Central Restaurant

If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Central is a must-visit. From the moment you step in, you’re transported into another dimension—its underground setting adds an air of mystery and sophistication, making you feel like you've discovered a hidden gem. The atmosphere is as impressive as the food, which is nothing short of perfection. The oysters, in particular, were a standout—fresh, briny, and absolutely divine. Each dish was thoughtfully crafted, and the flavors were out of this world. A big shoutout to Benny, who went above and beyond to make sure every detail of our meal was flawless. His attentive service truly elevated the experience. Without a doubt, this was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. I would highly recommend Central to anyone looking to enjoy incredible food in a one-of-a-kind setting.

With myself already being a fan of Southside and Rick Shores, I was already super excited for the opening of Central. In addition to that, I absolutely froth Chinese food. I managed to make it here with some friends it did not disappoint! The dishes were familiar, stunning and elevated to another level. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and I cannot get over the decor and atmosphere. Simply a fantastic experience!

Absolutely loved our dining experience here. Fully booked for a Tuesday night, given that it’s only been their second week of opening. Entering the premise and seeing the beautiful light panels floating above their open kitchen area definitely helped set the mood for the rest of our evening. Great ambience, not obnoxiously loud, retro Cantonese music to match the theme, very friendly staff, amazing service from start to finish. We had high expectations and they were met at every dish. We ordered each of their signature dishes and can confidently say the Classic Roast Duck was the hero dish of the night. Special shoutout to Michael, the bartender who served us beautifully made drinks and great conversations. Amazing cocktails and interesting mix of flavours to choose from. The only minor letdown we had was the confusing booking options - we opted for “bar seating” under the impression that it was the high seated bar area facing the central kitchen. Instead, those seats were labelled as “table seating” positioned directly across from us where we ended up (also high chair bar seating) but just literally at the bartender’s station on the far end of the kitchen. They were nice enough to take our first drinks off the bill.

I enjoyed the company I was with. I thought the staff were pleasant and knew to keep up our water. The lighting was good. The rest? Not so much. Our chicken was dry. Most dishes were underseasoned. The kingfish was awful and didn’t have that clean fresh taste you want from raw fish. The ham and pineapple bun - yep - had a pat of cold butter in the middle. Truly horrendous. The dishes were clumsy and inept to the point that I do not think the recipes are salvageable. The whole menu needs a rethink. I wonder what happens in the mind of a chef who forgets to season but remembers to charge high prices? Sure, the owners set the prices, but really, really are we doing this? Seasoning is so critical to one’s appreciation of food, and when done well the results are exceptional. I have to believe the quality of the ingredients was high. But too much was clumsy, poorly thought-out, ill-conceived. Also - the table next to me was full of bros (crypto bros? Probably) who were relatively calm and quiet except for the constant harassment of one of the staff members. She handled it with aplomb but shouldn’t ever have to experience that kind of behavior directed towards her. Multiple people at my table spoke to her about the situation and how she could get help. For shame. Be better, bros. Much better.

Food: 4 stars Service: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Overall 4 star rating as you go to a restaurant to eat, and it was hit and miss with the dishes. We had about 6-7 share plates and some were good, however some also missed the mark to varying degrees. The presentation was great, however there just seemed to be something ‘missing’ in the dishes which would have moved the needle to have that WOW factor. The dessert and drinks were terrific. A fairly new establishment so hopefully some refinement to the dishes will move this to 5 stars. Bonus points for 2 on the house Prosecco for our anniversary which was a really nice touch. We’ll try again in the near future and see how we go!

What a fabulous vibe and the food is outstanding! The dumplings and the chicken were stand out dishes. Full of flavour and fresh. They were 😋 delicious. Staff were full of menu recommendations and checked in with dietary requirements at the table before taking orders. A great place, would love to return and explore the menu further.

We were a group of six. Had the most delicious dinner. Every dish was spot on. The service was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Good cocktails and wine list. Loved the fit out and the lighting is very well done.

Personally worked high-end hospitality for 15 years and consider it a hobby in my free time. One of the best dining experiences I’ve had since living in Queensland for three years. Eloy was so welcoming and attentive… Even watching what I needed from across the room. Run (don’t walk) to this restaurant as soon as possible. So grateful for the time and effort you can taste/see just stepping foot in the space. Everything from the garnishing to the playlist is curated immaculately