The Local- 1391 Washington Street, West Newton, MA

So if you haven't noticed...I haven't posted a recipe in a month or so. Well, sorry guys, its summer where my main priorities include eating out, going to the beach and drinking beer. Let's face it- there is nothing fun about cooking when its 90 degrees outside. No thanks. So I spend my nights eating chicken salad sandwiches, chowing on BLTs with extra bacon on the side (duh) or planning out my next restaurant attack.

So on this awesome Thursday that is like a Friday (i love when that happens), we celebrated the long weekend by kicking it off at the Local in Newton, MA. The Local is known as one of the best restaurants in Newton for its cool bar atmoshere and dynamite food. They breakdown their menu in my favorite way possible, having TWO categories of apps- "Snack things" and "Small things". We ordered the house potato chips with warm onion dip and the Parmesan truffle fries. Both were UNREAL and you NEED to get them if you go! The house chips were salty and crispy and tasted bomb.com with that onion dip and the fries were a good medium sized fry doused in truffle oil and parm cheese. The portions were awesome, and these two apps were perfect for a party of 3!

 

 

For meals, Jake and Brenna got the special flatbread of the night-chicken, bacon ranch, and I (clearly obsessed with truffle oil) got the mushroom and truffle mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was made with a totally different pasta than I had expected or ever seen before in mac and cheese. I looked it up and google says its called ditali rigati. The sauce wasn't overly cheesy but had a really good combo of cream, truffle oil and cheese. The shrooms were also tender and flavorful. I got about halfway through, and since it was an early dinner, I accepted the fact that I would plan on finishing it at around 8pm.... T minus 1 hour 29 minutes and counting :)

 

Since chicken, bacon, ranch is a common "thing" now- I think we really  need to recognize whoever decided to put these three impeccable flavors together. You are truly a foody Picasso. 

 

Sidenote: This might not look like much pasta, but this bowl ran DEEP - and so did my love and affection for it.

 

This is definitely one of those places that you recommend to anyone coming to the area. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and most importantly, REALLY good food!