The Center Cafe

The owner at Center Cafe is amazing - he came over and chatted with us, and was very sweet with our toddler.

It's a nice, romantic restaurant, but also kid-friendly and perfect for a group.

I consider it a hidden gem. I had lived here for about 6 months before even realizing there was a restaurant in the old train depot. It's much nicer and cozier inside than I expected.

Food-wise, three of us steak and I can't remember what the other person got (it's been a few months). But we all absolutely loved our food and devoured it. It was pricey, but there were 4 of us and we got drinks and a kids' meal, so it's not too surprising.

I can't wait to go back!

I would drive by the sign on my way through Needham. Decided to finally give it a try. Set off the main drag in Needham along the train tracks. Charming facade. Upon arrival we were welcomed in like family. Service was exceptional and our waiter, Josh, was very knowledgeable about wine pairings. My husband had the breast of duck which he couldn't stop raving about. I had the trout which was flaky and flavorful. We picked the brownie sundae for dessert. Brownie was fresh baked topped with ice cream. Also had a chocolate martini that tasted like dessert in a glass with a kick. Even personalized with my name. Can't say enough about the service. Felt like we were royalty.
Highly recommend and will be back soon.

The owners and staff at The Center Cafe are so welcoming and friendly. Service couldn't be better. Not intrusive, but we didn't have to wait for anything.

The food is delicious. We have tried the Icelandic cod, the salmon, the veal, the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, the spinach and the creme brulee. It was all very good.

The interior is really nice as well. I would recommend reservations as it does seem to fill up even in the middle of the week. We will be back.

Everyone who works there is very nice and welcoming, and they were sensitive that our time was limited. The photography on the walls and on the menus was very nice.

In terms of food, we loved the soups, but the veal was rather small and the burger was somewhat overcooked. The wine list was fine, but not outstanding, and the cost of the food items was a little high.

Overall, the place deserves a solid four stars, but did not rise to a five-star level.

What a great find. This cozy spot by the rail station has great food and friendly staff (including the owner, who chips in as needed and socializes with the patrons). Our party of 5 had salmon, ribs, chicken parm, burgers and dinner salad, and it was all delicious and well-prepared. The drinks were plentiful and the desserts were a great end to the meal. The place filled up nicely on a Thursday night so I trust a weekend would be much busier. We were able to linger over our meal, and for whatever reason we were easily able to hear each other even though it was very busy (in other words, there was a good vibe without the ear-splitting din that one has to shout over). Give this place a try. If I lived nearby, this would end up on my short list of places to eat.

I don't understand how this place does not get 5 stars. I've eaten here a total of 5 times and the experience was fantastic every time. The service is the best. One memorable experience I had was when I took my grandmother who was visiting from China here. Everyone was friendly and made her feel very welcome. She was happy which made me happy.

I've ordered the salmon entree, steak, and creme brûlée here. I'm sure I've ordered
more, but can't think of it right now. The food is amazing, it's so good that you have take your time to chew in order to taste all the flavors. I've left here full and happy each time and can't wait to come back again.

This is where you went when you wanted your name to be known, the center café was a family run establishment which cared about its patrons like they were family. It's not shocking that Linda Cook, the owner stepson. Was injured in the accident. The doors were too close. This was a top notch family run organization. Best of luck to Steve where ever he may find himself next

I met a friend here an early dinner. The staff was friendly. Very nice decor with a cute little bar that reminded me of Europe for some reason. The host told us the menu was just changed and they change it often. That's always a good sign because as seasons change, so does what's good with food. I was very happy with the trout and my friend had broiled sole that was equally fresh and tasty. I'll definitely return to try more items on the menu. From the selection, it's clear that the chef is not one to offer up the same boring fare.

My only personal objection was the flat screen TV over the bar , visible from the dining area. It did not fit the atmosphere. A small thing, but it bothered me. (I also object to cell phones and so forth in a restaurant, it takes away from the enjoyment of good friend together with good food & drink).

But I will return, no question about that. I just want to sit far away from the flat screen...

Wired experience! We just drove by there and my friend really wanted to have a drink in some place. This place looked nice from outside, so we just walked in. At that time, they just opened and wasn't busy at all. When we just got in there, a lady who's in PJ PANTS came to say hello and started to introduce everybody in there to us...This is really out of our expection. Actually, she seemed a little bit drunk. Then a black Labrador came to say HELLO. This didn't bother me because he's super friendly and cute. From that lady, we got known that it's a family business. There's an old lady who's the owner, a mid aged guy, a big guy who's the chef and that lady who's probably the waitress, but only the mid aged guy was polite and normal. The owner was very unfriendly, the big guy was very grumpy and the lady seemed drunk. Maybe because both of us just ordered a drink, when we tried to asked how to go to a place in Needham, the owner was just ignoring us. Very rude!
This is really a wired experience and no fun at all. I'm sure they won't have the honor to serve me any more! And I won't recommend this place to anyone I know.
And BTW, their price is pretty high and their service definitely not worth it.

Was there for a 5-course Bourbon tasting and dinner. I must say the selection and preparation of the courses was exceptional! A converted commuter rail stop with the ambience of a side street hideaway for exotic American cuisine.
Venison, clam fritters, and a host of other delicious selections; not to mention some quality Bourbon! Highly recommend going to experience Steve's restaurant.