#15 of 31 Boone Restaurants

The Local

See all photos (16 Photos)
The Local: Food, Spirits & Entertainment
Written by: Brittany Mendez
Local Expert's Rating:
4.5 / 5
The Bottom Line:

This eatery aptly named the Local, features many locally sourced ingredients and drinks. Come enjoy casual dining with an artistic and elegant flare at this favorite of both visitors and residents alike. Enjoy the specialty cocktails and signature drinks for a unique taste of Boone, NC. 

- The SmokyMountains.com Local Expert Team

Established in 2014 in Boone, NC, the Local offers a little bit of something for everyone. This posh eatery that provides foods, spirits, and entertainment was the vision of the Boone family. They desired to create a place where family and friends could come together to relax and have fun. Through their continued commitment to these goals and by working with community members to feature and highlight local ingredients and beer first, the location has thrived.

Entering the space, you will note the walls are covered with art, the majority of which came from local photographers and artists. You can enjoy specially prepared meals featuring in-house fresh ingredients that pair well with a cold beer or a cocktail. Watch one of the many large flat-screen TVs which are always tuned in on your favorite sports teams while enjoying your meal or drink.

Visit the local for the very best in lunch and dinner fare, along with Sunday brunch options and quality drinks. There is even a kids’ menu to enjoy that will ensure there is something available for the whole family. The Local also offers Cocktail Specials that are original creations poured by one of the outstanding bartenders. Each drink is designed to be something unique.  Every Wednesday night is Wednesday Night Trivia, a live trivia game with five rounds that includes topics such as music, current events, pictures, and more. Prizes are given out for the overall winners, for the best team name, and for each round winners. Trivia night starts at 10 pm.

When visiting the Local, there are many drinks and dishes you can try that will not disappoint. However, some guest favorites include the following offerings:

Woodfired Flats & Pizzas
You cannot visit the Local without trying some of their signature wood-fired flats and pizzas. You can get your choice of 12” pizza with toppings. You can also enjoy this gluten-free and vegan if you desire with cauliflower crust. If you would prefer the flats, there are many on the menu, one of which is the Apple, Blue & Bacon— prepared with roasted garlic oil, shredded mozzarella, sliced apples, red onions, and applewood smoked bacon, blue cheese crumbles, and featuring a honey drizzle.

Handhelds
Other options are the handhelds at the Local, which include a variety of choices like the Carolina Banh MI, served on toasted French bread with sliced pork or chicken, featuring Asian-style pickled vegetables, cilantro, and mayonnaise. Another option is the Fig & Bacon Grilled Cheese featuring grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, goat cheese, smoked gouda & house-made fig marmalade on sourdough. You can also opt for the O.G. Burger with your choice of toppings.

Tacos
Another favorite at the local are the Tacos, which are two tacos per order. Each taco is served with ancho chile black beans and topped with queso fresco & chimichurri.

Signature Cocktails
There is a beer, wine, and liquor list at the Local that includes many options. However, some of the most notable drinks are the Local’s signature cocktails, including The Blum’s House, which contains Amaro Nonino, Pimms #1, smoked peach simple syrup, pineapple, and lemon. The King Louie’s Drunk, containing white rum, dark rum, spiced rum, hurricane-proof rum, banana butter, fresh kiwi and pineapple juice, and tiki bitters is also popular.

Wine
You can also purchase specialty wine by the bottle and choose from the Abstract Red Blend, the Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, the Machete Petite Syrah, or Eight Years in the Desert. You can also opt for whites or reds either by the glass or by the bottle.

Beer
The Local always offers a variety of rotating draft, bottled, and canned bears. Many of the options support local North Carolina brewers. There are even some breweries that are located right in Boone.

Insider Tip:
The Local does not accept any reservations made via Google or Google Assistant or any outside party. No third-party reservations will be guaranteed. Call them directly for booking and reservations.