The Local

I was really looking forward to The Reuben at this place after reading the menu online. Both myself and my guest ordered one, and both wondered: «Where’s the beef?» Look folks, the sauerkraut and dressing and Swiss cheese are NOT supposed to be the main features of the sandwich. I liked the bread, but geez, is it so hard to put more than a couple of ounces of corned beef on a sandwich? I’m not even sure it was corned beef: It looked very much like they opened a package of Oscar Myer deli meat… very disappointed.

The food is great. But if you are in a hurry, this is not th place to stop. Service is way too slow. 30 minutes waiting on 2 sandwiches to go and still waiting. If we hadn’t already paid we would head down the road.

I good place for a simple dinner date but call ahead to reserve a booth. Classy décor and a well trained staff were both noticeable. Fish entrees are well sized and run about $ 20. Add an appetizer and a glass of wine and you’re looking at $ 75 for two after tip. Just so you know.
Beer selection could use some work.

The Local is one of Lake Jackson’s trendiest Deli Style restaurants. The patio is quaint and perfect when the weather allows for outside dining. During the day the interior is low maintenance; food is served in baskets with plastic silverware and tables are uncovered for fast clean up. Prices are moderately high and service can be really slow sometimes, which in my personal experience has always been due to the large volume of take out combined with the lunch rush of those dining in the restaurant. The chef (s) have failed to fulfill my order on more than one occasion. I never know how long I should wait before going to the counter to see if there is a problem. At night they change the menu, dim the lights, add white table cloths, China and proper utensils. The pastry counter is always filled with delicious treats like Sweetie Cookies, Cheesecake, Cupcakes, etc… and often has a prepared meal or two waiting for someone to take home and pop in the oven. A couple of years ago a full bar and extra seating was added. When I go to The Local I feel like I am back in Austin. PS… They also serve breakfast! I don’t have one favorite dish here, they have a lot of good choices. I cut them some slack on my last visit by not asking for the manager, but not filling my lunch order was truly unacceptable. A bland «I’m sorry» from the counter staff is not enough in a situation like this. She told the chef «you returned another unfilled ticket.» I will be back but this type service means I can’t come as often due to my work schedule and if this is happening to multiple people then ultimately it is costing the restaurant money. This is food for thought… This place has the potential and should be nothing less than five stars every time!

We had breakfast here today and while the food was good, it was not much better than a toaster sandwich from Sonic and at over twice the price.
I have ate a lunch salad here a few weeks ago and that was great so it is probably about which item you order more than anything else. The atmosphere is nice and the people are friendly.

I’ve been to this area four times now, both times for diving at Mammoth Lake (scuba park). Usually I’ll stay from Thursday night to Sunday morning and food has always been the biggest detraction. Unless I want fast food or some moderately large chains, I haven’t found too many good places to eat! This time, with a slightly larger group, we opted to try out The Local for some nicer dining. We walked in at 8:50 and were pleasantly greeted and seated immediately, despite being close to closing. It was a very low key place with a homey feel.
The pastries looked amazing. I got the burger. The patty was nothing to write home about, but the bun was so very delicious. I would certainly get it again. My friend got the Cajun Sausage and Penne meal (can’t recall the exact name) and as someone from Louisiana, he gave it high marks. My girlfriend got the balsamic roasted chicken and was very impressed. The service was quick and attentive, but without putting pressure on us to leave and also not making us feel forgotten about.
The tea was delicious, though we had to ask for sweetener and it was brought on a plate with four sweet and low packets for two teas. That may be because of the late hour, though. For the chicken and the burger, the meal was just about $ 30. I was more than happy to pay that for some nice atmosphere, service and some of the best food I’ve had in the area. Well worth stopping by. If the hotel didn’t have a free breakfast, I’d certainly go back for some breakfast — based on the pastries and the bun, it must be fantastic. I will certainly remember this place next year!
Very, very nice place to be, very clean very welcoming. The patio looked very nice, though it was dipping into the low 60s and we were not dressed for anything below 80. I would have given it 5 stars, but the meal wasn’t anything particularly incredible, just very very good.

First, let me start by saying I am NOT a soup, sandwich, and salad type of guy. I choose these when my wife picks up dinner on the way home for me. However, I can say that I have never been disappointed in the salad she brings home from the Local as well as the soups as well. Another thing I very much enjoy about the local is they bring in local talent for entertainment so it is a nice place to sit back and enjoy the entertainment.

Great option due to the lack of a McAlisters in the area. Similar menu items at slighty higher costs. Patio offers great relaxing atmosphere. Good for meetings or work lunches.

Very delicious food. I just wish they took the shrimp tails off! I had to dig in my plate and get my hands all nasty to get the tails off.

Yummy! This place is beautiful and has a great menu. I rely enjoyed dinning here. The artichoke chicken and risotto cakes was tasty.

I was in town today for lunch and of course I turned to Unilocal to find somewhere for lunch that was highly rated. I was in a different town for lunch and I wanted something locally owned and highly rated.
I chose The Local based partially on name, but also because it was well rated.
Parking was interesting there at downtown Lake Jackson. The streets are lined with parking spots, so there was plenty of parking during lunch.
Outside there’s a nice fountain and plenty of patio seating that was pretty welcoming. Inside — there’s giant chalkboards loaded with menu items, a pastry case, and a couple of registers. I was greeted quickly and warmly. After paying they hand you a buzzer to let you know that your food is ordered.
One thing to point out — she didn’t actually point me in the direction of the soda/​tea area or the area where you pick up food. The person in front of me headed left, so I did as well. Luckily that was the right choice.
Walked right up to the soda machine and the ice wasn’t working. No sign or anything. I turned around to find a staff member and that’s when I noticed the clear plastic tub of ice on the counter, with a silver scoop inside. I’m not sure how many people actually put their hands on the scoop, but it was down inside the tub, contaminating the ice. Tea was brewing, so I went ahead and got Dr. Pepper, but the carbonation or syrup was off. Poured it out and went for something else. Same thing. So I got iced tea — wasn’t bad iced tea — but the sugar was no where to be found. It was back near the register.
I was pretty annoyed at this point — but I was pleasently surprised that my food came out FAST. The bun was toasted and piled with everything (and I didn’t think to say no onion/​tomato, but she didn’t ask either), which is fine, I just took off what I didn’t want.
The burger itself was good, if just a tiny bit chewy/​rubbery — it had the shape of a pre-​formed, frozen patty. I’m spoiled by many, many options in Houston, but it wasn’t terrible.
The fries were hot and crispy. They were darn good.

Came here early for lunch and it wasn’t too busy but I waited 30 minutes for my food. I ordered the Olympus Greek Pita? that comes with a few pieces of fruit or 3 spoonfuls of coleslaw. I liked my pita but it was not worth the wait or price. I paid $ 10 which is average for a lunch meal, but it didn’t fill me up. If you’re NOT in a time crunch I would suggest going here or if you’re not absolutely hungry.

Great breakfast tacos! Actually, more like breakfast burritos. Lol the salsa is packed with a punch — so flavorful and for those who don’t like spiciness, it’s definitely for you. The blueberry lemon muffin is amazing! The muffin itself is lemon flavored and it is packed with blueberries. Next time, I’ll have to try all the pastries alone!

This was my first time to The Local and I ordered The Works breakfast taco. It was fantastic and delicious and more of the size of a burrito than a taco. In definitely coming back to try other menu items. It’s very spacious and clean and they have a good variety of menu options. The baked goods are also a must try!

For lunch The Local cannot be beat. Probably in my top 5 places in the world to eat lunch. The menu is unique, the staff can handle themselves well with a lunch crowd. Fantastic choice for a mid-​day meal.
However, they perform poorly with breakfast and dinner. The menu options are basic and forgettable at best. Why they don’t drop the two meals they don’t do well and stick to making lunch all day is beyond me. Lunch is their specialty.

So not impressed. Paying 20 for a kids meal and a pastrami sandwich with fruit, I expect real shaved pastrami like at a deli, not ¼ inch thick slices fried on a grill or frozen chicken strips. And really a quarter cup of fruit? Homage sauce that covered sandwich was good just not worth it. Lackluster staff who you had to search for because they never noticed that someone needed some thing. So not worth the cost.

If I could I would give this place 5 stars for dinner and 1 star for lunch. For lunch you get plastic forks and knives, bad service and have to order from the counter. Dinner on the other hand is a great experince, good food, and great service.

Love this place. Unique sandwiches, and a great atmosphere. A great place to bring a couple friends for lunch.

The Local is nestled in Lake Jackon’s little downtown. To be honest, I think that The Local has one of the best food offerings in Lake Jackson. If you’re looking for a quick and healthy lunch, I would recommend it.
I usually get the half & half offer for lunch. It usually costs around $ 9 for me to eat here with this lunch special. Normally, I will choose the soup of the day and a half-​sandwich (Chicken Little). The food is very fresh and the quality is great. The amount of food you receive is great if you are trying not to overeat.
I’ve come to The Local for happy hour margaritas before and I’ve seen the dinner menu. Personally, I’m not a fan of the dinner menu but they definitely have some nice and appealing options. I really enjoyed my frozen margarita even though I’m not a huge fan of tequila. If you’re looking for a chill spot for dinner, I would also recommend coming to The Local.
On a last note, I really enjoy The Local’s Sweeties. They are a pink cookie with light frosting on top. They are so good. I always need to order a sweetie when I grab lunch there.

First time here. Loved the fried chicken salad. Best chicken ever!
They have a nice wine selection too!
Staff was super attentive and didn’t mind making substitutions for us.
Over all great experience.