€€€€ • Francese contemporanea • Bristol
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.
