The Local Hotel — Restaurant in South Fremantle

We went for lunch today and we were really impressed with the food, service and atmosphere. This is the best pub lunch I've eaten for years. The lamb ribs were delicious, perfectly cooked, melted in the mouth (medium rare) and unlike many pubs, not covered in a sweet glaze, but in a savoury Lebanese sauce. The portion was generous and included potatoes and green salad. My garden salad and cheese board were also really tasty - the salad tasted freshly made and the dressing was heavenly. The atmosphere is really nice, great old building, hanging plants, enjoyable music played not too loud so you can't have a conversation. Staff are friendly and service is quick. They can even make a vodka, lime and soda perfectly (not too much and not too little lime and a nice slice of lime in the glass) the prices were really reasonable. We stumbled across this hidden gem and will definitely be back. I just wish it was closer to home - I'd eat here every night! It's wonderful to find a menu that doesn't have the usual burgers, pizza and chicken parmigiana. The people working here (especially the chef) are doing everything right and that is so rare. The name is a bit ordinary, but it's the only thing about this...

Nice old Hotel on South Terrace 500m north of South Beach. Serves a good range of beers and a couple of ciders on tap. Wines by the glass ($9.00 compared to the Norfolk on the south end of the 'strip' - $18.00. Squire's Lash is $11.50 a pint, - The Norfolk, it's $14.00. The Front Bar is light and airy with aircon but the windows open so on cooler days fresh air. Outside undercover tables along the Terrace and round the corner on the side road. Also, a large outdoor, undercover area further in. Meals are available ( I didn't eat there) with blackboard specials. Certainly looked good. Lots of locals - a bit more ' upmarket' than some of the pubs in town. No drunks here, bring the Labradoodle, and kids. I don't think that there is live music but I did see a DJ. Good service, although having visited a few times over several weeks now, I have to say efficient rather than friendly. Toilets are clean and spacious ( which always pleases me). All in all, well worth a visit. You can get on a CAT Bus from the Station or the Strip (free) and get back no problem. Cheaper and quieter than...

Around 8 years ago I scored The Local 5 stars, and have come here many times since - but today I've had to update this as the food has gone way down-hill.

We visited on a busy Sunday night and ordered the steak sandwich and pan fried gnocchi. The steak sandwich was nothing special and the potatoes that came with it were uninspiring, however the gnocchi I had to return to the kitchen. It wasn't pan fried, but very firm boiled gnocchi, served in a capsicum and pumpkin base sauce (capsicum as an ingredient was not mentioned at all on the menu). The most disappointing thing is after I returned the dish to the kitchen the waiter did not come back to offer a refund, nor did the chef come out to speak with me.

We requested a refund at the end of the meal and the waiter was happy to accommodate, but all in all, a huge slide in quality and service standards.

The Local have been so awesome for so long that I'll come back and give them another try sometime and hopefully they will have resolved the food issues, but I'll be sticking to The Norfolk for awhile before...