Cafe Central, luxurious downtown eatery

Allan+about+to+enjoy+the+Central+burger.

Daniela Garcia

Allan about to enjoy the Central burger.

Daniela Garcia, Reporter

From the the dimmed lights to the luxurious carpet, Cafe Central is the perfect place for a romantic date. The restaurant first opened its doors in 1918 in Cd. Juarez, and moved to El Paso to establish a locale in the downtown area. Customers should expect a fine dining experience when eating at Cafe Central.

From the moment one walks in, one is greeted by staff members who cheerily open the doors. The receptionist asks for the reservation and kindly walks guests to the table. The chairs are large and cushiony and the table has a minimalistic arrangement. The white linen that drapes over the table is thick and luxurious. Mounted on the cushioned walls are solitary lamps with dim yellow lighting to set the mood.

The room has a large window that lets in a delicate light to complement the chill vibe inside. Servers leave condiments at the table accompanied by a large variety of complementary bread to distract one from the wait. The rosemary bread has a slightly salty and buttery taste with a marinated crust.

The menu is curated based on the time of the day. Their dishes are priced fairly, with entrees ranging from $15 and under. There is a selection ranging from foreign seafood dishes and classic Mexican food like a taqueria. Finger food one wouldn’t expect at a fancy restaurant like Cafe Central such as tortas and adobe tacos are offered, make the menu comfortably familiar.

The food is presented nicely on a large plate accompanied by a selection of sides with the star of the show being the main course. The house specialty is the torta. It is tall and stuffed with different ingredients. The meat pulls apart easily and is seasoned perfectly, it is topped with mozzarella cheese that melts exquisitely on mushrooms, covered with a sweet radish sauce. The toasted bun is pierced with a toothpick holding a tiny yellow tomato. The food is both colorful and flavorful. The side salad has a unique taste, consisting of a mixture of red leaf, arugula or dandelion greens and green leaves. The salad is dressed in a sweet, oily dressing that balances the bitter taste of the greens.

Cafe Central is a great restaurant providing a great experience and great food, if one ever wants to take a significant other to a dinner for any occasion Cafe Central is an excellent destination.