Fireside — Restaurant in San Francisco

The pragmatic and simple name of this SOMA restaurant belies the the rich grandeur of it's offerings. Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant's sleek, minimal design fools you into at first dismissing it. You've seen this blend of brushed metal, smooth marble, and flat lighting before, right? Yawn. But after a few minutes, you'll notice the distinctive touches like the black and white photographs that (salt and) pepper the minimal backdrop. Similarly, the Californian cuisine menu reveals itself to have some distinctive twists as well. The menu changes regularly but upon my visit there in December, I enjoyed the Mac n Cheese, made with some unique blends of exotic cheeses and my dinner companion had a equally savory and delicious pasta dish (sorry, can't recall the details other than it was made of "delicious").

And while we didn't try the wood-fired pizza's but if they tasted nearly as good as they smelled, I don't think you'd be disappointed. And the wine selection was impressively varied, spanning regions such as California, France, Spain and France, as well as unexpected places such as India and Japan.

Service was fine, not great but not poor. All in all, well worth checking...

I've loved this place for years. Used to work at the Peet's a block away (RIP 1st & Howard!) and Jeff, the general manager of Local, was a regular of mine. He's such a warm and welcoming person. He encouraged me to visit the restaurant and I was hooked after my first experience. I used to go for their brunch, for which the prices are super reasonable for such tasty food and a great higher-end atmosphere. I now usually go for dinner, which is more expensive but still very much worth it. I've spent many birthdays here and I think it was for my 28th nearly ten years ago that Jeff let me book out the wine room, that room behind glass doors you see when you first walk in, without the spend minimum - I believe it holds 16. Very grateful for that. It was my favorite birthday of my 20s by far. They also have a more secluded area in the back for smaller parties which I've also used for more intimate dining experiences. Anyway, the food is great, love their pizzas, love their appetizers, their pasta dishes have been on point. I could go on! A favorite of mine in SF that I look forward to going to for...

I highly recommend visiting this place; it is absolutely fantastic. The ambiance and decor are flawless, and I had the pleasure of sitting at the gorgeous and inviting bar.

To start off, I ordered the Local chopped salad, and it completely surpassed my expectations. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, with crisp greens and delectable olives.

The main course was nothing short of incredible. I opted for the Cacio e Pepe, and it left me in awe. The chicken was tender and paired perfectly with the freshly made pasta. I enjoyed the chicken so much that I devoured every last bite! The pasta itself was tender and bursting with freshness.

What impressed me even more was the exceptional service. The staff went above and beyond by recommending a wine that paired perfectly with my meal. They even allowed me to sample a splash to ensure it was to my liking.

The overall experience was outstanding. The staff was super friendly, the service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was beautiful. I am definitely planning to return...