Ballston Local is not just a restaurant; it's a beacon of culinary delight, casting a warm and welcoming glow over the neighborhood. With its super friendly service and an atmosphere as inviting as a family gathering, this spot is a testament to the joy of shared plates and hearty conversations.Our culinary journey at Ballston Local was nothing short of a gastronomic festival, celebrating the finest in casual dining with a twist of sophistication. The Mama's Meatballs, nestled in herbed ricotta and accompanied by perfectly grilled garlic bread, were so tender and flavorful as if every bite whispers a secret recipe passed down through generations, served with a dollop of love.The Caprese Crostini was a symphony of flavors, harmonizing the saltiness of prosciutto with the freshness of tomato and arugula, all elevated by a drizzle of balsamic reduction that danced on the palate. It wasn't just an appetizer; it was an aria, sung by the ingredients in perfect pitch.Pizza lovers, rejoice, for the Sausage & Roni Pizza is a masterpiece of dough, cheese, and cured meats. The blend of pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil was a testament to the power of simple ingredients coming together to create something magical. Each slice was a ticket to an Italian countryside.The Italian Pork Store Special sandwich was a hearty homage to the classic Italian deli experience, with layers of prosciutto, sopressatta, ham, and fresh mozzarella, accented by roasted peppers and arugula, then kissed with vinaigrette. It was a hearty handheld feast that transported us straight to the streets of Rome, one savory bite at a time.And then, there was the Blumont Burger, a burger behemoth that stood tall and proud. The caramelized onions, gorgonzola, arugula, and bacon came together in a beautiful, messy, glorious union, all slathered in burger sauce that could only be described as "nectar of the gods." It was the kind of burger that demands your attention, commanding the stage with the poise of a seasoned actor. I'm not usually a fan of blue cheeses, but I would come back for this.The beverage menu at Ballston Local was a parade of liquid joy. From a beer and wine list that is both satisfying and inviting to a fun and tasty cocktail menu that sparked conversation and laughter like the "Spa Day" made with gin, lavender simple syrup, and lime juice sparkling with gold flakes, every sip was a celebration of good taste and great company.Overall, Ballston Local, in essence, is more than a restaurant--It's a place where every dish is a discovery, every drink a delight, and every visit a return to a place where you're always welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Thomson
Came here to watch March madness and they turned off an elite 8 game on all tv's in the middle of the second half. We asked twice to put the game back on and they could not figure out how to get it back on and left karate on in its place. The employees didn't seem to have any clue what March madness was. This is definitely not a sports bar.Food and drinks were decent but I would never return to watch sports.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Phoenix Cox
Great food and music !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan Burr
The best pizza in Arlington! Great cocktails and a fun vibe. All delivered by an amazing staff.
I had the classic double burger and it was so good! The cheese was melted perfectly, the bacon was great, but the highlight was the bun! It was soooo soft. The only drawback were the skinny fries. They were fried really hard and just weren't enjoyable. They were also a bit salty. I'll try the waffle fries next time. They had live music, which I'm not much of a fan of, but he was really good so it wasn't too bad
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
AJ Brodsky
A wonderful place to watch some sports and have a drink with friends. Great menu with a wide variety of food options. Personal best choices are the bang bang shrimp, the cheese curds, and the short rib grilled cheese.Also, Wednesday night trivia is so fun! The trivia host is so energetic and engages the whole crowd. The prizes are great and make for a competitive night!
Had a great time here. Really chill place to hang out and eat. The carne pizza and short rib poutine were excellent. The pizza had a nice spice to it. Need to go back to try the short rib grilled cheese. Super friendly and helpful staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
S
short version: great beer selection, okay bar food, pretty pricey outside of happy hour and game day specials.I finally tried this place with my boyfriend and left pretty underwhelmed. the food (slice of pizza and nachos) were decent. barely any meat on the nachos but whatever. beer selection was great, cocktails were mediocre and expensive (welcome to Arlington ?). good service, though, and chill vibes.all in all, it was $80 for nachos, a slice of pizza, and 3 drinks. their happy hour and game day specials looked much more promising, so we might be back for that, but probably not full price service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Benjamin Wojtasik
Such a good time. Great food, great drinks, and the karaoke was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Lynch
Can't beat cheese curds, especially when they are fried. Solid pizza, bar staff very attentive and
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer Follis
Good food, fast friendly service, and great atmosphere. The poutine, cheese curds, wings, and baller nachos were all good. But for the Baller Nachos, I would suggest that they layer the toppings instead of putting them all on top in the middle of the giant plate of chips, still good though.Also, the trivia game 'GeeksWhoDrink Classic', was a lot of fun too even though my team 'FAFO' did not do very well! ?
Ballston Local is not just a restaurant; it's a beacon of culinary delight, casting a warm and welcoming glow over the neighborhood. With its super friendly service and an atmosphere as inviting as a family gathering, this spot is a testament to the joy of shared plates and hearty conversations.Our culinary journey at Ballston Local was nothing short of a gastronomic festival, celebrating the finest in casual dining with a twist of sophistication. The Mama's Meatballs, nestled in herbed ricotta and accompanied by perfectly grilled garlic bread, were so tender and flavorful as if every bite whispers a secret recipe passed down through generations, served with a dollop of love.The Caprese Crostini was a symphony of flavors, harmonizing the saltiness of prosciutto with the freshness of tomato and arugula, all elevated by a drizzle of balsamic reduction that danced on the palate. It wasn't just an appetizer; it was an aria, sung by the ingredients in perfect pitch.Pizza lovers, rejoice, for the Sausage & Roni Pizza is a masterpiece of dough, cheese, and cured meats. The blend of pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil was a testament to the power of simple ingredients coming together to create something magical. Each slice was a ticket to an Italian countryside.The Italian Pork Store Special sandwich was a hearty homage to the classic Italian deli experience, with layers of prosciutto, sopressatta, ham, and fresh mozzarella, accented by roasted peppers and arugula, then kissed with vinaigrette. It was a hearty handheld feast that transported us straight to the streets of Rome, one savory bite at a time.And then, there was the Blumont Burger, a burger behemoth that stood tall and proud. The caramelized onions, gorgonzola, arugula, and bacon came together in a beautiful, messy, glorious union, all slathered in burger sauce that could only be described as "nectar of the gods." It was the kind of burger that demands your attention, commanding the stage with the poise of a seasoned actor. I'm not usually a fan of blue cheeses, but I would come back for this.The beverage menu at Ballston Local was a parade of liquid joy. From a beer and wine list that is both satisfying and inviting to a fun and tasty cocktail menu that sparked conversation and laughter like the "Spa Day" made with gin, lavender simple syrup, and lime juice sparkling with gold flakes, every sip was a celebration of good taste and great company.Overall, Ballston Local, in essence, is more than a restaurant--It's a place where every dish is a discovery, every drink a delight, and every visit a return to a place where you're always welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here to watch March madness and they turned off an elite 8 game on all tv's in the middle of the second half. We asked twice to put the game back on and they could not figure out how to get it back on and left karate on in its place. The employees didn't seem to have any clue what March madness was. This is definitely not a sports bar.Food and drinks were decent but I would never return to watch sports.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Great food and music !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best pizza in Arlington! Great cocktails and a fun vibe. All delivered by an amazing staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baller Nachos, Wings, Italian Pork Sandwich, Mama's Meatballs, Poutine
Good!!
I had the classic double burger and it was so good! The cheese was melted perfectly, the bacon was great, but the highlight was the bun! It was soooo soft. The only drawback were the skinny fries. They were fried really hard and just weren't enjoyable. They were also a bit salty. I'll try the waffle fries next time. They had live music, which I'm not much of a fan of, but he was really good so it wasn't too bad
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
A wonderful place to watch some sports and have a drink with friends. Great menu with a wide variety of food options. Personal best choices are the bang bang shrimp, the cheese curds, and the short rib grilled cheese.Also, Wednesday night trivia is so fun! The trivia host is so energetic and engages the whole crowd. The prizes are great and make for a competitive night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baller Nachos, Philly Cheese Steak
Relaxing place to have a drink.
Very pleasantly surprised by the food! We expected typical bar food but everything we've tried has been very good. The Hokie BLT is amazing!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place to be with your friends. Great food and friendly staffs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Had a great time here. Really chill place to hang out and eat. The carne pizza and short rib poutine were excellent. The pizza had a nice spice to it. Need to go back to try the short rib grilled cheese. Super friendly and helpful staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
short version: great beer selection, okay bar food, pretty pricey outside of happy hour and game day specials.I finally tried this place with my boyfriend and left pretty underwhelmed. the food (slice of pizza and nachos) were decent. barely any meat on the nachos but whatever. beer selection was great, cocktails were mediocre and expensive (welcome to Arlington ?). good service, though, and chill vibes.all in all, it was $80 for nachos, a slice of pizza, and 3 drinks. their happy hour and game day specials looked much more promising, so we might be back for that, but probably not full price service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Such a good time. Great food, great drinks, and the karaoke was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Can't beat cheese curds, especially when they are fried. Solid pizza, bar staff very attentive and
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good food, fast friendly service, and great atmosphere. The poutine, cheese curds, wings, and baller nachos were all good. But for the Baller Nachos, I would suggest that they layer the toppings instead of putting them all on top in the middle of the giant plate of chips, still good though.Also, the trivia game 'GeeksWhoDrink Classic', was a lot of fun too even though my team 'FAFO' did not do very well! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wings