I've been here so many times through the years. I really would like to support a local business. But the service and the food are consistently mediocre at best. Oftentimes I have tried to order items from the menu only to be told, "sorry we're out" of every item. One time I chose four items one right after another. They were out of all of them. Meat temps are never correct, service is very, very, very slow. Food is far too average for the prices that are charged. I'm sorry but I simply cannot recommend this restaurant. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon. As we walked in we were promptly greeted and told that HH now starts at 2:30, which just started. They have a great HH menu. We chose the Chai Martini, the Espresso Martini, and the Green Queen. The Chai Martini was good, not sweet. The Espresso Martini was good, but very sweet. The Green Queen was delicious. The cilantro made it special. We had the HH steak, which was good. The HH chicken and waffles--a little different than I am used to and a bit on the sweet side. I would make some changes when ordering in the future. We also tried the Brisket Potato Skins...a bonus that they are cooked with tallow, but the brisket was a little on the dry side. Service for drinks was a little slow and our waitress seemed a little off. She was friendly, but not much attention to detail. We would definitely return. Interested in trying more of the menu. Its a really cute space. Good place to watch the game. 3.5 overall read more

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Excellent food, service, and ambiance! I will definitely have to come back to this one. Too many items on the menu must be ordered for review! read more

The Local - Poppers - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

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Love this bar! The people are super nice, the drinks come out quickly with generous pours, and the vibe is a perfect mix of upscale and classic local bar. The pork belly burnt ends? Yes please--actually, bring me TWO orders. They're that good! Perfectly seasoned with pickled onions and pickled jalapeños for the win. Nine TVs mean you won't miss a game, and the service keeps things moving. I ordered the double cut pork chop--perfectly cooked, tender, and flavorful. I cleaned every bit off the bone... by hand. My friend had the Artichoke Lemon Chicken and it was pure deliciousness. Outdoor seating adds a great touch, especially on nice days. The only downside? Tight parking. Otherwise, this place would probably be packed every night. Yelp locals--you have no idea how lucky you are to have The Local in your backyard! Plus a view of Mount Rainier just down the street! Wow!! read more

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We really enjoyed coming here for brunch on Saturday. The place wasn't too busy, which is the best because I don't like waiting in lines. I had the cajun shrimp and grits, which was a nice slab of polenta sitting in sauce covered with shrimp, mild andouille sausage, and scallions and celery. I hate celery, but I couldn't taste it. Such a tasty dish. Sis got the loco moco which was a good portion, but the gravy had a little too much vinegar. Sis wishes she had tried the chicken and waffles instead, but next time. Our waitress was great- very friendly and did a good job of talking about the food with passion. The dining room bleeds into the bar, but with all the windows and the couple of booths with leather benches were bougie and I love it. We don't come out to Yelm a lot, but this place has a lot of fun restaurants that we took notice of and we'll be back. I'm definitely coming back for more shrimp and grits. read more

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All the hype for nothing. There were more jelapeno and onions on the order of Calamari than actual Calamari. Not a place to go to at dinner and enjoy your meal unless you want to drink and have a night with a group. Other customers were loud, where it echoes. Service was the only best thing about today read more

Staff is always so nice!!! Food tastes amazing and very presentable. Price is very reasonable read more

The Local - Loaded baked potato. Delicious!!! - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

I genuinely do not understand the hype around The Local. I have tried SO hard to like this place because it's one of the few "nice" restaurants in town, but every single visit has been disappointing. This last visit was the final straw. I paid $30 for the halibut special and it was honestly one of the worst restaurant meals I've had in a long time. The fish fillet was tiny -- smaller than the palm of my hand -- dry, overcooked, and completely flavorless. It came with cold pea purée that had the consistency of baby food, overpoweringly sour purple lemon rice that was hard to eat on its own because the lemon flavor was so intense, and asparagus. The microgreens on top smelled so bad I genuinely thought my baby had pooped. That's not even an exaggeration. The service was somehow worse than the food. We had to ask twice for a high chair, I asked our waitress what white wines they had and never got an answer, and eventually had to walk up to the bar and order my own drink. We were checked on exactly one time -- at the very end of the meal. By then, we had already sat there forever hungry and frustrated. I paid without checking the receipt (my mistake), because if I had realized I was paying $30 for THAT plate, I would've sent it back after the first bite. Instead I just took the loss because our waitress was basically nonexistent. What's wild is this isn't even my first bad experience here. I've been given multiple "sorry for the bad service, here's $10 off your next visit" coupons over time, which honestly says a lot. I kept giving this place chances and every single time I leave disappointed. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. The drinks are decent, but even the bartender had an attitude. If you enjoy below-average food priced like fine dining and consistently terrible service, this is the place for you. Otherwise, save your money and go literally anywhere else. 1 star. Would give 0 if I could. read more

We've picked up Togo food from The Local before with little to no trouble, sometimes they are a little slow but we finally decided to eat in person. We most likely won't be returning for a sit down meal. For starters: It is incredibly loud in the restaurant. It took over 15 minutes for our table to be recognized and brought a water and Diet Coke, which was flat. We were finally asked at the end of our meal of we wanted a refill on our drinks, but our food was basically gone. We were not checked out at all during our meal. I kept my card out because I didn't know how long it was going to take to pay the bill since it was so slow. It took almost two hours for us as a party of 2 with a toddler to be serviced and the restaurant wasn't too crowded. The table next to us had par of their party leave because they ran out of time to wait for their food and had to automatically pack it up to go. The only saving grace and why I gave two stars is because the food is really good. It's such a shame because we were really hopeful for a good in person experience but this just wasn't it. read more

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Came in for a birthday lunch. Got a great table and our drinks were delivered quickly so I could ponder the menu. Order the French dip sandwich. Yummy! Will have to come back again for the steak. Fries were nice and crunchy. Everything was perfect. Service was excellent. Definitely will come again!!! read more

Friendly, clean, delicious and plenty of parking. Top notch espresso martini tyvm. Perhaps a little chilly, but that's just me not bringing in my sweater! read more

The Local - Steak crostini and chicken yummy sandwich with the best tots the side of the Columbia. - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

i must say i always have great bar/ mid food experience or vice versa but not this establishment ! Zoey was amazing ask for her but the whole staff was welcoming and warm ! If you want to eat and drink great you should check out the local!!!! read more

The Local - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

I've only been twice so far and not going for a 3rd time. Parking is horrible, the service has been subpar the food was okish just barely food in my opinion but it's pretty pricey for what it is. If i remember correctly the last time I went it was very limited what we could order idk because of the time we got there or the day. read more

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending one of The Local's specialty dinners. It was a Beef Wellington night, and I have to say, it was one of the best meals I've ever had. The starter salad, alone, was fantastic and I probably could've just eaten that! It was a wedge salad with their homemade blue cheese dressing, bacon, and blistered tomatoes. That said, I'm glad I kept going with the preset meal. The Beef Wellington was perfection, it was a generous amount of food, the meal paired perfectly with the cab that they suggested, and the presentation was just beautiful. The themed dessert did not disappoint either. What a meal! Thank you to the staff and management for creating a wonderful dining experience on a rainy Wednesday evening. read more

The Local - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

You definitely don't want to miss this spot in Yelm! It's adorable! The drinks (even mocktails) are the best around! The food is die for! And the company is like coming home! Ask for Melissa if you drop in! read more

The Local - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

Came here for lunch and was very disappointed. The staff were VERY friendly, but the food was a miss. We had the Steak Samo and it was very plain. The steak was flavorless and I ended up taking it apart and eating it that way. We also had the brisket queso and it was very plain as well. The brisket was overcooked and dry, the cheese was just cheese. Overall, not sure we would come back. read more

Holy shit, this place is awesome. My wife and I stopped by here after a long bike ride on the Chehalis Western trail. Outdoor seating so we could keep an eye on our bikes. Downtown Yelm. The cucumber margarita was fresh and cold with a punch. My wife had the spinach salad. Fantastic. Fresh ingredients. And a huge serving. I had the House burger. I love my burgers simple and big. This burger has just the right everything. And the fries. So we'll seasoned. The waitress was awesome. Great smile. Attentive. Friendly. Sweet. Thank you Clara! read more

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My husband and I stopped in after running errands with our daughter and were instantly greeted upon arrival. The gal who was our waitress was so kind and friendly. She kept checking on us to ensure we were doing okay and had everything we needed. Food and drinks came out so so fast, did help there wasn't too many people there either. Salad was absolutely delicious and fresh; it came with strawberries and blueberries. My husband got a Bloody Mary and I got a glass of the Australian red wine I believe. While we were eating, our waitress informed us that the owner had paid for our drinks and congratulated us on our new baby. We felt so appreciated and thanked the owner for her generosity. Whenever we come here, we typically always have a positive experience. Sad we're moving out of Yelm but we will still probably make the trek out every once in a while to eat here. read more

The Local - Strawberry summer salad - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

Took too damn long to take out order and the place was nearly dead. 2nd and last time coming here.

Restaurant Review: A Masterclass in Disappointment I have had my fair share of bad dining experiences, but this restaurant managed to set a new low. Let me start with the only positive: the staff. They were friendly, apologetic, and clearly doing their best, but unfortunately, no amount of politeness can make up for the disaster that was the food and service. Let's talk about the service--or rather, the lack of it. I don't know if they were understaffed or if the kitchen was run by sloths, but waiting over an hour for a simple meal is unacceptable. And it's not like the place was packed. Tables sat empty while diners, myself included, grew increasingly frustrated watching their watches more than their plates. Now, the food. I wish I could say it was worth the wait, but I would have been better off eating a microwaved gas station burrito. The meal arrived lukewarm, with the texture of something that had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. The flavors? What flavors? Everything was either bland, overcooked, or a strange combination of both. It takes true talent to make food this bad. Would I ever return? Absolutely not. If you enjoy waiting an eternity for food that tastes like disappointment, this might be the place for you. Otherwise, save your time, money, and taste buds and go literally anywhere else. read more

My husband and I were looking forward to lunch here today, but unfortunately, we never even made it to ordering. Everything seemed fine at first as we waited to be seated. A waitress approached and told us she would clear a table for us at the front of the restaurant. Since we preferred to sit in the bar, where there was also an available table that needed clearing, I asked if we could take that one instead. Her response? A sharp "Sure, but it's going to take a minute because I have to clear it." At first, I didn't think much of it, because the original table she planned to seat us at also needed to be cleared. But that's when things took a bizarre turn. Instead of simply clearing the bar table, she deliberately stalled for another ten minutes, making multiple passes through the bar to stop and chat with the bartender--each time glancing in our direction with a smirk. It felt undeniably spiteful, as if she was going out of her way to punish us for requesting a different table. By the time we were finally seated, the tension was high and extremely uncomfortable. I turned to my husband and said, I don't want to stay. The waitress's blatant rudeness and disrespect made it clear--this wasn't a place worth spending our money. So, we left and headed a few blocks down to Masonry Cafe, where we had an excellent lunch with friendly, welcoming service. The contrast was night and day. If you're looking for a meal where you're treated with basic respect, I'd recommend skipping this place and going somewhere that actually values its customers. read more

I've been in once to eat & picked up a to go dinner last week. The first time I met up with some friends for lunch; the service was good, food & drinks were great, and the restaurant itself was a nice environment. Last week I ordered their BLTA sandwich (my fav) & some buffalo chicken wings & it definitely did not disappoint! It was so good. The server was friendly at pick up as well. Everyone seems to complain about the food prices here but they aren't a secret it clearly states it on their menu, and inflation has been crazy everywhere these are regular restaurant prices. read more

They've grown as a restaurant, and Im proud to say I've come back here more than a dozen times now! The mister and I went last night and wanted food, but it was only happy hour. So we ordered a drink each and got two orders of wings and poutine. Our waitress was present and very kind. We love this place! read more

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Food was great. I had the Flank Steak Tacos, wife had the Prime Rib Hash, son had Croissantwich with bacon, and daughter had Nutella Rollup. Everyone liked it! We went on Easter at lunchtime so they didn't have their normal menu and the service was slow. Great drink selections, happy staff, good vibes. Prices a little high ($115 after tip for the four of us), but we enjoyed the grub! read more

Went here for a family dinner with relatives from out of state. The food was so nasty ! We had an order of the wings and they put so much Ranch and whiskey rub on them we could not even eat them. My Husband took one bite and it made his mouth feel raw . I had the pretzel with cheese it was so hard I could not even cut into it then the cheese was so hard could not even dip anything in it . Very disappointing to bring family to a local restaurant and this happening . read more

Amazing Customer service, First time eating here since moving to Yelm this year and I gotta say ,BEST Handmade Burgers in Town! Will be back with friends to try their beer on Tap!!! 10/10 recommend read more

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We really, really, really wanted the local to be great. Yelm is so desperate for a good family restaurant, so while disappointed to see the Thai place close down, we're equally excited to see a new restaurant in town. We are here 5 times, hoping that they have improved. They haven't. We were willing to write off the first few visits as still working out the bugs. But every single visit, still, they are way understaffed. Last time it took 50 minutes to get our food from the time we ordered. The food is....fine. Employees are always friendly, and the atmosphere is great. But they are apologetic every single time, and nothing changes. read more

WHAT A DELICIOUS SPOT! Wow! Incredible food! We had a variety of items, burger, poutine, chicken wings and salad. We were astonished by the food but even the service was incredible! Every employee made you feel invited and part of the family! I would come here daily if I could! Bravo to the chefs and servers, Taylor and Presley for the outstanding experience. Check out the local and cheers! read more

The staff there was very rude. We thought the door was locked as it was STUCK shut, someone came to the door and I asked if they were open and she RUDELY replied "well the open signs are on and there are a lot of people in here" ... We went on to take a seat and we waited for over 10 minutes for a DRINK ORDER (she also wouldn't take a vertical ID.. no biggie but annoying) we waited another 10 minutes which we were rudely ignored for the entire 10 minutes before we decided to get up and leave.. keep in mind there was less than 3 customers in at the time. we are new to the area and very excited to try this place out. DEFINITELY put a sour taste in our mouth... BUT shoutout the pizza place next door they definitely made us feel much more welcomed!!! read more

Food is pretty good and drinks are good, Melissa is a BADASS, to bad the rest of the staff isn't more like her because this place would be 10/10 she is AWESOME and 10/10!! Overall food and atmosphere is fun and delicious, will definitely return. Mostly because our bartender/server/everything else was so good! read more

Chicken Marsala was unseasoned tasted like hospital food and portions are small. Folks when my dad has to grab the salt there's something terribly wrong w/ the entree. I want to enjoy my dinner not compromise and justify sticking it in my mouth. Pecan Shrimp tasted like overly sweet rock candy. Just so you know if you refer to my picture it's a salad, not an appetizer. The check came out to $53 for 2 marsalas and 1 shrimp. I should've went to that French fella next door at the pizzaeria. read more

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As someone who eats out often and who endeavors to support local businesses, I was thrilled when this place opened. The building has seen in prior years a Greek restaurant and then a Mexican place, so when we saw they were completely redecorating and making the space more diner friendly, I was all in! The space is well utilized. They have a defined bar and seating area which is always frequented, some low seating in the front, and then higher tables towards the side and back. The place as a whole takes on a "sports bar meets pub" vibe that I dig, sometimes with loud rock music, sometimes with more subdued country tunes. Like the name suggests, it feels like your LOCAL hangout spot. Some reviewers have stated the ambiance is TOO loud and conversations are difficult - I on the other hand would much rather have that type of ambiance as opposed to whisper silence, which doesn't lend itself to a bar/pub anyway (BTW, you want loud? Head on over to Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe in...yep, Tacoma! Now THAT'S loud!). We've dined here many times for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and haven't had a bad bite yet...And yes, some bites are better than others...to be expected. The Local gets their Classic Eggs Benedict right: Zesty Hollandaise sauce, perfectly poached eggs that when cut, mingle with the sauce and coats the ham and muffin in a most delectable way. Another favorite is their Spicey Buffalo Chicken Sammie - I ask for extra pickles, extra buffalo sauce on the side, and a side of ranch for my fries...So. Freaking. Delicious! I also love how these guys try new things - Tomahawk night is coming up and it sounds delicious! And love those half-priced "Bloodies" on weekends before 10am! The wait staff is always kind and attentive - Bree is wonderful. The owner, Candice is as nice as can be, and great to talk with. But most of the time the staff is busy...yes VERY busy. So sometimes service can be slower than anticipated, drinks may not get to you in under 5 minutes, and food may take longer cuz it's made to order...I'm not mad at that. As The Local is somewhat new, I expect a few growing pains while working things out! One final note, as I've read a few reviews where diners weren't happy, but never said anything...You owe it to an establishment to let them know if you are displeased with something. Let them try to make things right. That's the only way an establishment is going to improve - if they know what they did to make you unhappy. 9 out of 10 times, they'll bend over backwards to try and turn things around, so you walk away a satisfied and returning customer. read more

Burger was good, pasta was phenomenal a little sweet, perfectly creamy, tender chicken with just enough crispiness. Fries were really crispy and tasted similar to curly fries! good service Smoked Pecan Old Fashion was delicious! read more

The Local - The Smash Burger - Sports Bars Near Me - Yelm, Washington

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The food was superb!! Service was awesome from Taylor!!! Heard many great raves from friends and am pleasantly surprised - 5 stars for sure!! read more

Wife and I stopped by few days ago... went in to look at their menu and decided we were staying for dinner... we ordered the Caprese Chicken sandwich & Lamb Gyro.... Wow... great food... couple superb Cadillac margaritas and we really enjoyed our evening... the service was fantastic as well. Barbara had a great personality and walked us through the menu.. we will definitely be returning. Plenty of items left on that menu sounded delicious... will be updating... read more

I opted to sit outside, as it was a beautiful day. The server said she would wipe the table, but never returned. After some time, I decided to simply order from the bar (at this time, the server noticed me and apologized profusely). There was no one present behind the bar... Finally, the bartender saw me (to be fair, she was cleaning tables) and took my order. Unfortunately, she proceeded with a TERRIBLE pour, giving me NO head (okay, go ahead and laugh). This was truly the low point, and I should have asked her to pour me another, but I was just done at this point. VERY DISAPPOINTED.​ read more

The weekend brunch menu was FANTASTIC. I had the Monte Cristo and it was wonderful, full of flavor and well made. My wife had chicken and waffles and it too was very flavorful. We enjoyed the food so much we went two days in a row. Highly recommend. read more

We went to The Local today. Our server Heather was amazing. The food was really good. I had the nachos. Normally chips get soggy. These chips tho stayed crispy the whole time!! I will definitely go back! read more

We came in on New Years Day. My sister and I were "in the industry" for half our lives. We both owned a catering and a cafe business individually. We each do 4.5 star food, and know great food when we eat it. This is great food. The service is awesome. The place has a nice, clean. open atmosphere even though we don't do 'sports bars'. And kudos to the chef. All from scratch and locally sourced! Our favorite place now in Yelm. Happy Hour looks good too. We'll be back. read more

Basically a sports bar (11 TVs) that also serves food. We split an order of clams- done with white wine and garlic- prepared perfectly. For entree I had a chicken pasta made with wide noodles and a light wine sauce with mushrooms. Very good. Service was good; the bartender was also our server. She was there when needed. read more