Hendricks County is home to so many fabulous, locally owned and operated restaurants, which is just one of many things I love about my community!
Last week I was excited to grab my friend Debbie to check out the newest dining hotspot in Brownsburg, The Locale.
Located at 932 E. Main St., the restaurant was bustling with activity on the Friday night we popped in for dinner and drinks. Clearly, the word is getting out!
While The Locale may be new, there is plenty about it that will feel familiar to locals.
Old and New
The Locale just opened in June 2022, but the owners are far from new to the Hendricks County food scene.
After co-owning Dawson's Too, Sticks & Stones with the owners of Dawson's on Main in Speedway for years, Greg and Jen Rose wanted to make a few changes. And timing is everything.
The owners of another beloved Brownsburg restaurant, Pit Stop BBQ & Grill, decided to close up shop around the same time the lease was up at Dawson's Too, paving the way for the rebranding Greg and Jen had in mind.
The Locale now sits in Pit Stop's former location, but the space has been completely transformed. And while they changed the name of their restaurant, the owners kept some of the look and feel of Dawson's Too, not to mention many of its popular menu items.
The decor is both classy and comfortable. It is reminiscent of the style of Dawson's Too, but with a brand new feel. They have also added lots of new touches and tweaks to the ambiance and the menu...and they are just getting started!
Gather
The Locale offers lots of space to gather with family and friends. Guests can pull up a chair and make themselves comfortable at the gorgeous bar, which is perfect for enjoying a cocktail or a full meal.
Plenty of tables and booths are available in the large room with the bar as well as in the spacious front dining room. There is also another smaller dining room that is typically open for seating, but it can also be reserved for private parties of up to 40 guests. There is even a small area for outdoor dining when the weather cooperates.
The Locale is a perfect spot to share an intimate date night with your significant other. But it also works great as a gathering spot for a large group of family or friends to enjoy a hearty meal together.
After a long hard week at work, dinner and cocktails at The Locale was just what Debbie and I needed to kick off our weekend!
Drinks
First up, we each indulged in a cocktail. This was not an easy decision as there were plenty of intriguing options to choose from.
Debbie quickly decided on the Banana Sunrise (made with banana rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, sprite and grenadine). I settled on the blueberry lemonade, and we were both thrilled with our selections. And as all good friends do, we sampled each other's drinks and toasted to a fun night out.
We also vowed to return to The Locale soon for a martini. Georgia Peach, Chocolate and Lemon Drop are just a few of their enticing martini flavors. I also made a note to stop in The Locale on a Wednesday for their $5 margarita night. I'm a sucker for a good drink special!
Of course, if beer is more your style The Locale has that covered too with plenty of options on tap.
Dine
The Locale is open for both lunch and dinner every day except Sundays and offers both a lunch and dinner menu. Both menus serve up options to please every palate with a variety of delicious sandwiches, salads, pizza, burgers and appetizers that are perfect for a casual bite.
They also offer steak and seafood entrees as well as pasta for heartier meals. Their prime rib special has already become a true crowd pleaser on Friday and Saturday nights.
Those who are sad that Pit Stop BBQ & Grill closed down will be thrilled to learn that The Locale carries on Frank and Mary's legacy by serving their beloved catfish, ribs and pulled pork recipes.
Debbie and I decided to keep it casual. She ordered the frisco melt. I opted for a Hoosier staple and devoured every last bit of my breaded tenderloin sandwich and steak fries. Delish!!
The only downside to our dinner was that we were stuffed and didn't save room for dessert.
With so many appealing options on the menu, I'll definitely be heading back to The Locale soon. I have my eye on The Locale wedge salad and the bang bang shrimp, which the manager, Kayleigh, said were two of her favorites. But then again, the tenderloin was so good I may return and order the exact same thing!
