THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Local

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Local Restaurant Review:

As the name suggests, Local aspires to be the kind of congenial hangout where diners eat good, basic food. It has achieved even more, though, on the culinary front. The setting is upscale, a classy yet casual room with plush booths and blue hanging lamps that give each table an appealing glow. Chef Franklin Becker propels this beyond a simple neighborhood restaurant, though, as he presents ambitious, creative dishes focused on seasonal selections. The menu changes monthly; among choices you may find Long Island fluke served two ways, with eggplant and tomato or crusted in pistachio; foie gras with grilled pineapple; or roasted poussin with Madras curry and mustard seed Brussels sprouts. Desserts, prepared by Judy Schmidt, are all winners, especially a concoction of banana and toffee.