"Did you know that your foot's as big as your arm from your elbow to your wrist?....just a little bit of trivia." -- Pretty Woman (1990)
What a cool place to hang on the patio and play trivia. Â I will say you really have to listen (they could use a better speaker outside). Â The food is pretty decent (greasy bar food, but better than a lot of places). Â The drink selection is great (cider YAY) and the waitress was attentive.
We hung out and were able to tune out the road noise coming from Ponce and since we came late to trivia we just answered the questions for ourselves and enjoyed hanging out with friends.
We walked over from Bookhouse after a gathering there and enjoyed the great outdoors with fresh air and great athmosphere.
I'll be back again.
Awesome place to hang out and have a few beers and people watch. Good Music and a friendly staff. The wings are amazing (lemon pepper is real good) and the boiled peanuts are also a great addition to your pitcher of beer. The only downside is it gets a bit crowded and thus the parking gets a lil tricky but other than that I back this place.
Review Source:A chill, laid back Poncey-highlands haunt that enjoys a mixed crowed. Wings are solid. They're smoked with decent heat and light sauce. It's a matter of taste but I'd like them hotter with lingering finish.
PBRs are 2.50 for pints and tall cans (Par for the course, pint glasses aren't chilled), which you can enjoy on their smoking patio. Indoors is smoke free if that's your bag. Â
Nice light set up for events that flash in unison with sound.Speaking of which the Walking Dead projected on Sunday. So if you want to share in the oh, awes, and gasps, stop by.
I see some complaints about service, but I've never had trouble. However I temper my expectations for dives. I suggest ordering through the bar if necessary.
Bar
I met a bunch of local Yelpers here to get my stay in Atlanta started. Â Great little pub with a lot of beers and a friendly waitress. Â
The appearance is sort of spartan - not a dive bar in the true sense but divey looking, but everyone in there was very cool and we had a good time until we moved off to our next adventure.
Prices were cheap and about the only thing I thought was odd was when we told the waitress we wanted our check- she brought out like one check for each person- must have taken her 10 minutes to sort all that out... I dunno, maybe it is a southern thing?
Overall a good place-
Parking in the rear.
I wanted to report an amazing customer service experience. The Local showed the entire last season of the Walking Dead, and we arrived too late to get a table for the finale. We sat outside trying to figure out where to watch the show when a server walks up and asks us if we need help. We explain our dire situation, and short story shorter, he CREATES a table for us inside. It wasn't even in his section.
I've had this server before, he was also great then. Unfortunately I don't know his name, and short brown hair probably isn't very descriptive :P
Thank you for another great experience, Local!
Just to let everyone know. I have been a patron of this bar for an incredibly long time and love it . Best bar in Atlanta.
The yelpers have spoken and The Local will be going Non-smoking indoors starting April 2nd 2013!!
There is a new FULL service bar outside on the patio. The patio has also been extended into the parking lot with new tables and chairs to enjoy everything outdoors. Smoking will be allowed on the patio but as of April 2nd 2013 the local will be NON-SMOKING!!
I love The Local. The atmosphere is great. The people watching is fantastic too. The service is good and the drinks are fairly inexpensive. My favorite spot is the front porch in the warmer months as it is far less smokey than inside. Plus you can come across Blondie and stare at the tattoo shop contemplating your next ink. When it's warm out they have corn hole set up out front to play as well.
The best time to go is on Mondays for Karaoke. It gets pretty wild, and you'll find yourself laughing all night long. The food here is standard pub fare but it's not overtly greasy. And there's free popcorn if you're just looking for something to soak up that extra liquor. There are also a few video games inside if you're bored of your date and a couple TVs playing the current sporting event.
The only downside to The Local is the small parking lot. It gets super packed on the weekends and you find yourself circling round and round until something opens up. There is a lower lot in the back but I unfortunately can't park there with my lowered car (first world problems, right?). I wish there was some sort of secondary lot, or the businesses next door would let patrons park there after closing, that would help a lot.
Randomly pub crawling around the area for no reason in particular (other than a love for adult beverages), the missus and I dragged along a guest to stop in at The Local to start us off (was bookmarked).
It's a divey little place and the service wasn't overly friendly (despite the fact that we were three of five people in the whole place at the time)... but the drinks were strong and cheap, so I guess we can't complain all that much.
Some important notes:
- Their overall liquor and beer selection is pretty lousy.
- The parking lot looks specifically designed to be dark and hidden enough to make break ins easy (complete with a sign on the door telling you to secure your valuables and more than one Yelper noting the problem).
- We didn't try the food - didn't look like the cleanest spot and their 80-something health inspection (displayed behind the bar) confirmed this fact.
- Smoking allowed indoors.
So...
I'd only list this as a keeper for just what we got: cheap, strong drinks to start off a night (or maybe END a night if you're worried about carrying the smokiness with you everywhere else you go)...
Went in here with the homies for some Welcome to Atlanta pints of cheap beer. We got cheap beer in spades. The prices were right, the booths were firm, and the music was JUST swell.
Being from New York I am not used to smoking in bars. I don't mind it and didn't at the time, but my jacket smelled like cigarettes for several days. This is all good because as far as casual drinking spots go this place served its entire purpose and I ended up going twice in a 3 day period. Cheers, The Local.
I've had a lot of fun, every time I've come here. A pitcher of Fat Tire was about 10$, and between me and one of my friends, plenty to drink. It seems like most of their beer selection is reasonably priced here, as well. The patio outside has booths to accommodate both large and small groups, and there is ample parking in the two lots outside of the bar. The bathrooms are decent, but there were only two stalls in the Girl's bathroom. None of those people washed their hands when I was in there, though, which is SO disgusting.
It's also pretty awesome that they have a complimentary popcorn machine in the bar, and the popcorn is excellent for the price of free. It's a bar, so expect a lot of smoke to be everywhere. This is a spot I would definitely go back to again, with a group of friends. On a Sunday night, around 1:00am, it was not super packed, but it had enough people to be interesting.
One of the coolest bars in Atlanta. The bar food is amazing and reasonably priced although you can't get togo food but then again who cares, if you want takeout to go to Chili's. The staff is awesome, real and down-to-earth(the Bartender with the dreads is one of my favorites in town). I recommend this place for people who like real bars not gimmicks.
And they have the best Karaoke and trivia in town.
I love the Local...not quite as much as I like Estoria, but very close.
The staff is awesome, and most of them remember what I drink, which makes for easy ordering. The patio is nice and covered, and sometimes they have cornhole set up out front!
They have a billion fried vegetables (zucchini is my favorite!) and one of the best grilled cheese sammiches ever. Â Also $4 well liquor all day every day and really cheap drink prices in general.
Missy and Brian are my favorite servers, they are awesome.
I am sad the photo booth is gone, that thing was great!
I have my birthday gathering here almost every year, and this year the owner bought my table champagne which was fantastic!
The one down-side is how insanely crowded it gets on Friday and Saturday nights.
In Which A Shitty Bar Imbues You With Superpowers
An absolute must do for anyone with an interest in Marvel â„¢ Comics. Have you always wanted to know what it's like to be the Invisible Woman, except for the part where you can project powerful fields of invisible psionic energy? Â You know, just the part where motherfuckers can't see you? Â Go to The Local.
But wait, there's more! This watering hole isn't just for comic book collectors!
It's simultaneously a phenomenal research site for budding anthropologists and sociologists. Â You can't really ever know what it's like to be a member of any of the following groups, but you can experience a close, secondhand sensation of being:
+ Â A person of color in America!
+ Elderly!
+ Â Disabled!
+ Â Homeless!
+ Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense!
Feel the surreal experience of having people look right PAST you and THROUGH you! Â
For maximum impact, and at no additional charge, the servers at The Local will actually MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT with a member of your party without ever so much as acknowledging your existence or providing you with service of any kind, even after you've patiently waited for 30 minutes!
They will prime and condition you for working with the challenges of invisible classes in American society, and also to come to terms with your own eventual decline as a human being. Â Don't nobody care, yo.
You will laugh. You will cry.  You will pinch yourself to make sure you exist.  You may or may not draw tattoos on your face and arms with a Sharpie to try to get noticed <a href="/redir?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-media3.ak.yelpcdn.com%2Fphoto%2F4H-46pwHFFzkCnH1oa3Hkw%2Fl.jpg&s=a53ffcbe26ba28aea230af5307ebb6dab8e924ea93b7775f2a3bca1a667383c0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://s3-media3.ak.yel…</a> [it won't work, by the way].
May I also suggest this rigorous crash course for White people, who will become the minority in 2042. Â Get familiar.
I have never wanted to Hulk Smash a bar, but I suppose there is a time for everything.
Our agenda was breezy: find a patio where we could grab some food and drink around midnight on a Saturday. We struck out on our first three tries (Victory, 97 Estoria, and Bookhouse) but finally found a wide open booth outside at The Local. So we settled in and waited.
And waited.
And shot looks at the waitress (eye contact was made).
Then we waited some more.
Over 30 minutes total. It became comical to a point, but we were about to lose it.
I've never been so disrespected, we eventually left without any kind of greeting. Â They knew we were there, they served every other table, and they blatantly ignored us. I've been to The Local more than a few times over the last few years and this visit was most certainly my last.
Ok, so I'm spending alot of time in Atlanta this year for work...every *white* person I meet tells me The Local is the coolest bar ever, right? Actually, it's a FUCKING REDNECK BAR! It reeks of puke & chain smoking. They blast the shittiest possible music all the time. The clientele is straight out of the movie 'Idiocracy'.
   If you're into a lowest-common-denominator hick vibe, this is your joint.
I don't know where else you can purchase a well drink for just $4.
The Local has something for everybody, unless you're a non-smoker, then you may want to go ahead and sit this dance out.
The area is very convenient for a big night out, being one of several surrounding bars and local flare. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but a good dive with a superb karaoke following, mountains of PBR and renditions of Queen deserves culture club status.
My favorite part about the local is the various places and spaces throughout the bar, Â For activities: The back of the bar has games and such, like foosball. Booths, high-tops, large party-tables... or where I fall asleep if you leave me in the dark too long.
I'd like to pay homage to Jon. W.'s listing of the local, for it casts the most brilliant line: "Be as trashy as you want". I talked to a girl who wasn't wearing shoes for a long time. She don't care.
People are having a stupidly good time here, and you should too.
By all means don't hold the birthday girl back, she's up there singing as much ABBA and crying, if she wants to.
Disclaimer: Â First time visit.
Not sure why this place is a solid four stars. I had a pleasant enough experience, but there was nothing particularly great about this place. Â Decent beer selection, Okay food selection, but nothing great. Based on first time experiences, I think I would head to the Book House or the Righteous Room over this place.
Oh well, I'll definitely be back. It does the job, it just wasn't particularly memorable.
Maybe I'm being unfair, it was like 6:30 when I went.
After a day in the sunshine at Cloverfest, my bf and I wanted to continue the Green Day at a bar restaurant. We are still pretty new around GA so we looked up bar restaurants in Yelp. Saw this place got pretty good ratings so we decided to hit up this place. The place was not too crowd... yet. =P They have a few tables outside the bar. Inside they have bar seats, booths, low and high tables... Your choice if it ain't too crowded. As you enter the bar, on your right side I think they have a pool table and a pinball machine.
I ordered a pear cider drink... I was kind of beer out and my bf was the DD. *haha* We ordered 10 wings, we got the bbq and jerk flavor mix... The wings were awesome! We also got the Dirty Pig in soft taco styles, however, the waitress made a mistake and it came out in a sandwich. Oh well, the sandwich style was good. It came with a choice of side order. Got onion rings, it's been a while so yum. *haha* =P They've got a couple of sauces the bar probably made themselves and others like ketchup, mustard, etc.
So we like the place. Now I would have given it a 5-star; however I did not because of the smoking. Although there were a few people, these people were smoking a house or something, OMG! I'm not fond of the cigs stench. It's terrible, makes the place smokey and smelly, I just don't understand why people want to slowly kills themselves or hwant to have health problems at a young age. I hope they ban the smoking inside, there is an outside is just a couple of steps away... Stop making healthy people second-hand smoking your s***! Okay I'm going to stop and focus on the place. =P So yeah, I may or may not come again to this place because of the smoking... If I'm in the Atlanta area and crave wings, I'd eat quickly or order to go if I see people smoke. =P
MMMmmmmmmm.... wings.....
Hush puppies, PBR and Wings. I'm sold.
Cheap Cheap Cheap. Local, I know you're a dive, but why does your food taste sooo great? The hush puppies were like little fried balls of crack. Crispy and golden on the outside, but amazingly perfect and buttery on the inside.
The wings were also delicious. Tender and spicy. Juicy and falling of the bone. I'd say the wings were my biggest surprise at the local. No disrespect meant, but I had pretty low expectations of the food I ordered and I was blown away with how good our meal was. I look forward to my return visit to sample more surprises.
This has been the go to spot for most of my friends for years. At this point I've had a variety of friends employed there and have watched the bar go through a few changes too.
On a weekend you can expect it to be crowded, dark, loud and smokey. When there is nice weather its great to sit on the patio and have a drink and some snacks.
Both the food and the drinks are super affordable. For the price you would expect half ass food, but it can actually be really great.
Great place to grab a PBR tall boy, play a game of darts and chat it up with some friends.
Ladies, be prepared to spend at least two washes getting the smoke layer out of your hair after leaving.
For all the old-man, get-off-my-lawn, I-can-drink-you-under-the-table posturing that he does, it was fellow Yelper Ivan S. that pointed out to me that I'd achieved regular status at seven different bars around Atlanta, the irony being that I don't really drink all that much. I don't have a particular fondness for cigarette smoke, either, so it's a wonder that I really enjoy going to the smoke-filled haze of five of those bars, The Local being one of them.
While I can wax lyrical about the service (friendly and welcoming), the atmosphere (very smoky), or the food (one of the few places to get a genuine Chicago Hot Dog), I've come to realize that while the most compelling aspect of a restaurant is the food you eat there, the most enticing characteristic of a bar are the characters within it; and The Local certainly does not lack for characters (for a taste, you have only to look at the slideshow of buffoonery rotating on the iMac above the bar). Whether its the bartenders, the trainwreck trivia hostesses, the patrons (or doppelganger patrons), most everyone here is like the supporting cast of characters from a David Lynch work--peculiar, idiosyncratic, and lacking hesitation to call you on your shit--just like any family.
So one night....
I was craving hot wings and searched for probably 3 hours online to find the Atlanta spot with the best.. Review after review said that the local had the best hot wings hands down.
So, I figured... bar... bar food... hot wings...okay, maybe they've perfected them.
Here's how it went:
Entered
Sat Down
Friendly waitress approaches
2 Trusty Guiness were ordered
Smoke Cigarette
Guiness Delivered
Order Wings (and he ordered something else...)
Wings Delivered
BLEHHHHH.... they were drenched with bbq sauce mixed w/hot sauce and while I may have liked this a little on a normal day, it wasn't what I was looking for AT ALL and this isn't what she told me they had. The wings were fatty and slimmmmmmy. No Bueno Chikito!
Needless to say, I was disappointed.
Other than that, the atmosphere is good. Service was pretty great and the patrons of the evening were fun and loud. Good for drinking all night but not for eating hot wings. :-)
My friends probably think I'm ridiculous, but I can't get enough of the Local's barbeque sandwich and fries (and their amazing boiled peanuts). Â For me, it's the perfect comfort food (along with a pitcher of draft cider) after a hard day at work. Â
The patio is fantastic for avoiding the smokiness inside (which isn't that bad on a weeknight, but can get overwhelming for a non-smoker), and the service is always friendly and speedy. Â The prices are very affordable, and it's absolutely great for a long night of drinking with friends.
A very indie casual, comfortable and laid-back atmosphere, the people-watching can't be beat. Â It can get hard to find a table and parking if you go late on a weekend, so go early & stay late!
The food's fine. Â The wine selection is, uhhhh, limited. Â (Yeah, I go to beer bars/pubs and order cheap wine. Â I deserve what I get.)
However, the service is totally awesome. Â Thanks to our lovely and sharp waitress who watched the extras on the Changeling DVD, we won at trivia. Â Sorry I didn't get her name. Â I hope I made it up in tip. Â But after two Merlots, you take your chances with my math skills. Â
There is parking in the back, but you have to go in the entrance on east side of the bar, not the first entrance if you're coming from midtown. Â Not that I was that dork going the wrong way or anything.
The real downside to this place is the smoke. Â Yikes! Â You can cut it with a knife. Â (But please don't bring sharp objects with you. Â People get really drunk here. Â *cough*Ivan*cough*) Â
I got home and put my jacket on a hanger out on the balcony to try to air it out overnight and get the smoke stench out, but it didn't work. Â I ended up stopping by the store on the way to work this morning to buy Febreze so I could smell like a chemist's idea of fresh air rather than smelling like the Marlboro man. Â (The fetid decomposing corpse of the Marlboro man.) Â In the future, I'll try to sit outside, even if it means wearing my coat the whole time.
The Local is my kind of place. I just wish it was nonsmoking.
What I like:
1. Good beer selection at decent prices.
2. Good food for what it serves. While the food will not "wow" you, it will taste fine and is consistent. I have never had anything here that I thought was bad.
3. Friendly staff
4. Trivia night - woo hoo we won last night!
5. Easy going clientele. A no "attitude" place. Nice.
What I don't like:
1. The Smoke.
There also is the regular who was serenading me and making crude sexual comments towards me. Â But he will remain nameless {cough* Ivan S * cough} to protect his wonderful bride.
So my first visit was for trivia and I was very impressed. Â I had a yummy grilled cheese and fried okra and I'm still lusting after Scott's fried corn. Â Respectable beer selection and very reasonable prices. Â I don't remember the exact special, but I was sipping grape vodka and sprite all night for.. pretty sure under 5 bucks. Â
  As the others have said, trivia was fun and our server was awesome.  We had a pretty big party of at least 10 and she handled us like we weren't but a wee party of 4.  Very friendly and attentive.
  This is pretty much the perfect spot to do a casual dinner and a few beers.  My kind of place and I'll definitely be back.
Deep fried corn on the cob?
Stop pretending like that's normal!
I was horrified until I tasted it!
Grub-u-licious! It makes the corn taste nutty! Who would have guessed?
I think I prefer mine fresh off the BBQ with a squeeze of lime and a dash of salt, but if nobody was looking... I'd do it again!
Danielle, our waitress, was amazing! She couldn't have been more positive or patient! I will love her smile with all my heart until the day I die! The whole establishment emulated her presence... comfortable, pretentionless, and friendly!
Great staff + darkness+ calf sized PBR's - Pretension = Love.
Minus one star for my lung cancer, whom I've affectionately named "Mr. Local".
How have I not been here before? Â Thanks to Kathleen M for planning the trivia night that brought me here! Â Three of my favorite things in a restaurant: tater tots, High Life on draft, and they take Discover cards. Who could ask for anything more?
I met the early crowd and joined them in staking out what seemed like the entire right side of the restaurant. Â This brought some very dirty looks from the dark-glasses-flannel-shirt wearing crowd, who must have been the regulars, since their eyes said "who are those people and what are they doing at our tables?!"
Service was prompt, and the waitress kept the beer flowing and food coming the whole night. Â She even separated our checks (remember our orders, too!) without prompting. Â Guys also take note - she was physically qualified to work at Hooters, but she was way smarter about how she worked "the girls" to get good tips without being an obvious ditz about it.
I got the buffalo chicken wrap with tots. Â Everyone was talking about how generous the portions were, but I thought mine was just right to feed my grumbling stomach. Â The mustard sauce was good with the tots, but I'll stick to my classic ketchup and mustard mix. Â The wrap was good and spicy, and not too much blue cheese so that it left you with the spicy taste in your mouth, instead of the fatty dressing taste.
Only reason to take it down a star is definitely the smokiness. Â So if you're a chimney - go here to light up, you'll be in good company. Â But if it makes you sick, go early, before it gets crowded.
And we rocked at trivia. Â Can't complain about that. Â Can't wait to go back to claim our $25 tab!
The Local is a great bar. Â It's a perfect place to either spend the night OR begin OR end your night. Â
I love the outside, front patio seating. Â It's usually where we end up because the inside is always packed. Â I also prefer outside because it's brighter and there's more space to breath. Â The inside is dark and loud, which is just too much sometimes.
The location is great (on Ponce) because it's central to a lot of other places;
Within walking distance to: MJQ/Drunken Unicorn, Clermont Lounge, Paris on Ponce, Disco Kroger
Close by: Masquerade, Krispy Kreme, Eats, Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Park..
A little further but still not inconvenient drive to: Fernbank, Little 5 points, PTree St.
For fun, there is a photobooth and some arcade games, I believe.
The Local has pretty good service. Â We've had the same guy the last handful of times, and I don't know his name but he's great. Â I actually made a big dumbass move a couple weeks ago and spilled my almost full drink.. This guy just got me a new one, with no problems at all. Â (Thanks again!!)
The bathrooms (girls at least) are decent. Â They're not spotless but I've definitely seen worse. Â There are only 2 stalls but from my experience, there's usually not too much wait.
The food is good - Tater Tots are the best.. also the Pretzels are great. Â There's also free popcorn.. and who else in town gives out anything free, really?
*Just a warning though, as with ANYwhere in ANY city, remember to hide your valuables in your car.. or bring them in with you..
My roommate's car got broken into in the parking lot just because someone saw the CORD that plugs her iPod into the dash. Â I'm not saying the Local's parking lot is any worse than anywhere else.. I still park there without hesitation (just more conscious of what's visible) and apparently so does everyone else! Â You really just have to be careful anywhere.
Finally made it to The Local and glad I did. Â After reading so many favorable reviews, I was curious to see what this place was all about. Â It's definitely a cool venue to meet up with friends, imbibe, listen to great music, and socialize! Â We were there on a Friday night and it was packed. Â It's definitely a feel good atmosphere where before you know it, you may have consumed more alcohol than you intended. Â
The service was great - friendly and efficient and our bar tab was totally reasonable. Â
The Local will now be one of my "let's meet up for a beer" recommendations.
I have to review my experience even though I only partially remember this place.
Like Joseph stated very 70's, hippy-ish vibe. I had a great time catching up with the gang. The beer was cheap, for the most part the waitress was accomadating (until it was time to go, and all of sudden she didn't see the hands waving in the air for her attention).
I didn't see the hot waiters but there were def. some eye candy dispersed throughout the place =)
Typical bar, loud and very chill environment other customers were very friendly. Plans of returning..Yes sir
Cheap beer, but mind the hipsters. Â
00's are the new 70's. Â Come on folks. Â The gas prices may be high but that doesn't give you an excuse to dress as if though you yourself are high.
Almost as bad as yuppies...
Seriously, if I'm critiquing your fashion then something is horribly amiss.
Good beer choices. Veggie burgers and falafel. Low lights and lots of wooden decor. Cheap prices. Personable staff. On Ponce. Dead right after work. All this = perfect place to meet a friend to catch up over drinks after work.
Nasty-ass bathroom, and non-smokers, you'll smother if someone lights up in the place.
The good far outweighs the bad.
The place where it's always packed, but I always manage to find a seat, and the waiters are always nice to the 'locals'.
There's the dinner crowd, then the trivia crowd, then the late night MJQ pregame crowd, then finally the close out crowd. The waves of people coming through here every night are about as varied as it gets in this city. It's where the ultra-hipsters come to mingle, and brush elbows with the overflow crowd from the Cleremont or the Highlands.
Wednesday night is the big danceparty night at MJQ so The Local is just as crowded, if not more so. I'd tell you to come that night, but I don't want you to steal my seat ;)
The Local is a pretty neat little bar. Â The front of the place has a small porch filled with tables that look out into the odd streets of Ponce De Leon. Â The inside of the bar is not exactly what I would refer to as nice, but does not look like a dump either. Â You have to consider the the fact that they place is obviously meant to have the look and feel of a "local" bar. Â If the interior was furnished with expensive upholstery and decor the place would not acheive the bar atmosphere set forth in its own name.
There is a really cool crowd that hangs out at The Local on a regular basis. Â Even though the usual crowd of regulars who frequent this place appear to be diverse from their outer appearance, I have found that most of the individuals I have met share a genuinely friendly personality trait that can sometimes hard to find in bars in or around Atlanta. Â
What impressed me the most about The Local was there tater tots. Â Yes that's right, tater tots. Â My stomach may sometimes deceive me when I have been drinking several beers, but I am almost positive those were the best tater tots that I have ever had. Â In case you are skeptical about the tater tots being able to make this place worth the trip alone, rest easy knowing that The Local also makes some tasty Barbecue sandwiches and they have nightly specials on Pap's Blue Ribbon 32oz cans, both of which were excellent complements.