Big Oak Tavern — Restaurant in Roswell

I visited this black owned establishment on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Upon arrival I noticed how raggedy and run down the parking lot was. The parking lot was not paved and a bit treacherous! It did have a lot of gravel and some holes in the parking lot. I was able to cautiously park my car. Keep in mind this parking lot is free, however it is located in the back of the restaurant. I feel the parking lot is definitely a safety hazard! Someone can get seriously hurt if they fall in this parking lot! The ownership needs to do better and pave this parking lot because it is terrible. I noticed the restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area right in the front that reminds you of a patio. Once I went indoors, I was greeted by the host who informed me I could be seated anywhere I desired. I noticed that the restaurant itself was clean and had nice open seating areas. I also noticed they have an upstairs area, which I believe hosts parties and events. They also have an upstairs patio area as well that looks great for outdoor seating in the spring or summer. I seated myself right in the front of the restaurant since they have beautiful large windows that let the sunlight in. Once I was seated, the waiter came over and provided me with a menu. I love that this establishment was offering breakfast and lunch this early in the day when I went. This means they had a plethora of menu items available. I ordered the following menu items: Buffalo cauliflower, Big oak black wings, Jalapeño cheese grits, and Roasted Fuji apple buttermilk pancakes. I wanted to have a mix of brunch and lunch together. Therefore I ordered menu items off the brunch and lunch menu. Keep in mind they do have a “10 stack one man eating challenge” on their menu. The waiter didn’t write anything down that I ordered and actually took my order from memory. I felt that he provided pretty good service. He even wiped the table off for me without incident at my request. I noticed that they have two restrooms for patrons to use. I used the restroom without incident which was clean. I also noticed they have a 95 A health score, which is pretty good. They also sell paraphernalia such as T-shirts, Seasonings, Cups, and other items at the front of the establishment. There’s also a pretty nice bar located towards the back of the restaurant, which we would be great for someone that is solo. You can make reservations online if desired, but I didn’t feel it was necessary since I came right at opening time. My food came to the table after about 20 minutes. I requested all my food to be brought to the table together. The Grits were pretty stiff and not good at all. I did not like the consistency. They didn’t have any type of give and it was like eating sticky rice. The Pancake was falling apart when it was cut. Although it had lightly crisp edges, the pancake completely fell apart and I couldn’t even really enjoy it. It had absolutely no firmness or consistency to it whatsoever. The Wings were crisp and seasoned well. I love the sauce they put on them and I greatly enjoyed the flavor. The Buffalo cauliflower was extremely delicious. I love the buffalo flavor and how they provide you with a whole cauliflower for this dish. Also the blue cheese was a great complement to the dish. I finished this portion of my meal without incident since it was the best part. I see why the Buffalo cauliflower and Wings come highly recommended. I’m not sure what other brunch items are good, but I was not impressed with the ones that I ordered. I didn’t even attempt to eat the Bacon that came with the Pancakes. It looked limp and not very crispy. I definitely could tell this place has a family friendly vibe. I wouldn’t not recommend this place, but definitely heed my warning when it comes to the food items I ordered. I probably would not return, but I think it’s a decent neighborhood place for those who live in the Roswell area to come and fellowship with...

My husband and I decided on Friday night to try someplace different than our normal restaurants - we were totally disappointed. The service was terrible and the food just wasn't that great. It's too bad, this place has so much potential! With someone checking dishes before they're taken to customers and a good front of the house manager, this place could be great!

Once we were seated, it took about 10 minutes for our server to greet us and bring us our beverages. My drink was incorrect, so she left to get a correct drink. I had to ask 2 more times just to get my soda! Our server appeared to also be the bartender and she was clearly overwhelmed. It's not for lack of employees to help her, though, but they were busy congregating at the end of the bar.

We saw a group of 5 or 6 servers at the end of and behind the bar with their masks pulled down below their chins or taken off completely. When servers left tables to go behind the bar and get drinks, masks were removed probably half the time.

We ordered our food and my salad came out rather quickly. It was fine, some of the lettuce wilty and past its prime, but aside from that an ok salad.

By this point we've been here nearly an hour and are just now receiving our entrees. We actually contemplated leaving enough cash to cover my salad/soda and just leaving to eat somewhere else.

When our food finally arrived, my husband's burger was well done instead of medium. The french fries were actually pretty tasty, though!

I ordered the salmon and it was pretty good. The menu states it will be cooked medium but it came out dry. The ginger sauce was pretty good, though. I enjoyed the vegetables and rice served alongside. With a few changes, this dish would be great.

We definitely didn't want dessert. My husband ordered a beer about the time my salad arrived and it showed up with the check - on the house, since she realized her mistake, but still frustrating.

I'm not sure if we'll try this place again... But I sure do hope they get their act together, it could be a great...

I visited this location several times in the past when it was a different owner and name. I just went today for the first time in a long time and have to say was definitely surprised. If you have dogs, this is a MUST!! They were so friendly and attentive to my little ones. They brought out water and offered milkbones or beggin strips for them and they have doggie options on the menu. I got the doggie bowl with grilled chicken eggs bacon and rice. They even separated it into 3 small bowls for my 3. They gobbled it up. And, if you don’t have pups, the food was AMAZING. I eat a lot of French dip sandwiches but their option was delicious. Even had bits of beef and rosemary in my au jus. Not what I expected from the typical bar menu. The bread was very soft and fresh and the meat was super tender and juicy. And I love steak fries!! Their menu looked delicious and I can’t wait to go back and try something else. Lots of variety. The indoor decor is really cool too with a very clean bathroom. Love the upstairs area. Can’t wait to come back. This is a much needed addition for Roswell off the Main Street. Just need a little more parking because I am sure they will start being...