Local Table: Our First Look Review

The Woodlands now has its own branch of the popular Local Table restaurant group. Local Table is an upscale casual American concept with a bit of a Greek accent. It’s owned by the family that founded Hungry’s, the Houston landmark in Rice Village.

The Location

Local Table has selected an airy, expansive setting on Research Forest at Technology Forest, in the Technology Plaza center. It’s definitely family friendly: A safely enclosed playground area is right at the front of the property, with seating nearby for watchful parents.

The location has plenty of seating both inside and out, and includes a room for private dining. Unlike many restaurants at its price point, Local Table is a full service restaurant; no standing in line to order your food.

The dining room is divided into several areas with relaxing neutral tones and comfortable mid-century furniture. The vibe of the place is friendly and inviting. Service is knowledgable and enthusiastic, yet not overbearing.

The Food

We sampled several dishes on a couple of visits. We really enjoyed the Cast Iron Baked Goat Cheese starter, a healthy dollop of fresh goat cheese dressed with crumbled candied walnuts, dried apricots, and crushed red pepper. The crunchy toasted baguette was up to the task to transport the deliciousness.

But the star of the starter show is the Ahi Tuna Tartare. Cubes of freshly cut ahi are drizzled with a gently sweet Asian sesame glaze, and served with homestyle crisps atop a very good guacamole. The flavors melded beautifully, and we devoured every morsel on the plate.

After the excellent apps, we dug into some handheld dishes. Knowing the family’s reputation for Greek cuisine at Hungry’s, we couldn’t pass up the Gyros Pita with Hand-Cut Fries. A fresh, pillowy pita was wrapped around beautifully seasoned lamb and beef, and dressed with the de rigueur tzatziki sauce. The result was a somewhat petite gyro with a superb flavor; the fries were well prepared and skin on.

The Cheeseburger Americana is Local Table’s spin on a classic cheeseburger, and it’s exactly what you’d expect. Kudos to the kitchen for cooking it precisely to the requested medium rare; far too many restaurants can’t seem to get this right.

We think Local Table is a great addition to the Woodlands dining scene. The concept, the vibe, the price point, and the food will all resonate with Woodlands families looking for another spot to add to their regular rotation. We felt particularly welcome; they’ve installed a large TWTX art piece on the back wall of the restaurant.

You like us! You really like us! We like you too. Welcome to the Woodands!