The Local is a newer, modern restaurant that has been recently popping up around the Metro West area, in all of the "W" towns. This is the fifth one to open. It's located on Third Avenue, right off Rt 128 (exit 27A), in the former Bonefish Grill space adjacent to Osterio Posto in the business district of Waltham. In the past, I have only been to the location in Wayland, which is considerably older and has a different clientele. This "The Local" was different, much newer, busier, and darker. While it was a nice intention, the lack of lighting throughout the restaurant was a bit too much. Hopefully in the future they will brighten it up just a little bit (not too much though, because that would ruin it!). We were not the only table using our smartphone flashlights to read the menu, something I found hysterical. While I would agree with what I have heard from others about this restaurant chain, that the menu is sort of limited and can be difficult to try something new from each time since it's only one page, I actually find it to be helpful for those who are hungry and want to get eating. They are very efficient in cooking here, especially considering how close to the opening it still is and how many people were there when I went. Maddie, one of the waitresses, was extraordinarily friendly. She informed our table about the Loyalty program, which is a type of thing I would typically know about.... I'm always interested in these types of programs, but was not told or asked about the program in either of my prior visits to the Wayland location (shame on them!). Maddie was completely on top of her game throughout our entire experience and was extremely attentive. Definitely recommend her 100%! Good bread as well! Nice new restaurant, and very convenient on and off highway location! 5 stars, very happy with this new place. Give it a try, it's great for everyone! read more

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I love the vibe of this place! We didn't have to wait at all for a table inside. I ordered avocado toast and truffle fries and my husband had a burger. I'm picky about french fries and these were super good! Everyone was decently friendly, but Jess M. (Jessica Mull I think?) went above and beyond for us. She was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and made our dining experience that much better. If you need a good lunch spot, I recommend this place. read more

Server was incredibly friendly and attentive. Started with the chips and dip to share. Chips were hot, crunchy, and perfectly seasoned. Dip was also delicious, but came in a really small container - maybe 1/4 cup. Was really pleased with the fish tacos. They gave a good portion of fish which was still warm and perfectly crispy. The only thing I felt was missing was some acid from fruit or tomatoes to brighten it up, but I was very satisfied overall. Three of us got the Cadillac margaritas and they were huge. Really enjoyed the variety of food options. Would definitely return read more

First time diner. Grateful for excellent, quick, friendly service. Terrific burger cooked to perfect medium. Outside seating was comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

I ordered the sautéed energy bowl with grilled chicken. It had limited flavor. I contacted the restaurant directly (Waltham), but didn't receive a response. read more

Party of 11 for lunch on a Saturday during Memorial Day weekend. John was our server and he was terrific! Fast, professional, courteous, and friendly. Kids were full and happy and so were the parents! Hong Kong noodles are top notch...definitely will be back! Keep up the great work guys! read more

Amazing choices for a gf meal. Things you NEVER see on a gf menu. However some of the food was salty and excessively oily. Aside from that roasted brussel sprouts, steak tips, spicy noodle dish and battered dish and chips were decent. They have made mistakes with our order every time come here. read more

Had a great meal at The Local. Party of 5 sat outside under a covered area with heater overhead on a stormy evening. Good food, good service. read more

I recently went to The Local with a party of 25 for a work dinner. The food was great. Jennifer was our server and not only was she kind genuine and attentive but she was so friendly. Sometimes when your with a large party the server becomes overwhelmed managing the party. But not Jennifer she said she loves the challenge. I felt like every request was fulfilled with a smile! Thanks for the great service Jennifer!!!!! read more

I've been going here since it opened. I like the atmosphere and food for the price. I think of it as not your average Joe's plus half a star! Also I have two young kids and it is family friendly... the wait staff are great... Tonight though I arrived asking for a table for six around 5.30 and was not expecting to get a table for that number quickly since I did not make a reservation. I never bother reserving since the wait times are usually pretty good.... I was met by a snarky host who seemed indignant I would arrive without a reservation. He said the wait time would be three hours. I said "wow, really three hours?" He tapped on his screen and said : "well, in reality, it will be more like an hour".... so in literally ten seconds we had gone from three hours to one! Since it seemed I had ruined his day for being so rude to drop in without a reservation we left... read more

Love this place. Always friendly service, good menu, nice casual atmosphere. We're lucky to have it in the neighborhood.

I've been going to The Local for several years as it is one of the better brunch places in the area. The staff is very friendly and attentive and we enjoyed all of the meals we ordered. I have to know a few stars off for ambiance, however. There were not many people eating when we were there so there was plenty of space to spread out. The sound system was clearly set up for a packed bar and was so loud we could barely carry on a conversation. We asked that the music be turned down and were told that volume couldn't be adjusted as it was set by management. Well, management better fix this because our group will not sit through another meal like the this. If you actually want to hold a conversation with the people you are eating with you should find another restaurant. read more

Rude staff, excessive wait times, and low quality food for the price. I came here for lunch with co-workers. We were seated immediately and the waitress took our orders. I asked for a custom order, explicitly asking for no grilled avocado in my sesame chicken bowl (she did not honor this request when this came out). After 40 minutes, our orders still had not come out. I politely flagged the waitress when our orders would come out and she became incredibly rude, complaining that the restaurant was too busy, as if somehow it was our fault. We decided we'd simply walk out in 10 minutes if the food didn't arrive--it arrived before that thankfully (I think). My $17 sesame chicken bowl was rather small for the price...I could have gotten more chicken at a Chinese restaurant. The broccoli was good but just 4-5 florets...come on, broccoli is super cheap! For a nearly $20 lunch I'd expect a lot more. It was mediocre and most Chinese malls have better sesame chicken for less than half the price! When we asked for separate checks, the waitress again had a major attitude but complied. We all agreed never to come back to this establishment again. read more

This used to be a reliable spot for a good, causal meal. Unfortunatley, our most reent meal was most disappointing. The truffle and the regular fries were off, the burgers (ordered rare) were over-cooked. The service was great, but the food...not so much. read more

I don't usually complain about food being overpriced - I understand better ingredients, recipes, and time and attention from everyone from cooks to servers costs money. But this local chain is pricing like they are 5 star in a big city while delivering formulaic food with recipes that often are a bit lacking. Sevice is fabulous and spot on - but the recipes and the price/value need some work. read more

I never post reviews but I came here on a business trip from Missouri with colleagues the other night and our waitress Jenny made sure our experience was spectacular. She always made sure our waters and drinks were full and she suggested delicious food. Not only did she kick ass but she was one of the most pleasant, kind people I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know. She is an angel and drop dead gorgeous which was an added bonus. I hope I return to Boston for future business trips just to see her again. Thanks for a great first experience Jenny!! read more

We had a great dinner at the Local! It was a Friday night after the dinner rush. We were seated quickly! I personally like the Waltham location better than the Newton location. It's bigger and you can hear better. We had shrimp skewers over a bed of sautéd spinach. So yummy! The steak tips were cooked perfectly. A big shoutout to our server Shea! She was a great server and management is lucky to have her! We will be returning! read more

They removed some items from the menu that I liked including the half chicken and the meatloaf. I may still go here. But probably not as much as before. The menu change has made this place less appealing for me. read more

If the old hand made fries come back, I promise to edit this review to be 5 stars. The fresh hand cut fries are one of the best things on the menu as a side. I have been disappointed the last couple of visits to find they are no longer of the same quality. I look forward to changing this review after my next trip where hopefully they will make a triumphant return. read more

OMG, great restaurant ambiance inside. We had the Haddock fish (to die for), beet salad, and Brussels sprouts. Loved all of it, including the Jalapeño Margarita. Sorry forgot to take pics. Get the fish!! read more

$20 for mediocre steak tips and french fries. That was a main course too. You can't throw in a side of veggies or even a tiny salad? The tips weren't thick they were thin, and you know if it comes with steak sauce they don't taste that great on their own. I wouldn't bring anybody here because the portions are small and overpriced menu items. read more

Great food and service. I had the short rib hash. It had plenty of short tib in it. Definitely worth trying.

We just did takeout, so can't speak to the inside of the restaurant. The online ordering process was OK, but the payment process was unnecessarily convoluted. Once we figured it out, it seemed to work (our order was done on time and correctly!) The maitre d' was courteous and efficient. As we'd arrived a few minutes early our order wasn't quite ready but it was done exactly at the estimated time so kudos for their timing accuracy! The food was all delicious and portion sizes were ample. We had a couple lobster rolls and chicken parmesans and everything was well made and tasty. I recommend them and we'll be going back next time we're in Massachusetts! read more

Excellent, friendly service before I sat down, by my server as I dined and as I left. Being from out of town I had a lobster roll and chowder. I enjoyed both immensely. Lobster was delicious but I think there could have been a little bit more dressing or seasoning to it to really make it pop. The Chowder was decadent. Will recommend. read more

Stopped in here on a Saturday night at 7. We had reservations (through Open Table). We were seated once the whole group arrived. They were very busy but plenty of parking in the back. The dining room area is a bit cramped in the middle so ask for a booth. We didn't do this initially. We were seated but it was so crowded I asked if we could move and they allowed it with no problem. The service was slow but friendly. The food was good but overpriced in my opinion. The drinks were good as well but overall nothing spectacular or noteworthy. I wouldn't run back anytime soon but didn't hate anything, either. read more

Ventured out for dinner and drinks with friends after being apart for over a year. We showed up early and we're pleased to see many open seats at the bar so we could catch up. The bartender was fabulous and she was genuinely happy which set the tone. Once seated for dinner the mood changed. From start to finish it felt like we were bothering our waitress I'm not sure if that was because we were a large party or because she works for a manager who is particularly rude (we spoke to him at the end of the meal when he had our waitress tell us it was "last call"). We ourselves asked him since this seemed absurd at 9:30pm to which then he shifted stories from its "last call" to "you're cut off".... odd considering we had 4 drinks (2 at the bar 2 at dinner) in a span of three plus hours. A group of moms in their late 30's who have lived through a pandemic while homeschooling and working full time certainly can handle a drink per hour, but luckily the manager took his roll as gatekeeper particularly serious that night. I'm sure a group of dudes taking down beers at the bar get treated the same. Save yourself the ridiculousness and just head to the painted burro. Somehow the cut off moms were able to find their way next door and salvaged the night. read more

It's a nice looking restaurant. Service is amazing. However I ordered the Atlantic salmon medium well and it tasted burnt like a well done, other than that it's a good place. read more

I've never been disappointed with The Local until today. Service and staff were fine. Cocktail was good. I ordered the Honey Asian salad which I've had at other locations and enjoyed. Here it was really skimpy. With an up charge for 4 small shrimp, it was a $20 salad that left me famished. A friend had a lobster quesadilla which was fishy. She thought it was canned lobster. Really disappointing. I will visit other locations but skip this one in the future. read more

Horrible service. We went before and it was not good but I figured The Local Wellesley is incredible so The Local Waltham needs a second chance. Wrong! Wellesley and Waltham service are day and night. Made a reservation for Waltham and we get there and we were the ONLY ones and they couldn't seat us. Looked at me up and down and asked if I had a reservation which I did. Anyway, after finally getting seated with an elderly father, service was really slow in coming. We didn't even get bread nor side dishes nor my daughter's ginger ale drink. The server never checked on us once after food was delivered. We served ourselves the dessert, waited 20 minutes to receive boxes and another 30 minutes to pay. My daughter actually had to physically go to the bar to ask where we can pay. We were seated at the middle of the room and I literally wave the check to be paid and the server literally pass by us 3x but still ignored us. No other staff was willing to assist either. I'm not sure if its our party that's not up to par to be served. This is terribly disappointing. My son actually goes to the same school as the owner's daughter. Maybe I can ask him to have a chat with her about looking closely at their Waltham location. read more

Gave the place a try because I saw it on my instagram. Great way to advertise their place. Food was awesome. Started with a spicy margarita so good. Then has the 1 of steak tips to die for. Edward are tender as wonderful. Loved my drink. Left my phone and Huge the other bartender brought it out to my car. I would give it a 6 but a 5 star is all they allow. Go here!!! read more

Made a reservation for 6:30 outside on a Tuesday. Arrived and was told there was no table available and that it would be a 20 min wait. A hour later we were still waiting and ended up having to leave and go to another restaurant. Very disappointing read more

Whenever I'm in Waltham, I visit this restaurant. Great food but slow service. I love the French dip sandwich.

I was super excited to try this restaurant after driving past it several times... unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations the waiter was nice BUT he took 25 mins to even give us bread and to take our order. After that we got our food and he forgot to replace a few items we have kindly asked him.Our food ( salmon and haddock) it was completely dry and lacked flavor, I will not be coming back here. read more

Hello, I have never written a review before but after my experience I felt the strong need to. A group of Waltham moms went out for the first time since the pandemic started so clearly we were excited to see each other. We sat at the bar first while our table was being set up. I ordered a seltzer water at the bar. At the table I ordered one drink and a seltzer. At the end of dinner we wanted a dessert drink to end the night and the waitress said no. We asked to speak to the manager and I have never been treated with such disrespect in my life. He very loudly professed that we were not to get anymore drinks because we had enough and are not safe. It was utterly embarrassing. Keep in mind I had one drink and the rest were seltzer water. I will NEVER go here again and advise others as well. You would think a manager and waitress would want to make money on their first night open, yet they embarrassed the group and ultimately kicked us out.. of course after we paid. Looks like we are not the only ones to receive this service from the manager. read more

Food was good, it's a very popular spot but it left something to be desired for me, I don't understand the hype.

We stopped in for a late lunch, it was pretty hot so we sat inside but it looked really nice out on the patio. The menu was great, and surprisingly not too expensive. They started us with bread, I had the energy bowl which was great and my colleague really like his chicken parm sandwich. read more

Great menu and drinks! I highly recommend the Local Pu Pu Platter, ricotta stuffed eggplant, Korean street tacos, the local dip and the bowls. We've brought kids each time and really good menu options for them. Also a gluten-free menu is available. read more

It's unfortunate that you can't hear valid criticism. Success does not equal quality.

Excellent service, fantastic food. Loved the tuna appetizer, the Korean tacos and the 3 bowl options. They also have a fantastic outdoor seating option! read more

Pretty average. Good not great. Service is fine. Food is good and trendy. It's not something I would write home about but it does have some great dishes. read more