Phenomenal food! extremely delicious and on par with urban New York or New Orleans cuisine. A wonderful place to have in the community. Also the service was delightful, we had a lovely young man Nick wait on us, he was personable and responsive, two qualities I look for in good service. Cheers! a must try. read more

Had dinner here once before and things were fine. Second visit was for brunch here on Sunday with a party of 13 people. All of us agreed that our food was delicious. So why only two stars? The service, which can torpedo the best restaurants. Our server seemed to feel he was doing us a favor rather than, you know, doing the job that WE were paying him to do. When he took drink orders, I asked for a cocktail and wine list. He pointed to the 4 cocktails listed on the brunch menu and said, "those are our only cocktails". Really? If I asked for a martini at 2pm on a Sunday you would refuse to make one? So I pressed by asking, "you don't serve wine on Sundays?" He replied, "oh, I guess I could get you a wine list." Yes, I guess you could. A good 10-12 minutes later he returned to take our food order. Questions about possible substitutions were met with gruff answers. When my elderly father asked if there was anything else that could be added to my mother's meal he replied simply, "no." Actually, there are a number of side dishes, such as grits and fruit that could have been added but he didn't feel like assisting his guests. I received the same treatment when I asked if I could substitute the fries on my dish for anything else. "A side salad, and that's all," he stated. Food arrived in a fairly timely manner but plates were delivered to the wrong people, my father received toast when he had asked for a biscuit, and a side of bacon was forgotten. A child requested ketchup which our server never brought - we finally asked another staff member for it. It's incredibly dissapointing to have to write such a mediocre review of a restaurant that has lovely food. Tandem - please - train your staff. read more

Simply put, Tandem is the most underrated restaurant in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. I've eaten here for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and have enjoyed countless dates, double dates, large group dinners a la carte and large group dinners with a set menu. Every time, Tandem delivered. While there's the rare menu hiccup (merguez stuffed calamari and some of the daily soups with coconut cream), more often Tandem dazzles with exceptional dishes and unique flavor combinations. The menu (and drinks list) is tweaked somewhat regularly, but a few dishes I've enjoyed over the past two years include: the chickpea fritters (must order), trio of spreads, smoked ribs, caesar salad, roasted salmon (recently made with black forbidden rice and masala curry was the best roasted salmon dish I've ever had), beef short ribs, and steak for one. For brunch, the shakshouka and fried chicken benedict are both incredible. Tandem does all the little things well--the crostinis are perfectly salted; the plating is done with equal parts grace and panache; the ingredients and colors always pop on the eyes and then the palette; and the service is consistently excellent. If you haven't yet discovered Tandem, you need to visit this neighborhood gem. read more

We hosted our rehearsal dinner at Tandem and it nearly out did the wedding it was SUCH a wonderful evening. The folks at Tandem were so kind and positive with the 38+ guests we had and the food was even more amazing than I anticipated. They curtained off part of the dining room and made us feel like we were the only ones there-even though it was a busy Friday night for the restaurant. I can't thank everyone at Tandem enough for helping us kick off our wedding weekend in a way that only Carrboro can :) read more

We went here for Valentine's Day dinner and so we understand how busy things can be for a restaurant in this time. However, with a background in hospitality, I feel that they did not handle or plan it well. I think they were greedy about taking reservations and did little to make sure they could handle the volume they took on. Our server was so busy that we sat there for 20 minutes before we could even order a drink. By then, we just ordered everything else we wanted all at once. Our server never checked on us until it was time to take our payments, which he stood over me to get his tip while I was finishing writing it. His attitude was poor and the wait times for everything was worse. We started with deviled eggs and Caesar salads. All of this was good. My partner had the lamb shank and I tasted it. It was very good. I got the short ribs and my meat was fatty, tough, and small. By the time we finally received our meals and ate, we decided to go someplace else for dessert and coffee because we didn't want to be there anymore. We were pretty disappointed as we like to support local establishments and we had been planning to try out Tandem since it opened. It certainly was no way to spend a special holiday dinner. read more

Went for Sunday brunch- had the biscuits & sausage gravy with scrambled eggs on top instead of the poached eggs it is advertised with and another diner had the shrimp and grits. Everything was just okay - nothing got me excited to want to come back for any other meal. The shrimp and grits was mostly sausage - 4-5 shrimp. Really was sausage and grits - they were okay, not the best nor the worst around. The biscuit & sausage gravy was ok - I didn't finish it, which says a lot since it is hard to find a biscuit and gravy I can't finish. The biscuit was not big and fluffy with any taste - it was kind of flat, had been grilled and was more like a johnny cake or something like that. The gravy had very little sausage in it and just tasted more herby than sausage-y. There was a ton of scrambled egg on it - almost too much - the proportions were off. The wait staff and the restaurant setting were all good - no complaints there. I'm just not excited to try anything else. I know people like the different eggs benedict, so that may be where it's at - I just don't like poached eggs. read more

Tried so hard to like Tandem but every time we've eaten there it's been consistently bad. The bartenders can't make basic cocktails, and the food is always lackluster. In 6 visits, we've never had a good experience and won't be back. read more

Took my family here for a Saturday lunch. All five of us enjoyed our meals, which were unique and delicious. We shared the spread trio as an appetizer which was very good read more

One of the best meals we've had EVER! Seriously! The Joyce Farms Chicken was perfectly cooked with an arrangement of vegetables that didn't just compliment--it made the dish perfection. The servers were fantastic. Even the cocktails were precision. I ordered a side-car but didn't care for berries, and they made it beyond my expectations. They feature a special drink (weekly) which $5 of the cost goes to a local charity. We had one and it was also splendid. I cannot think of a restaurant locally that has tried so hard and met or exceeded every single one of my expectations. Ambiance, variety, and spectacular flavors I haven't found elsewhere. TANDEM is a restaurant worth driving to! Bravo read more

Words can't describe how much we love the food, space and team at Tandem! We had our wedding and reception at Tandem, everything was perfect. We knew we wanted food to be a highlight of the wedding - Tandem didn't disappoint. The staff was great to work with and made sure we were taken care of. Overall, amazing experience! read more

Sigh. This is another place I really wanted to enjoy. This review is for brunch only - not sure if maybe dinner or lunch would be better. The decor is really cute and provided a lovely atmosphere for our Sunday brunch. Our server was attentive and friendly. But the food is really where it fell short for me. I ordered the Mediterranean omelet without tomatoes and my boyfriend had the biscuit and gravy. Let's talk about my omelet. While it wasn't terrible, I feel like I could have made the same or better at home. The spinach in it was fine, but it seemed like maybe they didn't drain it so there was water all over my plate. There was an ok amount of goat cheese in it, but I didn't get a bite of avocado until my last bite. Pretty skimpy on the fillings. In addition, it was super salty for some reason. It came with smashed potatoes, which are exactly what they sound like. It was a potato that had been smashed and cooked until it was slightly crispy on the outside. From a presentation standpoint this was a cool idea to me. But honestly it just made it tough to eat since I was having to cut the potato with a knife and fork. The potato was also really salty. So overall I wasn't impressed with my omelet. My boyfriend felt the same way about his biscuit and gravy. Note that when the menu says biscuit (as in one) they mean it. It came out as just one little tiny biscuit with some gravy on it and it wasn't hot when it came out. He wasn't all that impressed either. I may go back and try dinner since this place has decent reviews, but I won't be back for brunch. read more

Have been to tandem a couple of times now and love what the new owners have done with it! The space is in the old Carr Mill Mall and they've totally played off of the massive beams and plank flooring to create a super warm and inviting space with funky and cool lighting! The food is just amazing - locally sourced meats and cheeses and such wonderful flavors. Both the salmon and the short ribs were to die for! And definitely have the panna cotta for dessert! The service has been excellent - overall just a great experience! This is a great addition to the Carrboro food scene! read more

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Tandem is hands down the BEST new restaurant around! AMAZING food and ambiance! Perfect for a date night or girls night out. Had the best Salmon dish ever and the Spring Risotto, Chickpea Fritters plus Molten Lava Cake for dessert were phenomenal. Can't forget to mention how yummy my dirty martini was! Excellent service--a fabulous place. Been there a few times already and plan to be a frequent diner! read more

We were eager to try a new restaurant and saw Tandem had just opened. Since it was just two of us with light appetites, we decided to split dinner appetizers and a salad. The soup of the day was peach gazpacho. Although I prefer vegetable to fruit infusions, it was quite good. The Trio of spreads consisting of an avocado/beet, roasted red pepper mixture, and goat cheese mixture with crustini was delicious. I could feel well-satisfied with that as a lunch. The arugula salad with goat cheese, candied pecans and a vanilla vinaigrette dressing was divine. Our waitress, Marlana, was friendly and highlighted the specials and the menu. I'm looking forward to returning for a lunch and full dinner. The only negative was there was no sign directing patrons to the wheelchair entrance which was inside the Carr Mill Mall nor was there anything inside the Mall indicating that it was such entrance. I mentioned it so expect to see it next time. read more

Met friends for lunch. The deviled eggs with crab were good. I got the burger which was really good as was the salad. My friends got the BLT and a saIad with skirt steak which looked delicious! I suppose at least at good as our entrees were the ambience was great. It is really a nice setting for lunch or dinner. The servers were especially accommodating. I'll be back. Just wish they had their daily specials listed on-line. $5.00 wine, shrimp &grits and mixed drink specials are too numerous to remember. read more

My second time here last night & it was just as delicious as the first visit. The wait staff is very knowledgeable, the host staff is pleasant & friendly, and the food is amazing! They definitely strive for presentation here & if that doesn't impress you just wait till you taste the food. It is pricey but nomore than the other "big name" restaurants on Franklin Street. Even if you stop in for appetizers and a drink to test it out, you will come back & pay the entree price. read more

By far the best food in Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. Ambience is phenomenal, plates are huge, nice wine list.

Had dinner here for Valentines day. I ordered the Pomegranate spritz which was strong and delicious. For an appetizers, we ordered the chickpea fritters which we also really liked. Some parts of the steak were chewy (which other reviews mentioned), but overall was good. I ordered the ahi tuna special which was also delicious. Overall, a great experience. The food wasn't 5 star worthy, but for Chapel Hill/Carrboro, this really is one of the best restaurants. read more

Excellent service (Karen was prompt and curtious) and atmosphere was great! We went there for the first time today for brunch. My wife had shrimp and grits and I had salmon eggs Benedict. Both dishes were excellently prepared (delicous and visually pleasing) with generous serving sizes at a reasonable price. Definitely recommend. read more

We ate at Tandem on Friday night, for a special occasion meal, and left extremely satisfied. Service and ambiance were stellar -- and the food was creative, locally sourced and plentiful. We will be going back soon, for sure. read more

Saturday evening dinner, elevated to a food experience! Industrial-hipster-divey look, but the offerings are haute cuisine, no matter the earthy look and feel of the place. Dogs are allowed on the outdoor patio, so bring Fido if you can snag a table there. We started at the bar, since our table was not quite ready and The guy tending bar that night was a real gem! Knowledgeable, polished, with good suggestions and ready explanations for whatever we were contemplating as drinks. Listened to him and got to know a nice American Riesling, dry, fruity and easy to like; goes by the name Kung-Fu Girl. Indeed! Our server picked up where the bartender had left off and we had one of most enjoyable dinners in a long time. Any veg-leaning person can happily dine there and leave with a smile, although their "regular" offerings are nothing to sneeze at either. The food is beautifully presented and plain delicious. Portions are reasonable, either for sharing or hogging. Heartily recommend Tandem to anyone in the area! read more

Amazing food, got the wild salmon, if you like Indian food this is absolutely excellent

I came with a group of 6 for a masters graduation celebration. The table agreed we have never had such terrible service. My mother in law's sweet tea with lemonade tasted like weak unsweetened tea. She brought this up to the male server who said he had made it himself so he knew it had been made correctly no offer to fix it to her taste and no apologies. My father in law loved his beer and the one graduating liked his mixed drink however the length of time between refills was absurd my mother in laws drink was empty for 40 minutes with no offer to refill it. When we were done with dinner we asked about dessert and the server informed us that the kitchen was closed had been for 22 minutes. I myself have been a waitress at a high end resort and I have never heard of not telling a customer "by the way the kitchen will be closing in X minutes" would you like anything. My mother in law explained our dissatisfaction to the hostess as we were leaving and she offered to go make us desserts to go however at this point we were frustrated with poor and slow service and just wanted to take our business elsewhere. Also side note the appetizers are unbelievably small I cannot conceive splitting them between a group and anyone receiving more than one bite and the descriptions for them are not helpful. Would not return the cheap bar down the street has better service and food I would not go here again. read more

We came here for brunch. Service was pleasant and prompt. Nothing was bad but nothing was great either. All of our food was room temperature at best. Nothing was hot - we received our food not even 10 minutes after ordering. One in the group had shrimp and grits, another the Mediterranean omelet , salmon Benedict and two eggs any style. We also got a French toast for the table. The French toast was half eaten so it wasn't great. The side of smashed potato is pretty flavorless. We had to ask for hot sauce - pepper. The mimosa are a bit pricey. Plenty of great places offering better deals or bottomless mimosas. The decor is nice. They do have a 10% off for yelp checkin which is nice. Will we return maybe - but not on my list of top places. read more

Service was incredibly slow. Waited over an hour for appetizers.then had to wait another 45 min for dinner. Food was ok but overpriced. I also find it disturbing that despite several negative reviews there was no apology from the restaurant. read more

We always have GREAT meals here, and we come here often with our kids, so we collect quite a few customer loyalty punchcards. However, on our last visit, we attempted to consolidate our multiple "punches" on to one card for one free lunch. The manager told us that each card represented a customer, and card punches could not be consolidated......even though I was the one who had paid for each and every meal/punch on all of the cards. We may come back again occasionally for the food, but it's almost not worth trying to be a loyal visitor after this experience. read more

We went on a week night so it wasn't terribly busy. The service was great and our meals were delicious. Our very picky 22yr old loved her meal as well. Highly recommend. read more

Delicious food with outstanding service! Do not miss the chickpea fritters!

Boo! Bloody cake fee. Ridiculous. They don't make a personalized birthday cake dessert, so I see this as a simple cash grab. I am sure they are not getting that much money from this, but it sure has pissed me off. Pretentious. And per person, not per cake. read more

I ate brunch there and the food was very salty. I asked my wife how her food was, and she mentioned her meal (a separate dish) was also very salty. I'm not sure if it's always that way, but based on my experience and the cost of the meal, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant if you're looking to try it out, and/or if you are watching your blood pressure. read more

There are few things in life better than a good Sunday Brunch, and Tandem does a fantastic job.My wife and I went there last Sunday and a had a great time. Tandem has a nice outdoor seating area -perfect for a relaxing meal. Their menu is creative, featuring some different takes on standard brunch fare - I recommend the Fried Chicken Benedict! Our server Elizabeth was wonderful - very pleasant and struck a perfect balance of making sure we were well attended but not overly intrusive. Tandem will definitely be a regular stop for us! read more

Went to Tandem for Mother's Day brunch. The food was all excellent and everybody in our party was very happy. The service was also great! Even though it was a buffet, we interacted with three different servers at various points that were all so professional and helpful. Giving it four stars because I had some issues with the hostess. When I returned a phone call to confirm my reservation, the hostess couldn't do that right away for some reason and asked for my number to call me back about confirming. She never called. Had to call again the next day and the hostess was not very polite. Also, showed up for our 10:30 reservation at 10:26 and was told they weren't seating us until our reservation time...ok... Then was told it would be 10 minutes. Well, 20 minutes later and after many parties that had arrived after us were seated, we were finally seated without being asked a preference for indoor or outdoor like the other parties before us. I worked in the restaurant industry so I understand a new restaurant can be a little unorganized, but their hosting staff needs to work on being a bit more personable to keep customers from being deterred before they even arrive. read more

Since my daughter has been at school we have enjoyed visiting and eating of course at the numerous restaurants and pubs in the area. We like to take her and her friends out for a nice meal. Until Tandem, we were thrilled with the local cuisine. We will never be back. The food though just mediocre was too small. They seem to charge entrée prices for appetizer sized dishes. The real problem began when the table next to us complained about something. The waitress was doing a good job trying to fix the problem and keep the customer happy. The bad part began when a man and woman (owners or manager not sure) began screaming at the poor girl. With their foreign accents we could not understand what they were saying and I expect the poor girl didn't either. We quickly finished, went somewhere else for desert and of course will never be back. read more

Good food and atmosphere with pleasant and competent service. Poor attitude of front end management.

I had no idea of where to plan a Graduation/Mothersday party. After making lots of phone calls, searching online filtering through the unknowns to numerous places in the area I stumbled on Tandem and spoke to Quennie. I immediately felt that this was the right venue and boy did our group strike out. The food and dessert was an exciting mélange of tantalizing palette satisfaction. And the service was equally as perfect. Our group was seated on the patio and this was a perfect venue. We cant wait to return! Thank you. read more

Excellent Sunday dinner at Tandem. Atmosphere beautiful and cozy. There was lots of activity but the restaurant was not at all loud and our table of seven was able to talk together nicely. A number of people ordered the salmon dish. It was the best food I have had in town in quite some time. My children enjoyed their meals as well. Ate every bite, including the sides of vegetables that were absolutely scrumptious! So happy to have this wonderful, new addition as a dining option in Carrboro. read more

Great food at the bar. The only item that we had that wasn't good was the pate. It needed onion bacon and cognac, it was very bland and a huge serving ..otherwise meal was great and we will be back. read more

The lunch menu is good but overpriced. I ordered a grilled cheese and salad for lunch and it was at least $20 with a drink. Quality of food is good but you could probably get just as good cheaper somewhere else. I have never been there for dinner so not knowledgeable about that. read more

Never again. Three strikes and you're out. I really wanted to like Tandem. But alas, after three tries I'll never return. Slow as molasses in an empty restaurant at 7:30 on a Friday night. When the food finally came out -- curried mussels and a burrata plate -- it was less than inspiring. And the bartender didn't know how to make my drink -- a Negroni. Yikes! We really need a good restaurant in this space in Carrboro. Why can't that happen? read more

This place will probably bump right up to five stars once they iron out the service kinks. Brunch was delicious. The fried chicken benedict sounds weird but is sublime -- even better is to order one of those and one of the other benedicts and share with someone, as I doubt I could have eaten the full two-egg portion. Homemade sausage has a nice kick. Crucially, they have a kids' option for brunch: one pancake, eggs, bacon and fruit. Coffee was great. Our server, while pleasant, disappeared for long stretches, and paying took 20 minutes. read more