The Local Grill was opened in 2018, a single location at The Village Market Mall in Nairobi, it is a South African restaurant brand, and it is essentially a bar & grill type of restaurant, and leans towards a steakhouse
The Local Grill offers a decent view of the mall if you grab a seat in the outer section of the top floor—because, yes, it’s got both an upper and lower level.
Since it’s a grill (or steakhouse, depending on how fancy you want to feel), the obvious picks are steaks and burgers. I mean, that’s pretty much what any place calling itself a grill should specialize in, right? That should be their bread and butter.
And that’s exactly all I’ve ordered in my two visits, and it feels fairer to judge them on their beef game than anything else. So, if you’re coming here, stick to the steaks and burgers—those are the headliners. Seriously, don’t come here for mushrooms and salads.
Pricing & Budgeting
Pricing & Value: ★★★★☆(4)
This isn’t an expensive steakhouse, but it’s not cheap either. It’s reasonably priced for the class and caliber of the place, so no complaints on that front—I’d give it a solid 4-star rating for pricing.
Starters? Perfectly priced, starting at KSh 500 and nothing going over KSh 1,500, with the average hovering around KSh 850.
Salads, though? Overpriced. KSh 1,300 for a plate of leaves feels like daylight robbery. But I doubt if anyone goes to a grill restaurant to eat salad
The sides are right on the money. In my rule book, sides shouldn’t cost more than KSh 500, and it’s like they’ve read the unpublished manuscript because nothing here exceeds KSh 500.
Burgers are also well-priced, ranging from KSh 1,050 to KSh 1,350, and worth it considering how good they are.
As for the sauces… paying KSh 500 for sauce is a no-no, and yes, I don’t care how good they are ; especially when most places throw them in for free. But apparently, The Local Grill is not most places.
Now, I wouldn’t call the mains affordable—everything’s over KSh 2,000—but, hey, it’s a steakhouse. That’s just standard steakhouse pricing. Plus, each main comes with a complimentary side, so it’s not too bad.
Expect to drop around KSh 3,000 to 3,500 per person here, and that’s if you stick to a main and a drink, like a cocktail and a glass of wine. A glass of wine alone will set you back KSh 1,000, and mains average around KSh 2,300, so you’ll be good.
Want to spend less? Skip the mains and just go for a burger and a drink like I do. But speaking of drinks, cocktails are overpriced—KSh 1,200 on average, and they’re not even that great. Wine’s a better deal, honestly.
If cocktails are your thing, just go to a happy hour somewhere else where you can get three decent drinks for KSh 1,000. You’re welcome btw. Check the link below
The Best Cocktail Happy Hour Deals in Nairobi
Ambiance
Ambiance Rating: ★★★★☆(4)
The Local Grill has your typical steakhouse vibe—everything is woody, from the furniture to the floor tiles to the stairs. It’s like they’re trying to convince you you’re in a cabin. Add in the classic dim but warm lighting, which helps you focus on the “beautifully presented” dishes by highlighting them.
Honestly, I’m all about this kind of ambiance—it’s got a more mature vibe that appeals to an older crowd, even tho I’m still Gen-Z. The flashy aesthetics at places like INTI? Yeah, a bit over the top for me. And don’t get me started on Botanica, where you’re sitting inside a birdcage like some exotic parrot. It’s just too much. I’d rather keep it simple and modern, like at MeSo.
Now, let’s talk about space. Or the lack of it. The tables and chairs are so close together the place is cramped, it’s like they want your “I love you” conversation from your date night to awkwardly merge with someone else’s “We need to talk.” from the next table.
If you’re hoping for some privacy, maybe head upstairs where the bar is—it’s a little better when your neighbor’s table isn’t occupied. Thankfully, when I visited in the early evening, it wasn’t too busy. But I suspect after 8 p.m., things might get a bit more lively. Maybe.
The Local Grill Menu
While you are browsing through the menu there is complimentary bread served to be dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and it’s not just any cheap bread, it’s Italian Focaccia, and it’s seriously some good bread! So that is a good start
Just a heads-up: most steaks aren’t on the regular menu, they show up as daily specials depending on what’s available and how “aged” they are.
Yep, different steaks at different ages will be scribbled on a blackboard, and I’m guessing the prices shift with age and size. The rest of the menu, though, is constant—kind of like how you fellas normally say “dust is constant” in Nairobi.
Food & Drink Review
Food Rating: ★★★★☆(4)
Drink Rating: ★★★☆☆(3)
The burgers here? Honestly, excellent. The real star is the patty—because, well, it’s a grill restaurant. The buns? They’re nothing special but get the job done. Overall, a top-tier burger. Just a heads-up: if you’re going for the blue cheese option, it’s pretty intense and tangy, so brace yourself. The other burger types are your standard options.
Now, onto the steaks. The Local Grill actually does something magical—they get the doneness right! Order medium, and you get medium. Revolutionary stuff in a city where “medium” often translates to “we’ll cook it and see what happens.” They pull it off consistently. Plus, their crusts are seared so good crunchy crusts.
But let’s not get carried away—perfect steaks, they are not. For one, the consistency is a little hit or miss. You might get a lovely medium rare on one side and a surprise rare on the other. No big deal, just a minor game of steak cooking. The real letdown is the seasoning: part of my steak was salty, part of it was… well, not. And overall, it could use a flavor boost. But hey, at least you’re not sending it back to the kitchen to fix the doneness, right?
The fries? Fine, but where’s the crispiness? They’re thin enough, so why aren’t they crispy? It’s a mystery. The onion rings are average—better than Big Square’s soggy sadness, but nowhere near the Burger King ones which are my benchmark. Honestly, if you know of better onion rings than Burger King, drop a comment and help us all out.
Cocktails and smoothies? Meh. Not worth the price. They’re about as exciting as room-temperature tap water. Wine’s a safer bet—just your basic wine, but KSh 1,000 per glass feels like a bit much. KSh 800-900 would be a good price.
Portion sizes are neither stingy nor generous—it all depends on what you order. So, maybe consult with your waiter while ordering.
Final Thoughts on The Local Grill-Village Market
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆(4) “Good Restaurant Experience“
Overall, The Local Grill is a solid restaurant—good enough that I’ve been back before, and I’ll probably return again to sample more dishes and update this post. So if you’re on the fence about visiting it, here’s my take: I recommend it. Sure, it’s got its flaws, but let’s be real—no restaurant is perfect. You just have to pick your battles, and that’s why restaurant reviews even exist.
If you’re into steak and want to explore other places, you might want to check out Graze Steakhouse at Woodvale Groove in Sankara, Copper The Urban Grill near Lavington Mall, Grill Shack in Westgate, or Ankole Grill in Kitisuru.
Ankole wouldn’t be my first pick, but hey, it’s an option. If you’re after a steakhouse experience on a budget and want the best bang for your shilling, try a Brazilian steakhouse with an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Fogo Gaucho in Kilimani, Westlands, and Panari (Mombasa Road) offers an endless meat fest for a flat rate of KSh 3,000. If that sounds tempting, read more below. Just keep in mind, that buffet steakhouses won’t give you the same quality of meat as a traditional steakhouse, but they’re definitely good for the money, and I tend to lean toward them more for my meat cravings.
The Carnivore has an all-you-can-eat meat buffet but the KSh 4,800 buffet price is a little higher for the quality of meats, so it’s just a tourist trap to me; that is why Fogo Gaucho is my recommendation so far, I will link more recommendations in the future
Read: Fogo Gaucho Buffet Menu, Pricing and Review
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