Local Environment meets Local Flavor By Natasha Ladhani Wellesley isn’t exactly known for its fine eatery; however with The Local, a high-end pub that has recently opened up, that might change. Of course, not everything about the restaurant was perfect, but given its context it is fit to be a favorite of the town. Start with the outside of the restaurant, although the parking was minimal, the brick infrastructure gives a rustic feel that was emphasized by the vintage photos of Wellesley hanging throughout the restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant we were pleasantly greeted by a hostess and kindly escorted to our table. The bathrooms were also right there as soon as we entered which I felt was a bit awkward in terms of placement. The atmosphere is very posh with wood tables, a well stocked bar and leather chair. The furniture is a bit misleading because if you look at the waiters’ uniforms, they are very relaxed with a simple black t-shirt and the menu is simply a piece of laminated paper. My discomfort comes from the lack of correlation between the suggested fanciness of the restaurant and the casual essence they wished to portray. In terms of money, I would say that the pricing of the menu was the norm in a town like Wellesley, but the taste is definitely worth the prices I can assure you of that. We started out with the Parmesan truffle fries and warm chips and I was pleasantly surprised with freshly cooked potato chips with a well-equipped dip. The fries were very flavorful with a nice Parmesan tint and the truffle oil made the fries both crunchy and soft all at the same time. For our main course we ate a flatbread with olive oil, cheese and tomato that looked like an ordinary margarita pizza, but tasted far from it. The cheese was gooey, the tomatoes were juicy and the olive oil just topped off the entire dish. I was very pleased. My choices for a main choice were highly limited, however, because almost half of the items had some sort of pork in them. As a person who doesn’t eat pork, I was disappointed by my choices when it usually doesn’t get in the way. The dessert I tasted mitigated the inconvenience of menu choices. Their ginger cheesecake is divine, and when I say divine I mean DIVINE! The crust is sweet and crunchy and the filling is creamy, sweet and savory collectively. The cheesecake factory has nothing on this ginger cheesecake. Unfortunately, it was the only dessert option I wanted, but I’m picky so that’s okay. Across the board, like I said, it wasn’t perfect, but who expects a restaurant to be perfect. It’s not like there is much competition in Wellesley so The Local can afford a few slip-ups here or there. Having lived in Wellesley for three years, I usually leave the town for good food, but now I will not hesitate to drive down the street for some warm chips and ginger cheesecake.
The New Local Favorite in Wellesley By Olivia Gieger
A new place with old charm. If it weren’t for the pristine counters and the modern technology integrated into the restaurant, I would have assumed The Local had been in Wellesley for a long time. The restaurant has only been opened since November, already it has a packed parking lot and is a town favorite, but there’s no questioning why. Upon entering The Local, there is a rustic, yet very clean feel, with dark wood and brick and black and white photos of Wellesley donated by the town’s historical society. The wait staff is very friendly and started up conversations with us throughout our meal. Most importantly, the food was delicious. With a great menu ranging from light snacks to heavier options, such as their famous burger, there was plenty to choose from. The Local was especially considerate towards allergies, having an entire gluten-free menu which made it very easy for me to pick one of their signature dishes without worry. I ordered the mushroom flatbread on gluten-free crust. There really is no other way to describe it than delicious. The cheese was creamy and warm when it came out and the mushrooms and truffle oil added an extra savory taste to the flatbread. The bread itself was very good, surprisingly good for gluten free, it was crispy on the edges and just a little soft on the inside. With that I tried the parmesan fries and warm potato chips. Both were an excellent snack that gave old classics an upscale revival, which is the vibe that the entire restaurant gave off. For desert I ordered the chocolate mousse. I had a hard time deciding my favorite out of the things I ordered. However, I think that in this case my sweet tooth won and that the prize goes to the chocolate mousse. It was creamy and rich with hints of caramel flavor and touches of sea salt. The perfect grand finale to such a wonderful meal. However, The Local’s success is the cause of its only fault. That it is too popular. I recommend going at an off time because it is so well loved that it is packed on Friday and Saturday nights, a small price to pay for a great dining experience.
Wellesley is getting excited about a new restaurant that moved into the old China Sky location last November. The Local, a franchise owned by Frank Santo, opened it’s first location in West Newton in 2008. Following huge success, Santo has opened two more locations, one in Wellesley and one in Wayland. The Local, a self-described “gastropub”, is filling somewhat of a gap in the local restaurant scene. Upmarket from your local pizza joint and more original than Ruby Tuesday’s, it is catering to a clientele who might be in the mood for something a bit less casual (and more reasonably priced) than Blue Ginger or Altastrada. Facing only mild competition from The Cottage in this area, business is understandably booming.
Even when I arrived there at about 1:45 on a Wednesday afternoon, the parking lot was practically full (though this may be more a reflection of it’s insufficient size). I was seated promptly and attended to by a very polite server, who asked if anyone had allergies. The ambiance on the inside is dark and cozy, though during the night it might get a little tough to see. The menu was somewhat short - alright for lunch, but maybe a bit sparse for dinner.
I started off with a variety of appetizers. The Local gave some famous bar foods a twist, like serving warm potato chips with a creamy onion sauce, slightly reminiscent of a favorite football snack. The truffle french fries were also very good, with a great flavor and not too much salt. I took a shot in the dark and ordered the fried pickles, which turned out to be good as well. The sourness of the pickle contrasted nicely with the crunchy, salty batter, and was complimented by a tartar-esque sauce.
For the main course, I selected a light choice - several flatbreads. The tomato and mozzarella flatbread was ok, though the large amount of cheese caused it to be a bit oily and soggier than I would have liked. I also sampled a gluten-free mushroom flatbread, which was very good considering that gluten-free items are usually none to pleasing.
After these light courses, I selected a sumptuous dessert - a bread pudding with caramel sauce, cream, and apple compote. This may have been the highlight of the meal. The pudding was soft and went very well with the other elements it was combined with, and each part of the desert complemented the other parts.
All in all, my meal a very nice experience. Apart from a few issues, there was not much to complain about. Now if only I could find a parking spot...
The Local has Brought More Great Food to Wellesley By: Ethan Chiu Wellesley has a great deal of restaurants like The Cottage, Blue Ginger, and Lemon Thai. Now when I heard there was a new restaurant in Wellesley, I wondered why Wellesley. It turns out that The Local is impressing many with their diverse as well as interesting menu. When I walked into The Local, I was met with a big black and white photo of some Wellesley sports team. It really gave a nice atmosphere for a community with a rich history. The waitress greeted our class with glee. For some members of our class, we have never been to The Local. She gave us menus and poured us water. At glance, the menu itself was a two sided laminated sheet. It was separated into seven sections for foods.What intrigued me was that they simply named their appetizers as “snack things” as well as entrees as “bigger things”. This simplicity gave more of a home feeling for me. The items on the menu varied from fried pickles and spicy mayo to spicy Hong Kong noodles. I tried the fried pickles, fries, chips from the small things part of the menu. The fried pickles were my personal favorite. It had a delicious fried taste while have a little sourness. Also, the spicy mayo that accompanied the pickles tasted like siracha and mustard together. This sauce made an awesome combination with the pickles. The chips were great, but tasted like any other chip. There wasn’t much of a difference from a kettle cooked chip from Lays. The dip that came with the chips helped make the chips more of a restaurant quality appetizer. The trufle parmesan fries were absolutely delicious. It separated itself from any other fry because it’s taste was oil with a touch of garlic. After the small things, I got the roasted tomato flatbread. The crust itself was soft enough to melt into you mouth while the cheese on top of it made it taste even better. To end my dining experience, I had a taste of ginger cheesecake. When it arrived, I noticed it was very small and was about 3” in diameter. Though small, the taste definitely overtook it’s size and proved the point that quality was better than quantity. The cheesecake had a rich, creamy, and sweet taste to it. Pricing for The Local was reasonable. I thought some of the “snack things” were on the pricy side like the chips. The menu ranged from $5-19. The music being played while I was dining was comfortable music and soothing. On the other hand, the parking was small and it is hard to imagine how they can accompany so many people. Also, I had the chance to visit the bathroom when I was washing my hands. The bathroom was small with about 1 stall and 1 urinal and clean. My whole dining experience was good in the Local, but there could always be some more improvements like the fact that there are no pepper or salt on the table.
The Local Restaurant Review: A Home Away Form Home
By: Caterina Baffa
As you enter the parking lot to The Local in Wellesley, the first thing you notice is the nearly full parking lot. Even though it is lunchtime on a Wednesday. With a wide, homey entrance, you enter the comfortable space that is seemingly both rustic and modern. With TV’s only at the bar so as not to distract other customers, the cozy furniture and historic black-and-white photos immediately make you feel like you’re having a nice meal at home.
The service there is warm and friendly, coming to check on the customers and making amiable conversation.
The menu at The Local had great variety, from classic American burgers to Chinese style dishes. There is also a whole page to alcoholic beverages, showing
From this menu, the food choices are delicious. I tried an assortment of appetizers, including the parmesan fries and gluten-free flatbread, and each was filling and tasty. The desert that I tested, a chocolate pudding, utilized an unexpectedly satisfying combination of savory and sweet.
The major problem with The Local would be the lack of parking. Being popular, the small lot does not suffice to hold the cars of all the customers in a easy way. The Local creates a home outside of home where anybody can come to enjoy a delightful meal.
A Message from Celia: I am going to post it here because you have not made a separate one
Two grand doors gate way to a warm and inviting environment, quiet enough for a late afternoon lunch yet enjoyable enough for a dinner with friends on a saturday night. The Local in Wellesley is by all means the place to be. The darker decor gives the restaurant a homey feel while historic artworks and a rustic brick wall give the space some character. The wall of windows bring nice natural light, although the restaurant might seem “too dark” during its later hours. The menu, like its decor, has warm, comfortable foods with a range from fried pickles to grilled cheese and tomato soup. The waitress even brought us a gluten free menu for my friend with an allergy. For appetizers we got warm potato chips, fried pickles and my personal favorite truffle fries. The Truffle fries had just enough oil to give the full truffle flavor without making the dish soggy. And each was priced very reasonably at five dollars with every bite full of deliciousness. As Entrees we split a gluten free garlic roasted mushroom flatbread and a normal roasted tomato flatbread. The gluten free flatbread was fluffy which is unusual for a chef to be able to do without gluten. And the roasted tomato also was quite satisfying and delightful. For dessert I got a sea salt chocolate moose. The salt pieces were a little large for my taste but the chocolate moosey goodness sure made up for that. The dish combined salty and sweet and was accompanied by a small scone. The overall atmosphere of The Local was remarkable. It tied southern charm with homey comfort food and gives the customer a fantastic experience they won’t forget!
Local Environment meets Local Flavor
ReplyDeleteBy Natasha Ladhani
Wellesley isn’t exactly known for its fine eatery; however with The Local, a high-end pub that has recently opened up, that might change. Of course, not everything about the restaurant was perfect, but given its context it is fit to be a favorite of the town.
Start with the outside of the restaurant, although the parking was minimal, the brick infrastructure gives a rustic feel that was emphasized by the vintage photos of Wellesley hanging throughout the restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant we were pleasantly greeted by a hostess and kindly escorted to our table. The bathrooms were also right there as soon as we entered which I felt was a bit awkward in terms of placement.
The atmosphere is very posh with wood tables, a well stocked bar and leather chair. The furniture is a bit misleading because if you look at the waiters’ uniforms, they are very relaxed with a simple black t-shirt and the menu is simply a piece of laminated paper. My discomfort comes from the lack of correlation between the suggested fanciness of the restaurant and the casual essence they wished to portray.
In terms of money, I would say that the pricing of the menu was the norm in a town like Wellesley, but the taste is definitely worth the prices I can assure you of that. We started out with the Parmesan truffle fries and warm chips and I was pleasantly surprised with freshly cooked potato chips with a well-equipped dip. The fries were very flavorful with a nice Parmesan tint and the truffle oil made the fries both crunchy and soft all at the same time.
For our main course we ate a flatbread with olive oil, cheese and tomato that looked like an ordinary margarita pizza, but tasted far from it. The cheese was gooey, the tomatoes were juicy and the olive oil just topped off the entire dish. I was very pleased. My choices for a main choice were highly limited, however, because almost half of the items had some sort of pork in them. As a person who doesn’t eat pork, I was disappointed by my choices when it usually doesn’t get in the way.
The dessert I tasted mitigated the inconvenience of menu choices. Their ginger cheesecake is divine, and when I say divine I mean DIVINE! The crust is sweet and crunchy and the filling is creamy, sweet and savory collectively. The cheesecake factory has nothing on this ginger cheesecake. Unfortunately, it was the only dessert option I wanted, but I’m picky so that’s okay.
Across the board, like I said, it wasn’t perfect, but who expects a restaurant to be perfect. It’s not like there is much competition in Wellesley so The Local can afford a few slip-ups here or there. Having lived in Wellesley for three years, I usually leave the town for good food, but now I will not hesitate to drive down the street for some warm chips and ginger cheesecake.
The New Local Favorite in Wellesley
ReplyDeleteBy Olivia Gieger
A new place with old charm. If it weren’t for the pristine counters and the modern technology integrated into the restaurant, I would have assumed The Local had been in Wellesley for a long time. The restaurant has only been opened since November, already it has a packed parking lot and is a town favorite, but there’s no questioning why.
Upon entering The Local, there is a rustic, yet very clean feel, with dark wood and brick and black and white photos of Wellesley donated by the town’s historical society. The wait staff is very friendly and started up conversations with us throughout our meal.
Most importantly, the food was delicious. With a great menu ranging from light snacks to heavier options, such as their famous burger, there was plenty to choose from. The Local was especially considerate towards allergies, having an entire gluten-free menu which made it very easy for me to pick one of their signature dishes without worry.
I ordered the mushroom flatbread on gluten-free crust. There really is no other way to describe it than delicious. The cheese was creamy and warm when it came out and the mushrooms and truffle oil added an extra savory taste to the flatbread. The bread itself was very good, surprisingly good for gluten free, it was crispy on the edges and just a little soft on the inside. With that I tried the parmesan fries and warm potato chips. Both were an excellent snack that gave old classics an upscale revival, which is the vibe that the entire restaurant gave off.
For desert I ordered the chocolate mousse. I had a hard time deciding my favorite out of the things I ordered. However, I think that in this case my sweet tooth won and that the prize goes to the chocolate mousse. It was creamy and rich with hints of caramel flavor and touches of sea salt. The perfect grand finale to such a wonderful meal.
However, The Local’s success is the cause of its only fault. That it is too popular. I recommend going at an off time because it is so well loved that it is packed on Friday and Saturday nights, a small price to pay for a great dining experience.
Keenan Ashbrook
ReplyDeleteFinding Great "Local" Food In Wellesley
Wellesley is getting excited about a new restaurant that moved into the old China Sky location last November. The Local, a franchise owned by Frank Santo, opened it’s first location in West Newton in 2008. Following huge success, Santo has opened two more locations, one in Wellesley and one in Wayland. The Local, a self-described “gastropub”, is filling somewhat of a gap in the local restaurant scene. Upmarket from your local pizza joint and more original than Ruby Tuesday’s, it is catering to a clientele who might be in the mood for something a bit less casual (and more reasonably priced) than Blue Ginger or Altastrada. Facing only mild competition from The Cottage in this area, business is understandably booming.
Even when I arrived there at about 1:45 on a Wednesday afternoon, the parking lot was practically full (though this may be more a reflection of it’s insufficient size). I was seated promptly and attended to by a very polite server, who asked if anyone had allergies. The ambiance on the inside is dark and cozy, though during the night it might get a little tough to see. The menu was somewhat short - alright for lunch, but maybe a bit sparse for dinner.
I started off with a variety of appetizers. The Local gave some famous bar foods a twist, like serving warm potato chips with a creamy onion sauce, slightly reminiscent of a favorite football snack. The truffle french fries were also very good, with a great flavor and not too much salt. I took a shot in the dark and ordered the fried pickles, which turned out to be good as well. The sourness of the pickle contrasted nicely with the crunchy, salty batter, and was complimented by a tartar-esque sauce.
For the main course, I selected a light choice - several flatbreads. The tomato and mozzarella flatbread was ok, though the large amount of cheese caused it to be a bit oily and soggier than I would have liked. I also sampled a gluten-free mushroom flatbread, which was very good considering that gluten-free items are usually none to pleasing.
After these light courses, I selected a sumptuous dessert - a bread pudding with caramel sauce, cream, and apple compote. This may have been the highlight of the meal. The pudding was soft and went very well with the other elements it was combined with, and each part of the desert complemented the other parts.
All in all, my meal a very nice experience. Apart from a few issues, there was not much to complain about. Now if only I could find a parking spot...
The Local has Brought More Great Food to Wellesley
ReplyDeleteBy: Ethan Chiu
Wellesley has a great deal of restaurants like The Cottage, Blue Ginger, and Lemon Thai. Now when I heard there was a new restaurant in Wellesley, I wondered why Wellesley. It turns out that The Local is impressing many with their diverse as well as interesting menu.
When I walked into The Local, I was met with a big black and white photo of some Wellesley sports team. It really gave a nice atmosphere for a community with a rich history. The waitress greeted our class with glee. For some members of our class, we have never been to The Local. She gave us menus and poured us water.
At glance, the menu itself was a two sided laminated sheet. It was separated into seven sections for foods.What intrigued me was that they simply named their appetizers as “snack things” as well as entrees as “bigger things”. This simplicity gave more of a home feeling for me. The items on the menu varied from fried pickles and spicy mayo to spicy Hong Kong noodles. I tried the fried pickles, fries, chips from the small things part of the menu. The fried pickles were my personal favorite. It had a delicious fried taste while have a little sourness. Also, the spicy mayo that accompanied the pickles tasted like siracha and mustard together. This sauce made an awesome combination with the pickles. The chips were great, but tasted like any other chip. There wasn’t much of a difference from a kettle cooked chip from Lays. The dip that came with the chips helped make the chips more of a restaurant quality appetizer. The trufle parmesan fries were absolutely delicious. It separated itself from any other fry because it’s taste was oil with a touch of garlic. After the small things, I got the roasted tomato flatbread. The crust itself was soft enough to melt into you mouth while the cheese on top of it made it taste even better. To end my dining experience, I had a taste of ginger cheesecake. When it arrived, I noticed it was very small and was about 3” in diameter. Though small, the taste definitely overtook it’s size and proved the point that quality was better than quantity. The cheesecake had a rich, creamy, and sweet taste to it.
Pricing for The Local was reasonable. I thought some of the “snack things” were on the pricy side like the chips. The menu ranged from $5-19. The music being played while I was dining was comfortable music and soothing. On the other hand, the parking was small and it is hard to imagine how they can accompany so many people. Also, I had the chance to visit the bathroom when I was washing my hands. The bathroom was small with about 1 stall and 1 urinal and clean. My whole dining experience was good in the Local, but there could always be some more improvements like the fact that there are no pepper or salt on the table.
The Local Restaurant Review: A Home Away Form Home
ReplyDeleteBy: Caterina Baffa
As you enter the parking lot to The Local in Wellesley, the first thing you notice is the nearly full parking lot. Even though it is lunchtime on a Wednesday. With a wide, homey entrance, you enter the comfortable space that is seemingly both rustic and modern. With TV’s only at the bar so as not to distract other customers, the cozy furniture and historic black-and-white photos immediately make you feel like you’re having a nice meal at home.
The service there is warm and friendly, coming to check on the customers and making amiable conversation.
The menu at The Local had great variety, from classic American burgers to Chinese style dishes. There is also a whole page to alcoholic beverages, showing
From this menu, the food choices are delicious. I tried an assortment of appetizers, including the parmesan fries and gluten-free flatbread, and each was filling and tasty. The desert that I tested, a chocolate pudding, utilized an unexpectedly satisfying combination of savory and sweet.
The major problem with The Local would be the lack of parking. Being popular, the small lot does not suffice to hold the cars of all the customers in a easy way.
The Local creates a home outside of home where anybody can come to enjoy a delightful meal.
A Message from Celia:
ReplyDeleteI am going to post it here because you have not made a separate one
Two grand doors gate way to a warm and inviting environment, quiet enough for a late afternoon lunch yet enjoyable enough for a dinner with friends on a saturday night. The Local in Wellesley is by all means the place to be.
The darker decor gives the restaurant a homey feel while historic artworks and a rustic brick wall give the space some character. The wall of windows bring nice natural light, although the restaurant might seem “too dark” during its later hours.
The menu, like its decor, has warm, comfortable foods with a range from fried pickles to grilled cheese and tomato soup. The waitress even brought us a gluten free menu for my friend with an allergy.
For appetizers we got warm potato chips, fried pickles and my personal favorite truffle fries. The Truffle fries had just enough oil to give the full truffle flavor without making the dish soggy. And each was priced very reasonably at five dollars with every bite full of deliciousness.
As Entrees we split a gluten free garlic roasted mushroom flatbread and a normal roasted tomato flatbread. The gluten free flatbread was fluffy which is unusual for a chef to be able to do without gluten. And the roasted tomato also was quite satisfying and delightful.
For dessert I got a sea salt chocolate moose. The salt pieces were a little large for my taste but the chocolate moosey goodness sure made up for that. The dish combined salty and sweet and was accompanied by a small scone.
The overall atmosphere of The Local was remarkable. It tied southern charm with homey comfort food and gives the customer a fantastic experience they won’t forget!
Reply