We had the pleasure of going to a pop brunch at the incomparable Central Restaurant in York today. They're only open on Sundays a few times a year and over the last few we haven't missed one! When we entered it was packed along with its sister the Bar Next door. As always we were greeted like royalty. As the owner Kiersten greets every one! Our incredible server recommended the Shrimp and andouille sausage with grits! Spicy and hot, the most delicious dish I've ever enjoyed ! Me wife had the clam chowder almost like a bisque that was out of this world. This my favorite place for a dining experience !! read more

What a. Delightful experience. The food is delicious and the staff has all been warm and inviting. Great restaurant with all the boxes checked. read more

Stopped in for dinner Friday night after we got into town for the weekend. Had about a 45 minute wait. Food smelled so good we were happy to wait. Staff was beyond friendly and very attentive. Wife ordered the chicken sandwich and I got the cheesesteak. Mine was so big you had to knife and fork it. So damn good though. Wife really enjoyed hers too. Would happily go back if in the area again. read more

Wow!!! Been going to the York Beach Maine area for a very long time and never even heard of this place. Found it yesterday after talking to Cape Neddick local at a bar and she suggested it. So glad we went. First off they don't take reservations. We got there at 5p and the wait was an hour and 15 minutes. We said no thanks... but as we were heading to the car I asked my wife if she really wanted to wait and if she did, I told her I was open to it. So we headed back in gave our name and headed to the bar area. Lucky for us we found out that bar tenders have a separate waiting list for seating at the bar, so we got put on the list and amazingly after 10 minutes two seats opened up. First let say everyone at the restaurant was extremely nice from the hostesses to the two great bartenders; Stephanie and Chelsea. The food was awesome! Best steak & cheese sandwich I have ever had. It was massive. So sorry but none of my photos took. My wife had a whipped feta & fig appetizer which she loved. My ceaser salad was good....and my wife had a beets salad which she also truly enjoyed! I am definitely going back! Let me repeat... be prepared to wait...but it is worth it. Enjoy! So sorry... no photos read more

Although it was a long wait for a table , it was well worth it!! Food was fantastic, staff were great! Out first time there and we'll definitely be back read more

This local spot was recommended by a concierge during the busy Thanksgiving week. Not a lot open as winter chokes out the season. Reservations are not taken and we got there just before a crowd came in. A decent beer selection and the wine list was so-so. We chose two starters: the whipped feta with pita points and the haddock chowder. The feta dip was unique and flavorful. The tangy whipped feta was tempered with a drizzle of honey and pine nuts. Very good. The warm bowl of chowder had fish pieces that held up to the base but were not chunky and overpowering. Nicely seasoned and not too thick. My wife went with the Korean steak tips served with a choice of two sides; she opted for the side salad with balsamic vinaigrette and the garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was ordered at medium temp and was served medium rare. The mashed potatoes were--beware-- very garlicky with occasional minced pieces of garlic whipped in. The potato consistency was slightly gritty. We both agreed that the salad AND the balsamic vinaigrette was far from ho-hum. My choice was the scallop and shrimp casserole- browned bread crumbs over buttery seafood pulled hot from the oven in individual foil pans. The entree was very good and served with my salad choice and roasted chunks of tasty butternut squash. Our server was friendly and attentive. Though the seating was a bit bunched up, we could still have a conversation and interior noise was not overwhelming. read more

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Really good food I would recommend instead of lobster Cove that place is a dump Please do not take your money to lobster Cove just eat here. Food is a lot better at lobster Cove. They will force you to pay more on the tip. They hate the poor if you're poor don't even bother going to lobster Cove. Please take your business here. read more

2 of us had drinks at the bar and shared a starter plate of meatballs and an entree of Haddock Milanese. Both were terrific. The fish was cooked great and served with an excellent sauce. All the bartenders/waitstaff who served us were very nice, helpful and friendly, especially our main sever, Jenna. We'll definitely be back. read more

Good food, with a nice selection of non-seafood items (there are a few seafood dishes and appetizers as well). I had the Korean BBQ steak tips which were tasty. It gets kind of noisy when the place is full, which is hard to predict. I'd try to get there at off-times. read more

Great service and ambiance and the caesar salad and fettuccine alfredo w chicken cutlet were perfect! read more

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We came from out of town on a busy Friday night. We didn't want to wait 45 minutes for a table, so we opted to place a take out order. Our food came out in 15 minutes and was some of the best chicken parm I've ever had. I LOVED this place. read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - American Near Me - York, Maine

My husband and I spent our 4th wedding anniversary at Central and it was a wonderful experience! We had a lovely server who gave us great suggestions, I had a delicious haddock Milanese and he had the chicken Parm, both very good! It was a lovely way to spend a special day with great food in a cool space! read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - Haddock Milanese - American Near Me - York, Maine

Oh my goodness!!! My favorite food in the area. I was visiting Ogunquit and we came for dinner. Expect a wait because even the locals come here! I had the salmon special with a corn creamy sauce made with tarragon!!! GEESH-good! I could've licked the plate but I refrained. I'm posting a pic!!! For sure-go here! My husband got the meatballs. So moist and tasty-huge portions! read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - Salmon special!!! - American Near Me - York, Maine

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My wife and I visited on a very busy Wednesday night. Unfortunately, they do not accept reservations and we had to wait approximately 25-30 minutes for a table. It was worth the wait. We were lucky to score a nice table in the back which was a bit more quieter than the others. There was a bar to sit at and enjoy a cold one or two while you watched the games. We began our meal with the pork dumplings! WOW. Four dumplings that were huge and stuffed. They were on steroids. Very tasty and a nice start. My wife and I each ordered the salmon which came with bacon and maple jam on top, French fries, and the vegetable of the day. It might have been the best salmon we ever had. We eat and I grill a lot of salmon and I won't be able to replicate this. Big portion. DELICIOUS. The French fries came seasoned and temperature hot. Not greasy and probably cooked fresh. Excellent meal. The prices were very competitive for the area. The restaurant was located in a strip mall and away from all the drama of downtown York. Worth the trip. Plenty of parking. The service was excellent and friendly. read more

Great little place, so glad we stopped in and waited for a table. We stopped in around 6:45 on a Friday night and were told that the wait was already a hour, but the hostess offered us the option to wait in the bar or go next door to their cafe and enjoy a drink over there while we waited. We opted to go next door where we were able to get a beer and a glass of wine while we waited for our table. The cafe is very comfortable and it made the hour wait go by quickly. The hostess walked over to the cafe to let us know our table was ready and informed another larger group that there table would be ready shortly. We were seated and greeted pleasantly by our server. She immediately informed us that the special (Turkey Pot Pie) had already sold out, much to my wife's disappointment, bit we appreciated her opening with that so she could look for another option. We started with the Roasted Brussel Sprouts which came with fried garlic and a sesame ginger dressing. They were outstanding. My wife ordered the Hand Cut Fettuccine Alfredo and she added Chicken and Avocado (yes, that was an option...turns out a really good one). The pasta and the sauce were great. The chicken was okay, but as I said the addition of the avocado slices was surprisingly good. I went with the Braised Beef Short Rib Wellington. Man was it good! The flavor of the short ribs were outstanding. The two optional sides were tough to choose from because of the eight options I wanted to try multiple of them. I settled (not really) for the Yukon Gold mashed Potatoes (excellent) and the Cornbread Sausage Stuffing (wow). Both were excellent compliments to the meal. read more

Crazy amazing great food. Take out tonight. Special potato croquettes that were unbelievable. I can't say how special their food is. Everything is good but i got a really special meal because its my birthday! Short rib Wellington. Even with take out -- so wonderful. You should know i am an expert at short ribs. Who thinks of making it with spinach and putting in a puff pastry? Well they do and I'm so happy. Two sides. Broccolini and carrots and garlic mashed. Help me. The only problem with this really special place is that it's impossible with all the tourists to get in after April so I'm a steady customer all winter We are so lucky to have this local gem read more

This was a fantastic surprise. I happened to be in the area, and found this restaurant on Yelp. Glad I did! My dinner guest and I loved the place before we were seated. Great decor, terrific lighting, and the kind of casual and relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to stay a while. Our server, Niki, was super-friendly and helpful throughout our meal. We ordered several sides and split a burger. First out were the meatballs. Three giant meatballs covered in delicious sauce, cheese, and pesto. Tender, savory, perfect. Next up was whipped feta with honey and dates. Pita triangles were used to scoop up the feta, and the combination was amazing. Like savory Greek yogurt, but better! The fried Louisiana fried shrimp were fantastic, served with a mango chili dip. The truffle fries were hot and crispy, perfectly seasoned (generously) with intense truffle flavor, and served with a fabulous garlic aioli. We chose to split the pastrami burger, which was incredible - familiar flavors all pulled together into one delicious burger. I have a feeling this is a gem for locals around York. If I lived here, this would be a regular go-to place for me. When the check came, I thought they made a mistake; for the quantity and quality of the food, this was an absolute bargain. Truly one of the best meals I've had in a long time, and you can't beat the ambiance and service! If you're near York, Maine, do yourself a favor and stop in. You won't be disappointed! read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - Central Restaurant & Bar - American Near Me - York, Maine

The dining experience at Central was perfect! My husband and I are foodies from "The big city." We stumbled upon this location because we were sick of the hotel food at the Cliff. The service was fast and our server was responsive. The ambiance was setup nicely for a date night. The food was very creative and sensorially appealing. I would describe this restaurant as new American or a fusion of sorts. We ordered the fried chicken sandwich, Louisiana fried shrimp, green salad and pulled pork egg rolls. The food was so good!! The bread wasn't hard it too soft on the chicken sandwich. The chicken was tenderized and flavorful. None of the food was overly seasoned. Just right. The shrimp was fried perfect with just a hint of spice. I think the shrimp was my favorite, followed closely by the pulled pork egg rolls. If we lived closer, I'd go here at least once a month. This is a hidden gem that should never come up lower than second on a Yelp list. I almost forgot dessert. We ordered the blueberry almond bread pudding. THIS was s as pleasant surprise. The bread pudding was just the right consistency and temperature. The ice cream was hard (frozen solid), so very good combo. The ice cream remained ice cream while we ate the dessert. If this dessert is on the menu, get it. You'll probably need to walk home after eating it though. Well worth the walk! read more

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Here is probably the quickest review ever for s place, got into town at about 7 pm on Thursday night. Checked into hotel and tried to find a place to eat, almost everything closed. Found this place open but we had our small jack Russell with us . Upon pulling up, there was outside seats with no one seated at them but a Roman was wiping down a table. I said excuse me to get her attention and she made her way to the door. I said louder excuse me ma'am and she turned and looked at me and before I could get a word out of my mouth she stepped into the open door and out of site. Wife asked if I wanted to go in to ask about having the dog in outside seating and I told her I don't want to go anywhere near this place based on what just took place, hopefully so will others read more

There's something about really good Fettuccini Alfredo that makes me so happy.. and the Central does it perfectly. Homemade pasta, super cheesy and creamy, and the chicken cutlet on top is full of flavor and lightly crisp. Yum! I love their menu in general- if you can't find anything you like here then you should have stayed home. Lots of great bar food as well as nice entrees with 2 sides included. Waitstaff goes out of their way to be helpful and friendly, service is efficient and timely. Wine list and cocktails are both good. I've eaten here several times over the past few years and have always had a really good meal and an enjoyable experience overall. Responding to a recent critic of mine, the reason I don't give 5 stars is because I save that for what I would consider to be a mind blowing dining experience, not easily found. read more

Food was excellent as always, very consistent! The service was superb, our waitress had a great attitude! Very clean and enjoyable space. The owners pay attention to all of the important details. Always very busy....food is fresh and delish! This is a go to restaurant for my entire family! read more

The reviews are great but when someone says over an hour wait when your hungry....... We'll I'm telling you now WAIT! Staff was super friendly and served us drinks and the poutine appetizer outside during our wait. The wait ended up well under an hour. Poutine - hey it's fries and cheese but what makes a great one is the gravy and these guys nailed it. For dinner we had the Chicken Parm, Salmon with Maple Bourbon glaze and the Haddock Milanese Entrees were fabulous. We all shared. My daughter had the Chicken Parm homemade and cut thick fresh spaghetti. The sauce was great. This is her go to meal at most places She proclaimed this was her favorite Salmon was my wife's choice cooked to perfection. Fantastic flavor with the glaze. Haddock also did not disappoint We will definitely go back and WAIT for a table. read more

Consistently very good - I enjoy it every time I am there Friendly service and good food. I can't ask for much more than that! I am never disappointed when I leave and will continue to go back They have some fun special frozen drinks as well! read more

What a hidden gem! We had the Truffalo chicken chips, smoked Gouda croquettes, chicken parm and the ahi tuna soba noodles. Everything was 10/10. The cocktails - spicy margarita and blood orange margarita- were out of this world as well! The service was absolutely perfect. We arrived when busy and were able to start our dining experience at the bar before finishing at a table. Everyone there was personable, attentive, and kind. We will be returning! Do not sleep on this one! read more

Arguably the greatest restaurant in the area. We have gone for a long time, but I swear the food keeps getting better and better!! We went last night for the chicken special and the cider donut dessert...DELIGHTFUL! Highly recommend. read more

We had been looking forward to trying this place after seeing the posts on their Facebook page as well as reading reviews. We started with the Garlic Focaccia. It was tasteless and had raw dough in the center. We then followed with orders of Haddock Milanese and Fettuccini Alfredo. The Haddock was very dry, and the Garlic Mashed Potato turned out to be instant! It was runny with no texture, and tasted like powdered garlic which is absolutely unacceptable mashed potato (runny on the plate, so there's no doubt in my mind they were instant. Moving on to the Hand cut Fettuccini Alfredo, it was overcooked mush in a runny thin watery soup that didn't have a prayer of clinging to the pasta. The chicken served with this was dry. We usually bring leftovers home but definitely didn't want to see this meal again. Upsides: The staff were polite and friendly. The server immediately removed the fee for the garlic focaccia when we pointed out that it was undercooked. Will also say their mixed drinks are good especially the "painkiller". Maybe if we'd each had a couple of them, we could feel better about the money wasted on such overpriced food. Hands down the worst meal I've had in a long time. We won't be back. read more

I love this place, food & staff are what make it so great! Yes it's pretty inside but I wouldn't care if it were in an unfinished barn! Food and service like this is hard to come by! Dare I say the Central & their staff are "Unicorns" in the restaurant world! This isn't a place for a guaranteed quiet dinner but they don't claim to be ;) This place is always buzzing with friends reunited, locals meeting every week, and visitors coming for the first time. I walk in and I'm greeted by my favorite girl and she knows who I am instantly and knows my name (I will remember hers the second I hit post I'm sure). She isn't just a friendly face, she knows exactly what's happening in the restaurant at all times. She will then either run and grab my order, or suggest I sit for a few at the bar and enjoy a beverage while I wait, or keep me updated if I'm waiting for a table. Always worth the wait for the food :) read more

This is our go-to restaurant! We love bringing friends and family here. It's never disappoints! The owners are lovely as well.

We have visited York, ME for many many years every summer and wanted to branch out from our regular routine of seafood baskets. We gave The Central a try and EVERYTHING was INCREDIBLE! Each item we ate was full of flavor and perfect. We had the Tuna and Crab tostada's to start, which were perfectly crunchy and how fresh Tuna should taste. We also had Merril's Meatballs and they were the BEST most moist meatballs we've ever had, hands down the best thing on the menu! We also shared the chicken parm bucatini entree and it was delicious; bucatini perfectly al dente and the sauce was wonderful with tender chicken! We can't wait to come back!! read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - American Near Me - York, Maine

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The best that York had to offer. I've never been disappointed in the food (including the takeout), drinks, service or atmosphere. I would give this restaurant 1 star in an effort to deter people from coming here because I want it all to myself! But I would never do that because they deserve all the stars! Favorite restaurant in southern Maine. read more

The restaurant has good food but the quality of service and the experience of the restaurant is quite low. Everything is too rushed: it feels as though they don't actually want you in the restaurant. I mean, this is the fastest I've ever gotten food and drinks in a restaurant, but when I'm paying $25 for a main, i want to be allowed to sit and enjoy it, not given my check. It was a stressful experience, not enjoyable. I would not go back--but I guess they don't mind since I'm just a tourist. read more

Good food with outdoor seating! If you sit outdoors, it's considered to be take out, so you get your food in disposable containers. People will sit at the tables to have a drink while waiting for an indoor table. We opted not to wait for an indoor table, so ordered food to go, and just ate it outside. read more

Food was delicious. Stayed there was an hour wait but it wasn't quite as long which was great. We were directed to hang by the bar, and we ordered a couple drinks. Chocolate martini for my lady, who loved it. I ordered a coconut margarita. It was a little tangy, but good. Both drinks were on the stronger side. When we sat down, it took a few for the waitress to come over to us. We also had to ask for bread, which was slightly burnt on one side of the whole loaf. It was still good. Appetizer: Clams. It had a garlic bread crustini draped over top of it. The clams were slightly fishy tasting, but they were in a delicious broth which was even better for dunking the bread into. Dinner: I ordered the hand cut fettuccini and added chicken to it. Great meal. The sauce was creamy, the flavor was there, pasta cooked perfectly, and the chicken was lightly breaded and juicy. My wife ordered the chicken Parmesan. She chose a greens side salad and zucchini. The zucchini was served with chick peas, which were delicious. The greens salad had s great vinaigrette dressing which was full of flavor. The chicken was tender, juicy, and thick. The sauce was decent at best, though. We did not save room for dessert. I would definitely dine here again. read more

The Central was one of the busiest and most popular restaurants we could spot in the area. Wait times are long and I would suggest budgeting an hour plus during dinner time to get a table or a bar seat. The food was delicious abs staff were very friendly! We had the pork fried rice (which was amazing!) and the Pastrami (delicious!). I would definitely recommend stopping here for dinner if you are in the area! read more

Removing one star because they refuse to take reservations. It's a bit infuriating to show up to be told it's a 90 minute wait. I understand it's popular and busy, just please take reservations. read more

It seemed like the place to be in town, even in November. They told us we'd have a wait if 45 minutes or so on a Saturday night for two. The bakery next door is affiliated and stays open until 8, which is nice, and the restaurant staff will come find you there. The wait actually was around 30 minutes. The drink menu was interesting and varied, not amazing but totally fine. My friend and I both got salmon dishes, the salmon blt and the salmon entree, they were about $9 different in price, but had the same piece of salmon, and the difference was just a sauce and the sides--so the entree is fine, but it's worth thinking about your priorities. The service was good and not rushed. The chili was more like a spicy bolognese, no beans, a bunch of chopped onion and cheese. The poached pear arugula salad was good, and they split it in two for sharing. read more

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Happened upon the Central a few years ago while out on the bike and it was great. Went last night and it was not even close. Elizabeth was a great server. She was 5 stars. The chicken satay app was cubed chicken thighs on a stick and only grilled on one side. BF got the strip steak. Tough as nails and swimming in sauce. Just a ridiculous amount. I believe the veggies are frozen veggies, mashed potatoes are definitely instant and soupy, flavored with cheap garlic powder. I got the baby back ribs, which I sent back as inedible and they did take it off the bill. See photos. The chef is either lazy or bad. Fresh ingredients are expected at their prices and how hard is it to make mashed potatoes? read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - Smoked Baby back ribs? Huh???? No way smoked. Why are they individual? Maybe boiled. Instant potatoes. Frozen broccoli. $25. - American Near Me - York, Maine

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Absolutely excellent. The owner is amazing and the food is amazing. The whole staff is great.

Still remains the best restaurant in York and the immediate surrounding area. Consistently great food great service and great drinks. You always feel special when you go even on their crazy busy evenings. read more

The food was AMAZING!! Had the tuna and crab tostada to start. Tasted super fresh, and the guacamole was some of the best I've had. The Korean BBQ Steak Tips were delicious and had a slight kick to them which I loved! Service was great and bartender was super friendly!! read more

The Central Restaurant & Bar - Tuna and crab tostada - American Near Me - York, Maine

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