The Buggy Factory by Southern Pines Brewing Co. — Restaurant in Carthage

WARNING: long review ahead. TL;DR: Service was horrible (good luck if Tyana is your server), food was good, price point was off, atmosphere was meh. They also charge a mandatory 20% gratuity regardless of table size because they do not pay their employees fairly and have passed this off to the customer.

My husband and I drove 30 minutes to visit Buggy Factory for our four year anniversary after seeing rave reviews on social media. Here’s the breakdown:

Food: Excellent. A bit on the pricey side for portion sizes but the quality and concept are both spot on.

Drinks: They serve their old fashioned half full. I’m from Kentucky and know bourbon, and serving 9 year Knob Creek, half full, at $15 a pop is absolutely outrageous. But I guess when this is the “nicest” spot in Carthage, you can get away with that. My drink, the Phaeton, was good.

Service: Down-right awful. The hostess sat us and then told us that our server was “dealing with something” but that she’d be right out. 15 minutes goes by and finally our server Tyana comes to our table but not with much in the way of an apology for having us wait. We ordered drinks and watched as they were made and then just sat at the bar before we had to flag her down and ask her to bring them to us. Her excuse? “I was waiting other tables” which is wild considering I saw her chit-chatting away at the server’s station the whole time. After that, we pretty much never saw her again. Never came to check on us, ask us how things were, nothing. In fact, she only brought us our main course after that. Another server brought us our appetizer. It’s also important to note that the restaurant was not busy. It would be one thing if she was busy waiting other tables but even a quick check on us once or twice would’ve been sufficient, but neither was the case.

What’s even crazier is after I flagged her down to ask for the check and box after waiting 20 minutes, she had the gall to tell us not to worry, 20% tip was already included. At that point, we had to say something to the manager. As serial tippers, we planned on tipping nothing - it was that bad. The manager was very receptive which was great, and we appreciate that, but nothing was offered beyond that. No offer to comp anything, a future drink on the house, nothing. Not that we were looking for anything aside from just a little bit of effort to try to make things right. But again, crickets.

Couple things: First off, entering the building was confusing. The front entrance where you’re supposed to enter does not seem like the correct place to go given the signage. Same thing on the side door - it’s not clear WHERE to enter in order to be seated. We knew we weren’t the only ones confused when we saw multiple parties enter through the side door instead of the front.

Secondly, not really sure what the vibe is supposed to be. We certainly expected a more upscale or even just “vibey” experience than what was offered. There doesn’t seem to be any type of consistency with the server attire aside from a black top. I think this would be a great opportunity to run with a speakeasy type feel with the attire, atmosphere, and music. But there was so much lacking in that area, which is a shame considering the building itself is beautiful.

Thirdly, there should absolutely not be a 20% gratuity already included across the board. This is not a fine dining experience. And if you’re going to implement a mandatory gratuity policy, it should not be for a table of two. Absolutely asinine. AND it’s not clear that this is the case. It’s supposedly on the menu (the manager told us this after we voiced our concerns about our service) but my guess is it’s in tiny font at the bottom of the menu.

Unfortunately despite the food being good, the service and atmosphere were bad enough to really turn us off from ever visiting again....

The Buggy Factory is an incredible spot that perfectly blends craft brewing with delicious dining! From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the unique decor that pays homage to the history of the area, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that sets the tone for a fantastic experience.

We started our evening with a flight of their house-brewed beers, and I was blown away by the variety and quality! Each brew was expertly crafted, with standout flavors that catered to all tastes. The IPA was hoppy and refreshing, while the stout had rich notes of chocolate and coffee—definitely a highlight!

My partner opted for the Brewery Burger, and she couldn’t stop raving about it! Juicy and cooked to perfection, it was topped with melted cheddar, crispy bacon, and a special house sauce that brought it all together.

We also decided to share an appetizer of Pretzel Bites with beer cheese, and they were a hit! Soft and warm, these bites paired perfectly with the rich cheese dip.

The service at The Buggy Factory was exceptional. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and made great recommendations. It’s clear that the staff is passionate about what they do, which made our experience even better.

Overall, The Buggy Factory is a must-visit for anyone looking for great food and craft beer in a fun atmosphere. I can’t wait to return to try more of their delicious offerings and explore their ever-changing beer selection....

One and done... Rude bartender right off the bat. I walked up to the bar to order drinks while we waited for a table. She pointed to the end of the bar and says "over there". That's it. No greeting, no "hey, how are you?", no"welcome!". I get to the designated area of extreme importance and she walks away lol She's seriously on a power trip with her butcher's murder apron. She graciously returned after helping 2 couples at the bar (the no no zone) and I finally get our drinks. We had to wait outside because there's not enough seats inside. In the blazing sun in knee high weeds we waited 45 minutes for our table. There's no outside tables or chairs unless you are eating out there. Also..no shade. The server wasn't bad but the food was. Bland pizza that is NOT Detroit pizza. It's a biscuit with Bland sauce and a few pepperoni. The pork belly skewers look a bit obscene and again..no taste. Salad dressing was off too. The 4 of us had nothing that made us want to return. Then we got hit with the 20% mandatory tip. My husband and I have both been servers and tip very well for good service. Mandating it is not cool. $190 for 2 people in Carthage is insane and not worth it for...