Great little bar that is off Times Square. I got to meet up with a friend from Miami, and it was great as the sound level was good that you could actually have a conversation, and it had good lighting (not one of those dark, dim places). The crowd was eclectic and they have Hefe-Weise beer, so I was very happy. I will go back! read more

Not cheap but nice, quiet classy place for a drink right in the middle of tourist central also know as the theater district. My old fashioned was tasty, although served in the wrong style glass. My wife's Chardonnay was also above standard. It's worth the extra $ just to be able to speak in normal volume in an adult atmosphere. Oh yeah, if you are a fan of " secret" bars you'll like this place, disguised as a common brownstone. read more

This place is very cool IF you can find it. It's definitely a local and underground establishment, mainly for the actor's and people in the theater business. The drinks are impeccable and the food is also pretty up there. I would recommend this place for sure. read more

Walked past this place a dozen times & never knew it was even here! Drinks were fantastic, thanks Jeremy!! The samosas were a yummy snack! Not sure about some of the other reviews....?? We'll definitely be back! read more

Every dish was perfect. Even chips and guacamole. The waiters were friendly and the hostess was extremely accommodating. The kids had pasta and I was excited we pushed the envelope with squid ink pasta. The devoured it. read more

The restaurant is an unmarked door above Joe Allen's...you won't run into any tourists here because its tricky to find. Great spot to get drinks or a quick bite after a show however I would suggest reserving a table beforehand. read more

Beautiful place! My Manhattan was superb, handsome friendly bartender. Hidden (literally) gem.

A great place for a quick appetizer and cocktail before a show. Yes, it can be hard to fund since there is no neon sign directing you up the stairs, but go up the stairs nonetheless. read more

Had some food and drinks here after a weekday matinee. Reservations strongly recommended. The plates are all appetizer portions, so sharing a few orders is the best way to go. We had about 7 or 8 plates, all were delicious. The drinks were also very good. They have a list of some classic cocktails, some wine and beer. Service was great. read more

Rock solid for the location. About 11 seats at the bar and 10 four-tops. Reservations required during pre-theater if you want to eat. Food looked quite good. Excellent cocktails as everyone has said. If I'm in this neighborhood, I'm definitely going back. read more

one of my favorite places in hells kitchen. yes, they can be a little pretentious but i think they need to be sometimes. often see a lot of pseudo celebs here and they try really hard to keep it a nice quiet classy joint. just make a reservation in advance and you'll be fine. if you go on a friday night without one, you cant even have a drink at the bar as even the bar stools are reserved. that said, the drinks are amazing, as is the food. love the empanadas and the shrimp quesadilla. not a huge fan of the cheese plate here though. drinks - sidecars and martinis are perfection. and the staff is extremely friendly and attentive. :) read more

Astoundingly poor service. My Wife and I travel the world for work and for pleasure, making a point to seek out the local speakeasies everywhere we go. While we recognize that the idea of a speakeasy calls for exclusivity, we were shocked by how poorly we were treated- in our own neighborhood of all places. Upon arrival, without a reservation to be fair, we were told there was no availability.. despite every single table being empty. We accepted the "fact" that every table was "reserved" and decided to take a detour to another bar. While we enjoyed a drink elsewhere, we decided to give them a call to ask for availability over the course of the night. We were told there was none. You know how sometimes you can just feel you're being lied to? This was that. As previously mentioned, we visit exclusive bars all the time.. we know when a hostess is faking "capacity". The hostess working the door was unpleasant at best, and the bar itself had absolutely no personality whatsoever. It was a room full of bottles of liquor- nothing more, nothing less. Our bar at home offers a better time. Literally the last place I would go to enjoy a night out. read more

Being An eighteen year old from Iowa city, I'm not sure I've experienced anything close to a really pretentious NYC establishment, but as far I know it seemed really pretentious. The fancy takes on fast food, the fact that there's no sign. That being said, the service was excellent and the food was pretty good. Might I recommend the sauteed chorizo? read more

Real good looking place to be happy before or after a show. You will always have good drinks, good enough food, better looking crowd and excellent service. It's some sort of a well known secret but you feel in the know. If you can't get in, you always have Joe Allen downstairs. read more

I hesitate to review ONLY because I don't want it to get even more popular! My favorite secret place!

I agree with Julianna. This place is disgusting. My friend wanted to go and we went on a last second whim. The hostess was EXTREMELY rude and wouldn't even let us sit at the bar even though the place was only 10% full at 8.30pm because we didn't have a "reservation". Really ...a reservation to sit at a bar??? The 4 customers who were in there were seniors with walking canes and the place itself looks rather depressing. We left and went next door to B.Smith where they instantly recognized my friend (who happens to be a celebrity and major star on Broadway) and we were warmly welcomed and had a great time there. I couldn't believe the gall of this restaurant Bar Centrale. Maybe the hostess has issues with anyone dining there who isn't past menopause??? Definitely skip this restaurant and go ANYWHERE else. Unless you want to try your luck with a miserable classless hostess who is on a power trip. read more

An otherwise lovely evening turned sour when the check came. The place is nice, the food is yummy and the drinks are good (albeit a bit overpriced). And I must say, I even respect the manager's convictions on how she wants the place run. However, it might have been wise to inform a large party that only a maximum of two credit cards will accepted at the time of payment when the reservation was made (or at least put it on the menu next to "No Amex Accepted"). Sure, I can understand that paying with eight credit cards might be a nuisance, but being obstinate about not accepting three was a little excessive. Then after piecing together the cash to add to two credit cards, we were then accused of short changing the restaurant by $20 (the bill included an 18% gratuity). I doubted we made a mistake at the time and when I woke up this morning to find the correct amount still on my calculator app on my iPhone (which I used to tally everything up before handing it to a male server), I have no doubt we made no error. Now i understand why the male server refused to look at me while I was discussing the issue with the manager (who I am presuming by the posts below is Mary). Mary, I respect your convictions, but you need to respect mine. No mistake was made. If your server has enough guts to look me in the eye, I will be happy to come by and discuss this matter further with him. Otherwise, you have no worries that I will darken your door again. read more

My mom and I went up to NY to see a show, and my friend from LES picked out this place to meet us after for drinks and appetizers. It's easy to find, despite not being marked and has a cool, low key vibe. We ordered a charcuterie plate and the chickpea fries, which we were all impressed by. The glasses of wine are actually small carafes of wine, so you really get about 2 glasses per order. The only downside is that the staff was really condescending and rude throughout the evening. The hostess proclaimed that there were not any tables available since we'd not made a reservation, yet the place remained empty save two tables for the entirety of the three hours we were there. The bartender was short, lacked any kind of charm, was indifferent to requests for information on the menu, and became irritable and rude when glasses were needed to read the check. In the future, I'd skip it and check out the multitude of other spots on this street. read more

The "hostess" Mary is an officious, snooty schoolmarm. If you can stomach her condescension you might actually have a good time. Sit at the bar so you don't have to put up with her. Other than her wet blanket presence it's a nice place. read more

Had an awesome experience here a few years ago but apparently has gone downhill with the current host staff. Was not greeted warmly at all and the hostess had a terrible attitude when we first walked in. I appreciate needing a reservation but the hostess's attitude - when the entire place was almost empty - was appalling. Rude and condescending, not worth trying to go to this place again. And such a shame after a great experience previously. read more

I saw this bar on the top 35 NYC speakeasies list and have been wanting to check it out. Came here last night about 9 pm. It was really dead. Drinks were pricey for the area ($16-18 a cocktail). I will not be coming back. read more

Worst experience. We love pretentious places, but this was beyond pretentious. All the stools at the bar were reserved for "friends of the owners", and despite every table being empty we could not get a seat. We live in the area and will spend our money elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if this place only survives thanks to friends of the owner and c-list celebs. Ugh. Annoying. read more

Yeah -- never again. Cute little place and hidden away. That's about the most redeeming quality. The service was sufficient enough but he was wearing torn up black pants and offered zero server qualities (eg. personality). He was simply an order taker and managed to mess that up. He drops the wine off and says "this is a no service restaurant - you can pour it yourselves. As much or little as you want". That's fine with me -- the bottles were affordable and I can manage that. Takes our order -- forgets to ring 1 item in. Again -- no complaints to him. I simply asked where it was. No apologies offered except "Yeah - it'll be just a minute". 5 Minutes later it came out but we'd almost finished out mains by then. We accepted it of course but again -- no f*cks given by the server. The food is the major issue. $18 for a rock hard, cold chunk of Salmon thrown on the pinch of Arugula? Terrible. It was sooooo over-cooked and straight from a VERY cold fridge. Chick Pea fries were flavourless (great idea just not executed well). Hummus and Veg plate was a small handful of vegetables for $14. I can go on and on as we ordered quite a few items. Nothing was memorable aside from the bad service. They hand write all their cheques which makes it all very questionable. This isn't a small diner where my bill is $15. They won't split bills or even let you keep a copy of it. Honestly - this places needs to focus on their customer experience. There's a lot of competition out there and you're barely visible on 46th. read more

Everyone loved this place. The menu is small but nicely executed. The cocktails are very well made. The service was charming and attentive. And you quite likely will see some recognizable Broadway talent after a show. Its small, so reservations are helpful. I cant think of a better way to end a theater night. read more

I went years ago and really enjoyed the ambiance, however it is no longer the "hidden gem" I remember it to be. The hostess & waitress seemed "bothered" we were there, service was poor and we had to send our glasses back bc they were filthy, (one even having lipstick around the rim!). As if that wasn't bad enough my friend ordered the lobster quesadilla and has been violently ill since for 3 days. I called the restaurant on Sunday and Manager just said she was sorry and that she hadn't heard of any complaints from anyone else and that was that. No follow up or any attempt to make it "right' somehow. Not one to ever squabble about prices, but we spent a lot of money and the food was mediocre at best...not worth it... pretentious read more

I would give this place zero stars if I could. The owner was incredibly rude after refusing to accept more than two credit cards from our group. This was in spite of the fact that (a) there were no other full tables in the entire place at 10 pm and (b) they had made no mention of this policy when our large party reservation was made or when our table was sat. While the waiter was nice, the food was very mediocre. Most importantly, I was truly blown away by how rude the owner was to our group. There are many fabulous bar/restaurants in New York, so spare yourself the risk of having a bad experience at this one. read more

Bitchy hostess November 17, 2009 Establishment: Bar Centrale Location: W. 46th Hello I was at Bar Centrale on Friday night and it did not end well. My boyfriend and I have been going there for months. I actually discovered it before him and then got him turned on to it. Up until Friday, it was our favorite spot. We have entertained mutual clients there. I arrived without a reservation and the bitchy hostess told us we could have a table until 9:30. We were fine with that. Cut to 9:30, we vacated the table as promised. We were moving ourselves to the bar when she literally said, "oh no you can't stay." and we asked why and she said she was gearing up for the theater rush. So she would rather have them buy drinks then us? Unbelievable. and she wasn't even nice about. We had just spent about $400. We have given them a lot of money. My boyfriend and I are both heads of production. My boyfriend produces commercials and is very well connected. If we don't get an apology or some form of restitution, we will go out of our way to discourage people from visiting their establishment. If they don't think that will impact their business, they are seriously mistaken. We ended up at Don't Tell Mamma and told our server what happened. She replied, "yes they're a bit hoity toity over there." I also belong to a theater group that will stop going there when I tell them the appalling way we were treated. I hope they deal with this. It's bad business. I would hate to see my former favorite spot suffer due to one person's rude behavior. I want to email the owner but manager only gives out her personal email. Can anyone help? read more

Looked intriging online, small place and a small bar. We sat at the bar, took a while for the bartender to open up and crack a smile, he was very busy having fun with the server. We had plain drinks so no comment on those. Clever glassware. Food, menu looks good but I can make better at home. Salsa of the day seemed like it came from a jar then they added avacado. Brussel sprouts, just plain but cooked perfectly. Lobster quesadilla was missing flavor and lobster. read more

charming oasis in the midst of chaotic theater district. great for drinks and a snack before or after shows. the gimlets pack a punch and the chickpea fries are legendary. read more

despite all the negative reviews i've read, i stopped by the place after a museum exhibit visit. i try to avoid the time square area as much as possible but i've always wanted to try bar centrale. the hostess was kinda rude and made us feel like we weren't being appreciated but.... as we sat by the bar since the tables were all full/reserved, the bartender was extremely friendly. he explained all the signature drinks of the bar, and made a special drink for my friend who didn't want strong cocktail - he presented our drinks in these cute jars filled with crushed ice to keep them chilled. the food was awesome as well. i'll def go back and recommend the place to my friends. read more

I've been here many times...it's a great, quiet bar. I prefer the bar or upfront seats that are cozier than the diner style booths in the back. Last night I was there, though, and while our waitress gave great service, when we went to pay she said our party of four couldn't pay with more than two credit cards. None of us have ever heard of a restaurant with such a restrictive policy. We asked to talk to the manager who with major attitude told us that she wouldn't accept more than two--no exceptions. Not only is the policy absurd; but her hostility made us all leave not wanting to come back. read more

I had done my research and this place was only a couple of blocks from our hotel. First night place, I thought. Just a short walk and a great sounding place for a drink and a snack before an early bed. Terrific frontage. Made me feel a real New Yorker finding it and pushing open the unmarked door. Great welcome and the drinks were good. Food was fine. The problem came when we paid the bill. OK we are limeys and thought 15% was OK but to be told it was not enough and then have the dollar bill for the coat thrown back at us left a bad taste. Surely this should have been handled better? We will not return and will certainly not recommend it. read more

Nice quiet bar that also serves food, perfect for a post-Broadway late-night dinner and drinks. It's a good "grown-up" bar, where you can actually have a conversation with your friends because the sound level is kept pretty low. read more

We had a lovely experience at Bar Centale after seeing a matinee on Broadway. It was no problem getting a 5 PM reservation a couple of days before. It is not a "creative cocktail" place, they serve 8 or 10 standard cocktails such as Negroni, Sidecar, Old Fashioned, Cosmo, etc. My Cosmo was outstanding and the food was delicious, especially the house-made guacamole and rice and beans. We also enjoyed the ambiance and comfort of the chairs. We stayed for 2 hours and filled up on a total of six small plates, five cocktails, and two soft drinks. Tab including tax and tip was $200 for the four of us. I look forward to going back. read more

Walking into this place is scary enough. The hostess was obviously sky high after watching her do shot after shot while we sat at the bar waiting for our friends to arrive. The bartender was great but the food was gross. All in all not worth the time or the money for a place on Restaurant Row. read more

I went here recently on a business trip. I had heard about it via a local fan. I got in, no reservation, even with most of the tables full. Great food. Great drinks. Great service. Great people. I only wish I lived in NYC! read more

This bar is impossible to find unless someone provides you with the exact street address, or is waiting for you outside. This bar is intentionally hidden since it specifically caters to its loyal theater-going crowd of New York yuppies and old fogies. There is no street sign with its name, just the number. Except Monday nights, they accept customers with reservations only... Why Monday? Because there are no theater shows on Mondays. They have an excellent beer and wine menu, delicious finger-food and appetizers, and the most fun bartenders and waitstaff. It is probably a great place for a date since it's got somber, mood-lighting and is rather chic inside. It is expensive, so be ready to hand the credit card over without even looking at the check, trust me it's better that way. It is a tad pretentious though but that's something that comes with its primary clientele, i.e. musicians, actors and theater aficionados. read more

As much as I loved coming here when they first opened it has increasingly become the IT place for celeb stargazing forsaking those who were first timers....tonight was the final straw...we were given last call at 8:30 because the table was "booked". When we left just before 10 the place remained fairly empty. Whe I asked Mary why we given last call in addition to saying she informed my assistant of the time frame she stated she bent over backwards to get us in..further she stayed she was just "trying to run a business". If I ran my business that way, I would be out of business in no time The food is mediocre, the service is good. I can find many more spots to spend my money where I am appreciated....and where I can star gaze...it's sad that a place that started with such promise for those of us who work in the theatre has turned its back on those of us who supported it in its early days. Head to cava or lambs club where you will be appreciated for your patronage rather than given last call among a room full of empty tables. read more

Some friends and I had gone to see Hair the Musical and needed a place to chill while it rained and before we built a hunger for some food. We went to Eatery for breakfast and all those eggs really tied us over for quite a while. My friend looked up bar/lounge areas near Times Square on Black Blook and came across this place. We initially passed the place since there is no signage for this bar, but you'll know you're in the right place based on the address. The front is a stairway to a door that looked like a regular brownstone, but instead of a cute, swank, bar/restaurant with booths and tables along with a bar. They sat us at a cozy booth together and ordered drinks. They serve their wine in qtr liters, so like a glass in a half and they give you a wine glass with a little pitcher to pour as much or as little wine into your glass on your own. If you order a cocktail, they will put your little pitcher on some crushed ice in a little bucket to keep your drink cold. We noticed that they had wasabi peas at the bar so we asked our waitress if she could bring us a bowl for our table. An hour or two later, we had racked up about $100 in drinks amongst the 4 of us and decided it was time to get something to eat. Each drink is about $11-14 depending on what you order. I really like this place and it was perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon with friends. read more

hidden gem on the very worst street in times square. good before after theatre. spelled the british way.