Centro On The Square — Restaurant in McKinney

We were super excited to try Centro on the Square as McKinney locals and we love Italian as well. To start off with the food was amazing but we did have a few issues with service. Our server was very sweet and quiet but the manager came up to her and was being in our opinion very disrespectful to her and undermining her and making her look bad in front of the customers whilst interrupting her while she was talking. We did not get the name of the manager however she was blonde and was not the owner or GM according to what we were able to gather. We have been to Knife Steakhouse before and had a great experience maybe they should consider looking into training their management staff better before having them be the one in charge. We felt embarrassed for our server. However all of that being said we would like to order here to go or come back at a later time because the food was impeccable the pasta tasted very fresh and homemade some of the best pasta we’ve had in the DFW area and the dessert we had was light and refreshing and the wine selection was great. We previously toured the space with a young man who was also a manager and the building set up is beautiful with an old fashioned feel and perfect for a date night. How you treat your staff should remain a priority in the future though. A manager came over to our table to help resolve the issue although he was very kind and tried to resolve the situation they should consider training their management better to avoid these situations. - We did feel as thought the manager who came to our table handled the situation well the overall experience was just uncomfortable for us because of the situation in front of our table.

To add on to this - Basil - the name of the manager who RESOLVED the problem and handled it in a professional manner. Connie - the name of the manager who blatantly disrespected her waitstaff in front of us while treating her like a child

We are not sure who runs what but hope they remember how the staff is treated is most important in running a business. This was an upsetting experience as someone who has been through being mistreated at a workplace by...

We had high hopes, having been to Italy a few times, and wanted to have that same experience/quality locally, but unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. Especially for the price.

Centro DOES understand the Italian dining experience; meaning they're not rushing you out, conversation and ambiance are to be enjoyed, and the time between courses are well spaced.

For starters we enjoyed the Cheese & Salami Plate that contained a small variety of cheeses, meats, as well as fruit and bread.

Next, we had Ceasar salads. These were good although we wish they had more pepper and parmigiano reggiano.

The first real test was the Cacio e Pepe. A quintessential Roman pasta that looks very simple to make but is very difficult to master. The pepper and pecorino weren't as rich as we were hoping. I tasted the pasta more than the cheese or pepper.

For the main dish, I had the Lemon Ricotta Agnolotti del Pin. This pasta was a little different, which is why I wanted to try it, and it was good. A hint of lemon with the richness of the ricotta was a nice fusion of flavor. I opted to add chicken as well, which added a bit to the price. Honestly, too much, in my opinion. The small chicken breast itself was more than the cost of the pasta!

My son had the Spaghetti Shrimp Scampi and he was pleased. A little disappointed on the quantity of the shrimp but overall, he liked it.

My wife had the Steak Frites and couldn't finish it. The steak had a gravy/sauce smothered over it and that took away from the entire entree. If she had known, she would have asked for it on the side or not at all.

We also had 2 glasses of wine, which were ok.

Don't even look at the Scotch menu. For 2-3 drinks you could have purchased an entire bottle. It was absurd.

The staff was nice and our waitress was great however, for the price, I feel the meal and experience just...

I visited Centro on the Square during opening week and it’s absolutely stunning. This place nails the balance between keeping the historic charm with the exposed brick of the 100+ year building and updating the dining room to be elegant and cozy.

I’ve been to Harvest a bunch, and Centro feels like a welcome evolution rather than a replacement. The food was outstanding. The menu is clearly Italian focused with fresh pasta and appetizers but the rest of the menu had some great offering as well like seafood and steaks. Speaking of pasta, watching pasta being rolled out and stuffed through the window is such a nice touch. I went with a group of 4 so we tried a few different pastas and it completely delivered on flavor.

Our server was kind, professional, and knowledgeable. The level of service added well to overall atmosphere which was off the charts! There was a live jazz band that set the vibe perfectly, giving the place an old-school, cozy feel. It felt classy but not stuffy. I’m originally from the Chicago area and lived in New York for a few years. There were moments that truly transported me back, without feeling like a cheesy imitation or like it was trying too hard to be something it’s not. It has its own sense of place.

Centro is exactly the neighborhood spot the Square needed. Fancy enough for a date night or special occasion but still approachable for just a night out. We are looking forward to...