1001 Pennsylvania Avenue

Dined here again and the food was again wonderful. This time for dinner, was told that they no longer do brunch. :( Best peartini ever.

We dined here before seeing a show at the National Theater. At just a five-minute walk away, it's a great pre-theater dining location. The ambiance is nothing special. It's almost like someone took an old sports bar or chain restaurant and then tried to make it upscale. It ended up feeling like the world's fanciest Applebee's. I had seen on their Google profile a picture of these delicious-looking chicken bites. I asked the waitress which item was in the picture and I was surprised to learn that it was the chicken fingers appetizer! But I was already set on ordering it, so I did--and I wasn't disappointed. They looked exactly like the photo on Google and were really good. It was essentially--I think six---small pieces of white meat chicken breast in panko bread crumbs, nice and crispy, with a hot honey and mustard potato topping. At $14, I would definitely order them again. Everything else on the menu was extremely overpriced. I ended up getting a cauliflower side, but it was just as much as the chicken, and cocktails were $16-22. Desserts were equally expensive. I guess it is downtown DC, near the White House, but this place just didn't seem nice enough to be charging that much for cocktails and things. I'd generally day it wasn't worth the price, but I would consider going back if I needed to specifically eat in that area.

9.26.2024. We had a 6:15 reservation. The bar area was so crowded the tables were invisible with all the bodies there having a great time decompressing after work. We checked in and was seated immediately in front of the open kitchen. Once seated, I noticed how attractive the restaurant is with copper detailing throughout. We both decided on the Express Pre-Theater menu ($58/pp) as we prepared to enjoy Lalah Hathaway later that evening. For apps, the French onion soup was a little sweeter than most. I suspect the miso broth contributed to that. I had the goat cheese Caesar, the textures were satisfying. For entrées, we ordered the fried chicken w/ mashed potatoes and the Atlantic salmon with colorful vegetables. Finally, the desserts were truly delicious. He ordered the Chocolate bar which was heavy on hazelnut and the Crème Brûlée was divine. I enjoyed the experience and will definitely return, maybe for HH.

On a rainy winter Friday night, we entered a fairly empty restaurant for dinner. Though seated quickly and offered water upon seating, it took a couple of trips of our server coming by the table to ask about a bread basket. The oysters, though large, were a bit expensive (in my opinion). The French onion soup wasn't my "cup of tea": Couldn't put my finger on it, but something about its aftertaste threw me off. The Niçoise salad was delicious: Met expectations and was a perfect size for dinner. But, the star of the show was surprisingly the green beans. The marriage of the brown butter and garlic makes these (almost) too good to share. Overall a nice dining experience, but it wouldn't be a "must" to visit again.

Years ago Central was "the place" to go. I recently revisited the restaurant. It had much of the same including the burger which was delicious. Less impressive was the service compared to past days. My place setting was missing a fork and eventually I had to find one myself as the server was not attentive. I do appreciate the rich design and tones of the restaurant. It was good to be back downtown.

Food is not worth the price. I've been here a few times (mainly for lunch) and nothing has jumped out as spectacular. I typically order the goat cheese Caesar salad with grilled chicken. More often than not there is too much dressing. My boyfriend and I typically each get a salad with chicken, split one side of Mac n cheese, and each get one cocktail. Even considering DC prices, that order was not worth $120. On top of that, we always have to flag down our server to get more water or the check. It's a good location for work lunches/meetings but not worth going out of your way for. We did wait awhile and they brought us cheese bread for the table, very nice!

Great go-to for work lunches. The shrimp burger is quite good. Well-cooked and not greasy. The French onion soup is also a must-try, especially on colder days. Fries, of course, are fantastic. Service is always attentive and kind, vibes business casual.

4.5 We had the theater menu prior to a concert. Service was fast and good solid. Nice clean and classy but not too stuffy. It was a tad too much food for us! Hubby had fried chicken and I had burger. Candy bar was ok I think I was just so full to enjoy. Loved the goat cheese salad appetizer very delicious.

Came here with a couple of girlfriends. Service was excellent. They both had the fish, which they said was excellent, and it looked very good. I had the mussels and Frites, and I was quite disappointed. They were the smallest mussels I've seen in my entire life. Ate a whole bowl full and was still hungry. The Frites were a bit over cooked. Le diplomat is the place to go for mussels and frites.

It has been several years since I visited Central, but it continues not to disappoint. The one thing I always associate with Central is consistent quality, and this consistently holds true ; - ) We had lunch outside on the spacious patio, which is a great feature on Pennsylvania Avenue, but Central is also a great pre-theater dining option. For this lunch, I had the grilled branzino nicoise. This is a great lunch option because it is generously sized with tasty grilled vegetables that complement the fish without the heaviness of a starch this early in the day. The fish was also extremely well prepared - moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. I also had a glass of wine and sorbet for dessert. Both were of good quality for the price and enjoyable. We actually ate the exact same thing, so the total bill for two was $180 with tax and tip. Considering service, quality, and location, I found this to be a good value.

My husband made a reservation here during our hotel stay at the Waldorf Astoria as the restaurant was right across the street. Upon entering, there was an impressive art piece of stacked dishes next to the hostess. She greeted us and we were seated for our reservation. We ordered the onion soup, steak tartare and pate de campagne to start. While the steak tartare was not overly impressive, we did thoroughly enjoy the onion soup and pate. We also shared the Michel's Fried Chicken and it was delicious! We managed to save room for dessert and my husband got the Lemon Eggceptional dessert which was fun to eat. I ordered the Michel's Classic Snowman, I enjoyed the handmade candy and meringue that was part of the dessert. Wonderful service as the staff were attentive and replaced our cutlery as well as ensure our tables were clean.

Central Michel Richard has been a staple spot in DC that consistently delivers great food for many years. You can never go wrong with the line-up I've displayed. The cheese puffs are light and airy. A good "bread" bite without feeling full. The wedge salad consists of iceberg lettuce, bacon, tomato, and blue cheese dressing. An entree of fried chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, watercress, and Dijon sauce is divine. Finally, the lava cake makes for a strong finish. I have never had a bad time at Central Michel Richard. It's definitely a must try!

We ordered the Fried Chicken, Onion Soup, Chicken Schnitzel, Bolognese, Chicken Nuggets, Risotto Croquettes, and Profiteroles. The food and elevated vibe was good but the customer service that we received from the server was mediocre especially for the price range. We asked for some recommendations on the menu and instead of providing us with recommendations, the server responded in a snarky manner, making remarks such as "a chicken is different than a fish" and rolling her eyes.

Nice lunch options here! Conveniently located to the downtown area so it's pretty popular for the lunchtime rush. Very lively. The last time I was in, I had the goat cheese caesar and it was really tasty. The vibe is upscale and you'll see many suits all around during the lunch hour. The waiters are responsive and the service is pretty quick and friendly.

For RW Winter 2023, my friend and I would give Central a 5/5. They had a menu curated specifically for this week which we both liked since it gives us an opportunity to try food that aren't normally offered on their normal menu. We loved the food we got for the most part and impressed that it was only $40 for a three-course dinner. Most RW menus I've seen are $55 for dinner and the value doesn't seem to be as good. APPETIZER: LOBSTER BISQUE Compared to the other two options (both which were salads), we thought the lobster bisque was the clear winner. For the most part, we enjoyed the bisque and would give it a 7.5/10. The lobster bisque was on the chunkier side (almost like a tomato soup) rather than the smooth, creamy texture I'm used to. There was a good amount of lobster chunks, which I liked. Overall, the soup was a bit too salty, but flavorful. They give you a dollop of cream on top that you can mix in! The croutons were a nice touch, but maybe having them on the side would be better. The "crunchy" life span was way too short since the croutons soaked up the bisque and got soggy/mushy super easily. MAIN COURSE: DUCK CONFIT You can get salmon almost anywhere, but duck confit? Wild boar leg? Definitely more interesting. My friend and I both decided to get the duck confit since we were craving that more and we definitely did not regret it. The porcini sauce was so rich and went well with the duck leg. The skin of the duck leg was perfectly crispy, fat, and rich. The duck meat itself was perfectly cooked and enjoyable with the greens and potatoes it came with. My friend and I both enjoyed the duck confit and don't have anything negative to say. We both highly recommend the duck confit here! DESSERT: COCONUT SUNDAE I love coconut and chocolate so this was the perfect dessert for me. The coconut ice cream scoop wasn't too strong with coconut, but the nuttiness from the silvered almonds made up for it. And I can't say no to the chocolate sauce. Overall, I'd recommend it if you are looking for a "lighter" dessert option as the other two are on the heavier side. Overall, great experience. I would highly recommend Central for RW (there's still a few days left, so definitely take advantage of the pricing here and give it a try). I would love to come back here in the future to try their normal menu.

A great, solid choice for French-American cuisine. Close to government buildings and other private companies, this is a great, reasonably priced spot for lunch, dinner, or happy hour. It's not exactly cheap, but you can make it work, especially with happy hour. The menu has a good range of items from salads and soups to tartare, steak, fish, burgers, mussels, and awesome desserts. Wine and cocktails are about 9 bucks a piece at happy hour. Service is excellent. The bartenders and waiters are always on top of everything and it makes the experience more like a typical "fancy" restaurant (cleaning between courses), yet it feels low key and casual too. No stuffiness here. Their highlights are steak tartare, fried chicken with cheesy mashed potatoes, and a napoleon dessert (so rich, yet not too sweet).

This was like a blast from the past, 80's style. I found this place off an Eater list and after looking at the menu, I was pretty excited to try it. Yelp reviews were great and the food pics confirmed that this would be good. The atmosphere was very dated. Looked like a cafeteria with all the tan going on. We walked in to a busy host stand, the bar and several tables were covered in dirty dishes, and the restaurant was probably 40% full. We were greeted warmly, and service was attentive, but the food was just us exciting. We ordered the risotto croquettes and the chicken nuggets as an appetizer. The nuggets were warm, at best, obviously cooked in batches. The risotto was good, the risotto rice a bit hard in areas, and then covered in truffle oil. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, which was heavy on the herbs, which I didn't care for, daughter got the fish and chips, which she said were bland, son got the burger, and wife got the fried chicken. The later two enjoyed their meals, but said they weren't very exciting. The fries that came with the burger and the fish also came out barely warm and they cooled quickly. I wouldn't come back here. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't worth the time when there are so many other places to try.

Service by Carlos was exceptional!! We had the French onion soup; the best I have ever had. We also had cocktails: The Negroni, the pear martini, and the Mojito. I would return to the restaurant for the cocktails!! The Branzino was phenomenal, as was the chicken schnitzel. We are about to order dessert!! The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I will be back!!

Omg. Trying to find a restaurant over Christmas with reservations was..fun. Managed to score one here and let me tell you. So. Worth. It. I'd hop on the train from NYC just to eat here. First off, ambiance is lovely, beautiful space. The service was OUTSTANDING. Not too rushed, no stuffiness, just a fun casual chat with a very knowledgeable friend. My partner and I split the lobster burger and a chicken burger (lobster was a special and holy goodness...melt in your mouth delicious.) and a side of mashed potatoes. I don't even LIKE mashed potatoes, but these had to be the best I've ever had. Creamy and delicious!! We got a dessert that was on special for the holidays and also stellar. I'd be back for potatoes and that dessert! All in all, fabulous experience and I'm glad we stopped in!

Service was excellent. We were able to move our reservation up 30 minutes with ease. The staff was polite and attentive and the food came out quickly (although there were not many people in there). As for the food, it was delicious. The shrimp burger was flavorful and the lettuce was the perfect lettuce for the burger. The hanger steak was superb and the fries were high quality. However, the star of the meal had to be the side of mac and cheese. 10/10 recommend getting. It was perfectly gooey, cheesy and delicious. Great portions as well. I wish that I could only say positive things about this place, but unfortunately the Vanilla and Raspberry Cheesecake did not meet expectations. The flavor was a bit artificial and the raspberry taste was overwhelming. Personally would not get again. Otherwise, nothing but positive things to say about Central Michel Richard. Definitely stop by if you are in the DC area!!

I feel like this place is trying way too hard to be something they're not. They're priced like an airport restaurant and the food matches it. I visited on a Monday evening and sat at the bar. My bartender was not friendly, never smiled or made me feel welcome. After I ordered a drink and one app, he took both my menus away without asking. I had to ask for them back as I was planning to have my whole dinner there. The Sunset 75 cocktail was very good but I made sure to come during happy hour so it wasn't so expensive. I had the tarte Alsacienne, which was good but not amazing. I'd heard good things about the French onion soup but I've had better in my small Maine hometown than what I had here. Too sweet and just not right. Then for my main, I had to order the famous michels fried chicken. My first issue was with the watercress: it needs to be chopped or cut into smaller bite size pieces. I was unable to even remotely gracefully eat it without looking like a cow chewing my cud. The chicken itself comes with a breast and a drumstick which is nice. It was super crispy but the meat itself wasn't super flavorful. The mashed potatoes were good but nothing to write home about. HOWEVER: the BEST thing that I had that I can't stop thinking about is Michel's chocolate bar. I'm giving Michel's 3 stars instead of 2 ONLY because of the dessert. It's literally like a homemade hazelnut Kit Kat bar. Please get it if you go. It will make it all worth it. I sadly would not come back here- the prices just don't match with the food but I might consider getting a chocolate bar to go. I will also say that the woman who was the hostess that night (2/5) was so friendly and welcoming. Just wish my bartender had a bit of her attitude. Would have potentially made the experience more pleasant.

This restaurant hits all the marks. Get: mushroom soup; French onion soup; gougères; Michel's fried chicken; and crème brûlée Avoid: not making a reservation The appetizers were INCREDIBLE! We started with the gougères - they were ~12 and they were perfectly cooked! We also got very nice margaritas. Then the soup du jour (mushroom soup) was perfect - it was the perfect size and had amazing flavor. The French onion soup was also superb. The real star of the show is the Michel Fried Chicken - this was truly superb!! They meat was fried to perfection with an incredible crust. Then the mashed potatoes were unique in the flavor profile and smooth. I would get this every week if I could! For dessert we got the crème brûlée and it was very nice. Can't wait to go back!!

The food here was fresh and hot. I love how quick they were and they even complimented us with the cheese puffs! The workers were friendly and polite. The restaurants ambiance was excellent creating a serene and peaceful environment. It wasn't too crowded and it was a perfect place to unwind and enjoy a delicious meal. The cheesecake and crème brûlée was full of flavors! I love how they toasted the raspberry sauce adding an extra crunch to it.

The time to investigate a potential restaurant for lunch is before you go... don't just rely on memory. Had I followed the advice, I'll never know if I would have eaten at Central a few weeks ago. I have a memory of the fried chicken getting high praise, so that's what I was getting - decision made. I will keep this short and sweet. Don't bother getting the fried chicken at Central... $30 for chicken that was flavorless and totally unremarkable, forgettable garlic mashed potatoes and now I know I do not like watercress salad. If you are in the mood for a tasty fried chicken breast... go to Chick-fil-A. I'm sorry if that sounds catty or insulting, it's just my honest opinion. The mussels were again, unremarkable. The service was pretty on point, except we were only asked about water once and that's when we initially got our glasses filled. Lunch on a Saturday - the restaurant was completely empty except for us. There were a couple of tables occupied on the patio. The restaurant itself was quite lovely. Restrooms were nice. No, I can not recommend Central and I will not be returning.

I went with a couple of my coworkers to this restaurant for a going away lunch for one of the ladies in the office. I ordered the fried chicken and the creme brûlée for dessert. Everything tasted very good and the portion size was great. I will definitely have to check out this restaurant for takeout since it is close to my office. The server did a great job as well.

Decent French/American restaurant. 3 of us ordered salad, oyster, Truffled Risotto Croquettes, Bronzino, pork cheek, a fried chicken entree, and 3 dessert. I really liked the Truffled Risotto Croquettes, Bronzino, and the chocolate bar dessert. But the pork cheek and fried chicken were just ok. Nice service and drinks.

My friend and I had dinner at Central Michel Richard on a Wednesday night. To start we ordered the Hollow Cheese Puffs and the Truffled Risotto Croquettes. They were both pretty delicious but my favorite was the croquettes. For an entree my friend ordered the Fried Chicken and I ordered the Hanger steak au poivre and the mac and cheese. The food was extremely delicious and well cooked. We were both very happy with our choices. To finish it up we ordered the profiteroles, which were also good except for the chocolate syrup, which had a weird coffee/sour taste. Our overall experience was great, the reason for the 4 stars is because the service was not the best. We had a hard time communicating with the waiter. Other than that all good and would definitely come back.

Stopped in with a friend for dinner on a weekday and the experience was just okay. The service was really not great and the food was just slightly above average. Okay, so things I did enjoy: - they have a decent happy hour and I love a good discount. The following items we had were simply average: - wedge salad - spaghetti bolognese - mussels - fries Additionally, our waitress forgot about us several times, forgot our drinks, slow to bring the bill. Def didn't help. Will I stop back in...if someone invites me out. But probably not on my own. -

Wonderful escargot & fabulous sweet Manhatten to start! Another lovely evening outdoor with great service and friends

I visited Central Michel Richard with my wife for our mid-day date (and off day). When we are unsure about a place for our date Central Michel Richard is always our first pick because of both exceptional service and outstanding dishes. We are always excited to try the seasonal meals and also indulge in our favorites dishes. The highlight of this date was the pumpkin dessert as recommended by Boris, the general manager. I'm not a fan of pumpkin but oh boy this dessert was 10 out of 10 *chefs kiss*!!! Also, Central Michel Richard has the best cosmopolitan in the DMV - no competition. Again, we love speaking with Boris and staff. It's always a remarkable experience. It's very rare in the DMV area that you have a general manager that visits your table and also makes note of a regular patrons.

My boyfriend and I love going on dates here. Amazing atmosphere and service. I usually get the burger but recently got the curry and would not recommend.

Just came back( first time in a while) Fried Chicken was fabulous , like always .Kale Caesar great.Excellent service.One of the best restaurants in DC.Some of the best fried chicken anywhere.Easily as good as Strouds in Kansas City(just different)Mashed potatoes with the chicken...amazing

Eh.. food decent.. extremely over priced.. I went there because I hadn't been there.. the food was prepared well and flavorful... but again.. I think they price that food a little high

I had to write this review solely for the Bok Choy Red Curry. It was delicious! My two dining companions said it was the best item that night. I am so glad I took a risk and tried something I wasn't sure about. The manager Scott really made our visit pleasant.

If you love that French Bistro like I do,this's the place for you! You must try the lobster burger before the summer end if you like seafood, for appetizer get the gougeres puffs, as well the fried chicken, overall I would give this place a 10/10

Came here for happy hour, the bartenders were very attentive and made phenomenal drinks. The food was also very good, got some French style apps that made chicken nuggets so elevated! Would come here again and try their actual dinner!

Great food and nice Ambiance I had the prime burger. Shirley temple and cheese poofs. The service was prompt and professional

DC has a good food scene so stand outs are few. Central has a nice atmosphere with an open kitchen and view of house aged meats. The menu is tight and offers a nice variety without being overwhelming. I was with a large party, I think collectively we ordered just about everything on the menu and there wasn't a person who wasn't disappointed and all had really good things to say about their choice. In our group we had vegans, gluten free, and carnivores, all felt as they were represented.

LOVE IT!! This was my birthday meal. I got a perfectly sized burger and this beautiful yummy chocolate dessert

Great food and lovely atmosphere at Central Michel Richard! The oysters were delicious and the mussel entree is flavorful, yet light.

I enjoyed a quick lunch stop between DC strolling today. The service was second to none. The staff checked in several times confirming I had everything I needed and offering to top off my wine. I sat in the front window at the bar so I could people watch, and it was lovely. I opted for a class of red, the French onion soup, and the goat cheese Caesar salad. The French onion soup was the best I've had since our trip to Paris. The proportions of onions, broth, and cheese were just right, and the flavors were spot on. The goat cheese Caesar offered a fun spin on the classics Caesar salad. The presentation was fun with good proportions of greens to dressing. The lettuce was fresh and crisp which is always appreciated!

Really impeccable service! My friend got to taste test her wine even though she only ordered a glass. The cosmo came in a tiny carafe that could be poured into the drinking glass. The presentation of the mussels was impressive and they were good quality. I liked the shrimp burger and was able to get a lovely little green salad instead of fries. Only complaint was that it's extremely loud, at least during happy hour, but I would go back. Maybe just not good for big groups during the busy time periods.

The service and food were excellent. I highly recommend the goats cheese salad, the cheese puffs, and eggcellent (?) dessert. I went here with a friend on their recommendation and will definitely be back.

They claim to be "an American bistro with a French twist", which I think makes sense. Semi-formal setting, slightly over-priced but decent food and great services. I would not go here on a regular basis given the price tag, but it would be a safe choice if you want to go somewhere for business purposes or a place where your standard dishes will be served. Highly recommended the pork cheeks!

Central have a great atmosphere, never let me down. A loster bisque is flavorful and perfectly cooked. Dessert also impressive.

Girls night out consisted of Cute outdoor dining, nice food & friendly server! Extensive wine list and great cocktails

Really cool place with lightning fast service in the heart of DC . Very close to the Capital

Such a cute little restaurant with impeccable service! The staff and the manager were simply amazing and sweet. They paid close attention to the reservation and noted that we were celebrating a birthday without being told or reminded. The food was fantastic, tasted so good and fresh, and great selections. Will certainly be returning!

Decent restaurant with lovely atmosphere! We ordered hanger steak, fried chicken, and bananasplit, which all catered well to our taste.