This is one of my mother's favorite restaurants, and it's well on the way to becoming one of mine as well.
Julia's Local took over from the German bakery that used to inhabit this unique space, and this slightly Scandinavian and fully delicious eatery is focused on using fresh and local ingredients to bring seasonal cuisine to the area. They have a serious garden nearby, and much of what you're eating starts there, such as the Simple Salad (a beautiful mix of greens with pumpkin seeds and a preserved lemon vinaigrette) and the Snack Stand (garden goodies, griddled naan and more).
While the environment is a little rustic and informal (there's a washer/dryer in the bathroom, a testament to the one-of-a-kind space), everything is surprisingly elegant. The place settings are gorgeous, with beautiful flatware and handmade plates, our table in the window had adorable cushions everywhere, and there's a front deck for outdoor seating.
From the moment you arrive, you feel as though you're being welcomed into someone's well-appointed home. Julia is more than likely going to be the first person you meet, and she and her front of house staff are quite accommodating. The service is excellent overall, which is particularly nice to see in a non-tipping establishment.
Although the winelist is wonderful, I like to start with a shot of aquavit (as the menu suggested), and recently I moved on to the very well-crafted cocktails during dinner (the Hemingway Daiquiri is perfect).
The menu changes often, but you can always count on a number of crowd-pleasers and several ways to eat local trout (seared, sashimi, tartare, etc.). We like to share everything, and last night we split the simple salad, the chicken liver pâté, the roast chicken, the shortrib bourguignon, and the housemade tagliatelle with tempura summer squash. We added the bread and butter as well, because everyone likes bread and butter.
Truly, everything that comes out of Chef Henning's kitchen is tasty, and carefully cooked.
The roast chicken was perfectly juicy, the skin crisp, and the farro salad accompanying it was one of my favorite bites. The shortrib was stunning in its fall off the bone presentation and rich and lovely in flavor...but my daughters ate most of it so I didn't get to eat as much as I'd like. The simple salad was just that, and the pâté was excellent (my wife's favorite for sure). The only off note was that the tagliatelle was a tad underseasoned, but I like that they brought out maldon salt to rectify it, and it was perfect after that.
If there is a drawback to Julia's Local, I think it's not good for all children. It's a bit too fancy, and the menu is not accessible for tiny palates. Like I said, our kids enjoyed the shortrib once they tried it, but our youngest was a bit miffed that they didn't have ketchup to pair with her roast chicken, and neither of them loved the dill whipped into the butter even if I did. (There are no french fries either, a travesty according to my three year old.) Don't get me wrong: the staff was extremely welcoming to our little ones, but I think I would probably have been happier if I left them at home for this one.
Overall, Julia's Local seems to be very intentional about everything they do. The sourcing of their ingredients, the cultivation of their garden, the decor choices, place settings, and menus...I love how thoughtful everything seems, and I appreciate the choices they've made, the hospitality they provide, and the food they serve. We'll be back, but maybe without the kids. read more