das lokal

loved it! we will definitely be back :). my friends and i went here last night for some late night drinks/food. we got there late, and the kitchen was closed, so we didn't order anything from the menu, but they were still doing cheese and dessert. we each ordered our own chef's choice cheese board - so good and so much food provided for a modest price. we also enjoyed their drinks - gin caesar was delicious!

the ambiance and decor is wonderful - such a cosy place with so much character. there was also a live piano player - verynicetouch. i will definitely return. great value in the prices.

i went to this place not knowing what to expect and at first glance it is very warm and inviting. beautiful style andniceservers. we were a group of 7 ladies here for drinks and dinner and a big catch up (as friends were in from toronto). cocktails were delicious and besides the fact we were 'shushed' by a table of elderly folk it was anicedining experience. as the restaurant boasts their cocktail menu, we thought it would be safe for a bit of a rowdy (30+) table, but without being rude the crowd was somewhat older and maybe not the best for a boozy meal. our food was small portions for price but very tasty and gorgeous presentation. i would take my parent here for anicemeal but not take a big group of friends next time.

excellent food,nicepresentation, and great value, make this one of my favourite byward market restaurants. the german-scandinavian food and atmosphere is refreshingly different yet comfortingly familiar. cocktails are casually prepared but generous and tasty. totally worth a visit!

delicious - i'll be back!. das lokal was a real surprise - their attention to flavour combinations was impeccable, and each of their mains were excellent (our group tried the lamb shank, pork shoulder, and arctic char entrees). the charcuterie was aniceaddition as an appetizer, and generous in portion size. there was a piano player (on saturday night) which was a bonus. altogether, a good experience and worth multiple visits...

very pleased. i brought a group of visitors there on my first visit and everything we had was wonderful - the steak tartare was really nice, and the duck for dinner was excellent. the egg nog crême brulée was weird but very enjoyable. pleasant staff, aniceamount of noise from all the happy tables, and lots of good food made for a great night. it's on the more expensive side of things, but certainly worth it.

it's too bad they have 'sittings' and that you might need to clear out before a certain time, but we were lucky in that there we no later reservations for our table.

what happened?!?!. i've eaten at das lokal a few times since it opened just over a year ago. it was one of my favourite spots in the neighbourhood for the first six months or so (despite a few easily forgiven eccentricities). the decor and warm feeling of the place at night is wonderful and cozy, and the live piano fridays and saturdays makes for an extremely inviting atmosphere. the staff are usually quite friendly, and the patio was anicetouch this summer (as well as the mysteriously short-lived sunday brunch, featuring live music).

however, their once outstanding menu has taken a dive over the last few months. the changes they've made all seem to be for the worse - the selection and variety aren't especially inspiring, the dishes i've tried left a lot to be desired (small portions and relatively bland flavour combinations), and shockingly, the prices have all gone up (way up!). i never expect or want giant portions, but hope for at least two points on the food-portion-price triangle, and they aren't really delivering on any of those, let alone two. this used to be in my top 2 or 3 recommendations whenever someone asked me what to try in the market, and i'm pretty disappointed that i can't recommend it any more.

they do change their menu seasonally though, and i hope they're receptive to the feedback they're getting - it's such a wonderful place and an absolute gem in the neighbourhood, if they can just figure out how to get back on track. i'm looking forward to trying again in a month or two!

lovely place for sunday brunch. walking in the area after a disappointing and barely eaten meal at mellos on a sunday afternoon, we were looking for our next place to try and to fill our bellies.

this place showed up unexpectedly in our sight. remembering it being on our wishlist, and drawn by the good vibe its exterior gave, we went in and got a lovely table by the window.

friendly german looking waiter (dee suspected him being french pretending german), who got jay's order wrong by mishearing german board to german hamburger, but jay delightedly took it after seeing our neighbor table's german burger being delivered, which was pretty dang mouth-watering.

good brioche bun, what a pleasant difference from what we just had at mellos. homemade pork patty wasniceand juicy as well. fries were hand cut and properly fried, though a bit too thick in size to make a perfect ratio of crispiness and softness. overall a satisfying dish.

dee ordered breakfast gratin and came the right thing. :) loved the presentation and the crumbled sausage in goulash sauce. the poached egg was done just the way dee liked - just enough runniness but not too much to make a messy plate. the amount of fingerlings was belly filling indeed but a bit much too make it a delicate dish - maybe that was the element we were both wondering what "lacked" for this dish.

cool place but food not excellent. i went there with my husband to check it out, we love to try out new restaurants on both sides of the river and that week we set our eyes on das lokal. the deco is cool, our waitress, who was also the barmaid (weird?) was verynicean helpful even though she was covering the floor and the bar. the food was just not that great, too many weird flavours together, just not quite right. i had the vegetarian meal (not that great) and my husband had the duck (ok but not amazing)... this place was not a big hit for us, only because of the food experience. the rest was fine.

delicious!. ive been for lunch before and while it was very good i found it to be a little slow. in all fairness it was very busy, since it is new and all.
so i decided to go for dinner before i judged, and boy am i happy i did. the new winter menu is a winner. i wish i had more room for my yummy creme brulee but i could only have one bite after 2 apps and a main! i had the soup, shared the endive salad and the most amazing duck breast ive ever eaten for my main. the winter vegetables just shows how much chef harriet cares about local and seasonal foods, and the menu overall.
if youve ever been you know how lovely the place is. the owners put so much thought into the ambiance of the place. its warm and cozy, with servers that converse with you like a real person rather than treating you like a dollar sign to add to their stack. all the decor is adorable. the fireplace, piano that was being played, gluvien stand outside with pine trees and a reallynicebar.
this place is a win for sure. im so happy its not another pretentious place, and im looking forward to trying every seasons menu!!

fun place; delicious food; awkward service. the good: very cool ambiance - they did a great job in this former scott's chicken villa; charcuterie board was verynice(although they should not just plop it on the table and walk away but rather introduce it); tartelette was delicious; mains were very tasty (cornish hen, duck, rabbit and pasta) - everyone was really pleased.

the not so good: the waiter was friendly but a disaster as a waiter. forgot to place our order with the kitchen and realized it 45 minutes after we ordered; was awkward and confusing in his communication with us; interrupted us at awkward times; had fights with other staff; looked completely confused through the evening - if i'm paying $100 for dinner, i don't need to see those things. kind of damaged the evening as we never knew what the next problem was going to be.

food: 9 out of 10
service: 3 out of 10

has potential. i visited das lokal with a group of about 12 on a friday for a reserved lunch. the place was packed; it has anicerustic feel but modern with a clean colour scheme. wooden tables with chrome and copper accents, chrome and black framed mirrors help enlarge the space. i have been to other restaurants at this location before and das lokal has the best design concept for the small space.
i loved the little girl sitting at the bar colouring! whether she was a customer or a family friend, it was welcoming to see her scribbling away with a smile on her face when i entered.
the place has a good, modern vibe. guests were crammed in quite tightly but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. service was efficient, although a little difficult to hear due to the noise in the restaurant.
the majority of our table ordered the german burger. pork patty, mustard, onions, side salad, side wedges. very 'homemade' feel, not greasy, well plated and the portions were generous. one guest had asked for no mustard but her request was forgotten (probably would have helped if our waitress had written the orders down instead of tried to memorize a group of 12 people.)
i was eagerly awaiting the arrival of my fish dish with anticipation.
i was disappointed. the flavours were good (trout, i think... it was so mediocre that i've forgotten the protein!) but placing seared fish on top of what is supposed to be a cold potato salad only makes for bites of cold and warm potatoes nearing the end of the meal. mushy and unappealing. there was a little herb sauce on top of the fish skin, nicely crisp skin, however the portion size of the fish dish compared to that of the burger was grossly underwhelming. it looked closer to an amuse with a side of potato salad than a full main dish. the fish fillet was small, the potatoes were poorly presented on the plate and lost their temperature, and i was still hungry after finishing.
there was one other fish order at our table and he and i were both finished our meals before the burgers on the other plates were half gone. we were salivating longingly over the side salads of our companions. luckily, there was good conversation and we were able to bide the time to the dessert course.
everyone ordered the vanilla spice panna cotta. it was wonderful. it was the best panna cotta, from a textural viewpoint, that i have ever had. it was the second best panna cotta from a flavour perspective.
slightly citric caramel floated on perfect spiced vanilla bean and ground cherry. it was delicious. i could have lived without the shortbread on the side, it was unnecessary, but i will go back again even if only to try the other desserts.
all in all, i was disappointed with my meal, as was my other "fish course" companion, however the burgers looked good and i am intrigued by their evening menu.
go for supper. make a reservation. try their wines and selection of german beers!

lunch review. saw this place being built over the past few months and had to try it. went for lunch with co-workers and it was delicious. had the flat iron steak with fries, aioli and corn relish. das lokal is definitely a good option in the area;niceatmosphere, decently priced menu and great tasting food. i would highly suggest it for those who favour quality tasting food. however, if you are the type who eats a lot, this place isn't for you as the portion size is not that big. overall, good choice and i would go back to try their dinner menu.

great addition to the area. anticipation for this new restaurant built over the summer, as we watched the old building morph into a far more appealing venue. for the overall aesthetic alone, well done! what was once an eyesore now looks like the place where everyone wants to be - and rightly so. the interior space is warm, inviting - dare i say cozy? - but spacious and airy at the same time. the juxtaposition of cool tones and warm lighting is perfectly balanced. my favourite design element? the soft cloth "napkins" that are a cute wink to the home kitchen and much preferred to the super starchy white alternative. and the food? for a week's worth of service, the kitchen brigade has mastered its menu items: the cornish hen was perfectly cooked with nary a sign of dryness, the gravlax was sublime and a steal at $14. the vegetables, i suspect all local from the market or from local suppliers, were fantastic. it'sniceto see dishes with so many colours. the only negative remark thus far (and it's a very minor detail, granted): the steak knives. with such beautiful food, the cafeteria steak knives have got to go... we will be sure to visit again and are very happy to have daslokal as part of the neighbourhood. overall, das lokal: wünderbar!