Localis

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. My wife and I have done many tasting menus and this was our favorite by far. Not a single dish was one that I didn't say "yeah I'd eat a whole plate of that!"I would highly recommend the counter. So much to see and it's important to keep entertained with a three hour meal. So cool to watch and interact with the staff. I appreciate the adherence to a theme. Every course was well thought out and the flavors all came together. While each dish is small it definite adds up and you'll leave satisfied. And with a little loaf of banana bread. I really enjoyed the non alcoholic pairing. I felt each one was a great complement or homage to the course it came with. However the price was a little steep. I wouldn't say it's not worth it but it's a bit pricey. I won't go into detail with the food because what I had will likely not be there next time. I really appreciated how they accommodated our dietary needs and kept with the theme. Many places will just swap in something that just doesn't fit. For example we had a non seafood person but they still made a faux caviar that they served instead of the caviar. It was genius. I kind of like how you can go HAM with the upgrades or not and still have a perfectly wonderful meal. Highly recommend. Would return.

Based on the service only:This was a few months ago btw. But a friend & I were walking downtown and came across this place but there were ZERO signs up indicating the name or type of facility this was. We saw boxes of wine through the window and popped in excitedly thinking we would do possible wine tasting. We walked in and and said Hi what is this place! And we were rudely greeted with "a restaurant" and I said well I'm curious about the name as there's no signs up. This guy points to a wall that said Michelin star, then points to the other wall and realizes himself there are no signs up. Then proceeded to ask us if we're new in town and what brought us in. I was getting very unprofessional attitude as if we didn't belong not only in the restaurant but the neighborhood and once I asked for a menu to take home did her perk up and wanted to chitchat. Mind you, we have spent our entire lives in Sac & this dude is def NOT from Sac. I hate these pompous attitudes and because of that, I would never spend my dollars here. We both work in healthcare and have no problems affording what we want.Get a better host.

We trusted them to feed us well and they delivered beyond expectations. My husband and I paid our fist visit to Localis last night to celebrate his birthday. Chef Christopher Barnum-Dann and his team absolutely blew us away with more than just the food and drinks that were prepared. The energy, ambiance, and his team's attentiveness to us and the dishes made the whole evening one to remember.A few days prior to our visit a staff member, Fiona, reached out to inquire about dietary restrictions and our occasion for visiting. I informed her that we had no restrictions, however I am currently pregnant. Upon hearing this, she informed me about some items on their menu that I had the option of requesting a substitution for which I found very kind. Our conversation was pleasant and had me looking forward to our visit. Once we arrived, we were seated at the Chef's Counter to enjoy the Fall Celebrations menu. The 10 course meal encompassed celebratory meals from around the world with the Chef's take on them.I have no words to describe what it was like to watch the chefs work to prepare our dishes. They functioned so efficiently maintaining such a calm demeanor while engaging in conversation with us. I admire their focus and attention to detail.Now, regarding the food. Every dish on the menu had ingredients my husband and I typically don't enjoy. However, our minds were completely changed last night. Each course was thoughtfully constructed and had such depth in flavor. We found ourselves saying countless times, "I would love to have this again".It was difficult to pick our favorite courses by the end of the night. My stand out dish was by far the Kwanzaa: Kamaru, The Feast of Faith.This dish was a deliciously tender braised lamb shank, coffee roasted carrots, confit kohlrabi, with a lamb and coffee demi-glace poured over. They also provided a side of jollof rice and collard greens. If there was one dish I could learn to make, it would be this. It was the best thing I have ever tasted, I savored every minute of it. It was so good, I didn't even get the opportunity to snap a picture for this review because I was excited to dig in.I could go on and on about each course and write a miles long review detailing each dish and my experience but I think I would hit the character limit.Thank you Localis, to all of your chefs and servers, we look forward to enjoying another meal with you in the future!

Went for my birthday and had a really great experience. There were so many courses and at the end the desserts just kept coming. Am cutting out alcohol this year, but luckily they had tasty mocktails. The service was on point and the cozy feel of the place felt welcoming.

A friend introduced my partner and I to Localis about 8 months ago, and it has become our obsession ever since. We're no strangers to Michelin star dining, but Localis continues to stand above other experiences in variety, in quality, and most of all, vibes! Localis is as approachable as it is exquisite, and they have never failed to surprise and delight us - and make us laugh - during every visit.I don't use the word "experience" lightly. If you can book your first time here at the bar, that is a must. You get to interact with the chefs and see them work as they construct beautiful, edible artwork to place in front of you. It's an experience you won't soon forget, and is a perfect way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion. In general, you'll be eating and drinking through 10-12 courses over 2 1/2 hours. The menu changes every couple months, with a few constants that keep things grounded in Localis history and tradition, such as their famed octopus or nostalgic banana bread. Every menu has standouts, but there has somehow never been a "bad" item - and my partner and I are sometimes stretched out of comfort zone with specific dishes. Everything put in front of you will be delicious.Speaking of delicious, the wine parings at Localis are second to none. I'm not a huge wine person myself, but it's a crime to not include wines with your meal when you go here. I treated myself to the pricey "time & place" pairing one time, and every single glass was the best I had ever had of the respective type of wine. It was mind blowing. But even the standard pairings hit home hard, and again, this is from someone who is very much not a "wine person."Finally, I have to give a shoutout to the incredible cocktails at Localis. They are as inventive as they are delicious, and oftentimes will appear with in the beverage pairing menu. When I had the time & place pairing menu I received a cocktail made from one of the most expensive gins in the world, and to date it's one of the best cocktails I've ever had. But even at a more affordable level cocktails like the "street taco margarita" or "not an espresso martini" will leave you amazed at how many complex flavors can exist in a single glass. If Localis had a cocktail happy hour... well frankly it would be dangerous. ;)

Wow! What an amazing night. Several hours later, and I still can't stop talking about it. The service was impeccable. We sat at the Chef's Counter and Chef Chris and his service and culinary staff were so personable and welcoming. The food was AMAZING! We left very satisfied. The beverage pairing was very much worth it. We will be back!

Localis was such a great experience! We booked counter seating for their Tastier Side of Middle Earth menu. It was such an intimate and entertaining dining experience. I love how they retold the Lord of the Rings trilogy through their food. Each dish was imaginative and delicious. So very clever!We were delighted by the thoughtful tasting menu and delicious beverages. My husband and I ordered one beverage pairing between the two of us. It would have been a lot of alcohol for one person, but that's just me! So, I think splitting it was perfect. The pairings really did enhance the meal. Everything went perfectly together. The service was excellent, and each course was well paced. It felt like the staff had the timing dialed in. We didn't feel rushed or that we were waiting too long for our next dish. Overall, a very enjoyable evening.

I am slightly shocked to find I haven't wrote a review here yet!!First found this place during the lockdown and did take out here a bunch of times. I moved from the bay area and missed my michelin take out very much so I was really happy to stumble upon Localis. It was the little bit of "fine dining" we got to do during lockdown out here. Got the chance to visit in person after they did their remodel, and was very impressed from the food, service, vibes, and price point. It was my first fine dining experience in the area and I loved how chill and relaxed the vibe was, not the typical fine dining experience. At that time they didn't receive their star yet but I knew it was bound to happen. And now they have their michelin star for the third year in a row. I always opt for the chef's counter for a more interactive experience that is really fun. It was also the first time I have seen a non-alcoholic pairing, which was very unique and my friend really enjoyed it! Not everyone is a drinker so it's nice to have that option. Their menu changes on a regular basis, with a few staples that has some modifications such as the caviar and potato chip (I can eat that nonstop) and the octopus (TENDER PERFECT DELICIOUS). They always have such innovative dishes and drinks and you never know what you can expect on the menu aside from great food, service, and drinks. Reservations are harder to get nowadays with their accolades and more people now know about how great they are, so make sure to book in advance. We visit a few times a year as it is great for special occasions or just wanting a nice dinner out. I've also been here for NYE a few times and so fun! And no, they don't charge you more because of holidays, which is great. So all the hallmark holidays are great to celebrate here as you won't pay double for 1/2 the food like most places. I am actually eating dinner there tonight and I am very excited!

LOCALIS! LOCALIS! 5/5! I had the best experience here last night! 12 course meal was PHENOMENAL! I had the best hits menu and I couldn't rave about it more. Each plate was so unique and highlighted multiple ways the chef thought about the taste in your mouth. Everything was 10/10. Cocktail menu was divine! It is a MUST TRY! I've never had a better cocktail than here. Staff was amazing. They knew everything about the menu and made sure our water never ran dry. I've been to two other Michelin restaurants and this is the best one!

Disappointing scam, do not "trust them to feed you well". If you've never had a nice meal, it's perfect, but if you have standards choose anywhere else. With the menu changing every 5 weeks, it's lazy they won't post a menu, but in with a scam perspective, it makes sense. I had the most glorified whipped, I mean aerated onion dip that tasted straight out of a plastic tub. There were 3 fish dishes in a row, all very under seasoned. If you love shoving large bites of food in your mouth, you'll feel right at home because a knife is hard to come by for the first few courses. One dish was so spicy, half our table was unable to enjoy it. If you're interested in scaling up your "experience", honestly skip it. The wine tasting was the worst I've ever experienced and at $100+, we sent two full glasses of the pairing back. We were not offered a substitute for the liquid vinegar & gasoline pairings.If you're interested in adding the " wagyu" option, I hope you enjoy a tough steak that is not incorporated at all on the course plate. Think of it like, toast when you order a burrito. I've had waygu, and this under seasoned, undercooked, chewy meat was not it. Honestly impressive how bad this $75 piece of meat was.The second of three dessert courses (including the little take home container) buche noel, was the highlight of the evening. But at $500 a person, it's a steep price for a slice of cake that's just mediocre.If you're looking for a nice place to celebrate, you should look anywhere but Localis.(Edit): As you can see from Chris's business tantrum below, if we knew we could leave and get our money back, we would have by the second course. We were very kind to the staff and highlighted what we did enjoy to them as it's not their fault the food missed the mark. Im glad our experience lives rent free in your head, maybe you can use it as an opportunity to improve the menu and experience. I have no vitriol towards the people, only the experience expected for $500 a person. This is in NO WAY comparable to any other noteworthy restaurant. For $120, I would think this would be a decent experience. Chris's food is over reaching and under delivering.Ps- I can't recall if it was you or your staff who insulted our table condescendingly noting if a woman wears the pants in the relationship? Maybe my attitude did subconsciously shift with such a misogynistic comment?