Local 127

Local 127 has an upscale café type of atmosphere. The Hostesses were very friendly and the wait staff was stellar.
Our drinks were unique and great! The meatloaf dinner was my favorite and to top it off the coffee and chocolate chip cookies are MUST TRY!

To start we shared the devil on horseback which were very tasty, but small. For dinner I had the New York strip medium rare which was fantastic. The sides accompanying it were mediocre but the beet purée was delicious. My girlfriend ordered porkopolis, enamored by the name. It was very good, pork prepared 3 – 4 different ways. We had two of their cocktails the liberal liberal and corpse reviver which were ok, but I had expected them to wow me. Bill came to $ 120 with tip and I’d recommend it to anyone to try.

We went for Easter brunch. The food was great and was fairly priced. Definitely not cheap but reasonable. My boyfriend had the Monte Cristo sandwich and it was to die for. The parmesan potatoes on the side were some of the best prepared potatoes I’ve ever had. My goat cheese and greens omelette was a little bland perhaps some tomatoes or spices would have given it the kick it needed but overall still really good.
The restaurant itself is very modern with bright colors, exposed brick, and mirrors. It was a cozy dining atmosphere.
Service was great. Our waiter was informative and helpful. My only complaint was he had a very difficult time splitting our check in two. In fact, he took back our card 3 times and it still wasn’t right. That, however did not totally kill my experience at Local 127. I will be returning again soon to try dinner!

Went in for a few drinks with a friend — the bar manager was extremely knowledgeable and kind. I had the Rizzle Buck, a drink with basil tincture, something I wasn’t very used to. It was absolutely delicious, but when I mentioned its tartness, the bar manager made a drink off-​menu for me. It was absolutely sweet and outstanding, though I can’t really remember what she put in it besides egg white.
All in all, the service was outstanding. I can’t wait to go back and try the food.

We dined last night at LOCAL 127. First, the room… The restaurant interior is rather generic and nondescript, which I am told will soon be addressed with a renovation. As it stands now, the dining room does not match the level of the food. My wife commented that it seemed strange that she was enjoying an well-​prepared and beautifully-​presented seared scallop… while watching basketball on the television over the bar. I hope the renovation helps separate the bar from the dining room a bit more.
Next the service… Service was attentive and highly professional throughout the meal. Each employee attended tables in an unobtrusive manner, so empty plates and glasses did not linger. Staff always asked before clearing, and never interrupted or hovered. High marks for staff. I don’t care for jeans as part of the uniform — I think it doesn’t match the level of the food — but the uniforms were sharp and clean.
Finally, the food… Through a series of small bites, we enjoyed the scope of the menu. Every plate was well-​presented and and showed a variety of culinary techniques.
Outstanding bits: The Pork Grandmere and the chicken liver mousse on the charcuterie board. Very different from each other, but both very delicious. The chicken liver mousse was perfectly prepared and silky smooth.
The scallop dish was seared perfectly, and paired very well with the parsley root purée and brown butter. The brown butter was powdered in a «gastronomic» flair.
The spring peas on the salmon dish were an awesome herald of the warm weather that is (better be!) right around the corner, and the barley confit had a nice texture.
The Porkopolis is a true porcine powerhouse. The standout element on that dish was the paprika garlic sausage.
The beef offering was served with a beautiful royal trumpet mushroom.
A slight mis-​step occurred with the potato leek soup, which was under-​seasoned and therefore light on flavor, and featured the smallest mussels I’ve ever seen.
The vanilla panna cotta with blueberry jam on top was a great dessert.
Overall, a very enjoyable meal in a room that (currently) has an identity crisis. The food is the star. Focus on the dishes on your table and not the room, and enjoy yourself.

My husband and dined at Local 127 for the first time this evening. We both enjoyed the atmosphere, which reminded us of a lot of NYC restaurants – busy and on the noisy side with rather close seating arrangements but still comfortable.
Service was a bit of a backward roller-​coaster ride; it was quick at the beginning and sluggish at the end. However, our server was always friendly.
My husband had the special, which happened to be tile fish. It was good, but not great. I had the Porkopolis that so many have raved about. The pork loin was very good, the sausage was good, and the pork belly was okay. We split the cheesecake for dessert. I found it to be overly sweet (and I love sweet).
In the end, I left thinking that it was a good experience, but it was not simply one of those meals from which I walk away thinking, «Damn, now that was worth a hundred bucks!»

I’m a foodie by love of trying new places, so I was drawn to local 127 in passing. The wait staff is wonderful! You’d feel like a queen with their attention to detail. The ambiance is trendy, cincinnatian with our love of pigs and history. The selection of wine and local beer (several locals on tap as well) provided is a nice variety.
The entrees were a little steep in price for the quality of the food. Each dish we ordered had great attention to detail in presentation and the food was cooked to order. My only complaint is the grissel on my scallops however, it wasn’t bad enough not to finish my meal.
The food was acceptable but nothing I would write home about or strongly suggest to impress those out of town visitors. The atmosphere is better. I would consider local 127 a good place for a beer and a bar plate (appetizer)

Solid for a nice, semi-​splurge lunch.
There’s something for every taste and appetite on the lunch menu. That said, I don’t think I would ever crave their food i.e. they don’t have that ONE dish that everyone raves about and that keeps drawing people back time and time again (think pulled pork sandwich at Eli’s). But you can be sure to find a delicious, well-​presented meal here. In other words, they have mastered the corporate client lunch. I’m sure they see a lot of visiting suits and ties especially given their convenient location downtown.
Casual, unpretentious atmosphere. I enjoyed my salmon with lentils (oh did I mention healthy or did you figure that out already? :)) Apparently their burgers are good and so are the ham & cheese sandwiches. The butternut squash soup, I hear, is gush-​worthy. They are known for the cheesecake, which comes deconstructed in a mason jar. Overall we enjoyed our food, but I remember our conversation more than the food, which means it didn’t quite steal the show.

This has always been a local favorite. Unique dishes throughout the menu. Was really excited to meet a business acquaintance for lunch. Let’s start, shall we?
The wait staff was great. Friendly, jovial… even a bit flirtatious. All good stuff.
So I ordered my meal. Got a salad, soup and the pork belly bites. I mean come on… pork belly. Basically the best thing ever invented. But I am going to be honest. I was really not that impressed with the meal. It almost made me wonder if they spent all of their time on the creative part of a dish and forgot to taste the food. The salad was bad. So bad in fact I would remove it from the menu (chop chicken salad). Bland and void of any seasoning. The soup, which I was REALLY excited for (celery root) had way too much cream, not enough seasoning and was lukewarm. Finally on to my beloved pork belly. It was just bad. The pork had almost a «too old» taste to it that became even more pronounced by the preparation (deep fried).
Bottom line, I was sad. Really sad… Local 127 has always been one of my favorite places. If I were evaluating the service, I would have given a 4 star, but the food was so bad, it warranted taking two off. And if it hadn’t been a business lunch, I think I would have sent the food back.

We went to Local 127 for dinner on a recent trip to Cincinnati based on recommendations of friends who live in town as well as the stellar Unilocal reviews. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
I loved the locally sourced menu and could definitely taste the quality of the ingredients. I had the butternut squash soup which was so creamy and the toasted hazelnuts on top provided the perfect crunch to elevate the soup to the next level. I also had a side of macaroni and cheese which was delicious as well.
My husband had the Porkopolis — different types of pork over cheesy grits and he kept saying he was full, but he kept eating it anyway!
As far as the service goes, it was exceptional. Our waiter was knowledgeable, kind and did a great job describing the dishes to us.
I’ve recommended Local 127 to multiple friends and I can’t wait to go back.

Like others, this is also a phenomenal restaurant in Cincinnati. One of the best meals in a unique place! My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night for a date night and the vibe was great– trendy and low-​key. I had the fizzy gin cocktail to begin with the roasted beets appetizer. This was a great way to begin the dinner– their specialty cocktails and appetizers are very flavorful and light.
On a side note, throughout the meal, the service was just above and beyond. The waitress was sweet and all the waiters were very approachable, which always makes the meal enjoyable. I also liked that we were far enough from other tables so I didn’t feel hesitant to converse as much.
We proceeded to order the duck dish and meatloaf. I might add that I’m not a heavy meat eater and was a little skeptical at first but both dishes were delicious. The duck was tender and the meatloaf, very flavorful. They replaced the mushrooms for me and it was still a great meal.
Didn’t have dessert but they gave two little cookies at the end! I can’t wait to go back– even if it’s just for a few drinks. Also, the portion sizes are large enough to share and take leftovers back.

Ambience is very nice though menu is a bit short.
Appetizers had such «things» as duck necks. I would like to say I’m adventurous, but, maybe not so much.
I ordered the scallops and my friend ordered meatloaf. The presentation was eye-​catching and the portions just right — not massive. I loved my scallops. I had a bite of the meatloaf and have to say it was quite tasty (which I’m pretty particular about as it is comfort food and best done at home).
One minor complaint — our server came over to brush off crumbs on the table from cornbread muffins while we were still dining. Yes, yes, I am aware that upscale restaurants do this but I’d rather be able to have a conversation with my dinnermate without fuss and interference, thank you very much.

Note: the 5 stars assume you’re a foodie willing to pay over $ 20 for a great meal
My friends and I tried Local 127 out after I found it on my searches for restaurants using fresh, local ingredients. I must admit that we almost walked out after seeing the menu — only 6 or so entrees, each costing over $ 20. And based on the fancy descriptions, we expected the portions to be small as well. But we stayed (largely because it was pouring down rain), and I’m glad we did.
We all got something different, and we all LOVED the food. It was so unique, fresh, and flavorful. Definitely the best meal I’ve had in a long time. I will definitely be going back. It’s certainly expensive, but the food is truly an experience you won’t find elsewhere (innovative and of great quality), and you really do get a lot. I also like supporting local businesses who really add to the community.
Some things I really liked (aside from the amazing food):
— The chef was flexible. He made a vegetarian dish for my friend and substituted a vegetable for me since I try to minimize carbs. And they weren’t just quick swap-​outs: the results were totally new, fabulous dishes
— The serving sizes were a nice surprise. I brought some food home, and my friends said they wish they had — that they ate it all because it was so yummy but were uncomfortably full.
— The amazing muffins before dinner and the chocolate chip cookies after were very pleasant surprises
— When they boxed up my leftovers, they included every last drop. I usually ask to box the food up myself — because many places just drop the meat in a box, leaving behind vegetables and sauces.

Found this place through Unilocaler of Cincinnatti.
Food: I ordered the chef tasting platter; the waiter walked through the dish and explained everything; rabbit tourraine, pork tourraine, smoked trout, smoked confetti wing. All good and taste great but the platter portion size is too small for $ 14 dish… Really one piece of wing in the entire platter?! — ³⁄₅ It was a bit over priced appetizer
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Got the lamb duo w shiitake mushroom– great dish, it had a bit sweet and salty sauce mixture cooked w the mushroom. The lamb meat balls were very seasoned. I wish this dish had a bit more lamb chops rather than 4 small pieces. Overall, it’s great dish — again wish the portion was a bit bigger with more shittake mushroom for $ 27 dish. ⁴⁄₅ Overall for the food, its quality and its prices is a 3.5÷5
Good services– ⁴⁄₅; the waiters and his helpers explained everything throughly. the restaurant was full with customers. I have no complain because the service was quick and fast. Servers were very knowledgeable.
Atmosphere — Small cozy local place. Very cool modern layout; except for that weird pic of a can of sweet peas … anyhow, overall decent open space place.. ⁴⁄₅
Overall the restaurant is well managed, a bit over priced, but it does have a great quality of food.

Great food, and even though the area is smaller, the noise level stays down enough that you can hear yourself.
Our server was really friendly and helpful about making suggestions and pairings. We split some of our plates and they were really accommodating about that.
The charcuterie plate is not to be missed!

One of the best meals I’ve had this year, and that’s saying a lot cuz I’ve eaten every day this year, ha ha. No seriously, I had the meatloaf ($ 21) and it was ridiculously good. I know that the price is rather high, but for a special occasion, I would heartily recommend 127. I aslo complimented my ‘loaf with a cocktail from the bar. The Bourbon Flip — Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Lemon, Sugar, Egg, Stout ($ 10) If you like bourbon and a hint of stout, this will be a nice beverage for you. While I was waiting, a nice server dropped off a complimentary cornbread muffin which was a nice surprise.
I was rolling solo and w/​out reservation so I sat at the bar and this was fine although the bar height makes you look a little silly when you cut your food. No biggie. Check this place out and I hope you have a great an experience as I did.
*I hear the desserts are to die for so I’ll have to grab one the next time.

After several more visits to the (not so) new location on Vine Street, my review rating continues it’s slow slide to now 2 stars. Prices are high, but I haven’t had anything that really impressed me in the last few visits, so they’re no longer worth it. Also, the length of time it takes to dine there is absolutely ridiculous – I haven’t gotten out of there in under 3.5 hours for dinner yet. They make a point of asking if you have any «time restrictions» when you make a reservation and I mentioned that several of us had babysitters we needed to get back for, but either that wasn’t a good enough reason or there’s really no difference no matter what you say because service was painfully slow.
I got the steak special last time ($ 34 for ribeye) and it was fairly good, but I’ve certainly had many better steaks for the price (and less). I should have known to request otherwise by this point, but didn’t and the steak came out pre-​sliced – something I have no idea why they do – so the meat is stone cold after a bite or two. Entrée sides are more like garnishes and the a la carte sides are $ 7 each. Also, the servers are trained to explain each entrée AFTER it has been delivered, a perplexing practice that is unnecessary and rather annoying. I already ordered it, I don’t need an explanation, it’s finally in front of me, I just want to eat it now!
There are a few nice touches: a yummy complimentary corn muffin to start and mini chocolate chip cookie per person with the check. But all in all, I want more bang for my dining dollar for a $ 100+ per couple meal.

Jessica and I had dinner here on Monday night and it exceeded all my expectations. We made reservations that afternoon for an early dinner at 6:30. Thankfully we had reservations b/​c they were turning people away at the door as they were fully booked. You know a restaurant’s doing something right when they can sell out on a Monday.
We chose this restaurant because they allow you to bring personal wines — for a $ 25 corkage fee. As the long as the wine retails for more than $ 50, I consider that to be a very good deal. We have a boatload of Nickel&Nickel and Far Niente (my favorite wine club) — and don’t cook nearly well enough to rationalize opening those bottles at home, so this is a nice way to do it.
The service was fantastic… very professional, timely but unobtrusive, and knowledgeable beyond belief. I enjoyed hearing the back-​story on where the duck breast was farmed, how they source their scallops, etc. The food was phenomenal, as expected. We started with the smoked trout, which I’d strongly recommend. Next was the grits — also a good choice. For entrees, we went with the scallops and the duck. Note that the online menu is not entirely current and some of the preparations have changed. Both entrees were absolutely amazing. For dessert, we had the sour cream cheesecake — served deconstructed in a mason jar. It was fantastic.
I’d been meaning to try Local 127 for some time now. It’s convenient for those of us that live downtown and you might even get lucky enough to snag a parking spot right in front of the restaurant as we did. The food is amazing and the service couldn’t have been better. The pace of the meal is perfect if you’re trying to savor a romantic date or linger through a business meeting, but it might be too slow for children or people in a rush. We were there for almost 3 hours.

They sure are creative — I wonder if their chef has been on any reality tv cooking shows! Chopped, maybe?
To take the same ingredients over and over and innovate constantly into a dish and an experience that makes it a pleasure to dine sure takes some skills!
The only one star they didn’t earn was service — because it was SOOOO slow!

If you are downtown and looking for a consistently great meal, there’s nowhere else I can recommend than Local 127 … it’s just, good.
The food, the service, the atmosphere all make for such a great meal. It’s a beautifully decorated space with comfortable seating. Even though the tables are perhaps a little close together (and you sometimes feel like you’re sitting right next to a stranger), it’s still very easy to have an intimate meal with friends and/​or date.
Wait, seriously, I have to stress that one again. On a date? This is a fantastic place. It’s cute and quiet and when you’re done with your meal, hop over to Tonic, the adjourning bar, and get an amazingly constructed cocktail. Yes, yes, yes.
What Local127 really has going for it is it’s push on local foods, especially local meat. It’s all grown and raised right here and you know it’s going to be quality — and it always is. Plus, they do cheesecake in a glass bottle for dessert, which is one of the stranger but more delicious things I’ve ever eaten.
The prices may be a tad bit to high, but it’s hard to argue with them when the food and the experience are just so good.