Review Local On The Square - Memphis

Now, hear me out. When I went for brunch and ordered the chicken and waffle and this was the dish brought to me, I quickly felt my brow raise. Then I tried it. The chicken is well seasoned, and the glaze is so good( I got mine on the side just in case it was not ). The waffle, while tasty, has a gritty consistency. It almost puts you in the mind of sugar granules. After a bite or two, I didn't mind it so much. All in all, I would order it again with eggs. No brunch is complete without a mimosa, mmmmm, so I got the large one. The French toast was not my favorite. The combination of everything was interesting, to say the less. Would I order it again? idk would I order the eggs again? Yes, yes, I would.

This was a really nice joint on the famous block. Has a good rustic look with nice decor and bar located in the middle. Had variety of options and everyone absolutely enjoyed the food. Very fresh tasting and satisfying everyone’s craving. Would definetly recommend their cheese curds and pesto pasta with sun dried tomatoes, fish tacos and house burger.

Really cool place. Great staff, 30+ draft beers, really cool atmosphere. A great place to watch a game.

This wasn’t my first time here, I went on the 4th of July when most places were closed. The restaurant was understaffed with only 2 servers and the cooks in the back, yet they made their best effort to accommodate the crowd! The chargrilled oysters were delicious but a little pricey. The wings were crispy and flavorful and freshly cooked! I would definitely come back again!

Was brought here on a date. The food was delicious and LOVE the ambiance! We even got complimentary cookies at midnight! :-)

This place was slamming so service was delayed at times, plus the bartender had a sprained arm. All good, though. Delicious $5 Bloody Mary's. We shares a dozen Blue Point raw oysters that were plump and mouthwatering. Served with mignonette which is hard to find in the South. Husband had a Creole Carbonara with gulf shrimp, blackened chicken, bacon, peas, tomato, creole cream with cavatapi. He devoured it. I had the short rib sandwich, which was okay. However, the sea salt and pepper fries rocked my world. Casual place. The hostess was the sweetest person and pitched in on the service wherever she could. They need to give her a raise. She makes you feel welcome. Service was good. Be prepared to circle for parking.

As a Wisconsin native, I'd hate to admit that another state can do fried cheese curds better.... so I won't. 🤣. Service was amazing; food was delicious and filling. Didn't order any beers but definitely a good selection that would make me come back.

I just want to say that after reading about a happy hour here on Google, we went in at 5 and the host and the bartender told us there is NO happy hour - and that they haven't ever heard of one happening there. I had a burger there once that was good. Decent beer selection.

The Food: While it was pretty heavy in oils and such, it was delicious. We had three people get three different dishes and we all shared an appetizer. I was genuinely impressed with how delicious the food was! The Service: Service was lacking. We were out of drinks for about 10 minutes before we finally waved down another server. Our server had just disappeared... Luckily the delicious food helped the rating. The Ambiance: The building interior is dark and a little bit gloomy. It could stand to be lightened up a little bit I think.

I experienced great service. My friend and I visited on the tail end of brunch, we ordered the chicken and waffle, which was extra dry but the manager made it right. We each ordered something else. I went with the grilled cheese which was amazing! The meat was perfectly flavorful and the fries seasoned just right. I'm certainly having this again!

Awesome experience! Our waiter (tall guy) was friendly and he made sure we had everything we needed. I ordered wings, oysters, and a waffle. My friends ordered the chicken and waffles. Of course we had the $3 mimosas! Only thing negative was there was something at the bottom of my friends drinks, and the bartender said it was backwash. (Eye roll) Follow me on IG more reviews: BushnMajor

Great place to meet up with friends for some good grub and drinks. The bartender Drew is very fast and attentive. Loved the burger and the blackened salmon. Will be back!

Meal was delicious and atmosphere was good. I got the gulf shrimp and grips. Service was a bit slow.

Never a let-down; had my usual oysters on-the-half shell, opted for a new entrée. Everything was exceptional, for a quick weekday night out Staff was phenomenal!

Do yourself a favor and just park on the garage. It’s free until 6pm. Brunch at Local was amazing. They didnt have bottomless mimosas on the menu anymore, but now it’s $5 mimosa, Bellini, Bloody Mary. Our appetizers were huge and great in taste as well (Spinach and Artichoke Queso Dip and Calamari). These appetizers are a bit on the spicy side with the sauces. For entree, we got the Eggs Robert Johnson and Brioche French Toast. With breakfast potato sides and bacon. The bacon is the perfect combination on sweet and savory. The Bellinis are delicious! Service was great, the environment is so welcoming at Local. Will definitely come back again!

I don't know if something has changed, but the food was so much better this time than when we visited before! We were there for a celebration and the servers and bartenders upstairs were amazing!

Our server was miserable, as in miserable to be at work. I hope she finds a job she likes better. Our drinks were not very strong. I hope Local figures it out and improves.

A few months ago I called and requested a designated area for my upcoming 39th birthday party and I was very excited to be having this celebration at Local. This would be my first time at this establishment and I wanted to see what all the good talk was about. Well I must say that on December 15th the day of my party I was truly let down in a major way. We had a server who hadn't worked in 3 months on our party of 20+ people. He kept missing and skipping over people when taking orders. I had to even walk over and get him to inform him that he never came back to take both my husband and cousin's order. Finally a long time later whne the food began arriving at the table we realized it was prepared poorly. Some of the food was cold, and my order of fish and chips was plain horrible. The fries and fish all were hard, dry, and tasted like it had been cooked in old grease. I informed who I though was our server since 3 guys kept coming and taking orders which we found out in the end confused our original waiter because he didn't know he was getting help apparently and orders were being duplicated. I then ordered something else, ate some of it and walked away to greet other guest who came late and came back to the table to see that the waiter had thrown my food away thinking I was done. And I was still missing my second drink from the bar that was previously paid from by a guest who had to leave early. This pissed me off so I called for a manager to come over. Long story short I got my 2nd drink but not the re-order of food due to more confusion. My entire guest list stated they would never come back to this establishment and since my birthday celebration was ruined I will never step foot into the building again myself. And to top off a horrible night and experience, the server comfused tickets and took so long brining them out guest began to leave. He came over to me showing me a ticket of food he didn't know if they were duplicates or not and said it wasn't a specific ticket but a combination of items he couldn't remember if had been paid or not. So me and y husband being honest people we paid that extra ticket of $40 after paying already our large ticket. I asked for the manager to come back over and we waited around . The manager finally came over again I thought to apologize or try to compensate us, but it seems he only came over to move our tables away since another large group was coming in. It seems they were more worried about seating people than pleasing people. You can't run or keep a restuarant open treating people like this. On a scale from 1-10 I would rate them a negative 100. I decided then to just contact the Corporate office and to never spend my money there again.  And to also tell anyone I come in contact with on all social media pages to never eat there as well.

The staff is extremely rude. I used to love coming here to get drinks with my friends but it has gotten to the point where I'd rather just go somewhere else. My friends and I come by all the time to grab a drink and one night we come in and sit down and don't get anything immediately and they told us we have to leave if we aren't getting at least 2 drinks each. My friends and I will never be coming here again.

It was close to 11 when we came in. Although it was late on a Sunday, there wasn't anyone near the host stand yet we couldn't seat ourselves and it took the bartender a minute to acknowledge us. The main menu ended at 11 so we ordered from the late menu. My boyfriend got the pork belly sliders and I got the meatball sliders. The meatball sliders were bland and the pork belly sliders consisted of a large square of fat with a touch of meat and were also bland. Gratuity is at 20% after 10. The service was ok but the food could be better.

Looks are deceiving. The service is atrocious and the food is mediocre at best. The building is super cool and the atmosphere is nice, but the staff is so rude they ruin it as soon as you walk in the door. Our food was all wrong, and the server was completely unapologetic after being inattentive and unbelievably slow. Never again.

We visited Local on a Saturday night and were able to be seated right away. We were looking for a place to relax, talk, and try new drinks before seeing a play. Local was a good choice: it's not too loud so that you can talk without yelling, but it's not library-quiet. We had fun trying some new drinks. We ordered the crispy artichoke as an appetizer. It was yummy, but I wasn't expecting deep-fried. I ordered the tuna Niçoise salad, which was fine: tons of greens, a hard boiled egg, fingerling potatoes (which I didn't eat), two ounces of dressing, and tuna that was a little overcooked for my taste. My daughter-in-law ordered the Reuben sandwich which looked amazing. She loved it.<br/>We enjoyed our drinks. I ordered a whiskey flight to try some new brands. My daughter-in-law ordered the Memphis Mule and really liked it. She also ordered the Ferderale (?), but said it tasted like window cleaner - no hint of jalapeño. The manager took it back because she said the glass wasn't rinsed well and still had soap. The replacement drink also had a soapy taste, but we didn't complain. The drinks I ordered came in short glasses and tasted fine. Watch out for the drinks in the tall glasses - they're the ones that tasted soapy.<br/>I wish I could remember our server's name. She was excellent.<br/>I would recommend Local if you're looking for a place to hang out, talk, drink, and eat a little. Don't expect the food to blow you over and watch out for the tall skinny glasses.

Overall Local on the Square was a good experience. The ability for the front of house staff to page me when the table was available was definitely a plus. The decor was nice as well. The burgers were spot on. Order the chips over the fries and your meal will be enjoyable.

Wife and I ate there tonight, neither she nor I were happy with our food. Lobster tacos should be called cucumber tacos as they were 99% cucumbers. The Crispy brusselspouts were soggy. Will not go back, pity because the downtown Local is good.

My first visit 6 months ago was ok. I thought the menu was a bit schizophrenic but interesting. The pleasure in my visits have been steadily going down hill since, and yesterday will be my last. The menu has changed... Still schizophrenic though. The salad was SOAKED in dressing and the Mac and cheese tasted as if the canned cheese sauce was watered so much the taste was barely recognizable. My companion had the French dip. It tasted like pot roast, left over from a previous meal. <br/>The French fries are good

Poor Customer Service--Racial Encounter. On today my husband and I decided to spend some time on the square after an awards ceremony for me. As we entered the establishment, we were told it was a 45 minute wait. We placed our name and # with the hostess. Within 5 minutes of us taking a seat and my husband walking back up to desk to ask for a menu; 4 patrons walked in as my husband is standing there and was told its a 15 minute wait but proceeded to seat them!!!!!!!! My husband asked why this was done???? NO REPLY. We were immediately taken upstairs and seated in a far corner. My husband asked to speak with manager. Her response was not satisfactory. She asked, if she could do anything. We both stated no. As she walks off, she rolls her eyes. I told my husband I WILL NOT spend money in any establishment that does not respect me. As we were leaving, she and waiter follow us downstairs, saying you placed an order you must pay for it, she states, I'm gonna have to call the police to my husband...He replied, do what you have to do after the service we just had!!!!!!!!!!! Then she proceeds on and tells him, DON'T come back here.. Oh, I left out the part about the 4 patrons who were seated before us were non blacks. NEVER WILL I SUPPORT THIS PLACE! As a Public Relations expert, this couldn't have happened to a better person!

Bad Manager + Bad Staff = Food Dive. I visited this establishment on March 7th with my girlfriend. We were both impeccably dressed. I was wearing slacks, dress shoes a shirt, a sportscoat and a Wigens herringbone hat which I was wearing reversed like I normally do. Upon entering the place I was told that there was a wait time. The manager, told me that I would have to turn my hat around in order to remain there because of their dress code. Mind you this was not a baseball hat but a rather expensive type of Kangol style hat. I have often worn my Wigens hats into this establishment prior to this evening and many other establishments on Madison Square without a word from anyone as I have also seen other patrons do. My girlfriend and I decided not to eat there and we left to go to bar Louie where we had an excellent time. As we were leaving, Brian thought it necessary to point out the posted dress code sign which clearly depicted a picture of a baseball cap and which was clearly not a part of my attire. This Sunday we decided to get out for brunch since it was a beautiful day. We agreed to try Local again, this time I was wearing a baseball cap with the bill turned towards the front. After entering the facility we noticed a customer at the bar with a baseball cap on and the bill of the cap was facing backwards. We sat down and after reviewing the menu and no one waited on us so we decided that we would go to Bar Louie again because of the excellent service we received before and we both liked the food and atmosphere.<br/>We watched 2 of the games at Bar Louie and decided to call it a day. As we were walking back to our car we noticed that there was another customer on the deck of Local wearing a baseball cap and the bill was turned backwards. We went in to talk to the manager to find out what was their official policy on the wearing of hats because I was told one thing but what I was seeing was something totally different. We asked to see the manager and Brian came out. We asked him why he had allowed 2 customers to be seated and waited on when they had on baseball caps with the bills facing backwards? I even showed him a picture of the one on the deck who was still there. He had no answer but insisted that we leave. The manager, Brian simply had to ask the other gentleman to turn his hat around and it would have ended the conversation. Brian apparently would rather encourage us to leave than be consistent in enforcing the policy that he was so anxious to enforce on me. <br/>This place suffers from bad management and it extends to their staff of bad bartenders, bad servers, bad food (over priced) and just overall bad atmosphere of we don’t care. I live in Midtown and I look forward to the day when this place closes so that we can get an establishment there that deserves to be on Overton Square.

Awesome!! Went on Valentine's night as a group of four with no reservations and treated awesome. Got us a table in 20 min. Atmosphere is fun and warm. Good was excellent...particularly the duck quesadillas. Would definately go back again.

Great place. Really enjoyed the food and waitress was great!

WORST SERVICE EVER-- HAPPY HOUR WINES ARE OLD WINES THEY WANT TO "GET RID OF". I have now tried to 3 times and have experienced BEYOND horrible service each and every time. Whether it is the lack of direction or knowledge, the hostesses never seem to know what it going on. The servers are without question downright rude and treated me as if I were an inconvenience instead of a paying/tipping diner. This has been my experience but last night's visit has spurned me to express just how dissatisfied I am with this place.<br/><br/>I attempted to go last night as a last ditch effort because my friend expressed interest in the 'Ladies Night' that was on their website. It boasted of $5 wines and martinis. Ladies Night didn't start until 7pm and we got there a little early, figuring we would enjoy Happy Hour prior to Ladies' Night. I had never been to Local for Ladies' Night so I asked the hostess about it and if she knew if they would have a special drink menu or anything. The hostess has no idea what I was talking about, she openly admitted that she knew it was on the website but didn't really think they even did it. She said she would look into it and get back to us. She came back when our server(s) arrived only to whisper something to the server who was training our server. We inquired about Ladies' Night to the server who also acted as if he had no idea what we were talking about. I asked what wines/martinis were available for the $5 price, since I am accustomed to the fact that usually Ladies' Night pricing only applies to certain beverages. He had no answers and actually avoided the question. After this we were already frustrated so asked what was on Happy Hour for wine. Once given the wine list I noticed that there were no Red Wines offered. I inquired if there were any red wines available and I was told 'No' because they "ran out". I frankly have never been to a Happy Hour where an establishment "Runs Out" of a beverage. In any event I asked him if they would offer anything due to this. He then stated that "the wines we place on Happy Hour are there because they are the older wines that we want to get rid of. Once we run out, we're out. You can order another red wine at regular price if you want." I'm just going to say that I come out for Happy Hour and Ladies' Night for a reason, because I want to enjoy the company of my friends and purchase slightly less expensive beverages. It floors me that an establishment would treat me in such a haughty and unhelpful way. It would be different if the service were at least slightly kind, instead every staff member I have come in contact with has been rude and dismissive. I will not be back and recommend you don't either.

Don't Go.. Two experiences prove terrible service and basically false advertising on the website for this location. Haven't been to the one downtown and have heard it is MUCH better. Hostesses were rude and knew nothing about the menu, the specials or ladies night. Didn't catch her name. The waiter, who was also training another waiter, Michael for his first night, was completely uninterested in answering any questions, told us they were out of the happy hour wines because "happy hours wines are the ones we want to get rid of and when we run out, we run out". His trainee, Michael tried very hard to make us happy, but could only do so much as a newbie. He is the only reason I wouldn't even think about going back. The site advertises Ladies' Night on Thursday and neither the hostess nor our waiters knew anything about it, didn't try to find out anything about it, getting answers was like pulling teeth, and once our waiter found out were weren't ordering liquor (because they were out of wine) he never came back to check on us until we got his attention to bring us our check. I won't go back and according to other reviews posted here poor service is their norm.

Don't Go.. Two experiences prove terrible service and basically false advertising on the website for this location. Haven't been to the one downtown and have heard it is MUCH better. Hostesses were rude and knew nothing about the menu, the specials or ladies night. Didn't catch her name. The waiter, who was also training another waiter, Michael for his first night, was completely uninterested in answering any questions, told us they were out of the happy hour wines because "happy hours wines are the ones we want to get rid of and when we run out, we run out". His trainee, Michael tried very hard to make us happy, but could only do so much as a newbie. He is the only reason I wouldn't even think about going back. The site advertises Ladies' Night on Thursday and neither the hostess nor our waiters knew anything about it, didn't try to find out anything about it, getting answers was like pulling teeth, and once our waiter found out were weren't ordering liquor (because they were out of wine) he never came back to check on us until we got his attention to bring us our check. I won't go back and according to other reviews posted here poor service is their norm.

Won't go back! We had a party booked for last night. As soon as we were seated the idiot manager walkes over and tells us we need to hurry up because another party wants to use the table soon. The place was less than half full! The service was bad beyond belief and they just dumped both starters and main course out at once because the "chef does not know how to keep time between" as our server pointed out. That manager needs to go and the place needs an overhaul of servers, hosts, and a new chef! Food was sub par at best. Go to the downtown location...much better!

Worst service I have ever had!!. I could not wait until I got home to write this review. I have been patronizing Local for years, but tonight, I was extremely dissatisfied with my sercice. Our waitress took rudeness to another level. From the moment we sat down, she was condescending and nice nasty. I ordered the chorizo chilli with broccoli cornbread. The cornbread was very hard, and the chilli was not appetizing. When the waitress came back to our table, I informed her of my discontent, she acted like she didnt care and it wasnt her problem. Finally, she went and got the manager to remove it from my bill. He was very nice and accomodating (the best part of our night at Local). I also informed him of how rude the waitress had been. He stated that he would speak with her about the matter. Apparently, he did discuss the matter with her, because, from that moment on, whenever she returned to our table, she said nothing to me nor my dining companion. She removed dishes, brought the checks, removes the checks, as if we were not there. After the fourth time she came to our table without even acknowledging that there were human beings seated there, I asked her was there a problem. She rolled her eyes, and walked off (while she made a big deal of being overly nice to the table next to us). I must say, that that was truly the worst dining experience I have ever had in my life. I am extremely disappointed amd won't be returning (or bringing any friends ir family members) if that is the standard for service at Local on the Square

I can get better fish & chips from Krogers.

Yuk fish. Had the fish tacos, and fish and chips. It was fried in old grease, and fried too long. It was like chewing rocks.<br/>The beer flight was good.<br/>Calamari was over cooked and too salty.

Watch out senior citizens. The wife and I were there on Saturday ages 64 and 66. We wanted a couple of beers with our meal and the nice man asked for our ID's to make sure we were 21. This is very demeaning and crude and a lot of other negative adjectives. We were told by a manager, a nice young lady who is 41 yrs old ,that is the law in Tennessee. After checking with the Tennessee Bureau of Alcohol I found out that IS NOT THE LAW. I really don't know what Local's <br/>problem is but they don't have to worry about our business anymore. OH, by the way, the food was mediocre.

Poor Service - Server & Management. A group of friends and I ate at this restaurant, after a play, for the first and last time! The service was extremely slow. The appetizer arrived after the meal. The waiter ommited items from several orders. He confused the bills, putting one of my food items on another bill, etc. One roasted vegetable item was barely cooked. Upon mentioning this to a manager, he sarcastically mentioned that all of it was eaten, without realizing that much of it had been boxed to take home and finish cooking. A friend's fried fish was dry. A replaced order never arrived. The list goes on and on. When seeking assistance from someone else in charge, he was unconcerned because he "had a restaurant to run"! It was a fiasco that none of us want to repeat!!

Overpriced food that doesn't even taste very good. Their drinks are great. But that is about all you should get here. I think. I've only had 2 things off the food menu, so I can't exactly speak for the whole menu. I got the Fish and Chips, which were $16. I've gotten this in the past for $10, same amount of food and it tasted better. I'll even add that the dipping sauce was crap. And my wife got the Seared Ahi Salad for $14. It's basically tuna and lettuce. If you're into that thing, great! Not my thing though. We would definitely prefer more ingredients. I felt like the salad should've been priced more at $8 honestly. Their drinks were great. I'm not sure why almost all of the cocktails are left out of their happy hour deal. My cocktail ended up being $11, which made me feel gypped. I've done plenty of cocktails during happy hours at other restaurants, and the cocktails are halved in price. I think Local is missing out because of that. They would draw a much bigger crowd if they didn't overprice everything on their menu.

Needs to stop serving food outside of apps. Begrudgingly went with friends. Had heard not good things about the food, and had a lunch there over a year ago that I thought was not very good as well, but thought maybe they had turned some things around. I ordered the Steak Frites. First off, there are no frites, just fingerling potatoes, which sort of defeats the purpose. More importantly, however, my rare steak was well done - not any of the three temperatures in between, but the furthest away, like shoe leather. Sent it back. Came back medium well, and I gave up. The mushroom demi glaze on top was awful and when I tried the steak without, no seasoning whatsoever. It also had an odd coloring to it suggesting it had been frozen at one point. My wife's shrimp and grits were the same story. Overcooked to rubber, under seasoned, then covered in a terrible sauce. These guys need to just be a bar with some apps if they want to stay open, because dinner was absolutely awful! Will never go back

This place is just absolutely terrible. When we first got there outside, it smelled of old garbage. The server was demeaning and rude, and the food was just bad. All of it. And it was all overpriced. 0/10 would not recommend.

The service is HORRIBLE. The hostess was rude when we asked about where our party was, the servers are SO slow, and the atmosphere is so cramped and not enjoyable for dinner. I've experienced slow service every time I've dined at this location, but my last experience did me in. I'm talking 25 minutes for a beer! An additional 25 min for an appetizer that was barely warm when it arrived. At that point, I made the decision not to even order an entree because I didn't have all night to wait. The only thing that came fast was the bill which made me feel like the server couldn't be bothered with my table because he knew that he was getting the automatic gratuity for a larger party. Needless to say I will not be back to this restaurant and I wouldn't recommend anyone else going.

Overpriced. Server was awful, didn't explain the happy hour specials, and did not speak loudly and clearly. He seemed annoyed when we asked the simplest questions about the menu. My beer tasted stale and old. I keep trying to give this place another chance but I'm done.

Not impressive. Going there at noon on a Friday with wonderful weather and there were barely any customers inside. Not a good sign because other nearby restaurants including Huey's which is famous for their hamburger would be packed full at this time. Well, they brought water and then asked you if you wanted any other drinks. I ordered a hamburger ($11) and upgraded the chips to fries (for an extra $1.50). It took a long time (more than 25 minutes) to get it. The hamburger was just so so, not as good as that of either Huey's or Red Robbin. They do not even have wheat buns. The fries sat inside a tiny metal cup and was soggy and looked half dead. Finally requested for fresh fries and they were better, but not as good as that of Backyard Burger and they had to charge an extra $1.50? My co-worker ordered their Steak Frite ($17) and she let me try a bite. It did have a lot of meat, cheese and fries but it was so salty, to me, was not edible. My co-worker said it was too salty too. Now after this trip which may be my last trip. I now understand why there were so few people at lunch time there today (7/25/14) - expensive prices for below average food. A lethal combination. If things not change, I foresee them being closed within one year.

I ate here for lunch during the week. My selection- grilled cheese and chicken tortilla soup. Out of 10 stars, I rate it 4. <br/>The grilled cheese was loaded with ham and an over easy egg. (Why not just call it a ham sandwich?) The bread was absolutely the most buttery toast ever!! I am still thinking about it... The soup need additional flavoring as it was very bland. The restaurant had a very strong stench; so much so that I almost walked out upon arriving. However, the place is gorgeous and looks very hip and welcoming. It's only saving grace.

Not Worth the Money. Let me just start by saying that I would considered this place grossly over-priced. I don't mind spending a little more as long as I get what I'm paying for, but this was not the case at all. As far as the food goes, most of it wasn't very good at all. The burgers were good as well as the mac and cheese tots, but everything else I tried I wouldn't even eat.

First visit. The place is very nice looking and I like the patios. The server was pleasant. The menu is not very interesting and seems pricy...$13 for a burger?? My wife got fish and chips and I got roast beef over fries. My roast was tasty but it's served over a pile of squishy fries. The fish and chips she said weren't much better than frozen. We might give it another shot if invited by friends but not by choice.

Bottom line.... I've eaten here 3 times over the last 3 months...once for lunch, twice for dinner. It is always the same, boring, flavorless food :( The servers either know this and have become bitter towards patrons or are just surly by nature - I don't know. But I do know that there are plenty of other, worthy dining establishments in the Midtown area. I won't name any specific ones so no one will think I'm a shill or something...but just know that Local on the Square is not worth your time, money, or stomach.

Gets a bad reputation but don't let it steer you away. I haven't tried anything that I haven't absolutely loved. appetizers are excellent - bar fries great, calamari succulent, soft pretzels are great snacks, quesadilla tasty, and Gouda mac and cheese tots to die for. Brunch menu is superb from the French Toast and chicken waffles to the bolognese. lunch and dinner items are great too. The smoked duck grilled cheese is my favorite. cheesy with a hint of sweet tomato jam (just go for it) . The brats are brats. The sear tuna salad is excellent. nothing special about fish tacos. Hot chicken is very good not too spicy and a huge piece of chicken. service is hit or miss as far as speed but everyone I have encountered has been par at least. beer selection changes monthly and they keep it diverse and good. It gets a bad rep but to be honest it's one of my favorite places to go to eat and drink. Great atmosphere on Thrusday - Saturday day and nights

I urge you not to go to this location. Our party had a reservation for 1:00 pm and was not seated until 45 minutes later. Our good did not arrive until 2:30. I don't have a problem waiting, but the waitress was thoroughly rude, unpleasant, and snapped at a few of the girls in our party. On top of this, the table we waited so long for was simply placed in the smoking deck where other guests would come out for a cigarette. When one of us asked to speak to the manager, she came out, apologized, but did nothing to make it right. Unfortunately, the 20% gratuity charge was not removed from our bills. The manager was short, unenthusiastic, and unpleasant. Our experience was terrible, to be generous.

Specials are very dishonest. I have been a patron of local since they first opened downtown, I have previously reviewed this place as 5 star because I loved the downtown feel. The bartender literally remembered everyone and brunch was great. Lately though I feel that they are advertising specifically to mislead you. I believe this since we have brought it up several times and no action has been taken to correct it. They will advertise great specials but don't agree to honor them. The "game day" specials only apply to local games, limited beers, and a few mediocre appetizers. None of which is mentioned. The food is still yummy but BUYER BEWARE if you're expecting any specials that you read about - you will most likely be unfairly charged full price. It just seems like a bigger pain than its worth when there are other restaurants that use much less false advertising. I almost hate to write this review since I have a very sentimentL attachment to the downtown restaurant but it's out of control.

Downtown is sooooo much better. The food was not good and the service was even worse. The only time the waiter moved quickly was when I took my cell out to snap a pic of the food.

Had the Nashville Chicken Sammy and a Sly Rye Porter ... The Porter was great, as was the chicken; HOWEVER, the Sammy was served on the equivalent of a Wonder Bread Hamburger Bun that detracted from the great chicken.

No service at all. Went about 1:30 pm. Not many people at all. Got seated immediately and never saw anyone after that. Three servers and a bartender would walk by and look at us and keep going. It got to be really bizarre. It was like a game they were playing to see who could outlast the other and not have to wait on us Very disappointing We have stopped going to beg for service anywhere.

Beautiful Atmosphere tasty Food!. No clue but suspect trolls for the bad reviews. Just stop in for a drink or half off bottle wine and say JimDaniels dot com sent you. I always ask for Matt but any will do. Then post a real review which should be wonderful and glowing.

Fantastic food Incompetent .... Fantastic food<br/>Incompetent servers

Interesting. Went with a coworker for lunch today.. The menu has some very interesting items to choose from. settled on the meatloaf special and WOW that's a lot of food for the price... . Down sidse were my Co worker like sweet tea and they do not serve it.... only got one refill because the server was busy with other guests. and at the end of the meal some homeless guy walked in through the exit with a gas can and proceeded to make his way to the back.... Yea it was time to leave then...

JUST DESSERTS!!. THE Maple Bacon Blondie!!!!!! Went for dessert with friends from out of town. Wonderful service, comfortable atmosphere. Can't wait to go back during the day to see the view from the windows upstairs. Comfortable seating for after dinner conversation. Will def go back!!! Will def order another blondie!!!!

I guess either I'm lucky or you people all went on the same bad day.. There are several bad recent reviews, but they don't sound like any experience I've ever had at Local on the Square. The service has been friendly and attentive each time I've been. We were told our wait on a packed Friday night would be 35 minutes, but it was more like 20, and the hostesses and servers handled the crowd like pros. The food's a bit higher priced than what you might be used to for casual restaurants in the neighborhood, but it's worth it. The Lobster BLT I had tonight was the 2nd best lobster roll I've ever had; #1 and #3 were in Boston Harbor. It was also massive with a ton of lobster for $15. My friend's chicken and sweet potato waffles were also delicious. They have changed the menu recently, but I can't believe people are complaining about it; almost everything on the dinner menu sounds amazing. Going there every week's not in my budget, but I like this place more each time I visit.

Fun place with good food. Fun place to grab a drink and have a good meal. Been a 4-5 times and food has always been good. Good apps and meals , the tacos are always good.

Did not have a good experience. <br/>Visited on a Friday for lunch. The bartender was also waiting tables, so it took a while to place a drink order. Watched the food expediter snack on fries while awaiting food orders to deliver. I had a cheese burger that looked good, but wasn't. The cheese was old or not really cheese Not Good. Next were the pickles - cheap quality or they were sitting out all day. The meat had good flavor, so that was the positive for the meal. RECOMMEND - improve your food Quality, don't make cheap stuff look good, I'm looking for the quality not just the look. Next - improve customer service. Every customer is important so hearing about other customers from the bartender in a negative way is unprofessional. This is a nice place with a lot of potential. If you don't improve it I'll probably visit the place next door more often.

A typical sequel .... Much like most movie sequels .... Local on the Square is just not as good as the first one ...<br/><br/>I am a very huge fan of Local Gastro Pub downtown. When I heard they were opening another location more in my neck of the woods, I was super duper excited!<br/><br/>Within the first week I had been twice. And since it has been open I have been at least a dozen times or more. However ... I'm just not in love with it.<br/><br/>I'm a huge fan of the downtown location and in particular the Southern Belle drink and the fantastic personable Bar staff. I love to sit at the bar downstairs at the downtown location; restraining myself to only four southern Belles while I'm there ... They really are that scrumptious.<br/><br/>However, at this Midtown Local... The drinks are just a little different. Not bad ... Just not as yummy. I've mentioned this to the wait staff and a bartender; they just sorta shrug it off and look at me like I'm silly. <br/><br/>The wait staff are ok and the bar staff nowhere near as friendly and personable ... I usually just sit at a booth. <br/><br/>The food is ok ... But again just not as good... The lobster tacos too runny and nit as flavorful ... The stuffed eggs and fried avocado a but bland ... Not seasoned well or just over salted...<br/><br/>The location if Local on the Square is fantastic ... i mean its closer to me :) and there is much more space upstairs and downstairs; a meer hop skip and half jump to the Theater (movie or stage) - points for convenience.<br/><br/>Now, don't get me wrong. I like Local on the Square ... Yes 'like' ... Not the burning hot purple passionate love I have for its older downtown brother. <br/><br/>When people ask me if I like Local on the Square ... I always say 'Yes I do like it ... Just less...'<br/><br/>Because if you think about it, 'Less' quite easily summs up this Local location. <br/><br/>It's like Local Gastro Pub downtown ... Only less so...<br/><br/>If that makes any since. <br/><br/>Will I go back ... Absolutely ... You see I'm always hopeful .... hopeful this time it will be more!

Good food..just don't book them for a party...not great for large groups ( greater than 5-8)

Disappointment. Was here once before liked the experience. Returned and wow! Food was cold and the plate was hot ?!?!? Service was mediocre. We were served but she was focused on specific customers. Noticed we were not the only customer dissatisfied. If you enjoy less than average service and cold food this is the place for you. Will have to beg the husband to come back maybe it was a bad day overall for the restaurant .

Terrible service. Ordered a cheeseburger with tomato, onion and mayo. Got one with mustard, pickles and onion. Took forever to get the comatose waitress's attention and get a tomato. This was at lunch and they weren't busy. Disappointing.

The food us unique and delicious but It took almost an hour from the time we ordered til we got the food on a weekday lunch.

I used to love Local, but they keep changing the menu and taking all the best things off! Bring back the John Hughes breakfast sandwich!

Horrible. The food was way too greasy and overpriced and the wait staff are consistently clueless. The location downtown is much better, I don't know why this location can't get it together. Skip it.

Where do I start? I will start by saying I have lived in Memphis since Spring of 2011 and I have lived near Local during this time. Local was one of my top 2 favorite restaurants until now, December 2013.<br/>The chairs are very uncomfortable, but who cares about chairs right? My husband and I LOVED the Lobster BLT along with several other items on the menu.... The menu that is always changing but we were shocked to discover they have changed the entire sandwich. It used to be a hot sandwich, so imagine our surprise when we both received our individual $15 COLD terrible sandwiches. The bread was a stale crescent role type bread and the lobster was ice cold, yuck!<br/><br/>Moving on, if you are a non smoker, you will hate this place. They allow people to smoke upstairs. Last, the upstairs is VERY cold. If the food was what it used to be, I would deal with this other stuff. The truth is, the food just stinks and we will not be coming back to my former favorite resultant in Memphis. :/

This restaurant has declined in service since opening. The menu changed early on and discontinued several items. Will not return anytime soon

Service slow. We will not return to this restaurant. Service was slow and the server was not friendly. If a restaurant is busy, bad service could possibly be excused, but there were very few people in the establishment. Food was mediocre at best. I do not recommend this restaurant.

Went to local tonight for my husband's birthday with friends. It will be a long time before we go back. The new menu isn't as creative or appetizing as the original (keep in mind this is version 3.0), and they've completely taken off the desserts. I ordered the roasted chicken sandwich. The "roasted" chicken was boiled and was on the same level of quality as a Lenny's sandwich. This used to be one of our favorite places, but they have forgone valuing quality for the purpose of money-making, and we won't be back until we've heard things have changed.

Chef doesn't know how to cook vegetables. All are bitter. Tastes very strongly of vinegar and garlic. The brussel sprouts and kale specials have both been soaked in oil and seasoned exactly the same with these "flavors" really disappointing when you're looking forward to something delicious much less edible

I think it is a great restaurant with great potential. For everyone out there who disagrees, I don't see how you can. The food is delicious no argument to me. Honestly, I believe today everyone is to picky. Also, sometimes people have bad experiences. But do you ever think it might be the customer putting them in a bad mood. I have seen situations like that. I know the server still should have 'service with a smile', but not everyone can be happy and jolly all the time. That's the problem. When customers expect so much out of a server, it's not fair. They shouldn't be tipped bad just because they weren't as eager as you want them to be. Anyway, I just think that with all the pressure, it's hard to run a business, especially with lots of people putting bad reviews, making people not eat there. I still think the food is great and the service is great.

Cold fries, flat drinks, over priced and the waiters will spill salad dressing on you and not apologize for it. Never going back.

Was given a menu..looked it over..tried to order and then told the kitchen was closed!! What a joke!! Will never return.

Given a menu and after ordering, 10 minutes later, my group and I were told that the kitchen was closed and although we ordered we could not get food. What establishment is allowed to serve alcohol without offering any food? We could not even get a bowl of fries. Last time I was here the drinks were good but the food was mediocre. I had the hot wings. Also, the menu change was not for the better.

This was once my favorite restaurant.... I have told everyone in Memphis for a couple years about how Local is my favorite restaurant in Memphis. However, this recent menu change is the last straw. When the midtown location opened, they got rid of the Kobe Steak and Egg sandwich. I really wanted it back, but I could handle losing it as most of the rest of the menu was in tact. I go there tonight and they have gotten rid of the french dip, the Ahi Tuna salad, and THE FRIED AVOCADO which was featured on food network and the best item on the menu. Also, they attempted to bring back the BLT but it is nothing like the old sandwich. I tried the Coca Cola chicken and it was alright, but nothing like the food at Local used to be. The menu is now small and uninteresting and the food is just not very good at the moment. Most people I have talked to feel the same so I know I am not an outlier. Please get back to great food and a decent menu! For now we will just come for drinks as Matt the bar tender is AWESOME.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Local used to be one of my favorite places, but the changes they have made to the menu are horrible. They took away all their best dishes, and the ones they kept they changed and they don't even resemble what they used to be. Now, it feels like an overpriced disappointment. Please bring back the old menu!

Mediocre food. Slow service. I've been to local 5 times now and have yet to have a positive experience. Bland, overpriced food. No punctuation in the flavors. And 15 minutes for a mimosa is ridiculous. $60 for 2 people to have bad brunch is not ok.

Please please bring back the old menu! The new menu/chef has turned one of our favorite places into someplace that we have left the last 4 times with a bad experience!! Please bring back the good food!!!

Only one problem...otherwise awesome. Great food great service great drinks...only problem is your staff uniforms make them look like the prisoners in cool hand luke....you need to update them so they actually look comfortable working there.

Not Good Eats for Blacks. Food is always cool. However, we dine here more than 3 times a week and then we noticed a habit of harassment by management and security. The experience continued to be unsettling. If you are African-american, they clearly don't want your business here.

Awesome beer selection, new wine list is nice as well...I remember the bartender Matt from Beale, good dude...food is on point and fast..keep it up!

Meh. Went there for the first time last week....drinks were blah, food was meh. If mediocrity is your idea of a good night out, then you might love it :) But seriously, it's a C+ at best. Probably a good place to go get a beer or two, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there for dinner again.

Started out great.... My husband and I dined at Local on the Square to celebrate our wedding. Our waiter, Robert, was awesome. The hostess gave us a table with a great view since we asked for a table near a window.<br/>We ordered the pretzels with beer cheese fondue and absolutely loved this appetizer. The pretzels were perfect and the beer cheese dip was the perfect amount of tangy and cheesy.<br/>We looked at the menu for our entrees and both decided to order the prime rib sandwich with fries. If it hadn't been so expensive ($27) I would have ordered a steak.<br/>My husband's prime rib sandwich was pretty good. Mine, on the other hand, was almost exclusively fat. It was actually inedible. My husband gave me half of his sandwich, which was very tasty but we were disappointed by the quality of our entrees.<br/>The Parmesan fries with vinegar aioli were amazing.<br/>There is a great beer selection but the "house" drinks seem over complicated for the price.<br/>We enjoyed our meal but both wish we had ordered a different entree. <br/>It was a bit disappointing for our celebratory dinner but we had great service and appetizers...<br/>We tipped well not based on the quality of the food but based on Robert's attentiveness.

Don't waste your money. I ate lunch at Local on the Square and was disappointed. I am vegetarian so I ordered the veggie burger. I only took only about 2 bites. The black beans had a burnt taste, as if they had been stuck to the bottom of a pan & burned. The sandwich was very sweet tasting. I could not eat it. Landon, my waiter asked if I wanted a doggie bag. I told him that it was not good and tasted burnt. He said "i'm sorry, I have never tried it". The french fries were very good, as was the deck in the back is nice; but I was surprised when I received my tab & was charged $12. for a burger that I did not eat. Also the other person in my party ordered a hamburger with meat & cheese ONLY & received his burger with mustard slathered all over it. Needless to say I will not be returning.

I've tried Local on The Square twice now and just can't justify visiting again. The first time I had brunch there, my server was incredibly friendly and knowledgable and the chicken and waffles were great. However, I hit Local up again on a Friday night recently and had a horrible experience. The bartenders could not care less about the customers and were extremely rude. I was a bartender for 13 years and never talked down to a customer. Ever. They seemed more interested in taking shots with who assumed to be the manager (a bald man who I later heard berating another employee with the bar staff). Totally unprofessional and enough to make me not want to return.

I like the decor and layout. The service was really good and the food was great. Just tried a wedge salad and wings, but everything I saw being delivered to others made me want to return to try.

Local on Madison. Burger was great, but $12 for a burger and fries is a bit much. Server was very attentive, but she suggested the mac and cheese as a sub for fries, but didn't say they would charge for that, duh, and they added a 20% tip (we did have over 6), but they included the sales tax in the tip!!!! Mac and cheese was not as wonderful as billed, better than my mom's stuff, but eat that at home!<br/>May go back, but I will have a lot of questions if I do.

LONG wait..... Our food was all very good, but we waited for it for over an hour. We would be reluctant to return until the service is better. Doesn't matter how good the food is if you can get it in a reasonable time.

If you work here please read this!. I want this place to succeed. I come to this location to eat and have drinks pretty often. That being said, I want to give some credit where it is due and give some constructive criticism. I hope someone listens!<br/><br/>The food is either hit or miss. I've had different items on the menu. Sometimes I order the same thing 2 visits in a row, just to see how they differ. Well, they almost always do. I'm assuming this has to do with training in the kitchen. As a consumer it would be nice to know that if I love the way my entree tastes one day that it will be the same when I come back the next time! <br/><br/>As far as service goes, I've been mostly extremely pleased. I remember servers who give me outstanding service! I've had Jennifer, who was very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Will is kinda funny and tries to keep the atmosphere light when the kitchen is taking a long time. I don't remember any bartender names, unfortunately. The service has been decent when I sit at the bar. My best experience at the bar was at a Monday lunch. <br/><br/>On another aspect of service, I would like to say a small piece on management. I really used to enjoy talking to a manager that used to work there named Sammy. She was there every time I came in! I always noticed how often she walked around talking to customers, asking for feedback. She always came by and asked how my meal was and if I needed anything. I feel like she truly cared about my experience and wanted my return business. I was sad to hear that she left. In all my visits since, I've noticed that I haven't seen any other managers do this. No one else has ever stopped by to ask how we're doing or anything. I occasionally see one walk by or step into the kitchen but that's it. I'm just saying, that kind of thing really matters to a customer. I never see the people (I think they're managers anyways) smile or interact with people at tables. Please, change this or bring the nice lady back!<br/><br/>All in all, I will continue to come here. Just thought I would give my 2 cents.

This should speak volumes. My girlfriend and I sat down on the patio at 2:50pm for some drinks. At 3:25 we were still sitting with no drinks and no acknowledgement of even being present by the wait staff. So we left. It is now 3:31 and we walked down one block to Bayou Bar, sat down and were greeted within one minute. Not to mention, drinks in hand within two minutes of being seated. And Bayou is crazy busy, where local only had one table of patrons outside other than us. I highly recommend that you do not visit Local. It will ruin your day!

The food is so so bad. My sandwich was inedible. Greasy, too much mayonaise -- disgusting. The prices are the worst part. I have no problem paying for food, but $60 for below average food and drinks for two. Obnoxious. Will never go back.

Food - bleh Prices - gah! .... Food - bleh<br/>Prices - gah!<br/>Atmosphere - meh<br/><br/>The food was mediocre at the very best. I have been here on multiple occasions due to friend's invitations and never my own choice. The calamari was soggy breading - horrendous. The burger is ok - I prefer three angels, the arcade, and many others over it though (including a 5 guys burger). Stay away from ALL seafood. <br/><br/>The steak and eggs cost 21 dollars - are they insane!!?! It was an ok steak the size of my face. So overpriced. If you love this place, you are a tasteless yuppy fool. Plain and simple. Please support memphis restaurants that deserve it.

One of the better places to hang out. Have been several weeks in a row to see if quality was consistent - and it has. Best finsh & chips and #2 wings in the area (can't beat Bosses' wings).<br/><br/>Great staff and food. A great place to hand out.

So so. The food was hit or miss... the crabcake was great but the calamari was worthless. The duck quesadilla was just ok. My wife loved the short rib tacos... the service was horrible.

Finally tried it out (I live within walking distance) and was so disappointed. We had horrible service, beer was warm, never received parts of our order, no apologies from staff for the bad experience. I had heard they were over-priced and overrated but I guess I had to learn for myself.

One word can describe this place: basic. Wait, two words: basic and overpriced. There is nothing spectacular about local. The food is below average and the prices are just ridiculous. I've been here a total of three times and the only time I felt any emotion besides sad is when our waitress told us her name was "row like the boat". Oh! I almost forgot, if you like to drink watered down cocktail sauce with a straw in a dirty glass, order the Bloody Mary.

Have dined at both locations on numerous occasions, but being a midtowner myself I wanted to frequent the midtown location. The food is slow to come out but on par with the quality downtown. However, I am unhappy with the treatment I have received by bar staff at times, (rude, ignored, ect) and after my visit last night I was informed my favorite bartender was let go! With such a mediocre staff, why would management let go of one of the few who took the time for the customers? Needless to say, I will continue the drive downtown to the faces I know or go elsewhere in midtown from now on.

Awesomeness. I have the occasion in the past couple of months for three lunchs and four dinners at Local. That should represent my opinon of the excellent service, friendly staff, and quality food. I appreciate the newly renovated space design and furnishings. It is unfortunate that a few report not having had the best experience, but those events were not seen by me. I will continue to take friends and family, and continue to recommend to others.

Awesome. My new favorite Saturday night spot. If you're looking for a good time, hit the upstairs bar at Local. Love the couches and fireplaces that lend to a relaxed atmosphere. It can get REALLY crowded on the weekends, but the servers handle it well and are super friendly. Food takes a while to come out on the weekends, but that's obviously because they're so busy. Order the Memphis Mule and pretzels with beer cheese fondue. You won't regret it.

Lower your prices. Calamari at the bar was fried breading. to be fair they hadn't been open long but to be fair the owner was sitting three stools down from us. ok, decor is awesome, great mid town location, just work out the details.

Let me just say there are a few reasons why I'm saying this, but I'm not going to say that much. Ok, first I hate how people talk bad about this place. By the way, the reason the food is expensive is because its good food. So before you leave, actually TRY the food. Sure some people there can be rude, but what can you say. "You guys are rude I'm telling everyone your place sucks!" No! They are NORMAL people like you, and let me repeat, NORMAL people. People have bad days. OH mY GOSH, CALL THE PRESSES!! Yeah for the people who didn't know, they have to pay for what they give to the public. So before you decide the place sucks, try thinking.

Disappointed. The downtown location is better on all counts: Food, drinks, service.

Great place! Very relaxed and fun!

Food is solid, service....eh. The food is great from what i have had...Brunch is spot on and dinner is above average. If they paid a little more attention to our table each time, they could have slung many more drinks...instead, they ignored us for most of the brunch and dinner. My friends and i like to throw down, too bad the waitresses wouldn't give us the time of day.<br/><br/>On a lighter note, cant go wrong with the food for a dinner or brunch. DO IT

Terrible service. All I have to say is that our server Heather was the most rudest and inattentive server I have ever had. I dine out quite often and I have had servers that were awesome and really good at their job; I have also had horrible servers but in this case my server, Heather, should never wait on another patron. Too busy talking on the phone, flirting and whatever she was doing but being attentive to my wife and I; well I was too busy to pull my wallet out to leave a tip. I have dined at Local numerous times, however I will not be dining there anymore. I have read all the reviews about Local and the majority is about how bad the service is. THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE!

Great food, pricey, poor service. Been here a few times. Great atmosphere and food. However, it is pricey for what you get and the service is consistently poor. They are generally busy, and service suffers. If you don't mind waiting for everything, you will enjoy yourself.

Good food, service needs to be better. I have now been to Local on the Square 3 times. I've eaten twice and both times the food was good, although I expected the burger to be better than it was, it just wasn't memorable. The chicken sandwich was very good and my friends raved about the Reuben. My biggest complaint is that the service is spotty. I went once and sat at the bar on a slow afternoon and the service was very slow and inattentive. This past week the service started out the same way but I will have to say that it did improve over time since we were watching a Grizz game. They need to work on a more consistently good service but overall I like the restaurant and decor.

I really enjoyed the rubber band stuck inside my $12 chicken sandwich. Most waiters apologize or discount the meal for something that gross. But, NO.

They Still Don't Get It. First couple of times there came shortly after they opened so I kind of cut them some slack. Recently made reservations to celebrate a milestone birthday with 10 family members. After finally giving up on hearing back from the manager via the web site I contacted by phone. Explained what I wanted (reservations for 10). The young lady said "ok we have you down". I asked her if she would like my name? Ooops. Yes, what's the name? Ok we have it. I said would you like to know what time. Oops. Yes, what time? When arrived we were seated at a communal bar table with bar stools. The server was friendly and the food was good overall but service was uneven and slow. 3rd time is the charm for me and I will unlikely go back anytime soon and certainly never for an important event.

Can't take a reservation. Apparently taking a reservation is beyond the capability of Local on the Square. I called several days ahead of time to book a table for my wife's birthday. Guy on the phone said - "We have you down. I have to run this by the manager, but that's just a formality." Ok - good to go. Until I get a call the day before the reservation from a poor girl who had nothing to do with the decision "I'm sorry, but the manager did not approve your reservation. You should try to call somewhere else or just come in and wait for a table."<br/><br/>What kind of restaurant cannot take a reservation on the phone? Perhaps all the other restaurants in the world that can take reservations have some secret process that the manager at Local on the Square just hasn't discovered yet. This manager's approach to customer service is reflected in the poor reviews of the wait staff as indicated in the rest of the reviews on this site. Bad customer service starts from the top and it is very evident here.

NO. JUST, NO!. Let me preface this by saying that I always dine at locally owned restaurants, and I am pretty easy to please food wise. I want to like this place, BUT...<br/><br/>This place is a giant rip off. An $11 pretzel? Really? And $14 for fish & chips? This is a bad joke. I went in recently for dinner and drinks. I ended up not eating, because the only vegetarian entree on the menu is a $12 veggie burger.<br/><br/>Positive things? The space is nice, and the service there has been pretty good whenever I've been in. If they had better options for vegetarians (come on - this is Midtown) and their prices were more sensible, I'd certainly be happy to write a better review.

Totally inferior. Prime rib sandwhich hardly had any meat on it. I mean like almost none. What little meat on it i don't think was prime and it was like rubber. It had a lot of swiss cheese on it though! which is NOT a good thing here. The au jus was pale and COLD. Most of the au jus was spilled into the mountain of patato chips on the plate that were cold and soggy. They mound up the chips to give the illusion of a larger serving, ( cheap restaurant trick). At 15.00 for a poorly made ( french dip) sandwhich this place is great big zero. Save your money.

Service is horrible....been here at least 15 minutes and just got drinks. There are 5 empty tables around us so its not that busy. Very disappointed....

Would love to try it - nothing on the menu for (health conscious) vegetarians or vegans. Please add at least one or two healthy choices and I'll be back!

I don't know what the fuss is all about. Food was not not edible. Asked for med rare and got rare on the first round; sent it back and got well done the second time. Looks like the kitchen staff needs to be trained better. Service was ridiculous. For a slow night we thought she would be attentive to our needs. Didn't know the menu very well, very rude and seemed like she was nervous or either high on something. Her hands shocks so bad she spiilled our drinks. Scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 0!

I wanted to like this place, as it's much closer to me than the downtown location, but they lost me when the waiter tried to tell me that they could not fix my (very weak) drink due to a Tennessee law stating that mixed drinks cannot have more than two shots of liquor. Uh...BS! If I'm paying $9 for a small drink, it had better taste like something besides soda water and syrup, and if that's actual Tennessee law, every other bar in Overton Square is breaking it! More than lame. If I do go back, it will only be for beer.

Awful. I advise for all who read this review. Some of the employees that work at Local are very rude, ignorant and very racial. My wife and I were treated very poorly out of stupidity and discrimination. I've written a review once before but somehow it was erased. Do not return any items without being belittled by the staff.

$12 Burger Needs Salt and Yellow Mustard. This was my first time dining at Local Midtown. The build-out is beautiful, and there were a ton of people in there on Sunday afternoon for brunch. <br/><br/>The menu is interesting, but I decided on a burger. I asked for no mayonnaise, but when I got the burger there was mayonnaise on both sides of the bun. I asked for another bun, which they quickly brought out to me. Then they told me that wasn't mayonnaise, but honey mustard. Honey mustard made with mayonnaise. It tasted pretty awful. The honey mustard was all over the lettuce, tomato, etc, and the burger tasted sweet. It was weird and not good. I asked for yellow mustard, but they apparently don't carry YELLOW MUSTARD! <br/><br/>However, the meat was cooked perfectly, but it had not been seasoned, and without the yellow mustard, it just tasted sweet. I don't want a sweet tasting hamburger.<br/><br/>The service was great. We sat at the bar. A woman next to me ordered a burger. I overheard her ask the bartender for yellow mustard, too.<br/>This place could be good, but please no more honey mustard on a burger. Invest in some French's.

Brunch was awful. Ordered the John Hughes breakfast club which is always amazing at the downtown store. The bread was different than described on the menu, there was no sauce, and the entire tables food was cold. My friend got the chicken and waffles and there were no blueberries and the chicken was overcooked. Very disapointing, Will only go to the midtown location to drink from now on

Ups and Downs. I've read many bad things about Local since opening the Midtown location. We decided to check it out early before a movie on the square last night. There were several empty tables so we timed it perfectly. This didn't equate to great service because our waitress left us waiting several times. She was sweet, however, and didn't forget anything. We had a lot of time to kill before our movie anyway. We started with an average plate of calamari. I ordered the Local burger with cheddar and bacon and my girlfriend ordered the lobster tacos. They both came out together within 10-15 minutes. I ordered my burger medium rare because, in Memphis, that means medium. With that, the burger was cooked perfectly and I really enjoyed it. I would put it up against any in the city when cooked this good. The lobster tacos were really small but that was fine for her. Within an hour the place filled up and people were forced to wait outside in the cold, some leaving the door open that allowed cold air in. So, all-in-all, we enjoyed the ambiance, food, beer selection and location but didn't enjoy our service, prices and eating with our coats on.

Started off with a long wait for a table even though many came open in the interim it seemed. That aside, the food was good and our server was really good. The lobster tacos were nice and so was the Local Burger. I'd likely return.

Great renovation.. they really excelled on the look, ambience and atmosphere. <br/>The food is good, I've tried the philly roll, quasadillas, bar fries and crab cakes and one of their sandwiches, but the appetizers were small for the price... very small... I understand the throwing in the name of Gastro Pub, allows you to skimp but I think they went a little too far! Service however was good on the few occasions I have been. <br/>All in all for me it's a great place to catch a BEER, not a shooter or cocktail as they are hardlined 1oz shots which can be bettered in many locations not too far from here. All in all would I come back...yes... but for a BEER, a game (many great TV's) and the atmosphere!!! The food is consistent, but over priced for the portion size!!

I dig it. Wings were awesome. Enjoyed the calamari and duck quesadillas, as well. Great atmosphere.

Dinner Review. The owners really fixed the interior of this place. The service was fair, but the food is overpriced for below average bar food. Ordered the burger medium, and it came out well done. The fries were very soggy so we asked for a fresh order. The new order was hotter, but, still soggy and greasy. How about increasing the temperature of the oil in the fryer so the fries come out crispy without all the grease.<br/><br/>Probably will give it another try to see if food quality improves.

Yummy!. My husband and I ate lunch at Local today. What an awesome experience! At one point we had 3 of the wait staff at our table describing the specials and the menu. It was obvious they all like each other and are passionate about the food they serve. My husband had the Bahn Mi, and it was incredible, my oyster Pho sandwich was very good also. Loved it!

Total Upgrade. The new Local is just lovely. So hard to believe the space once housed Yosemite Sam's! I was thoroughly impressed with the menu and the service. It was too dark to take pictures of the food, but it was all beautiful and delicious. The bar fries with blue cheese and bacon were my favorite! The lobster tacos were also quite yummy. Can't wait to go back!

Love location and atmosphere... But chef needs to lay off the onions. I have o tried at least 6 things on the menu and there is onions in all of them. I ordered the relish on the side last night to eliminate the onions but no joy. Still!!!!! Onions thru out. Yuk yuk yuk

I love the location. We ate upstairs and looked out over the Local sign to Madison and Cooper. Duck quesadillas and the crab stuffed avocado are awesome and they have a great beer selection.

What a great place! Had a wonderful dinner downstairs. Then went upstairs. With its fireplaces, bar, flatscreens and windows looking down Madison and Cooper, it is the coolest space in Memphis! Great food. Great drinks. Great fun.

The food is very mediocre. We ordered the calamari appetizer and it was so salty I couldn't eat it. The lobster tacos app was ok, but it had way too much cheese. We were disappointed and none of the entrees sounded good, so we decided to leave and go to another restaurant. I would maybe go back for drinks, but I have no desire to ever eat there again.

Went to try the place last night as it has been open long enough to work the kinks out. Greeted and ask for our phone number to get on the hour+ wait list. Little off put at that, but I understand the gimmick. The place was packed and it did take some time to get service from the bar. Eventually had another bar guest grab a wondering bar tender's attention to get a cocktail list. In reviewing the list, I noticed some solid knock off of another establishment's cocktails even the name was close. Moving on, I ordered one of the two hoppy craft beers they offered on tap, and learned both were gone at 8:30 on a Saturday night. So, I got a bottle of another craft beer and enjoyed it while passing time waiting for my table. After receiving the text message and returning to the host stand we were lead upstairs to another open room with a lively bar crowd and sat at a window table looking down on to Madison or at the server's station. After looking over the menu and discussing various food items with my date for excess of five minutes (hey, they're busy, I get it) our server greeted us with the words "What can I get you?" in a manner that was curtly asking for our order not so much as overt rudeness. I asked about items that would contain cilantro and explained there was an allergy involved and she without word, rolled her eyes, huffed (actually huffed) then stepped over to the server station. After a couple of moments, she stomped over and said "what do you want?" this time in an extremely rude tone removing any and all doubt that we were not welcomed. I calmly replied that we would not be having anything and would be relieving her of such a burden. Returned the menus and departed still very hungry and newly disgruntled.

Best bartender. Rico made me a delish basil antique tonight. The atmosphere was great. Looking forward to trying brunch in midtown

Wednesday night, Charley and I decided to try the Local on the Square, Local Gastropub's newest location. We had heard a lot of good things. The atmosphere was nice; a dark, upscale place. It's two stories, and we were seated on the first floor, near the bar, at a large community table that was empty aside from us, until about halfway through our meal when a couple was seated on the opposite end. Charley ordered a glass of wine, and I had a Woodchuck. (Don't laugh; I wanted to keep it cheap and hard ciders are my replacement for beer since I can't handle them anymore! Damn gluten! I do love them, though) We looked over the small menu many times, ogling over the exorbitant prices, before we decided to split two appetizers. I wish the lighting had been better to take pictures.

Yesterday, we went to Local for drinks. I have been there a few times and have always had a great time with the great food and good drinks. I was only planning on having drinks...

I ordered the Local Burger with bacon and swiss which was absolutely delicious! Even the bun was delicious. It really might be one of the best burgers I’ve had in Memphis. At $14, it was also the priciest burger I’ve had in Memphis, but worth every wonderful bite

A few more notes. I noticed the service was slow for a Saturday afternoon. I could understand if the place was packed, but it wasn’t. There were only three other groups around us (and the second level had few customers as well). I have heard from others that the service is slow at Local Gastropub. If you go order the Local Burger. You will not be disappointed.<br/>

When Local could seat us immediately (albeit at a long communal style table), I was relieved. I think Im getting too old for fighting the hot new restaurant scene. I knew I liked Local from my visits to the other location and if I’m fighting these crowds I wanted to be 100% sure I’d love my food. And, I did. I ordered a New Belgium Pump Kick draft beer. It was $6 which I think is a

The midtown location of Local Gastropub can be considered one of the pioneer restaurants in the recent revival of Overton Square. The two-story building on the corner of Cooper and Madison was renovated from once a very inward functioning bar to a beautifully designed restaurant and lounge with engaging views to the new bustle of the theater arts district. It's been awhile since I've done this lunch series with another photographer to help document the food and to also document me with the food, so it was such a pleasure to meet up with Amanda Hill with her camera in hand. Also as social media coordinator for the Choose 901 campaign, Amanda was able to immediately suggest the perfect local lunch spot. Literally, it was Local . Talk about engaging views! Our table by the window in the casual upstairs lounge had a spectacular view of Overton Square, where we pointed out to other various favorite spots of ours. Listening to Amanda talk about those places and other local spots, I could tel

I have had good experiences with service on all of my visits and this was no exception. Our waitress was very sweet and on top of things. Menus were distributed, drinks ordered and received, specials read, and orders taken. Jiro knew right away that he wanted a burger and fries, and since the burger and fries is huge, Warren decided to share with him. Satchel was a bit unglued and extremely hyper for whatever reason. There were plenty of things he likes on the menu, and he was eventually able to decide on chicken & rice soup and an order of Parmesan fries.

The building was completely gutted and re-done into a swanky but cozy two-story pub. Downstairs is a little more restaurant-like, with plenty of booths and tables and giant, square bar where Yosemite's dance floor used to be. Upstairs is more of a lounge with leather chairs and couches, a long bar and tons of TVs. When I was there last night, every single one of them was set on the Grizzlies game, so no matter where I moved, I could see it perfectly. The night crowd is mostly dress-shirt-and-jeans-clad young professionals, having dinner, huddling over their beers with friends or watching the game.