Local 149 is one of my favorites in the Southie area  - it is right up there with Lucky's, which to me, is saying a lot!  The restaurant has a great vibe; the art is cool, the fireplace is welcoming, and the staff is super friendly and helpful.  The menu is varied enough that you can go back often and not have a hard time finding something new to try!  The bar bites are awesome too - Hog Wings and Pigs in a Blanket - um, yeup!
Review Source:Lots to like here.
First, their burger is the best in Boston by a landslide. Freshly ground and never overcooked, i skip the mayo and its perfection.
Bartenders are top notch - John, Spencer, Antonia (who sadly just left) are the perfect mix of friendly, attentive, and talented. They know their booze and love to make good drinks. They take pride in their craft and it shows. Happy to make something up on the spot if you're feeling brave.
Mac & cheese fritters always a hit, and ahi tuna tartar sandwhich is great. Lobster mcmuffin great for breakfast and the waffle is decadent in a great way. Only complaint is that some dishes are occasionally inconsistent. Chicken and waffles dish used to be great every time, but now sometimes lacks flavor and is dry (oddly, ordering a waffle side dish never disappoints).
I also feel obligated to mention this brief anecdote about how the bartenders go above and beyond to make a great impression. After mentioning that our friends at the bar with us were visiting from Hawaii, Bartender Spencer broke out a ceramic tiki mug to serve their cocktails in. It made a big impression and had them thanking us for taking them to such a great place. I've had the occasionaly so-so meal, but that kind of service is rare and hard to put a price on.
I really like this spot- it has almost everything I could want in a local restaurant/bar: an eclectic mix of people, an extensive drink menu, cool bites & normal food, middle-of-the-road ambiance, and average prices. I think I would like it more if it had more of a lounge-feel,but it does have some cozy little booths...plus a bar area with t.v.'s with the Sox on, so there's a nice mix going on.
FOOD: I like unique bites. For me, the Southern-fried egg, the stuffed squash blossom, and this stuffed fig appetizer are bomb.
DRINKS: The bartender, Mickey, is pretty knowledgeable. I've come here a few times and have always have a great mixed drink, and, most recently, a fabulous stout. (I think the brewery was called Left Hand?)
BONUS: It's less than 15 minutes from UMASS Boston in a non-sketchy area of town.
Another good visit to Local 149. Â Group had a mix, flounder, lamb burgers, burger and pork belly. Â Lamb burger is different, I liked it but you have to like lamb. Â They should think of using a larger sized English muffin as the roll which would make it easier to eat. Â Clam chowder was mediocre, comments were not enough clams, too many potatoes and too thin. Â The Mac and cheese fritters are still the best.
Review Source:Smoked Mussel with pesto sauce.
Smoked Mussel with pesto sauce.
Smoked Mussel with pesto sauce.
It's only been 3-4 days since we've been here, but my friend has brought it up on the regular either with myself or with other friends. He absolutely loves the stuff - mind you, my friend does NOT like clams, mussels, oysters, or anything of the like. I thought it was pretty good myself, but I was more attracted to the tuna tartare and the mac and cheese fritters.
The drinks are really nice as well, as it was my first time trying Crispin Cider and their signature drink made with lime, vodka, and home-made ginger beer. That's a recipe I'll definitely be grabbing for my next backyard BBQ.
Southie is not exactly loaded with high quality food/service options. Local is an exception. The food is tremendous and the beer list makes it unique. On top of that, the service is excellent. The manager even remembered my Dad and I from the last time we were in, and helped us get the best seat in the house for the bruins game. Highly recommend the hog wings and scallops wrapped in bacon.
Review Source:Came here for brunch last Sunday. We were seated immediately by very friendly staff, and I don't know if it was that, or the bright sunlight streaming into the bar, but it felt good to be there. There are some really interesting art on the walls, and it was busy and had a great atmosphere.
I had a house mimosa (it had been a heavy night), with the house smoked salmon. Just fantastic: tasty fish with bagel, onions, capers and cream cheese. I wanted to try the other half's local beef burrito but he scoffed it down too quickly. Apparently they have a sister restaurant in Newton, and I'm going to give that a try. Going to Local 149 makes me wish I lived in Southie!
Local 149 "used" to be my favorite spot in Southie....but they had to go and mess up a good thing.
If you search this review page, you'll notice that their Hog Wings is a frequent recommendation.
The problem is, as of recently, THEY CHANGED THE RECIPE TO THEIR SAUCE AND RUINED THIS MENU ITEM.
These are no longe the hog wings everyone raved about. The succulent, tender sticks of perfectly cooked pork that melt in your mouth with the sticky sweet bbq goodness everyone has grown to love. The ones I would crave nearly weekly.
No, they changed the MFING SAUCE!!!!
WHY???? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHY?!?!??!?!!?!?
I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I was when my order came. I immediately called the waitress over and told her there was a serious problem....
"No, they changed them" she said.
ARE YOU EFing WITH ME, LADY?
It was bar none the one thing on the menu that made this place worth visiting above everything else as far as I was concerned.
Sure, they have great beers. Yes, the service is really good. The other food, definitely some dishes worth trying. It may not be the only reason, but if you asked anyone, it was the one thing you "had" to try there.
The Hog Wings was definitely a top seller for them. Â So it defies logic, common sense, and business acumen that you'd go and FIX SOMETHING THAT WASN'T BROKEN.
To whoever made this decision in management/ownership, you've made a grave and horrible mistake. If this was the 1700's I'd spread rumors to the townspeople of your treachery and evil witchcraft. This is THAT serious.
Bring back the REAL hog wings!
This place is quite small, but packs a mean menu and bar list!! The service was awesome. Very friendly and always smiling.They slice their meat inside the bar! Thought that was cool haha The menu list is outstanding. Nothing ordinary about it! Assortment of beers. It's not cheap, but definitely worth the food and it's convenient to watch sports games, too!!
Review Source:Great local restaurant/bar. Staff is wonderful - always friendly. Sat night is packed, and service is a little less personal. Food is fantastic and inventive. Chef is dishing out tasty Charcuterie (must have Duck Prosciutto), Tuna Tartare sandwich is awesome, burgers are great and scallops are really great. Solid beer collection, attentive bar and decent prices. Salads are a real option here. Nothing special about fries or mussels.
Review Source:Ugh. Â What a loss. Â
This place used to be one of the more interesting food options in Southie. Â Yes, it was a pub, but their menu was always creative, extensive, and built around interesting local, seasonal food.
Not any more.
There's a new chef and the menu is radically simplified. Â They're now serving more or less the same boring, overpriced gastropub food as every other place in the neighborhood: pork chops, pot roast, bacon wrapped scallops, hanger steak, chopped salad, pepperoni pizza, etc.
I tried ordering the couple of interesting items on the menu, but was disappointed. Â The chickpea stew was an odd mix of chickpeas, sausage, and vegetables in a thin, over-salted bullion. Â The meat in the short rib carpaccio was delicious, but it was served with with ice-cold, rock hard balls of goat cheese all sitting in the middle of a puddle of ranch dressing that overwhelmed the rest of the dish. The lamb burger was solid, but not exceptional.
The one saving grace is that Local 149 still has the best tap in Southie and continues to offer an interesting cocktail menu.
Local 149 was consistently one of the most creative food options in the neighborhood. Â With the big crop of new restaurants coming in to Southie, it's hard to see how this place can thrive with such an uninspired, poorly-executed menu.
WOW what a great place. I went for dinner last night with some work friends and we all loved everything about it. My Friend lives in Southie and raves about this place so when it came time for  him to pick the place to meet he chose Local. I was not thrilled since it was in Southie and the only place I have ever been was beer works so I guess that was my impression going into this place.
I was blown away at the decor, not what I had pictured in my head. It was very urban gastro with very cool art on the walls. I fist sat at the bar while I waited for a few friends and was impressed with how many craft beers they had it was hard for me to decide, but I went with Lagunitas. The bar staff was very nice and friendly and seemed to really know their stuff.
After about 5 minutes my friends showed up and we sat at a nice booth that overlooked the whole restaurant and bar, great for people watching. Not a bad place to check out a game too since you can see a TV from any seat. Our server was very nice and friendly from start to finish and she was very honest regarding the food questions we had. Anything she couldn't answer she quickly asked the chef and was back very quickly. WE all decided to get a  bunch of apps and each get an entree. Here is the list of items we all got, based on the servers recommendations of course.
Apps
Mac n  Cheese fritters
Short Rib Carpaccio
Fried Smelts
Chic Pea Stew
Entrees
Tuna tartar sandwich - A must have dish one that you will crave
Pot Roast
Salmon
Pork Chop
Prime Rib
and a coconut creme pie to finish the meal
Needless to say everything was outstanding, one of the best meals I have had in a while and I go out 3-4 times a week due to having to take clients out all the time.Really was just a solid dinning experience from the time we walked in to when we were sincerely greeted good night by the host. I will travel back to Southie to go back to Local again just to have the Tuna tartar sandwich.
I wish I could post a picture of the bloody raw chicken I was served when I ordered the chicken and waffles here on a Saturday AM about a year ago. Maybe if they had more available/helpful service I could have found a waiter or waitress to complain to. I give this place 2 stars because it's good about half the time, and it's certainly better than the place that was there before. However, I've never been to a pub with such a severe case of food inconsistency as Local 149. I mean it.
Review Source:It's a pub. In Southie.
The menu wasn't extensive, but it WAS unique, which goes a long way, especially when you're crammed into a pub on uncomfortable stools near the door in the middle of winter. The beer menu was much longer, with just as much uniqueness as the dinner menu.
The food was good, the atmosphere was pub-ish. I can see coming here again sometime, but probably only if I'm meeting up with friends since it's not convenient unless you live in the area.
Hit Southie on a Friday evening. Got seated pretty quickly. We had a grand spot between the bar and booths. The bar layout is charming. There's a good buzz and some fine decor. We went for the Friday special of Tuna burgers. The fries were delightful but the burgers were stone cold. They were meant to be seared but it was obvious they were left & forgotten about. The dreaded 'send back' was put into play. Personally, I don't do it but man oh man this was stone cold.The waitress was generally good but she was a bit miffed that we were sending them back and explained they weren't supposed to be piping hot but seared. But seared is seared and we were pretty confident these guys just got forgotten about. A fine dish once but alas now stone cold. She took them back.
And to be fair...
2 new dishes returned with even fresh fries, and salad and the burgers were amazing...as we had expected to be. She didn't deal with it well initially but the kitchen got the job done and done well. Fair play to them for that. The tuna burger is a great option. I've had the cheese burger there before and it's a great one. They've a fine wine list. I had a winter sangria also. Very nice.
Great beer selection, constantly changing menu, mostly friendly staff, and the best Moscow Mule around. It doesn't hurt that Local is down the street from my house either. This is a great place to get drinks and catch up with some friends, but if you're looking for a quiet or romantic evening, keep going.
The food is consistently delicious and always changing with the seasons. The burger is one of my favorite in Boston and the rock shrimp tacos are amazing.
The only reason I wouldn't give this place five stars is the service. I'm not sure what the deal is, but the servers are often incredibly slow. Table greetings take a crazy amount of time and the wait between beverages can be long. This is especially uncomfortable when you're sitting at the "server" side of the bar watching a bartender make your drink and seeing it sit on the service bar for five minutes. I always prefer sitting at the bar, but I wish they would let the bartenders run the show rather than having servers awkwardly waiting on you from behind. To their credit the door/host staff is some of the friendliest around.
Loved this place - so cozy with the fireplace on a snowy day. Kids portion of chicken and waffle was enormous. Fried Brussels sprouts, with many dipping sauces, YuM! Fried pickles are unique (think fried giardiniera) Loved the twist. Â My favorite of all was the Hog wings - Mac and cheese balls sit on a SPICY sauce.
Cool chalkboard tables (beware drawing right where you rest your arms!)
Good neighborhood bar feel except not a lot of comfortable seating (stools in the bar area kinda sucked). Food was pretty good: mac n cheese fritters, fried pickles, pork cheek tacos (really tender meat but tortillas were soggy so you could not pick them up, boo!) and fried brussel sprouts (yum). Good selection of beer too. If I lived here, I would come back.
Review Source:Kind of echoing what some other Yelpers have said this place is good, but not the best spot to go in Boston. I gave it 3 stars because the food was pretty good, the crowd is young, and the drink selections were awesome. As an avid beer fan I would have to say this restaurant definitely exceeds expectations when it comes to their beer selection, I personally had a couple Ommegangs which hit the spot. Also, parking sucks, but its Southie so what did you expect?
I came here for a brunch date a little while back and ordered the steak and eggs which were very solid. Steak was a good piece of meet and the eggs were cooked to my liking. No frills but it definitely got the job done. My date had a lobster McMuffin and she also enjoyed it and said that it was very filling.
The reasoning behind my lower rating is that the beers were a little overpriced (yeah they were good quality, but it doesn't mean that you have to charge $10 for them) and the food wasn't worth the price. Ended up spending around $80 for brunch which is a little hard to swallow when I could have gone elsewhere and spent much less. I will say that our waitress did an excellent job and we were seated very quickly. I just think you'd be much better off going out in the city than taking a girl out here (might be because I don't live in Southie but who knows). Worth a shot if you are out of ideas, definitely gets the job done, but not the best in show.
I'll start by saying that I lovelovelove the look and feel of this bar. Â It's very industrial chic without being foo-foo - like a more-square deep ellum, and in southie. Â
So why just 3 stars?
So I got the yellowfin tuna burger. Â And the tuna part of it was fantastic. Â But:
~there was only one piece of "eggplant bacon" and i couldn't taste anything distinctive about it in the sandwich
~the "onion marmalade" was totally an onion mayo (or maybe just straight mayo)? Â i haaaaate mayonnaise and felt a little crass needing to grab bar napkins to wipe it off the sammy
~i asked for the "wasabi pickles" on the side since i'm not a wasabi fan, but when i tried one, it didn't taste much different than a regular pickle.
~the fried plantains were a little too salty and i didn't think their barbecue sauce coating really went with the rest of the meal
~the english muffin was textured a little doughy against the rest of the burger
Finally - the chocolate malt and maca shake I got to go with my meal tasted a little too whipped-cream-y and not very malted-milk-y. Â As a kid in the midwest who used to get rewarded for nail-biting avoidance in chocolate malts, I know a thing or two about a quality malt. Â This wasn't bad, it just wasn't particularly great.
My friends seemed to enjoy their meals and looking around the table there were some things I might want to opt for next time - the venison carpaccio and the fried brussel sprouts looked a little more up my alley, and their atmosphere is attractive enough that it'd draw me back for another go if I were in the area.
Overall: Not great. Â Not terrible. Â Lukewarm only on round one - I think their originality in menu listings exceeds execution, and I'd rather see them scale back a bit on the fancification in favor of making each plate component a little more congruous.
3.5 stars is my actual rating (a little more than a-ok for vibe, atmosphere and menu creativity).
Went out for an early brunch with a couple ladies on a Sunday. Loved all the fun options on the menu and I was looking for a new place in Southie to check out. Unfortunately, the tastes didn't quite live up to the creativity of the menu, at least for the breakfast pizza (compared to a brunch favorite of mine from Russel House Tavern in Harvard, this bfast pizza tasted like cheesy bread with some good seasoning).
Our server was pleasant enough (gave her a 20% tip on a $100 bill) minus a little incident towards the end with an accidental hot coffee spill and interesting choice in serving container (a La Chouffe beer glass without a handle or even a long stem - ouch). All that said, I called to tell the MOD after the brunch rush and they were more than apologetic and very sweet on the line.
I'm excited to go back and try it again for bar food to do a f/u rating that makes it up to 4 stars!
Things I liked:
Braised Rib
Crusted Salmon
Duck
fried avocado something or other...
Things I didnt like:
Aooustic concert like walls.
Stools at the tall tables were wicked uncomfortable.
Parking around the block.
The food and drinks were cheap given the new SoBo vibe it was giving off. It was a Thursday so even though it wasnt busy it was shocking that it was so loud. I would NOT like to be here when its crowded, but I would come back.
I went last night on a Thursday and had a great experience. We waited no more than 10-12 minutes. For a Thursday it was busy; every table taken and we were lucky to find a little hangout spot at the bar. What's great is that their bar snacks are so affordable that you can spare the 3 dollars for amazing mushroom caps to hold you over. Â
As for the food; SO GOOD. Â Best stuffed mushrooms I have ever had by far. I was hesitant to get the mac n cheese bites just because I wanted to stray from something that I knew I was already going to like (I mean, its fried mac n' cheese balls!). Â They were not greasy at all and I did not feel like I was eating cheap, re frozen or otherwise crappy food. Â They were big and the sauce (a ketchup and red hot mixture?) was really interesting to go with them.
I got the Lobster and Crab Rilletes. I had no idea what it was and after asking the waitress, thought I was ordering some sort of salad with like a lobster/crab dumpling (? her expanation was poor). Â But it turned out to be a version of what you would describe a Tuna Tartar that a lot of restaurants serve. Â It was a pile of lobster chunks, on top of slices of grapefruit and artichoke heart cuts, on top of a layer of crab meat salad (what would otherwise be the avacado in a tuna tartar). Â The crab meat salad on the bottom was not mayoey at ALL. Â There was a lot of lobster in that pile, so you definitely got your money's worth. Â
The dish was also great for the lighter side. I did not leave feeling stuffed. Â Well, I wouldnt have if I didnt hit my partner's fries and have the mac n'cheese.
My fiance got the Lamb Burger special and it was INCREDIBLE. Â Seriously moist and almost mashed, cooked to perfection (medium rare). Â
Everything else that passed us while we ate looked pretty amazing, as well. Â WE have a list of things that we want to get next time, so I will repost when that day comes.
My only critique is that they do not have good explanations of the dishes on their menu. They are trying to have that mysterious/new age feel, but there listings leave a lot to the imagination. I found myself asking a lot of questions "is this a pasta dish? What is a rillete? Is this more of a salad? Â What exactly is this... kind of things." Â And our waitress was sweet, but didn't do a good job explaining. She left the table with me still confused, but too embarrassed to keep asking.
Wine is expensive for the amount in the glass. Â GREAT beer at expensive but reasonable prices. You can get 5/6 dollar beers and still get good and different ones. Â The Red Ale Winter (Holyoke, MA) was great.
Be prepared for a pretty inconsistent eating experience, this is a solid 3 star on starters (or "schematics" on the menu), and a weak 2 star on everything else.
A friend and I ordered some [way too much] food... Â We got...
Food:
The fried pickles ($4)
Fried brussel sprouts ($7)
Hog Wings ($9 for 3)
Avocado Skin ($6 for half an avo)
Beets! ($12)
Chicken Patty ($12)
Side of Mac n Cheese ($3)
Drinks:
Chocolate Malt & maca milkshake ($5)
Jack's Abby ($5.50/pint)
Local 149 started pretty strong with reasonably priced bar food that was pretty damned tasty, with fried pickles being a good quick gnosh to take the edge off, though nearly half of it consisted of pieces too small to really be much more than 'fried batter.' Â
The hog wings were pretty damned good, fall off the bone tender, meaty, sauce could have used a bit of a vinegar zing. I'd recommend requesting the chipotle-lime dipping sauce with them, instead of the house sauce.
What the fried brussel sprouts lacked in quality, they made up for in quantity. The smaller ones and the halved-ones were sufficiently cooked through and not so bad, whereas the larger ones were still raw inside and bitter. A bit of par boiling would have easily fixed this, also a lighter coating (or maybe no coating) may've gone over better. Still, not a bad deal.
The mac and cheese was perfectly acceptable, not bad for the price; macaroni elbows awash in a smooth cheese sauce.
The avocado skin was... well, wasn't quite sure what to expect, but we got half of a giant avocado covered in nut dust with some blanched broccoli rabe, a drizzle fo creme fraiche, and it took us a couple of moments to figure out that the brittle dark strips were the eggplant "bacon." You are basically paying 6 dollars for half of a raw avocado with a few accouterments that neither add nor subtract from the value.
There was a pretty sharp drop from there...
On the beet salad, I can't say I like salads that require a knife to eat, large wedges of bee was nothing impressive, (overly) large chunks of red beet, with lightly pickled golden beets, etc. Wasn't substantial, wasn't impressive, was overpriced.
The chicken patty sandwich was amazingly bland, like, no flavor. I am confident I could have gone to the store, got a frozen chicken cutlet, and some vegetables, and made an equal or better sandwich. Â We slathered it with some of the mayonaise that came on the side of an app, which drew out a scant bit of flavor. Â The fries it came with were mixed, some had stuck together which stopped them from frying properly, leaving us heavy, soggy fries, others were crisp but covered with a not-particularly-cheesy cheese sauce.
On a final, bittersweet note, the chocolate malt maca milkshake tasted neither chocolatey or malty, though was impressively thick, topped with sweetened coconut that imparted no real benefit.
Beer selection was good, prices were reasonable, I'd personally advise keeping to bar snacks and spirited drinks.
Decided to meet a friend in south boston for after dinner drinks. He suggested we try Local 149. I had not heard of it before but upon further investigation i learned it was formerly The Farragut House. I spent a summer living on P street in Southie and had many burgers and steak tips at Farragut House so I was curious to check out the new spot.
I was happy to see the space was completely renovated surrounded by big windows that would most likely be open during the summer months. Location is great, very close to the water/ beach and Castle island. Parking is a bit of an issue as most nighttime parking is resident only.
The interior is all new and very clean. Big rectangle bar sits in the center of the room serving a great selection of craft beers and typical cheap beers ( we chose the Lagunitas and Ommegang). Surrounding the bar are high top tables and a few dinner tables. Many of the patrons in the bar were there to drink but they have a full menu, apparently Available to midnight. We ordered a plate of Mac n cheese bites. They were delicious, fried golden, large serving on top of a hot sauce and ketchup mixture. The menu included all the typical bar specialities for reasonable prices including $4 wings, burgers, fried pickles, seafood, charcuterie etc. I was also happy hear that the ingredients were all bought from local farms in the area ( hence the name LOCAL 149.)
Our Server was very friendly and accommodating, although adding 3 drinks to our bill that were not ours, she swiftly edited the bill and returned apologetic. Whether going  for  a beer with friends or a quick bite, this spot seems to be doing it right. I would come back to get dinner and sample some more of the fine beer selection.
Stopped by before heading to a friends house who lives close by for a party. Â I'm never in Southie but I've come to learn that there are a ton of cool new spots out here. Â I was waiting for a friend to come meet me so I sat at the bar. Â Super cute atmosphere, older'ish crowd and good vibe overall. Â I ordered a Duvel on draft and it was cold and perfect. Â We ordered a bunch of apps to share. Â We started with the oysters which are a hit. Â They were from Duxbury , big and tasty. Â We then ordered fried pickles, mac &cheese balls, smokey wings and shared the tuna burger.
All were definitely tasty, the pickles were good but I was expecting more pickles than dough. Â Wings were good, had a smokey flavor to them and the mac&cheese balls had a great homemade sirachaca sauce which made them taste better. Â They were too fried for my liking but still good. Â Our burger was a bit delayed and we had to remind the bartender that we ordered it. Â He was waiting for our apps to get delivered first which is understandable. Â Thankfully he was handsome so it didn't matter :)
The burger was my favorite. Â Juicy tuna burger on an english muffin with fried plantains!! Â yummy!!! Â I think everything was different and tasty and will definitely come back. Â If you in the neighborhood definitely check it out. Â Perfect neighborhood place to grab a beer and a bite!
Amazing food and beer ! Joanie our waitress .. Who I want to nick name the dining diva ... She is peppy, vibrant and very welcoming ! She made sure our every need was cared for !
Now to the "nuts and bolts" as referenced form their fresh, incentive and tasty menu -
GO TO THIS RESTAURANT AND ORDER THE HOG WINGS ASAP !!!!!!! they are a must ... they are amazing ... fall off the bone ... and drenched in a savory sweet BBQ sauce !
quesadillas are super spicy and delicious ... came out pipping hot and covered with cheese and fresh salsa
the beer list has a huge variety but kinda pricy ...
the average price for an entree is $16 + dollars ... but the burger is $10 so there is a more reasonable option ...
pineapple up-side-down cake is horrible ... salted caramel ice cream is good
all around a great casual spot that I will definitely be returning too !
this is the perfect spot for just about any occasion ... meet friends for drinks ... first date ... after work drinks ... there was also a couple dining with their baby and another couple with kids ...
I wish the menu was easier to read ... love the green just too all over the place ...
It would be doing an injustice to Local 149 not to update my review given that, since moving to the East side of Southie, I frequent this neighborhood gem at least once every couple of weeks.
My last review was for 3.5 stars, but this one is a solid 4. Â This place has figured it out. Â The rotation of beers, draft & bottled/canned alike, as well as the constantly-changing menu, which changes seasonally (the "specials" daily!), are second-to-none, and the food delivers. Â You may run into portion difficulties on some of the smaller menu items, but the entrees are reasonably priced for the quality of food (excellent), and you MUST try the Hog Wings...you won't regret it. Â Oh...and the music is awesome.
Well-played, Local...see you next week.
I wonder if this place would be getting such great reviews if it were located anywhere else in the city. Yes, I understand that it fills a niche in Southie that no other restaurant has attempted to fill . . . but the service was sub par, the decor was contrived in a trendy "we're finding our working class roots" kind of way, and the food was downright bad.
I was excited after reading the menu, as most things looked fresh and exciting. However, the food that arrived at the table was poorly designed and poorly executed. We ordered the Tater Tot Poutin, which I had never seen on a menu and imagined could be a fun and decadent take on the Montreal classic. However, what arrived at our table was a plate of glorified mozzarella sticks with a bit of potato baked in. I ordered the Pleasure Bay pizza as an entree. I enjoyed the whole spice mixture they sprinkle on the crust, but the pizza was slightly soggy and had too much cheese and too little everything else. My date ordered the cheeseburger medium rare and got a well-done brick of beef and incredibly soggy fries.
Overall, a disappointment, but I can appreciate what they're attempting to bring to the neighborhood . . . now that they've broken the ice, maybe someone else can open a decent new american gastropub.
When I moved to Southie last year I expected Local 149 to be my hands-down favorite spot to eat and drink. The restaurant boasts of it's "exceptionally local" nature and offers an eclectic menu and decent beer and cocktail list -- what more could you ask for?
Well, comfortable seating for one. The first time I walked into Local 149 I loved it. It had a cozy and unique atmosphere and I loved the different types of tables/chairs spread throughout. I must have bad luck, because each time I've gone I've been sat at what must be the most uncomfortable table in the place (even when there were others available). This one table is far too thin to comfortably seat 4 people and is equipped with wobbly, backless stools. It's right nest to the kitchen, bathroom and running area for the bar so it's just not an ideal spot for a table in general.
As far as the food goes, I've tried a lot of different options at this point and have to say the local cheeseburger (plus pork belly bacon and quail eggs) comes out on top. I've tried a few different pizzas, all of which have been solid choices as well. I've tasted the couscous dressed salmon and the smoke mozarella and white bean ravioli, both were very good. As far as appetizers go the tator tots poutine is pretty tasty (preferred over the pimento cheese fries) and there needs to be a description under the fried pickles (which are actually a mix of very lightly fried pickled vegetables).
The service has never been exceptional, but has never been terrible either. Strangely enough it seems that the staff is more attentive when the restaurant is busier. Just paying a little more attention goes a long way -- if I order a beer at the start of my meal I don't want it to come after I'm finished eating.
This place is great! The food is absolutely decadent and delicious! I love the laid-back and clean atmosphere. The servers were friendly too!
My friend and I split two apps and the chicken and waffles. The pigs in a blanket and mac n cheese fritters were amazing. We couldn't finish the chicken and waffles because the food is pretty heavy, but that was also tasty.
We had G+Ts, which were unique in that they were made with Wire Works gin, a local liquor. But I definitely want to go back and try some of their specialty cocktails.
This place is loud. Really, really loud; as in Local 149 = din. The cacophony drowned out Robert Plant shrieking "D'yer Maker." On a Tuesday night. And this is coming from a guy who lost partial hearing at an Iggy Pop concert. I wanted to run away after 30 minutes. And I unfortunately picked this place for a coveted "date night" with the wife while Junior was at a sleepover. BTW, sonic overload is bad for a first - or second or third date, too. My ears were still ringing when we got to the L Street Tavern (that's a long walk, people).
As for the food, $7 for deep fried Brussels Sprouts is obviously expensive, but I LOVE them, and deep fried sounded good. While they were fresh, they were hard and bitter. Blanching them before frying would have been a better preparation. Be aware that the fried pickles are an assortment of lightly pickled veggies like carrots and beans; not cucumber chips or spears one would expect. I disliked that coarse Kosher salt was put into shakers normally used for that overly-iodined silt you find in diners. I had to unscrew the cap to use it. Someone please pay attention to the details.
The $14 pressed duck club was OK, but very small. The $13 shrimp taco met my wife's approval: an ample portion of shrimp served in a freshly fried hard taco shell. I would serve it in a soft taco.
Beer is very expensive here, with draft pints starting at $6.75. They do have a great selection. I got two from Ommegang. Cocktails were small and ran $10 a pop.
Service from Joan was very good.
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My friend took me here since she lives in Southie and I was immediately surprised by the decor and atmosphere, was definitely not what I expected to find in Southie! Â The wait was insane, which was one downfall, but we sipped our wine (very good wines by the glass) and waited to get a spot to sit and eat. Â We tried the beach bucket of fish which was good but you definitely do not get much in it so if you are hungry I would recommend skipping that. Â We also tried the tater tots poutine, that was an AMAZING combo and I would get it again in a heartbeat!
I was really impressed by the menu combinations though and can't wait to come back here and try a full meal.  I would recommend not coming on a Friday or Saturday night  though, the wait was killer.
Local 149 is a great atmosphere for the up and coming generation that has ventured into Southie. Â Simple menu and simple drinks is perfect for the simple, "I want to get out during the week" restaurant Â
It's a great meet up spot for dinner and drinks and if you are looking for reservations it's more of a first come first serve basis and you can call that evening as a "heads up"
We sat at the bar where my friend awkwardly wore the same attire as the bartenders (plaid shirts). Â So it was a running joke of the night. The place was lit like Instagram with Sepia tones. Â It does get very loud in there. Â Our server was attentive and friendly and explained drinks and beers on tap. Â
I had the statler chicken with spinach and potatoes and it was delicious! Â Perfectly cooked with the juices running for the veggies and potatoes to soak up the fat. Â I think the higlight of my night was my new fave drink called "The Dizzle Dazzle" (use the Bill Cosby voice). Â Prosecco with a splash of sweet and fruity stuff
Since I don't live around the area, if I swing by Southie again, it will definitely be in my suggestion list.
Awesome spot with a great vibe and excellent choice of beers on tap. Â Appetizers are always creative and tasty: the fried pickles, & the tater tots w/quail egg were my two favorites. Â The fried chicken & waffles are SO frickin' good - almost makes me feel like eating Roscoes back in LA. Â
Cool place to see and be seen in Southie, great change from the standard sports bar.
Cons: Pricey, Loud, Pretentious.
Serving portion is extremely SMALL for appetizers. Â Think of a diet version of Tapas.
Duck Drum Stick $4 but you get ONE drum stick. Â It would not hurt for them to serve 2 drum sticks! Â A side of fries has just about 10 pieces of fries. Â Pigs in the blanket are a joke. Â An order comes with 4 pieces but each is the size of your pinky. Â Don't go there for appetizers if you are hungry. Â Or, drink up.
This place is pretentious. Â They give fancy names to their entrees and they are not what they are. Â The description of the fish and chips says "pan seared fish and roasted potatoes". Â Why the heck don't you call it that? It has nothing to do with FISH and CHIPs in a traditional sense. Â
Also, that place is so loud, filled with obnoxious singles that are pretentious too. Don't go there for a date. That is not the place to be.
Pros: Â Great drinks menu. Â Quality of food is great just not served enough. Fun people watching...I wonder if there are locals that keep coming back.
Love the menu here. I live within walking distance of Local 149 and love the great addition to the neighborhood. It's a welcome change of pace from the typical Southie bars. The menu is exciting and different, yet always has something for everyone in the group. The drinks are great and there's an eclectic beer list. A bucket of High Life ponies is win-win. If nothing else, they serve as a great conversation piece. Not enough bars serve high life, anyway!
Fried brussels sprouts are delicious. The spicy aioli dipping sauce is perfect - I order them every time I'm here. They always do a special pizza of the day, too, which has never been bad. The burger is a great choice, too. I came here for brunch today for the first time and was happy to see that their fried chicken and waffle dish is on the brunch menu. An excuse to eat fried chicken for breakfast?! Sign me up. I've never had a bad meal here. Whether I'm looking for something on the lighter side, or looking to pig out on fried yumminess, I always leave satisfied. Huge fan of this place.
First of all: I love this place. Â Great beers, great food, cool atmosphere. Â Exactly what we needed in Southie.
Here's the thing people from outside the area need to know about the reviews of this restaurant: Â there's this weird, class war sort of thing going on in the this neighborhood. Â Some of the old, blue collar residents resent the "Yuppies" who have moved into the neighborhood and gentrified it. Â
Prior to it's incarnation into the hip, up scale gastro-pub it is now, this location housed an old neighborhood hole called the Farragut House. Â The Farragut House was cool for a Miller Lite, but the menu was made up of your fish & chips, crappy buffalo wings and frozen burgers. Â Now, said old residents view the Local as yet another affront on their way of their life. Â In my opinion, this restaurant would have a much higher aggregate rating, if not for a concerted effort by the local downtrodden hold outs who want to see it fail. Â
So, add at least one star to whatever is showing above.
Now, the restaurant:  The menu changes seasonally.  This past weekend I had the Venison Loin special, and it was delicious.  As  others have posted, the service is usually good, but not great.  It has however improved since they opened last year.
The best thing about the Local: Â the cheese selection and "bar bites". Â Bar bites are mini, rotating appetizers that go for around $3-$6 a piece. Â A fun way to eat at the Local is order a few cheeses and a few bar bites (then repeat), while enjoying a few beers.