I came here to LOCAL at happy hour, ordered poutine. Never had it before, so I don't know how it compares, but I don't think it was bad. The kitchen is on full display, so they must keep it clean. Bartender is friendly, TV's everywhere. Sports on each one. Cool look, good vibe. read more

Woo, gotta love Stampede. Drove into Calgary and met up with my sister who was hanging out at Local for some after work eats. Place was packed - seems like a pretty chill place to hangout if you work downtown. They have a shuffle board (it's the new thing, get with the times yo). Anyways, for food, I was able to get a couple bites/tastes of: - #1 Sushi grade ahi salad ($15) - seared tuna with tomatoes, olives, goat cheese and pine nuts. Pretty darn good idea to have ahi tuna in salad! - Tijuana chicken caesar salad ($12) - typical Caesar salad with spiced croutons and parmesan. - Fully loaded nachos ($18) - pulled chicken with sour cream, avocado, jack cheese and some other things. Better than your typical bar nachos. Then for myself, I was still hungry so I ordered: - Tuna club sandwich ($16) + yam fries ($1 extra) - ahi tuna with smoked bacon, avocado and melted cheddar. GENIUS. Ahi tuna club sandwich? Genius bar food. Oh wait, I said that already. Anyways, it was really good and pretty big portion. The sauce for the yam fries was bomb - truffle oil and like mayo aioli type dip. YUM. Pretty darn good bar food with a cool, packed atmosphere and a shuffled board for all you people that need some entertainment while you eat/drink. read more

Me likey!!! I had lunch with my girls Jenn N. and Raissa R. here during the first week of Stampede. The place was bumpin', but we managed to score a table in the back right near the kitchen. I was surprised to learn that this was a part of the JOEY chain, I enjoyed the atmosphere and couldn't help but notice the amount of cooks in the kitchen and servers running around. Being that it was Stampede, that's expected, but it was nice to see everyone working hard to get things running smoothly. We ordered a couple of cocktails - Caesars - which were served in adorable boot mugs. They were garnished with a green bean, olives, and a pepperoni stick and were DELISH! I also tried one of the lemonade cocktails and enjoyed it as well. Our meals were burgers with fries, as well as a Chicken Sandwich. Food came out quickly, which was appreciated during a busy lunch hour! The consensus was that everyone loved their food. The burger was HUGE, messy, and delicious! I actually saved half for my boyfriend as I was too full to finish, and he raved about how great it was eating it over an hour later! The bacon was so thick and crispy, I actually contemplated coming back and only ordering a plate of bacon. I loved the shoestring style fries, which came in a bucket - cute! On top of everything, our server was super sweet and our bill was extremely reasonable. I'm loving LOCAL so far and will make it my go-to lunch spot while working DT. it would also make a great spot to meet friends after work for drinks. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Awesome Caesars! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

The experts were right. You shouldn't grocery shop hungry or go to a restaurant hungry; cuz then you buy a lot more than you need. That happened to me! I was so hungry I ordered a Caesars salad, 2 fish tacos and churros for lunch. It was A LOT of food but I didn't let a minor detail like that stop me from eating it all. It was my first time eating fish tacos but it won't be the last. The food was delish and the taco veggies tasted fresh. The churros were the only thing on the dessert menu and they were served with a thick cocoa dip that had roasted marshmallows floating on top. Le sigh du bliss!! In terms of ambience, the inside was a little dark but I opted to sit on the community table in the patio. It's a good spot to people watch as long as you have the self restraint not to butt in on the conversations of the strangers sharing your table. I went towards the end of lunch hour and service was quick. No complaints on the chirpy server. Just wished that if she cared enough to ask me a question, she'd stay long enough to get an answer. My lunch came out to just over $20 which is a pretty decent deal for a good restaurant lunch in Calgary downtown. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Churros with marshmallow-cocoa dip - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I was in Calgary on business for a few days. I stopped here a few times for lunch and drinks. I had some very nice food and appies with my beers and cocktails. They have a hard working team, extra kudos to Leanne and Brynn who went above and beyond. read more

This Local is particularly exceptional! I came with a group of 13 or so right at lunch time and as far as I know everyone loved their food. The servers were fantastic and the food came out so fast. I had the quesadilla and guac & chips. Man, that was the best quesadilla I've had. And I love that they have small dishes so you can get 2 different things if you want. Other dishes that looked amazing were the salad with ahi tuna, local burger, and of course the fish tacos. The yam fries were pretty damn amazing too. For a chain restaurant, this place is a cut above the rest. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Quesadilla - seriously delicious! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

The food was ok, nothing great. The service wasn't the best. I've been here a few times now and sat at the bar mostly. Regardless of where you sit - bar or lounge area - the service is always slow. Even when it's not busy. I'll just take my business elsewhere. Also, the staff needs to be better trained and cut off drunk patrons. They kept on serving a drunk guy who became a nuisance for everyone around because he seemed to be a regular read more

Based on all the reviews, I thought I would like this place more than I did. The crowd that night I went was in the 18-25 years range. On a Saturday night, the place was completely packed. Service was fine. Beer was cheap at $5.50 for a 14 oz glass. The fish tacos were tasty. I enjoyed the fresh crunchy cabbage and creamy sauce inside, but the red hot sauce served on the side was way too salty. The calamari was underwhelming and I would skip this dish. The portion was tiny and it lacked any flavour. The sauce was awful. Hot sauce mixed with something heavy and creamy. I don't like hot sauce in my calamari and the way it was mixed in, there was no option. read more

Stopped here during a layover stop from the mountains. Service was quick and attentive and the brunch was amazing! Brunch meals come with a shot of fruit smoothie which was a fun surprise. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

After a long flight from LA, LOCAL was exactly what I was looking for: good food, friendly staff, great service, free wifi and some seriously dope fish tacos. Really, they were excellent. Also of note, their poutine and their Pimm's Cup. Definitely worth your while if you find yourself in downtown Calgary. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Some motherfuckin' poutine. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Amazing food!! So fresh and delicious! I love the versatility of the food menu and the beer is A++! If you're in town- worth stopping in here!! You won't regret it! read more

Wouldn't go again. Waitresses ignore you, they're snobbish, and service is poor. Got attitude for settling my bill with a different waitress than the one who served us most. It's not my job securing your tip when you don't check on us for an hour. read more

This is a Local at Stephen Ave. I hang out here for burger, tacos, beer and playing pool. This is a walking distance from my place and usually packed during mid-week, weekends and during play. read more

I frequented local last week. I had Connie as a server, and she had great charisma considering these tough times. She was very attentive, and on point with her service. Definitely asking for Connie in the future! read more

Came for the Canadian junior game. Sadly disappointed in the game result but the venue was great. Only had drinks but would certainly recommend to anyone that wanted casual dining and good sports options. I think it's owned by earls and is their version of a beer hall sports pub. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Came based on a recommendation for a friend, and we're seated promptly at 8:48pm. Atmosphere was fine, wasn't crowded, and the front hostess was kind. However, we ended up leaving at 9:10 since no one ever came to our table. No drinks, no food, no service was offered or given after waiting for 22 minutes. We didn't mind waiting but after watching all the tables get served around us we felt pretty neglected. Sadly probably won't be coming back again :/ read more

Traveling for work is never fun. Especially when you're traveling on a Sunday. But I decided to go for a stroll in my hotel's neighborhood, and yelped everything as I walked...LOCAL seemed like a great choice - and when I saw they were showing the Bills vs the Jets, this native Rochesterian knew she was in the right spot. Atmosphere is great - super comfy and cool at the same time - great place to meet friends or go for a date. I sat at the bar and ordered the rose on the menu (French - PERFECT - I'm not ready to let go of summer yet) - and the veggie burger with yam fries. Oh. My. God. Everything was amazing. I would have taken pictures of my food but I was too busy devouring it. read more

Fancied a quick bite with a good beer and Local did the trick. Great beer (last first) and the chicken sandwich with yam fries were delicious... Ask for extra napkins. Service was good (Christina) and the place has atmosphere. read more

LOCAL Public Eatery 8th Avenue - Tuesday night's busy here! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Local was great. Food was tasty and drink menus were broad. Our server Madi & our food runner Diego we're always making sure we received top service. Will be returning frequently! Ps: atmosphere is amazing read more

This restaurant is spectacular, it has all the right ingredients- amazing attentive but not TOOOOO attentive bar and waitress staff, just the perfect comfortable professional but also the perfectly friendly amount. That is a very fine line to walk, and they always walk the line exactly. Great for people watching out the windows. Amazing food. Welcoming fellow customers. Not pretentious. High ceilings so I dont feel claustrophobic on a rainy ugly dark dreary day- its the perfect place to hang out whether rain or shine. Probably one of my fav places in the city already, Ive tried all locations and looking forward to trying them again all summer. Highly recommended! read more

Good food, good drink, good service. What more can you ask for in a proper pub? Will definitely be back. Edit: If I could 4.5 stars, I would, and the only reason I don't give 5 is because we can always be better. My mind has to be blown to give a place 5 stars. I tell you though, I'm still wanting another tuna club sandwich and the bartender had an excellent beer knowledge. The IPA he poured me was just what I was looking for. read more

Went here with a few coworkers while on a work trip to Calgary. Decent bar food with a nice, relaxed vibe and a good selection of local beers. The bartender was very friendly and spoke with us about our travels, what we could do in the city, etc. Overall, I would definitely come back if I am in Calgary again, especially if they have rotating, local taps! read more

Best quarantacos. Washin' them down with a bottle of 50% off bottle of wine... because why the hell not. What a time to be alive. read more

I never thought I'd enjoy a Joey's chain this much. But LOCAL (not to be confused with Local 510, 002 or 522 which are part of the Concorde Group... also using the star in their logo... not to be confused with the star used on either NATIONAL. When did the branding on bars get so confusing?) is following a good model and I like the vibe they're bringing to Stephen Ave. Low key, gastropub-style, big venue, lots of tables, plenty of drinks on tap and servers that can still stay on top of friendly conversation on a busy night. Menu items range from nachos, gyoza, yam fries and the likes to burgers, sandwiches, salads, tacos and a small weekend brunch menu. If you're in from out of town, take the menu with you... it's a map of downtown! On the drinks side, might I suggest a drink in a boot? Wonder how many of those were consumed last week during Stampede... the Baja Margarita does the trick for me. Not up for a boot? It's all good, the next drink category is called... wait for it... "... Not In A Boot." You can also order yourself a round of Bombers (tasty shots), cask shots, or your regular wine and beer. I have a hard time plugging the "purveyors of fine beer and tap wine" tagline with so many money beers like bud and coors light, but there are some local beers on there (like Village and Alley Kat). As far as your regular beer drinker goes, you'll likely enjoy the selection. Tip: The nachos come with lots of toppings... but could use a few more nachos to eat the rest of the toppings with! read more

I don't have a problem with the food drink or drink at local but this pissed me off. I was there on a business meeting which is pretty common and left my sunglasses there. After numerous attempts to call and messages left, I couldn't get a hold of anyone so I went in in person to ask if they had them. I was greeted at the front desk and told "last week? you are S.O.L buddy" She said they get rid of that stuff after a week. Where does it go? I asked, oh the mustard seed or something. Yeah restaurants throw out 1000's of dollars worth of food a day, I'm sure you gave my Oakley's to the mustard seed or 'something'. It's my fault I forgot them but the complete lack of give a shit or organization surprised me. I guess if you leave something at Local the wait staff is entitled to it. I was made to feel dumb for even coming to check. Not cool. read more

LOCAL on 8th is well... on 8th avenue SW, along Stephen ave. It's like the prime neighbor meeting spot. Upon entrance, you could be greeted but it's more of a make yourself at home kind of place. I'd say Local is a casual but classy pub. A big bar in the center, some booths and high top tables scattered and closer to the back there are some normal seats, half booth half chairs. The menus are already on the table but I'd say don't even look at the menu and trust me on this. FISH TACOS, yes... FISH TACOS - get them, probably order about 2-3 to start, maybe a side of yam fries but you must order the fish tacos. They're SO bomb, actually the best in the city - BEER (need I say more?) battered Baja, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, some of their special sauce and lemon. If you're feelin hot, squeeze some hot sauce on them, you really can't go wrong. Super soft tortilla, crispy but juicy baja fish, unreal sauce, light crunch on the shredded cabbage and pico de gallo, the combination is heavenly like the close your eyes and remember this moment heavenly. I can be pretty over the top sometimes but this is for real, my friends and I crave these tacos all the time and even for my past birthday, I requested that we go to Local in order to have the perfect birthday celebrations! Okay okay, enough raving about the fish tacos (for now), I've had other food and the fries, burgers, sandwiches and salads are all wonderful, kind of typical pub food but with their own twist. They even offer brunch on the weekends from 10AM to 3PM which I highly recommend. It's like people don't know about the brunch menu or something. The eggs benedict is great and the banana pancakes are yum! They actually taste like crispy banana pancakes, fluffy banana goodness and the brunch prices are all under $20! Now to the staff, they're amazing. Every time I visit, they're always top notch - very attentive, always making some small talk, fun and super friendly. I've never had a moment where I felt rushed even after I finish eating, I'm a chatterbox so friends and I stay for a little to chat and never once you get that feeling they want you out. They say on their website "who are we - ...kind of like your living room, just with better food and people to serve you beer" it's true. The vibe is great, as if you are among friends. I highly HIGHLY recommend visiting Local, not just for their absolutely delicious, amazingly crisp, heavenly and tasty baja fish tacos but for the environment, vibe and good times. Go visit, you wont regret it. read more

This has become one of my favorite places in Stephen Ave because the food is decent and they are great drink specials. I struggled between giving them three out four stars because the food can be a bit inconsistent. However, if you are going for bar snacks and a drink, it's at least a four star place in my book. That being said, I do think this place is great for long lunches or after work drinks. I don't think is necessarily a dinner spot, because as I mentioned there is some inconsistency in the food. For instance, there seemed to be a period of time where the afternoon shift was over salting everything, especially the tacos, so I just stopped ordering those. I do really enjoy the burgers and the salads so I am fine with choosing that. Even with the oversalting I still kept going because I enjoy the rest of the menu, the service, and the drink specials. The thing I like those most is the daily wine special. They have $4 mystery wine everyday (red and white) which is the cheapest I have seen wine on Stephen, if it's not Wednesday. Plus that special goes on all day, not just happy hour, which I appreciate. They also have daily beer specials but I am always so jazzed about the wine I forget what they are. This place does get packed during lunch so go before 11:30 to ensure you will get a table. You might have to wait after that. However service is super quick so if you don't want to spend more than an hour at lunch then you definitely won't. I really do think you should try this place - I think the food is good and so reasonably priced that this is a step above many other places around. read more

An early lunch during Stampede week led my gfs and me here, and even though it was pretty busy but the service and food were not lacking at all! One gf started with the tortilla soup and I got to take a few bites - super tasty! The spices weren't too overwhelming and complemented each other really well. I decided on the crispy chicken sandwich with fries for my main. Granted the coleslaw and the BBQ mustard sauce made my sandwich pretty messy, it was so good! The chicken was crunchy and juicy, and the shoestring fries reminded me of the old Joey Tomatoes ones (which we later learned that LOCAL is actually part of the Joey Restaurant group!) Considering this place is literally across the street from my office, I will definitely suggest this place for future after work events or even lunch! read more

Are you at Local? Are there seats available? Hurry! Grab them! Local is one of the busiest places on all of Stephen Ave with their modern pub approach attracting all of the foot traffic walking by. If you try to go at noon or after work, you usually will not be able to find anywhere to sit. The food is worth heading over early though. Their modern approach to classic pub fare is a refreshing change and break from the usual. Although I have not tried everything on the menu, I doubt you could go wrong selecting any of the items on the menu. I'm a big advocate of the fish tacos (get 3 or 4 if you're hungry) if you enjoy deep fried fish in taco form. My friends ordered the sushi grade ahi salad which looked delicious and all of them enjoyed. Whether you are looking for drinks, snacks, or a whole meal, you'll enjoy your Local experience. read more

You won't be disappointed! Everything you want from a Pub. Happening, alive, entertaining. With really good service, decent *pub* food, a great variety of alcoholic beverages, good looking servers, loud music (but not too loud), etc etc. On the weekends, during lunch hour,or right after work, if you can get a seat, go for it ! read more

I ate at the new one in eu Claire. It was awesome. Great renovation and fantastic staff.

My husband and I stopped in to Local for brunch a couple of Saturdays ago, after a lot of walking and escalating hunger. The place was clean and spacious. We've stopped in here on another occasion last year for a glass of wine and beer and liked it then too. It was fairly busy when we arrived and our server was constantly on the move (though not necessarily the most efficient). It took about 15 minutes for our order to be taken and another 15-20 before our food arrived. We appreciate that they bring you a larger bottle of water for the table since we go through it fast. When our food arrived, mine had sour cream drizzled - though I requested that it not. There seem to be quite a few things they add to the dishes that are not listed in the food description, so make sure to ask if you have anything you can't/won't eat. The girl helping our server was very apologetic and rushed back to the kitchen to correct the order. Our server also came by to apologize. In the mean time, I helped myself to the roasted potatoes on my husband's plate and they were hands down the best we've had in a long time. When my Huevos Rancheros returned with extra Valentina sauce, it was perfect! It also came with a few nacho chips since the dish is smothered in salsa. I was stuffed but wanted to keep eating. All in all, we both agreed that the food was great and a good value. We will likely go back again and would recommend to others as well. read more

Wow great food. We had the fish tacos and Asian noodle salad. Loved them both. Great friendly service. Drinks were ok, but the food will bring us back here again. read more

Such a fun place to come! I love the atmosphere, great menu and service. Until reading reviews on Yelp (after eating at Local), I had no idea it was a chain or a part of Joey's. I thought it was a part of the Local 510, etc. group! Either way, chain or not - this is a great pub to come for lunch or after work drinks. It lacks the frou-frou attitude of some of its neighbours along Stephen Ave (ie. Earls, V, the Met). Very casual and laidback, alternative music playing in the background. They've really turned this place around from its predecessor, Dakota Lounge. My friend and I both had the veggie burger - this was not your typical veggie burger either! Our server let us know that it is made fresh in-house with mushrooms, rice, beans, arugula - it was hard to tell that it wasn't meat! My only comment would be that I wish they had more gluten-free options, such as gluten-free buns, as there were not a ton of gluten-free options besides salad. read more

For lunch my wife ordered the clam chowder and I sampled Mom's chicken pot pie. We found both the be very good and priced fairly for a restaurant located in the heart of Calgary. We didn't sample any of the beers, however the selection appeared to be a wide variety that should satisfy the tastes of most. read more

One of my favorite places in Calgary. I'm addicted to the fish tacos. I have tried almost everything on the menu and I haven't been disappointed. The prices are great for the quality. Excellent beer selection and an awesome staff. HIGHLY recommend LOCAL on 8th!! read more

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Yum! These burgers are THE BEST. And the nachos delicious too (maybe even THE BEST as well)..... Really, everything tastes so fresh and full of flavor!!! Great location, right on Stephen Ave. Lots to do and see. If it's nice out you should hit up the patio (space permitted). Love the music here. And the pool tables. Also offers intimate booth seating and group accommodations. I keep coming back. I think you will too (check-it-out). read more

Ayeeeee us AmeriCANS are visiting from the forever lovely country of AMERICA. We were looking for a casual place to stop and get a drink when LOCAL on 8th Ave caught our eye. "HAPPY HOUR" and we were in. Got inside, sat down, super chill, good tunes, and overall great atmosphere. Here we is.... The cocktails are FANfuckingTASTIC- expensive, but worth it. The food? The food is pure DANK. Service? What service? Anyways if you can compromise your service for some dank drinks and food, well worth it! read more

One of my Fav Stephen ave eats n drinks Great Staff - Great food - almost everything they serve is awesome - But I have to complain who the heck takes a picture of a giant Jug of sangria and not mention it. That should be a crime because 1. now i want to go get a giant jug of sangria with not knowing if its any good 2. that's just a jerk move YUP this place rocks! read more

I don't typically leave, or feel the need to leave reviews when I head out for drinks with some friends, but felt compelled to after my experience last night. A group of friends and I stopped in to Local after leaving a concert, and apparently everyone else had the same idea as us. The room was packed on a saturday! Not seeing an open table in sight, we ventured to the bar, which was completely surrounded. We started to chat about heading elsewhere, since the team behind the bar were moving fast, but had many other customers to get to. A bartender with LOCAL written on his shirt noticed us, while making what looked like 20 different cocktails going out to tables, waved us over, and took our groups order while continuing to make other drinks. While making our drinks, another bartender promptly brought over our bill, just in time for all of our drinks to be ready to go. I usually don't get service that fast at any bar, let alone one that is packed shoulder to shoulder. To sum it up, polite and friendly staff, great atmosphere, clean (for a pub), and one of the better margarita's I've had in a long time. Thanks LOCAL, will be back.! read more