The local food movement has come a long way in two years. When we heard, in February of 2008, that there would soon be a restaurant in Belmont serving dishes made from Virginia farm ingredients, we thought it was a novel and brilliant idea. The Local opened a month later, and we were one of the first in line. That first meal was everything we hoped it would be – rustic and fresh, simple but whimsical. Unfortunately, all of the meals we’ve had there since have failed to live up to the promise of that first one, and our last visit was the worst.
Things didn’t start well when the waitress told us that their specials were an Australian Barramundi and oysters from Oregon. She asked if we had any questions, and our friend Shawn said, “I’m trying to figure out why a restaurant called ‘The Local’ would be featuring food from thousands of miles away.” She didn’t have an answer for that – in all fairness, The Local doesn’t claim to be exclusively local – but I was hoping she meant that these otherwise exotic foods had locally farmed relatives.
Regardless of where our food was from, it was all a little disappointing. The chicken with truffle, mushroom, and pea ragout was overwhelmingly brown to look at and dry inside. The Spaghetti Carbonara had excellent fresh pasta from Mona Lisa, but the flavor was flat – a difficult feat for egg, pancetta, parmesan, and coarsely ground peppercorns. The Rag Mountain trout was decent, though also lacking on presentation, and the sesame-crusted tuna was nicely seasoned but too thick to be so raw. A good tuna steak should be rare, but it shouldn’t turn into sashimi after a few bites. The fries that came with the Tuna Steak Frites were delicious, if slightly overcooked.
On the other hand, they have a nice wine list, a cozy neighborhood ambience with outdoor seating in front and on the roof, and, when the kitchen is on top of its game, prices that can’t be beat for the quantity and quality of food you get, much of which is indeed locally derived. I can only hope that the competition from Tavola next door will up the ante and bring The Local back to what it was when it was fresh.
Erin says: “I loved this place when it first opened but have found it inconsistent since. The outdoor patio and cozy brick interior setting is still one of my favorites in town, though, so I hope it fights back!”
Rating: Erin: 
Jed:
Pros: Reasonable prices, emphasis on local foods, lots of outdoor seating.
Cons: Inconsistent.
Price: Pasta dishes $13-15, entrées $11-20
Parking: Street.
Contact Info
Photos
More Info
- cVillain: Review of The Local
- edibleCville: Review of The Local
- Notes From C-ville: Review of The Local
- The Hook: Local motion: ‘Peasant’ bistro set to rock Belmont
- Yelp: Reviews of The Local – Charlottesville, VA
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#1 by UVAgrad on January 14th, 2010
I'm with you a hundred percent. When it first opened I went and immediately declared it my favorite restaurant in Charlottesville. I've returned a few times, each equally disappointing. The first time I ate there I had the Spaghetti Carbonara and it was delicious, but I wouldn't be surprised if it has gone downhill like the rest of the food I've eaten there lately.
#2 by R. Cooper on January 14th, 2010
That's interesting. I went a couple weeks ago, had the carbonara, and found it to be fantastic. I wonder if they're just inconsistent, or if they've got two chefs back there with different quality standards. Ah, well.
#3 by misterdonalddraper on January 15th, 2010
The Local has always been a place I want so badly to like. Though every time I eat there I am underwhelmed by their food. They particularly seem to have a habit of caking salt on everything I order. The place looks amazing and the staff is always friendly though they do seem to embrace the laid back vibe a bit too much. More times than not I have had to wait a comical amount of time to get a drink, a refill, the food, and the check. My last visit they did a much better job in the service department, though my steak still seemed to have a extra pound of salt. I will continue to try the place every now and then in hopes it starts to put out a consistent good product, though my expectations are low. It seems to be par for the course in Belmont(Mas excluded). La Taza(or whatever it is called now) and Bel Rio seem to fall under the same category of places I really want to like and that have great atmospheres but a poor product and border line lazy service. Maybe this new year will bring about some new experiences on the bright side in Belmont dining. I hope so.
#4 by kcb on January 15th, 2010
Actually, my food experience has been the opposite. Initial minor disappointment, but the last two times there (most recently about 4 months ago), the food was amazing, especially the romesco sauce and the braised beef.
#5 by killerorchid on January 20th, 2010
i thought the local improved, slightly, in its first year. however, i haven't been since june 28, & i don't feel the need to return. i like the tamarind sauce, but they always overcook the steak drastically. last time i went, the brownie was rock-hard. seriously, i gnawed on it for two hours. and the menu is basically meh. once there was a special that sounded amazing but they were out of it by the time the waitress placed our order.