The Heel & Horn — Restaurant in Chapel Hill

We chose this restaurant to celebrate my husband’s birthday, excited to try a new local spot with a great-looking menu. We had family in town visiting and thought this would be a great choice as it would have something for everyone. Unfortunately, the experience was a major letdown from start to finish.

Our server seemed disinterested and inattentive—never checked on us after taking our order, didn’t offer drinks, and we had to flag down another staff member just to get silverware after our food arrived. After asking for a drink menu from the beginning, she hurriedly sat one on the corner of the table and walked off. My husband didn’t even get to order a birthday drink as she never returned to get out drink orders. Other servers brought our food but we were never offered refills on even our water. When we mentioned the poor service to a friendly (but new) bartender we also had to flag down at the end of the meal, our server finally reappeared with excuses, despite the restaurant being nearly empty at that point. She then asked if we would like to order a drinks when we were all done eating and ready to leave after being ignored by her the past 35-40 minutes.

As long-time Chapel Hill residents, we were really hoping to discover a new go-to spot. Instead, we left feeling completely overlooked on what should have been a special night. I also reached out to the restaurant the next day via email and social media before posting a review to see if this was a one time random occurrence but 9 days later they’ve...

If you're looking for that rare spot where everything just clicks, Heel & Horn is it.

From the moment you walk in, the staff makes you feel like a regular—even if it's your first time. The team here strikes the perfect balance between professional and personal. They're attentive without hovering, genuinely friendly, and clearly take pride in what they do. It’s the kind of service that’s getting harder to find these days, but Heel & Horn has it down.

And then there's the food—simply outstanding. Every dish we tried was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Whether you're there for a casual bite or a special night out, the menu has something for everyone without feeling overcomplicated. It’s clear the kitchen cares about both quality and creativity.

Prices are more than fair, especially considering the level of care that goes into each plate. This isn’t one of those places that charge for atmosphere—you get both great food and great value.

The location is another win: easy to get to, with just enough of a neighborhood feel to make it cozy without feeling tucked away.

Heel & Horn is the kind of local spot you root for because they’re doing everything right. Whether you're a foodie, a family, or just someone who appreciates genuine hospitality, this place deserves a spot on your...

Decided to FINALLY try this place, after I had heard great things about it. It was a 45 minute drive for my family and I. We were seated right away, and the server was very kind. For starters we ordered the loaded cheese fries, Mexican Street Corn, and the Southwest Eggrolls. The loaded fries were absolutely AMAZINGGG. My street corn was ICE COLD! The flavors were there, but I was disappointed in the fact that my corn was cold. We ordered our entrees and received them in a timely manner. HOWEVER, as soon as we prepared to eat, patrons behind us began to gasp, at this point my child and I turned to see what was going on, and low and behold, there was larger sized COCKROACH on the wall! As the patrons scurried away, I grasped the attention of the server and pointed her in the direction of the roach. She then, motioned for another coworker and who I assumed to be the manager to come over and take care of the roach, in which they did. By this point, our appetites were completely gone. I proceeded to ask for our checks to pay and leave....after we completed the transaction we left. What really got me was, at the bare minimum I believe we should've at least gotten an apology. But no, we got nothing. I understand that things happen, however, at least acknowledge how this experience ruined our night. I will never...