Local Provisions — Restaurant in Sterling

A Night at Local Provisions, Sterling, Virginia

From the moment you step into Local Provisions, it’s clear this is a gathering spot for those in the know. There’s a warmth here—not just from the wood-fired grill, but from the energy of a place where regulars are clearly at home. The staff radiates hospitality, making it feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem that somehow everyone already knows about.

The first thing that grabbed my attention? Beef lasagna soup. Yes, you read that right. Arriving at the table bubbling hot, it’s the kind of dish that demands a moment of appreciation before diving in. Once it cooled, the first spoonful was pure comfort—rich, savory, and deeply satisfying.

A nice surprise on the menu: fresh-squeezed lemonade. It’s a small touch, but one that speaks to the kind of care and attention that defines the experience here.

For the main course, the Wester Ross Scottish salmon was a standout. Perfectly cooked to a medium temperature, it arrived atop a thoughtfully composed plate—quinoa, cauliflower, pomegranate, and kale, all tied together with a bright lemon oregano vinaigrette. The combination of textures and flavors kept each bite interesting, balancing heartiness with freshness.

And then came dessert: a cheesecake soft serve that was everything you’d want it to be—smooth, rich, and just custardy enough to linger. Paired with my usual cappuccino, it was the kind of finish that makes you sit back and savor the moment.

Beyond the food, the service was top-notch. If you go, ask for Kit—she brought an extra layer of fun to the night, making sure every detail was just right.

About the Restaurant

Located at 46286 Cranston Street in Sterling, Virginia, Local Provisions has made a name for itself with a farm-to-table, scratch-made approach to dining. From house-baked bread to homemade pasta, the kitchen leans into seasonal, chef-driven creations, with a wood-burning oven and grill adding depth to the flavors.

The restaurant has earned recognition not just from loyal patrons but also in media outlets like PBS, which highlighted their West Coast-inspired Lo-Pro lamb burger.

In a dining scene that can sometimes feel overrun with trends, Local Provisions keeps it simple: fresh ingredients, thoughtful cooking, and an atmosphere that invites you to linger. It’s the kind of place you visit once and immediately start planning your...

My friends and I made a reservation for 5 at 5pm for last Friday (6/7/24) months ago. We heard good things about this place and were very excited. We got there at 5 and the restaurant was still pretty empty. Since it was a nice day, we asked if we could sit outside by the patio, and the hostess told us there weren't enough table for all 5 of us. Scanning the patio, it seemed half empty, but whatever. Then they proceeded to sit us at a table right by the door. We asked if the corner table with tufted seat was available, and again, were told that it was reserved by someone else. We stayed there until ~640 and it remained empty until the time of our departure. The table we sat had a chair right by the door where the wind blew directly in each time the front door was open and closed. It seemed the hostess was unaccommodating even though we had asked nicely twice. Now the service of the actual dining was a little wonky too. The server said he was new, so we can chuck it up to him being a bit slow..but after checking in with us for initial drinks and food orders, he remained on the other side of the restaurant and barely checked on us. We had to flag the host to tell him to come back, and it seemed a bit ridiculous we had to do this. The food itself was tasty, although the portions were a bit smaller than expected. We got two appetizers (watermelon and feta salad - this was tasty but it was parmesan cheese, not feta), breads, and we all got separate dishes: two grilled salmons, two rigatoni, and 1 lamb burger. The best was the watermelon and parmesan cheese salad. Salmon was grilled well but the accompanied salad was very small.

Finally, we got three desserts to split, and right away asked for additional plates, when we ordered. The server said he would get us additional plates, but then he never did and never came back to check on us after the desserts were delivered by someone else. My friend had to go up to the bar to ask for small plates, and the server wasn't too thrilled we were asking for them at all. The desserts were unmemorable - we got the rhubarb strawberry which was the best one, and dark chocolate dish which came in a paper cup (low brow), and an ice cream sundae. We really wish we didn't get them.

All in all, the lack of service and accommodation by both the host (FOH) and the lack of knowledgeable server made us think twice about...

The food and experience is so good that we had to come again.

Sean was our latest server. He provided excellent service.

Mike was our server on two prior occasions and he gave us exactly what we wanted. We told him we wanted a burger, calamari and blackened chicken and he would always tell us the name of the menu option and or make a recommendation of something that we might like on the menu.

Week(s) prior, My wife and I had a chance to sit down and have lunch inside this time and the experience was amazing. Asked our server, a young man named Chris, for recommendations and what's popular? I told him that I would like to have blackened chicken over pasta and a nice white sauce. He said there was no white sauce. He recommended a pasta dish with pesto and blackened chicken. That dish was amazing! We started with the calamari and that was amazing!

First impression and experience was as follows since we did carryout:

The calamari was the best tasting and the best part of our meal. Salad with ranch reminds me of Caesar salad, didn't like it.

We called and asked about seating for our family of 5. 2 children, 2 adults and 1 baby in high chair. They said that they didnt have seating available for 5 people until 8pm. We ordered food by phone and when I arrived to pickup, I saw multiple tables that were vacant and we could have definitely sat at those tables, our family of 5 people.

Asked if they could make blackened chicken with fettuccine Alfredo and or change the grilled salmon to blackened. They said yes to both. The blackened chicken was okay but the pasta was only good and moist at the bottom. The pasta on top was not really edible.

Kids rigatoni was spicy.

Outside seating is available and indoor seating looks very nice. Half booth half table with chairs. That's definitely enough space for a family of 4 and 1 high chair on the side of the table.

Entrance and outside seating is on the side where the parking...