Le Central

4.7 (626)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French

483 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809-1807

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Great for brunch
Charming

Le Central is a French bistro, focusing on modern interpretations of classic dishes featuring local products from Sakonnet Lobsters, Four Town Farm (Seekonk, MA), Walker's Farm (Barrington, RI), Scott the Bassman, and Little Rhody Eggs (Foster, RI). Low lighting, checkerboard floor tiling, glass tabletops, and French nu-Jazz provide an intimate yet warm and familiar atmosphere. Chef-owner Jesse James spent his early career in Boston, working with chefs Moncef Meddeb at L'Espalier and Jasper White at Jasper's, with further experience at other landmark restaurants in New York, France, and Italy. Le Central is the third restaurant he has designed, built, and operated, after Aperto (Est 1992) and Boca Rotis (Est 1997), both in San Francisco. The large painting by Inez Storer on the south wall of the restaurant (which also serves as our logo) is of Jesse's son, Sam (the current General Manager & Beverage Director), and his childhood dog, Skye. Inez wouldn't say who the guy in the chair is.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary French, Farm-to-table, Seafood
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(401) 396-9965
Website
http://www.lecentralbristol.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Jesse James
Private party facilities
Semi-private room and full restaurant available for private events/parties of 10-80 guests. Please email Sam at sam@lecentralbristol.net for booking inquiries.

Location
483 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809-1807
Neighborhood
Bristol
Cross street
State Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Parking details
Ample street parking and public lots within a half block of the restaurant.
Public transit
RIPTA 60 Providence/Newport - Hope and State (Bristol)
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Chilled Oysters
Oysters on the Half Shell, Mignonette Sauce
Onion Soup Gratinée$12.00
Soup of Caramelized Onions with White Wine & Sherry; Gruyère & Toasted Country Bread
Salade Maison$9.00
Local Baby Greens with Mustard-Shallot Vinaigrette
Goat Cheese & Spinach Salad$12.00
Baby Spinach, Red Bell Pepper, & Almonds with Sherry Vinaigrette; Herbed Goat Cheese on Grilled Country Bread
Endive & Roasted Beets$14.00
Endive, Chilled Beets, Toasted Walnuts & Roquefort with Walnut-Cider Vinaigrette
Grilled Shrimp & Avocado Salad$16.00
Coriander & Garlic Grilled Shrimp, Avocado, Tomato, Cucumber, & Baby Greens with Hot Pepper-Lime Vinaigrette
Grilled Moroccan Chicken Salad$15.00
Grilled Chicken, Couscous, Endive, Avocado, Moroccan Olives, & Heirloom Tomato with Hot Pepper-Lime Vinaigrette
Duck Liver Mousse$16.00
Duck Liver Mousse with Seasonal Fruit Compote, Pickled Onions, & Grilled Country Bread
Pâté de Campagne$18.00
Pâté of Pork, Chicken Liver, & Green Peppercorn with House Pickles, Cornichons, Olives, Meaux Mustard, & Grilled Country Bread
Charcuterie$22.00
Pâté de Campagne, Duck Liver Mousse, & Rosette de Lyon Dry Sausage with Cornichons, Olives, House Pickles, & Herbed Goat Cheese
Frites$6.00
Hand-Cut Fries with Sriracha Aioli
Bread Service$3.00
Toasted Baguette with House-Cured Olives & Vermont Butter

Les Plats

Bistro Burger$18.00
Grilled Organic House-Ground Brisket Burger on Brioche Bun; House Pickles & Frites
- Add Fried Organic Egg$2.00
- Add Gruyère, Cheddar, Roquefort, Goat Cheese, or Applewood-Smoked Bacon$3.00
Steak Frites$29.00
Grilled Hanger Steak with Bordelaise Onions & Frites
Salmon Niçoise$18.00
Grilled Salmon with Green Beans, Arugula, Roasted Peppers, & Fingerling Potatoes; Tapenade & Lemon-Caper Compote
Croque Monsieur$13.00
Country Ham & Gruyère on Toasted Brioche; Frites
- Add Fried Organic Egg$2.00
Classic BLT$13.00
Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Arugula, Tomato, & Aioli on Brioche Bun; Frites
Lobster BLT
Sakonnet Lobster, Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Arugula, Tomato, & Aioli on Brioche Bun; Frites
Chicken BLT$16.00
Grilled Chicken, Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Arugula, Tomato, & Aioli on Brioche Bun; Frites
Grilled Chicken Sandwich$15.00
Grilled Chicken, Arugula, Parmigiano, & Aioli on Toasted Sourdough; Frites
Smoked Salmon Sandwich$19.00
Smoked Salmon, Cucumber, Pickled Onions, & Dill Cream on Toasted Sourdough; Salade Vinaigrette
Ratatouille Omelette$15.00
Organic Egg Omelette of Heirloom Tomato, Garlic, Zucchini, Eggplant, & Summer Squash; Frites
Mac & Cheese$15.00
Panko-Baked Penne with Porcini, Fontina, & Gruyère; Salade Vinaigrette

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Le Central.

4.7

(626)

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.5Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Le Central was a beloved dining spot in Bristol, offering a memorable experience with its "exceptional" soups, "outstanding" corn soup with scallops, and "excellent" French onion soup. Diners praised the "welcoming and kind" staff, "great food," and "picturesque" ambiance. Though now closed, it left a lasting impression on its patrons.

626 Reviews

L
Linda Gold
Greater Boston79 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 5, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was one of the most memorable dining experiences anyone could ever possibly imagine! My friends and I are very grateful that we had the opportunity to dine in one of Bristol’s finest restaurants. Best wishes to the chef and owner and his staff and thank you!
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M
Marty Gold
New York City50 reviews
5.0
Dined on August 28, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Glad we got to try it before it closes. Best French onion soup ever, great drinks and food. Service was excellent
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P
Polly
Richmond1 review
5.0
Dined on August 16, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the sugar cinnamon popovers and bacon Gouda omelette!!
1 person found this helpful
L
Linda Gold
Greater Boston79 reviews
5.0
Dined on August 15, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a perfect dining experience. The soups are exceptional. Specialty cocktails are very inviting. The wine list compliments each and every entrée.
1 person found this helpful
E
Edward Gold
Rhode Island2 reviews
5.0
Dined on August 15, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food and service is always first rate. Very consistent food quality regardless of selection.. A peaceful dining experience with great food, service and ambiance. We dine at Le Central often and will continue to do so.
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S
Susan Gold
West Palm Beach8 reviews
4.0
Dined on August 13, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Can’t figure out why this place isn’t packed. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner on a summer Wednesday. The charcuterie tray for 2 was lovely. Delicious duck liver mousse and country pate with yummy grilled bread, olives and sausage. Oddly, no cheese but plenty to eat. My duck leg confit with sweet potato purée was terrific. Puzzling that they added fennel sausage and kimchi to this dish. I don’t think the kimchi worked, though good. Should have served cassoulet white beans which I saw on the menu with another dish. My husband enjoyed his salmon nicoise. We were set to enjoy apple tart for dessert, but sadly, it was the only item they were out of. Service was very attentive. Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy French bistro fare.
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A
Alyssa
Richmond9 reviews
2.0
Dined on August 7, 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
Food mediocre. Expected more. Dish combos odd. Bland. Chicken coq au vin tasted only like wine when they don’t cook the alcohol off with no additional flavors. The potatoes that came with it need salt and were bland. The duck was ok not crispy and items with it not great. We got bread which they charge for and it was the smallest portion. I will not be back.
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L
Linda Gold
Greater Boston79 reviews
5.0
Dined on August 5, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant is consistently exceptional. The corn soup with scallops was outstanding. Homemade ice cream is always on the menu and stand out amongst the best ice cream shops around. The wine list is very notable.
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A
Abdoulaye M Gold
Greater Boston3 reviews
5.0
Dined on August 2, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We are so thrilled to have discovered the gem that is Le Central. We have lived in France for a total of 8 years between us and have often lamented that French restaurants in the US rely on reputation and overcharge for nothing special. Le Central’s food was fresh, homemade and delicious. Clearly great care is taken in selecting ingredients, hiring staff and running a very interesting beverage program. Bravo, Le Central! We will be back, and hopefully the very capable Tori will be working to take care of us again.
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C
Christopher
New York City22 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 31, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
As visiting boaters, it is unusual to find excellent French food within walking distance from the marina. Le Central was a treat. Great food, friendly staff in picturesque Bristol.
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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary French, Farm-to-table, Seafood
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(401) 396-9965
Website
http://www.lecentralbristol.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Jesse James
Private party facilities
Semi-private room and full restaurant available for private events/parties of 10-80 guests. Please email Sam at sam@lecentralbristol.net for booking inquiries.

Location
483 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809-1807
Neighborhood
Bristol
Cross street
State Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Parking details
Ample street parking and public lots within a half block of the restaurant.
Public transit
RIPTA 60 Providence/Newport - Hope and State (Bristol)
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

August 14, 2024
French Brasserie in SF's Financial District Serves Rustic Classics with Mixed Results
An established French brasserie in the Financial District offers wine, cocktails and comforting dishes with a retro-chic ambience. Highlights include the sole meunière and escargot, while the cassoulet and beef bourguignon are uneven, making it a decent date-night option.
Published in The Infatuation

FAQs

Sunday is a favorite, Le Central’s Sunday brunch (served 11:00 am–4:00 pm) draws frequent praise from guests for its food and service.

Yes, Le Central’s low lighting and intimate French-bistro atmosphere, plus attentive service and thoughtful wine pairings, make it a lovely choice for a special evening.

Le Central tends to be busiest for holiday brunches (Easter and Mother's Day draw large family parties), while Sunday afternoons often feel notably quiet and relaxed.

Coq au Vin is a standout at Le Central, it appears on the dinner menu and guests repeatedly praise it as perfectly cooked and delicious.

Le Central feels like an intimate French bistro, low lighting, checkerboard floors and French nu-jazz create a warm, cozy room guests describe as relaxed and conversation‑friendly.

Smart casual is the guide, polished but relaxed, so neat, put‑together clothing is appropriate without anything formal required.

Le Central is especially lovely for Sunday brunch or a quiet Sunday afternoon, several guests call Sunday brunch a great choice and note Sunday afternoons can be very quiet.

Yes, families regularly dine at Le Central and guests report bringing children for special occasions, with staff attentive during family meals.

Yes, Le Central has a full drinks program: guests praise its cocktails and point to a solid, varied wine list and thoughtful bar offerings.

How FAQ content is generated

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Le Central

About this restaurant

Permanently Closed

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Pour Commencer

Chilled Oysters

Onion Soup Gratinée$12.00

Salade Maison$9.00

Goat Cheese & Spinach Salad$12.00

Endive & Roasted Beets$14.00

Grilled Shrimp & Avocado Salad$16.00

Grilled Moroccan Chicken Salad$15.00

Duck Liver Mousse$16.00

Pâté de Campagne$18.00

Charcuterie$22.00

Frites$6.00

Bread Service$3.00

Les Plats

Bistro Burger$18.00

Steak Frites$29.00

Salmon Niçoise$18.00

Croque Monsieur$13.00

Classic BLT$13.00

Lobster BLT

Chicken BLT$16.00

Grilled Chicken Sandwich$15.00

Smoked Salmon Sandwich$19.00

Ratatouille Omelette$15.00

Mac & Cheese$15.00

Review summary

Additional information

French Brasserie in SF's Financial District Serves Rustic Classics with Mixed Results

FAQs

What is the best day to go to Le Central.?

Is this a good pick for date night?

When is this restaurant busiest and quietest?

What is this restaurant's stand-out or favorite dish?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

What is the dress code for Le Central.?

When is the best time to go to Le Central.?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

Does this restaurant serve alcohol?

Permanently Closed