By A.V. Musick

Positioned just a few hundred feet apart, in the same shopping center, both Bistro 804 and The Local are often filled with suburban Tuckahoe-area moms and dads meeting up and enjoying classic American dishes. While Bistro 804 has been a staple for many Tuckahoe area families for a while, The Local is new to the scene and has quickly drawn a crowd.

No stranger to the restaurant business, owner of both Nader Hagez opened Bistro 804 in April 2020, seeing the desire for more restaurants in Henrico’s West End. Five years after the success of Bistro 804, Hagez noticed the demand for yet another restaurant in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center, at the intersection of Ridge and Forrest Roads. Shortly after the closing of the once-loved Cuban restaurant Kuba Kuba Dos, Hagez opened his new restaurant in the space. According to their website, The Local is a “local neighborhood kitchen” where guests can get “front-row seats to every big game,” seeing as there are a multitude of televisions sprinkled throughout the restaurant for watching live sports. 

When first walking into the restaurant, you may think you are back in Kuba Kuba Dos. To the infrequent visitor, the dark building and decorations appear to be exactly the same. Diners are met with dim lights and old, Spanish tile floors with old, dark booths. While the decorations may be bland, the staff certainly are not.

Kate Hogan (‘26), Riley Savedge (‘26), and I traveled five minutes down the road from our houses and met at The Local on a late, cold, October night for dinner. The weather did not seem to deter anyone from dining, as nearly every booth was filled, and the place was bustling with chatter. Despite the crowded dining room, service was excellent. Our server, Fabian, was incredibly attentive in refilling our drinks and ensuring that our food satisfied our palates. He never let conversation or Hogan’s Shirley Temple glass run dry.

In order to make the most of our visit and try a variety of items, Hogan, Savedge, and I shared nachos as an appetizer. While both presentation and taste were nothing special, the nachos did the job. They came covered in bright orange cheese, black bean and corn salsa, lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole. We collectively rated these a 7.5/10, docking points for their basic taste, average presentation, and relatively high price-to-quality ratio, at $13.00. 

For our main dishes, we were sure to order a wide variety of options. Savedge opted for the Kids Chicken Tenders ($10.00) with a side of Four Cheese Mac and Cheese. The presentation of the dish came out to be as put-together as chicken tenders and mac and cheese could be. According to Savedge, a tough food critic, the excellent presentation did not make up for the taste. She noted, “The mac and cheese is too cheesy, and the chicken tenders had a nice crunch when I bit into them, but without salt, they were almost flavorless.” However, she later acknowledged that with salt, the tenders tasted as delicious as restaurant-grade, most likely frozen, chicken tenders can taste. 

Branching out a tad more, I ordered the Grilled Chicken Tacos ($15.00). However, seeing as I am a picky eater, I requested them to be made without the pico de gallo and green cabbage. While my tacos may have been simply a corn tortilla, chicken, guacamole, and cheese, they were flavorful and rather tasty. Again, the sloppy, unintentional-looking presentation of the dish was not quite up to par, but in this case, the taste made up for its appearance. Overall, I would rate them an 8.5/10, with only docking points for tasting like any non-Mexican restaurant tacos in the area. 

On a more sophisticated note, Hogan and her refined palate ordered the Pan Roasted Salmon Filet ($24.00). Out of our four dishes, the salmon by far came with the best presentation. Similar to the presentation, the taste was exquisite. Noting the excellent texture, Hogan said, “It’s perfectly cooked. The garlic mashed potatoes really brought out the flavor palate. It really complements the salmon and tomato well.” Hogan rated her dish a solid 9.5/10, stating she is likely to order it again.

My mother, Middle School teacher Katie Roski, is a frequent Local diner. While she has tried several items on the menu, her favorite is the University Burger, a classic cheeseburger topped with bacon, romaine, roma tomato, pickles, red onion, and mayonnaise, all on a soft brioche bun. Roski claimed, “It’s a classic, perfectly cooked, perfectly juicy, perfectly dressed burger.” She enjoys pairing her burger with the sidewinder fries, saying, “You can’t go wrong with this combo. It’s the perfect comfort food!” Roski rates the burger a 9.5/10 and highly recommends it to any burger lovers.

Overall, The Local truly is what the name says. It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a place where neighbors across the Tuckahoe area can meet up and enjoy classic American staples. No matter what day of the week or what time of day you choose to dine, you are sure to see someone you know enjoying a meal with friends or family. While the food is relatively standard, it’s the people that make the trip to The Local worth visiting.

All photos by A.V. Musick.