The Local

We went to try something new for restaurant week, and had some great food, but overall it was very inconsistent so I'll rate each dish. Drinks, my wife had a beer so no rating there, I had a cherry blossom. Forgot to take a picture, but it was very tasty (Catoctin Creek Gin, Saint Germain, Lemon Juice, local honey and Bordeaux cherry juice). Garnish was a bit boring (one cherry in the bottom) and double straining would have gone a long way as mine had a lot of little ice bits leftover from shaking 4/5 For appetizers we had the Bison Empanada and Fried Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts. Bison Empanada was very good. The dough was crispy and the cilantro crema was delicious. The filling could have had a bit more flavor so the empanada could stand on it's own, but overall very good 4/5 Fried Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts was the miss for this course. Presentation was nice, but the brussels sprouts were quite undercooked, so very hard and the sauce was completely inappropriate for an otherwise elevated plate of veggies. They called it a "sriracha aioli", but it was burger/fry sauce. Tasty on it's own, but did not fit this dish at all. 2/5 For entrees we had the Bison Short Ribs and Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken. Bison short ribs were quite delicious. The short rib was fork tender, the sauce was good, and the mashed potatoes were a nice side. The carrots were barely cooked though and far too hard. 4.5/5 Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken was not as good. Presentation looked good enough, but hiding bone in chicken between the slaw and mashed potatoes surely didn't make it easier to eat... The chicken itself, cooked to perfection. The skin was crispy, meat was juicy, perfect. The breading definitely could have been seasoned more though as there wasn't much going on flavor wise. This didn't bode well for the rest of the dish as the "southern slaw" was barely dressed at all and the "hot sauce gastrique" was a small swipe of buffalo/franks/whatever you want to call it. The potatoes were good (seemingly the same as the short rib ones), but surely didn't provide the flavor the dish needed. Like the brussels sprouts & cauliflower, the sauce just seemed so out of place and this dish really needed something to give it some flavor. A better dressed slaw and a proper sauce would elevate this dish so much, but as we had it 2.5/5 For dessert we had both options the Flourless Chocolate Cake and the Basque Cheesecake Flourless Chocolate Cake, no notes. It was smooth, creamy, and delicious. 5/5 Basque Cheesecake was bad, actually may have been the first cheesecake I've ever not finished. It seemed like it was overcooked as it was quite grainy and you could see the top was quite dark under the berries. It was also served to us crazy cold, like slightly above freezing. Flavor wasn't bad, but execution was off. 1.5/5 So yeah, depending on the adventure you chose, you either got really good food or would have been quite disappointed, a true roller coaster of courses was experienced.

Nice staff and very accomodating (we were late for our reservation). Our waitress was very knowledge about the menu and made great recommendations. The crab soup (cream of crab) was amazing. Almost had like a buttery taste to it. Perfect flavor and for $8 for a bowl, can’t beat it! I enjoyed the steak fries but wish it was cut some more. It was flavorful and cooked perfectly. I didn’t try the salmon but my friend cleared their plate so I think it was a hit! Delicious drinks too and the ambiance chill, small, and very much like a local spot.

Went here from a recommendation. Had the steak and meatloaf. Personally not my favorite steak, was underwhelming and bits of grisle. The meatloaf was great. Drinks on the pricey side at 16 bucks and weren't anything special. Sat outside with our dog. Believe a staff member came out to smoke right in front of the restaurant and us eating, was a bit off setting having to smell that.

My experience was fabulous at The Local. The drinks were amazing, I had a spicy margarita, and it was so spicy! It's hard to come across a good spicy margarita that is actually spicy, so the bartender crushed it! Our server Hollie took great care of us! She was very attentive but also gave us space! The ambience was very chill, and I'm pleased to say I will definitely be back!

I have been here once for a wedding rehearsal dinner and once for dinner with a friend. The staff both times have been kind and taken great care of us, even being a large party. The brussel sprouts are top notch, could have used a bit more sauce but cooked perfectly and pair well with the cauliflower. The chicken and mac n cheese was wonderful, perfectly crispy and not too heave. Thank you for the lovely experiences.

Awesome awesome spot!!! We loved the food!! We got the steak and the gnocchi and some apps! The Brussels sprouts / cauliflower app was SO GOOD. Will return next time we’re in Charlottesville!

My husband and I just moved to Charlottesville and we’re excited to find a spot that looked like it had good ambiance and food with reasonable prices. We went in with a reservation, so we didn’t have to wait. Service was great with Patrick being our server. Ambiance upon entry was nice and cozy despite volume, but the upstairs part of the restaurant is a little generic with tables too close together. My husband ordered the fried chicken with mac and cheese and collard greens - we both agreed this was a good order but the greens and mac could’ve been hotter (temperature wise) and the collards were on the higher end of a medium spice, if that’s something you’d care to know, but still tasty. I ordered the short rib with mashed potatoes and some carrots and onions - it came out almost room temp, but our server was very understanding and so nice and returned with a hotter plate. The food itself wasn’t bad, just could use a little more flavor. Everything was so tender! Overall, kind service with slightly above average food and ambiance.

Went for Restaurant Week. The dish that got me to go was the truffle gnocchi and unfortunately it was my least fave dish of the night. The mushrooms were delicious. The gnocchi were soft and creamy but the whole dish was too soft. No extra texture and the portion was massive. The salad was a little dry. The tiramisu was my favorite thing of the night. Partner got a soup he loved, a meatloaf he thought was okay and loved the pimento mac and cheese, and loved his peanut butter brownie. I may have just ordered the wrong thing but I personally wouldn't order the gnocchi again.

This was the most quintessential Charlottesville inspired upscale restaurant I have been too. Very fitting to be called the local. The food was solid, the drinks were great, and the service was good. The only reason I give this place a 4 stars rather than 5 is the price point. While not drastically overpriced the food I expected to blow me away. Maybe my expectations were too high and maybe I should give this another shot as many have told me great things about this place. I just walked away a little underwhelmed. Would try again.

Visiting Charlottesville with close friends from UVA, they raved about the food from the Local. I ordered crab soup, bacon-wrapped meatloaf, and a heavy pour of cabernet sauvignon wine. The crab soup was decadent, featuring a buttery taste with chunks of lump crab...tasty! The meatloaf was flavorful, with the bacon adding a savory finish to the soft beef and tangy sauce. Wine soaked all the flavors and kept our table conversations as candid as ever. I appreciated our waiter's knowledge of the menu and the upstairs dining area. I'll be sure to stop here again on future Charlotteville trips.

Nice staff and very accomodating (we were late for our reservation). Our waitress was very knowledge about the menu and made great recommendations. The crab soup (cream of crab) was amazing. Almost had like a buttery taste to it. Perfect flavor and for $8 for a bowl, can't beat it! I enjoyed the steak fries but wish it was cut some more. It was flavorful and cooked perfectly. I didn't try the salmon but my friend cleared their plate so I think it was a hit! Delicious drinks too and the ambiance chill, small, and very much like a local spot.

Went for restaurant week. Food was amazing. The cauliflower and Brussels sprouts were so good.

Overall this was a disappointing experience. First the good- it's a nice location, pretty inside and our server was very good. Unfortunately the food was only ok. Our meals came out very, very quickly which suggests that they were pre-cooked. Also, the food wasn't very hot and the flavors that seemed interesting on the menu never really materialized. We had the rockfish (heavily breaded and fried), the bison short rib (meat was good but the fried gnocchi that came with it was hard and flavorless) and a beef tenderloin special (meat a little tough and over cooked). We won't be back.

We came here for dinner on the Monday night just before NYE. The food was fantastic. The bison boa was awesome with lots of wasabi spice. Crunchy shrimp delicious. The short ribs did not disappoint. Then a host of musicians streamed in and a singer-songwriter open-mic followed. The music was great. The vibe fantastic. We loved our server. This place is a must, especially if they have music that night.

Incredible restaurant in the center of Belmont neighborhood. You can eat inside or on the sidewalk. Food's great; service is incredible. Many great menu options.

Eh. Certainly not the worst dinner I've had but when the Local stacks up against other New American fare in Charlottesville it doesn't quite hold up in comparison. 3/5 TLDR the food is fine but not the best I've had here. If you're looking for ~$20 per person entrees for a decent night out you'll find it, but better and similar fare can be found at other spots around town. The service and the ambiance are both good, it's very cute inside and old wood and bricks. The building is historic and it's well curated with local art. Tables are far too close together we were basically sitting on top of the people behind us and that was uncomfortable. Dining room was way too cold in the winter -bring a jacket. The start we had a cheese and fruit plate. The cheese was pretty boring IMO - Brie, smoked Gouda, and then two white cheeses probably a cheddar and Parmesan. Fruit was grapes and apples. Good, but again kind of just meh. For entrees, we had two pasta dishes at our table and two meat entrees. I had the shrimp carbonara, my friend had the truffle mushroom linguine, my boyfriend had the meatloaf (recommended by our server) and my friends boyfriend had the steak. All of us felt very meh - there was no standout dish everything was kind of just meh. My shrimp carbonara was okay, the pasta was the star. It was perfectly cooked and the pasta tasted handmade. The shrimp half was tail on half was tail off and it felt cooked unevenly - some pieces were cooked too long and super curled and rubbery, some pieces were juicier. The sauce was a letdown - for a carbonara, this was like eating cheese water. Thin and very little flavor. I did not finish it and didn't bother taking more home. Not the best pasta in Charlottesville. This was the second dish our server recommended. My boyfriend had the first recommended dish by our server, the meatloaf. It was wrapped in bacon atop mashed potato's and green beans. He said the green beans were slightly undercooked without much flavor but the mashed potato's were good. Meatloaf was good but could've used more sauce. My friends mushroom pasta smelled delicious - she had similar takeaways about her pasta that I did of mine. Good pasta, but lacking in some flavor and thin sauce. Good, but not great. Her boyfriend ordered a medium steak and this was definitely a disappointment. Let's just be honest - this steak was rare. He said the sides were good but the steak being undercooked and under seasoned was a let down considering it was a pricier item. Beer was good, selection is decent. Dessert was good we had peanut butter brownie w ice cream and a pecan pie. Very average but still good. Overall I didn't feel like anything really stood out to me except the prices - C&O, Orzo and the Ridley, even Mockingbird all kinda have similar fare to the Local with some minor variations but all do a better job than the local with everything except price. Everywhere else charges about $30+ per person so I was happy we paid a little less but would've been willing to pay more for better food. Overall the local is good but not great - personally Charlottesville restaurant scene is so competitive I would probably look elsewhere in the future for New American fare.

The food was amazing, service was attentive but not intrusive and the setting was wonderful. The chairs could be a bit more comfortable

Absolute home run. We wanted to do something great on our last night in town, and The Local was suggested several times. It wasn't far, so we made the choice. Boy, did it work out well! Parking was tough, but after a few times around the neighborhood we found something. It's a happening area with lots of restaurants, so not a surprise. While walking over, we could smell some awesomeness. It's a very hip and historic place inside, and they make great use of the space in an old storefront. They were really busy, but we didn't have to wait even though we didn't have a reservation. Our server was awesome and gave us some time to choose between some difficult choices. I knew right away I wanted the she-crab bisque, and it was delicious. For my entree, there were a number of things that looked amazing, but I decided on the braised short ribs. They came on some tasty mashed potatoes, along with pearl onions and a mini carrot. The meat was perfectly cooked in red wine, and amazingly tender. The portion size was very generous and I couldn't even finish. I will definitely stop back in when I'm back I'm Charlottesville!

One experience at the Local, and it looks like this: Early reservations got us a table in a satellite space next to the main dining room, which looks like their wine cellar. Bare brick and wine bins were the vibe, with a server station tucked away in a corner. Tables were a little tight, which makes the place cacophonous when there's a large well-served six-top seated in the corner (ask me how we found out). The menu was comfort-heavy from an entree standpoint (everyone ordered either steak frites or the braised short ribs, although there were three different gnocchi offerings). The apps were equally easy to choose from: we grabbed a cheese plate and the burrata caprese salad. The cheeses were fine, four large cubes of various white cheeses and a little round ball of chèvre. Plenty of grapes, cut apples, and box crackers made this a decent little appetizer value for four. The caprese offering was a great way to bring forth the current burrata trend by plating it on top of large sliced tomatoes over arugula, with a lace of a balsamic reduction all over the top. The steak frites was passable, fries served on the side in a little bistro basket. The steak was played on top of a horseradish-artichoke bechamel (I was so stoked for this, but alas, literally, weak sauce: thin, no sense of horseradish bite at all). To be fair: not sure if this is a case of incorrect expectation versus execution. It wasn't bad, just not sure what I got. The short rib was a nice long-braised short rib over a decent mashed potatoes: easy, accessible. The wine list at the Local is simply lovely. We were seated right beside all of the several vintages of Stag's Leap: they are not playing around when it comes to wine. The by-the-glass list is simple, accessible, and affordable. All in all, the Local fit the bill for a family dinner out. It's comfortable food and wine that hits the table really quickly (we were in and out in less than an hour), and has something for everyone.

The food was eh, way overpriced for what it was. Arrived cold. Service was okay but felt rushed and invasive, and unhelpful when the food arrived cold (so when it mattered). I think there's solid room for improvement if not for the cleanliness ... had the unfortunate experience of seeing a roach in the bathroom (alive). In winter ...

Went on a Monday night - they have half price wines by the bottle anything under $75. The server told us over but they gladly honored the price of our wine. The food was good - pictured is what I had. The salad was good (maybe a few too many fried wontons) but nice flavor and not overdressed. The rockfish was delicious but strangely served in a bowl which made it virtuously impossible to eat - cutting it became impossible and I had to ask for a plate. They brought me a tiny side plate which didn't improve matters much. Everyone else enjoyed their entrees - crab soup, buratta special, steak frites, meatloaf, and fried gnocchi with scallops. I'd definitely go again and would recommending this local spot.

A good venue for large groups. Not good for finer dining. Clue: if you have reservations available Saturday day for that night, probably not a good sign. Food was very bland. I was able to finish only 1/2 my entree. Our server was nice enough, but too many mistakes. The upstairs was way loud!

Even with a small menu, my girl and I think that this place could satisfy multiple generations of picky family members. Absolutely wonderful food during my visit.

I went here during their set graduation menu. First i will say their service was very speedy. They were heavy staffed and very efficient in their dinner service. My only downsides are the gritz in the shrimp appetizer were grainy and the salmon could use more dressing and fresher veggies. Apart from that the meals were good and was a very fair price for the amount of food and quality of service. Additionally the place is massive and has many cool eating areas.

We came here with a large group, so had the scaled down menu, but we were very happy with the food we ordered. We will definitely be coming back for the full menu. My wife ordered the Local "River Oaks Farms" chicken and I ordered the meatloaf wrapped in bacon, with bbq sauce on it. Mine was a home run and I wish I had their recipe.

My birthday was on a Monday evening. Many places in Charlottesville are closed on Monday's. The Local was recommended by the staff at The Oakhurst Inn. It was a great recommendation and end to a perfect weekend spent in Charlottesville. The Low Down: Call ahead early for a reservation. The tables on the front right side are going to be close to the host or hostess. Try to sit closer towards the back or over to the left to avoid hearing their conversations with guests during your dinner. The food: it's made with locally grown produce and is very fresh. The roast local squash was stuffed with cheese and oozing with flavor. This dish was devoured. The gnocchi bolognese had a creamier sauce- it worked really well with the cheese and hand made pasta. The dinner was memorable and a great way to celebrate on a Monday evening.

Food was delicious. Drinks were well made and not too $$. This is a cool little spot in downtown C'ville that supports local farms, brewers, and vintners. I highly recommend it!

Do yourself a favor - go to The Local for dinner asap. Our meals (short ribs, pork chop and shrimp appetizer) were cooked beautifully and served promptly. We made some special requests that were graciously accommodated. Our food was full of flavor and served piping hot. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our server Justin. He was charming, informative and attentive without hovering. He asked right away if either of us were avoiding any ingredients. We explained that my husband is allergic to shellfish. It was so nice having a server ask that question up front. His recommendations were spot-on. The next time we visit Charlottesville, we'll definitely return to The Local.

Dined here twice with a large group while in town for a long trip and am very pleased with The Local. Service was really great - we had both Prince and Michael, and they were personable and hospitable. Prince was wonderful at getting to know us and make recommendations from the menu. The food was also really good - we had the cheese plate and Brussels/cauliflower to start which were big sizes to share. For meals we all had a variety of things, but I had the short ribs the first night and the salmon the second night - each tasty, and a nice portion size. For dessert I had a peach cobbler which was okay, but the chocolate cake was fantastic! This really is a great spot for a good meal, with great service, and cozy atmosphere.

So the food is good. But highly recommend you go in with a small group. Going in alone is a weird damned experience (at the bar). Bar staff does not want to small talk in down times. So, good food, not bad drinks, odd odd service. With a group I bet you wouldn't notice. I did once before, and that's the trick.

Super cool smaller place in the getting-trendier Belmont section of town. The cocktails are inventive, filled with herbal touches, light compared to a big city pour. I had the Caesar salad and the fried trout. For me, just much food! My friends shared a salad and still couldn't finish their dinner. The trout dish offered two large fillets, surrounded by crispy crawfish over top of greens...collards I believe. The latter, ample in portion, would have filled my green desire, but the preparation was quite vinegary, typical in southern cooking, but an odd taste for me. A touch crispy on the fried bits. The Caesar was lovely, a light dressing. Very friendly waitstaff. And reservations were handled smoothly. While my experience didn't top out, my friends assured me it wasn't their best meal there but it's definitely worth revisiting.

Waited too long at reception desk. Cauliflower and brussel sprout starter was delicious.

The food was well below the quality as previous dinners we have had there, although we have experienced inconsistency. The fish was greasy, flavorless, and overdone. The NY strip was mostly gristle therefore inedible. Our server was also covering the bar solo including our table next to the bar therefore we chose not to complain. He was a super nice and did a great job considering his work load seemed unreasonable. It was extra disappointing as we were taking our daughter out for her birthday. Probably will not return at this point.

If you are looking for a place to cater a group of 50-60 people, I'd definitely recommend. They served enough food and it was decent! The side dishes (Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad dishes, rice pilaf were excellent) the bread was bad/hard as a rock. The main dish (chicken or short ribs) did the job. The proteins both were a tad dry but overall, solid/good taste, like I said for the price and the service, not too shabby! Would recommend visiting with this type of party size as the outside venue was nicely decorated, neat and had extra details (flowers, glasses, silverware), which added an extra touch of charm and bliss to our dining experience.

We came here on Halloween day. All the restaurant staffs were wearing a Halloween costume. We sat at the table on the second floor. The waiter suggested a simple pasta for our kids even it is not on a menu. The restaurant is very friendly and accommodating. We had a crab soup. It was nicely creamy and seasoned properly. It had a lot of crab. I had tenderloin steak. It was nicely cooked. However the sauce was kinda bland. The green beans were overcooked. So it was my best dish. The blueberry cobbler was sooooo good. It was not too sweet and the combination of ice cream and blueberry was perfect. This is a great place to have a dinner with your friends.

There aren't many vegie selections. The pasta dish wasn't great. Not a good choice for a vegan or vegetarian.

I'd heard about this place many times since coming to C'ville, and finally decided to check it out recently. The restaurant itself is beautiful, styled with local art available for purchase. The standout here to me was actually the service! The host and server were incredibly friendly and helpful, answering questions and accommodating special requests -- we ordered the cheese plate with breads separate for a gluten allergy and they made sure to do that and warn us about any contact allergens for other menu items. I really felt welcomed by them. The cocktails were also quite excellent. We ordered a few to try, but the Death in the Afternoon was a must-order (for lovers of Absinthe). The .38 Special was excellent as well. For appetizers we sampled a few, the fried brussels sprouts had to be the best. If you come here, make sure you order that. The cheese plate was really great as well, with a good selection of local cheeses. We ordered a variety of entrees as well, everything from the seafood pasta to the burger to the steak. Everything was tasty, the steak and salmon being especially well received. We ended the meal with a peanut butter brownie, which was rich and enough to share with all five of us after all the other ordering we did! The one drawback with this restaurant is that it is pricey. It was a really fun place to go splurge for a special occasion -- birthday dinner for us -- but maybe not the spot for a general meal. Overall though, I had a great time here and it's on the list for my next special occasion!

Great experience! The food was delicious. They gave us the wrong dish but let us keep it and quickly gave us the correct one. The drinks were delicious. The service was great. The man working the bar was so friendly, really liked him. The flavor of the seafood pasta was so interesting and unique from anything i've ever had before. There's only street parking and neighborhood parking. It's located in an interesting location where there's a small handful of other restaurants within this residential area.

Just. Wow. No, seriously. Just. Wow. Drink here. Eat here. Chill here. And when you leave here, you will surely want to return here. The drinks The food The vibe I cannot wait to go back and I will most certainly be having the Local "River Oak Farms" Chicken entree again!

We had dinner there last night. We split the short ribs. It was memorable. We will be back!

Came here with a friend for dinner. The food was great, and I loved my experience. The restaurant consists of two floors and has nice outdoor seating on both. The inside of the restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with warm lighting and exposed brick. I also love how the interior supports local artist's paintings and stain glass works. We ordered Crispy Shrimp Appetizer, Sauvignon Blanc, Meatloaf, Gnocchi Bolognese, and House Made Blackberry Cobbler. The Crispy Shrimp was lightly fried, cooked well, and tasted great in the sauces. The seaweed salad that came with it also complimented the dish nicely. The Gnocchi was perfectly cooked and had a nice bite to it. The sauce was hearty, and the overall dish was delicious. The Meatloaf was awesome. The bacon was a nice touch, and it was one of the best meatloafs I've ever had. The mashed potatoes and green beans were also cooked well. It's a great meat and potatoes dish. The entrees we ordered were 17 dollars each and I thought the portions and quality were great for the price. For dessert, we tried the House Made Blackberry Cobbler. It was probably the most underwhelming order of the night; however, it wasn't bad. I would have liked a nicer crust on the top and bottom because I couldn't really find any crust. I also would have liked the blackberry filling to be thicker because the consistency was more on the liquid side with solid pieces of blackberry sitting inside. However, I thought the vanilla ice cream was good and it was freshly made which I liked. Overall, I enjoyed my food and dining experience here. I love how The Local embodies their namesake as a locally owned business that sources ingredients from locally owned and operated farms, and even showcases local artists in their restaurant design. The dishes were great for the portions and price. The restaurant is a new favorite for me in the area and I can't wait to come back.

We went to The Local on the recommendation of the proprietor of the B&B we were staying at. It's located at corner where there are three other interesting looking eateries. The Local is small and has a cozy feel to it. We had reservations and were seated right away. We had a big lunch and were looking for something on the lighter/small side. The menu gave us plenty of options. We started with the Local Cheese Board. It has Parmesan, Bleu, Brie, Swiss and Goat cheeses with apples and grapes. Perfect with our wine. With both did salads as entrees and I added the crab cake appetizer. My wife wasn't crazy about here salad as the dressing had molasses in it. I tried it and liked. I enjoyed my house salad, they include pickled onions and cucumbers in it. The crab cake was perfect. I can't comment about their entrees, but the food we ate was very good. On the downside, the service started off good, but got a little slower. The place was busy but not packed. Also, the chairs are very uncomfortable. I would go back because the food was good as was the atmosphere.

AMAZING ambiance, just ok food. The service was also amazing! Very loud, fun place to just people watch.

My new favorite spot in Charlottesville. First impression is the location of the restaurant itself--it resembles a super small town and it certainly feels like you're visiting somewhere with tons of history. The Food: *.38 Cocktail - I love whiskey and old fashioned's and this one certainly impressed. I'm not a fan of ginger (one of the ingredients), but whatever they did with this drink it certainly worked. Highly recommended. *crispy shrimp - great and tasty appetizer. If you love Asian food and flavors, then you'll likely love this one. The seaweed salad was unexpectedly very tasty. *pork belly - This was good and had plenty of flavor but I'd warn anyone who isn't a fan of meat with a fatty cut. There was a bit too much for my wife's liking but we still enjoyed it. *Buffalo Creek Beef short ribs - Loved it and it's as good as everyone says it is. Tender, flavorful, and filling! If you are considering it, go ahead and order it. *Tenderloin - This was an item on the special menu that night and my wife enjoyed every bite. The portion size was also impressive and she was defeated by it. Summary: great location, great service, great food! I believe all of these other positive reviews about how delicious the other entrees are. Will certainly be back the next time we are in town.

I absolutely loved this place. The space upstairs was beautiful open porch with giant windows, plants hanging overhead and it was perfect for a summer night. Our waitress Stella took good care of us. We started immediately with fried cauliflower and Brussel sprouts. Yum! Our drinks were amazing -- Granada and mojito. The mojito was in a mason jar and mine in a fun glass too. Our the main dishes, the meatloaf was delicious. My friend had the trout. It was lightly fried so it was crispy, but not heavily battered. The presentation of both were great too. The gluten free chocolate dessert has candies oranges and raspberry sauce and it was so tasty. I asked for ice cream in addition to the whipped cream that it came with and Stella said it would be an up charge -- I just didn't think it would $4! Oops. Oh well, it's vacation!

Went here on our first night in town. We wanted to find a place casual but yet cute and with a decent menu. Recommend a reservation because it is a very small place. Got seated instantly outside on their covered patio. Super cute and cosy. Got a couple of drinks with friends, shared appetizers, and enjoyed some delicious entrees. Overall the food was standard, maybe a little upscale and pricey but I had a great time. Servers were very polite and attentive. Brussels/Cauliflower- oven roasted with a nice pepper aioli Fried Chicken- came with pimento cheese mac n cheese and I subbed the greens for green beans. The mac n cheese actually tasted like pimento. Very tasty. The chicken had a nice juicy inside with a good crunch outside. The Local Burger- huge burger however slightly dry. It needed a sauce or to be cooked less.

The Local is a gem, not far from the downtown mall, but just far enough away that it gets soared a lot of the crowds. Reservations are always easy to get and this has quickly become a favorite to take guests to. Their focus on locally sourced ingredients really pays off. There are many options without the menu being overwhelming. The fried chicken and the mushroom pasta are my favorite and I am obsessed with the Lady Mondegreen cocktail. Service has always been swift and servers have always been kind and helpful. We have been seated upstairs, downstairs, and outside and have enjoyed each ambiance.

Came here for dinner during the week and didn't leave disappointed. We had the crab soup, crispy shrimp, the mushroom ragú, and the tenderloin special. The steak and ragú were really good, cooked perfectly. Also, the customer service was very good! We only knocked a star off because we felt the menu was a little shallow and could have shown a bit more variety. Probably won't be back, just because it blends into "just another restaurant", but it was a good experience overall.

I dont have any complaints about the service or the ambiance, both of those were top notch. I got the burger and my fiancé got the gnocchi. I asked for the burger medium and it was very well done and dry, there was nothing special about it and honestly it was disappointed, for $16 I expected better. My fiancé got the gnocchi and she enjoyed it but the first comment she made after taking a bite was "it tastes like hamburger helper", which again you shouldn't say for an $18 plate. So overall the vibe and service was nice but we were unfortunately disappointed with our meals.

I came here May 2023 for graduation weekend for my friend at UVA. I was disappointed that the other restaurants we went to when I was in town that were cheaper were much better than what we had here. There was a pre fixe menu for graduation weekend, I chose the goat cheese salad, beef tenderloin, and cheesecake. The portions were incredibly small for the set price that doesn't even include drinks. The steak was extremely well done and unseasoned despite the sauce on top that was bitter. I prefer a medium rare but we were not asked how we wanted our steaks prepared. It was tough and difficult to chew. The mashed potatoes and string beans were sparse and unseasoned. The cheesecake on the outside looked sort of like plastic- indicating it had been sitting out for a while before being served. I left hungry and unsatisfied unfortunately. TLDR; I wanted to like this place since my friend had such high opinions about it but I was not pleased. Another friend at the table was not pleased with his food either and he received the same choices, it was not just my plates.

I've never had a dish here I didn't like. Honestly have had a number of their dishes including the meatloaf, their steak frites, salmon, fried cauliflower and brusselsprouts, cheese board, and more. I love everything. On this trip I had the short rib and it was great. The drinks are okay, I feel like they can improve a little on the drink flavors for their cocktails. The ambiance is great for a date or a group outing.

We had a very enjoyable experience eating at the Local. The restaurant is easy to find but parking is mainly on residential streets. My outstanding good fortune, using extensive karma, landed me a spot in the next block. I like the ambiance a lot with exposed brick, low lights and cozy bar. Lots of unique and local craft beers on tap. I could see sharing an evening there with a special date, holding hands, and, you know. My preference would be to sit upstairs, which seemed less crowded, but still had exposed brick and wood. Let's get to the food: ample portions, deliciously prepared. Enough of a selection to please everyone. Seafood, salads, chicken and beef. Our steaks were just perfect and the garlic mash potatoes a perfect side. The desert could have been larger but we certainly didn't need more food. Definitely make reservations.

Came here for dinner. Had scallops appetizer and cauliflower Brussels sprout appetizer. Main meals were meatloaf, angus burger, short rib and pork chop and everything was outstandingly delicious. Dessert was chocolate cake mixed berry cobbler and this place was beyond excellent. Highly recommend!

Located in Belmont downtown, this was the only place that had tables available on a Sat evening. They have a large space upstairs where we got seated. Have their fried shrimps for appetizers and the flour less chocolate cake for dessert. They are the best. The fried trout could've been moist.

Excellent service and excellent food. Beef tenderloin was very tender. Crispy Rockfish very crispy and accompanied by an excellent teriyaki sauce.

The Local was heavily recommended to us during our one day stop in Charlottesville so we had to go check it out! Like everything in C-Ville, The Local focuses on regional ingredients. We ordered the local cheese board, the crab soup, the steak frites, and their famous meatloaf. We loved everything we got, especially the entrees. The meatloaf had a deliciously spicy and complex glaze, and the artichoke bechamel sauce served with the steak was rich and buttery. Also, the portions were very generous. In just one day we really fell in love with the atmosphere and charm of Charlottesville. It's worth a trip if you're in the DMV, we will definitely be back soon!

The service was certainly 4.5+ but I thought the food, for the price, was a little underwhelming. We came here before the evening rush and ordered the Bison Hanger Steak (special) and Wasabi Pea-Nori Crusted Salmon. Both meals came out exceptionally quick (which was a plus) and were good -- I especially liked the steak -- but for the price I would have liked a bit more steak (I would guess in total the steak was around 10 ounces). We finished the night off with the flourless chocolate cake which was good but I think we should have ordered something else (that's on us). Our server - Sydney - was lovely, very helpful and courteous, and very attentive. It was a good experience overall and maybe we had higher expectations than we should (The Local came recommended from multiple friends who spend a lot of time in Charlottesville).