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Mon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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i find this to be an interesting name for a bar....i also find the word itself to be a word we hear and use a lot, but the more you say it the stranger it sounds. so i decided to look the word up and these are some of the definitions i found:
"Of or pertaining to a particular place, or to a definite region or portion of space; restricted to one place or region; as, a local custom."
"A vehicle which receives and deposits passengers..."
"anesthetic that numbs a local area of the body."
the local is all of these things, especially the last one. it is what a bar on ponce should be; it is unpretentious, smoky, inexpensive, and open late. the crowd is diverse, the wait staff are sufficiently friendly and the drinks are stiff. mos def a good place for a late night drink.
Oh Smocal, I love you, but after years of visiting, I'm afraid that my lungs look like those of a coal miner's. The canary in my chest died moons ago. But alas, after years of lobbying, kvetching, whining, mocking--after years where I've appealed to emotion and also used a series of business cases to appeal to the cold eye of reason, it's finally happened.
TWO NEW SMOKE EATERS.
Praise Jebus. Now will these two scrubbers be enough to hold back the hipster hordes with their expertly tousled bedhead and their love of Flavor Country? I don't know yet. Wednesday night trivia seemed fine, but the front door was also open all night. I'm also not expecting crisp, mountain air either. Just looking for a little, um, breathing room. Proprietor Daniel Mayne insists that the smoke eater in the game room does wonders. I may return on Saturday to see for myself. Til then, Local, my home away from home, I wait with bated breath.
Many have called The Local a hipster's Cheers--a place where not only everyone knows your name, but… Read more »
Good Atmosphere - Check
Cheap Beer- Check
Good Food - Check
This is the first bar I found when I moved back to Atlanta (after finishing college) that was decently affordable. Everything else I've discovered about it since has been bonus. I tried the BBQ based on a couple of reviews I've read here on yelp. The BBQ was pretty good but the wings are a thing of beauty. The smoked deliciousness of them makes me want to go there for just them... ok add a basket of their fantastic fries and you have the best wing combo in Atlanta.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this bar yet! As it is with many other folks, The Local been my pre-MJQ watering hole for quite some time, now. Smoker-friendly (stop your whining-- go to Decatur if it bothers you!), amazing food (try the tots! and the boiled peanuts! and the cheeseburger! and they just updated their menu! exclamation point!), affordable drinks... What more could one desire, I ask? I've noticed the servers tend to disappear when you need a drink refill, but somehow they always pop around in time to empty a full ashtray, so I can't complain much. The Local is somewhat of a hipster haven, but fortunately hipsters have a low tolerance for cold weather (hard to ride a fixed gear bike on icy roads I suppose), so they are mostly absent during the winter months.
Great spot to hang out with the locals.
I frequent The Local on Wednesdays before hitting up MJQ around the corner.
They serve great chilled beer and decent cocktails. The star of the place has to be the cheap beer and the typical bar food.
Grab a seat outside in their patio to escape the smoke filled bar and the loud music.
The Local is just a great east atlanta institution. Everytime i got there i have an awesome time and the couple times i've eaten there the food has been good. beer is always cheap- they have 24 ounce pbrs and yuengling on draft. the service has always been great. this is the kinda place i would take out of town friends to.
I do really like this place but I have to take off a star for it being just too smokey. With more and more non smoking places popping up, I hope some of the hold outs will decide to change (read: not forced by government). I always smell terrible after I leave here. When are people going to realize there are no benefits to smoking?
That being said, the food is pretty good and the drinks are cheap. I like the chicken fingers, the pork sandwich, and the pork platter. Very surprisingly good barbeque here!
You cannot beat $4 for a Sweetwater or a Stella. Very good bar service, and I even did not get looked at weird when I ordered a water one round because I was feeling ill.
I keep coming back here because it is a good spot, despite the ridiculous amount of smoke. If it were smoke free I would probably come here as often as Cypress.
I go there and I feel a bit old and a bit tired of all the smoke. But the food is very cheap and it is pretty darn good for bar food. The french fries are my favorite ones in Atlanta. And I love the veggie sandwich and the bbq sandwich and the..
So I return again and again for a quick meal and drink on the cheap.
Went to this place for trivia night on Wednesday night. Was a relaxing chill hipster crowd early in the night, then as it got closer to trivia the crowd became more mixed. Preppy types, and young professionals. Everyone having fun and enjoying The Local's excellent food choices and great beer prices. I ordered a pulled pork BBQ sandwich and it was delicious. The waiter even brought over a choice of BBQ sauces, including vinegar based sauce, and a South Carolina mustard based sauce. The dish included pickles and hushpuppies on the side. It hit the spot, and just what I needed to enjoy trivia and drink cheap pitchers of beer with my friends. I highly recommend this place, either for a chill date or hanging out with your buds.
Excellent place for pre-MJQ time. Located a 20-second walk away, this bar has a pretty laid-back, chill atmosphere. Haven't tried any of the food here but heard it's very good as well.
Beer selection is ok, not great. Prices are very reasonable though, and that's a big bonus. As usual, you have the typical PBR loving hipster types here, and that means it's also a smoky bar. It's not as intense as places like The Independent but smoke is definitely a factor here.
Excellent jukebox as well with all sorts of wide ranging types of music.
So one night....
I was craving hot wings and searched for probably 3 hours online to find the Atlanta spot with the best.. Review after review said that the local had the best hot wings hands down.
So, I figured... bar... bar food... hot wings...okay, maybe they've perfected them.
Here's how it went:
Entered
Sat Down
Friendly waitress approaches
2 Trusty Guiness were ordered
Smoke Cigarette
Guiness Delivered
Order Wings (and he ordered something else...)
Wings Delivered
BLEHHHHH.... they were drenched with bbq sauce mixed w/hot sauce and while I may have liked this a little on a normal day, it wasn't what I was looking for AT ALL and this isn't what she told me they had. The wings were fatty and slimmmmmmy. No Bueno Chikito!
Needless to say, I was disappointed.
Other than that, the atmosphere is good. Service was pretty great and the patrons of the evening were fun and loud. Good for drinking all night but not for eating hot wings. :-)
My friends probably think I'm ridiculous, but I can't get enough of the Local's barbeque sandwich and fries (and their amazing boiled peanuts). For me, it's the perfect comfort food (along with a pitcher of draft cider) after a hard day at work.
The patio is fantastic for avoiding the smokiness inside (which isn't that bad on a weeknight, but can get overwhelming for a non-smoker), and the service is always friendly and speedy. The prices are very affordable, and it's absolutely great for a long night of drinking with friends.
A very indie casual, comfortable and laid-back atmosphere, the people-watching can't be beat. It can get hard to find a table and parking if you go late on a weekend, so go early & stay late!
After my first trip here I'd say this place was a 3 or a 3.5, but after coming here a second time it definitely got bumped up to a 4. I made the amateur mistake of not ordering the barbeque the first time around, I think that's what did it.
So... once I had ordered the barbeque I realized it was awesome. The meat was good and I really liked the plethora of sauces they give you (a mustard based one, a sweet one and a spicy/vinegary one). Plus they have a decent list of not so common beers to pick from.
It's a perfect place to chill on the patio as the sun is setting with a beer and a good dinner. I also hear the trivia is pretty good too.
Everyone has already reviewed the Local except for me, so here goes...
The Local is kind of like that old friend from college or high school that you probably woudn't hang out with if you met them now because you just don't have that much in common. However, since you met them at a young age, you are still good buddies.
My main complaints about the Local are too many hipsters and too much cigarette smoke. On the other hand, I did used to be a smoker and I respect the right of bars, clubs and even restaurants to allow smoking on their premises. Despite my preference for smoke-free environments, I actually HATE our smoking laws because I think they are wrong. So I respect the Local's right to reek of smoke... I just don't prefer to go there anymore because the smell bugs me now that I've quit for several years.
The beer selection at the Local is pretty darn good, as is the jukebox. I have been there for karaoke, which I'm not even sure if they still have... but it was a lot of fun. Despite my complaint about hipsters, the people here are generally pretty nice and laid back. The food is also surprisingly not-bad for bar food. There is a good selection of items, and most everything I've tried has been damn tasty.
Hmmm, even after my backhanded compliments, talking about this place is kind of making me want to pay it another visit. So I am changing my rating from 3 stars to 4. Overall, it's a pretty solid place.
Finally got a chance to check this place out tonight. A bunch of people commented on the smoke being horrendous so we didn't chance it and sat outside since it was a nice night anyways.
I got the ribs and my lady got the veggie burger, both were pretty good and we will definitely be back to try the boiled peanuts. Which we didn't try even though they are supposed to be the best.
But one comment, no hot wings at a pub? What the heck! Hot wings is always the first thing I order at a new place, so that bummed me out but don't let it stop you from checking it out.
The Local is my kind of place. I just wish it was nonsmoking.
What I like:
1. Good beer selection at decent prices.
2. Good food for what it serves. While the food will not "wow" you, it will taste fine and is consistent. I have never had anything here that I thought was bad.
3. Friendly staff
4. Trivia night - woo hoo we won last night!
5. Easy going clientele. A no "attitude" place. Nice.
What I don't like:
1. The Smoke.
There also is the regular who was serenading me and making crude sexual comments towards me. But he will remain nameless {cough* Ivan S * cough} to protect his wonderful bride.
The food's fine. The wine selection is, uhhhh, limited. (Yeah, I go to beer bars/pubs and order cheap wine. I deserve what I get.)
However, the service is totally awesome. Thanks to our lovely and sharp waitress who watched the extras on the Changeling DVD, we won at trivia. Sorry I didn't get her name. I hope I made it up in tip. But after two Merlots, you take your chances with my math skills.
There is parking in the back, but you have to go in the entrance on east side of the bar, not the first entrance if you're coming from midtown. Not that I was that dork going the wrong way or anything.
The real downside to this place is the smoke. Yikes! You can cut it with a knife. (But please don't bring sharp objects with you. People get really drunk here. *cough*Ivan*cough*)
I got home and put my jacket on a hanger out on the balcony to try to air it out overnight and get the smoke stench out, but it didn't work. I ended up stopping by the store on the way to work this morning to buy Febreze so I could smell like a chemist's idea of fresh air rather than smelling like the Marlboro man. (The fetid decomposing corpse of the Marlboro man.) In the future, I'll try to sit outside, even if it means wearing my coat the whole time.
So my first visit was for trivia and I was very impressed. I had a yummy grilled cheese and fried okra and I'm still lusting after Scott's fried corn. Respectable beer selection and very reasonable prices. I don't remember the exact special, but I was sipping grape vodka and sprite all night for.. pretty sure under 5 bucks.
As the others have said, trivia was fun and our server was awesome. We had a pretty big party of at least 10 and she handled us like we weren't but a wee party of 4. Very friendly and attentive.
This is pretty much the perfect spot to do a casual dinner and a few beers. My kind of place and I'll definitely be back.
Fun crowd and BOILED PEANUTS! Very smokey though.
Pinball Review as of 3/1/09: Indiana Jones. Not to be confused with the Williams machine of the early 90's, this effort from Stern is about as bad as the 4th movie. Some of the lights on this machine are out, but the flipper action is okay. The Local usually does a good job of rotating machines through so hopefully we'll see a new offering soon!
http://ipdb.org/search...
Deep fried corn on the cob?
Stop pretending like that's normal!
I was horrified until I tasted it!
Grub-u-licious! It makes the corn taste nutty! Who would have guessed?
I think I prefer mine fresh off the BBQ with a squeeze of lime and a dash of salt, but if nobody was looking... I'd do it again!
Danielle, our waitress, was amazing! She couldn't have been more positive or patient! I will love her smile with all my heart until the day I die! The whole establishment emulated her presence... comfortable, pretentionless, and friendly!
Great staff + darkness+ calf sized PBR's - Pretension = Love.
Minus one star for my lung cancer, whom I've affectionately named "Mr. Local".
Yep, I love it. Can't really explain why, I just do.
Even with the smoke, I see myself returning here again and again. And investing in large quantities of Febreze.
Great beer list, with everything from high-end Belgians to king sized PBRs. Our waitress on my last visit was phenomenal: despite our gigantic group she remembered all of our orders, split our checks, recommended particular beers, and also gave smart recommendations on the food. Plus she was totally cute... one of those girls where you just wish you had her innate sense of style and confidence. Total girl crush!
The falafel was surprisingly solid and I really enjoyed the nearly tart tahini that accompanied it. I had no problem nearly clearing my plate, and the prices were phenomenal on most everything (although I think I'm just getting used to everything being cheaper than DC). The beers kept coming and my entire tab was only $25. Pretty incredible, no?
Trivia is here on Wednesday nights, and it's pretty popular. Be sure to get here early if you've got a large crowd! The actual trivia was pretty solid, although easier than most. Also, the two women announcing trivia hadn't really brought their A-game, as a lot of the teams seemed to be jumbled around and there were some scoring inaccuracies. Also, while the pace was decent overall there was some serious lag time in between the rounds. Still, I definitely enjoyed the very laid back trivia that was going on and I'd happily return. Especially if we get to beat Ivan again.
How have I not been here before? Thanks to Kathleen M for planning the trivia night that brought me here! Three of my favorite things in a restaurant: tater tots, High Life on draft, and they take Discover cards. Who could ask for anything more?
I met the early crowd and joined them in staking out what seemed like the entire right side of the restaurant. This brought some very dirty looks from the dark-glasses-flannel-shirt wearing crowd, who must have been the regulars, since their eyes said "who are those people and what are they doing at our tables?!"
Service was prompt, and the waitress kept the beer flowing and food coming the whole night. She even separated our checks (remember our orders, too!) without prompting. Guys also take note - she was physically qualified to work at Hooters, but she was way smarter about how she worked "the girls" to get good tips without being an obvious ditz about it.
I got the buffalo chicken wrap with tots. Everyone was talking about how generous the portions were, but I thought mine was just right to feed my grumbling stomach. The mustard sauce was good with the tots, but I'll stick to my classic ketchup and mustard mix. The wrap was good and spicy, and not too much blue cheese so that it left you with the spicy taste in your mouth, instead of the fatty dressing taste.
Only reason to take it down a star is definitely the smokiness. So if you're a chimney - go here to light up, you'll be in good company. But if it makes you sick, go early, before it gets crowded.
And we rocked at trivia. Can't complain about that. Can't wait to go back to claim our $25 tab!
The service is great, the atmosphere is fun and the food is pretty good, too, but it is so smokey!
I've been here a couple of times and last night was the worst. The moment we walked in, I was hit by a thick layer of smoke and I thought about running my freshly dry cleaned wool coat back to my car. Regretably, I did not and now it smells of a dirty ashtray...bleh!
The Local is a great place to hang out with friends and I will return. Just wish they would put in a better ventilation system.
You can catch me here anywhere from 1-5x a week, meaning this place still holds it down for my favorite place to go drink and hang with friends... And even when I drink alone (does that mean I may have a problem?) the staff (who have become my friends) keep me company. Just like home... My second home...
Now if I could just get that pool or air hockey table in there... Oh and that cot so I can sleep there as well... Hrm...
Oh this place knows all the dark secrets to my life. I spent way too many evenings there... and… Read more »
Finally made it to The Local and glad I did. After reading so many favorable reviews, I was curious to see what this place was all about. It's definitely a cool venue to meet up with friends, imbibe, listen to great music, and socialize! We were there on a Friday night and it was packed. It's definitely a feel good atmosphere where before you know it, you may have consumed more alcohol than you intended.
The service was great - friendly and efficient and our bar tab was totally reasonable.
The Local will now be one of my "let's meet up for a beer" recommendations.
Go Down on Ponce
Most people go to The Local for a cheap PBR or a strong drink or actually both at the same time. The bartenders there are much too busy to bother with fru fru "special" martinis, according to my friend, Grant Henry who tends bar there Monday Wednesday and Friday nights.
Duane and I like going to "The Local" on Monday nights. It isn't as busy or smokey and we can sit at the bar and visit with Grant as our other slightly older friends drift in on Monday's for the same reasons. Oh yeah, that and for their delicious barbecue and corn on the cob and coleslaw. Their pulled pork is awfully good. Duane likes their baby back pork ribs, moist and tasty. They come with three different sauce flavors; mustard based, vinegar based, and tomato based served separate and on the table, just the way I like it.
When my 22 year old daughter was visiting recently she said, "The Local has a reputation as a hang out for hipster douche bags." But we took her their for Wednesday trivia night and she was liking it and then she said, "Well maybe the douche bag part was uncalled for." I think the atmosphere there is just divey and gritty enough. What else could you ask for?
A huge favorite. Good Price and excellent food. I would highly recomend the Philly chicken wrap and fried okra. Great atmosphere. Take a seat on the couch in the front or in the back room and enjoy the food, friends and fun. Bon appetite folks.
The service was great, the beer was cheap, the peanuts were excellent.
What else could you want from your 'local' dive? Its not fancy, particularly clean or smoke free (be prepared) but I like cheap booze and unpretentious people and both can be had at The Local.
The Local is a great bar. It's a perfect place to either spend the night OR begin OR end your night.
I love the outside, front patio seating. It's usually where we end up because the inside is always packed. I also prefer outside because it's brighter and there's more space to breath. The inside is dark and loud, which is just too much sometimes.
The location is great (on Ponce) because it's central to a lot of other places;
Within walking distance to: MJQ/Drunken Unicorn, Clermont Lounge, Paris on Ponce, Disco Kroger
Close by: Masquerade, Krispy Kreme, Eats, Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Park..
A little further but still not inconvenient drive to: Fernbank, Little 5 points, PTree St.
For fun, there is a photobooth and some arcade games, I believe.
The Local has pretty good service. We've had the same guy the last handful of times, and I don't know his name but he's great. I actually made a big dumbass move a couple weeks ago and spilled my almost full drink.. This guy just got me a new one, with no problems at all. (Thanks again!!)
The bathrooms (girls at least) are decent. They're not spotless but I've definitely seen worse. There are only 2 stalls but from my experience, there's usually not too much wait.
The food is good - Tater Tots are the best.. also the Pretzels are great. There's also free popcorn.. and who else in town gives out anything free, really?
*Just a warning though, as with ANYwhere in ANY city, remember to hide your valuables in your car.. or bring them in with you..
My roommate's car got broken into in the parking lot just because someone saw the CORD that plugs her iPod into the dash. I'm not saying the Local's parking lot is any worse than anywhere else.. I still park there without hesitation (just more conscious of what's visible) and apparently so does everyone else! You really just have to be careful anywhere.
Of course I went back!
5 pm. They were just opening we sat outside.....
I had nacho's with chicken. HUGE PLATE!
7 pitchers of high life and 3 hours later.....
Hooray for the local.
It is one of my favorite spots to plot and plan before going out into the…
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My initiation to this place came last weekend I believe. I don't really remember for sure as the last few weeks have been an alcoholic blur really.
BUT what I do remember is that this place is cool. Just a kick back kinda bar, nothing pretentious, just a local place to hang out.
I give this 4 stars because its an affordable local joint that you can chill at with some friends. If this review was based more on our waitress, this review would get 5 stars easy. "Super waitress" Danielle, as Nikki called her, is awesome. I had only been in a couple times, but she had my drink down, and even brought me a monster water later. I swear to god she read my mind on that water thing. And this was while we were in a rather large party. Awesomeness.
I haven't really eaten the food here, but it looked decent actually. I've had the boiled peanuts (my first time having boiled peanuts) and they are pretty decent. A little spice in them keeps things interesting. From my discussions last night though, it appears that boiled peanuts in bags from random ass dudes on the side of the road are the best. Hmm. ok.
It might get a little crazy here on prime nights, but so far I've enjoyed my visits on the off nights. If you're looking for more of a scene thing go to Halo or something I guess. Opera maybe? I don't know, I'm not really into that ish.
Great beers. Unique menu. Lively crowd. Cool place to sit outside on Ponce. Service a bit slow. They specialize in beer and chicken, have yet to try the chicken but their beer choices were fantastic.
The Local is my work-group's PayDay Friday hang out. There is nothing more delightful than being greeted at the door by our excellent server Steve with the words, "Pitcher of Newcastle?"
The service, even when packed, is great. The draft beer selection is fine, and the food is decent to tasty. Plus, free popcorn, a photobooth and the internet jukebox? Yes, please.
Summer time is a great time to grab a coveted spot on the porch, and if you're feeling randy, you can always jog across Ponce for a little ink @ Liberty Tattoo.
We have had excellent experiences whether it is just me and a quiet friend or me and 19 of my most obnoxious friends. A fun place for karaoke, trivia or special nights like Halloween. Its proximity to other places like MJQ, Drunken Unicorn and the Bookhouse also make it a destination for long nights.
I have to review my experience even though I only partially remember this place.
Like Joseph stated very 70's, hippy-ish vibe. I had a great time catching up with the gang. The beer was cheap, for the most part the waitress was accomadating (until it was time to go, and all of sudden she didn't see the hands waving in the air for her attention).
I didn't see the hot waiters but there were def. some eye candy dispersed throughout the place =)
Typical bar, loud and very chill environment other customers were very friendly. Plans of returning..Yes sir
I like the local. It stole my alcohol soaked heart with outdoor patio of booths, interesting cast of characters, and the giant 24 oz. cans of PBR.
Seriously, they give you 2 x 4s of PBR.
Cheap beer, but mind the hipsters.
00's are the new 70's. Come on folks. The gas prices may be high but that doesn't give you an excuse to dress as if though you yourself are high.
Almost as bad as yuppies...
Seriously, if I'm critiquing your fashion then something is horribly amiss.
I came here for the first time the other night to grab a bite to eat and some drinks with friends. I ordered the Veggie wrap with corn on the cob. The wrap was really yummy! I would definitely come back for it! The feta cheese sauce made the whole thing awesome. Our server was really on top of things, refilling drinks and checking on us.
My only complaint and I don't know what the real law is in Georgia pertaining to smoking in bars. But if you come here and you're not a smoker, don't wear anything that you intend on wearing again or that you have to dry clean. it's stinky!
Sad news that I should have reported a year ago- the booby game is gone. And karaoke is gone for now. I beefed with super waitress Danielle over this awhile ago. But I love everyone that works there, and it only goes to show what kind of regular boozer I am when all the staff knows to automatically give me my regular drink when I walk in!
*Update on update- apparently my beloved bowling game is gone. I predict there will be riots.
I know The Local isn't the most glamorous bar in town, but it has a certain charm to it. Sure, it… Read more »
The Local is aptly named for me. It's the closest bar to my front door, and it's my most local bar. I go for the arcade, laid back bartenders and open minded clientele.
If it's the weekend, and we're deciding what we're going to do for the entirety of the night, The Local is rarely my first choice. But it's never a bad choice, and there is something to be said for that.
Arcade is good, and they have a photo booth. I am disappointed that Big Buck Safari has been replaced by Big Buck Pro. I'll get over it, though.
Food is decent.
I seriously love this bar. I've been coming here on and off since I moved to Atlanta in 03....at one point in time I was there every Friday night. The clientele has changed a bit over the years (dresses and Buckhead girls? At this place?) but the food is still fantastic, the PBR is cheap, the service is excellent and the free popcorn is always fresh.
The veggie burger is my favorite thing on the menu. I'm a meat eater, but am not adverse to healthful non-meat options, as long as they dont taste like grass, smell like too much wheat or are generally a salad on a bun. This veggie burger is in a tie for "GREAT" with The Flying Biscuit's Angel Burger. I love how the Local's burger is not too big, not too small and still makes me feel like I'm eating a meat burger. Order it with tater tots and you wont be disappointed.
Concentrics Special
Neighborhood: Atlantic Station
Wednesdays are $3 Slider…
Atlanta, GA
Neighborhood: Midtown
Category: Radio Stations
Neighborhood: Atlantic Station
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Westside / Home Park
Category: Jazz & Blues
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