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Categories: Italian, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Long Island CityBroadway (N, W)
Steinway St (G, R, V)
Cara Bella Wine Bar is now open Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30pm onwards! The night is young! Relax and Enjoy our tasteful selection of Wines.
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Delicious Brunch menu. Fluffy, well cooked omelets, crispy bacon and of course mimosas. The mimosas/bellinis/bloody Marys are not included and are rather pricey in terms of drink per dollar. The mimosas were a bit small and light on the non-orange juice components. But overall, that was the most disappointing aspect of the meal. The southwestern omelet with jalapeno relish was quite good. Not too spicy, but adds just enough. The hash browns are intriguing. They come with peas and red peppers mixed in. Well seasoned though, so they earn points there.
The atmosphere is nice. It feels like an upscale-ish sort of place, big glass windows, a separate eating area with more coffee-shop style cushions and low tables. A vaguely classical Greece/Rome motif adorns the walls, but overall, it's what you would expect from restaurant brunch, and non diner/Denny's brunch.
The staff was friendly, and helpful. Can't complain there.
Overall a positive brunching experience.
Nice looking, good vibe place with decent food.
The staff (not everyone) borderline being snob which is a drag.
This place is pure windows so in the winter it tends to be cold and maybe because the staff is running back and forth they dont fell it like us who are sitting down. Its just uncomfortable to have a meal while feeling cold.
Atmosphere - Great
Service - Ok
Food - Good
Considering that my first apartment was up the block from this gentrified gem, I'm shocked that its taken me this long to review Locale.
Like I said (in that one sentence I wrote before), this place is the very essence of Astoria's gentrification. Pricey, classy, and delicious. (Wait that doesn't fit. Change that to yummy. It's cool.) Sure there are tons of negatives that are associated with the changing of a neighborhood like Astoria, but a place like Locale makes you forget about it all. Because those same yuppies brought this spot to town.
Whether you're there for their brunch or their dinner, you're in for a treat. But I want to gush about their dinner today. They hit you with a list of specials that seems longer than the menu, and no matter what route you take, you're in for a treat. Their pastas are hearty and taste spectacular (Casareche Alla Vodka for the win!), and if you get the chance to splurge (or have someone splurge on you (wait... that sounds... wrong...)), then go for the steak. It's godly. And if your specialty stars align, you may find yourself salivating over their chipotle mashed potatoes.
Manhattan prices may be a turn off, but when it comes with food that is as just as good if not better than so many Italian joints in NYC, you might as well just bite the bullet and realize you're saving yourself the train fare. (Unless you have an unlimited. Then you're already loaded, so you might as well just embrace this place.)
Locale is one of my favorite Brunch places. Last time i was there I had their poached eggs with a Jalapeno Hollandaise sauce. Their homefries are amazing.
I've been here several times with groups for brunch, and have to say my friends have all said this is one of their favorite places.
Only drawback is that drinks are not included in the Brunch prices like a lot of other places do.
At night the mood turns a little bit like a club, and is loud.
Came here for an early Sunday dinner. The location is fantastic; the wide sidewalk, trees, and relative quiet allows for pleasant sidewalk seating. The Blood Mary was great, and my Manhattan stiff.
The food, however, was a 2-star affair. Overall the dishes were passable, but clumpy noodles, and too-salty salad greens (sides, fillet carpaccio) ruined the meal.
Service was well-meaning but our waiter lost track of us at the end of the meal. I think he also forgot to tell us the specials.
I'd come here again for drinks though!
Locale has an excellent brunch menu. And coming from a seasoned Manhattan(UWS/LES) bruncher, hopefully that counts for something.
I've been here a couple of times and ordered off their brunch special menu. The first time I tried an omelette with sausage, peppers, and cheese (about $12). The eggs, cheese, and peppers were great, but the sausages were a bit on the overly fatty side. I wasn't totally in love with them. The home fries were delicious though, with a nice crispy exterior.
On a most recent brunch outing I ordered their homemade fettuccine ($13) and thought it was phenomenal! The delicious pasta came slightly smothered in a delicate cream sauce with peas, prosciutto tips, and mushrooms. Now I don't even eat mushrooms, but combined with the amazing pasta and sauce, I didn't even notice them. The peas were a bit under-cooked but again, the fettuccine was enough to make up for it. The pasta was exactly what I imagine my pretend Italian grandmother would make me everyday.
My dining companion's steak eggs benedict ($14) was also excellent. The meat was a little on the fatty side but was nicely cooked.
The atmosphere at Locale is chic and modern. Located on a street corner shaded by trees, its floor to ceiling windows open up to create a welcoming environment. Tables and seats spill out onto the sidewalk inviting you to come in and sit for awhile. Order one of their brunch specials and like I did, enjoy a nice break in Astoria from the hectic dog-eat-dog brunch culture of Manhattan.
This is my third review of Locale and comes after working with the owner of this Astoria hotspot, Johnny, to throw a surprise engagement party for two of my best friends. With that said (and after eating here 15+ times), I highly recommend it for a special occasion.
First, it took about a week to finally talk to the right person (the owner). This included multiple calls and physically going to the restaurant twice. The deal was 18 people, it needed to be a surprise, and we had a budget of $15 per person (this included food, gratuity, but no drinks). Originally I figured I would order an assortment of appetizers to stay within budget and have them brought out in increments. Johnny offered to do menu items that weren't on the menu and were also much more fitting to the occasion (and within my budget).
Locale allowed us to reserve the entire back area (space for 20, comfortable benches, small tables, and set higher than the main seating area). They also assigned us our own server who took everyone's individual drink orders. He was great. Helpful, quick, professional, not in our business too much. One time he did bring me a second of a drink without me ordering it. I'm not a fan of this move (I'm sure it's great in some circumstances).
The food was great and impressed everyone (most importantly the bride and groom). Beef sliders (aged angus), stuffed mushrooms (vegetarian) and bruschetta. The sliders stole the show and were perfect two-bite (for some, three) morsels of beef, cheese, brioche and teeny crunchy pickle. The atmosphere was perfect. The service was also top-notch. The drinks, as always, top notch. I used to think poorly of that fact that they don't have a tap, but with the chancing selection of specialty bottled beers, I'm a happy man. Blue Moon is $5 or you can spring for a *perfect* $10 passion martini.
Again, five stars to Locale. I highly recommend this Astoria hotspot in general, but also for a special occasion.
UPDATE: Went here for brunch last Sunday morning. So many specials not only can you not remember… Read more »
I used to come here often since my girlfriend lived on the same block. The sandwiches for Sunday brunch are amazing, and the fries are some of the tastiest I've ever had.
Dinner is another story. None of the seating is comfortable, but if you're stuck in the lounge area, prepare to feel awkward. The pasta was mediocre, with odd peas. The waiters are inconsistent, too. Now that I moved 15 minutes away, I never come here, so it can't be that amazing.
Stopped by for brunch recently. The decor, service and food were all just average. It's a decent spot to meet some friends but certainly nothing to get excited about.
Went here the other night for dinner, I started with the buffalo mozzarella salad, then had the fagotini pasta (yes that's what its called) & finished with some sort of home made crème brulee. All three were out of this world, its my new favorite restaurant... stop reading this and go there, NOW!!!
Excellent, less-is-more style food, like one finds in Italy.
After reading much about Locale and raising my expectations for the quality of its food, I was still impressed. The interior is unexpectedly stylish and modern. Hearing the specials du jour left my mouth watering. But my appetite wasn't gaping that night, so I ordered a simple papparadelle with mushrooms in a pink sauce ($13.50), and it took me back to a meal I had had in Florence. My boyfriend had the chicken arribiata ($15), mildly spicy and flavored with peppers.
Would definitely return
What the flub?! This place rocks. I never ventured onto this part off of Broadway unless I'm looking for parking.
My Astoria Food Junkie, God Bless her soul, dragged my hungry, tired body here and it was nice. Located on a nice corner, we opted to sit outside to dine w/nature. Sangria is their top drink, but unfortunately we came from boozing in the city, so I couldn't bear more alcohol intake. This appetizer special: a scallop salad. The scallop was a little sweet and had a wonderful texture.
Since I wasn't that hungry, I ordered the grilled portabello with pistachios and parmesan on arugula. The porta was juicy and marinated in what I think is a balsamic vinegar sauce. Plate clean!
Always leave room for dessert. Especially here. We had the tiramisu and it was heavenly. I think my eyes rolled so far back in my head i had to ask for assistance to whack them back to the correct position. The Strawberry Neopolitan was a surprise delight to w/it's philo and creme goodness. HEA-VEN!!
Great date night location or just an all around food enjoying spot.
went there for brunch
had a good bloody mary
the feta omelette was ok....had better
but the belgium waffles was great
I eat here often, as it's right in the hood. My experiences have been great with the exception of the occasional order mixup or serious delay in getting something done.
The food is very tasty, not too impressed with their egg dishes. Stick with a sandwich for brunch, they're great. Their coffee is also surprisingly good.
My friend who lives nearby told me how great this place was so we decided to eat here together. I had a good feeling about Locale when I entered the restaurant. Its open, modern decor exuded a bit of elegance mixed in with coziness which combined, made you feel welcome. I ordered the calamari and the soup of the day, split pea while my friend orderd the tagliateIle with vegetables. The split pea was incredible--having had split pea soups in the past, I felt this one was no ordinary soup. Let's say it had a rustic kick on top of that good ol' homecooked taste. The calamari, though it was not that warm, was delicious due to its perfect crispiness and non greasy texture. My friend enjoyed her pasta thoroughly and continued to dabble on the sauce even though she finished her food. We paired our food with the bottle of "Katurna", Croatian white wine and savored every sip until we were done.
I plan on coming by to try their pasta dishes and soup again. Its versatile furnishing and ambience are well suited for meals with a friend, group of friends/family, or a date and offers food for everyone-- foodies, meat lovers, vegetarians, pesceterians...well, you get the picture. However, don't expect huge portions of pasta here.
What a lovely restaurant! Knowing that this is my friend's favorite restaurant, we booked the lounge area for a surprise engagement party and it was a perfect setting for the celebration, complete with great food and drinks.
its.... not cheap for the area however the food is great! Although I selected three stars, it really ought to be three point five. Why couldn't I give it four stars? Sadly, it is just far too pricey for its neighborhood and food!
Yes, the food is delicious and offers creativity and thought into its dishes... however, it sometimes feels as if the ingredients are trying too hard to impress! It seems as if thats where the bulk of my $$$ is going when I eat here! The money is going to ingredients that although add to the dish... they aren't necessary to make taste buds sing with joy!
theres a pretty long wine list, which was shocking to me because I dont associate wine with Queens
Its not very spacious and the place can get pretty loud
But you really ought to go for the food and try this place out-- its this secret gem in Astoria because its got pretty much nothing else fun to do/see/go to in its immediate area
Reliably good food, nice quiet atmosphere, love the decor.
Went here for brunch and had the nutella french toast, which was pretty good (crunchy corn flake toast stuffed w/nutella). I was disappointed by applewood smoked bacon, which was dry and rubbery...and I enjoyed the mimosa but couldn't figure out why it was $7 (the entree was $7.50). Decor/ambiance is very nice and service was good...although I don't think I'll be rushing back any time soon.
I simply adore this place.
When it first opened back in 2005 I was met with rude staff, shotty service and subpar food.
Since that time there's been a total improvement. I agree that some of the pasta dishes are not all that exciting but if you've ever tried the fillet mignon or veal you cry tears of joy. The steaks are so good that the owner is actually opening up a small 10 table steak house just an avenue away (35th ave and 32nd street) so be on the lookout for that
The apps are great- calamari is always done to perfection (don't get the crab cake it's kind of a rip off for the price) and if you are going out with girl friends the fruit platter is great with wine. The wine list is excellent and the cocktails are deadly!
Atmosphere is relaxing. It's a dim cozy ultra cool place.
Price is about average. I laugh at the people who go into Manhattan in search of a "good meal" when this place exists right in our own neighborhood
Recommend it to anyone
Food is pretty good although I found the service friendly but completely clueless. Very slow to take the order and bring the food. Rigatoni Bolognese was well done.
I'm embarrassed to say I have lived in Astoria for 3 years and just FINALLY went to Locale for dinner. It was Valentine's Day so they had a prix frixe menu for $60. Now, I normally wouldn't want to spend that much for my dinner (it is a recession, after all and I AM unemployed currently) however, I loved being forced to get an appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee.
All the food was really good. I started with beef tartare which came with some delicious spicy mustard and got a fruit tart for dessert. I had fresh red linguini with jumbo shrimp as my main course (YUM) and got a pineapple mojito to drink (also YUM). The coffee at the end was a HUGE cup for the end of the night but I wasn't complaining.
The one downside, food-wise, was my boyfriend's steak wasn't rare at all despite ordering it medium rare and them apparently being kind of a "steak place." That was a bummer but it did seem like the steak would have been delicious if it were actually rare.
The restaurant itself is very cute and definitely highlighted for me how young Astoria as a neighborhood really is (or is getting). It's pretty small but we had a seat by the window so didn't have to sit in tables right next to each other. I can't wait to go back in summer to sit outside and try the margaritas that a friend has always recommended to me.
My first review!
New to the area and I had heard a lot of good things about Locale so my boyfriend and I went to try it out a few weeks ago. Loved the atmosphere and the service. The food was pretty good too, but nothing spectacular. I got the gnocchi and really enjoyed it despite the fact that the sauce tasted a little like pizza sauce. Overall it was enjoyable and I would definitely go back... I really want to try brunch there next.
I finally had a late dinner here recently during a week night and it was great. Food and wine were excellent and the service was entertaining and helpful. I definitely will go back. . . Lots of inventive daily specials which I like. I had the baby lamb chops with this potatoe/vegetable mash which was perfect. The steak frites were delicious as well.
Great place for a date or with friends. Would like to try brunch one day.
I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Locale. So cute, our waiter was great (he even gave us a free dessert), and so close to my apartment! Perfect.
I had the Faggotini Alla Barbabietola, which was absolutely great. The beggar's purse shaped pasta was unique to me and the sauce was not too intense.
The prices are a bit steep for Queens standards, but I don't think you will regret it. Go here. Now!
It's cramped here. Though I have enjoyed drinks here on several occassions. In terms of dining, I the food is okay to good at best. And don't get the easy bake molten chocolate cake.
Came here for brunch recently and the some of the service was fine, but had odd vibes from this one busboy -- a holier-than-thou busboy. To him, can the looks and pour me the water, then get out of my face.
I was recommended by my roommates and I finally get to try it! I love the decor and the food. The service is very friendly except their service is little slow. I ordered Pineapple Mojito(little too light for my taste, but ok) and their special, Lamb Chop( This was amazing!) comes with fresh cut of tomato slices and green salad. Their basil pesto and the garlic flavor is exceptional and don't forget to try it with the mash potato in the middle :)
After living in the area for nearly 5 years this was hands down my favorite place to eat in the neighborhood. I've never encountered a bad experience. Always a jaw dropping selection of specials, great food, friendly service, reasonable prices given the quality, and nice atmosphere.
A few people commented on the brunch, I've had the brunch once or twice and its definitely not as strong as their dinner menu, but I don't think of Local as a brunch place so its not really considered in my 5 starer.
I went to Locale last night, Saturday May 9, for dinner. We have been here many times before. It is one of our favorite spots in Astoria. Last night we went in around 10:30 p.m. and the place was packed. The manager/hostess told us it would be a few minutes and suggested we grab a drink at the bar. We found two seats at the end of the bar, next to the service station. There were two bartenders, both clearly saw us sit down, and both clearly ignored us. We waited about 10 minutes before I politely asked the girl-bartender if we order drinks from her? She responded, "Just give me a minute." I know restaurants/bars get busy, but one of them could have said, "Hi, I'll be right with you." Or "Hey, just give us a minute were busy." Clearly, putting away glasses doesn't need to be done before helping a customer. When we were about to order our drinks the manager/bartender came over and told us our table was ready. So, we opted to order our drinks with our server because the bartenders were SO RUDE.
A breath of fresh air! The server was such a sweet girl! She was attentive and friendly. We almost left, but I'm glad we didn't because we love Locale. Sam, another server there, is great, too. The manager came over and apologized at the end of our dinner. I highly recommend this place, BUT DON'T SIT AT THE BAR! At least I know I will never again.
I have been here several times and have not been disappointed. I usually go for brunch and love the menu even though it's a la carte.
The selection is wonderful and not pricey. Don't know the bartenders name, but this gal makes a mean Bloody Mary. ( Never really liked them until I started coming here.) =)
Had dinner a couple of times and was happy then too! Drink specials are delicious.
Go find out for yourself and enjoy!!!
Meh, indeed. Mediocre all around. For brunch, at least. The eggs Benedict was served with a soft-boiled rather than poached egg. Wrong! Lazy, at best.
There's little variety on the menu. This is not a problem if you do a select few dishes extremely well, but that's not the case at Locale.
It's an interesting space if not entirely comfortable and the service was not bad. I really liked the music selection, but that should not be the main draw of a brunch place.
I must say, as a resident of Astoria, Locale is the greatest restaurant I've tried. Not only is the decor charming and the service pleasant, but the food is absolutely incredible. One bite and it speaks for itself. I'd suggest starting out with a cocktail (or two!) because they are just incredible (the blood orange martini and the mojito are both amazing). As for the food, the gnocchi is incredibly delightful and the antipasti appetizer is top notch -- I just can't get enough of this place! The best entree I've eaten was the snapper special with red pepper coulis sauce over a bed of vegetable risotto (it was love at first bite). I could go on and on about each dish I've eaten there, but alas, I'll spare you the details. 5 stars all the way.
I was referred here by my roommate and have since referred Locale to others.. needless to say, everyone is raving about it.
I'll start with the cons - best to be upfront about these things. The wine list is weak and the food is not memorable.
BUT the service and atmosphere are seriously worth it. They've got great mixed drinks and the sangria is serious. mmmm.
Perfect for one of those lazy summer nights when you just want to eat and get trashed with your loved one.
Overall....it was okay
The decor is cute and trendish - ya know, expose brick walls, nice long bar, high ceilings and windows everywhere
The food was mediocre. It's not bad but it wasn't great. Could have been better.
Service - very nice, friendly and accommodating staff.
The food is the only thing that was so-so. Drinks, decor, service was great!
I'll admit the brunch can be hit or miss. The first time I went it was great. The second time not so much although it was mothers day and they were slammed and their credit card machine was down. The only thing that miffed me that trip was that it clearly says at the top of the brunch menu that a mimosa or bloody mary was included in the prix fixe brunch. Apparently not because the waitress charged us anyway and refused to take them off after we pointed out what was printed in black and white, her response was merely, "We don't do that anymore."
Dinner is a different story though. Everything on the menu is delicious! The first time we went my boyfriend had the fagottini alla barbabietole and he didn't shut up for a week about how amazing it was and now orders it every time we go. It's quickly become a neighborhood favorite
excellent service. nice breezy decor. yum yum food, lamb is perfect.
very good brunch and dinner. pricepoint not cheap but well worth it.
I am sucker for service, they overcooked my lamb. although I am a usual stickler I ate it as is . was delicious but did comment to waiter it was not cooked correctly. waiter,manager,hostess all apoligized multiple times and they comped me a dessert. THATS how to do in the restaurant business if you want customers to keep coming
I'd been to Locale before I even moved to the city, but this weekend was my first time back. The small restaurant is a few blocks off the subway line, tucked away in a residential part of Astoria. It has a great atmosphere that's a combination of restaurant and lounge, with a couches on an elevated area in the corner and floor-to-ceiling windows around the dining room. The restaurant was crowded, though I'd say it is a little pricey for the neighborhood, but the cuisine is definitely above average.
We ordered the fried zucchini as an appetizer. It wasn't even on the menu, but our server suggested it, and we were pleased with the choice. The strips were lightly breaded and crispy, and not too greasy. There was a saucer of marinara sauce for dipping, but it was too chunky and the zucchini strips too thin to make it easy to dip into and get good 'coverage'. We also tried the crab cake, which was served with a dill sauce that I found to be a little overpowering, V liked it though. It wasn't that 'lumpy' but didn't seem to be loaded with much bread either.
I ordered the seafood pasta which was served with a whole assortment of seafood: scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari and crab. There was a good amount of everything but some of it, like the scallops, was grainy. The pasta itself wasn't anything special, and the sauce wasn't quite what I expected, as it was rather thin. I had ordered the dish with a white sauce which was flavorful but thin, and didn't really stick to anything.
Other times we've eaten at Locale the food was very good, and we tried tonight to keep the price down. I can imagine that at a restaurant like this you really get what you pay for, and there are some chef's specialties like the Mozzarella Olivata which is homemade cheese served hot with olives and tomatoes. It is distinctive and delicious. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, good crowd, good service and a unique take on the cuisine, I'll try it again sometime when my pocketbook can better take the hit.
living in the area, i've passed by this place a bunch of times kept telling myself to check it out. the ambiance of the place seemed very nice - especially during the evenings when i always saw people sitting outside.
so anyway, i finally had a chance to go there. i went to go eat brunch with a friend on a saturday morning and was surprised with how reasonable the prices were. sadly to say the least, my friend and i were not impressed at all with the actual food. i guess i'm a pretty picky eater, but seriously, the vegetables weren't fully cooked in our omelets! we didn't even finish our food - and us girls can eat!
however, from the other reviews that i've read, and the fact that i live a block away from this place, i will have to give it another chance. possibly for dinner and drinks.
Locale is ok.
Locale is by far my favorite restaurant in Astoria.. The food is amazing and I love the staff! They are warm and friendly and are always accommodating . I go and dine at Locale at least 5 or more times in a year. After a long day, it's great to go by and get re-charged with great hospitality, and amazing food!!! I'm starved!!!
Free coffee or tea!
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