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. read more

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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. read more

The Local - Cheesecake - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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! read more

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I was skeptical about this restaurant after seeing the reviews. However, The Local was delicious! Not only was the pomegranate localjito amazing, the steak was cooked perfectly and served with blue cheese and a cream sauce that I am still thinking about. I also got the side goat cheese salad which was good as well. I would easily go back, and 25$ for steak frites is a steal! Don't forget to dip your fries in the chive ranch. Delish!! read more

The Local - Goat cheese salad - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Lily was amazing! We were nervous due to the reviews but completely enjoyed ourselves!

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! read more

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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. read more

Do not get the sauce on the beef. Tastes like literal asshole. The service is very good.

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. read more

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! read more

Visiting from out of town, the kids enjoyed their burgers, and my husband his pasta dish. I had ordered the rockfish and a martini and was underwhelmed with both; my dish was very fishy, and the martini was halfway full like some of it spilled on the way to the table. Cute atmosphere as long as you're sitting inside, our waiter was very friendly. They do have a dining tent outside if that's not your cup of tea. read more

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

The Local - Cheese Board* - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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. read more

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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. read more

The Local - Local "Buffalo Creek Beef" Short Ribs - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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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. read more

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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. read more

The Local - Meatloaf - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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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. read more

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

Update: If you're looking for good quality food made from local ingredients and that supports the community, highly recommend ordering curbside pickup from the Local! During COVID, they are running a Ten for $10 Menu that features classic American food and can even donate a $10 meal to someone who can not afford a meal in the community! The curbside set up is well-run - you call when you drive up and someone with gloves and mask will drop it into your car. Our favorite has been the mushroom pasta (we ordered it twice!); it is a nice blend of savory, buttery goodness. The fried chicken was not too heavily breaded, and the grilled hamburger steak was just a tad bit too salty for me. The 2 dishes came with mashed potatoes and green beans. Overall, a good deal for the price and quality of food! I miss the crispy shrimp and brussel sprouts/cauliflower plate on their original menu (previous review), but appreciate what they're doing during these times! read more

The Local - Mushroom Pasta - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

After looking into a few restaurants for my friend's birthday dinner in Charlottesville, we decided on The Local. When you walk in, you were welcomed into a restaurant with a cozy and calm ambience, complimented with a wooden floor and brick wall interior to create a "homey feeling." We were seated upstairs, which ended up being more spacious than we expected. For a Saturday night, this place was packed. It seemed to be a more family oriented restaurant based on the patrons this evening. For the food, we decided to split the Fried Brussels and Cauliflower. Although the waitress recommended we get two, one plate was more than enough for the five of us. The cauliflower was cooked to perfection, but the brussels were not as tender as I expected. Also, there was flavor in this starter, I think there needed to be a counterpoint to it given it was just had a sharp tangy taste that lacked any sort of spice. Our entree orders: The Ceasar Salad was fairly standard, but the Goat Cheese salad was the perfect mix of ingredients created a sweet yet savory salad experience. Both had the right amount of dressing to not oversaturate the greens. Amazing pick. Another great option was the Gnocchi Bolognese. The gnocchi were melt in your mouth pillows saturated in a creamy meat sauce. The Truffle Mushroom Ragout was also drenched in creamy flavor, although it was a little bland (but to be expected based on the simple ingredients). The Veggie Burger, also fairly delicious, came with a whole appetizer size portion of burrata- it was incredible. The Duck Breast was incredibly succelent, and the only issue was that of the appetizier- the lack of tenderness in the brussel sprouts.  As a tip, a couple of us just got the salads and a half portion of pasta thinking we might still be hungry, but honestly this amount was plenty and very cost effective. All in all, you really get what you paid for here, as we all had some leftover food but were pretty stuffed towards the end of the meal. The waiters were attentive and helpful as well since we were new to the area/ restaurant and had a few questions while ordering. But, for the food, nothing really reinvented the wheel, but everything we got was solid so I have no complaints whatsoever. read more

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

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. read more

I loved The Local! We both had cocktails to start which were tasty. I had the local margarita and my husband had the .38 Special. The food is what I'm here to rave about. We started with the fresh burrata which was served with Heirloom tomatoes and crisp toast points. My entree was the Local fried chicken - which was tender & juicy & fell off the bone- with a bomb pimento cheese macaroni and flavorful collards. The hot sauce drizzle really made the plate. My husband had the special which was grass fed beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes & green beans. He absolutely loved the medium rare beef! Food presentation was stellar and our waiter who had worked there 6 years provided menu suggestions and was very helpful! read more

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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. read more

The Local - Burger - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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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. read more

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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. read more

The Local - Lady mondegreen - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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. read more

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. read more

This was a super nice place to go for a date night dinner! I loved the art on the walls, they were so fun to look at. Our waiter was friendly and helpful. The service is quick, even when they're super busy! You should definitely make a reservation (it was somewhat difficult for us to get a spot). Food/drinks breakdown: -Mariposa 10/10: such a yummy cocktail, really enjoyed the flavors -Farmer's Tan 8/10: a really pretty color, but I didn't really love the taste -Crab Soup 9/10: very delicious! -Fresh Burrata 10/10: loved all these flavors! Highly recommend this for an appetizer -Beef Tenderloin 9/10: this was one of their specials, and it was so delicious! I really enjoyed their flavors and it was all cooked perfectly -Local "River Oaks Farm" Chicken 8/10: the chicken was amazing- I'd give the chicken alone a 10/10. The mac and cheese was a delicious complement to it. I didn't enjoy the collard greens- they used some spice that made it sweet, which I wasn't expecting and didn't really enjoy, but other than that the plate was great! -New York Style Cheesecake 9/10: I really enjoyed this! The hazelnut crust was especially amazing. All in all, I definitely recommend this place :) After dinner, it was so nice to walk around the area- this restaurant is located on such a cute street with some cool stores to stop in! read more

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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). read more

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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. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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So, The Local is a C'ville mainstay. The food is good. Tonight I felt like we were really hurried. Our appetizers were first taken for only half of our party. They came out and were good - but our entrees came out about 5 minutes later. The waiter said he knew we had been drinking so he brought our food out fast. What does that mean? Food was good but not hot. Crab soup app was cold. Environment is really cute. If service had been slowed down a bit and the food had been hotter it would have been 5 stars. read more

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

This place is only doing outside seating during COVID-19 so reservations are highly recommended. I started off with a cocktail, the farmer's tan and it was good. My husband and I decided to split a few things next, the crab soup, gnocchi bolognese and meatloaf. The portions were sizable. Our favorite thing was the meatloaf, it was amazing. It was wrapped in bacon, topped with a honey BBQ sauce and served with mashed potatoes and green beans. The Local is worth checking out for dinner. read more

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Bit of a mis-hit for the long standing long local favorite. Went back, after many times preCovid, and had the steak frites. The meat was, simply put, far from expected- a slightly tough and fatty cut, certainly not the flank or other expected cut that makes you order this very dish and a brasserie etc. Fries were good. Other diners, echoed same. Calamari appetizer: good Brussel sprouts and cauliflower opener: good. not special Might circle back to try another dish(es) , but begging off the steak (caput). read more