• Pre Fixe Pre Theatre Dinner $30.00
  • Gnocchi in Parmesan Fondue
  • Wood Fired Swordfish with Pancetta and Sundried Tomatoes
  • Brownie with Roasted Banana Ice Cream

Charming, romantic and gastronomically amazing.

This restaurant was wonderful, from the door we walked into right through the check. What a wonderful atmosphere, the lights were dim, candles on every table, beautiful woodwork, the list just goes on and on.

I could have just sat there and enjoyed the ambiance and have been perfectly happy. But that was not enough for the folks at the local, they were also going to impress me with a meal that fit the surroundings. To begin with the bread... a part of the meal that so many restaurants seem to overlook. I would have been happy just munching on this bread with the wonderful chive butter that accompanied it, but fate had far more in store for me.

I began with the gnocchi with a parmesan fondue and chive oil. It was beyond words. The gnocchi melted in my mouth. The cheese sauce adding to the luxuriousness of the melting gnocchi. It was one of the best appetizers I have had.

Then the swordfish. It was wood fired to absolute perfection. It sat in a sauce, a broth really, of pancetta and sundried tomatoes. It was very light and very delicate...enough to compliment the fish, but not overpower it.

I was almost afraid to have dessert. How could it ever compare to the rest of the meal? But I gave into the tempting choices and had the Roasted Banana Brownie. Again what a dish. Beautiful presentation, the brownie was the best I have ever had, the roasted banana ice cream gave Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey a run for its money. This was heaven.

All of this was amazing and best of all worth way more that what I paid for it. The restaurant offers a pre theater pre fixe meal which includes a first course, entree and dessert for a pittance. I would recommend if you are going to the theater in Minneapolis, stop here for dinner. I know we will be here as often as we can be.

• Pre Fixe Pre Theatre Dinner $30.00
  • Beet and Radicchio Salad
  • Celery Root Ravioli
  • Pecan Tart with Rum Ice Cream

Sometimes its one annoying thing about an otherwise excellent restaurant that you remember. Everything else can be perfect, but you remember the one exception. At the local, the exception was that we showed up at 5:15 PM for a 5:30 PM reservation. No big deal. They weren't ready to seat us, and we went to the bar to wait. After a quick, but expensive round, we went back to the hostess between 5:25 PM and 5:30 PM. Normally, it wouldn't bother me, but we had 8:00 PM theater thickets. They still weren't ready to seat us. So I stewed for another ten minutes until I could see they were seating others, then we were seated.

Everything else was indeed perfect. My Beet and Radicchio Salad had a wonderful flavor. The Celery Root Ravioli was innovative and prepared well. Yes, I probably should have ordered the Beef Tenderloin. Maybe next time. The Pecan Tart with curiously strong Rum Ice Cream was also excellent.

Even in this price range, The Local qualifies as an excellent restaurant. And the pre fixe meal with theater tickets is a genuine bargain. Now, if I could just simmer down.