by Alice Bartram ·
Friday, November 8, 2024
Once upon a time, I worked for a company that had an office in Waltham. I became friends with a couple of the gals, and we started going out for dinner and a drink occasionally after work. The three of us have each moved on, yet we keep the dinner tradition going, getting together a few times a year. With me in Harvard, one friend in Arlington, and the other in Needham, Waltham ends up being convenient for all of us. For the last couple of years, The Local, just off the highway on Waltham’s Third Street has been our go-to spot.
We still meet up on a weekday right after working hours; the place is often buzzing at that time with different groups having drinks or dinner. Lighting is a bit dark, but not oppressively so. We usually end up being seated in a booth along the wall, not one of the center tables. There is also some outdoor seating if weather permits.
Once settled, we dive right into catching up, taking several prompts from the server to look at the menu. Invariably, the server is more than patient with us. The Local’s menu has some items that don’t vary (mainly the salads and burgers) and some entrees that change based on the season. There is usually a special or two as well. While the menu does change, the entrees always seem to include a vegetarian option and several seafood choices. Most recently, I had the shrimp tacos, which I really enjoyed—two soft flour tortillas amply filled with grilled shrimp and other goodies, covered with a delicious sauce.
On past visits, I have had the power salad, enjoying the combination of fresh greens (baby kale, spinach, avocado, and shaved Brussels sprouts) with quinoa, crunchy pistachios, tomatoes, and feta cheese, all topped with a citrus vinaigrette. To make it a bit more hearty, I usually add chicken or shrimp. A glass of malbec provides a nice counterpoint.
One friend almost always orders a cocktail and raves about it, especially the most recent raspberry crush. She often chooses one of the half-pound Angus burgers, mainly because she wants the fries, which are crisp and lightly seasoned; there is also a truffle option. Burgers and fries are served in a mini wire basket, making a fun presentation.
The other friend is more of a beer gal (great selection) and is the most varied in ordering among the three of us, often selecting the special. One time, I copied her selection of the scallop special and was glad I did. Perfectly cooked sea scallops in a delightfully light yet tasty sauce, with rice. Very satisfying. This friend has also dined at The Local’s Wellesley location. She speaks highly of their warm chip-and-onion-dip appetizer and also noted that the reuben sandwich, when available, is great. Both she and a reviewer featured on The Local’s website also highlighted the stuffed acorn squash as excellent.
A few times we three shared the dessert special and were glad we did. The first share was a basket of house-made warm cinnamon donuts with three dipping sauces. Divine, and enough for one gal to take some home. The second was an apple tart confection. Served on a long rectangular dish, a square-shaped individual apple tart in puff pastry sat next to a mound of whipped cream, then a scoop of maple ice cream. Crunchy toffee bits dotted everything. Delicious. Both were dessert specials, so may or may not be available at any given time. The point is: Save room for dessert at The Local; no matter what’s on offer, it’s likely to be worth it.
If you are looking for a place to meet friends who are closer to Boston, yet don’t want to trek all the way in, try The Local—and not just for the location; you’ll love the food and drinks as well.
Reviewer’s note: I’ve written previously about special occasion places, near Harvard and in Boston. Recently, my husband and I had the pleasure of two great seafood meals in Boston that I want to mention. The first is Ostra (1 Charles St.), where we were treated to one of the most delicious meals we’ve ever had—especially the fried oyster app. Our friend was celebrating her birthday; Ostra worked with her to create a special event.
A few weeks later, we continued the celebration in Chinatown where the same friend introduced us to some new seafood dishes: lobster with ginger and scallions, a spicy whole crab, and even jellyfish! That was at Peach Farm Seafood on Tyler Street. While Ostra is more of a special occasion place, both are fun with great food and worth trying.
Alice Bartram leaves much of the cooking to her husband, though she has many Instagram-saved recipes that she’ll get to one day as, really, she finds eating out more fun than cooking.