Central Restaurant

Incredible experience with Cece on the evening of July 26th! I cannot say enough good things about this establishment. From the service to the ambiance to the perfectly curated menu… absolutely in love with this place! The gas lanterns on the wall and the stunning flower arrangement in the center made for a beautiful setting. The huge light fixtures above us had the perfect amount of light that was calm and not too bright. The staff is so pleasant and makes sure that everything is well cared for. The bartender made a virgin Bloody Mary and it wasn’t an issue which I have ran into in the past at other places I’ve visited. They were very accommodating to anyone with a food allergy. I had the pork tenderloin with a strawberry sauce that was beyond delicious. My sister had the lamb and my dad had the teres major. We had the best desserts here and the presentation for every single plate was top notch. I’ve eaten at Michelin Star restaurants and truly this presentation is up there with the best! You will not be disappointed in your experience here. 12/10

The atmosphere was great and the service was over the top. One of the servers took the time to sing. You’re so beautiful to me for my wife. Overall, that was a great evening. Unfortunately, the food was not up to the hype that I have been given. I would say it was an OK meal but nothing that was not my socks off. We may go back again, but not for sure.

We used to come here all the time when we lived in Alabama. After being away for 2 and a half years, it's still one of the best restaurants we've been to. They changed their short rib recipe a bit. It's still divine, but we prefer the old recipe

Great food, cocktails, service, and ambiance! The salmon skin was super crispy, the lamb melts in your mouth, and each one of us loved our drinks. I got the Belladonna and really recommend it for anyone who likes mules.

Food was absolutely amazing! Rivals all of the posh 5 star restaurants in Nashville! Service was great and ambience perfect. Highly recommend the boudin croquettes as an appetizer.

Amazing!!! I can’t rave enough! We were seated right away & the waitress was over within moments to greet us! Impeccable service & amazing food!

Absolutely amazing! The best ribeye I’ve ever had! It was seasoned perfectly with a nice char on the fatty part and cooked to perfection a true medium rare steak. We made sure to tell Nigel to pass it on the chef. Nigel was our bartender he was outstanding, gave us recommendations we were in between short rib or steak. He described the Roasted Brussels with bacon & honey perfectly they were also exceptional. Nigel was outstanding told us about all the other must check out spots. Everyone was very personable definitely a must stop if I’m back in the area. 5⭐️

You should eat here. Delightful menu, fantastic dishes and a top notch atmosphere. We make it a point to come here whenever we come through Montgomery. Last time they had the best pimento cheese I’ve ever had - a little heat and a crunchy flatbread to spread it on. The cheese and onion grits alone are worth a visit- I’ve ordered a second one to take home for later before.

Central, by Chef Jason McGarry, offers amazing food in a rustic yet elegant environment. It's a large place with several private dining areas perfect for any affair. The open kitchen reminds me of Emeril's style. I was by myself so I elected to sit at the bar among a business owner and a doctor. Service is attentive and friendly. The wine list and cocktail menu are robust. The dinner menu is definitely unique. I had to look a number of items up on Google. I started with a fruity yet dry French Beaujolais. It was bright and delicious and the pour was extremely generous for only $12 a glass. Next I tried the boudin croquettes. They were flavorful and spicy with a good creole finish. They were artfully presented with greens and a mustard sauce. My entree was a nightly special, the red snapper. The fish was crusty outside and moist and flaky inside. It sat on a bed of rice, collard greens and diced vegetables. It was perfect! The asparagus side item was grilled expertly, crunchy and tender. I had several beaujolais while I savored the smells from the open kitchen and talked to my polite Jamaican servers. This is an enchanting place.

The food is always spot on. The mocktails are terrific and much more reasonably priced than other restaurants I've been to. The waitstaff is very polite and professional, and even though different people deliver the food, they always know which person gets which plate! I love the decorating and when they dim the lights in the evening it's a very chill atmosphere. However, I think the chairs at the center tables are very uncomfortable. Also not sure why I keep getting stuck at a middle table despite having a reservation when almost all the booths are empty the whole time I'm there. I've seen the same feedback from multiple other reviews.

Ran by Chef Jason McGarry and having opened in 2012, Central is a place that has established a bold reputation in Montgomery. It is the kind of place where you will see doctors with their families, lawyers on business dinners and plentiful celebrations happen in the heart of downtown. The atmosphere is not fancy, but certainly not too casual either with beautiful exposed brick walls. The space is an 1890s warehouse, transformed into a beautiful venue for meats and seafood. The fact that the space preserved in this state is incredible and the designers did a remarkable job. So, there is food too! The short rib smoked for 24 hours is a solid dish, delicate and flavorful. The salmon is prepared great as well. There is a wonderful small wine list of a few dozen bottles, yet sadly glassware is terrible. No crystal glasses for a $100 bottle? Get some Riedels or something similar. Also, would be nice to have some fresh made bread available on the menu or served as part of bread service. It would go incredibly well with the meat focused menu and especially the short rib. As a whole, a wonderful place for dinner and great work by Chef McGarry's team on crafting a special meal.

Absolutely amazing! The best ribeye I've ever had! It was seasoned perfectly with a nice char on the fatty part and cooked to perfection a true medium rare steak. Nigel gave us recommendations, we were in between short rib or steak. He described the Roasted Brussels with bacon & honey perfectly. Nigel was outstanding told us about all the other must check out spots. Everyone was very personable, definitely a must stop if I'm back in the area.

Made rez 30min before opening and was able to get a rez for 8. I had: 1) oyster sliders - 3/5. Good flavor and crunch, but light on the oyster. 2) grilled octopus - 4/5. It was pretty tender and well-seasoned, but I didn't like the orange sauce and didn't need the greens under it. Woulda given it a 3, but gave it an extra star for the portion. Large enough to be an entree. 3) squash/crab/green apple soup - 4/5. Good amount of crab meat. It was pretty sweet so adding the chunks of green apple felt unnecessary, especially in light of added curry, too. Too many flavors going on. 4) endive salad - 5/5. With the candied almonds and apples, this was my favorite dish! Would go back just for this. Good service. Would return if in town.

Everything here was absolutely amazing from the appetizers to dessert. They are dog friendly and have an outside patio to accommodate patrons. Appetizers: The grilled octopus was cooked perfectly and phenomenal with olive oil. Strawberry salad was light and refreshing for a hot summer day. Sweet and Herby at the same time. Dinner: fish of the day was swordfish and was given with mussels, clams, and rock shrimp. There was a tomato soup base that was absolutely divine. We also had the slow cooked short rib which was super tender and the grits were flavored perfectly with Parmesan. Dessert: ube cheesecake was perfect, enough said. Drinks: pretty much an old fashioned with rye whiskey which I am partial to. Great. Nora was our waitress and 100% attentive. Brought water to our dog and refilled out water frequently. They also offer 10% military discount which was great.

Appetizers were great. Then came the entrees - heaps and piles of salt. The lamb was so salty it was unedible. Manager comped a desert but we left extremely thirsty...... Yes you're supposed to season your food but if everything tastes like salt to the point of bitterness then something has gone wrong.

My son selected Central for a family dinner. The service was great. Some of the food was really good, other entrees not so much. I ordered the Rock Shrimp fried rice. I was very disappointed in my selection. 4 shrimp, crunchy, under cooked rice and very little taste. For the price, I was expecting a lot more. Other members of my party seemed to enjoy their entrees. The desserts were good. My wife ordered several and shared.

Absolutely a must-visit anytime you're in Montgomery or nearby. I've tried to get something different each time but it's extremely difficult when you find something on the menu that you always crave. The teres major steak is my favorite by far. The ONLY disappointment I have with Central is when they don't have their Brussel sprouts on the menu. It's a seasonal menu, so I understand but that doesn't mean I have to be happy they're not on the menu. All the food is top-notch, high-quality ingredients and presented like the plate was being presented in a magazine spread. Plenty of drinks and desserts to satisfy those who partake in libations and sweets, too.

Top two restaurants in Montgomery. Outstanding food, service and ambiance, can't say enough.

10/10 experience. Everything from the waiter helping us make decisions to the ambience to the actual divine taste of the food itself was absolutely fantastic. The beef tartine appetizer is an absolute and the short ribs were worth the hype!! Appetizer: beef tartine Entree 1: beef short ribs Entree 2: teres major Dessert: beignets

One of the nicest restaurants in Montgomery. Their brussel sprouts and steak are to die for.

Solid meal in downtown Montgomery. Interesting cocktail menu, lots of different alcohol bases. For some reason I expected more bourbon. The sweater weather was nice, although quite sweet. The short rib was plated and on the table in less than 4 minutes, which makes sense since it's slow cooked in advance, but the plating and service speed were a big surprise. The short rib was perfectly tender, I think the side was polenta, and it was served on a big bed of it. The serving was plenty, on the bigger side for short rib in my experience. Friendly staff from hosts to servers, and the bartender who brought my drink to my table. Cool, rustic, warm setting. There's plenty of street metered parking around, and o think the meters stop taking money at maybe 6.

Hands-down the best fish entree I've ever ordered. The fish rotates based daily catch and Chef recommendation. I had the absolute pleasure of stopping in for what I thought would be just a drink. After reviewing the menu, Nigel and Joe quickly asked if they could help with a cocktail or recommendations. They both discussed the fish so I thought I'd give it a try. And, WOW! SIMPLY WOW!! Single-handed the best fish dish I've ever eaten! The ingredients melted together like a symphony in my mouth. While the snapper rotates, I sincerely hope Central keeps this dish on the menu. The Chef came by my table and jokingly asked if I was enjoying my meal. (I think he could see the evidence of it all over). The Chef, Christian, is spectacular and the Central is lucky to have him and his team. The hostess, Frances, also checked on me with her beautiful smile. Overall, a very beautiful, delicious, and unexpected experience. Central is the absolute BEST!!

First things first, ask for Raven because she is awesome. Next, the restaurant had a very nice and rustic atmosphere which complemented the menu very well. I went with some good friends and we had a variety of menu options, we enjoyed all the w entrees, desserts and drinks! We did not enjoy the smokey flavor on the pimento cheese but felt confident that we could select something we may all enjoy next time! During a peak busy time parking may be a bit of an issue so keep this in mind if you are coming during prime time to allow yourself enough time to get parking and get to the restaurant.

Don't walk RUN, to this restaurant. Came here for my birthday and was not disappointed, the food was phenomenal. The chefs deserve a golden statue in their honor. I'm not joking. My husband ordered the 50 day aged ribeye and I got the Filet. Ohhh my goodness, the flavors were spectacular, almost to die for really. I'll be back and when I do I better see you all there!

Amazing. The food and drinks are wonderful. The service can be sometimes a bit slow, but they're very kind and attentive overall. The ambiance is warm and delightful -- great for a business out, a drink with friends, or a date. This is the best restaurant in Downtown Montgomery and one not to be missed for anyone visiting the area

Who guessed Montgomery Al would have such a gem? From making the reservation to our servers the evening was a big win. We tried the wedge salad, she crab soup, short ribs and splurged on the dessert flight of 3 awesome unusual desserts. The servers were exceptional and we had such a memorable evening. We will be back next year!!

Amazing atmosphere. Their charred octopus was amazing and all of the desserts looked decadent. Their staff members were super friendly and knowledgable of things going on in the city. Do recommend!

I enjoyed our meal here. The quality of the service, ingredients and presentation was outstanding. The teres major steak I had was a superb cut, and cooked perfectly on the interior, but I just wish it had been seared at a higher heat to have a more flavorful exterior crust. The accompanying Boursin mashed potatoes and mushroom reduction were just ok. The flavors were somewhat weak/muddled, and the textures were a bit limp. The design of the space is extremely appealing and curved banquette booth was comfy. Not a lot to choose from in Montgomery at this quality/price point, therefore I recommend.

Dessert was bomb! Great ambience and service. In town for a convening and peers kept raving about Central. We already ate before but only had one night left so we decided to check it out. Walked in at around 7:30pm and were immediately seated. We decided to keep it light since we weren't super hungry. The dishes we had were fine but we didn't have any entrees which was probably a mistake :( -Rapini - it was good -Octopus - the octopus and the potatoes were a bit underdone for our taste. Flavor was fine -Vanilla Lemon pie - so goood!!!!! We struggled picking one dessert cuz they looked so good and we weren't disappointed with our choice. The lemon was light. The vanilla ice cream had such a great flavor and texture to it. Highly recommend!

Great food, great service and really nice vibe in the restaurant. The charcuterie board was great. The steak was cooked perfectly and my wife absolutely loved the short ribs. The Brussel sprouts are excellent! The cream brûlée was very good and the chocolate tort was okay. Best restaurant that we have eaten at since we moved to the area and we will definitely go back. The menu is seasonal so we are looking forward to trying the different options.

It was such an amazing dinner in a beautiful atmosphere. I can totally see why it's the highest rated restaurant in Montgomery. I had bookmarked a few must see places before leaving Tampa. This was one of them. The five star reviews are all correct in my opinion. It was the best dinner experience I had the entire trip. The service was awesome! The hostess was so nice to us. We didn't have reservations, but we were early enough to get a nice table away from foot traffic. She got us all settled comfortably right away. Taemon was there shortly after to take our drink orders. He was very professional & attentive, and had great recommendations. He brought out the mocktails menu for me. The Pineapple Apricot Lime Punch was exactly what I needed after a long day of exploring the city. It was delicious, tart and refreshing. I initially had my mind set on getting the Gochujang Rubbed Lamb Ribs and sharing appetizers with my brother. I ended up deviating from the original plan once I saw the fish options. The Wood Fired Gulf Catch of the day was redfish. It was served over a seasonal blend of field peas, collard greens, and potlicker jus. The succotash blend was just as delicious and tasty as it sounds. The fish was pan fried perfectly, and crispy on top. I ate every bit of it. I refrained from licking the potlicker jus off the plate (but I was tempted). My brother had the Bearnaise Crusted King Ora Salmon. It was equally as good, and served over roasted Lyonnaise potatoes and green bean almondine with a red chimichurri sauce. I tasted it, and it was another amazing dish. Again, cooked perfectly but this one was topped with the tastiest bearnaise sauce that just complimented everything on the plate. He loved it! We would have ordered dessert, and believe me when I say that I really wanted to do just that. But, we had eaten a lot of sweets that day so we passed on the dessert menu. I do hope to revisit this spot in the near future with my husband. I think he would like it very much. The booth seating looked very comfortable for couples. The ambiance is sophisticated, yet not pretentious on a weeknight. Some people were dressed casually, and others were dressed for a night out. The main entrance is on Coosa Street, with plenty of metered parking that is free after 5pm and all weekend long. I believe you can enter the bar area from The Alley. The restaurant opens at 5:30pm, and it's closed on Sunday and Monday. It's right across the street from SpringHill Suites and the Trilogy Hotel. It's very close to the Riverwalk Stadium and Legacy Museum as well. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation if you want booth seating, or just pop in early on a weeknight like we did. It was a very memorable visit!

Hands down my new favorite restaurant in Montgomery. The chefs know what they are doing. Our server recommended the Rubbed Lamb Ribs. I could order this again and again. The candied pecans with the fall off the bone meat, definitely mouth watering. Entrees we had the Navy Bean & Basil Ravioli and Braised Lamb Shank. Each bite was so flavorful. Cooked to perfection. Each paired with the most complimenting side. Dessert we had pecan pie and beignets. Both give you just enough sweetness to calm your sweet tooth. My favorite was the beignets in the Carmel dipping sauce. Loved everything. Decor, staff, food.

High end upscale restaurant. Definitely has a healthy option and was worth every bite with the cauliflower dish I got. The service was great.

I dinned at Central on May 1, 2025. We had the lamb as an appetizer it was not good it taste like ribs not lamb. We ordered the ribeye for dinner it was not good, the meat had very little seasoning and the steak was not tender enough. the waiter was very pleasant and professional. I love the environment and it was very clean. The hostess was very nice. Price is not an issue for me as long as the food is good. We spent over two hundreds on dinner it was not worth it but I love the setting It is a very nice casual upscale restaurant.

Still the number one place in Montgomery! We love coming here on date night. Really easy to get to from the interstate also. Not a lot of parking so be aware. We get the early and it's always an easy in and out. Service is always great. Staff is truly Jonny-on-the-spot. Never had an issue that wasn't resolved. They go out of their way to make you happy. 10/10

Absolutely incredible. Thank you for an amazing experience. This meal was phenomenal, the tres major literally melted in my mouth, the space was beautiful. Thank you for a wonderful wonderful meal

Went with some girl friends before seeing a concert at MPAC. We didn't have a reservation, but had a drink at the bar while we waited to be seated. Our server, Raven, was incredible. She walked us through the specials and kept a close watch on the time to make sure we were out in plenty of time to make our show. Cocktails were fun and good. We had the scallops, teres major, and the chicken and dumplings. All were fantastic. The only thing we had that wasn't phenomenal was the pimento cheese, and they were happy to remove it from our check. We also had the lemon meringue pie and the chocolate marquis. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Looking forward to coming back the next time we're in town.

Wow, fastest time I'm starting a negative review ever. This restaurant is about 70% empty on a Saturday night and our party of six was seated at a clown table - partly in bench seats and others in hard wood seats. When we asked to move they said there was no other table that accommodated a group of six. All this said with a straight face no less! The benches sank (for a 150 lb diner) so much that he was left eating like a marmot with his hands at head level. That said, the food came out relatively quickly and was half decent. Appetizers were meh, lamb very fatty. But entrees were good, flavorful, albeit on the salty side. Desserts were delicious. Finally, although the seating was ridiculous, the rest of service that night was attentive and generally good. So while this started as a one star review, I end up probably giving between three and four stars. Also on pricey side especially for Montgomery.

Love!!!! Ok this is sophisticated urban dining. This restaurant is as good as any in Atlanta and new yor Old montgomery cocktail- yassssss Fritto miso Grilled oysters Halibut Soft shell crab Came back next day! Strawberry salad Halibut Short ribs

Nice atmosphere but too pricy...... I ordered scallops but they brought me fish....... The waitress could not even tell fish or scallops when I asked her and showed her the fish......

What a wonderful place!! The food was excellent, (I had the short rib), it was fork tender, not over cooked. The grits were tasty and creamy. The rest of our group loved all of their food too!! This is a must try restaurant. The staff was kind, efficient and saw to our every need. I walked up to the line chef and told him what a great restaurant this was, and he kindly told me how he truly appreciated the words. Run do not walk to Central!!

Excellent food, service, and ambiance! Everything we tried was great, but the teres major (beef shoulder) was truly a revelation! Our server kindly offered me a small sample of a beer I wanted to try but not buy. I favor less hoppy beers and ended up enjoying the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It was a fun beer to drink, giving you just a hint of bourbon in the middle of each sip.

Good atmosphere, good food, good prices for the experience and portions. I went with a group of four and we order three apps to the table and they were all awesome. The specials were great and our server did a great job. Call ahead for reservations! Parking downtown is usually packed on the weekends but most of it is free.

Simply put food is way over price for the quality. Out of 8 meal ,4 were marginal. Tenderloin was tough (2 meals ) , others were as we would get at a meat and two restaurant.

Erin was a very good waitress. Very knowledgeable. We had oyster sliders and duck egg rolls for APS and Sunday sauce and tere major. German chocolate donuts and lemon pie for dessert. I had Zinfandel. The only issue I had was no bread . Other than that great dining experience.

Fantastic services and delightfully delicious food and cocktails! Highly recommend Our waitress was prompt, friendly and very helpful. The food was top-notch and the cocktails were handcrafted and very delicious. The Mile High lemon meringue pie was heavenly.

Was not impressed. This was my first time at Central, I went on my birthday. We had a reservation, they were seating us at a table in the middle of the restaurant. I asked if we could have a booth instead, there were several open. I was told no because they had a lot of reservations? I wasn't happy about that. The table we had was not level. Our server Josh was wonderful, he was the only positive part of my experience. We had a group of four people. When the entrees arrived, only two out of the four came out. We had to wait another 10-15 minutes to get the other two entrees, and of course the first two were getting cold because you don't want to start eating until everyone has their food. The restaurant was very loud. The food was just okay. All in all, not a good experience. I probably won't return.

First time here and we arrived at 5:25pm for a 5:30 pm reservation. Told to go out to their hot waiting space until they were ready to seat us because they don't seat until exactly 5:30pm. Attitude and disrespectful from the minute we get there. Then we're seated in the middle of three main walkways. By far, the worse table in the restaurant. Hate it. We asked for a booth or out of the way and we're told all booths were taken. Definitely felt disrespected. (See my picture of a 100% empty restaurant). It was 90 min before the booths were full. While typing this review they suddenly found a booth. I realized the waitress station was 3-4 ft behind my seat and they saw me posting my first review. So they went out of their way to set a bad tone with us. Waitress was excellent and food was okay. Servings were small and the food was okay. I won't be back for their attitude, rude staff and basic food. Especially not worth it when you pay $230 for just two people. I rate the food 3 out of 5 stars. Service a 1 of 5. Only get a 1 because our server was friendly. My wife and I were expecting a really nice time based on the reviews on line. We dressed up and wanted a professional experience. We didn't get it here. Within a few minutes, we were both ready to leave. Attitude at the front desk; snappy and testy lady from the beginning!!! Excuses and lies about getting a different table. Management - train these people. Nothing worse than a bad attitude from staff.

I took a colleague and his family out to celebrate a career milestone. As always, the food was amazing. I loved the service and ambiance. It was a perfect evening. Thanks, Central.

Bottom line: great ambiance, alright food, probably won't return. The evening didn't start off great. We had a large party to celebrate a birthday, so we made a reservation. We were seated about an hour after our reservation time. When we were finally seated, our server was really nice and very attentive. That was definitely a plus. The food was alright. I got the salmon with lemon risotto. Neither one was flavorful at all. I felt very underwhelmed by the meal. Everything on the menu was pretty overpriced as well. Overall, I thought Central was fine but not worth the price.

Menu is stale. Restaurant does a great business, but the chef has obviously become complacent. Not even any specials to make things interesting. Sets may change, but proteins rarely do.

The food was awesome and the service was too. Our server Taemon is good. He is attentive and knowledgeable and he is respectful. Awesome! This place is a gem in Montgomery, Alabama. The drinks are awesome and so are the bartenders. They have limited hours and it was packed all three times we went while in Montgomery. The ambiance speaks for itself, this place is awesome and the decor is also. If you ever in Montgomery, you have to give this place a visit!

Central is hands down my favorite restaurant in Montgomery. I absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is very attentive! The menu features a variety of dishes made with fresh, high-quality, and in many cases, locally sourced ingredients. I highly recommend trying their signature cocktails and the house-made desserts (the mile-high lemon pie is my fave! Note: the menu changes seasonally. Central Restaurant is a must-visit spot for foodies in Montgomery.

People rave about this place. We took the whole family for a special birthday event and every single one of us was disappointed. Our bill was astronomical. My husband got a ribeye which he said was "tasteless and overcooked". I got a seafood/fried rice dish and it literally tasted like the fried rice I make at home. My fault for ordering something so basic. Other people got chicken and dumplings, short ribs, and a lamb appetizer. All were mediocre. I will say the service was outstanding and I loved the atmosphere. Just not sure what's going on with the menu. It's such a small menu that we were just sure each thing on there must be very special. We will not be returning and we didn't even order dessert (which says a lot since it was a birthday event)

Wood Fired Cajun Oysters on the half shell *GF Pimento cheese & nduja - a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the region of Calabria in Southern Italy. Crispy Skin Duck Breast Duck fat confit mushrooms, celeriac & white chocolate emulsion, honey roasted brussels, bing cherry & coffee jus Braised Lamb Shank Graham marsala & coconut braised Lamb shank, spinach saag, garlic fried basmati rice, naan, cilantro, mint Thank you Central Restaurant (Montgomery's BEST restaurant) for a wonderful dining experience - exceeded expectations from beginning to the end! Our server, Lauren, was outstanding! Excellent service!

Just wanted to give a high five to Arris & Alia for great service and smiles last Thursday night! Food was amazing and they did a fantastic job and the place was packed with our association members. Well done!

I have eaten meals at fine dining establishments in most major cities all over the country. And I am not sure that I have ever had a better meal or experience than I had at this restaurant. I dined alone so I elected to sit at the bar. The bartender recommended the Lion's Tail cocktail. It was wonderful...a variety of flavors. Sweet, sour, and bourbon. I also got the filet and brussel sprouts. The filet was easily competitive with any that I have had. Tender and cooked exactly as I ordered. The bartender also recommended the brussel sprouts. I believe the sides were meant to be shared but the brussel sprouts were so good that I ate them all. And the dessert...the chef's beignets. I made myself miserable. Absolutely amazing. You could not go wrong choosing this restaurant.