Located at Tryp by Wyndham in Barsha Heights, Local is the hotel's main restaurant which offers a fresh, modern vibe. With a "Keep it Real" philosophy, they cater to all palates with their rustic, gastro-pub style menu and drinks.
Mark and I came in for dinner. There were quite a few diners when we arrived, mostly families and couples. Other guests started coming in for some drinks later that night.
After going through the menu, which was presented in a daily newspaper format, we finally placed our orders. We started off with some alcoholic drinks and veggie crisps, along with complimentary bread. Mark, as usual, got Jaeger Bomb while I tried the Rum Punch (rum, tropical juices, and grenadine).
Except for the kale crisps which I found a little too oily, I enjoyed every bit of their Homemade Veggie Crisps. It had a variety of fresh thinly sliced potatoes, sweet potatoes, beetroot, and kale that's deep fried and served with pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole.
I loved the sweet potato and beetroot chips! All three dips were a perfect match for each crisp, but the guac is my favorite!
We skipped the salads and went straight to the mains. Mark had steak while I had braised short ribs.
I love how beautifully presented the Steak and Fries was–beef slices laid on a bed of thick cut skin-on fries, and is topped with garden salad and cheese shavings, drizzled with a combination of steak sauce and vinaigrette. The most chic looking steak and fries that I've had, if I may add.
Steak eaters would hate me for this, but I always shy away when I still see that pink part on steaks. Mark had it cooked medium well, and though it still had some pink parts, I love how there was no trace of raw taste at all. I also love how tender the beef was.
While Mark's steak looked fab and all, the Braised Short Rib came in a no-frills serving of mash and rib, with a honey-glazed guava slice and drizzle of what I recall as somewhat tangy oil/sauce on the side. I was starting to think that I really suck at choosing orders (Mark always gets the more delicious dish), until I ran my fork through the ribs. It was fall-off-the-bone tender! And the taste? A little sour, sweet, and salty, with a hint of BBQ flavor. Aaaah!
It may not be the most beautiful looking dish but It. Tasted. Divine! Oh and I loved that honey-glazed guava. The smooth mash also tastes good, I want a little chunkiness on my mash though.
We had another round of drinks, Mark still got the same while I opted for the Pornstar Martini (passion fruit liquor, vodka, lime, passion fruit seeds, and sugar syrup) to go with our desserts.
Mark chose our desserts–Chocolate Mousse Kunafa and Chef Souman's Great Ball of Fire. The Chocolate Mousse Kunafa is a ground pistachio-topped crispy dome of vermicelli covering a rich chocolate mousse. Mark and I loved this one! Perfect for kunafa and chocolate lovers!
I was anticipating the lighting up of the Chef Souman's Great Ball of Fire, however, the staff's lighter wasn't cooperative that time; he had a hard time putting it on fire. After a few tries, he just poured the liquor over and said that he will just change it and do it again or at least that's what I heard him say.
We waited for a few minutes but no replacement came, another staff checked if we needed anything, though, but I don't think he understood what I said. So I just shrugged it off and we just dug into the dessert. Inside the ball is a tiramisu (if my palates served me right). It tasted okay but the alcohol was a little too overpowering. I think it would taste differently had the chocolate ball been melted and infused with alcohol.
Apart from the booboo with the dessert, service was generally okay–prompt serving time and courteous and attentive staff.
Mark and I actually had opposing views when it comes to the restaurant's ambience. I find its unpretentious, local eatery style very apt since, I believe, Local wants to exude that contemporary yet homey feel for its diners–one that's ideal for dining as well as sundowners; for a good family feast or catch up with friends.
Mark, on the other hand, thinks that:
"a grander or more chic interiors would do the trick especially since they serve food that is impressive in taste, quality, and presentation".Woah, big words! I think someone's gonna overthrow me from my 'blogging throne'! Hahaha!
Watch: Local at Tryp by Wyndham
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LOCAL
Ground Floor, TRYP by Wyndham Dubai
Al Saef 1 Street, Barsha Heights
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
+971 (0)4 457 3715
localdxb.com
We were invited to try Local and our meal was complimentary, but this post is not influenced nor paid for. Opinions on this blog post are my own.
All photos were taken with an iPhone 6S Plus.
Kriska Marie
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