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Le Central, San Francisco, CA

Le Central

4.7
4.7
2146 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Opened in 1974, Le Central has been serving traditional French cuisine for five decades, boasting the honor of being San Francisco’s most historic French bistro. Located on the edge of the Financial District, Union Square, and Chinatown in a rare one story brick building adorned with its iconic pink neon sign and crowned by a vintage “Tabac” sign. Step into this charming restaurant and be transported to a Parisian brasserie. With exposed brick walls, original imported brass bar, stained glass features, and cozy banquettes topped with brass railings. The atmosphere invites you to unwind and enjoy delicious French fare and exceptional wines and cocktails in an upscale, yet casual environment. Enjoy French classics like steak-frites, escargot, onion soup, and our world famous Cassoulet. Le Central’s cuisine is comforting yet sumptuous. Le Central is the downtown stop for locals and visitors looking for a taste of “La Belle Vie”!!!

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm Happy Hour Mon–Sat 4:30 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 391-2233
  • Website
    http://www.lecentralbistro.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Private party facilities
    Le Central is available for private events, please visit our website for inqueries. https://www.lecentralbistro.com
  • Location
    453 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94108
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / Union Square
  • Cross street
    Grant and Kearny
  • Parking details
    Sutter-Stockton Garage
  • Public transit
    Powell or Montgomery stations
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,146 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Le Central offers a quintessential French dining experience in San Francisco, known for its "authentic French vibe" and consistently "delicious food." Highlights include expertly prepared classics like steak frites and escargot, alongside a "wonderful wine selection." The service is praised as "friendly and attentive," making it a "special neighborhood gem."

2,146 Reviews

  1. Tim

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food and service were outstanding. 10/10 would absolutely recommend

    Is this helpful?

  2. James

    VIP

    Portland

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This was an excellent dining experience, the cassoulet was epic. There were many good looking choices on the menu, but it was impossible to get past the cassoulet which was as good as anticipated.

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  3. Mario

    VIP

    San Francisco

    31 reviews

    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    On time for our 5:30 pm reservation and greeted by staff, checked in and guided to our table. It wasn’t too crowded which I thoroughly enjoyed and the music was soft and mellow jazzy. Ordered our drinks and I had the hangar steak with French fries and it hit the spot. Would definitely return.

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  4. Cyril

    San Francisco

    60 reviews

    5.0

    60 reviews

    Dined on January 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Le Central never disappoints. Great food and great service for a reasonable price in downtown SF, that is a win for me!

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  5. YOKO

    VIP

    Hawaii

    10 reviews

    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was excellent. It was a little bit noisy because there were many people there. But nice restaurant.

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  6. Jerry

    VIP

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nico and Carlos were GREAT! The food was delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jack

    VIP

    Orlando

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an early business dinner with a party of eight. Food was authentic French and very good. Service was solid. A bit pricey at about $100 a person - food, cocktail, wine. Well worth it and will return
    Le CentralResponded on January 13, 2025
    Jack, Thank you for the great review, we are so glad you enjoyed everything. We hope you dine with us again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Amir

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent steak frites, profiteroles and friendly service.
    Le CentralResponded on January 13, 2025
    Amir, Thank you for the great review, we are so glad you enjoyed everything. We hope you dine with us again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Robert

    VIP

    San Francisco

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Le Central is a reliable restaurant for experiencing well-prepared French bistro cooking. I had deviled eggs, the 1/2 roast chicken with fries, Brussels sprouts with bacon, and a French Martini. All the food was delicious, as was my cocktail. Our waiter was professional, charming, and funny, which added to the pleasure of my dining experience.
    Le CentralResponded on January 13, 2025
    Robert, Thank you for the kind review, we are so glad you enjoyed everything. We hope you dine with us again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Edward

    VIP

    San Francisco

    19 reviews

    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Well prepared classics made with fresh ingredients and delivered with simple casual elegance.
    Le CentralResponded on January 13, 2025
    Edward, eloquently said, and much appreciated, Thank you for the kind review, we are so glad you enjoyed everything. We hope you dine with us again soon.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Le Central using the Order Online button.

Le Central is rated 4.7 stars by 2146 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Le Central

453 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94108

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Grant and Kearny
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / Union Square
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm Happy Hour Mon–Sat 4:30 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Sutter-Stockton Garage
  • Public transit
    Powell or Montgomery stations
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.lecentralbistro.com/
  • Phone number
    (415) 391-2233
  • Private party facilities
    Le Central is available for private events, please visit our website for inqueries. https://www.lecentralbistro.com
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