If half-stars were a thing this would have gotten a 3-1/2 stars. Somewhere between okay and good. Seating was a breeze when we arrived for our 6pm Friday reservation, and we got a booth, always my preference. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. I ordered an Old-Fashioned and my companion a glass of chardonnay, both of which came promptly and were enjoyable. After some inquiries I settled on the self-advertised fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs. My companion asked about a favorite no longer on the menu, a salad with grilled chicken, and after checking with the kitchen our server was happy to report it could be ordered. My companion asked for dressing on the side and unfortunatel the salad came out dressed. Our server was happy to return it to the kitchen and it came out after not too much time had elapsed, the way she'd ordered it. I'm always skeptical that ribs will be fall-off-the-bone but these were close. Unfortunately, they seemed a little off; I still can't decide if they were on the dry side, lacking in flavor, or both. But the meat did come off the bone easily, so there was that. They came with french fries which were good, The location is handy and there is on-site parking. The atmosphere was energetic and it must be a popular after-work place because there were several large (10+) tables occupied. Still, not sure I would go back soon when there are other comparable places in the area. read more

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I found The Local Kitchen while searching Yelp for a restaurant in Waltham near I-95. It had a 3.4-star rating, but some of the reviews were positive and the location was convenient, so I decided to give it a try. We were asked whether we preferred a table or a booth, which I always appreciate, and we chose the latter. My first impression was that the open dining room was very loud. The noise was amplified by a party of about 10 people to our left and the ambient bar and TV noise to our right. Our friendly waiter arrived immediately, as did water and menus. Service started off nicely and remained good throughout our lunch. I wish I could say the same for the food. I was considering the Salmon Poke Bowl, but our waiter explained that the salmon wasn't served sushi-style, so we both ordered the Tuna Poke Bowl ($23.95). The bowls arrived in about 15 minutes, with the wasabi dressing on the side as requested, although technically the cup was placed inside the bowl. The portion was substantial and included seaweed salad, some avocado and a generous amount of grain. Unfortunately, the tuna had a noticeably fishy taste and an unappealing texture. Very disappointing. I left much of it untouched, along with quite a few of the other ingredients. When our waiter asked whether I wanted to take the remainder home, my answer was definitely no. Would I return? Probably not. I'd be more inclined to try some of the other restaurants in the area in search of better-executed cuisine. read more

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Nacho's from the appetizer menu to share w/table. It was almost the size of my head! Nacho's, steak taco's and cheeseburger were all great but I could have had just the nacho's! Quick service, very helpful read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Nacho's from the appetizer menu to share w/table. - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Had a great time catching up with friends. Server was attentive but not hovering as we caught up over cocktails and dinner. We all enjoyed our meals- large servings. Cocktails were refreshing. Free parking in the surface lot but it took awhile to find parking at 6pm on a weekday. Popular place. Many menu choices. read more

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Five star meal and visit- top service from Maddie. My 2nd visit to this establishment. I enjoyed the Pan-fried haddock for lunch prepared with lemon beurre blanc sauce, Parmesan risotto, grilled asparagus, & scallions. Wow! So good! Everything on my plate was excellent. A winner! The Restaurant is decorated nicely and the seating arrangement was comfortable. I'll be back for sure next time I'm in town. read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Crispy Haddock- excellent dish. Great visit today, excellent service and food. - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

It just wasn't very good. Over priced. Small portions. The meal was too salty. There was too much sauce. So much sauce that it soaked the rice. No substitutions. The order was incorrect. The waiter was also the bartender. This resulted in little attention. A regular 45 dinner service took about two hours. We had to flag the waiter down for our check. The meal was expensive and I left hungry. On a positive note, the ambiance was nice. read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Seasame Chicken Bowl - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

The menu has good variety with a bit of Asian influence. Everything was perfectly cooked and very fresh. Service as impeccable, perfectly timed, very friendly and professional. Tristan was amazing. read more

Solid spot for lunch in Waltham. Came here with my mom on a Sunday afternoon and we were seated and served right away. The food here is pretty good as is the service. I ordered the buffalo chicken wrap with french fries and enjoyed my meal, though the wrap was a tiny bit soggy. No big deal. My mom got fish and said it was very fresh and tasted great. We spent about an hour here and enjoyed our time, the ambiance is comfy. read more

Christmas is over but I'd like one more festive cocktail. Emily our server to the rescue with a Winter Berry cocktail, crushed candy cane rim. Yup, that will get me through to Christmas 2025. I have a favorite lunch item that luckily has stayed on the menu for years.... Butternut Squash with goat cheese and cranberries. It never disappoints. One more thing.... I love walking around and seeing all the framed vintage scenes of Waltham And.... I asked the hostess for a quiet location. She walked us to the furthest corner and said " this is our most quiet booth". It was quiet read more

The food was fair at best and the service was horrible. We orders truffle fries for an app, which we never got, even after asking our waitress for them, twice. The waitress was the worst and clearly did not care. Unhappy customer. read more

Had lunch today here with 4 friends and my husband. We had a good meal here where we ate indoors but there is outdoor seating if you want to be there too. We had two different appetizers which we all shared and then some of us had the specials that were available. Our server did a nice job being able to do separate checks between all of us and making sure we had enough to drink and that our food came out when it was ready. The area we sat had good lighting and we all felt mostly comfortable though the air conditioning felt like it was up a little too high. I felt that this place was enjoyable to visit again but I will bring a long sleeved shirt with me on a hot day. read more

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Great trendy ambiance in a convenient location. The salad and bowl options look good and healthy. The brussel sprouts appetizer was really delicious and a little decadent with the glaze as well as being well, if not, generously over portioned. The bowl was also quite ample! Service was adequate but not very warm nor responsive. Had to ask repeatedly to refill my water which to be honest was in a very small glass with too much ice. The server was an older woman who just doesn't seem very happy. The host and other servers seemed much better. Would consider again for the food so hopefully the service improves. read more

"Zeitgeist of the sprawling expanse, deftly translated for the dining class." -Das E. Welcome to the fifth stop on my "Eat the Distance!" tour! Not only, but this is also my very first official review as a member of Yelp's elite Elite! Not sure what daring do has arrived us here, but alas. The Local. What you find here is not merely generic, but the "generic expected", hewn and polished to a state of perfect presentation. You have already visited this glitzie pub a hundred times or more, and everything you've already imagined obtains. The steak tacos were as good as expected, as well as were the nachos and "pork buns" (though these were fried real special like). I was happy to spot a prosecco rosé by the glass, though espresso martinis have apparently become quite the boisson au choix among today's after-hours busy-beavers. Ambience and feel again generic to the level of a term of art, with no expectation exceeded nor unmet, no surprises left lurking around any corner booth, nothing at all under the sun. Could be in any town this side of Long Island, that no-place that is everywhere, that brutalism-on-the-palate timelessness which sets The Local Kitchen & Drinks centrally in relation to the thousands of others in its class. Well done! A rousing success! Loved by millions! read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Excellently fried pork buns. - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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Walked in without a reservation on a busy Tuesday night. Got seated right away. Server was friendly and prompt to the table to take our order and then with drinks and dinner. Both salads were large and had plenty of chicken. A great place with a very large whiskey selection. They have a large patio for dining as well. I'd definitely return. read more

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It a really nice, chill atmosphere with good vibe. Was pretty busy for a Monday which is good sign to was seated right away. The server was really nice and was patient. Ordered the short rib, asparagus and onions, was very delicious! Also had a red sangria flavorful, nice and strong!! Skillet cookie had perfect amount of ice cream. will definitely be back!! read more

Nachos- good love them would order again Burger with parm fries- love the fries burger was so so Salads: good but way too overdressed, makes everything soggy Overall it's good American food but there's definitely room for improvement read more

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Food was fine. Not amazing. Wife had chicken bowl (chicken was breaded and there was some sort of dressing.) i had the steak tacos, which were good but sort of average. Came with scoop of rice. Sort of boring presentation. Waitress was efficient and quite pleasant. Beer selection decent. Wife likes Truly and they don't have Truly. Not sure why. That is the best seltzer out there. read more

Food yummy and fresh, service excellent, atmosphere great, clean and modern restaurant. Excellent! read more

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I had the steak tips really were a 10 out of ten the mash potatoes and even the broccoli was delicious paired with a cotton candy IPA , the only down side was the bartender put too much ice in my old fashioned, I would highly recommend and make a reservation read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Steak tips mashed potatoes broccoli - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

this is my 3rd time at the Local and the atmosphere and food are very good , this last time i came on a Monday night i was traveling in the area and it was very crowded , I ate at the bar and got the Salmon powerhouse salad , Only 4 stars and the service was subpar with a crowded bar area read more

My family and I are very seldom ones to complain (we usually go out of our way to find the good), but our last two experiences taking out from this location for The Local have been less than stellar. We understand that as costs for goods, labor, transportation, and overhead go up, that's going to translate into higher prices. So the fairly recent 20% across-the-board menu markup wasn't a huge surprise. However... when paying $23.95 now for a honey chicken salad, it shouldn't come in a small side salad container. And a mini-loaf of cornbread shouldn't cost $11.95. Shrinkflation isn't a myth, and customers are feeling it in their pockets just as much as restaurants are. We don't necessarily mind spending a little more, but we don't like feeling like suckers. On a positive note, the food quality remains good. But experiences like these last two certainly make us think again about our choices when taking out on a Saturday night. read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Cornbread mini-loaf for $11.95 - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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Two friends and I visited the local kitchen & drinks for dinner. The ambiance was very relaxed and modern. We ordered the truffled gnocchi, twin crab cakes, and New England clam chowder. The crab cakes had generous portions of crab and was very flavorful. The gnocchi was my favorite dish - it was very savory and rich. The clam chowder was very rich and creamy as well. Our waitress was very attentive, though our food did take a while to come out. Overall we had a great experience and will return next time we're in the area. read more

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Amazing food and service! Brendan was an amazing, attentive server! I got the classic cheeseburger and it was amazing, especially the fries! read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - Classic cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Have been here many times but this one was not a good experience! We arrived at 5:15 PM and were told it was a twenty minute wait which actually turned out to be a thirty minute wait! When I approached the gentleman holding the IPad I asked if we had a shot at a table and his response was "well you are on the waiting list"‍ This much I knew and did nothing to answer my question! For someone who allegedly is management it didn't present itself during this interaction! Upon finally being seated he had a conversation with our waitress causing her to turn around and look in our direction‍ The waitress was lovely but I think the restaurant may want to rethink having this gentleman at the front desk interacting with customers read more

Edit: I'm updating this after my issue was finally resolved. It took posting on Google and Yelp to get a response, but once the review went up I received a call back within a couple of hours. The person on the phone apologized and gave a few explanations about the delay and the miscommunication. I do appreciate that the matter was eventually handled, though I can't help but wonder if I would have heard back at all without writing the review. -- Original review: While dining in, both the food and service were nothing specia, pretty average at best. What really surprised me, though, was their reaction to a very simple request afterward. I had forgotten to collect my check and later called the number listed to get a copy. Day one, they noted all my details and told me I'd hear back within 24 hours. Next day, after hearing nothing, I called again. A different person picked up, and we went through the same routine, time I was told it actually takes 48 hours, not 24. Day three, same story again, only now the replies got colder. Just a "We'll see what we can do" followed by a call disconnect. At this point, I've given up hope of ever getting that check. Hard to believe that a simple request, which should just take a couple of clicks in their system, turns into such an ordeal here. If you're planning corporate lunches or dinners, I'd say skip this spot. Unless you're eager to deal with one of the most unhelpful and dismissive follow-ups ever, it's just not worth it. read more

The local in Waltham is fabulous!! The food and staff amazing and accommodating at every visit. Always helpful with adding or changing options We are there every Friday and wouldn't miss it. Looking forward to our next visit!! read more

Great food and atmosphere. Food is fresh and tasty. Portions are perfect, not too small nor large. Environment is very pleasant and lively but not loud or uncomfortable. Service is excellent - attentive, yet unobtrusive. read more

We had a great experience at the Local! Good playlist and overall good vibes, pretty good service. If you come here you have to get the nachos! read more

Yes we would recommend this place . The food was good and so was the service . We had the chicken Milanese and the Caesar salad . Both were tasty. read more

During doctor appointments local to The Local, (lol) we swing in here for lunch often enough and find it to be wonderful inside, the servers are always so kind and attentive, and when I get the tuna poke bowl without the grain (double seaweed), they don't have an issue accommodating. It's worth nothing the extra lemon in my soda water wasn't skimpy too :) wish there was a closer location to me, but it's really great there & we hope to enjoy again soon! Their business is doing such an awesome job! read more

Pleasantly surprised. The place looks pretty average, which is how I expected the food to be but I am happy to report my expectations were exceeded! My husband and I met some friends here for lunch. We ordered the dumplings to start which I was surprised (and excited) to see that they came with chopsticks! Who doesn't love chopsticks?! Anyways, the dumplings and dipping sauce were delicious. Then for my entree, I ordered the burger. HOLY MOLY. This thing is huge!! I can see why they call it "legendary" on the menu. It came out to a perfect medium-rare just as ordered, which is surprisingly rare to find. I ate every last bite - it was SO GOOD. The fries were also delicious; handcut from real potatoes. All of our meals came with fries and everyone at the table commented on how good they were. I would absolutely come back here again for this burger! read more

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AMAZING. I got the honey Asian chicken salad. Legitimately so delicious and such a generous portion. The inside of The Local is nice and modern, maybe a little bit fancier than just your regular casual spot. Our waiter was very kind and attentive. Great experience! read more

Amazing service! Loved their lobster soup and fish tacos. Great selection of local beers . When working in the area, will come again. read more

Business lunch today. Lovely ambience, attentive service, and the jambalaya was a bit salty but pretty good. They make a great French 75. Not a bad Margarita either. read more

Always have great food and drinks here. Allison the bartender was awesome and Maricio our server was awesome as six of us celebrated a Bentley University basketball last second shot win. Extra tips to the cook staff for their work. Place feels like home and we have never had a bad meal. Espresso martini on point. read more

I came here for a work lunch today and it was packed! Totally seems like the place to be in Waltham. I was impressed with the extensive menu that had a ton of vegetarian-friendly items on it. I went for the stuffed acorn squash with tofu and it was AMAZING!! The service was great, ambiance wonderful, and outstanding food. I would recommend making a reservation as it seems as though this place fills up quickly. I will definitely be back soon! read more

Anne, our server arranged keto meals for us Wed Aug 21. She made us welcome and was kind, attentive, and efficient making our dining experience wonderful. I got to have the spare ribs. Thanks to Chef for the "no added carbs" sauce as well. Confidant we could have done full on carnivore if we preferred due to Anne and Chef's attention to our dietary need Watched a thunderstorm and stayed dry on their excellent patio read more

The Local Kitchen & Drinks - The Local in Waltham, MA - New American Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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The server Marcello really made the night so much better!! He has a great personality and was very attentive and helpful. Our two meals were also amazing, and I like the lighting and the vibe in the space :) I definitely will be going back! read more

Had a Xmas lunch here. Food was ok, nothing special. They needed more help to take care of the busy place. The place was fine, modern look.

Holy smokes this spot is AMAZING! Still thinking about the stuffed squash!!! Friendly service, everything delicious