Le Critique: Hole in the Wall: Centrale Kitchen & Bar

1825 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA

(209) 939-1825

With the limited choices in the area, Centrale Kitchen & Bar (also turns up as Centrale Restaurant & Lounge in Internet searches) has quickly become my go-to place for a good dining experience. The food, the ambience, the service and the crowd are just the things I have been missing about my ol’ life back in the Philippines.

Centrale is along the restaurant-, shop- and service-center-infested Stockton Miracle Mile. The stretch might have its own reasons for being called miracle, but to me, its existence in this not-so-vibrant town makes it an absolute miraculous marvel. LOL.

I have been to Centrale a number of times for dinner and, I must say, I enjoyed every visit. The place is small, but it has a warm and cozy air. Their menu is limited, but it pretty much covers the essentials – red meat, chicken, seafood and pasta. I have tried their grilled artichoke hearts (the dip is to die for!) and the rib-eye steak. When I took Um there for our first date since I left the Philippines, we shared the garlic fries for starters, I had the kobe flat iron steak meal and he had the seafood linguine, which was generously topped with shrimp, mussels, bay scallops and clams, and finished with cream herb sauce).

They have an open bar, so their alcohol choices are pretty varied. Um had a Coors Light and this lady had her cocktail, pink lemonade. It had the perfect mix – not too sweet, not too strong. Just the right kick. Um was nodding with every bite – I was so pleased to see that. You know what they say: The fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And although I am no taste buds queen like Kam, I am quite the hunter when looking for great dining options.

Um initially refused a lunch out on his birthday, February 23^rd, but I insisted. We thought of trying something new, but our curiosity over Centrale’s lunch menu won the argument. It was my first time to see the restaurant at daytime, and the lack of illumination from the restaurant’s lights and candles deprived the place of the dramatic atmosphere that I was used to. However, the place was still filled with people on their lunch break and business meetings. They seem to be regulars since the servers spoke with them so candidly – or this town must just be that small that everybody knows everybody.

The lunch menu was even more limited than the dinner menu, but all seemed worth trying. For starters, we had the garlic fries and creamy tomato.

Um's House Cheeseburger

The big burger guy in Um asked for the house cheeseburger and I had the special, grilled chicken salad with jack cheese, spinach and garlic aioli (yep, I am pretty much a garlic-y person). Since I failed to celebrate National Margarita Day (there is such a thing!!!) the day before, I opted to go for a glass of margarita.

Unfortunately, this experience was not what I expected of Centrale. First off, our server, though super friendly, quick and efficient, did not warn us that our meals were to be served with fries. Had I known, I would have forgone the garlic fries appetizer. As a result, our table was overflowing with potatoes! The house cheeseburger did not pass Um’s high standards – I tried it, and it did lack the flavor.

My margarita had a weird after taste. It was the first time ever that I did not finish a glass of margarita. The good bartenders must be in the afternoon shift.

It was not all that bad, though. The creamy tomato stood true to its name. It was soooooo good! It is the kind of thing you would want to warm your stomach when it is screaming for food and/or during a cold day.My special for the day did not fail me. All the ingredients seem to have work together in my mouth!

Special for the Day: Grilled Chicken Salad with Jack Cheese, Spinach & Garlic Aioli

It might not have been the best experience, but it was not the worst. Centrale did not turn me off. I would still be going back — for dinner, that is!