the salads were fresh with great dressings.

In transit to Houston from NZ. Good food generous martinis. Recommended. Trip adviser wants more words but isn't that enough?

My husband and I came across this old fashioned French Bistro by chance, only a couple of blocks walk from Union Square and close to the start of China Town. It had a really wonderful charm to it. The service was attentive and the food was just wonderful with soft jazz playing in the background. The restaurant appeared to be very popular with locals and the host seemed to welcome many guests by their first name. I had one of the best Filet Mignon steaks, I have ever had followed by a French Apple Tart. I can’t recall what the bill came to but it wasn’t overly expensive and the food we had was completely worth it. A gem of a find!