Pick of the Month: Local on North
Downtown location hosts popular spot for the best in food
AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER
Pick of the Month:
Local on North
Downtown Canton is an area that we have been exploring for a while now. We have developed a love for many of the restaurants of which there are a surprising number for a small town-and not just the fast-food kind either.
There are a number of high quality, consistently good eating spots that offer lunch and dinner and one of our latest favorites is Local on North. They keep a low profile and are not always included in lists for the city so you might not have heard about them yet.
Local on North is listed as well as a few other great spots
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LOCATION
Located in the historic downtown district at 170 North Street, this contemporary farmhouse favorite is family owned and operated, paying homage to the North Georgia regions of food, design and service to use their own words. What this means to you, is the delivery of consistently great food with a super ambiance that is both fun and satisfying.
We usually make a run down to the area when we have errands and/or appointments and try to make a late lunch as this normally ensures just a few tables left before the busy dinner crowd takes over. They never make you feel rushed or like they want to set up either, so you can take your time and relax with that signature cocktail or glass of wine.
COCKTAILs & First Courses
There are some very good wines to choose from on their menu. We started with a glass of Pinot Grigio from California and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Both were crisp, tasty and affordable at $10 and $9 a glass respectively. They also had some lovely choices from France, Spain and Italy along with a fabulous Riesling from Germany. If you prefer a red, I usually stick with the Malbec from Argentina because it goes well with most everything on the menu.
Lovely white wine selection with a fried goat cheese croquette
While we have visited this place several times, we normally get the same thing for our first course to share and that is the fried goat cheese croquettes. It is hard to describe just how delicious this dish is. The balance of flavors and textures are simple perfection. The breading is crispy and the fry makes the light airy warm cheese just melt in your mouth.
But that’s not all. They sit it atop a spill of their handmade tomato jam, a streak of balsamic reduction and a drizzle of lemon vinaigrette with micro greens. I’ve never had croquettes as good as the ones they put in front of you time and time again. Trust me. You gotta try this dish.
second COURSEs
You should pay attention to the blackboard where you will find the soup of the day and the chef’s specials. Sometimes a duck plate will make you decide to steer away from the small plates menu you might otherwise have chosen.
Beautiful bowl of tomato bisque with homemade croutons
The soups offer up seasonal goodness like a roasted tomato basil with homemade croutons and cracked black pepper. Thick and sweet with the taste of produce freshly grown and picked, this soup was so good on the rainy day we visited. If not a tomato lover, go for the made right onion soup which is just their take on the official French version, but it is oh so delicious with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese instead of the usual tasteless swiss that most incorporate.
third COURSE
Back to the starter plate choices, you might go for the bang bang shrimp with its delicious sweet chili sauce and lemon aioli or the P.E.I. mussels with shallots, garlic and white wine sauce. Both are wonderful but you really cannot believe the meatballs in this restaurant.
Some of the best meatballs you will ever have with the perfect dipper
They are so good, the'y’ll make you wanna slap your grandma cause these are not your grandma’s meatballs. Wild mushrooms, organic veal, goat cheese and marsala sauce come together with the perfect toasted dipping bread, making these some of the best meatballs you will ever put in your mouth. This is not a dish I normally order but it is a favorite of my husbands and the first time I took him up on the offer to try them….well lets just say the angels sang!
You don’t have to stick to the starter’s menu. They do offer several super salads that you can add your protein to for an extra cost as well as entrees that give you beef, chicken and seafood to choose from. You can also order several different types of tacos, sandwiches and four different pizzas from the lunch and dinner menus. There is also a pretty super Sunday brunch menu as well with mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar.
dessert
We usually leave room for dessert even at lunch in this restaurant. If for no other reason, among the four or five choices they give you, all from a Southern point of view, the creme brulee is the best on offer. The custard is just the right thickness and slightly warm with sugar freshly broiled and a nice little sprinkle of powdered sugar and a fresh juicy strawberry on top. Perfect ending to share after any meal.
Perfect finish with a classic creme brulee
SPECIAL EVENTS & CATERING
A word about special events and catering as this is a lovely spot to book a rehearsal dinner, a corporate affair or a family reunion. The spaces lend themselves to a variety of themes and styles easily while seating up to 100 people and the set menu choices will make everyone very happy with three to five courses available.
WEEKEND MUSIC
I like sitting at the bar on the weekends at Local. They offer music of all kinds every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. It’s a nice spot to hang and order some of their signature cocktails like a blood orange old fashioned, a mezcal bramble, blueberry cosmopolitan or a French martini.
This will give you a good idea of what to expect too
CONCLUSION
I have given you several different reasons why this place is one of our new favorites. You can plan a function, hang out with great drinks and music on the weekends and pop in for lunch or a very nice date night dinner anytime during the week. Get over there and try it for yourself soon!
If you enjoyed what you read, you might also enjoy other posts under Edible Fare. There you will find restaurant reviews, recipes, foodie tips and best spots to eat in a variety of cities. I also put emphasis on food experiences in my travel posts under Explore the World. Check out the next post from one of my adventure loving Guest Bloggers from a trip to Africa. Until next time…
Cheers!
ArtsyChowRoamer
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