Tree House Tavern — Restaurant in Warwick

The first thing you notice as you enter the establishment is how the interior is decorated. From ceiling to floor, it's quite the scene. It's a bit "girly" in that sense but it's also fun, generally speaking. It appears to me to be an old farmhouse converted into a restaurant. There are several differently-themed dining rooms, and in the two times I've been there, I've been in the room to the right of the main room, and in the main room.

Concerning the food: The first time we went there, I got the Cabernet Osso Buco (Braised Bone In Pork Shank, Roasted Squash, Tri Color Gnocchi, Cippolini Onions, Carrots, Chef's Vegetable, finished with Pan Jus), and a Bulleit Bourbon Manhattan. The plating of the food was very appealing and yummy -- tender and flavorful. The Manhattan was well-made and they use the gourmet cherries (tasted like Luxardo to me!). The liquid was all the way to the top rim of the glass, requiring a bit of a balancing act to prevent it from spilling, just as it should be. It was a might expensive though -- $17! I mean how much would a Blanton's Manhattan cost me? But they didn't scrimp on the amount of booze, so I wasn't totally bummed.

The second time there was my wife and me, for my birthday. I could've chosen a bunch of different places but was really impressed with how the Osso Buco turned out so that I wanted to try the Duck Breast (which I did) -- Pan Seared Duck Breast Bouquet of mushrooms, whipped sweet potatoes, Chef's vegetable, blackberry bordelaise, lingonberry & fruit compote. Rather good on everything again, though not quite enough glazing IMHO. I ordered the same Manhattan -- afterall it was quite delicious, and it's my birthday.

On both occasions my wife got the same thing. She's a creature of habit, especially when she finds something she really likes. I tasted it, and I can see why she did so -- Mushroom and Truffle Mac and Cheese with Chicken (Cast Iron Skillet Loaded with Sliced Portobello Mushroom in our Rich Cheese Sauce and Cavatappi, White Truffle Oil and Crusted with Buttery Cracker Crumbs).

However, the second time around, the chicken was definitely overcooked -- way too charred, and fairly dry. Why anyone serves chicken breast meat in a restaurant is beyond me. Thigh meat is way superior. Anyway, she was happy with everything except the chicken, on the second visit.

For my birthday dessert, we shared a slice of Pistachio Lucky Charms Cheese Cake. It was fabulous!

On both occasions the place was fairly filled with people, but I don't recall it being terribly noisy. I think the really high ceilings might help mitigate the reflective sound levels.

Both times the waitress was ... well ... not all that friendly. Not even a smile for crying out loud. I mean who knows why someone isn't in the best of moods, but when you're at work, it's really unacceptable to let your customer know it. They're not your confidant nor your therapist, nor the cause of your unhappiness. Anyway, I couldn't quite tell if it was the same low-on-the-chipper personality person we had the previous time or not. She just seemed to be nonplussed to be there, bordering miserable.

I'm beginning to find that factor in more and more in restaurants these days. Personally, even on my birthday, I'd rather put some porkchops on the grill with either some grilled corn on the cob or baked sweet potato, and mix up my own Manhattan. My wife is really the "let's go to a restaurant" person. Why bother with the possibility of meeting little Miss Miserable, and maybe someone in the back dropped your Duck Breast on the floor, and just blew the dust and grit off before plating it (or worse)? You just don't know anymore. Not saying that this is what happened, it's just the sorts of things you think of when you have...

Ah, the Treehouse Tavern — a name that conjures images of cozy dining nestled among the branches, where flavors blossom and culinary creativity thrives. Sadly, my recent visit was more akin to a tumble from the treetops than a delightful dining experience.

We ventured in with high hopes, eager to indulge in their offerings. Our choices included the lobster and sweet corn ravioli, chicken Marsala, and the much-ballyhooed French Onion Burger. Regrettably, what followed was a string of culinary misfires that left us bewildered and disappointed.

Let’s start with the lobster and sweet corn ravioli. While the ravioli itself was somewhat edible, the sweet corn was a complete letdown. Instead of the anticipated sweetness, we were met with a flavor reminiscent of cow feed — bland and uninspired. The asparagus that accompanied it was so over-seasoned that it lost all semblance of its natural tenderness, resulting in a dry mush that was perhaps the best dish of the evening, if that’s any consolation.

Then, we moved on to the chicken Marsala, which was an outright disaster. My mother even wondered if the wrong dish had been delivered. The mushrooms were overcooked and devoid of earthy flavor, and the bone-in chicken was the driest I’ve ever encountered. It was as if it had endured several reheating cycles, transforming it into a culinary abomination. The accompanying mashed potatoes resembled something beaten by a framing hammer — lacking flavor and texture.

As for the French Onion Burger, I can only shake my head in disbelief. I specifically inquired whether the patty was house-made, to which our server assured us it was. However, the burger that arrived bore all the hallmarks of a frozen, industrial-grade patty — compressed and lacking any semblance of freshness. The flavor was akin to a stale sponge, and I couldn’t even bring myself to eat it. To top it off, it arrived without bacon, despite the menu's description clearly stating otherwise. This oversight suggested a troubling disconnect between the front of house and the kitchen.

The fries were equally disappointing, resembling frozen impostors with an unnatural coating. The cheese on the burger bore no hints of Swiss or Gruyère, and the onions lacked even a whisper of French onion flavor. In short, this was the worst burger I’ve ever had — even a fast-food option left to sit for an hour would have been more appealing.

When I attempted to share my concerns with our server, she seemed apprehensive about relaying feedback to the kitchen. A manager eventually approached, but without so much as an introduction or eye contact, he took my plate with a dismissive air, embodying a lack of pride in both service and culinary execution.

Desert? We hesitated, but decided on coffee instead, hoping for a sweet ending. What we received was a dry, overcooked devil’s food cake masquerading as lava cake — a far cry from the indulgent treat we hoped for.

Treehouse Tavern boasts a rather pretentious motto: “Our menu items are like bathing suits - you cannot try them on & send them back.” Perhaps they should focus on ensuring their food is worth ordering in the first place. If they can’t even master a basic burger, it’s hard to take their words seriously.

In conclusion, my experience at Treehouse Tavern was a bitter disappointment, marked by lackluster dishes and an alarming disregard for customer service. There’s a world of culinary possibilities out there; I suggest looking elsewhere for a truly delightful...

My family and I came in to celebrate my father's birthday this evening. As long-time lovers of The Treehouse Tavern, we were, once again, impressed on all levels. Like most other restaurants during this time, they are under-staffed, but Stacey, our server, was absolutely awesome and very attentive, considering she had to handle the work of two other servers.

We had seven people in our party, consisting of five adults and two children (under 6 y/o). We ordered the Chicken Wings (plain) and Pulled Pork Nachos for appetizers. Dinners consisted of multiple orders of the NY sirloin and Meatloaf, kid's grilled cheese, and kid's chicken.

The chicken wings were crispy, flavorful, and not overly-salty. Tender and tasty, they happily satisfied three of our guests. The other three guests enjoyed the pulled pork nachos. Typically, nachos can be greasy and dense, but that is not the case here. They are light, perfectly seasoned, covered in an appropriate array of toppings, and absolutely delicious. There was also an ample amount of freshly made guacamole to accompany them--which is a welcome departure from the norm of nacho-ordering at other restaurants.

The entrees arrived, perfectly timed, with the completion of the appetizers. The steaks were cooked perfectly (medium well and medium rare and neither were mis-identified) and served with the requested sides (one with asparagus as offered and the other with green beans, as requested). The steaks were lean and flavorful and the sides were exactly as described. The meatloaf was definitely "meaty" and perfectly cooked--it definitely left the three people that ordered it full--one even took half home as they couldn't finish it.

I thought special mention should be given to the kids' meals. As many of you parents know, kids can often times determine the parents' willingness to visit/re-visit a restaurant. Let me say this: We had one of the pickiest eaters on the planet with us and even he at most of his dinner. He had the kids' chicken and fries entree--plain cooked chicken (moist and tender) served with their delicious fries. He ate half the plate. We were very happy. The other child eats anything and everything--including vegetables, so she very much enjoyed her kids' grilled cheese.

As if this culinary experience wasn't already good enough, the coup de grâce was the Boston Cream Pie cake we ordered from the restaurant for the birthday boy. This multi-layered luscious dessert was perfectly portioned with chocolate, cream, and cake--sprinkled with chocolate crisps, to give this delicious dessert a fun flair.

If you are looking for a night out with delicious food, great service, and a wonderful and adventurous atmosphere, you certainly found the...