The Centennial — Restaurant in Jefferson

My mom and I went here for lunch back in February for my birthday. We were both unimpressed.

As for the dining room/ambiance, it's "white tablecloth" and more upscale. I did find the decor to be on the minimalist side, a little bit "cold" and not the most inviting.

Service was attentive, but not smothering. My only complaint is that it was so cold in the dining room! There were other people there for lunch and some of the ladies were putting their jackets back on.

Our main issue was the food. We had heard so much praise about the chef's skills.

Mom ordered a turkey Parmesan panini. The panini was made with turkey lunch meat. I couldn't tell if the bread was made in house or not. Not impressed. We were expecting like actual turkey breast meat.

I ordered the "good ranch" salad with a chicken breast. The salad was loaded with the toppings listed. It was okay overall. The chicken was a bit dry and the lettuce wasn't the freshest. I couldn't tell if the lettuce was pre chopped/bagged, but I suspect it was. It also came with a soft bread stick.

Both of our meals came with a cup of tomato basil bisque. We both really enjoyed this soup. Very flavorful, but the texture was a bit grainy.

Both our meals were around $15.

With the menu being as limited as it is, I would expect more effort put in by the chef.

For a restaurant that has an attitude of an upscale bistro, it was not hitting the marks. The food certainly did not live up to the hype, definitely on the...

Love The Centennial. The food is always fresh, the soups are great and the servers are attentive. My husband always gets enough to eat and says the Bell Tower Blend coffee is fabulous! The desserts are especially decadent and you will never go away hungry! The potions are huge and worth the price! The Centennial chicken salad is soooo good! And the building where the restaurant is located is beautiful. I also appreciate the fact that Chef Sara will offer gluten-free and some vegan options! It’s a must...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Centennial in Jefferson, Iowa. The food was incredible! Everything was cooked perfectly and all the flavors were spot on. I also have to give a shoutout to the owner, for her hospitality. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had a great experience. I can honestly say that this is one of the best restaurants in the area. If you get the chance, you should definitely check out...