Met a friend for lunch on a weekday, I arrived early, sat and the bar (where we ate as well) and the nice bartender (whose name I do not know, but dark hair and very nice) brought me a nice Carlson Orchard hard cider right away. I had the Smashburger (amazing!) and my friend had a salad (the "Power Bowl", maybe?), food was brought out quickly and I had a second cider with lunch. This was my first time in the Wellesley location and definitely not my last! The ladies room was spotless as well, and they have those little butter mints as the host stand on the way out (those are a love 'em or hate 'em thing, and I love!). read more

The Local - Carlson Orchard Hard Cider, so nice that I had 2 with lunch - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

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Every time I go into town I go by it. I finally gave it a try. I am checking out places for the holiday party. There was lots of natural light and plenty of seating. They have an area of the dining room where they hold private parties. I had a cheeseburger which was cooked medium rare. Rather pricy for a burger; 19.00. I substituted a Caesar's salad for fries. There was no additional charge. The waiter had a smile on his face. Service was What I would expect. They brought me water and a menu without asking. I would return. read more

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Terrible service at the bar. Never asked me if i wanted another drink. Never asked how my food was. Never refilled my water. Food is decent. Fair prices. Just terrible bar service. They don't even look at you. Not a one off experience. Happened multiple times. Not sure why I returned read more

The honey chicken wrap is amazing! I cannot stop thinking about it. The local is cute and great food- especially the salads and that wrap. There is a lot of parking and it is a big restaurant with plenty of seating. Definitely recommend getting lunch or dinner there and trying the honey chicken wrap or honey chicken Asian salad! read more

The food is great. Waiters attentive. Good for solo dining. Easy parking. Cool vibes. Alk ages. read more

The food is consistent and pretty good. The menu doesn't change muc but you can always go in and get your go to's! The service is pretty good and the place is clean and updated. Iits a great place to hang out with friends and hang out! The drink menu is pretty good and the crispy brussel sprouts is one of my favs! read more

The Local is a must visit! Great food, excellent drinks, and friendly service. Lots of locals and Babson College folks visit. Highly recommend! Such a great vibe, bar is well designed with lots of seating and TVs to watch Boston sports! The Local has both high tops and regular table for dining. read more

This had been a go-to casual place for us. They recently changed the menu and removed several favorite dishes. The food quality also took a dip - on both new and old menu items. read more

Loaded tater tots were Like a highway during peak traffic times. Just too busy. They play good cop bad cop at the bar. First they hit you with the sweet girl and then they hit you with the miserable dude you wouldnt trust with a pile of dirt. NASTY stuff! He was miserable! Hopefully he gets in a better headspace soon. Solid food otherwise. Will be back! read more

Gosh I had the Best Bloody Mary! I guess they're known for this I had mine with bacon Olive and a cheese. This restaurant was absolutely modern and has a very cool vibe. It's also family friendly. The service was a professional and the recommendations from the menu. I did try the margarita and truffle flatbread Pizza. The portions are very decent and the flavors were exceptional. I think that I should come back to try the burger. It looked beefy from afar. Also, the velvet cheesecake was to die for so make room for it. I would recommend it if you're in the area. It looks like it's good for the locals. Plenty of parking. read more

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The 3 star is solely based on my Mediterranean kebab dish - it was just... so...mediocre? It needed some SAUCE! It was dry and I was hoping for more bursts of flavor. The veggies were just some good ol steamed veggies akin to the kind I make at home. The only good thing was that it was a relatively balanced and healthy dish. Others at my table got the pulled pork sandwich (which came with a TON of fries and I wanted them so badly) and the tacos which also looked good. A red flag of the menu is the various cuisines offered, such as Asian, but I think sticking with the more pub or American foods would be safe. Came on a Tues evening at 5:30 and it was quite busy with a lot of families with young children too. Gave me a very Stars Hollow Gilmore Girls vibe - like it's truly the Local for the locals. There is a small parking lot for your convenience. read more

The Local - Mediteranean Skewers - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

The little foreign girl named Ana was very nice. Great food too, chicken slappppppped.

Great vibe and apps!! Shawn, the GM Shawn is super friendly and personable! I like the lighting and cozy feel!

It was good! We stopped here for a dinner after visiting a family member at college. Brussels sprouts app and French dip with warm chips was fantastic; entrees- we all got sandwiches and they were good! We totally over ordered, portions are huge. Drinks were good too! Good service as well - will return when back in area read more

We came by on a Friday night with no reservations, and they kindly accommodated us. Service was friendly and prompt. The food and drinks were outstanding! I'm a salad snob, so when I say the steak salad was amazing, it's true. Everyone else at the table felt the same about their entrees. I will definitely be coming back here, and I works highly recommend! read more

Really good place to go for dinner or drinks. The food is always excellent and the ambiance is great as well. read more

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I had the Sesame Chicken Bowl, the Warm Chips & Dip, and their chocolate chip Cookie Skillet. By golly, this is a must-stop for anyone traveling through Wellesley or just looking for a new spot to try. Everything I ate was just delicious and I dare say to-die-for! The actual place is cute and rustic, the bathrooms are just inside the door to the right and the stalls (at least in the women's room) were separated in a way I haven't seen before. They were almost like changing rooms with toilets with tall, secure doors. I must also say that the service here is the best I have experienced in a while. I came in with my handicapped grandmother (who uses a walker) and they are the only people to ever ask her what type of seating she preferred! They have bar-seating and higher tables that my grandma wouldn't have been able to sit in (but you might enjoy) and she prefers to not be sat in a booth, so this wonderful server sat us at the perfect table for us. The wait staff was kind and patient as we perused the menu, there was no rush to keep people going in and out, just a great vibe. Towards the end, after we had stuffed our faces with our scrumptious meals, we asked about other locations and a staff member wasn't sure, so he WENT AND LOOKED IT UP TO MAKE ME A LIST! I don't think many other people would go out of their ways the way that this staff did. Our experience here was amazing. I was so busy enjoying the food that I did not take any photos, but that is definitely a good sign (how I see it at least). read more

I've been frequenting The Locale since they opened. Tonight the service, food was beyond awesome. I ordered the baked haddock. The ritz crumbles with lemon on top of the warm haddock tasted amazing. Sweet and tender. The accompanied crunchy green beans and well baked sweet potato was just as great. The Ambiance,. It was covid-sparse, yet they did it exceptionally well. Dim lighting against the dark wood setting and soft vocal music made you feel like you were at home & makes you want to return over and over again. Thank you Matt and Lindsay for making my return a great one. read more

The Local - Bakes haddock, white wine, lemon, ritz crumb, baked sweet potato and green beans. Absolutely Delicious!! - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

Firstly, this is not an excuse driven review. However, with how crazy the world has been these last 2+ years, I completely understand how hard it has been to acquire, train, and maintain a quality staff. So, I am going to cut The Local some slack in regards to less than stellar service all the way around - No water refills, forgotten drinks, servers trying to deliver other people's food to our table multiple times (a food runner might be a good hire), and incorrect checks. Now to the food: Truffle fries were on point - good truffle flavor, nice dusting of Parmesan cheese - cooked perfectly Brussel Sprouts appetizer and accompanying side sauce were also a Home Run Salmon, Haddock, Chicken Sandwich, French Dip, Grilled Asparagus were all quality offerings, priced right and of decent portion size A nice, enjoyable, dinner out in an environment that's conducive to good conversation The 3.5 -3.75 average Yelp rating is exactly correct Solid restaurant read more

The Local - Truffle Fries - Yum - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

Absolutely disappointed with our nearly $70 to-go meal. Starters - pickle chips were extremely soggy and the sauce was lacking in flavor. The kettle chips weren't bad but again with a lackluster sauce. The portions on both were adequate. Mains - a laughably sized pizza (more like a kids meal flatbread) that, in my opinion, tasted like Elio's frozen. We picked up our order as it was brought out from the kitchen and it was cold when eating less than ten minutes later. The veggie burger was the saving grace of the meal which came with tasty sweet potato fries. Dessert- the tiramisu was okay and despite the menu not stating it, comes with a few berries and chocolate sauce which was unnecessary and annoying as it was not disclosed. What was worse is the way the staff buried the dessert among the hot starters in the carry out bag which is a major to-go pet peeve of mine. Too bad as I live right near them, but definitely left underwhelmed and won't return. read more

The Local - Margherita Pizza - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

I love this place - I think the review average is way too low! Have had many lunches and dinners: Exceptional service every time, great value and meal variety, long beer list, food is served hot and is promptly delivered... what a local find. ***** read more

We dined at the Local in Waltham on a recent Wednesday evening. First, I need to say how great it was to see the parking lot full, the bar area full, and the dining room full of happy customers. It has been so long since the bustle of a busy restaurant has seen so much activity mid week and not just on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening. The reservation process on line through Resy was easy, and we were greeted at our after work time and seated promptly. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating without being overbearing throughout the evening. Drink orders were taken and delivered within normal waiting periods. In additional to seeing patrons in the restaurant, it is nice to see plenty of wait and bussing staff as well as positions behind the bar, too. Maybe things really are starting to return to normal?!?!? I hope I didn't just jinx that. The food was also very good. From the Tuna Poke Bowl with ahi tuna, avocado and rice served in a very large bowl to the pinko crusted, pan seared haddock with roasted sweet potatoes and green beans, the food was delicious, large portion sized, and very satisfying. It had been since last summer when I dined at the local at an outside table and I was very impressed with everything the Local had to offer on this evening. I am sure to be back soon. read more

I came here for a little birthday dinner for a friend. I made a reservation before hand for a Friday night, and I suggest you do so too because they get pretty busy during the evening. The ambience was cozy and lively at the same time, a little loud but once the place started to have less patrons it was a little more quiet. Our server, Swechha was amazing! I was struggling to pick what entree to get and she suggested something right up my alley because i wasn't in the mood for something too heavy. For an appetizer we got the loaded nachos and they were definitely loaded. When the plate came out we were surprised by how big the portion was, it's an appetizer for around 5-7 people in my opinion. For entrees I ordered a steak tip salad, and i was able to sub out the blue cheese for parmesan and change my dressing to a vinaigrette, props to Swechha for helping me with that. My friends both ordered the steak tips plates and everyone enjoyed their meal. At the end we ordered a cookie skillet for the birthday girl and I'm grateful they put a fat scoop of vanilla ice cream on it. Overall, I really enjoyed the Local, prices are more on the expensive side so this could be a place for a nice date night or semi formal dinner. However I do think that you get your portions worth for what you pay! read more

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They couldn't find my take out order. By the time they did everything thing was cold. Very pricey for the quality of the meal. A lot of really tough beef. read more

This place is cute for sure. Good vibes inside, I can imagine sitting at the bar for some appetizers and adult beverages. My time here we grabbed a table and I was impressed by their menu - a large number of items seemed appealing to me and they had a great line-up of appetizers - always a good sign. My lunch was being paid by someone else so I tried to pick something more affordable/reasonably healthy so I went with the "Energy Bowl." I found it to be a little bland and was really straight forward - something I likely could easily make. Mine lacked shaved Brussel Sprouts as expressed on the menu and I didn't taste an Avocado Crema dressing. The roasted tomatoes were quality, however nothing about my bowl was exciting minus that I was starving. I just felt as though this could have been really good. Anyways, if I come back the clam chowda' looked baller and the prime burger looked excellent. Potential further updates to come. read more

Just came from the Local at Wellesley. Food was great and drinks were fine. The bartender however was very un engaging as if we were putting him out. I feel our experience would have been more enjoyable if not for him. read more

Found this spot tonight. They had online reservations. We got there on time and we're seated without delay. All of the staff without exception were very pleasant and knowledgeable. They have a decent Gluten Free selection and for appetizers I'd recommend the truffle fries with Parmesan cheese. Also the Buffalo wings were excellently prepared. For main meals we had the Power Salad with Salmon, the Power Salad with Blackened Chicken, and a half rack of ribs with beans. The salads are dinner sized and delicious throughout. I can honestly say that I haven't had Blackened Chicken that good in a really long time. We finished up the meal with a creme brûlée which was also excellent. In closing, they've got a nice comfortable atmosphere with people appropriately spaced. The food, service and beverages were were all spot on. If you're in the area, then I'd definitely say give them a try. I know we'll be back! read more

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I was not pleased with my meal. I got a smash burger, I asked my server if it was possible to get it with NO caramelized onions. They said it would be no problem. Sure enough it had caramelized onions on it. I tried to eat it... but it was gross, I hadn't eaten all day so I just finished a half and the fries I mentioned this to my server who agreed that I had asked for no caramelized onions. It wasn't really her fault but I was kind of disappointed. No manager came over and they didn't offer like a complimentary dessert/drink or anything. The server offered to have it re-made but I didn't have time for that. The place looks cool, server was nice just the food and managerial oversight is lackluster. Definitely a skip. read more

Okay not going to lie, I got here during mid afternoon about 4pm and parking lot was an absolute ghost town. Didn't think it was open, will surprise, surprise, it was. At first I thought I made a mistake picking the restaurant, as it's a little unpromising when a restaurant is completely dead. But goes to show you that looks can be deceiving, service was great since we were the only ones there initially. I ended up going for the butternut squash ravioli which was on the chefs special and it did not disappoint. It provide a taste of sweet creamy cheesiness without the feeling of grogginess after eating heavy amount of cheese and pasta! The cranberries gave it a little extra sweet and sour tinge ! read more

The Local - Butternut squash ravioli - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

The Local served as a nice meetup spot to catch up with a friend. Though it was a quiet Sunday morning, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Fun music, tasteful decor, friendly service. I could tell the place would be booming in a non-covid world. Unfortunately, the food quality was very average. Every dish tasted a bit bland. If the food provided more of a "wow" factor, Local would've gotten 5 stars. read more

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Pros: -The zeppole/donuts are so good! Buttery and delicious! Cons: -Slightly pricey -- Prosciutto, Zeppole & Fig ($14) 4 zeppole with some prosciutto and fig "jam." The zeppole are so buttery and delicious--kind of like a croissant but less flaky and heavier. I loved them, though I didn't taste any rosemary. I also really enjoyed the fig jam, but it's more like a thin sauce and not jam. Box o' Donuts ($8) 6 donuts (same as the zeppole above, but with powdered sugar--not brown sugar as the description says). Side sauces of caramel and "ganache" (more like chocolate sauce) are not my favorite. It would be great if you could get the box o' donuts with the fig sauce! read more

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The menu at The Local is interesting and varied. Where else would you find fig and prosciutto flatbreads, Buffalo cauliflower, tuna bowls, or stuffed squash? And it seems that we were not the only ones that thought so. On a Tuesday evening, the restaurant was packed, despite the relatively large size. We showed up one minute earlier than everyone else and ended up with the last table - the only free one was in the bar. A game was on so my nephew was distracted until the short rib poutine arrived, that is. The fries were crispy but tender; cooked but not overdone. The braised short rib was tender and nicely marbled, shredding easily. I had the half-pound cheeseburger, grilled medium-rare, topped with lettuce, pickles, and avocado, the latter was extra. More fries, a mound of them, were served alongside the burger. I enjoyed the hearty burger with the creamy avocado. I guess I was hungry because I finished both. The server was extremely friendly and was great with both my niece and nephew. We chatted about phone cases, geography, and holiday plans. read more

The Local - Crispy fries, melted cheese curds and short ribs - we all loved it! - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

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Came for lunch and had a great time! They don't have any outdoor seating so you do have to sit inside. They spaced out the tables nicely so you have your own little area. Everything was very clean and everyone was wearing a mask. Food was amazing - I really love all their delicious combinations. Ordered the short rib bowl and it was BOMB. Highly recommend. read more

The Local - Short rib bowl - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

Pros: Delicious food, cozy restaurant. I had the Cajun Salmon and was very happy, though the farro salad it came with was quite cold. Could have had it a little more room temperature. Great beer list. Cons: Lack of parking, they share the lot with a few other businesses. But they also don't help you with pointing out some of the other good parking spots (on the next street is a lot of street parking. The service was abysmal - it took us about 40+ minutes to get drinks. We weren't even sure we had a server! I hope this was just an anomaly due to the busy holiday season, but it was really frustrating as our team made a reservation in advance. read more

I got a to-go order from here last weekend, hoping for a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I was so disappointed. I requested a burger to be cooked WELL DONE. When I was eating my burger, I saw nothing but pink inside. At first I thought it was just one spot, which would be no big deal- but then to my horror I cut the thing in half and saw that it was so pink that it was BARELY COOKED. I have never seen this happen when I order something to be WELL DONE. And the saddest part is, it had so much potential to be delicious. read more

Overall, the food is OK. I think their burgers are pretty good! Their sports bar foods are better tasting than their entrees. Wings, truffle fries, chips, and dip fried pickles. All are good! Service is fine. If you live in the area, convenience is everything. read more

A favorite spot to grab a drink and a bite to eat with friends. Friendly service from wait and bar staff. My favorite is their Caesar salad with steak tips! The chicken on the loaded nachos could have been more flavorful, but we enjoyed them. Casual ambiance, tvs around their bar, their music selection however could be improved to more upbeat selections. read more

The Local - Loaded Nachos - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

Great food and drinks! Had a nice lunch and the food was better than I remembered. This is the ONLY restaurant that can get me to eat and love Brussels sprouts... the lime soy glaze that it comes with is addictive. The Korean street tacos were incredibly flavorful and took me by surprise by how filling they were. The short rib dinner was good, needed a bit of salt, but other than that it was fantastic. Don't forget to order the Mai Thai as well! Honestly the only complaint was our server. At the beginning he was good but after about 15 min he seemed to get frustrated anytime we called him or asked even for a Re fill of water. Slammed the salt and pepper on the table and even startled us (that's how aggressive it was) and just turned around and walked away. Trying to see understanding but when going out to eat and spend money during COVID-19 it would be nice to not have to be so understanding of a servers bad attitude when we're the ones spending money. Other than the service, food was amazing. read more

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I'll always remember this restaurant because it is the first time I have ever sent back food to the kitchen. My dish was inedible. Dined here Monday night with my husband and friend. I ordered the cacio e pepe. At first glance when the dish was presented I was super excited because it was a gigantic portion. But then I took my first bite... it was not cacio e pepe. I don't even know what I tasted... not even a hint of cheese, pepper... it smelled chemically... per my husband the smell was similar to glue. The waitress confirmed that this was not a popular dish. I ordered a garden salad after that... My husband got the haddock sandwich. Not good - fries too salty, the sauce was gross. Edible but no bueno. My friend got the chicken milanese. Finished it. 2 stars because the waitress was real. And my friend ate his dinner. loling at all the inedible comments in the reviews read more

Had a great dinner tonight. Started with the Burratta. So delicious and the. For dinner had the Local Dip. The best French dip I have had! Finished with box o donuts (warm cinnamon & sugar with chocolate and Caramel sauce). Highly recommend read more

The Local - Burratta - New American Near Me - Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts