Tara Inn — Restaurant in Town of Brookhaven

Normally I love this lil bar and restaurant. The food is always good, the people that work there are great. Used to come here every Friday for years. Unfortunately I think this needs to be documented bc i was really appalled about what happened to my boyfriend there last night. He works practically 7 days a week and is usually dead tired and barely can get a good meal in with the hours he works. We decided to go to Tara's last night. He ordered a lobster and hamburger. He enjoyed it so much he asked if they would make another lobster (he was hungry) and another burger. We also had some wine. The waiter who took over our table after the other waitress was done with her shift was a short man, older, Irish looking with hair just on the sides of his head. Didn't catch his name. But what an attitude shift we felt. Very curt, very rude. After my boyfriend finished the last of his food with a big satisfied smile on his face he asked the waiter for the check and complimented the food again. The waiter turns to him and says "SO NOW THAT YOUR DONE STUFFING YOUR FACE YOU WANT THE CHECK?" My boyfriend let out an uncomfortable giggle and I looked straight at the waiter incredulously. Shocked. He then proceeds to bring the check over, slaps it down hard onto the table in front of us and says loudly and smugly "HERES YOUR CHECK, SEVENTY TWO DOLLARS" and abruptly turns and walks away. I have never been treated this way ever in my life by a waiter, or anyone for that matter. Paying customers get spoken to like that? Not really sure why this waiter had a problem with us ordering food, there was no last call, nor did they tell us the kitchen was closed.. Why did this waiter feel the need to insult us, we were nothing but gracious and friendly? The owner needs to do something about that man. I will never return to Taras again unfortunately. And our friends and family will not be either after we told them of our experience there. I hope someone who works there reads this...and straightens him out before he insults someone else....

Had the pleasure of choosing Tara Inn for lunch today, every establishment can learn a lesson from the customer service that my friend and I experienced. Upon walking in we were greeted by Peter, Tara’s husband and son-in-law of the founder who named the bar for his daughter 47 years ago. We told him it was our first visit and he offered us seats and welcomed us. The regulars at the bar guided us through the menu and we each had a burger with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles for $1 per burger expecting very small burgers we were surprised to find them standard sized and deliciously prepared to medium. My friend had the fried shrimp and I had a $13 steamed lobster! Excellent! They offer daily specials and one of the gentleman at the bar told me their steaks are very good. Every staff person went out of their way to make us feel at home. A charismatic women came out from the back and introduced herself as Tara she thanked us for choosing to lunch there. Why can’t other places realize the importance of making a first time patron feel welcome. I Had a great afternoon enjoying the excellent variety of beers that they provide on tap. The charming decor has probably changed little since the ‘70s and that adds to the vibe. If you want to go to the friendliest bar on Long Island, head over...

FOOD POISONING ALERT I used to love this place and was a regular when I lived closer. Went tonight for the first time in about a year and boy have things gone down hill. Bartender was wasted and over charged us, food was not good at all and I am worried I may have food poisoning as I suddenly had to run to the bathroom an hour after eating there (I never get sick like this). And who charges $3 for a seltzer when you're the pregnant designated driver? Never again. Oh and prices have gone up but that's the least my complaints at the moment, considering I am now sitting in the bathroom with my head in a garbage can...

UPDATE: I ended up vomiting a ridiculous amount shortly after writing the review above. It is now the next day and I am still running to the bathroom a few times an hour because of what I ate at Tara's last night. I woke up several times during the night to do the same. For those wondering, I had a bacon cheese burger and fried shrimp. I'm thinking it was the shrimp as my husband ate a burger too and didn't get sick. It may have been that weird tasting $3 seltzer too, but who knows at this point. What I do know is I will never be returning and, if you're reading this, I highly suggest finding another place...