Community Corner

Bites Nearby: Local No. 7

The main attraction on Tucker's Main Street is on a roll.

When it in late summer, Local No. 7 became a victim of its own success. From the first day, it was inundated with people and the staff was caught off guard. There were long waits for tables and orders, much to the consternation of hungry customers eager to try the new place. The management took a lot of flak but at least the demand proved the need for such an establishment. Part of the initial enthusiasm which greeted its opening was because no alcohol had been served on Tucker's Main Street in decades.

After that awkward start, the restaurant and its staff swiftly made amends. They are now more settled and efficient and appear to have hit their stride. I've been there several times recently and the service has been just fine, and other customers keep telling me how much they like it and how frequently they return.

Local No. 7 is part of a trio of eateries, the others being Matador Cantina in Oakhurst and in Glenwwod Park, but it doesn't share their Tex-Mex origins. So what's with the name? Owner James Maggard explains that it pertains to Tucker's history - the town was founded in 1907, it's seven miles from Atlanta, at one time had seven churches, and so on.

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So what about the food?

It's to their credit that they are offering quite a bit more than standard pub grub. You can build you own burger with all kinds of toppings, cheese and sauces, or try one of their own half-dozen variations. There is also a mammoth burger called the John Henry, consisting of seven patties and seven slices of cheese, topped with bacon and a fried egg. Yikes. It will set you back $20, but you get to be on the wall of fame if you actually finish this thing.

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The rest of the menu is more sensible. At lunch you can get a half sandwich (chicken or garden salad, Cuban, roast beef and the Local Club) and soup (corn chowder, chicken soup and Brunswick stew) all for $6. The latter is outstanding. You can order a Cannonball Express Burger with jalapeno peppers, jack cheese and "special" sauce. The sauce I had with my BLT was called No. 7, a fancy name for chipotle mayo and very tasty. The BLT included avocado slices - a great addition.

Small Plates include sliders, chicken tenders, tots, hummus and artichoke dip ($5-$8).Β 

After 5 p.m. you can have pulled pork, roast chicken, fish and chips and the intriguingly named Meatloaf A La Sam, all in the $11 to $13 range. Desserts include Ice Cream Float, Apple Pie A La Mode and German Chocolate Cake ($5) and good old vanilla ice cream ($3).

The place looks good - exposed brick and lots of wood, and there are tables outside too, practically on top of the railroad line, a mere 30 feet away. Patrons are encouraged to embrace the loud blaring of the frequently passing train by partaking in $2 Woo Hoo Shots with a choice of vodka, peach schnapps or cranberry every time one goes by. The bar is well stocked, and has a few high gravity beers on tap and in bottles, and the bartender assured me the selection will increase in due course.

"We have set our menu, restaurant and bar to be very family friendly while also promoting a late night atmosphere with drinks," their website offers helpfully. Local No. 7 is on the right track, if you'll pardon the pun.

Local No. 7 is located at 2316 Main Street in Tucker and is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. Starters, soups and salads go from $3.50-$8; sandwiches and burgers, $7.50 and up; entrees are $12-$15 and desserts are $5. You can see the full menu here.


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