The Local

Food at The Local could inspire us to move to Cody.

Just off the main street downtown, this charming restaurant bases its menu on what’s fresh and, you guessed it, local. All meat, chicken, and eggs are humanely raised and free of antibiotics/hormones. And it shows.

The staff is warm and welcoming, taking their time with your food to ensure you get the best possible dish every time. Medium-roast coffee starts things on a bright note. From there, it is hard not to order the whole menu, which is fairly small.

Sourdough pancakes are about an inch thick: The texture is more reminiscent of sourdough; the taste is mildly sour. Whipped minted butter has visible bits of mint and complements the pancakes beautifully. On top, a handful of cooked berries melt into jam-like consistency. A drizzle of syrup on top completes the experience.

Next: hash. You can taste each of the fresh ingredients: sautéed matchstick beets, sliced radishes, fennel, and onions alongside just-blanched broccoli. On top are two sunny-up eggs and a drizzle of basil-heavy green goddess dressing. After eating this, I feel like a superhero.

Eggs Goldstein is like Benedict, but not as heavy or rich. On the bottom, a buttermilk biscuit tastes more like a thick-toasted English muffin, followed by pickled purple cabbage, house-made pastrami, and a poached egg. A mild, light horseradish gravy adds just the right amount of creaminess. The pastrami is cut like a sausage patty: downright delicious.

On top of all this flavor, the presentation is artful, with edible flowers and choice butter placement. All this, and each dish is $10 or less.

The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. White subway tiles surround the coffee counter, where you can get pastries and coffee to go. The staff is friendly and happy that you’re here: They encourage you to walk through the restaurant to visit the adjacent Whole Foods Trading Company, which sells local eggs, honey, vegetables, and more.

The whole experience leaves you feeling good and wanting to come back and see what they serve for lunch and dinner. Which we definitely plan to do.