The LOCAL Kitchen & Drinks Waltham — Restaurant in Waltham

A Most Splendid Evening at The Local in Waltham

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a weary soul in possession of an appetite must be in want of The Local.

Upon my recent visit to Waltham, that industrious town nestled in the bosom of Massachusetts, I was most agreeably persuaded to dine at The Local—an establishment so delightfully appointed and so thoughtfully operated, that it would surely win the approval of even the most discriminating of palates, be they of Netherfield or Longbourn.

From the moment I entered, I was struck by the balance of elegance and ease—no ostentation, but rather a genteel charm that suggested one was both out in society and quite at home. The staff greeted me not with the chill of practiced formality, but with the kind attentiveness of a beloved cousin who has just put the kettle on.

The menu, I must say, was a literary delight in itself—every item artfully composed, yet without pretension. I partook of the truffle fries (a dish which, I daresay, would have tempted even Lady Catherine to overindulge) and followed them with the buttermilk fried chicken, whose golden crust and tender center could very well mend a broken heart. As to the seasonal cocktails, they are composed with such cleverness and spirit that even Mr. Darcy might permit himself a second glass.

Yet the true merit of The Local lies not merely in its fare—though that is exceptional—but in its atmosphere. It is a place where conversation flows freely, where laughter is unforced, and where every guest is made to feel, if not quite a heroine, then at least a dear and welcome friend.

Should your travels carry you to Waltham, and should your heart incline toward good cheer and excellent nourishment, you will find no finer refuge than The Local. I am, indeed, already most eager to return—and next time, I shall insist...

We (2 adults and 2 kids) came here on New Year's Eve around 530pm. There's tons of parking. There was no wait. The restaurant is very beautiful with a modern design. My kids had chocolate milks (not included with kids' meals), my boyfriend had one beer on draft, and I stuck with water. Everything came out very quickly. We started with the Brussel sprouts and they were so good. The pairing of the cheese with the sauce was amazing. We could not finish it because it was so big. I had a "bowl" of clam chowder, which was tasty (I didn't even need to add salt or pepper), but really only the size of a cup. My kids had the kids' cheeseburger and kids grilled cheese. Their fries were very good. I didn't try their sandwiches but they liked them and finished their meals. My boyfriend got the Tuesday seafood rigatoni special, which boasts 3 kinda of seafood. The flavor was great but only had one kind of seafood in it (calamari) and the garlic bread was just okay. I ordered the short ribs because I just love short ribs and they were kind of a letdown. They were just okay, the mashed potatoes were very good I thought, but the spinach was very wet and tasteless. I had to drain the water off my plate at one point and add a ton of salt and pepper. For dessert, the kids had kids ice cream sundaes. My boyfriend and I shared the cookie skillet, which was very hot but definitely could have used more time cooking. The service was amazing and we could not have been happier with the staff. The total before tax...

This review is based on my dining experience on July 7th, 2021 7:15 PM.

First of all, I must admit that dining in our city of Waltham has become one of the most acclaimed experiences. The diversity of restaurants attracts customers from different parts of New England. I was able to confirm this fact when I visited “The Local Kitchen'', that upon arrival the huge parking lot was packed as well as the restaurant. I am glad that I booked in advance; and now I know why. The food was very attractive, especially because it is an ideal combination of five of the most popular dishes in America. Pizza, Pasta, Mexican, Seafood and Asian food. Let me tell you that the F&B executive really did a good job in choosing the dishes, but above all, in adding a plus to their dishes with their phenomenal presentation without stealing any flavor… Well done guys! And, the bartenders are not far behind, since I am more than delighted with the delicious Mai-Tai Cocktail that I had. To give you an idea of what i am talking about, my options were: Lobster quesadilla ~ Marvelous! -Margherita pizza ~ Superb! -Slow roasted short rib ~ otherworldly! Crispy Sesame Chicken bowl ~ Delightful! This place is great! Atmosphere is chill and cool but the staff is also really friendly, like Noah, our server, who knows what he is doing. You can tell making the customers happy is their main priority. Food is pretty good, everything we tasted melted in other mouths and for their prices it’s 100% worth it.I Highly...