We went to Centro for the first time and thought it was a little gem of a restaurant. The food was excellent; all four of us were very pleased with our choices. The service was outstanding, attentive without being in-your-face. The aesthetics and ambiance were good, active while not too loud. We live just 12 miles west of Boston and drove up to Centro to meet friends. With Lowell being only 35 minutes away (it can take 10 minutes just to find a parking space in downtown Boston, added to the 25 minutes to drive in on the Pike), it is as convenient to go to Centro as it is to go to a restaurant in Boston.
Review Source:My boyfriend and I stopped in here to grab a couple of drinks and some food before a concert. I'm glad we did! The Stella burger is one of the best burgers I have ever had. The chipotle sour cream on it was an interesting touch. The cocktail "Woo-Woo" was just ok. The wait staff was very friendly.
Review Source:Best restaurant in Lowell by far. Â The food is terrific and always changing... The bar has great cocktails and the atmosphere is always friendly. Â They have a good beer by the bottle selection but no drafts which cost them the 5th star. Â
The antipasto is amazing and the seasonal ice cream Sunday with candied bacon is out of this world.... It should be a regular item on the dessert menu.
Our department was looking for a place for a holiday dinner party and as a foody, that's my job. After some searching around on Yelp in downtown Lowell area, I picked Centro.
A colleague and I actually came by to checkout the place before we made the announcement. It's a trendy place with some nice cozy touch. The open kitchen concept is something I really like as well. Chef owner Patti gave us a run down on some of the history of the restaurant and what they offer and we were good to go with Centro.
Another thing I like about Centro is the menu is not long, but covers most the basics. Because as a restaurant, you shouldn't offer tons of menu items which you can't keep up with the quality, but do offer a nice list of specialties you are good at.
For the dinner party we had 11 people and we picked 1/2 of the items in the menu.
Starters and lighter fares:
Antipasto (large) - wow, huge portion of meat and cheese, great for a group of people
Cheeseburger spring rolls - this is truly East meets the West, you got to try it.
Tuscan style sautéed calamari - nice flavor
Buffalo chicken quesadilla - this taste better than what you get in a Mexican restaurant!
Jerk wings - nice combination of spices, and wings are crispy on the outside and super tender inside
BBQ pork nachos - for $12, this can be dinner for 2 on it's own. Oh, nice pork too.
Entrees:
Most people went with Braciole or Espresso crusted bistro filet or Mac 'n' cheese with spicy steak tips. I decided to go with the Pistachio crusted wild Atlantic salmon after ate those starters.
The salmon was grilled perfectly, nice crust outside, tender and moist inside, with lots of flavors. The creamy lemon, parmesan and tarragon risotto is a nice complement to the salmon as well.
The colleague sat next to me had the Espresso crusted bistro filet and he said that's some nice steak (this guy do eat find good place to eat steaks when he goes to all kinds of trade shows)
Overall, it's a very nice experience. Food a tasty and portions/price ration is great as well. I'm planning on taking my wife here for dinner next time.
Checkout the photos I took :)
Place was really nice inside and although it was raining when I went, they have a nice patio. Was a bit empty on a Saturday night though...,
Got lobster bisque. Very strainy and no lobster to be found. The herbs and spices took over the flavor and I couldn't even finish it. Main course was a bit better but lacking. I had Mac and cheese with spicy steak tips. Steak was good but Very spicy! I could not taste the meat itself. Mac and cheese was yummy. My boyfriend got red snapper and he said it was excellent.
I dont think I will be back for dinner but may go for lunch on a warm day to enjoy the patio and try the lighter fare.
The food at Centro was pretty good. Went with friends on impulse while driving by. We tried the duck confit spring rolls, they were really delicious! Then we each ordered a different meal and shared everything - spicy steak tips, braised short ribs and a seafood dish, that escapes me (that one wasn't very memorable). The spicy steak tips were probably the best. The short ribs were good, but I've definitely had better, more tender steak tips elsewhere. Drinks were delicious. The service was wonderful. I'd go back again.
Review Source:My hometown has definitely improved its dining options over the past decade. Centro is the most recent addition i can think of. This place reminds me of quaint, sophisticated places i find nestled off the beaten path in lower Manhattan as opposed to Boston. That's the feeling that immediately hit me when i took in the place from my trendy and deceivingly comfortable chair.
At first however the host/manager/owner(?) was tapping his reservation book with a pencil pensively as he was figuring out if he could seat my ex-gf and myself as walk-ins. It was 4:00 and the restaurant was empty, so i found this a bit strange. Even moreso since a grand total of four people came in during our entire meal. Â
In any event the food was absolutely fabulous, in plentiful portions and very well presented. They also offer al fresco dining which always adds a half star in my book. If you happen to find yourself in Lowell and hungry for some quality dining at a decent price this is your option.
Really 2.5, but I'll round up for the pleasant service.
Centro is another of a handful of restaurants in Lowell that try to offer a dinner "experience". The decor is nice, and I actually enjoy when you can see the chefs and watch them prepare the food. The bar seemed jumpin the 2 times I was there, which gave it a familiar, fun feel. Nice wine and beer list.
The service was good. Our waitress this last time was super nice and seemed genuine and friendly, despite forgetting my partner's drink order twice. People make mistakes, and as long as they are gracious about it, which she totally was, I am pretty forgiving.
However, the food this last time was, at best, mediocre. The calamari appetizer was decent, sauteed instead of deep fried, and I liked it, despite it being doused in a bit too much sambuca. My entree was the half chicken, which was just OK. I'll admit, the half-chicken was the most boring and "vanilla" item on the menu, but...also among the most easy to prepare and make well. The potatoes were overcooked and dried out, but the worse thing was the grilled leeks. Now admittedly, I never had grilled leeks before, so I don't have a comp base, but, lets just say that I am putting my first grilled leek experience down as "poor". The leeks were tough and stringy and difficult to cut. And more of it got stuck in between my teeth than was ingested. Either a really bad idea, or a good idea executed very poorly.
I would give it a third shot. The first time I don't remember anything negative, so...
Went to Centro's last night to meet some friends. Â My husband and I arrived a few minutes before our reservation and friends, so grabbed a drink at the bar. We weren't even seated and the bartender was there to acknowledge us and take our order. Â He was a funny guy and very sociable. Â The decor in the place is great .. it's refreshing and modern. Â There is also great energy in the restaurant.
Once our friends arrived, we were seated right away and a very spacious table. Â YAY! Â It was nice to be able to spread out and not be crammed into a sliver of a table. Â Our waitress was right over to greet us and take drink orders.
Food was good. Â For appetizers we ordered the Antipasto and calamari. Â The antipasto had lots of great stuff on it, but they may want to consider plating it on a larger platter in the future. Â Due to all the stuff crammed on the dish, things were buried and missed. Â The calamari was really good. Â It was prepared in a red sauce and cooked perfectly.
For entrees our table had the wild salmon on a purple sticky rice and veggies. Â The dish was good, but could have used a few more veggies on the dish. Â The duck breast special was also ordered and it was really good. Â And the homemade papardelle was the last dish .. and it was yummy as well. Â
Our only complaint, was that our salad came with our meals, as opposed to between apps and entrees.
For dessert we ordered the carrot cake and decadent chocolate cake. Â Yum! and Yum!
We'd definitely go back and try out the other things on the menu.
I came here with some buddies to catch up over dinner and it was a fantastic spot. The ambience was nice and energetic, but not too busy or loud. Additionally our waitress was extremely friendly and pleasant.
To start I had a daily special of soup - apple cider based chicken soup. It was delicious and I was more than pleasantly surprised. For my entrée I had the espresso encrusted steak that was served atop a sort of potato lasagna, with roasted brussel sprouts on the side. The steak was very good (certainly not Capital Grille or Ruth's Chris, but good nonetheless). The brussel sprouts were great, albeit simple, but that's how I like them. The potato lasagna type thing was not at all what I expected, but it was actually quite good. It was sort of a pureed sweet potato in between layers of thinly sliced white potato.
I was definitely happy with my meal and the inexpensive beer list. I'll definitely go back when I'm in Lowell next.
We went to Centro on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday and valentine's day. Â We had an 8 o'clock reservation and arrived early (7:40) and planned to have a drink at the bar before our table was ready. Â
We told the hostess we would sit at the bar (it was literally 3 feet in front of her) until our table was ready. Â We had a drink and began getting impatient as 2 other couples were seated before us (who arrived AFTER us). Â Finally at almost 8:30 the hostess tells us she "forgot about us" and gives us a genuine apology and we are seated. Â
Now we are starving and I order the haddock soup for an appetizer and my boyfriend gets a salad. Â Our appetizers arrived very quickly but we didn't have any forks so my boyfriend was unable to eat his salad until we ask both the waiter (who completely forgets to get us a fork after we ask) and finally flag down the hostess to get us a fork (since she forgot to put them at our table!) Â so finally we can eat our appetizers (after waiting over 10 minutes for a fork!)!
Our meals were great I had a pasta with salmon and my boyfriend had a chicken pasta and we both loved our dishes but the service here really made our $100 plus dinner a bummer!!
Centro  - your food is five star but your service is one star .... I can't justify coming back here to spend over $50 per person on a meal where the service is majorly lacking!
This was the best meal I have had in ages. I can vigorously recommend the roasted autumn vegetable salad and paparedelle entree. They were truly delicious. The salad was delectable, beautifully presented and very well-priced at just $8. I probably could've eaten just that and been satisfied. But I moved on to the vegetarian pasta offering, which was simple and luscious, featuring pappardelle in cream sauce with roasted plum tomatoes and kale. Â
But my meal was much, much better than my boyfriend's. He got the lobster risotto. And it wasn't very good - the lobster was dry and the risotto tasted like rice and tomato sauce. Sad for him. But he's been there before and says the salmon is great. Luck of the draw, I guess.
They had a few unique desert items. I got something that was like a maple custard crème brulee. He had chocolate hazelnut wontons (i.e. Nutella in a deep fried rice paper wrapper) with bitter orange sauce. Both interesting and tasty certainly, but maybe not as exceptional as the rest of my meal.
The atmosphere was lovely - they have a beautiful color palette. We sat by the window, enjoying a $150 meal while all types, from homeless to hipster, walked by outside. I felt a little guilty about that to be honest. I don't like to be confronted with poverty while I'm gorging myself on truffles, you know? But that's the unique charm of Lowell for you.
"Overrated" [clap, clap, clap-clap-clap]
Newsflash: you're in Lowell, not the Back Bay. Â Tell your waiters to remove the tampons out of their asses and and drop the attitudes. Â I only
wish this were an isolated incident, sadly no. Â
Aside from the douchbagery service, the food is 'good', not 'great'. Â Certainly not good enough to make me painfully sit through your pretentious, whiny diatribes. Â
The steaks are nice, well cooked and decently flavorful. Â The mac and cheese is definitely one of their better dishes. Â But wait...where's my friend's food? Â Oh, you forgot to put in the order and let us all finish our meals and not bother to even ask to comp us? Â COOL.
Overall, your food is good but nothing I can't get anywhere else . Â If your service was better, you'd receive a 3-star rating. Â Alas, go back to customer service 101 so I don't feel the urge to flame-throw your entire wait staff. Â What a shame.
The husband and I went to Centro during Lowell restaurant week, and we had a nice experience. Â The interior had a sort of vintage feel with teal glass all about, the staff were very polite and professional, timing was appropriate...there was nothing objectionable about the service whatsoever.
When I think back on the meal itself, however, it was as though my husband and I were eating at different restaurants, and mine was much better than his. Â
For appetizers, I had an exceptional chicken and vegetable soup which highlighted and elevated each element in precisely the way that one would expect from a high end, New American style establishment. Â He had risotto which was salty and undercooked. Â We then proceeded to entrees (an elegant and playful take on a summer bbq vs some charred duck that had been slapped with a sugary cherry paste), and a shared dessert of a lemon creme with raspberries in which the lemon and raspberries were magically disguised as cream. And sugar. Â And cream. Â Lots of cream. Â
The drinks, however, were phenomenal. Â I will absolutely go back for drinks and appetizers...as long as that duck doesn't come quacking anywhere near me.
I remember when I first drove by Centro three years ago right before it just opened.  I was so thrilled a cute and  hip little joint was coming downtown.  That was before Blue Taleh, Moonstones, etc hit the scene, so us (at the time) twenty-somethings had someplace fun to go without trekking all the way to Boston.
Fast forward to present time, and I have to say that this place is still a cute little hip restaurant with really good food.
The place isn't huge but is decorated very modern with the currently "in" blue and brown color scheme. Â The bar is a fun place to hang out, drink and eat. Â The service has always been attentive in both the bar and table part of the restaurant. Â The drinks are fun and they have good beers as well.
As their menu changes frequently, it's difficult to recommend anything in particular, but their duck confit spring rolls are a must! Â Their food is delicious and fresh and haven't tried anything that I disliked.
What I really enjoy about this place is that it is a very flexible dining destination. Â I've been there on a romatic date, with family visiting from out of town, and for a girls night out and have yet to be disappointed. Â It is decently priced and the quality of food that is served is just as good as anything you'd get in Boston. Â And much less of a drive for us Lowellians :)
I'm a convert (sort of). I try to eat only plant-based foods, so Centro has been off my list of places to eat for a long time. I'd go for wine occasionally, but I stayed away from the menu.
Tonight I got stuck there with extended family at dinner time and asked Laura, our server, if she could help me hone in on anything potentially vegan. She and I talked through a basic conversion of one of the menu items and she headed to the kitchen. She came back three times to ask questions for the chef.
When my entree arrived it was colorful and rustic, but beatiful. The cheese ravioli that would normal provide the starch for the menu item had been replaced with perfectly steamed barley. Honestly the best thing I've eaten there.
NOTE: Every restaurant should have at least one vegan and one gluten free entree.
We haven't been to Centro since it first opened, and now I'm seeing what a shame that is.  I was out with the man celebrating our engagement and Centro's food, atmosphere, and service, made our night all the more special.  My salmon was cooked to perfection, and our mediterranean platter appetizer was so delish, I could seriously eat it every day.  The look on the man's face when he took his first bite of the grilled lobster and risotto said it all.  The Bruléed butterscotch pudding was a wonderful end to an amazing dinner.  I highly recommend this place!
Review Source:Hubby and I had a gift certificate for this restaurant which is what brought us here to dine. Â A friend had suggested the duck egg rolls, which I ordered. Â I thought they were good, little greasy but otherwise good. Â The dipping sauce that came with it was very tasty and flavorful.
I had a scallop dish that was very delicious. Â It came with risotto. Â The scallops and risotto were both cooked perfectly. Â The flavors in this dish mixed very nice together. Â Hubby had a steak and being the picky eater that he is ordered it his way, sauce on the side etc... the steak came with a spicy spicy sauce that I only had the courage to dip a pinky it. Â Definitely spicy, he was glad it was on the side.
I ordered a lemon drop martini that was made great, perfect mixture!
The service was good, it was a Sunday night and only a couple other tables there. Our water glasses were filled several times. Â The waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and friendly with us.
I would definitely go back to Centro, it seems there menu changes seasonally which I find intriguing.
Only had a drink here...but, I felt I had to review. The place has this feel, of looking like the right kind of place, all the bells and whistles of what you'd want in an upscale place. However, that's what it felt like, not an upscale, honest place, but a pretend version of one. Second, the clientele...well, let's just say, when I looked over the crowd, I didn't see what I'd call adventurous diners, rather, people who want to be thought of like that. Finally, I did look over the food and what people were eating and it all looked a little "try-hard" - which to me is always a red flag. I can take some play dough, goo, and various other things from around the house and arrange a plate to resemble something from a "Saveur" photo essay of what's hip..but, well, what do you think playdough, et al taste like? I am always afraid of the try hard, it's not honest food, but food dressed up because it's lacking something.
Now, I will probably give this place a shot, but, it will hurt me to part with actual money for fake food...maybe the food gods will smile upon me and make me retract this review, which I would gladly do. Until then, proceed with caution
There is only one word I can use to describe my dining experience at Centro. Mediocre...
I went there a few weeks ago with my girl and the first thing we noticed was the decor. It was sleek modern and enjoyable. After being seated I thought to myself "I hope the food matches the decor." It definitely did not! I ordered the salmon dish and I have to say it the salmon was pretty good. That was the only thing I finished on my plate. The fish was served with asparagus that was also very average along with undercooked chick peas.
I would have given this place 3 stars just for the nice atmosphere but I can't give that many stars to a place that I could not finish all of the food on my plate. Let me just say that I am not terribly picky when it comes to food. I like just about anything that is cooked and flavored well. I was very hungry and for me not to finish all of my food that day was surprising because I definitely was not full.
I agree with Tommy P. Ole is a much better value and the food is great. I wouldn't waste my money at Centro.
I want my money back!!!! All 90 something dollars of it!!
What a waste! I ordered the lamb, which I admit was absolutely delicious...but that was the ONLY food on my plate that was good. Normally at  "fancy" and "trendy" places like these, I would enjoy everything on my plate; espcially when the plate cost $26! I can probably get the same quality lamb over at Outback (ouch). My other half didn't enjoy his whole dish either and he eats anything..
I have to say the interior was very pretty. Everything had a unique and modern look. They also have good corn muffins.... thats pretty much it.
If you want EXCELLENT quality food for half the price, go to OLE!
Went here for some late night cocktails and a small snack. The interior is nicely decorated with a bar area that seats 15 people. We chose to sit at the bar considering the time of night. It was close to closing time for the kitchen, but the bartender said that we could get anything on the menu and the cooks would stick around (great to hear this level of service.) We sympathized with the cooks and only ordered the duck spring rolls. They came out as two perfectly sized rolls, crispy and full of duck. I ordered a French martini, which the bartender crafted perfectly and "A" ordered a glass of wine. They change their menu twice a year, and it seems like they have some interesting items. I'll be back for a complete dinner soon.
Review Source:I have to echo the thoughts of Janice and DB on this place. Hip and cool? Maybe for the over-55 set. No offense, but it just doesn't have that authentic cool vibe. $18 for mac & cheese? Come on. I understand the concept of a high-priced menu soliciting to only "certain" types of people, but unless you enjoy dining with your grandparents, there are cooler places to go. Very stuffy and staged environment. I don't think we can say that Lowell even has an upscale dining category to place this in, but they are trying - desperately.
You're better off going to Ole, where you can get equally delicious, exotic meals at a fraction of the price, since they're served tapas-style. Then you're not stuck with a huge bill for some crap you didn't even like.
No atmosphere, no vibe. Just a place to feel like "fancy pants" and blow a wad of cash. Also very cramped, felt like it used to be a little Chinese takeout restaurant in a past life or something.
I guess if you have visitors from out of town, and you want them to think Lowell is really "up and coming", you could take them here.
Just make sure you go Dutch.
I consider this place to be the gem of the Lowell dining scene. Â I've been a couple of times now and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. Â The menu changes seasonally, which, unfortunately for my dining companion, meant that both the entree he was hoping to get and the dessert he loved last time were both off the menu leavning him a little disappointed with this visit. Â I, however, was more than satisifed. Â
We sat at the bar and immediately began snacking on the addictive homemade potato chips that were placed in front of us. Â We ordered the duck confit spring rolls for an appetizer. Â Very tasty and I LOVE the dipping sauce they serve with them. Â For dinner I had the prime rib sandwich off the bar menu. Â The prime rib was moist and cooked just right. Â A very good value for $10.50 I thought. Â
Last time I visited this place, they had a devil's food cake dessert with buttercream frosting that was sinfully delicious. Â (Get it? Â Devil's food? Â Sinfully? Â I am the living end!) Â We couldn't remember the name of the dessert, but described it to the bartender who appeared to know what we were talking about. Â We were presented with the wrong dessert, as it turns out there was a miscommunication and the dessert we thought we had ordered wasn't even on the menu anymore. Â I must say, it was a great mistake as the chocolate cake we were presented with was absolutely divine. Â
I should mention the cocktails here are also divine. Â They make a terrific French martini, complete with burnt orange peel. Â I also love that they pour a small amount into the martini glass and serve the remainder in a small carafe set in an ice filled glass to keep it cold. Â
The goal of this night was to go to fancy Centro but eat at the bar to make it a relatively inexpensive dinner night. Â We kind of blew the budget going here, as dinner came to $56 a piece for the two of us, but it was worth it. Â You could make it a $$ night if you're on your best behavior, but I think to really enjoy it fully, you should plan on a $$$ night. Â I'll definitely be back.
Unfortunately Centro will not be blessed with my presence again.
When the owner of a restaurant can not come to your defense while you are dining on their outdoor patio, and a homeless person attacks you for money-well, I draw the line there. Especially when the owner(1 of the them), watches the whole thing take place. When confronted about it, says "well I didn't invite him here". Just plain RUDE. We are paying $10+ for your martinis and would like to enjoy our cocktails in peace. And I know that you may not have control over what people say when they walk by on the side walk...but you can politely ask them to leave the guests of your restaurant alone when they are being lunged at for $1. Not even a waiter or waitress payed any attention.
Not to mention, the service is terribly slow and I can make a better martini at home. Plus...who closes a restaurant on a Tuesday?
I had a fantastic dining experience last night at Centro.
Originally, I had been planning to have dinner at Cobblestones, but they were unable to accommodate us, so Centro was a last minute pick. Â Boy did we make the right choice. Â I started out with their French Martini which included Lillet Blanc, a liquor that I've only seen previously used at Gaslight in Boston, so suffice to say, that impressed me. Â While we're on the topic of alcohol, I'll tell you about my second drink, so we can get that out of the way. Â I had their cosmopolitan and it was well made. Â Their beverage list is eclectic without being plain weird.
For an appetizer, I had the duck confit spring rolls with a chili dipping sauce and they were delicious. Â For dinner I had chicken with peaches, gnocchi, pancetta, and Roquefort cheese. Â Every bite was magical. Â Dessert also failed to disappoint. Â I had the single serving Devil's Food cake with butter cream frosting. Â The cake was moist (for Devil's Food) and the frosting was perfect. Â It was also the size of a jumbo cupcake, so despite being called "individual," it is definitely shareable. Â
Our waitress was helpful, available but unobtrusive, the ambiance was an elegant blend of art-deco and retro design and the big band music was soft, and enjoyable.
I can't wait to eat here again.
Centro is a hip and trendy gourmet restaurant where you can dress up or feel comfortable in something a little more casual. Â I think a lot of people feel that a place has to be either dressy or casual but I appreciate places that break the mold and allow you to come as you are while still allowing you to enjoy a great flavorful meal.
We ordered from the specials available and everything was incredibly flavorful and even a little inventive, which I sincerely appreciate. Â The service was great at keeping our drinks full and providing suggestions. Â A great downtown dining experience when you're looking for something special, but equally suitable for a business lunch downtown or after work for drinks and appetizers at the bar. Â I have absolutely nothing negative to say about our experience here and would definitely go back again!
I ate at the bar with a friend of mine. Service was great and friendly. The decor was modern but not cold, very comfortable.
We split the shrimp and crab nachos appetizer and it was very tasty. I had the salmon which was cooked perfectly and the sauce was a perfect combination w/the fish. My friend got the haddock which she said was equally outstanding.
I tried some of there summer feature drinks; spiked lemonade and ice tea. The pomegranate ice tea was a bit sweet for me but the peach tea was VERY good.
Can't wait to go back.
Nice, clean interior. Â Inviting and well designed. Â We only stopped in for drinks at about 7pm on a weeknight. Â The staff was very friendly and the wine and martinis were very well made.
Will stop back there when we're up in Lowell again for dinner. Â The food seemed nice, and everyone we saw there was in a rather good mood.
Visited Centro's on Lowell's Winterfest Saturday night with husband. Â We had reservations, were seated promptly at a small round table in the dining area. Decor is retro trendy, glass brick wall separates dining area from the bar. Â
Our server was fine, brought bread and dipping sauces to table before we ordered. Â Little bits of bread, mini corn muffins which were super (as in way-too-sweet) sweet and not gritty with corn meal the way I like. Â He told us about the specials; we ordered from the regular menu. Â First course: we shared 'Tuscan calamari' appetizer which was good, not great. Â I ordered seared wild salmon with wild mushrooms and couscous which was quite good. Â Lots of mushroomy flavor in the couscous broth. Â I would have liked more searing on the salmon, I love a bit of crusty sweetness on salmon. Maybe some capers, at the very least a slice of lemon for garnish. Â Â Hubby had a veal something, with fabulous mashed potatoes, I think they must use cream cheese or something rich and deadly to make them so good. Â We had a bottle of Pinot Noir that complemented both entrees. Â There were some interesting things on the dessert menu, but we didn't indulge. Â I am curious about the bourbon IBC root beer float at $9.50. Â Think I'll try it at home!
As others have mentioned, this place is a great addition to the dining scene in downtown Lowell. Â However, I expect some attention to detail in presentation unless I am getting a meal at a chain/franchise. Â Those things were lacking at Centro's. Â But you know what wasn't lacking? Â Lots of "you guys" as in "How are you guys doing?" Â "Would you guys like more water?" Â (Always fill a water glass. Â No questioning required.) Â Another pet peeve of mine. Â (I have so many!) Also, in a place that is trying to be upscale, the help should dress accordingly. Â I'm sure canvas sneakers are super comfy, but the hostess person needs to get herself some real shoes. Â
I would have given Centro's 4 stars for the food, but I cannot tolerate loud, generic jazz as background music, and I am considering the whole experience, so 3 stars it is!
Overall, I agree with David B, but I give this an extra star for trying to do something a little different in Lowell. Â They do need a little bit of refinement.
My husband and I stopped by for lunch. Â We both got the flank steak with risotto and veggies. We both ordered them medium-rare. His was as ordered, mine was more medium, than medium-rare. Â When done medium-rare, it's quite good. Â When done medium, it's still good, but not as good. The risotto and veggies were very good. The bread basket they brought was just OK - nothing special.
We shared a flourless cake for dessert and we both got coffee. I like my flourless cake dense and bittersweet. Â This was too fluffy and sweet to be great, in my opinion, but it was good. Â My husband thought it was great just the way it was. Â The coffee was decent, nothing special.
I'm more than willing to give this place another try. Â I thought $50.00 for all we had (two glasses of wine, Â two entrees, two coffees, and a shared dessert) was quite reasonable.
Centro is a new and welcome addition to the growing restaurant scene in Lowell. Its decor and ambiance is more upscale than some of the other dining establishments of similar size in the downtown core. The bar has large windows onto the street for Lowellians to see and be seen. Â The bar seems to be a pretty hip place to hang after a shift at the office.
The service is quite good and the wine list decent. The found, though, could use a bit of refinement, especially for the prices being charged. We started with a wonderful antipasto plate. The entrees were a mixed bag. My dining partner enjoyed his dish of shrimp and scallops served over a couscous...very nice. Â I had ravioli with lobster and shrimp in a lobster sauce. The sauce was divine, as was the lobster served with it. The ravioli were, shall we say, problematic. They were tough, chewy and the cheese filling barely registered.
Dessert was also a mixed bag. My partner could not stop raving about the Boston Creme Pie. I had the cheese cake, which was good in and of itself. Unfortunately, it was swimming in a mediocre (watery) coulis.
Despite the problems with the meal, Centro adds another dimension to the dining experience downtown. Hopefully, with a bit of time to iron out issues with some of their food, Centro will shine.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,916 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
