The Bell Tree Tavern — Restaurant in Southern Pines

Update on 3/12/24.

The restaurant owner managed to talk me into dropping the rating to 1 start star because of poor customer service. It's apparent that the owner who responded "yes, taxes and fees are added to your check, just like every other restaurant," didn't actually read my post. I was making three points, none of which the owner responded to.

1. The menu prices were different than the prices I was charged. This is pretty serious. The bill should NEVER be a surprise to the patrons. If you can't afford to reprint the menus, I can understand that, but at least tell your staff to let people know that the prices are wrong.
2. There was barely any dressing on the salad. Since I pointed that out, I would not expect an upcharge for a little more dressing (or at least be informed if there was one). And contrary to what the owner says, an overwhelming majority of restaurants do NOT charge for dressing, especially when the dressing was very light.
3. I was charged extra credit card fees. This was not a big deal but yet again, the owner is wrong to say that "every other restaurant" does that. That's simply not true. - yes, SOME (not EVERY), restaurants do charge a credit card fee. But when you consider the surprise bill with the incorrect menu prices and the upcharge for asking that I actually have salad dressing on my salad, well the credit card fees just added insult to injury.

What's perhaps most concerning is the tone of the owner's response to my prior review. None of my concerns were "show-stoppers" so the owner could have taken the opportunity to improve their service; instead, the owner chose to sarcastically blame me for being ignorant of what "every other restaurant" does in his/her opinion - by the way, I'm out at restaurants a great deal, so I'm not a newbie. Based upon the attitude in the owner's response to my original post, I would say skip this restaurant and find one that cares about their customers.

FYI, I don't like leaving negative reviews (most are favorable) but this owner really worked hard to earn it. :-). Also, if anyone is wondering, yes, in spite of my concerns, I did tip the waiter over 20%.

This was a difficult restaurant to rate.

On the plus side, the food was reasonably good, and the service was excellent. Both our waiter and waitress were extremely friendly and personable.

On the downside, you're in for surprises when you get the bill. The prices on the bill were different than the prices on the menu, by about 4 or 5%. Additionally, my salad dressing was on the light side, so I asked for a little bit more and didn't find out that there was a charge for that until I got the bill. On top of all that, there is an additional charge for using a credit card. Not sure if the positives outweigh the negatives, so I'm also not sure if I'll go back.

If it weren't for the kind staff, I would have given this restaurant two Stars based upon the food and the surprises...

The Bell Tree Tavern is a true gem that perfectly combines a warm, inviting atmosphere with outstanding food and drink! From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the charming decor, complete with wooden beams, cozy lighting, and a friendly vibe that made me feel right at home.

I started my evening with their famous Tavern tenders, which were perfectly crispy and tossed in a delicious house-made buffalo sauce. They were spicy but not overpowering, and served with a side of creamy blue cheese dressing that complemented them perfectly.

For my main course, I ordered the Tavern Burger, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The patty was juicy and cooked to perfection, topped with melted cheddar, crispy bacon, and fresh lettuce and tomato, all served on a toasted brioche bun. The fries on the side were golden and crispy—definitely some of the best I’ve had!

The drink menu is also impressive, featuring a great selection of local craft beers and creative cocktails and it was the perfect complement to my meal.

What really stood out, though, was the service. Our server was attentive, friendly, and genuinely seemed to enjoy what they were doing. They took the time to recommend dishes and even shared a bit about the local brews on tap.

The Bell Tree Tavern is the perfect spot for a casual night out with friends or a relaxed dinner. With its fantastic food, great drinks, and welcoming atmosphere, I can’t wait to return for another round! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a delightful...

Had a difficult time getting a table outside even though one was available. When I initially asked about a table outside, I was told it woul be a 1 hour wait. After taking a look outside on the back patio I notice that there was a table available. When I returned to the front and asked the hostess about the table, the response was simply "I was told not to seat anyone outside". Our party of 4 acknowledged and took a seat at an inside table. For some reason within 5 minutes the Mgr and/or Owner came to our table explained the discrepancy in communication and coordinated the outside table with the same server who had already taken our drink orders. Twenty minutes after being seated the server returned to take our food orders. She was professional in that she did her job, but did not seem happy to be there or maybe it was the additional walk to get to us. Either way our food came out within 15 minutes and was perfect, obviously the kitchen is well managed and on the ball. A bit more focus could be put on customer service. Personality of servers go a long way to ensure growing success in almost any business. Rating the basics 1neg-5pos: Service-3, Cleanliness-4, Food-5, Prices-5, Wait time-4, Correct Bill-5, Customer experience-3, Will...