Local Public Eatery

With a party of 7 looking for brunch on a Saturday it was great to come to this place and sit right away. I was surprised after finishing my meal that this place was not busier because the food and atmosphere were both fantastic. The steak and eggs were great, little bit of butter added a little bit to the already great flavor of the steak. The potatoes were perfect, small little guys deep fried to get a great crisp. Plenty of bloody Mary’s and other drinks needed after a long night of drinking. I would recommend this place to anyone and would come back if in Toronto again.

I have a up and down feeling for Liberty Village. On one hand, it’s often pretentious and overpriced, frequented by d-​bags and lacks the vibe of places like Queen West, it’s neighbor to the not so distant northeast. On the other hand, I’ve had some pretty good food experiences there at prices that are only a bit off of what you pay in the elsewhere’s of Toronto, so maybe the overpriced thing doesn’t always apply? I’m a bit torn. But of the places I’ve been, I was fairly impressed with the Local.
If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll notice there’s one thing I consistently favor… and that’s consistency! Naturally, quality goes long with that. The first time I went to The Local, I was totally impressed. Good burger, fries and a pretty decent salad. Service was quick and our waitress was friendly and helpful. Price was what I expected and everyone seemed to enjoy their meals. I’d give that one four stars. But the next visit was just ok. Nothing special, just ok. Burger didn’t seem to be handmade (maybe I just remembered incorrectly?) and like Liberty Village itself, the whole thing felt very formulaic and designed. It was nothing special, just ho-​hum. I was left wondering which one of my experiences was the real one: the awesome first or the so-​so second.
Service was good but not great the second visit. Place was quiet due to it being lunch so it was difficult to judge the atmosphere, but overall even with the lack of consistency I’d still say it’s worth trying out. Points in favor would be the cool layout, very industrial loft style setting and it’s good for friends. Check it out, and decide for yourself it’s door no.1 or 2

Love coming to Local for some great pub eats! A local favourite in Hipster Village, they have everything you would expect from a gastro pub PLUS the quality of a higher end bistro.
Big space and comfortable seating they have some next level pub food. Been here several times and only had positive experiences so far. Quality ingredients, great flavours and substantial portions — be prepared for a heavy food coma.
Local is definitely worth the visit if you are around the area with a big apetite. Laid back environment and great patio in the summertime. They have a good range of lighter options like salads, tacos and sandwiches to delicious greasy heart attack burgers.
I loved the tuna club sandwich — think crispy grilled cheese sandwich with thick piece of seared ahi tuna between layers of avocado, fresh tomato, onion and smoked bacon. I haven’t tried their burgers yet but my coworkers get them all the time and keep saying how amazing they are — they look unrealz. Definitely my go to pub scene!

Highly recommend the Local Burger with sweet potato Fries. The garlic Aioli is amazing!
Food is great and consistent here. Wait staff very friendly. Highly recommended.

Was hanging out in Liberty village looking for food: Mildred’s was full, school was full, so we decided to try Local.
First impression: fancy sports bar with a cool industrial vibe.
It was Saturday brunch; my friend and I shared the hand pressed burger and the bacon Benedict.
The burger — juicy and filled with crisp veg. The fries were pretty normal
The Benedict — OHHHH Ma gawd. The pemeal bacon was perfect, and the eggs were perfectly poached. Only thing is that the Benedict could’ve been bigger; was quite small for an entre. And the potatoes side were a little too burnt.
Great atmosphere, nice service and good food!

I used to live at 5 Hanna and we tried to come to dinner here a lot but it was always too busy. Since we have moved I have been here twice and sat at the bar both times. I have never ordered food, just stopped in for a few drinks. Both times the bartender was great! The Caesar is really good for the price when it is on special. There wasn’t a beer I fell in love with, but the bartender kept trying. He was so nice to bring sample after sample. I will return.

Although we had to wait for just over an hour for a table (because we had a group of 6) the manager, front door staff and waitresses, more than made up for our wait times. This is a great bar without attitude, and the staff are outstanding here. 5 stars for the service, 5 stars for the selection of drinks and 5 stars for the food (try the Local Burger and the Fried Chicken Sandwich) If you are planning a night out in Liberty Village, this is the place to be.

Was at this location just over the past week while on buisness in Toronto. As this is located right in the heart of liberty village make it very convienant place to grab a beer, burger in a great atmosphere.
Tons of beers on tap and a cool peg board of shorts that flicks and changes like an old style slot machine to show the current beer specials what’s on tap and what’s ran out.
They also have a shuffle board which is a big hoot if you want to not just sit and down your froth!
The menu is not huge but it’s just right to get what you need and continue your great time with friends or even a pit stop on your way home after work.
Pros — location and staff
Cons — very popular spot in early evenings so if your looking for low key this would not be a good choice.

DEFINITELY have the the chicken quesadilla. You don’t even have to share it. It could be a solo appetizer, or your meal. But it’s soooooo good, I totally recommend it. My friend and I missed brunch, and it was soooo busy we sat at the bar. But we shared that quesadilla and then I had the fish and chips, while he had the huevos rancheros. Honestly, the fish and chips were good but way too large a portion for me. His huevos was good too!
I think this place is big in the neighbourhood, as the other location probably is in its own, but it’s too busy for my liking. I would definitely pop by for drinks and share plates. But unlikely to do so for an actual meal.
Still I liked the décor. It was very well put together place. And the service was decent, although we were at the bar, so who knows what sit-​down service is like haha.

I had an amazing experience here tonight. The prices on their menu are quite affordable and the portion size is good. Service is fast, and there’s tons of seating room. The place is great for dates or a large group of friends. I highly recommend watching the blue jays game here (but come an hour early) because the crowd is loud and energetic! They also have daily specials for beer, and they serve a ton of options, emphasizing on local brewers. The servers are super sweet and constantly checked up on us. Even though there were a ton of people out tonight, I felt this place was incredibly organized in making sure everyone got what they needed, which is hard to come by for many sports bars I’ve been to.

Been there a couple times inside the restaurant but sitting in the patio is where it’s at. Although the season has changed, it is one the patios to be at in Liberty Village.
I usually go there for a drink with a wide selection of beer but a quick bite is good too. The staff are quick and attentive by offering good selections. The wait at the patio could be long so if you are in a rush, the bar is a nice option.
Food is great at the establishment with my usual pick for burgers and fries. The place could be slightly loud but a late afternoon drink is always fine. Definitely, one of the preferred hangouts in the neighborhood by residents. The unique part of the bar is the shuffle table and the railway table board listing the recommended beers.

We had supper this evening at the Local Public Eatery.
The patio was jammed
I ordered a burger and fries. I hadn’t had a burger there before and it was a good burger. I’d get it again.
Gord had a Crispy Chicken Sandwich (that’s what I’ve had when I’ve been there before) and a side salad. He said he’s get it again.
Steve had the Local burger and sweet potato fries. He said it was a good burger, a bit spicier than he was expecting.
Simone got the fish and chips. She said it was good … it looked good! It was a lotta fish!
Kate was our server. She was friendly and took good care of us.

Not a fan of the Liberty Village bars and pubs but I think I’ve just become a fan of Local. It’s got a young, fresh vibe with a lot of energy buzzing through the place. It’s quite a big space with a decent sized patio and very industrial modern look to it. Staff here are super friendly and engaging. They have TVs all over the place so it gets pretty crowd when there’s a game on.
I only came by for drinks and dessert this time so I’ll do another review of their food. They’ve got really good drink specials for each day of the week. Tuesday was $ 4 Sapporo so we threw back a few too many on a work night. They have this really interesting concept of rotating taps, where they constantly switch out seasonal or special kegs of beer. It gets updated on a board in the back which is so cool! You’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it.
I was initially set on giving them 4 stars but we managed to catch the end of the Jays game here, where the Jays won with a home run in the bottom of the 10^th. The whole place erupted in cheer, and put us all in a really great mood so 5 stars it is!
Can’t wait to return to enjoy their food and more of their beer!

Normally wouldn’t expect to be such a fan of a chain restaurant but I really dug the vibe in Local!
We were there Wednesday night for a bite and drinks with friends. We sat inside as it was very busy and we took what we could get, but it was probably better given how hot and muggy it was outside. Downside of eating in is that it’s very loud in there but they were playing the Jays game so the place was packed — not the place for an intimate date or group dinner.
They get ⁴⁄₅ stars because the beer was cheap! Drink specials every night and Wednesday’s were $ 4 14oz Steamwhistle. I also had 2 fish tacos, I had done my Unilocal research and you didn’t let me down. They were awesome! Competes with Grand Electric, a nice portion of fish, some kind of crema, and a lot of finely shredded cabbage — my favourite part. Topped with pico and cilantro, hot sauce on the side. I could have had two more!
Ended the meal by sharing s’mores churros. They were pretty delicious, must be eaten right away. I’m not a huge sweet fan but for $ 5 it was a nice portion to share!
Glad I don’t live in Liberty but I’ll walk there for this spot. We’ll be back.

Located in Liberty Village, this local sports bar is a busy place with an open patio and lots of sitting area.
They have an outdoor game which makes it entertaining to watch others play or if your familiar with it, you join in the fun (sorry have no clue what this game is called)
Food was served in portions similar to a high end restaurant. So not your average sports bar.
It was however, very delicious. I had the burger with sweet potato fries. My sister had the burger with a salad and my mom had a chicken salad (quite small not filling)
Service was at a good pace and the staff were friendly.
Music was definitely retro 80’s, not complaining brought back memories and my mom enjoyed it.
This is a great place for an outing with a group of friends.
The reason I gave it a 4 star was because the table wobbled so much, that it didn’t make a difference when the waitress put a stack of coasters under it. Therefore we had to be very careful with our drinks.
On that note I will still eat here again and make sure to do a wobble table test before sitting down ;)
Happy eatings :)

Came here with friends, and was blown back by how loud and busy this place was. The only seats they had available were at the bar so we sat there. The menu has lots to offer.
I had the burger and it was great. I believe they make the bread there and its amazing, definitely not wonder bread. It was large and filling, It was good and I’d want to try a few more items off the menu so I will be back for sure.
The staff is all super friendly which is great. The only issue is that since its so loud if theres anyone annoying around you, you are stuck hearing their entire conversation while you’re there.

The Local has an amazing patio — it’s spacious, has tons of large tables and booths. The interior is also very roomy, and is divided into two sections; a smaller, more intimate upper level (next to the patio) and a more lively lower level where the bar is. There are also a few large TVs on the lower level — good for sports watching.
I had the fish tacos (5 each) and a calamari appetizer. The calamari were pretty tender, and the coating was crispy. I thought it was a bit salty at first bite, but then I kept eating, and eating, and eating… yep. I also really liked the mayo/​hot sauce dip the calamari came with — the hot sauce was smoky and flavourful without being stupidly spicy. The fish tacos were fine; there was a good sized piece of white fish that was fried well, but I thought there was too much cabbage in it. The tacos also came with their (house?) hot sauce — yummy!
The Local has daily beer/​wine specials — don’t remember the wine specials, but every day they have a different beer (16 oz I think) on special for $ 4. Tuesdays are Sapporo! I will definitely be back, especially to enjoy their patio.

The Local was packed on a Thursday night!
It was around 9:30pm and there was a short wait for tables.
In Liberty Village, this place looks like the place to be!
There were giant screens for watching sports and the bar was busy.
My friend and I shared a pressed burger ($ 13) and the appetizer calamari.
The burger with miso mayo was fresh and the bun was super chewy and soft.
Yam frites where served with dipping mayo and crispy-​delicious.
The Caesar ($ 9) was served with a pepperette and in a glass boot!
Overall, the food was good and reasonably priced!
I’ll definitely be back to hang out!

Had lunch with the babe here yesterday.
The space is gorgeous — the décor is very cool, with a speaker wall and beer sign which flips around the latest on tap (you have to see it in person lol). Our server, Stephanie (?), was super sweet and took the time to explain anything we had a question about.
We ordered the chicken quesadilla, crispy chicken burger, chicken tortilla soup, and a side green salad. Everything was super fresh and delish! Loved loved the quesadilla, just so tasty and the fresh jalepenos on top were HOT! Crispy chicken burger was redonkulously tasty — try it!
We even tried a sample of the Mill Street Pumpkin beer, which was quite nice! I would definately return to this place for a drink or some food if I am in this hood!

I had a Blasty blast of a meal here (FINALLY) on Saturday night. I arrived with a buddy for a late, LATE dinner (10pm +). AND after being turned away not once, not twice but THREE times in the past, just to have a drink here, the sight of a small crowd at the door got me ready to tie my shoes and march on like the wounded soldier that I was…
But then the hostess assured us that it wouldn’t be a long wait and we would be seated when the next table rose. Hooray!
So what had me chasing after this place like Preston chased after Amanda in Can’t Hardly Wait? (pause for gratuitous 90’s movie reference). Well I’ll tell ya — it’s just so darn cool looking!
A huge wrap around bar, filled with rotating draught beers, kegs filled with pre-​mixed cocktail magic, AND there’s even a European train station style sign that flips numbers and letters around letting you know what’s pouring. All that neatly poured into a sheik, industrial style public house, and voila — cool!
Given the late hour we wanted to sample a bunch of share-​ables and appetizers, so here is what we got:
Guac and Chips — typical guac except the X-​factor here is that they bring all the ingredients to your table and mash/​mix the guac up table side. Nice touch.
Chicken Tacos — Pretty good, nice flour tortilla, good fillings. Not the best but not the worst
Fish tacos — these were off the charts. Perfectly cooked, good portion of white fish in each, tasty toppings and sauced with excellence
Chicken Wings — Should be called mini chicken wings they were tasty but so small, literally a 1 bite situation
DIY Pork wraps — Asian fusion style, 3 pieces of pork that you put together yourself with wraps and toppings. Not a good portion for sharing but good for an appetizer. Felt the pork offering was a tad sparse at that.
The flavour for all the food was on point, and prices across the board were good. I mean all that food and with a drink it was about $ 30/​person, you really can’t go wrong.
Eatcrest Out!