After a day traveling to Monticello and a tasting at the Jefferson Vineyards we were referred to Charlottesville to The Local. The restaurant was in a quaint part of town. Walking in to the restaurant you will notice local artwork and on the tables were these elegant glass candles. Almost looked as though they were handmade. We enjoyed the crab soup. It was a tomato based soup filled with plenty of crab. The Brussels and Cauliflower lightly seasoned and crispy, laid over a sirachi mayo sauce. Highly recommend them as an appetizer! My crab cakes and asparagus were a great choice. Highly recommended and would order again. I could do without the coleslaw! I am planning on returning to enjoy another delightful item on the menu! read more

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Was finally able to enjoy an in-person dining meal at The Local and ended up even more impressed! Their food is very reasonably priced. I ordered the steak frites, and my NY strip was a perfect medium rare and the fries were just the right amount of crisp. My husband had the fried chicken which came with collard greens and the pimento mac and cheese, and it was a wonderfully well-rounded meal. Service was excellent and they are very cautious of covid restrictions. read more

The Local - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Staff was friendly, ambiance fantastic! Brussels and cauliflower were great. Unfortunately, the roasted squash came out lukewarm, with burnt goat cheese bits and a random mountain of unmelted shredded cheese on top. Doesn't seem like they know how to do vegan/vegetarian options very well... read more

We came in for a drink while we waited for a table at another place close-by and sat at the bar. Had already checked their food menu before and decided to stay for dinner and holy moly, SO glad we did! Got the Salty Dog and an OF to drink (both spot on!), the short ribs and a special for the day (grilled ribeye) and we were 100% full and satisfied! The short ribs were incredibly tender, juicy and delicious, which is awesome as a regular menu item! The bartenders were also amazing and attentive and worked so smoothly behind the bar. Will definitely return on our next trip back to C'Ville! (sorry no pics) read more

The price for the quality of food at this restaurant is amazing! My go to picks are the roasted cauliflower & Brussel sprouts, gnocchi Bolognese, and salmon. The pastas are very affordable and they come in big portions! I also love the ambiance of this restaurant- cozy vibes and multiple separate rooms. Always leaving this place with a smile:) read more

The Local - Gnocchi Bolognese - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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As we travelled through VA coming from Monticello my friend and I stopped by this hidden gem. Absolutely the best meal I've had all week long. Sooo tasty, great quality, speedy service, hearty portions impeccable service. I ordered the crispy shrimp, freshly made gnocchi bolognese, blackberry cobbler, house made lemonade and the Songbird cocktail. My friend ordered the caprese, meatloaf, strawberry cheesecake and a Belmont Lemonade cocktail. The food order came out very shortly after placing the orders. And the drinks were not only tasty but very pretty in presentation. Great Bartender!!!!! We definitely will be returning. read more

I've had the opportunity to come to The Local both for work events and with friends and the food is always great every time I come by! It is definitely consistently high quality food that always leaves me feeling full and happy. I've had everything from the trout and burgers to steak and short ribs and food is always hot, fresh, and very well seasoned and flavored. One of the best things about this place is that there is so much ample space! It's absolutely great for large, large parties and there a ton of starter platters that can be made to share. It's a bit pricey to be eating here regularly, and the semi-formal vibe makes it difficult to justify as an easy option for dinner. The location away from UVA grounds also makes it a slight inconvenience to get to if you don't have a car, but it's a great place to bring guests as a solid introduction to the Charlottesville food scene! read more

The Local - Can't go wrong with the fish or burgers here - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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First time here along with a large group. They take reservations which was good for us as the place is popular and quickly filled up at dinner hour. Great selection of appetizers, wine, and entrees. Food quality is excellent and the wait staff is very friendly and attentive. I went with the pork chop which was delicious and I would highly recommend. I will be back in Charlottesville in the Spring (2019) and will definitely come back to this place for dinner. read more

I was in Charlottesville for a weekend and came here for my birthday dinner. I started off with the Granada, a yummy blend of vodka and pomegranate. Then, I got the lobster Mac and cheese, which was heavenly. The Mac and cheese was so creamy and had several hearty chunks of lobster. I devoured it without any guilt. For dessert, I had the flourless chocolate cake. Super yummy and had raspberry sauce; I love chocolate and raspberry. This place had a cool atmosphere and amazing food read more

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The local is a very small quant restaurant...it's name serves its purpose very "local" very homey and warm. Intimate almost cause your so close to your table mates. The table scape was very nice also love the mason jars for water. Our server was really nice also...he seemed very knowledgeable about the menu. Most people I ask for drink suggestions usually have no clue. After careful debate I decided on a salty dog and my friend got a habanero margarita. Both were very good mine was refreshing love grapefruit in mixed drinks it really does add a freshness. My friend said her margarita was just like a normal margarita but spicy and it was pretty good. We also decided on the crispy shrimp appetizer which was shrimp tossed in a pickled ginger black sesame aioli seaweed salad and local honey and sambal. Review:nicely fried good size shrimp. Dish reminded me of bang bang shrimp that shows up on certain menus as an asian inspired dish.But this dish was more upscale larger shrimp and seaweed salad. Entrees...my friend and I usually debate between 2 entrees and when that happens we usually get the 2 and the. Taste both. So this time it was between the rag mountain trout and the duck breast. Rag mountain trout is crispy local trout steamed mussels romesco sauce Spanish chorizo roasted red pepper polenta w.fennel salad. Review:Had a taste and it was pretty good nice crispy fish batter held nicely wasn't too try fish was moist.had a bite of the polenta very creamy and the romesco sauce was pretty good too bold tomato. Duck breast served with roasted Brussels sprouts and fingerling hash, blood orange gastrique and parsnip crisp Review: duck was served sliced cooked to medium very moist. Skin was not as crispy as I like my duck skin to be but still good very flavorful. The brussels sprouts were good nicely roasted.fingerling potatoes we're also nicely seasoned. However calling this a hash won't fly with me I know hash contains potatoes but the last time I checked my hash had far more then 2 ingredients. The parsnips we're a surprising topping they held up pretty well on the dish tasted almost like sweet potatoes.My only gripe was the blood orange gastrique I'm not sure if for me it was just a tad bit too reduced but it was missing the freshness of blood orange. Overall the local was okay.I want to give it more then three but it's solid in that the locally sourced ingredients are the stars of each dish and you can taste the freshness in every bite however it is a bit on the pricer side. But like I always say you pay for quality and here you do. read more

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I frequented The Local when I lived in Charlottesville and loved it, and I recently went back for a reunion weekend with some friends. We made a reservation about a week in advance since we had a party of 7. The food and wine were delicious. Our table split a bottle of Pinot Noir. I ordered my usual, the Truffled Mushroom Ragout (Sharondale Farms shiitake, crimini, and oyster mushrooms, white truffle oil, and parmesan cheese, tossed with fresh house made fettuccine). It was yummy as usual! The only reason I'm deducting a star is because our waitress acted super weird when the majority of us ordered pasta instead of entrees. She goes "you guys and your pasta! The entrees are much better." I guess she was trying to guilt us into ordering more expensive items off the menu? Very odd. read more

Between a 3 and a 4 for The Local. Although nothing was outright bad about dinner here, it left a lot to be desired. Each part of the dinner wasn't quite right: -My cocktail glass was under filled (especially for $13) -Appetizer (cheese board) was more basic than expected and had greens/lettuce as filler -Entrees were overdone and on the bland side -Dessert was missing a component listed on the menu Each part just felt lackluster and overall missing extra flavor and intention/thoughtfulness. Not a bad restaurant for decent, casual food and very nice service, but it's not the place for a fun/special occasion experience that feels well crafted despite what its website appears to claim. I really appreciate their focus on local ingredients and wanted to like this place because of that, but it could do much more given the price point and supposed reputation. read more

Highly recommend this great spot! The food was delicious! The cheese plate was a great start. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the meatloaf super flavorful. The kids mac and cheese was a big hit! Our server was very friendly and quick. We really had a great experience. read more

How anyone could give this place less than 5 stars sickens me. Nothing but praise for the Local, its ambiance and decor is this rustic feel that feels formal but also homely. The food here is art. The pasta is clearly freshly made and the meat quality here isn't gamey or dry. I've been here two times, the first being on a date. We both ordered pasta and it didn't disappoint. The second time being here was my birthday. The fries that came with my father's steak were delicious (I began to poach them after my meal was finished) and I personally got the glazed pork chops, which came out succulent and delicious. The cocktails here are unique and often times the Local tries to put their own twists on the mixed drinks that can be offered here. Nothing but praise for them. read more

The Local - The mushroom ragout here is to die for. - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The Local is one of my favorite places to eat in Charlottesville. Relative to other restaurants in Charlottesville, I think the Local has the best pricing for awesome food. - all in all, a PERFECT semi-formal DATE SPOT. Even affordable for a college student trying to do something a bit more fancy for a night. FOOD: fresh and sourced locally! Hence this place's name. I think they've truly perfected the flavors here. Of what I've tried, the pork chops are great as are the roasted cauliflower and their steak. Their berry cobbler dessert is delicious as well. The fact that I've been here 3 times and have enjoyed my dishes every single time gives this place a 100% in my books. SERVICE: So kind and so knowledgeable! I forget my servers name but everyone around us commented how awesome he was and their desire to tip him well. - white guy with brown curly hair! AMBIANCE: Cute, cozy, and also great outdoor seating if you so wish. Their back area has a cool painting of birds as well. Honestly 10/10, if you need a consistently great, semi fancy date night place TAKE HIM/HER HERE. read more

The Local - Lamb chop special on the day we went! A lil spicy - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Great ambience. I thought the food was yummy with really nice flavors. I got the Salmon and my wife got the short ribs. Their lemonade gin cocktail is I recommend this place for a nice date night. Seems they also have room for large groups read more

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My fiancé and i came to the local tonight after hearing from friends how good the food is and it definitely did not disappoint! Our server, Shannon, was amazing! It seemed anytime i would finish my drink, she was right there to get me a new one. For starters we both order the crab soup which was absolutely delicious! For our entree's, i ordered the short rib which was definitely both off our favorite plate of the night. My fiancé got the meatloaf which I'm guessing must've been good because he cleared his plate in like 10 minutes! And lastly we shared the brownie Sunday. It was super good but the chocolate was very rich! All in all, we will definitely be eating here again! read more

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Went here for a rehearsal dinner and had the private room off to the side. It was filled with a warm ambience and so uniquely laid out - the wood and lighting complimented each other very well. I had a house salad which was unique with pickles onions and an Asian flair, and the salmon, which was baller. The big cous cous was delicious and the green beans were flavored well too. The presentation kind of looked like it was just thrown together on the plate, but keeping 5 stars for the great service and not having to wait very long at all for our large party (there were about 15 of us). read more

The Local - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I'm only in Charlottesville once or twice a year visiting with friends but the local is usually a go to for our group! Recently they allowed us a private dining area, it's literally a separate building that houses many of the local wines they serve, intimate but spacious enough for up to 40 people comfortably. They allowed my friends to select a set menu with a variety of options for only $50 per person, this did not include alcohol. For a four course meal the price and good was great. The mushroom risotto was amazing as was the lobster macaroni and cheese for starters! The salad was even great and I'm pretty indifferent to most Restaurants house salads. The steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned well, I'm a MD girl so the crab cakes were just ok to me. The desserts were yummy as well. Overall great service and great food. read more

Reviews brought us to The Local in Belmont, a bit of a walk from where we were staying by UVA. Experience was ok. Not the friendliest of staff. Perhaps tired and overworked like the rest of the world. Shared the crispy pork belly. Two glazed slabs on very delicious apple-red cabbage slaw. Would have loved more slaw...so good! Husband had Steak Frites...pretty par. I tried their fried chicken. Tasty but not a lot of meat. The Mac & pimento cheese and collard greens were the stars of the plate. Glad we made the trek to see funky neighborhood. read more

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Staff was super helpful and very nice. We got the fried brussel sprouts and cauliflower based on the waitor's suggestion which was delicious. I got the wasabi salmon for my meal and it was so so good. I loved the atmosphere here and the menu had such interesting flavors on it I wish I could've tried it all. The neighborhood is cute too. read more

So I came back to the Local for dinner last night. It was wonderful! In fact it was SO good I felt compelled to update my review. We shared an appetizer which was called crispy shrimp. The shrimp is cooked absolutely perfectly! The sauce was savory and sweet, With a delectable mixture of ginger, black sesame aïoli, seaweed salad, honey and sambal. Had it not been for the company and being in a public place I would have picked up my plate and licked it clean....YES! That good! My entrée was one of their specials. It was a fillet cooked perfectly with a delicious sauce and paired with their signature yummy potatoes and tasty green beans. The green beans had just the perfect amount of crunch. I wish I could end this with a rave review of one of their fantastic desserts but we were way too stuffed to eat anymore. Look forward to my next visit to The Local. read more

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We've been looking forward to coming here for a long time after several trips to their other restaurant, The Junction. We started off with some cocktails that were well done. We ordered the crispy shrimp and the cauliflower and brussel sprouts, and they were incredible. Christian, our server, was very friendly and gave great recommendations. Our entrees and desserts were just ok, though. I ordered the steak frites and she got the burger. Both were a little over charred on the outside making the meat bitter. My steak was a perfect medium rare in the mIddle, but it lacked seasoning. Asking for salt helped quite a bit after scraping some of the char away. For dessert, she ordered the peanut butter brownie sundae and I got the blackberry cobbler. She said it was decent but couldn't taste any peanut butter at all. The blackberries were frozen and extremely liquidy so it was more like a scoop of ice cream on top of blackberry soup. We really wanted to like this place, particular after the appetizers, but will probably just go back to Junction again. read more

Our food was amazing!! Super great host and waitress... I wish I could remember her name but she was awesome! However, at the end of our meal we were finishing up drinks after we had gotten our check and we were rudely asked to leave. It had been 10 minutes after receiving our check and the manager approached our table and said "All right y'all, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's about that time." We had been there for maybe an hour and 15 min. We couldn't believe the abruptness, especially because we were never even informed of any sort of "time limit" for dinner. We were rushed out so fast that I even forgot my purse! Definitely would recommend in terms of food but if you like to eat for longer than an hour.. you may be ushered out! read more

The local is my personal favorite restaurant in Charlottesville. Since moving here 3 years ago, my partner and I have spent 3 birthdays and 2 anniversary dinners with The Local family. We love the rustic feel of the building. The service is always wonderful. Servers, bartenders, and bus staff are incredibly friendly, always quick to lend a hand at the drop of a hat. The food is divine. The truffle pasta is a staple and always has my partner coming back for more. My favorite entree is the tenderloin which may just be the best steak in Charlottesville. When it's time for dessert, make sure you try the chocolate pecan pie. The Local is easily a top 5 restaurant in Charlottesville! read more

This place is phenomenal! Service was great. The steak was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. Drinks were awesome as well. And on certain days wine is half off bottle and they have a good selection of local wines. read more

Our service was great and the atmosphere was cosy, but we'd been lead to believe by a review we'd read that the food was first rate, and it wasn't. It was more like upscale bar food. Not bad, but definitely not what we were expecting. I would not go again in a town with supposedly so many good restaurants. Most dishes were gloppy and over the top. read more

Tucked away in Belmont, The Local hits every note in the culinary book. The restaurant, a former shoe repair shop, is effortlessly charming, complete with brick walls and a warm and inviting atmosphere. The bar is extensive, and the drinks list boasts several local beers on tap, as well as Charlottesville inspired cocktails. I got the Jefferson, which was a delicious combination of elderflower and hard cider. There are no bad choices on the menu: the food is sophisticated yet farm to table, and highlights many local goods. The menu options change seasonally, so there is always something new and delicious to try. The flavor combinations are inventive and completely unique from any over Charlottesville restaurant. I got the pork chop, which was incredibly moist and perfectly seasoned with a chili rub. It was accompanied by mashed potatoes and sweet potato shoestrings, which had a delightful texture and flavor. The portion sizes were just right, and I had just enough room to split a dessert. We chose the mango cheesecake, which was smooth, creamy, and light. It wasn't overly sweet, and was complemented by an absolutely delicious mango sauce. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of food. A spectacular meal perfect for a fancy night out, I can't wait for another occasion to visit The Local. read more

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THE BEST MAC & CHEESE THERE EVER WAS. Truffle mac. SO GOOD!!! Perfect restaurant for a celebration. I had my graduation dinner there & loved it! Love the ambiance. Great service read more

Stopped in after a long drive to prepare for an early morning meeting tomorrow. Sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by a wonderful bar keep Campbell. He mixed me an awesome bourbon cocktail - the .38 Special - as I perused the amazing menu. I ordered the special - a tenderloin with a bacon mushroom Demi glacé. Started with a salad of local greens, roasted butternut squash and goat cheese. That tied me over until the entree arrived. Campbell gave me a few generously poured samples of some reds to compliment my dish. I went with the Virginia-based Paradise Springs Melange. The steak was cooked to perfection, sitting on a bed of amazing mashed potatoes and topped with that unctuous Demi glacé. A home run! I have my new favorite spot whenever I'm back in town - for business or pleasure. Do yourself a favor - check out this funky eatery. You will thank me - I promise. read more

Great food, great service, and great atmosphere! We had a horrible experience at a neighboring restaurant, and walked to The Local. They seated us immediately, was greeted by a great server, and received great food and service! We'll be back! read more

I absolutely love this restaurant! The company that I'm working at this summer took all incoming interns out for a meal and this restaurant selection was great. First of all, I love how the restaurant was elevated-you have to walk up a pretty steep staircase (which was definitely difficult in heels) to get to the main dining room. However, the dining room did impress. The room was surrounded by glass windows all around. It had a classy vibe with the candles and lights strung up. I'm not entirely sure if what I ate will be available on the everyday menu since it was a company dinner and I'm sure that they modified the menu for this particular event. However, the food was good either way. First, we started off with a caesar salad. It was one of the beset caesar salads that I've ever had. The dressing was savory and rich. Plus, it had a crispy cheese crouton on top that really tied the dish together. Next, I ordered the steak dish that came with green beans and mashed potatoes. The dish was extremely flavorful and the steak had a nice char to it. My only complaint with this dish is that the steak had a random bone that caught me by surprise. I thought it was meat but then I bit into what seemed like a stone. Other than that, the meat was well cooked. For dessert, we got warm brownies sprinkled with almonds along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream complemented the warm brownies perfectly and was a great wrap up to the meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant! Will be coming back soon to try the dishes offered on the everyday menu. read more

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NY Strip w caramelized onions, sprinkle of blue cheese and a sauce over asparagus. Delicious. Steak is rare and tender... must eat bye bye. read more

The Local - Steak and fries - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Went here on a recommendation from a friend and was not disappointed! We had the cheese plate which was OK, had a lot of greens that went untouched for us. But the entrees were fantastic! My husband had the beef tenderloin special that he loved (and finished every bite) and I had the short ribs that were very filling (but my leftovers were still just as good the next day!) Our waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable about all of the local ingredients in the food and menu items. The service was great! Seems like the specials change regularly which makes us want to go back and see what else is coming up. Good thing we live close! Parking is sort of really the only downside to this place. If you don't plan ahead it could be difficult to find a spot. read more

Pros: rustic and intimate decor. Delicious meatloaf, wasabi salmon. Friendly bartenders who went above and beyond. Cons: really crowded and a bit hectic. Chock full of bachelorette parties. read more

The Local was great for our party of 8, with plenty of space for everyone and prompt service. We sat in their upstairs dining space which had a really lovely view of the thunderstorms rolling in. Unfortunately those storms were not kidding around and towards the end of our meal the windows started leaking a little. The staff was quick to offer to move us, but we didn't mind a few drops of water. My food was delicious, as were my cocktails. The fried cauliflower & brussels sprouts along with the trout entree were super tasty. Everyone else in my party must have enjoyed their food because all of the plates were clean by the end of the meal. Save room for the blackberry cobbler...and don't bother sharing it. You'll want it all to yourself. read more

My go to date spot if I am wanting to "treat" myself & my significant other. The upstairs section in the evening/night time is a great setting, and the food takes it up another notch. High quality food & I enjoy going here every time... haven't left ever and regretted what I ordered or what I spent. In the handful of times I have gone, it has always hit. Love the Local! read more

The food here was good, part of the 4-star was just the experience. There were plenty of seats in the restaurant and we were seated next to a party of 20. It was so loud we couldn't carry on a conversation. As for the food, the cheeseboard is a must. Great selection of cheeses, paired with grapes and apples. The mushroom fettuccini was good, my wife's chicken was juicy and nicely flavored. The pimento Mac and cheese was a nice addition with the collard greens. read more

I came here on a Sunday night at 7 with a large group of 20 people (with a reservation ahead of time). The Local has a lot of space, unlike a lot of popular Charlottesville restaurants, so there were many open tables. Our table was seated in the upstairs room which was beautiful: big, big windows that let in a ton of light and allowed us to watch the sunset into the night. For its namesake, everything at The Local is locally sourced in a farm-to-table concept and the menu changes seasonally; I love that! For starters, I split a small portion of lobster Mac and cheese, which was a good portion for an appetizer. This was SO good. Very rich, creamy, and cheesy. There were many large chunks of lobster, which tasted fresh and slightly sweet. It was hard choosing an entree because everything on the menu looked so good. I ended up settling for the pork chop, which i personally thought was kind of underwhelming and tough. It came with shoestring sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, but would have preferred more greenery instead. Everyone else's dishes looked amazing though --especially the steak frites, which I regret not getting. The truffle pasta and gnocchi bolognese also looked very good as well. Service was very, very good given our large party size. All of our orders came out at the same time and our waiter was very attentive to our water. I was so impressed by their ability to cater to large parties. Prices, especially for the pastas, were very reasonable. I'd love to return in the future to try more of the items. read more

The Local - Lobster mac and cheese (half a small portion) - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Still such a classic- with fantastic service and great food. We had the crispy shrimp, the brussel sprouts, the caprese salad (with absolutely stunning heirloom tomato), pork chop, and lamb chop. Cocktails were also great. read more