Le Central Affordable French

I have been coming here for years and most recently last Sunday brunch. Excellent service, excellent food and a great atmosphere for any occasion. As always, a delightful and refreshing experience. Pros: C'est excellent ! more

What am I talking about? Well, for those who didn?t take three years of French in high school with Ma Souer Margaritte, let me translate: ?It?s true; Le Central really is affordable French food.?\r \r On February 17th the well-known band of cultured Denverites known as the Denver Brunch Club (DBC) graced the presence of Le Central in Denver?s quirky Capitol Hill neighborhood. Le Central?s menu caters to those looking for an authentic French meal at an almost unreasonably inexpensive price. \r \r The spaciousness of the restaurant is not what one would expect from the outside of the building as the various colored stuccoed houses resemble a crammed French village that borders the country?s southern tip. A wait of only 15 minutes accompanied our group of 10 coffee-deprived/hungover troopers. Once seated we were greeted by an amiable bearded fellow who supplied us with much-needed ice water and weak coffee-flavored water, which was far from the traditional overpowering French roast one would anticipate. \r \r Echoes of a disgruntled French waitress rang out as she auctioned off food, which added to the intended French ambiance. Who knew that ?sardou,? a word referring to an egg dish, could be said like an insult! A cacophony of food including omelets, pain perdu, crepes, and benedicts was set out before us, and to the adventurous eaters who say it?s not possible to order fish in a landlocked state, I dare you to order the salmon omelet. Smoked to perfection and loaded with cheese, this dish was there to please. \r \r Overall, the Denver Brunch Club highly recommends Le Central to the masses. It is sure to please anyone looking for a quick, affordable meal packed with atmosphere and the occasional French character. But, don?t count on curing that hangover with strong coffee- it ain?t gonna happen here. Pros: Great For Large Parties, Cheap Delicious Food! Cons: Weak Coffee more

This is a cute and tasty treat for anyone! We went here and had the nicest French waitress. The food was excellent, the wine even better. The ambiance totally got us in the mood for great conversation. Highly recommended. more

I went to Le Central last night with a few girlfriends. We sat on their patio and all endulged on their Three Course Lobster Menu for $25.00. You get a choice of Mediterranean Fish Soup or Three Cheese Plate with salad, choice of Half of One Maine Lobster prepared one of four ways and choice of Chef's Selection of Dessert. The meal was delicious and the lobster was extremely fresh; in addition to the great dinner the server was attentative, friendly, handsome and French. He suggested that we try a Champagne Cocktail called the French Kiss, when he made this suggestion he even blushed!!!\r \r I have also heard that their Weekend Brunch is a great time to visit Le Central, they serve $2.00 house Champagne and Mimosas on Saturday, where can you wrong with that. more

Have been to Le Central several times since moving from California five years ago. It keeps getting better and better. The cuisine has improved gravely since my first visit, I actually had the opportunity to meet one of the French chefs, Bertrand over the weekend, he was friendly and passionate about bringing his wordly experiences to Denver. \r \r The service staff was exceptional, I never once had to ask for anything, the server, I believe her name was Celine, was extremely attentive and cute, was able to connect with everyone at the table. I would recommend anyone visit Le Central if you are looking for fresh food, a menu that changes regularly, a wine list that is not only varied and inexpensive, but a staff that is not afraid to make suggestions in a friendly price range (what a breath of fresh air, I know you have had servers that will never make a recommendation under $50.00, but a wine recommendation for a delicious bottle of Paulliac for $26.00). \r \r Le Central is a piece of Provence in Denver, everytime I visit I wish I could have an 8 course dinner paired with wines for every course. Pros: Fresh Food and Consistent, Friendly Service Cons: Menu Changes, might not have what you had last time more

I had heard many positive things about Le Central, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to go there. Unfortunately, it was far below what I had expected it to be.\r We made a reservation and were seated promptly, but it took at least 20 minutes for the waiter to come to our table. In fact, service was at a consistently slooooowww pace. The service was far below what I expected. Our waiter spilled a whole pitcher of water on our table and refused to clean it up. Now I could understand bad service if the restaurant was busy, but it was nearly empty that day.\r The food though, was vile. Every dish tasted somewhat bland and forced, like the chefs gave up making it halfway through the preparation. We ordered a crepe stuffed with white fish and salmon, but we instead received an omelette stuffed with sub-par and odd tasting fish. The mussels were also disgusting. Their was something terribly wrong with them. They tasted like what I would imagine the floor of the warthog cages at the Denver Zoo taste like. The mussels were accompanied with some of the saddest excuses for frites that I have ever seen, soggy with out any hint of crispness.\r On the plus side, Le Central is decently priced and is in a great location. But the food and service can't possibly make up for anything else. I wouldn't return here unless drastic changes were made. Pros: Great Location, nicely priced Cons: Horrible food and service more

WOW,\r This place has it all. First of all the environment makes you feel like you are back in France. They even have some French staff imported in!! The food was spectacular, and it wasn't very expensive. This is a true French country experience! Pros: ambience, food, service Cons: parking more

We hosted a wedding reception for 90 guests at Le Central Restaurant in July 2007. Even with that many guests, the restaurant provided an intimate French atmosphere. During the year of planning, the management offered many good suggestions, which allowed us to stay within our budget and still provided a first-rate event. We would like to compliment the entire management and staff for making it a very successful evening. The menu selections and quality of food and wine were excellent, drawing rave reviews from the guests. The servers were very friendly, attentive, and responsive. The decorated patio become a gathering place for casual conversation and dancing after dinner. Le Central provided an unusual and memorable location for our daughter's wedding reception. Pros: Service, food, ambience, great location for wedding reception more

All I have to say is mussels! A $9 vat of mussels! Pure heaven, great service. Reminded me of Europe. more

What is going on here? Last two times I have been in for lunch (the only time I go) it's been no good. I thought the second to last time I was there was a fluke, because before it's been great, spot on.... But this is the second lunch in a row I have been disappointed. Flavorless, the kitchen has lost it's salt shakers, thank god they have some on the table...but even that doesn't save the dish. Coq Au Vin had no salt, no bacon, no flavor, menu discription said bacon, mushrooms, and mirepoix- none of these were present in the dish BUT lots of mirepoix. Really it tasted like hospital/nursing home food. Flavorless serious. We also had the Mussels Portugese with ""house made chorizo, tomatoes, garlic and fresh cilantro"" No no no no Chorizo I don't think so...more like grey mushy pork sausage with NO flavor. Didn't even taste of cliantro- which it was covered in. Sorry Le Cental for such a bad review but there is something going on in your kitchen and it's not a good thing and it's not French. I hope you pull it out becuase really you are a Denver classic.\r \r Oh and one other thing, hostess was rude and acted like we were a burden to seat....server not very friendly either. Pros: Cute, Great Location Cons: Bad Food! more

I just hosted a fabulous 40+ person bridal brunch at Le Central. The food and atmosphere were perfect for the event. The service was excellent as well. The highlights were the crepes and the cake (YUMMY!). Management and staff took great care of us and the event exceeded the expectations of the bride-to-be and the rest of the guests. The price of the event was extremely reasonable as well. Thanks to Le Central for making it such a special event! I highly recommend hosting an event at this restaurant. Pros: Atmosphere (for a very large party), Service, Price, Crepes, Cake more

I have been to Le Central four times and it keeps getting worse and worse. The last time I was in for Sunday brunch our 10 minute wait for a table was followed by a 20 minute wait at the table for a drink order. The mussels where overcooked to the point that they were waterlogged and difficult to remove from the shells. Poached eggs were so undercooked that the yolk was cool and the white barely firm on the edge. The ""house-made chorizo"" was really lean ground pork, no salt no spice just pork. Service was sarcastic and generally disgruntled adding to the choas and disorganization in the dining room. I would go to le Central again only if they paid me to do so. Pros: Close to home and cheap Cons: food, service, ambience more

I'm not sure what all the hype is about with Le Central - the mussels were small and rubbery and the daily fish special was dry, flavorless, and overcooked. The crepes were doughy in the center. We were there for over an hour without having anyone take our dinner order. They have a good, inexpensive wine list but I'm overly unimpressed with the service and the food. Pros: Inexpensive wine list Cons: the food, the service, the desserts more

This has been a place for us for many years now. Truthfully at times the service and food can be merely mediocre, but we never really had bad food or service. This is not an upscale restaurant, simply casual, hence ?affordable?. I actually like the casual setting of the restaurant, its perfect for either lunch or dinner, for a date or with family. If you are accustomed to exquisite French food, this place may not be for you. Servers are accommodating and the desserts are simply divine, especially the Creme Brule, yum! Pros: Comfortable & relaxed setting, good price, great desserts Cons: Busy, food not always up to par more

I just love eating at Le Central. The ambience, art and French infusion is fun. Unique and unusual plates. Try the duck salad for starts! It is very romantic and a lovely patio. The wait staff are very knowledgable and helpful. It is a great special evening. Affordable lunches too! What's not to like? I highly recommend this restaurant. I'm a regular, live nearby and love the place. Take your wife and give her a titillating night! Leave room for dessert. Pros: A great special evening, lunch, and weekend brunch! Cons: Parking out front, bring quarters! more

I came here for a late Saturday brunch with a group of girlfriends. The mussels were fantastic and very tasty-- a very good price too. I had been craving the mussels before i even got there and wasn't disappointed. The mimosas are priced right too. The service was a little slow, especially given the late hour of our brunch the restaurant wasn't full. But i've yet to experience a quick dining experience at Le Central. Don't come here if you're in a hurry. But if you want nice romantic ambience and good food, this is the place to come to. Pros: Ambience, tasty mussels, good prices Cons: slow service more

Sunday the 3rd, six friends and I went here and we had one of the worst dining experiences. Food was terrible, service was painfully slow, and we were misled. We were told foie gras would be a large portion accompanying the chicken and truffles. Instead, we were brought white rice that was ""infused,"" with foie gras. The truffles were microscopic and had no flavor whatsoevery. Everyone had rice with thier dishes for a filler and two of us had severly undercooked Mahi Mahi. Really, the only satisfactory foods were the mussels and French fries. The waitress left our plates sitting there and it took us over 3 hours to dine because of how slow she was. Rice with all seven entrees at a French restaurant? A three course meal that takes 3 hours?? Le Central is too unpredictable with thier quality and I don't recommend it. Pros: Good French fries. Cons: service, food, wine. more

I have been dining at Le Central for a hundred years. My experiences have been on a swinging pendulum; sometimes the service is good and the food is mediocre, or the food is good and the service is mediocre. Last week I was surprised to find that nothing was redeeming. I called for a reservation. The hostest asked me what time I'd prefer. I asked for 7:30. She asked, ""How about 8?"" Why ask for a preference, if you cannot accomodate?! After we arrived, we still had to wait for a table...the Jerry Seinfeld episode was definately on my mind. My husband and I have enjoyed the mussles in the past, and were actually craving them (thus the visit). Service was slow due to the crowd, which is understandble. However, the mussles were obviously steamed in water, with the various sauces poured over afterwards. There was next to no flavor. Besides which, a majority of them were either closed, or had enough sand in them to choke on. And...what happened to ""the AFFORDABLE French restaurant""? I was shocked at the price changes. It will definately be awhile before I am willing to try it again! Cons: can't find it's groove...ever more

Well, we've been several times. We've had good food & not so good food. Overall I would recommend going. But, keep in mind this is southern french food, not americanized french food. It may not be exactly what you are use to... it is very casual, homey, comrfort type southern french food... not the nouvelle California style cuisine so many Americans believe is french. And for the reviewer who said wine is overpriced, wrong! Wine here is very affordable. If you are familiar with French labels at all take a few minutes to look the list over, there are some great finds. As for the famous mussels, here's my advice on them... I'm orignally from Maine and can tell you what all coastal dwellers know & those in land locked states seem to forget....Shellfish is seasonal, if you want good shellfish order it in season, not out. Pros: price, food Cons: crowded, service can be slow more

I have not dined at this restaurant for many years the last time was in 1999. The mussels back then were perfect. This time they lacked flavor. Usually I like to dip the bread and fries in the garlic-rich broth, but this time the broth tasted very bland. \r \r Our white wine came out to the table late we were already finished with the first course when it arrived and it was warm. When I told the waitress she actually argued with me about how I just didnt know about wine. This is very sad and embarrassing for her and the restaurant. By the time we finished the last glass the wine was finally cold enough. We did not bother to order another.\r \r The house salad barely had enough dressing to taste. I like French vinaigrette with the mustard zing, but this lacked any of the usual characteristics found in a well-made salad.\r \r \r We ordered an assortment of desserts and most were very good. However, you must know that the meringue dish with blueberries and creme anglais seemed quite like an unfinished piece of work. The meringue was actually raw, and I am not wrong when I say this. I can whip up an excellent buttercream and I know raw egg white and I know cooked egg whites and these were raw. Pros: Nice atmosphere - You feel like you're in France Cons: Food not nearly as good as in France more