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Central Michel Richard, Washington, DC

Central Michel Richard

4.7
4.7
7630 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 31 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Lively
Michel Richard's modern American brasserie and winner of the 2008 James Beard award for best new restaurant. Central is Michel's tribute to great American cuisine, both modern and classic, with a French accent known for our award winning fried chicken & decadent desserts.

A vibrant happy hour with a great wine list, beer & cocktail menu, Central offers a lunch & dinner 3 course prix-fixe menu.

Located on the corner of 11 St. & Pennsylvania Ave NW , walking distance to the White House, Theatres, Capitol One Arena, The National Mall & Monuments.

Private dining for up to 16 guest, semi-private for 20 guest, & private events for up to 200.

We offer a $10.00 parking discount for dinner guests that park in the 10th St. garage between E St. and Pennsylvania Avenue starting at 5:00 PM from Monday-Saturday. Please ask the host or your server to receive a validation ticket.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, French, Contemporary French / American
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:30 pm–6:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (202) 626-0015
  • Website
    http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    David Barigault
  • Catering
    Order online for pick up only.
  • Private party facilities
    Join us at Central Michel Richard for your next business meeting or special occasion. Our private dining rooms or regular reservation are available for lunch and dinner In addition we have a semi-private dining area that can seat up to 35 guest. Accommodations available for up to 200 people as a buyout, we look forward to hosting your event.
  • Location
    1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004
  • Neighborhood
    Penn Quarter
  • Cross street
    Corner of 11th Street & Pennsylvania Ave NW<br />Across Waldorf Astoria
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Walking distance from Archives/Navy Memorial, Federal Triangle, or Metro Center
  • Entertainment
    Join us @CentralMR for event and entertainment updates.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 7,630 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
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Central Michel Richard offers a delightful dining experience with "superb food" and "great service" in a prime DC location. Known for its fried chicken, crab cake sandwich, and banana split, it's a favorite for date nights and business lunches. Outdoor seating provides a charming ambiance with views of Pennsylvania Avenue.

7,630 Reviews

  1. Kim

    VIP

    Washington DC

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing service, good top notch and always save room for dessert

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  2. Minh

    VIP

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Central has been around for a long time, and I've eaten there about twice a year. I am always impressed by the quality of the food and service each time, as restaurants usually go downhill after their peak. Not so for this one. Today I had a flavorful and tender hanger steak and golden brown frites. To my delight, it even came with a little salad which was perfect to offset the decadence of the fries and steak. My coffee, which I took black, was flavorful and smooth -- not at all bitter. Service was correctly timed and un-intrusive -- exactly what one hopes for. I don't know why I don't come here more often as it's only a few blocks from work, but it will be on my list for a nice lunch in the future.

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  3. Joy

    VIP

    Washington DC

    62 reviews

    4.0

    62 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Festive family Christmas celebration last night - such great service! And delicious food. We've been going to Central for years and can't wait to go back.

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  4. Beth

    Baltimore

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service and delicious food. A number of offerings that were of French and European influence. Located just across from the Old Post Office/Waldorf Astoria so it’s in a great and central place. Took us about 10-15 minutes to walk from the National Gallery of Art. Federal Triangle Metro station and Smithsonian museums nearby. Reservations process perfect!

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  5. ROBERT

    Richmond

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always good. Love the menu. The definition of reliable.

    Is this helpful?

  6. John

    VIP

    Washington DC

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and food. Had a nice catch up with my friend. Chopped salad with salmon was perfect.

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  7. Lou

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    All of the dinners our party had were exceptionally well prepared and tasty. The unusual profiteroles we had for dessert fell short. All of us prefer the traditional way of preparing profiteroles. To drink we had the by-the-glass Rhone Valley wine that is offered and it was impressive, in particular in relation to its price. Service was gracious but slow. Possibly there was a shortage of staff that evening. All in all we enjoyed our experience at Central Michel Richard, plan to return and recommend it to other diners.

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  8. John

    Washington DC

    79 reviews

    5.0

    79 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a wonderful spot for larger groups or an intimite dinner for two. The food is amazing! The menu has the French classics and other excellent options for for folks that might be unaccustomed to French cuisine. The staff are tenured and seem empowered to make your experience delightful. Last night we had the same service staff as our last four visits, and they treated us like kings and queens. This place is the best!

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  9. Terese

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and large portions. a classic Washington DC restaurant

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  10. carol

    VIP

    Washington DC

    85 reviews

    5.0

    85 reviews

    Dined on December 12, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love Central. The atmosphere is lively. We always have the mashed potatoes which are the best I have ever had. The shrimp burger is great. A formidable wine list.A great downtown place. Miss seeing Mr. Richard sitting at the table.

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FAQs

Central Michel Richard offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 626-0015.

Central Michel Richard is rated 4.7 stars by 7630 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Central Michel Richard

1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Corner of 11th Street & Pennsylvania Ave NW<br />Across Waldorf Astoria
  • Neighborhood
    Penn Quarter
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:30 pm–6:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, French, Contemporary French / American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Walking distance from Archives/Navy Memorial, Federal Triangle, or Metro Center
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    David Barigault
  • Entertainment
    Join us @CentralMR for event and entertainment updates.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/
  • Phone number
    (202) 626-0015
  • Catering
    Order online for pick up only.
  • Private party facilities
    Join us at Central Michel Richard for your next business meeting or special occasion. Our private dining rooms or regular reservation are available for lunch and dinner In addition we have a semi-private dining area that can seat up to 35 guest. Accommodations available for up to 200 people as a buyout, we look forward to hosting your event.

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