Oh my! I had my birthday brunch here and it was great! I am not a fan of buffets but this one was pleasant because you get to walk through the kitchen and interact with the chefs (they were so nice). The map on the place mat was a nice too. My almost 1 year old was there celebrating with us and he gives 2 thumbs up to the biscuits. We were one of the first ones there so I'm not sure how busy it gets, but the wait staff was attentive. The brunch is flat fee that includes some beverages (not juice), so if that's not your thing, go elsewhere. read more

Not really an update - Just a note to say that dinner at Local Three last night was fabulous, as it always is. I missed seeing Chef Chris, but still, good times were had at our table - along with the bounty of tastiness! We were a little late getting into town, so our hosts had already had some apps, and were in the midst of a wine tasting when we arrived. The table was FULL of glasses, and we just cozied right up and joined in the fun, without skipping a beat. Our server was knowledgeable, kind, considerate, attentive, just awesome. It's always a food orgy when we eat with the Family R, and this eve was no different. For starters, we had the Roasted Cauliflower Salad, the Local Strawberry Salad, the Beet Pasta, the Roasted Local Oyster Mushrooms - all around $10-$12, and good portions. We had the Ono, Fried Buttermilk Chicken Thighs, the Flatiron, and the Pork Carnitas. Average price on mains is about $25. Then dessert, of course, we were with the Family R. We had pretty much all of them and I had a cheese plate --- HUGE portions on the cheese plate! We drank wine, but they have some great cocktail selections and have the market cornered on "brown liquor"! Can't say enough about the atmosphere ... always awesome. We were actually seated in the bar area this time, so we got to people watch. I love the options at Local Three. They have something for everyone. The bar is cool, very inviting, not stuffy. The restaurant is not pretentious, but has what I believe to be some of the VERY best food in the ATL. AGAIN --- GO. Plant to sit a spell and soak it all in. You will not be disappointed. "You can't argue with DELICIOUS" read more

What a terrific idea for brunch! Just went for the first time this morning after church. I love that the decor is so kitschy - velvet Elvis, Rick Flair autographed cartoon, tons of "The Dude" to enjoy. The dining space is a fabulous open air concept and the hooks for purses are an A+ touch! I love that you pay a flat fee to enjoy a buffet brunch. Except its not really a buffet if they are serving you tapas style, is it? I loved interacting with the chefs - so fun! Here's what I enjoyed today: -- Pistachio bread -- A yummy salad of ham and greens -- Tomato gazpacho -- TERRIFIC scrambled eggs -- Bacon -- Biscuits & Gravy -- Yummy potatoes -- Pancakes with raspberries and fennel whipped cream -- Grilled shrimp with yummy corn -- Porchetta with sweet potatoes and escarole -- Mac & cheese with broccoli -- the best quiche I've ever ever had - chicken, onion, and mushroom - YUM! I want the recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I ate all of the above and took a 4 hour nap after. Ha! Everything was so delicious and the small portions were just right. Service was a dream come true. Aside from prompt refills and silverware replacement on every trip to the buffet, when the porcetta wasn't ready, they remembered and brought it to me at our table. How awesome is that? Super unique, super special, and super innovative! I'll definitely return! read more

Tucked into Joel Brasserie's former home is Local Three. You'll never see it driving down Northside but fortunately people seem to know where to find it. On a Wednesday night there wasn't a table to be had without a reservation. Good on ya. The space has been completely transformed from its former self. Not to take anything away from the current occupant I am still a little bit in mourning over Joel. There just isn't enough French in Atlanta and the city is being eaten up with farm to table and southern concepts. Local Three is both of these and to their credit they are doing it very well. I find the menu to be wallet friendly if you're looking to get a few interesting bites on a budget. They do offer very small bites, regular appetizers then salad course, cheese and chacuterie courses and full on entrees (those are pricier at $18 and up). There are charming country store salt shakers on all the tables. Mismatched garage sale style but you won't need it even once. Everything is seasoned correctly. Creamy celery root soup with lobster. Exellent silky texture and mild yet distinct flavor. Solid vehicle for the distinct garnishes of lobster and truffle. Generous portion. Pumpkin Pie Ravioli with sage brown butter and pumpkin seeds. Classically delicious combination. My only criticism would be the pasta was a bit thick for the proportion of filling. Flavoring was solid and well balanced. Cornmeal crusted fried oysters over grits. This is a spectacular dish. Generous portion of fat crispy cornmeal fried gems. The grits miraculously stayed soft and creamy for the duration of consumption. What really brings this dish together in an elevated way is the dark savory onion jus. It has a iron skillet reduced down homey yet elegant taste. Don't miss this one. If I didn't have table manners I may have licked the bowl. Duck confit cassoulet. We split it. The waiter offered to have it put in two bowls prior to bringing it to the table. It's so rare to see this on a menu. Out came two iron crocks of the white bean garlicky crusty meat concoction. Exquisite duck. Tender delicately seasoned beans with smoked sausage bits inside. What really was impressive is the seasoning in cassoulet can go horribly overboard especially in the salt department but that didn't happen here. It had such subtle flavor and a cozy feel. It's everything you expect in a cassoulet. The portion even in half is generous to be prepared to share or take some home. Chocolate Hazelnut tart with lemon curd. Gorgeous dome of ganache over an exquisite hazelnut dense mousse with a cookie base. The flavor is dead on. The lemon curd was the miss on the plate. While the lemon flavor and texture was solid the finish was gamey, with what both myself and my companion felt was duck fat. Order it but pass on the lemon schmear. Very attentive service. I'll return to try some more items on the menu. Be warned: it's very loud during the rush hour times but worth losing your voice for a short time. read more

Local Three: so nice that I had it twice! You see, I consider myself to be a really loyal person, but going to the same place for brunch and dinner (on my birthday) is pretty extreme. After a late night of birthday celebrations on Saturday night, four of us set out for brunch at Local Three on Sunday. I knew that it was in the spot that Joel formerly occupied, but the entrance was much more "corporate" than I imagined it would be. When we were walking to the restaurant, I had flashbacks to my days of shuffling into the Prometric testing center to sit for one securities license after another. But, when we entered the restaurant, it was modern and whimsical and just positively delightful. None of us realized that it was going to be a buffet ($18.93/person), but there was no turning back. Mary, our server, was energetic and fun- such a lovely hostess. She explained how brunch works and we were on our way to the kitchen before we knew it. I tried the greek yogurt with honey & granola (delish), soft scrambled eggs (the best eggs I've ever eaten), lemon mascarpone French toast, black pepper grits, and chicken pot pie. The chicken pot pie reminded me of the Pennsylvania dutch cooking that I grew up with...comforting and flavorful, with a deliciously buttery biscuit on top. For dessert, I tried the white chocolate banana trifle (my favorite), goat cheese cheesecake, and red velvet cake. The best part about brunch at Local Three? They pack up anything you don't finish for you to take home! My only recommendation for them would be to include non-alcoholic drinks (coffee, tea, juice) in the buffet price. Later, I told my parents about Local Three and they were sold. "But Dad, it's my birthday and I've already been there once today!" Well, there's no stopping Big Tom and before I knew it, we were parking at Local Three. I had the spicy crab spaghettini, which was spicy and lemony, but a bit too rich for me. The highlight of the meal was talking to Chef Chris, who is just so warm and positive. At the end of the meal, they brought out the chocolate pudding cake with salted caramel and Captain Crunch-peanut butter ice cream... just as delicious as it sounds! The menu changes daily, and I found it to be creative yet focused and reasonably priced. There is plenty of free parking, but the lots are very dimly lit. For security reasons, I think that they should have someone available to walk you out to your car since it's a bit of a hike to the parking lot. Local Three is my new favorite restaurant in town- order a fun cocktail and cozy up for a night of fun! read more

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I've recently been made aware that I've neglected to review some of my most favorite establishments in Atlanta, Local Three being one of them. In a nutshell, everything Local Three touches turns to gold. Once you've navigated the weird development and parking deck and found your way down the hidden hallway in the office building lobby, you're pretty much in for one of the best dining experiences in your life. They're also phenomenal with large groups, with lots of large tables and semi-private dining areas, and they have no issues splitting checks. Need happy hour? You'll find an expansive and beautiful bar stocked with bourbon, bourbon, and more bourbon. No joke- those are even the headings on the drink menu. Even better, they offer $5 Manhattans (amazing) and free (yes, free!) truffle parmesan popcorn from 4-6pm Monday through Friday. If the weather is nice, grab a seat on the patio. Need brunch? For about $20, you get an all-you-can-eat buffet of amazing brunch-y goodies. Now, before you turn your nose up, picturing something akin to a Ryan's megabar, Local Three's buffet is not your typical buffet. First, it's literally in the kitchen. Yep, you grab your plate at the entry, and then walk "behind the curtain." The chefs plate the food in smaller tasting portions, so you can try just about everything. The menu is huge, fresh, and varies according to the season. Despite the buffet set up, they've managed to translate the quality of their plated meals to the brunch offerings. For example, baked goods (muffins, biscuits, pastries) are usually an afterthought on a brunch buffet, but here, I highly recommend you save room for them, particularly any of their quick breads. For my final note on brunch, I have to give them special props for the Star Wars themed brunch on May 4th (May the fourth be with you...) this year. Reservations are a must for brunch, and don't plan on eating for the rest of the day. And finally, need dinner? Dinner is where Local Three transforms into one of the must-visit dining destinations in Atlanta. Usually "American" food is my least favorite cuisine, except for anything and everything I've had here. Simply put, everything is so freaking good. Overall, Local Three consistently sets the bar for dining in Atlanta, regardless of the occasion. read more

Been wanting to try this joint since we first moved to the ATL, and the stars finally aligned in the middle of a week. Thank you stars. Although I braced for let down from all the hype -- a reasonable approach given ATL's fickle, peripatetic foodies -- that was unnecessary. Local Three might just be the perfect restaurant -- deadly serious about food and friendly, approachable skilled service, but utterly contemptuous of stuffy, hipster attitude. Somehow the somewhat garish painting of The Dude, bathrobe bedecked and imbibing his precious White Russian, which greets you behind the host station conveys everything about the place -- nothing is worse than a nihilist and anything is possible when you let go and just abide. You'll quickly notice that the menu is a little bit deeper and wider than many New American joints in the area, with a much greater variety. It was very, very hard to narrow down to an evening's fare. Opted to start with the Blistered Asparagus (Buttermilk Ricotta, "Canadian Bacon", Hazelnut, Egg Yolk $12.93) which was four big spears roasted up and dotted with the ricotta and such. Very crunchy and snappy and with the added dippy yolk providing some silky texture. Wish that we had brought enough appetite to try some of the other small plates too -- particularly the pickled and porky options -- but on this visit it was wise to move on to the entrees. Mountain trout is a fairly common item on ATL menus but this take went in a slightly different direction. The Carolina Mountain Trout a la Plancha (Anson Mills Rice Grits, Succotash, Lobster, Saffron $28.93) was both richer and simpler, with sweet, buttery chunks of lobster providing a contrast to the firm, flash-grilled flesh of the trout. You'll pick the skin clean. One of several specials looked particularly interesting -- Pan Roasted New Bedford Monkfish (Golden Beet, Radish, Patty Pan Squash, Whole Grain Mustard Jus $29.53) as I am a sucker for both monkfish and beets. This prep yielded a golden roasted filet on a bed of earthy, sweet garden-fresh veggies. Textures were great as the root veggies were not overcooked while the fish retained its firm, meaty chew without being too dry, always a risk with monkfish. If I had gotten up and taken a 15 minute stroll, I could have easily eaten another order. Instead we tapped out with an order of Fried Cheese Cake (Goat Cheese, Raspberry Coulis, Thyme $5.93) that was just enough sweet-sticky richness for two to split and not feel guilty. It had been a long time since I felt of pang of regret upon leaving a dinner -- I wanted to stay and try more stuff. All the stuff. I'm no nihilist. PS -- Construction in the adjacent office/condo complex has raised the hide-and-seek nature of finding Local Three a couple notches. Just keep following all the signage once you turn into the complex and resist your "this can't be right" urges. read more

I LOVE this place. Once you turn into the Piazza at Paces, you take a right and go straight (past the mini intersection) and you'll see the parking garage on your right past the row of parking spaces that face what looks like an indoor gym. The restaurant is in the same building as the parking garage and gym. The door at the end of the hallway that leads to the restaurant looks like the entrance to Narnia. The decor is cool and the tables are very large (all the apps, entrees, sides, etc we ordered in our group of 6 never had to compete for space). We arrived about a half hour before our reservation and started with some drinks at the bar. We were standing somewhat to the side of the bar and I really liked that the bartenders came around and personally brought the drinks to us. Breakdown of what we ordered from what I remember: Apps: Cheese board ($16) and Charcuterie sampler ($15) - Both amazing, though somewhat pricey Truffle parmesan popcorn ($4.93) - I already add truffle oil to my popcorn so this is right up my alley. Also a good portion. Rat toes ($7.53) - Shrimp, cheese, and jalapenos wrapped in bacon. Enough said. Duck fat fried brussel sprouts ($5.93) - Huge fan, great flavor Entree: Diver scallops ($26.53) - Had to try them, and they didn't disappoint. I cleaned my plate in like 5 minutes. I did still get a little food envy from other orders - the duck leg cassoulet, short rib, and pork shoulder all looked incredible. Dessert: Twix bar ($6.93) - Yummy but seemed a tad much for $7. Maybe I'll attempt my own discounted homemade version. Banana bread ($5.93) - Good but nothing stands out too much. Chocolate cake ($7.93) - Very delish. At this point I'm so stuffed I can't see straight. Great overall experience, good people. Definitely will return! read more

Would give it 6 stars if I could!!! I made an online reservation for Local 3 for my girlfriend and I's 2 year anniversary. Once we walked in we were seated at a very nice table and quickly thereafter our server came over and her first words were "Happy Anniversary!" Talk about a personalized experience! On top of that, Local 3 gave us a hand written card wishing us a happy anniversary and how glad they were that we were spending it with them. Imagine how awesome I looked infront of my girlfriend at this point!!!! The food was amazing - PLEASE ORDER THE POPCORN!!! this starter really kicked off the night.. AH MAZING! For dinner I had the "hungry man" which was a compliation of delicious foods including fried chicken, grits, a little desert, etc... delicious! Girlfriend had their pasta and could not stop talking about how awesome it was. The drinks were delicious and the service, once again, was some of the best I've had in Atlanta. Highly recommend this spot for anniversarys, and well, i'm planning a guy get together because of their extensive list of whiskeys and bourbons. Top notch dining establishment in Atlanta where there are many options - this makes my top 5 list easy. read more

I really want to give Local Three five stars but I can't - not yet.. We've been here several times and have brought friends and family. Each time we have come here it has been for brunch. The food at brunch is really awesome and, considering it is all you can eat, the pricing is great. The staff is always helpful. It is an amazing thing to actually be interacting with the kitchen staff that is actually preparing your food. They are always helpful and ready to answer questions. The service is great and the staff is friendly. We've had some great jams and jellys there. I don't eat fish but I love the brussels sprouts that come with the trout. And, their bacon is always good! The reason I can't give it 5 stars yet- has to do with the hosting staff. They are always nice and I understand that it is a busy place. But, twice they have considered putting us at a high table even though we have an infant and need a high chair.. not compatible with the high tables. Also, everyone understands having to wait but somehow you aren't sure if they are forgetting about you. I don't think they are actually forgetting us but rather it is a communication issue. But, the staff is always nice and that always helps to smooth over issues. Great place - I'm thrilled that they have the principles that they do and run the restaurant they way that they do. You should go check it out! read more

Not sure why people love the food here. I thought it wasn't that great. First thing's first, the appetizers were ok. The service was excellent! I loved the staff but the food and the prices of the food were ridiculous! I ordered the Cripsy Confit Duck Leg.. how disappointing that was. I never knew that the duck leg would be so greasy and it just didn't match with me that night. I had to take a trip to the restroom several times and wasn't a pleasant experience for me. Snacks: Truffle Parmesan Popcorn ($5.93) - flavor was delicious but too greasy for my standards Togarashi Spiced Shishito Peppers ($6.93) - too spicy for my taste buds but was tasty Appetizer: Maplebrook Burrata ($16.93) - salad was ok Main: Crispy Confit Duck Leg ($26.93) - too greasy, too much fat, the duck leg didn't taste good. The salad on the side was amazing.. the red neck caviar was good.. the duck leg.. no.. just no.. no good! I would give this place another try but I'm definitely not ordering that duck leg ever, again! read more

Local Three is owned by the owners of Muss and Turner's. This is THE place right now, but I was still stunned that there was a wait for a table on a Tuesday afternoon around 1 pm. Let me go back and give you some pointers about getting there before we talk about the restaurant itself. When arriving, I didn't see any signs for Local Three or parking but here's what you need to know: if coming South on 41, you'll want to turn into the parking deck just past the Suntrust building. Make sure you bring in your parking ticket inside the restaurant, so the folks at Local Three can validate it. From here, enter the building and pass the security desk, the entrance to Local Three is down the hall on the left. The wait was short and in no time we were nestled in our seats looking over the menu. They have a ton of beers to choose from and I found it interested that the draft beer is much pricier than bottled beer. Usually it is the other way around. I didn't have any so I can't comment on the quality but the selection is plentiful. I decided on the Lobster roll. It seemed kind of pricey, at $14, given how cheap and plentiful lobster is nowadays, but it sure was tasty. The sandwich was piled high and there were huge chunks of lobster in each bite I took. Erin's choice was the chicken pot pie. This was another very large portion. She hardly seemed to make a dent in it but did seem to enjoy it. We were engaged in conversation and didn't really notice the time going by. I suddenly noticed the entire restaurant was pretty much cleared out except for us. I asked if we needed to leave for them to close before dinner, but they were very polite, inviting us to stay and chat as long as we wanted. This preview really whet my appetite and I can't wait to get back to Local Three and try dinner. read more

Nice job not advertising hours. And an equally impressive job hiring snooty servers/hostesses to inform me of the fact that "Lunch ends at 2:00pm" with a scoff when I arrive. Props for the Lebowski Last Supper painting. read more

Went here for brunch today and if you read nothing else I write..read this. GO! Simple as that. Great food, great service. Excellent service actually. Our server Brent gave us the history behind the restaurant, even explained the "writing" on the wall. The cost was $19 and more than worth it even though I only went through twice..lol My only complaint and the reason this isn't a five is the temp of the food was cold. Not luke warm, flat out cold. Shrimp and grits-cold. French toast-cold. Confit chicken-cold. And even with it all being cold it was excellent. Seriously. I can't even imagine if it had been hot what the taste would have been. I will be back for dinner. read more

Let me be clear: This is an initial review, based on a client lunch meeting - this is why I'm being star-stingy. I probably need to go back for a full dinner/ cocktails in order to get the complete experience. Something important for anybody who has never been to know - the entrance to Local Three is NOT the easiest to find. There really isn't signage outside that points you in the right direction (in fact, they do a better job of directing you to the parking than they do to the eatery). I'll own up to the fact that having seen some outdoor seating, I walked out that way, thinking there would be some manner of entry from the outside world... and unfortunately, that just caused me to walk halfway around the building, just to turn back around. the restaurant is inside the Forum building, down a little hallway off the main lobby/ entrance, past the restrooms and through a door. Once you find it, however, Local Three leverages "cool" really well. The walls are decorated with paintings of scenes from "The Big Lebowski", and they have a burger on the present menu called "The McDowell" - yes, that IS a "Coming to America" reference, and yes, they DO include the same description that Mr. McDowell gives of the Big Mick (as opposed to the Big Mac) in the movie. My dining companion and I shared brussels sprouts off the "Snacks" section of the menu - roasted, halved sprouts with a touch of balsamic vinegar. They were tasty, with just the right amount of char. She had a grilled cheese (basically ordered their How Ham and Cheese, but asked that they hold back on the ham and apple), and I went for the Bay Scallop Po' Boy - we both opted for their fries. The Po' Boy was serviceable, though I don't know if I'd recommend it at its nearly $17 price of entry. I found the bread to be a bit overwhelming... the sandwich was a little dry for me, despite the pickles, lettuce, onion, and remoulade. I ended up fishing out the scallops and pickles, and leaving much of the rest. The fries were fresh and tasty, dressed in a bit of garlic and parsley. The service was friendly and attentive, and Local Three will validate your parking in the deck (don't forget to have the hostess stamp your ticket!). I'll be back to give this spot another shot! read more

I had the chance to visit the Local Three for a private event and was overwhelmed with this hidden gem! I've lived in this area for about 2.5 years and never knew that this staple was tucked away. We were in the private room and had a detailed menu specific to the event, but I must say if the food we were served is ANYTHING like the food we had at the event, JUST GO EAT THERE!!! The servers that serviced our event was great and I was really impressed with the setting, ambiance and feel of this restaurant! Highly recommend! read more

Went here for brunch for the first time, and I must say, I am impressed! One of the best brunch buffets in Atlanta. Located in a new development on Northside, finding it can be a little difficult, but worth the hunt. My first impression, after seeing all the fancy Sunday-dressed church ladies was that this place MUST have good down-home cooking. The menu is Southern all-the-way. Come here hungry. For twenty bucks, the selection is a step above the typical Southern breakfast and changes seasonally. On our visit, we had creamed celery root soup, apple cider pancakes with a red candy apple glaze, shrimps and grits, and other little nibbles. The dessert selection is good as well with home made lemon bars and chocolate tarts. The brunch line was located right in the kitchen, which was a nice touch, since you can literally see all the cooks making the food. Will definitely come back for dinner, which I think will have a different vibe, judging from all the whisky and bourbon bottles lining the wall, this place must be serious about its drinks. read more

I hate to spoil the party, because I've read so many glowing reviews... but based on my one visit at least, I'd have to say that Local Three did not live up to the hype. I'm glad we had a gift card for most of our dinner. I've been to several restaurants recently (e.g., No. 246 in Decatur) where I was literally raving over every bite; sadly, that wasn't the case here. The flavors and combinations were just not all that well-balanced or refined. I do have to admit that there weren't many entrees that appealed to me, because I don't care for most fall vegetables. So we got a cheese plate and their house-made charcuterie plate, the "Notorious P.I.G." That was pretty good, with candied bacon and several tasty sausages (including a pheasant sausage that I enjoyed more than I expected to, though it was really more like a pile of mushy meat than a sausage). The cheese plate was okay -- rather large portions, but there were basically three very bland cheeses and the very intense Point Reyes Blue. More balance would have been good. The accompaniments were nothing special, though I did appreciate the very light, not-too-filling flatbread, even if it was rather boring and didn't seem made in-house. My husband had a rather strange entree called porchetta -- a slice of a giant roulade of pork loin surrounded by pork belly (with the skin still on), over mashed sweet potatoes and Swiss chard. The pork skin was inedibly chewy -- I'm not sure if one is expected to eat it or not. The entree overall was kind of strange-tasting, but also sort of bland. I got the fried oyster appetizer in lieu of an entree -- the oysters seemed fresh, but they were very over-breaded with cornmeal, and I didn't love the accompanying arugula and rather vague sauce. We had two of their small desserts, and though I'm a dessert nut I actually didn't finish either (I was stuffed by then on cheese and sausage anyway). The "peanut butter and gelee" was a peanut butter mousse with strawberry gelee inside -- fairly tasty. Hubby got a blonde brownie topped with a caramel mousse "doughnut" covered in chocolate. Separately, these elements were pretty good, but they didn't really go together. So... all told, it was a decent meal, but not really a mouth party. The service was the best part of the experience -- our server was knowledgeable, casual, and professional. The decor, like the food, is a little self-consciously cute. I do have to disagree about the place being hard to find -- maybe they have added some signage, but if you read the directions on their web site it's really not a big deal. read more

The hungry man wins best looking meal tonight. Short ribs were amazing, and brussel sprouts snack and oh the cheese ball with the most delicious saltine crackers? Served by a dude in a 3-pug airbrushed Tshirt? Look I can't describe this place, just eat here. Now. Amazing!!! read more

Local Three - Hungry man!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I went here for the first time last night with a friend and had a great time. I quickly learned that if you are going to get a table here without a wait you must make a reservation as the place fills up quickly! We made a reservation the day before and didn't have problems. We walked right in and our table was ready and waiting. I enjoyed the variety of custom cocktails and great drink menu! They had an assortment of small batch bourbons and whiskey. They also had a good choice of draught beers. I don't think you could have a bad dish at this place and the menu has several entrees and specials that change nightly. Everything they serve is local and in season. So if you appreciate this philosophy it the place for you! We had an order of the fat fried sprouts and wow were they tasty. I was honestly skeptical at first, but tried them anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. For my entree, I had the Hanger steak that was perfectly prepared medium rare. The side of potatoes and green beans were also very good. My friend order the Venison, and it too was very tasty and prepared to order. The Venison had potatoes, and also had a dried fruit and walnut sauce on the top which gave the plate a sweet flavor (amazing). And my favorite of all was desert. I appreciated that they served "small bites" that are perfect for sharing with someone and only cost $4. We tried the chocolate cake with house made carmel ice cream.... again, amazing! I will definitely return here again! If you plan to dine here make sure to make a reservation to ensure you have a table; otherwise, be prepared to wait and hour+ or sit at the bar. read more

Simply intoxicating. A few nights before I had hit an old favorite, Ecco, and was very disappointed. A local friend said he would fix my foodie self that and took me to Local Three. Not exactly where you would expect to find great restaurant, an office building, but I have been wrong before including my local favorite here in Las Vegas, the Vintner Grill. How to describe the decor? ..Certainly tasteful, grainy, earthy, volcanic even with a personality all it's own. Service was just downright friendly and very, very good. They obviously take the food seriously but for everyone here it seems that life is good and they seemed happy to be here. FOOD My bud is a vegetarian so it was up to me to hit the meaty stuff. Ordered the Notorious P.I.G sample platter which was a tasting of three of their takes on the mud rolling beast, and his beef friends, along with 3 cheeses. Just order it and a glass of Pinot Noir and you'll be just fine. Fried pickled beets were also in order and with my British upbringing anything with a different take on pickling is always welcomed...Stupid good is what these were...off the charts. Main course I had the duck medium rare. Best I have had in years, melt n your mouth good and a color reminiscent of how real, natural raised meat should look, dark yet glistening. A beautiful sight! We ordered Gary's Sweet Treat plate to finish up but in reality just order the Twix bar. Delicious! Reverend Jim Jones might get me to drink the cool aid after this meal. Just plain incredible. Thanks Local Three. PS. Ooops, forgot, we had the corn soup..YES INDEEDY it was gooood. read more

Went to Local Three last night with friends for a celebratory dinner. I am glad I checked out Yelp and read about the difficultly to find the place - it does look like it is a in a mixed use office / condo setting with a parking garage behind the entrance. Look closely for the small signs! We had early reservations and arrived even earlier just to check out the bar for a bit. Was super impressed by the bartenders and their knowledge and skill - and it was a comfortable soft rustic industrial setting with a bit of whimsy. You would easily feel comfortable in jeans with a nice shirt - ladies were in jeans or dresses - it is pretty upscale relaxed. If you are a bourbon drinker you will be in heaven. I am not but they still made a righteous martini for me perfectly shaken just the way I asked for it. Once seated, we were taken care of immediately and deftly. Our server started by asking about any gluten issues in our party (one of the guests in our party has an intolerance) so she removed the daily menu and brought it back with everything checked off that would be gluten free / soy free etc right down to the specific nature of their dietary needs. Very top notch service that just so kind and considerate. We had an amazing bottle of limited production Pinot noir and appetizers of both the Buffalo cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. I have tried sprouts a million different ways and personally hate them - however for the first time in my life I loved them!! They even pan seared them as not to cross-contaminate in a flour laden fryer - they were a perfect caramelization from a cast iron skillet. Gorgeous! We had the pork chops (I ate every delicious bite), catfish, trout spread, and the scallops - then amazing tiramisu and flourless white chocolate cake. The only miss for me was the flourless cake but others liked it. Totally a 5 star Atlanta in town dining experience at a very hip relaxed restaurant. Really looking forward to going back again!! read more

The ambiance was great, the food was great.....but heres the most important part of this review..... YOU CAN BRING TWO BOTTLES OF WINE FROM HOME! WITH NO CORKAGE FEE!!!!!!!!! Soon to be one of our regular places :) read more

4 of us went for the Prix-Fixe Valentine's Dinner on a Saturday night. We ordered cocktails first, which were very tasty! Loved the cute salt and pepper shakers on the table. The choices on the menu were fine and 3/4 of us chose the wine pairings. The apps were all good. Everyone loved their beet salad. I had the lobster app w/wasabi. Yum. The entrees were good too. Small portions, but really just right w/o feeling full. The wines were OK. I think the server may have mixed a few up. I had the scallops and they were very good. Our waitress was busy, but overall did a good job. Forgot our dessert orders, but straightened that out. The desserts were all good. A nice dinner in a nice place. $65 for the meal/wine. I loved it, but would like to try the regular menu sometime. read more

A few of us came here for dinner last night for my birthday and pretty much went nuts on the menu. It was a phenomenal dinner - lots of very innovative dishes with good drink options too (Brown Sugar Lindemanns!). The restaurant is tucked away on the first floor of the forum (follow the signs from the parking lot). The decor is kitchy with lots of interesting pieces that catch your eye. We waited for our table while grabbing a drink at the bar and indulged in a game of checkers (yes we did have to google the intructions) with the board that was built into the bar itself. After we were seated, the waitress was nice enough to go through the menu with us, and point out some of her favorite dishes. Our meal: We ordered a bunch of apps to start and my faves were the chicken liver (a must-order!), the mushroom/truffle/parm risotto (drool*), and the notorious P.I.G. (giggle*). Close runner ups included the home-made mozarella and cheese plate. I ordered the 'Why Hello Clarice' entree (steak, truffle butter, veggies) which was done perfected with good flavor and just a hint of truffle but not too much to overpower the meat. If you like steak, I def. recommend this dish For dessert we shared a few selections - creamsicle shake (not sure what it was actually called but that's what it tasted like), the 'creme brulee' (pudding consistency, which sounds weird but it totally worked into a mush of deliciousness), and the bombe (if you like chocolate, it's a win). I honestly don't have a single bad thing to say about this place. There are a selection of different sized tables and nooks and crannies, and it's great for groups (big or small, ours was a group of 8 but the table would have sat 12), or dates. I'll def be back for seconds (and to try the brunch buffet too!) read more

I tried to go to Local Three for Sunday brunch on Palm Sunday when I had family in town, but we were basically turned away (our other option was to wait for 2+ hours), because I had not made a reservation. It honestly never occurred to me that I'd need a reservation for a Sunday brunch for 3 people. But I figured, if they are that full up on reservations, it must be worth it. So on the way home on my phone, I made a reservation for the hubby and I for Easter brunch at Local Three. We arrived a little early for our reservation (I over estimated how long Easter service would take), but were seated immediately by the window. The restaurant is warm, and a little more casual than I expected, but very homey and inviting. Our waiter was quick to show up and tell us about their awesome brunch. It's actually served in the kitchen which is really cool. They also had a dessert/pastry table out in the main restaurant. The food was really off the chain. The fish and grits, the procuitto and melon salad, the lamb, the smashed fingerling potatoes, the split pea soup, the chocolate salted caramel mousse. . .. SO FREAKIN GOOD. The pulled pork benedict was pretty good, it was just a shame it was cold, but that's a difficult item to serve on a buffet. Props to whoever poaches the eggs though, that egg was PERFECTLY poached. Local three also had the Easter bunny on hand for photo opportunities for the family, which I thought was a nice touch. Overall, we were really pleased, and I also found out these guys do a Paleo 3 course menu once a month (first Monday of the month), that we will definitely be back for! I'm holding off the final 5th star until I hit them for a normal brunch or for Paleo dinner, since Easter brunch is a bit of a special occasion (as it was nearly twice the price of the regular brunch). Just be aware, make reservations for brunch, they are not kidding around that they hold tables for their reservations! read more

Our group of four had made reservations about 4 weeks in advance, and received a confirmation call the day before, so we were surprised to hear we didn't have a reservation when we arrived. However, the mixup was quickly corrected by a very courteous staff and we were seated at a high-top table in a nook next to a lot of cookbooks I wanted to peruse. I really enjoyed the ambiance and the vibe. Nice but casual and welcoming. The drinks and appetizers arrived first, of course, and I feel like I've had everything better somewhere else. The pimento cheese lacked kick, the boiled peanuts had no personality. The drinks were tasty but lacked any special presentation. For a restaurant with such an extensive bourbon list, my husband was disappointed to have his served with slivers of ice instead of the more appropriate cubes to avoid excessive melt. If I'd been so inclined I could have finished my full cocktail in two swallows. However, that said, our entrees were incredible and are what bring this review up to the four stars. Everyone practically licked their plates clean. We had the chicken pot pie, the trout, the potato-leek risotto, and the spicy crab spaghettini between us, and there was liberal sharing and copious oohs and ahhs. We hit another snafu with our desserts (first a mis-delivery obviously meant for another table, and then a forgotten dessert). Everything was nice, but everything except the entrees were a little "off". Possibly explained by the very high occupancy for the evening, but still. Just a couple of missteps that kept a fabulous evening from being really spectacular. read more

This place has to be one of the best kept secrets i have ever eaten at. Tucked away in a nice condo/apartment type village this restaurant seems to have no major signage. We were almost worried but the minute you walk in and feel the energy you are reassured. The waiter was awesome! His drink recommendations were spot on and very helpful. We started with some bourbon that had been custom made for the restaurant group- it was pricey, but the waiter warned us and described what the notes werelike, it was awesome. We then had a reasonably priced bottle of malbec. I love that they have "snacks" and "appetizers" both of which are down right cheap in terms of price. We had the roasted brussel sprouts, the truffle popcorn, and general tso's rabbit. All were fantastic. The rabbit wasnt spicy, but it had a kick butt sauce on and the rice it was on top of almost had the rabbit flavor infused into it. The brussel sprouts looked like they were adorning just about every table in the house.They were awesome!! For dinner I had the seafood pot pie-- which had an awesome crust, and was loaded with juicy meaty chunks of lobster. The sauce was crazy good. My wife had the mac/cheese which had an awesome bread crumb top. Our table also had the burger, which was a good portion size and loaded with perfectly truffled fries. The stand out dinner was the pork chops. These were perfectly fried-- giving them a soft crunch but a juicy interior. The sauces on the side really worked and overall it was filling and amazing. The deserts.... seriously. The Best. We ordered the smore, creme brule, and bread pudding. All were totally different but just perfect. We licked all the bowls clean. read more

Love this place, one of the top restaurants in Atlanta. The Dude sets the tone as you walk in, inside is casual, open and inviting. The food...outstanding, fresh, creative. Brussel sprouts, charred to perfection... Short rib with kimchee...outstanding combo of flavors and tender... The duck meatballs...incredible...I only wish there were more... Hanger steak? Cooked perfectly. Duck leg....that's a sexy leg. There is nothing more to say. This place rocks. It's much better than eating a Totinos in your basement, just my opinion. Go! read more

Wow! 17 family members from 3 different states converging on Local Three to enjoy good food and good conversation. The only time to enjoy Local Three, their best Sunday brunch! Armed with a reservation and lot o' a hungry people, we gathered at the hostess desk, only to be told that our table was on hold. The previous party had paid but was simply hanging out. After 45 minutes beyond our reservation time, we asked the staff to intervene , but they claimed their hands were tied. So we sent a delegate from our own party to talk politely to the other party and inquire how much longer they were going to be. Once the other party realized they were holding up a 20+ Person group, then they apologized and left the restaurant. (Thank goodness! I thought we would eat the wooden pig at the hostess desk!) No one in our entire party had eaten at Local Three. We toured the kitchen, surveyed the food and prepared our report. We got back to the table and informed the group they were in for a treat! The food was FABULOUS! Everyone enjoyed the food! The tomato soup, ever so creamy! The eggs were soft and very flavorful. The French toast, I couldn't bring myself to touch, because it was covered in cereal! But the quiche and the pancakes made up for the loss! Everyone should try this place! At least once! So good!!! read more

I want this review to be funny, like some of the awesome Yelpers in my Friends list. For some reason, I can't seem to make this one funny. Maybe it's because of the large amount of wine I had at Three Local last night. Three stars are an average. The location, the gorgeous interior space, the excellent patio, and the fun, cool people who work here are all four-star worthy. The food is rich and flavorful, but a little too heavy for me. The restaurant is obscurely located in a tall, tan office building in a mixed use complex just south of the Speech School and just north of the 75/West Paces intersection on Northside. If you didn't already know where to find it, you never would. Entry is through a revolving door into a largely deserted office building. A billboard sign directs you down a narrow hallway to an incongruously organic wooden door. This opens into a narrow reception hall which opens surprisingly into a high, airy, dimly lit restaurant. The long marble bar faces a 20 foot, clear window lined with gleaming bottles and backed by sun-dappled trees. Impressive! I was tempted to forget about the restaurant and just drink my dinner at the bar. It turns out that you can sit at the bar for dinner. But, I was on a date with my wife, so I asked for a table. They gave us a small table next to the kitchen entrance. Huh. Service professional, if a little slow. The waitress was good and answered all my questions. The sommelier, Matt, was excellent. We had a great conversation about Italian wines and German cars. I'll probably go back to visit the bar so he can guide me through some wines. The crowd looked mostly like salaried business types who work in the area (or even the building). I saw several groups of macho, mid-thirties guys in oxford shirts not interacting with several groups of what looked like recently graduated corporate gals. Printed at the bottom of the menu are shibboleth-type non-sentences, apparently designed to impress. A memorably ironic example was, "Delicious wins. Pretense fails." LMFAO. The food was rich, more than I prefer. In my opinion, this is the type of over-blown fancy food that makes thin people fat very fast. At least the portions were blessedly small. If I ate too much of this stuff my arteries would rebel and throttle my brain. This is not to imply poor quality. The quality of the food was clearly exceptional - fresh pasta made daily, lots and lots of lobster in the lobster pasta. I just prefer a lighter style of preparation. My taste is not universal in this. Prices were high - low twenties for most of the entrées, mid teens for the appetizers, and few bottles of wine under $70. Our total came to about $120, but that's after a $20 tip and a $60 bottle of wine. This was worth it to me, since we migrated to the deck to linger over the wine and enjoy the warm spring evening. Overall, this is a great place for a date. Since I was on a date with my incredibly beautiful and awesome wife, it served admirably. We had a wonderful time together in this beautiful location - it was romantic and fun and all around pleasant. Personally, I would not return just for the food. Next time, we'll eat simpler fare at Houston's and come here for the bar! read more

After my first (of many more to come) meal here I can safely say it's the finest dining experience in Atlanta. From the moment you walk in and are greeted by the a portrait of Jeff Bridges as The Dude smiling down, you can tell this is going to be a special meal. Nestled in the Forum on Northside Parkway this restaurant has scrubbed the pomp and circumstance out of the space formerly known as Joel. The Local 3 welcomes you in like a bear hug from some old scruffy friend and instantly you feel at home. Ambiance aside, the food is bar none. Head Chef Chris Hall (from the Sundial and Canoe) brings in long time friends Muss and Turner (from Muss and Turners (duh)) to work some kind of food alchemy in the fabulous kitchen left behind by Joel. Old favorites are done right. While there is creativity and novelty in the dishes you're pallet is not asked to find pleasure in bizarre or overtly exotic ingredients. Instead fresh ingredients and flawless cooking expertise come together to take something you know like Chicken Pot Pie and transform it simply into the best pot pie that could be created. Texture, seasoning, and portion are all perfectly balanced. You will not walk away hungry, nor overly full. The dishes are presented elegantly but not plated so artfully that your food is reminiscent of a museum wall piece. Desert shares the same balance: milk and cookies? Genius. Or try something different: house-made ginger-ale, coconut ice cream, and passion fruit sorbet was simply superb. Local 3 offers the diner everything they could wish for: a balance between comfort and sophistication as well as balance between familiar and foreign. I would recommend it with two thumbs up but one of them is occupied making my next reservation. PS check out the bar which is made of a single timber milled locally from a tree found down around the corner. Not to mention an EXCELLENT selection of bourbons from the rare and extravagant to undiscovered treasures waiting to be sipped. They also have a comprehensive and diverse beer and wine selection that we came to expect from Muss and Turners. read more

I hit the Local Three brunch every Sunday I'm in town. I go to dinner here about once a month. Things that are awesome about this place: - Staff: always friendly and able to show some personality. - Art/Decor: maybe not for everyone but I love all the pieces here. - Bar (in general). Extensive if pricey liquor selection. Awesome wall of bourbon. Great great great cocktails. - Brunch: Come hungry. We are here every Sunday with a group between 2-12 people. - Local Menu: I've never been disappointed with dinner. Always new and interesting things to try and a couple dishes here have ranked as all-time Atlanta favorites. So, yeah, if you haven't been, fix that. Cheers. read more

We were there when they opened and were lucky enough to eat brunch without a reservation ( I wouldn't count on being seated without one though). I love bacon and was pleasantly surprised by the bacon they served. It was different than any other bacon I've eaten. It had a subtle smokiness that made my taste buds smile (greedy girl talk). And the potatoes... I was also impressed by the size and cleanliness of the kitchen, which you walk thru during the brunch buffet. They had a great mix of both breakfast and lunch dishes, good service, and a nice atmosphere. Make sure you go when you have a decent appetite and have worked out, as the chefs are in no way concerned about your waistline. read more

Every few weeks, our group gets together to grab brunch and catch up on life. This week, it was at Local 3. New area for most of us and brunch at this place for all of us. When you think about buffet food, you think of Old Country or some other place you wish you never heard. Local 3 not only had really great food but the service was good throughout our visit. The place got packed very fast and fresh food was still coming out very quickly keeping the self serve line moving nicely. Food is really fresh and well prepared. The selection is quite good with breakfast items like creamy eggs, specialty bacon (extra crispy), proper pancakes, and french toast, they had buttermilk fried chicken which was really good, salads, shrimp and grits, and other things. They could use some more fruit but overall, really well done. The only issue I had was when we sat down, our server said ..... 'Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea, and soft drinks are all included ... and we have orange and grapefruit juice too.' At the end of what we all agreed to be a good meal 8 out of 8 of us agreed to come back for dinner next time .... we got a bill which included 9 cups of juice at $3 a piece. Three of us got 3 small juices each because after all, it was 'included'. Everyone at the table thought juices were included the way it was presented by our server so there was no miscomminication on our part. Even on an early Sunday morning, I'd like to say the folks in our group are all rather coherent and intelligent folks so there is no way all of us heard the same thing. When we brought it up, the server just said sorry but made no effort to even attempt to fix it and charged us $27 for 9 small glasses of juice. At least take off a couple. It's bad enough you automatically added 20% tip without telling us. After tax and tip you are looking at about $35 for orange juice. We had a bigger group, I get it but the standard auto add is 18% no? It's not the money, really the principle and it would have been a really good experience and easily would have been a different review with a definite follow up reservation for dinner in the near future if it didn't come down to a little issue with the orange juice at end. Great food, good service, very nice atmosphere, but too bad about the juice. read more

I've finally made it to Local Three! I brought a fellow foodie so we could do this place right (and drink lots of vino). We shared some of the small plates and appetizers such as the cheese sampler, charcuterie sampler, and empanadas. I was a little disappointed there wasn't a combination of both the cheese and charcuterie because of how pricey they were individually. My friend had the steak which was cooked perfectly and I had the scallops which wee just ok. We finished with desert which was amazing! It was like raw cookie dough and once you dipped it in hot milk, it was more of a cookie with an extremely gooey middle. Amazing and genius! Service He was great after we told him we're foodies and we're going to be dining for awhile. I think he was trying to flip his table since he kept trying to take our order. But we didn't order light and drank a few bottles of wine so we made it worth it for a table to only turn once. Overall, here wasn't anything that I strongly disliked, but this place didn't blow me any either. It's definitely a place to try and expire nice. read more

What a fun place for brunch! Local Three offers an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, but it's definitely a cut above what you'd typically expect. The buffet station is located inside their kitchen, which I found different and pretty neat. Everything is well labeled, so you never have to guess at what you're piling on your plate. My favorites were the biscuits with gravy and berry pancakes. Service is great. They stay really on top of keeping your water glass full, and clearing away plates as soon as you're finished with it, so you can go up and grab a new plate for seconds (or thirds, or fourths...). In fact, they're probably a little TOO good at this - they cleared away one of my plates before I was quite finished with it! I liked that they replaced the silverware with clean ones, though. Definitely will be back next time I'm in Atlanta! read more

Local Three - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This place is a little hard to find - it's inside of what looks like an office building with a few signs here and there, but none that really lead you. There's a parking lot and I believe they validated, but when we went on a Sunday night, the gates were open so free parking! (yay!!) Came here on a suggestion of a friend and it was really good! We were here on a Sunday night and made a reservation - we were seated immediately, not sure if it was because we had a reservation or because it was pretty empty when we got there. There are big long tables in the middle and more cozy 2 seaters along the edge of the restaurant. They have an extensive bourbon menu with other liquors if bourbon doesn't tickle your fancy. I stuck with water since I don't drink but my husband does and he ordered a muddy water for $10.03 - not sure why they didn't round down to $10... but whatever that's besides the point. Their menu changes seasonally, with I believe daily specials since our menu also served as a place mat and had the date on the top... We got the Brussels Sprouts, Charcuterie plate and split the double patty burger. Our server was good, but the rate at our food came out was a little slow? I think they were waiting until we finished some our appetizer before starting our food, but not too sure. Everything but the burger was delicious! I mean, the burger wasn't terrible, but it was just like any burger that I would make at home, it was only slightly warm... which threw me off because the fries were super hot..? I wonder if maybe they were waiting on the fries to finish cooking, which I find hard to believe since you can time those pretty well I would imagine. The fries were nice and potato-y - but I wish they were a little crispier.. I would definitely come back to try the rolls, we saw a few of those come out for other tables and they looked so fluffy and delicious.. I also would come back and try the general tso's rabbit which our server said was really good. Next time I come back, I'll bring a few friends since this place seems to enjoy people staying and chatting, it's a really great atmosphere! read more

My husband and I have lived in ATL for 5 years and had the pleasure of eating at Local Three for our anniversary. The food was seriously some of the best food I've ever had in my entire life. I feel like the more expensive a place, the smaller the portions, but this wasn't so with Local Three and the food was very reasonably priced for what you get. I had the steak special and it was probably the best strip steak I've ever had and I've eaten at tons of steakhouses including Rathbuns, Ruth Chris and Chops. On Monday nights they have "flip for it" wine where the manager flips a coin and if you guess right (heads or tails) you get your whole bottle for a $1! So we managed to get two appetizers, a bottle of wine, steak and sausage stuffed quail for roughly $100 which was amazing for the quality. To top it off, our waiter brought us a card signed by all the waiters/kitchen staff congratulating us on our anniversary and also brought us out a very nice dessert. The manager checked on us no less than two times asking how our meals were. All in all, we loved this place and will definitely be back. If you eat there ask for Clay to be your waiter! PS-for reference we had: Appetizers: mushroom & brie toast & scallops Main: 14oz strip steak with potatoes and mushrooms & sausage stuffed quail with sweet potato waffles Dessert: bread pudding Seriously, everything we had was AMAZING and I would recommend all of it! read more

Local Three - Steak special and sausage stuffed quail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Honestly the worst brunch I have had to date in Atlanta. Let me explain, we called to make a reservation no one answered the phone, we get up to the hostess stand they ask us if we have a reservation, I said "no we tried but you did not answer the phone." Hostess "well we all have things we need to improve on." Now mind u the restaurant was empty. We got a table, at this point I'm feeling this is pretty pretentious. We sit down there is no menu, they are doing some kind of buffet brunch where you walk around the kitchen and serve yourself, side note I HATE buffets! If I had know known I never would have come. We went in got our food sat down, the eggs "soft scrabbled eggs" taste terrible over cooked. The buttermilk pancakes were sour and cold, eggs were cold, bacon was greasy, sweet potato soup was bland, I am still sitting here in the restaurant as am TOTALLY unimpressed and DISAPPOINTED in the food. To be honest this is a cute restaurant with a pretentious feel that has food that is lack luster. First time we have been here and last time, bad food, bad service and you get to pay$24.93 for what they call a total PIG OUT. All I can say is YUCK RUN AWAY read more

Local Three - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia