With secondhand furniture, wood-toned walls and classic diner dishes, The Local is a neighborhood Americana- and tavern-inspired dining experience in South Austin.

How it started

A little over a year ago, owner and operator Nate Wales began toying with the idea of opening a restaurant. He and his wife, Tiff Wales, have experience in the hospitality industry working in restaurants, hotels and events.

Nate Wales said the concept of The Local didn’t come to him until he had talked to the realtor about a space for lease next to JuiceLand on Brodie Lane. He said he thought about what their neighborhood was missing.

“Wanting a great glass of wine, a properly made cocktail or Americana-style breakfast, great biscuits, things like that, The Local sort of sprouted,” Wales said. “I wasn't shopping around with this idea of The Local and finding the right space. It was literally born from our neighborhood.”
The Local has a full bar menu with wine, beer and cocktails.
The Local has a full bar menu with wine, beer and cocktails. (Courtesy Kelly Phillips)
The Local opened on Oct. 24, 2023, with the tagline “Morning, Noon and Night.” Wales said they wanted to create a comfortable, reliable and accessible place.


“We've both done the downtown experience of restaurants and hospitality, and it's just a different animal,” he said. “We wanted to take all this experience that we have and translate it to [South Austin]. At the same time, we want people to open the door and go, ‘Oh, okay, something thoughtful happened here.’”
Nate Wales said The Local takes classic dishes and adds more flavor. (Courtesy The Local)
Nate Wales said The Local takes classic dishes and adds more flavor. (Courtesy Louie Ayuma Photography)
The features

Wales said they spent a lot of time designing the restaurant to replicate the classic Americana diner and tavern he envisioned. The tables and chairs in The Local are from restaurant auctions and estate sales.

“There's a construction that's not done anymore,” Wales said. “You can replicate the style of furniture, but it's new and shiny and it’s not the same wood, and, you know, it's just not the same. I really wanted people to feel literally some of that age and craftsmanship from a different time.”
The Local's biscuits ($9) are made from scratch and served with whipped maple butter. (Courtesy The Local)
The Local's biscuits ($9) are made from scratch and served with whipped maple butter. (Courtesy Gaby Deimeke)
What’s on the menu

The restaurant’s atmosphere and food make guests feel welcome, Wales said. The Local serves brunch from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Menu favorites include the lemon ricotta pancakes, Monte Cristo sandwich and scratch-made biscuits.
The Monte Cristo sandwich ($16) has ham, turkey, gruyere, dijon mustard and raspberry preserves. (Courtesy The Local)
The Monte Cristo sandwich ($16) has ham, turkey, gruyere, dijon mustard and raspberry preserves. (Courtesy Louie Ayuma Photography)
In the afternoon, the tavern menu takes over, offering classics like fish and chips, BLTs and steak frites. The Local also offers a kids' menu and a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails.


Wales said they take classics and add more flavor and value. The bacon, for example, is candied, and the fries are always tossed in an herb mix of rosemary, thyme, sage and lemon.

“It's straightforward food,” Wales said. “But what we know is that we've added all these little layers to enhance [it]. Hopefully, the guests can taste it and recognize it and see some of the energy that we put into it.”