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Le Central, San Francisco, CA

Le Central

4.7
4.7
2116 Reviews
$31 to $50
French
A photo of Le Central restaurant

Le Central

4.7
$31 to $50
French
Downtown / Union Square

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 43 times today
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood 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 11:30–14:30 Happy Hour Mon–Sat 16:30–18:00 Dinner Mon–Sat 17:00–21:00
  • 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
  • Area
    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, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,116 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 is a cherished San Francisco bistro with a "wonderful ambiance" and "excellent food." Known for its classic French cuisine, it offers delightful dishes like cassoulet and beef bourguignon. Guests appreciate the "amazing wine list" and attentive service. Whether for a festive occasion or casual dining, it consistently impresses.

2,116 Reviews

  1. Charles

    San Francisco

    43 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    43 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good food, great attentive service, very good wine selection by the glass and bottle. A fun French bistro experience in San Francisco.

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  2. Donia

    San Francisco

    73 reviews

    5.0

    73 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We love Le Central. It is a classic French Bistrot with all the standards well prepared. Not over the top fancy, but a nice neighborhood gem with honest service and good food. They do not rush you but rather take on a more laid-back approach which we appreciate. Parking is easy if you are coming from the Bay Area at Sutter/Stockton garage. We dine here 3-4 times a year coming up from the South Bay and are always happy.

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  3. Kay

    San Francisco

    141 reviews

    5.0

    141 reviews

    Dined on 3 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the lovely dining room of the restaurant. We started with the tartine with smoked salmon. Our main course was the steak frites, as French as can be! The frites were perfectly prepared. Service was excellent. Wine selection is terrific. We look forward to returning to this veritable French bistro.

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  4. Richard

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We went on a Saturday over Thanksgiving weekend, so there weren't too many people there. Ther service was excellent, and the food was good. The pate appetizer was very tasty as was the Negroni. I'll go back.

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  5. John

    New York City

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 29 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful traditional French Brasserie food. Love it!

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  6. Marlene

    San Francisco

    102 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    102 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely birthday celebration for our Australian friend. The food and service were outstanding. Thank you!
    Le CentralResponded on 1 December 2024
    Marlene, Thank you for the great review, we are so glad you enjoyed everything. We hope you dine with us again soon.

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  7. Danielle

    Hawaii

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 23 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    If you want an authentic French dining experience in San Francisco, this is the place for you. I come from a French family and felt instantly at home when I walked in the door - the smells, the accents, everything. The food is delicious. The service is impeccable. The drinks are served to stay chilled as you enjoy them. They think of every little detail. You hear French spoken as you eat. It's a delight.
    Le CentralResponded on 1 December 2024
    Danielle, Thank you for the great review, we are so glad you enjoyed everything and made you feel at home! We hope you dine with us again soon.

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  8. Julie

    New York City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Le Central holds up! Very classic French food, perfectly executed. Noisy yet my dining companion and I could hear each other perfectly without raising our voices.

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  9. brian

    San Francisco

    65 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    65 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Professional service. Classic French bistro dishes well executed. Large wine list of mostly French wines. Wines prices were quite high. Food was also expensive. A San Francisco gem but bring lots of money.

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  10. Gregory

    San Francisco

    30 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The special chicken breast cordon bleu was just a bit dry, even the delicious sauce couldn’t completely resurrect it. Everything else was very good. The bar area got very crowded and lively around 6 but the main dining area remained quiet and cozy. Enjoyable experience of old time San Francisco.

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FAQs

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

Le Central is rated 4.7 stars by 2116 OpenTable diners.

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

A photo of Le Central restaurant

Le Central

4.7
$31 to $50
French
Downtown / Union Square

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 43 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
  • Area
    Downtown / Union Square
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30–14:30 Happy Hour Mon–Sat 16:30–18:00 Dinner Mon–Sat 17:00–21:00
  • 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, 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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