Dining Out: The Local

Tonight I went with a high school friend back to our old stomping grounds to check out a new place in West Newton called The Local. I had heard about it through a coworker who raved about the menu and the great prices. When she told me she had ordered fried pickles and loved them, I knew this was a place I had to check out!

The Local is in the location formerly occupied by R.J. Crowleys, a neighborhood burger and beer bar. On both the inside and the outside, The Local is just R.J. Crowleys with a new coat of paint, but despite the same decor, there is a HUGE difference in the food.

The menu at The Local includes a great selection of wine, beer and cocktails. They have my favorite beer - Harpoon Raspberry UFO on tap, so mad props there. Beer comes in 16 oz or 20 oz glasses.

The menu is mostly appetizers and small plates and then a few large entrees. We tried the truffle fries to start, which came in a big silver bucket and were covered in parmesan cheese. INCREDIBLY delicious. I will be craving them again soon I am sure.

I ordered the truffle and chive mac and cheese, while my date ordered the cheddar and bacon burger with fries (we like truffles and french fries, ok?).

This was, hands down, the best mac and cheese I have ever had in my life. Creamy, great flavor, perfect temperature. I actually contemplated licking the bowl.

My date said her burger was perfect and totally hit the spot.

As we were wrapping up our meal, we saw a couple at the table next to us get their food - an order of fish and chips, the tomato and basil flat bread pizza and the mixed green salad. Each dish looked incredible and we turned to each other and said in unison "We have to come back!".

In addition to the great food, we were seated right away and our waitress was fabulous! Both funny and attentive, I wanted to be her BFF. I commented that I liked her green St Patricks Day beads and she said "you want some? we have tons in the back." She brought each of us a green necklace with a Jameson pendant on it. MONEY.

To top it all off, The Local was playing an awesome list of tunes! Kings of Leon, The Killers, The Verve Pipe . . . seems too angsty for dinner, but it was perfect.

Of course we ran into two people that went to our high school, but that just proves the place is living up to its name - The Local.

 

Molly Galler

Welcome to Pop.Bop.Shop. My name is Molly. I’m a foodie, fashionista, pop culture addict and serious travel junkie. I’m a lifelong Bostonian obsessed with frozen confections, outdoor patios, Mindy Kaling, reality television, awards shows, tropical vacations, snail mail and my birthday.

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