Local Public House in Bellingham

The Local Public House is part of the Menace Brewery family and is located at 1427 Railroad Ave. in Bellingham. Established in 2014, The Local used to be the only place to get Menace beer on draught.  That changed three years ago when Menace opened their brewery on Meridian Street in Bellingham.  The Local prides itself on quality and customer service.

The Local logo on top of beers

Great Customer Service

First and foremost, for me, one of the most important things is how you are treated at any establishment, from the time you walk in to the time you head out the door. This is where The Local kills it, at least in my opinion. It doesn’t matter how busy they are — chances are you will be greeted with a smile and a “How are you?” within minutes, if not seconds, of your arrival.  Fair warning — this place can be extremely busy, and oftentimes it is difficult to find a table or bar space, but don’t worry, most of the patrons are happy to slide over and share some room with you! The staff is very accommodating, and are simply pleasant all the time.

bar with beer menu above on chalkboard at The Local

Always Start With A Beer

So now you are seated- and chances are you’ve got some water, draught list and food menu in front of you.  Of course, you should always start with a beer.  With 25 different beers on draught, they pretty much have it all, from IPA to lager to stout and everything else you can imagine.  If you aren’t in the mood for a beer, there is also a small selection of wine and always local cola’s and root beer- you won’t find any brand name soda’s here!  The taps are always rotating, which keeps the beer selection fresh.  The menu always has the next draught listed, so if it is one you want to try, you will need to drink your way through to get it!  The beers are from all over the PNW, and the Local Public House attempts to not have the same beer within a few months.  They must be considered a microbrew- no large distributors allowed! Flights of 6 are available for $14, and Happy Hour is everyday- that’s right- everyday- from 4pm-6pm!  Additionally, you can try canned beer from the local area- they are always on special!

The Local mug club mugs

Side note, feel free to join the “Mug Club.” Enjoy a custom mug with your name (and a mustache if you like) engraved on a 20-ounce mug. As a member, you will always enjoy 4 ounces free, and your second beer is always just $2!

Reuben sandwich from The Local

Something Good to Eat 

Beer order placed? Great, let’s get some food! And boy oh boy do I love the selection here! The from-scratch kitchen is always working on something new, with regular weekend specials. The menu changes quarterly, which keeps it both fresh and exciting! The Local has a wide variety of house made sausages, and they are simply delicious. Currently there is a Cheddarwurst on the menu, stuffed with sharp cheddar and topped with grilled onion, mustard and pickled tomato. Served with your choice of house-made fries or greens, this is one you won’t want to miss. The menu has kids’ options (house macaroni and cheese, feel free to add bacon!) and vegetarian as well (currently falafel is a hit with the staff). In fact, since the staff are so awesome, let’s look at what’s on the current menu that are some of their favorites:

Paige: Curry battered fish and chips. The curry salt in the beer batter is so delicious and the fish is never dried out!

Julia: (vegetarian) Spinach artichoke dip served with pita bread.  Amazing!

Kaya: Falafel. The best food ever. That’s all you need to know!

An Interview with Steven

I had the chance to sit down with Steven Boldt (self-described Local “catch all”) for a quick question and answer:

TH: Steven, thanks for taking the time to sit down with me and talk about The Local Public House. I am biased because this is one of my favorite places to get a beer and food, but let’s set that aside for now!

SB: Thanks, Tony! I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to tell the readers a little bit about The Local!

TH: How do you want people to see The Local?

SB: I think the “Cheers” of Bellingham, the place where everyone knows your name. We strive for that as soon as someone walks in the door. It’s not just good good and beer, it is also about the great customer service!

TH: I can certainly agree with that, definitely a welcoming vibe when you enter! So, how do you decide the food menu? It is so fresh!

SB: Chef Brandon comes up with a new seasonal menu every quarter.  He is influenced by world dishes, and so there is always an international flair that he turns into amazing pub food. The fish and chips and the Reuben sandwich are definitely crowd pleasers.

TH: What do you think is the best thing about The Local?

SB: It’s the interaction that guests and staff have in the restaurant setting.  We can have community discussions. This is one of the more welcoming locations that I have ever worked. The focus on local beers, food and supporting the local community is what our name is all about. Simply put- that’s why we are called The Local. We don’t want people to be intimidated by our name, you don’t have to be a local to enjoy us, because we treat everyone as if they are a local. We welcome all to share in our Bellingham experience!

TH: Is there anything else you would like to say to the readers?

SB: Yes!  2 things!  On May 4, we will launch a local spirits push. It is our hope that a chance to experience some local spirits will bring in even more of a variety in our clientele. We will keep our main focus on beer and food, but are very excited to offer something new to the community.

TH: I really appreciate you taking a few minutes to sit down, I know this is a busy day for you!

The Local Public House
1427 Railroad Ave
Bellingham, WA

Read another of Tony’s articles on Bellingham here.

Tony Holladay

Tony Holladay is a native of California and moved to the Pacific Northwest over 10 years ago. An avid outdoorsman, he spends time fly fishing, hunting, camping and doing photography. Tony enjoys IPA as well as a good single-malt Scotch. He currently resides in Bellingham where all his favorite outdoor activities are readily available. He has been married for 26 years to Michelle and has 2 kids, Nathan, 21 and Rachel, 17. He also has a BS in Organizational Leadership from University of Charleston, West Virginia.

3 Comments

  1. Anonymous on March 28, 2019 at 8:37 am

    4.5

  2. Anonymous on April 1, 2019 at 10:57 am

    5

  3. […] back to wherever you might be visiting from, head to downtown Bellingham for one more meal. The Local Public House  is located on Railroad Avenue across the street from the bus station. Happy hour is […]

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