Hickory Tavern - Durham

Hickory Tavern used to be one of our favorites since it has a decent variety that seemed to hit all the family desires. We have been going here since they opened some years ago, but I think the Pandemic has hit them hard like some other restaurants. Since things are opening up again we have gone a few times, but the service and food seems to have gone down a notch. Pre-pandemic, the manager would almost always check with tables to make sure everything was good. Now, you don't see the manager and the your server isn't really attentive. My drink is frequently empty before they visit and I generally have to ask for a refill, it isn't just noticed and brought. Last time we were in the spinach dip was cooked so much that the oil separated out. It was kind of gross. I mentioned to the server and she said yeah it is kind of watery and that was it. The burgers now appear to be machine made and I assume frozen though I can't know for sure. Hickory Tavern used to compete in town for the best chicken fingers, but the last couple of visits they have been too dry (overcooked). Anyhow, I'm going to take a break from them for a while and try again. Maybe they will work to get back to where they were. I'd suggest an investment in a good manager and good servers the market is there if you keep the product good.

Incredibly disappointed in Hickory Tavern and even with the slow service we always looked at the back room and decent food as a good spot. This is the second bad experience. We made a reservation for a large family gathering and we’re bumped for someone they considered more important. I’m hearing impaired so being part in the main dining area was excruciating. Then the food arrives, the fish and chips, no fish? Wings were mediocre. Very expensive for lousy food, slow service and management that does not care about the customer. My husband was so upset, being the kind man that he is, went to talk to the GM, sad she didn’t care either. I feel for the investors, unfortunately restaurants need good service and food, this place has neither.

We had visited this place when we moved out of dallas 10 months ago and had a less than desirable experience. we decided to try again and had one of the best service of all time. bella (isabella) made us feel at home and was very human. the food was great and the gm visited our table. I myself am a restaurant manager and appreciated this table touch. in everything we enjoyed our visit and will be back. thank you for having made our day.

So we arrived early to sit outside and finish watching the golf this evening. We're seated at 535 outside and order by 550. There were very few tables anywhere but on thr patio which wasn't full. It took 40 minutes to get our wings and sandwich. Way too long. Our waitress informed us there was large orders that must have been in front of ours, however there were hardly any tables. In addition my husband's wings came out with BROWN celery 2 stalks (see photon for one brown end) and 3 tortilla chips, the wings were BONE DRY. The reuben was adequate. Unfortunately for a good location, outdoor space and parking there doesn't seem to be any quality control. The table next to us as we were leaving had a RAW burger come out when she had ordered medium well. When she told the waitress her response was oh shoot ok keep that one and I'll order another just take the burger away. It seems like they need some guidance and supervision. Not to mention 8 servers around the hostess station gossiping and no acknowledgment when I walked in until I announced myself. We won't be back.

The sheer incompetence of the hostess tonight was truly impressive. I understand the staffing shortages but after waiting 25 minutes for. 15 minute wait because she got both our name and number wrong was wild. To then have her not remember that we asked to sit outside and us to wait again because the tables were all dirty was extremely bleak. Wild that this place e had better service with the managers were ripping lines in the bath rooms