The inside of the restaurant needs major renovations, but that said, dining outside on a nice day/evening is good. We hadn't been here in years because there are so many better options in the vicinity but tried it again last night. Service was good, drinks good, and the two entrees we ordered were good. My daughter had the sauteed sea scallops over linguini and husband had meatball pizza. Both were enjoyable. I had the wedge salad. It was good, but the lettuce came out room temperature. No salad should be room temp - for taste and safely reasons. Lettuce should be refrigerated after being picked. We will be happy to go back and eat on their patio. read more

Cape cod mediocrity at its most mediocre. Expansive menu with nothing really very good. Like a Howard Johnson's from the 50s. Try to avoid the skinny guy waiter. He's a real buzz kill. Eating outside can be nice... Unless the bar gets filled with rowdy sports fans. If you see a large tour bus parked outside .... Keep driving. read more

Service is very slow, Food came out in waves and was cold. Staff seemed very confused. Hostess was rude. I would not recommend

My wife and I had dinner here last night. Our experience was very good.The restaurant was extremely slow but during the week it's what we would've expected. Our waitress was very attentive, and friendly! We ordered from the prefix menu we had a glass of wine to start & a salad that was delicious (my waitress forgot to ask what dressing I'd like and it came with Italian...which was fine). I then moved onto the scrod with a cracker crumb topping, mashed potatoes and unfortunately canned green beans. It was all very good, and the only thing that was outstanding was the fish. It was cooked perfectly and it was a generous portion. We finished with little dessert apple crisp with vanilla ice cream... Again it was tasty, but the size of what I would expect maybe at a nursing home. I will return for lunch outside this summer! read more

Not impressed. We stopped for a quick dinner and the food and service were both mediocre. The table was dirty as we sat down and I mentioned it to the hostess. She then dropped our silverware and menus on top of the dirty table. My son order plain pasta and instead it came drenched in oil. I ordered a salad without dressing and it came dressed. My wife's pasta was tasteless. The burger my daughter ordered was decent. Pricey with mediocre food and service. read more

We went here for dinner tonight. Never going back. First off I have cooked in restaurants for over 30 years and I always give the benefit of the doubt to the servers and the kitchen. Tonight the server started off with there was a party of 30 in the dining room and couldn't ask the kitchen for anything.I let that pass since she did get the soup. Then I ordered the rib-eye steak for $22.50. What came was a square piece of steak. It wasn't even a whole rib-eye, just a part of it! $22.50 for mashed potatoes and green beans! There was more sauce than steak.I have never sent back my meal or left with no tip but that all changed tonight. read more

I've always experienced this place as just mediocre at best and very overpriced. Too, as many others have pointed out, when the menu is this extensive one is concerned about how much is frozen ... you're at the cape fgs, surrounded by incredible seafood, step it up. read more

I was very impressed my by first visit. My mother and I sat Inside and had a nice waitress who's name was Ashly I believe. She was very knowledgable about the menu which is good. I had the sautéed scallops which would have came with mashed potatoes but she recommended I try it over linguini and I'm so glad I did because it was amazing! Overall no complaints I had a great time. Also heard that the place is haunted which is kind of cool! read more

I have eaten at the Tavern frequently in the past five years that I have lived on the Cape. The food is pretty consistent and generally good. I have noticed over the years that the service is completely going down hill. :( I recently went out with some friends and sat in the Tavern. I cannot believe that the management still allows the bartender to wait on tables. She never seems happy, she can be very rude, and gets stressed very quickly. Drinks will sit empty and she rarely asks if you want another. If you are not one of her personal friends, you are not treated with priority. I was a bartender/server in a previous life and I could never imagine talking to someone that way. I think I will have to stay away from the Tavern for a while. read more

Horrible Lunch !! ordered a fish sandwich and hamburger, Fish sandwich came out raw, sent it back for a hamburger, again came out under cooked!! Service was terrible, waited for everything. other customers at the bar waited ten min. just for a drink. We haven't been in a few years just because of this and figured we would try it again. Will not go back. MY ADVISE !! GO TO THE DOLPHIN !!! FOOD IS ALWAYS GOOD AND EXCELLENT SERVICE! read more

We've gone here with family for Christmas dinner 3 years in a row. It's so nice to be able to enjoy the holiday without rushing around like a madwoman! The food and service was good, and we'd go back this year, but our family is otherwise engaged. We have not been here on a "regular" day, but would go if the occasion arises. read more

We were driving through and needed to stop for a meal and found this little gem in a gorgeous little town! Gabby, our waitress, was so friendly and warm. (Go get that purple hair!) The food was great (that chowder!) and it's just comfortable and cozy. A fantastic find! read more

Just had dinner with wife and son. Had not been here in 4 years because did not like food. Was told new menu and design. The food was great and service was great. All 3 meals we loved. Prices very good too. Give the place a chance..really good. Our new go to place to eat and drink in Barnstable village read more

Good old standby of mine for lunch. Sandwiches and pub food are always good. The clam chowder is above average. I had the special squash bisque yesterday that was amazingly cozy, warm and comforting. There are several local beers on tap. The Cape Cod Red was cold and bitter, just the way I like it. I haven't eaten in the main dining room for years, so I can't comment on it for the time being. read more

I've been here several times on my annual summer trips to the Cape. During my last visit my mom and I came here for lunch, sat outside, great and friendly waiteress (we loved her accent) and owner or restaurant manger came over to check on us. I order the spinach salad (bacon, goat, cheese, olives and some roasted tomatoes --good call) and nibbled on my mom's lobster roll and both were delicious. My parents frequent this place often, so it must be good. read more

First time to the restaurant and pleasantly surprised that the food was very tasty. The scrod fish that I had was done perfect, I don't like when fish is over cooked. The servers was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely come again when I visit the Cape. read more

Food was just OK nothing to get excited over. There are too many either options nearby to warrant a second visit here. We had dinner in the tavern section though there is a dining room and outdoor seating as well. read more

First time at the BT for brunch today. Greeters were very pleasant and we were seated immediately. Two adults and our son (2 1/2) who requires a high chair. Started off with soup. Clam chowder was standard Cape faire but done well, tasty. The butternut squash bisque was very good. Nice consistency and sweet yet savory flavor. My son had some French toast and bacon. Nothing groundbreaking, but good. After consuming most of my wife's chowder I don't think he was that hungry. My wife and I both had the smoked salmon Benedict. Excellent! I would look forward to having it again. Poached eggs were a bit over... But the lightly sautéed spinach along with the salmon and their version of hollandaise was a winner. Hollandaise was lighter than most I have had, with an extra touch of lemon which went very well with the fish. Nice that the whole menu was available along with the special brunch items. Waitstaff was attentive and worked together to ensure that we and others were taken care of . Little noisy, as they were hosting a baby shower for twins nearby, but with a two year old we were happy to have a little background noise. read more

What a terrible experience. We were seated in the tavern, and visited quickly. Then the wait begins. 15 minutes before waiter showed, after asking if anyone was there. After the order was taken the two of us who had soup how did delivered immediately the rest of the party waited 20 to 25 minutes for theirs. Besides the long wait the food was poorly made. Never visit this place again. read more

Unimpressive. My cheeseburger was blah, edible but nothing to race about. Just a burger. Fries were only ok. My husband liked the clam chowder but the pulled pork sandwich was again only ok and that was mostly due to the bread. The bread was just a run of the mill roll. And when the waitress brought bread and butter to the table before the meal, the bread turned out to be a couple of hamburger buns. Never saw that before, what a disappointment. Didn't stay for dessert, figured the Kit Kat bars we had back at the hotel would be better than whatever we ordered here. Service was ok, when asked for a recommendation the waitress just pushed the restaurant week menu without actually recommending anything, but she was nice and checked on us often. When we were seated I asked the hostess if she would tell our server we would like 2 glasses of water, cause I was really thirsty, and she did a double take like she was caught off guard that I would gave the audacity to ask her for water, since it is not her job to serve us. Seriously, the look she gave said so much even my husband commented on it after she walked away. The atmosphere was lovely, we sat outside on a gorgeous day. But that's about all I can say for it. My opinion, there are so many amazing restaurants on the cape, skip this one. read more

Nice brunch...pleasant service. Yummy salmon eggs bennie!

I have stopped here before and it was always good. I have taken guests here because of the quitessential Cap Cod setting. It is on Main street across from the court house and jail. We have always enjoyed the outside terrace eating, but tonight was damp and chilly, so we ate in the dining room. There werepeople outside and live music, I have eaten in the tavern, but it seemed noisy and crowded this evening. The waitress was just friendly and attentive enough. The menu is very extensive. We used the three cousre, set price menu. I had a shrimp cocktail and salmon. My husband had clam chowder and swordfish. We were both pleased. The chowder was excellent and the shrimp were just right. The salmon hd nice caper sauce. The swordfish was deemed very good. My husband thought the potatos were watery, I thought they were good. We don't usually orde desert, I had walnut roll and he had blueberry pie. Both were passable but not outstanding. read more

We had a lot of fun at the summer wine tasting while we were on vacation. $55 plus tax and tip for a five course wine dinner is a good deal. The wines were all paired perfectly with the food. The salmon and hangar steak courses were slightly overlooked for me but probably rare by New England standards. Both of the other couples at our table were full time residents so it was fun for us to talk about the area with them. Look for the umbrellas on the outside tables because the sign is very small and the building has a few offices. There is parking on the street in front and a small lot in the back. read more

Although rebuilt in the early '70s due to a fire, the Tavern still retains its old charm. Tavern, dining room or outdoor seating is available. The menu choices are many and there is a full bar (it's a Tavern, remember?). Our dinners were very good, no complaints at all. I recommend you try this place on your next vacation read more

This is a wonderful tavern in the heart of Barnstable. It's a great little restaurant if you want to dine in a very historic place. The steak and eggs were not quite what I expected but they were good none of the less. My partner had Ravioli which was quite good. I'd go back to this restaurant again but I wouldn't order the steak and eggs. Better to have steak tips with eggs over easy instead of With scrambled eggs. Everyone was nice and pleasant even the waitress with the fake laugh. read more

The tavern has a very cozy feel and the outdoor patio is a great treat on a sunny day. The food is just OK. The clam chowder tasted like it was very heavy on the butter. On my past visits the food has been better but we enjoyed it anyway. read more

Fantastic experience! This restaurant turned around a tiring day around for my family and me and we left in good moods. The menu selection is amazingly large, my family member got her Italian craving satisfied with their great lasagna while another got the best dish, the baked scrod. My crab cakes were fresh and mouth-watering but if I had to choose again I'd love to get the baked scrod dish, I was a huge fan of it. All in all, the food was incredible and it was complimented with friendly service. read more

The Barnstable tavern was a wonderful place to eat and I have been there several times and loved it. The food is very good and the waiters and waitresses are very polite. read more

Just don't do it! Every time I've gone here it has been a disappointment. We've taken our kids, had dinner outside, and had takeout. Somehow every experience has been terrible. Bad food, horrible service. The takeout experience is mind-numbingly inefficient. It is in a good location. Tourists come by the busload. Just don't do it! read more

We took my mother in law for lunch on Friday and had a great experience all around. The restaurant was pretty quiet as they are not a regular lunch place, they serve lunch Fri-Sun. We had our pick of seats and got a nice table by a window. The staff was welcoming and gave us the perfect amount of attention. The rolls were tasty and the food was prompt. I had baked scrod which was delicious! Others in my party had the chowda which tasted great as well as the fried fish which they liked as well. We ended the meal with the brownie sundae which I thought was perfect, the brownie was lighter than most which I loved, my husband prefers a denser chocolate brownie so it wasn't his favorite but it was perfect for me! They have lunch and dinner specials and a spacious patio for outdoor dining that I would love to enjoy on another day. Hope to see a salmon dish added to the menu then it would really be perfect! read more

I'm so sick of getting "homemade" clam chowder from a can. This place is one of the worst offenders

What a welcoming place The Barnstable Tavern is. I haven't been here in years and I don't know why. I certainly have been missing out on some great food. We entered the restaurant on a cold winter afternoon and were immediately greeted with a warm and friendly smile from the host. As soon as we were seated our waitress came over and greeted us in the same manner. It was difficult to choose from the menu because everything read so deliciously! We decided on some Italian dishes and they were all we hoped them to be. Piping hot meatballs, sausages and chicken parmasean joined in a ruby red sauce, broccoli with garlic and a basket of fresh out of the oven rolls made for a more than perfect winter afternoon's lunch. Do yourself a favor and get on over there...you might just see me there, I'll be the one at the table happily slurping and twirling pasta like nobody's watching. read more

Very average food at unfriendly prices. But it is a cute little place with nice seating outside!

I've yet to have something that was any less than delicious. It's a great value because you can't go wrong - the food is fresh and inventively prepared by an experienced chef! The menu is extensive - literally something for everyone. Sit in the tavern for more casual dining or the dining room for a quieter, more subdued experience. Have eaten with just one other person (at the bar) and as many as 12 - always wonderful! It the perfect place to bring visitors from out of town - they love the fried clams! read more

I live in Barnstable and we're blessed with several good restaurants and a couple of excellent ones as well. While the BT isn't our favorite restaurant, it is the one we go to when we need a good meal reasonably priced. There are generally excellent daily specials and the chef makes a real effort to bring his restaurant way above the norm for a "family restaurant". The wait staff is all very professional and polite. Whenever we're too tired or it is too late to cook we head to the BT. read more

The worst dining experience of my entire life! We were a party of six seated in the bar area that received little or no attention from the restaurant. After 30 minutes, we should have just left (like many others did); but getting all six of us together in one spot was very difficult; so we were essentially stuck. The waitress, who seemed to be annoyed that we were even there, was surly, and made no effort to be friendly - even copping an attitude with us. After 45 minutes, I said something to the owner about not even getting a cup of chowder and she was essentially swimming in apologies about being short-staffed, and offered to comp our first round of drinks, which was little consolation at this point. The main-dining area had a $65/plate dinner going on, and there was no lack of attention there, let me tell you. Let's move on to the food - (which came about an hour and half later and were child-like in size) - we ordered rib-eyes, lamb shank, prime-rib, lobster raviolis, and chicken with raviolis. Each of these entrees was almost $20 with the exception of the prime-rib, which was a special at $14. You would expect a nice slab of prime rib - instead it was two small 4-inch round tenderloin-looking pieces, thinly cut with a spoonful of watery, lumpy potatoes and small-mini asparagus. I have never seen "prime-rib" presented like that. The rib-eye was no better - a 5-inch rectangular cut that looked and tasted like Top Sirloin, which was overcooked along with the same spoonful of watery, lumpy potatoes and small-mini asparagus. Forget the lamb shank - it was a chicken drumstick. The winners of the meal were the raviolis - I mean, how can you screw that up? It took a lot of effort to actually pay for this disaster; but we ended up being swindled out of $160. read more

Too many menu items at a small place make it likely that something coming out of the kitchen will be less than fresh. This was the case when we were served a spoiled (and smelly) piece of fish. ( on a Saturday night in the summer on Cape Cod.....) It takes two people to serve a bad piece of fish.The person who cooked it and the server who carried it all the way to the dining room without noticing the rank smell. And the bag of potato chips served laying on top of another guest's BLT sandwich?....pretty unsanitary. "We'll take it off" the waitress said of the fish...and then charged us $9.00 for the small salad. We live right nearby. That was a VERY expensive salad... for them. read more

Man, I don't even know how to start. First of all, I was there with a party of 7, and they didn't even have any square shaped tables, so we had to sit at two circular shaped tables put together, and it was extremely awkward and uncomfortable! How bizzare! So, after sitting down, we were ordering drinks for the table, and you would think that nothing could be difficult about ordering drinks. You would be wrong. So, my nephew wanted a root beer, and the waitress says, "Sorry, we don't have root beer, but we have soda." What in tarnation?! Root beer IS soda! Plus, who doesn't have root beer? Then, after we got that all figured out, we had appetizers, and I ordered a clam chowder, and what do you do with a clam chowder? YOU EAT IT. And how am I supposed to eat my clam chowder if I don't have UTENSILS!! I cannot even comprehend the fact that they forgot to give me utensils! How atrocious! Now, I must talk about the linguini. My friend and his wife had ordered the linguini, and boy was it disappointing. It says on the menu that the linguini comes with a white wine sauce. WHAT!!?? WHERE IS THE WHITE WINE SAUCE, BECAUSE IT CLEARLY WAS NOT IN THE MEAL. Also, the bottom of the linguini was filled with water! No, it was not a white wine sauce, it was water. Absolutely disgusting! Also, for my main meal, I ordered a cheeseburger. Let me repeat, a CHEESEburger. So, my meal came, and take a wild guess on what happened. There was no cheese! At this point I didn't even do anything about it. Next, the blueberry lemon martini. The title says, BLUEBERRY LEMON MARTINI. And what did it taste like? Lemon. Nope, not even blueberry. There was no blueberry taste at all. Unbelievable. However, the meatball pizza was the highlight of the meal! We actually got what we expected! Next when we were going to leave, but we needed to pay the bill. But there was no pen, I'll leave it at that. The only thing that was more disappointing then this visit was the fact that this doesn't let me give zero stars. read more

We stopped here on our way home the other night. We wanted some seafood for us and non-seafood for our children. It was perfect evening for eating outside. The atmosphere was lovely and we might have appreciated it if we had the time for a 3-hr Sunday dinner. We barely saw our server. Food came out incompletely: one child waited for his food as ours cooled and coffee came out after dessert was completely gone. Other tables were served rolls and someone from the kitchen came out to greet locals. We waited. At one point, we asked a server who was clearing our dishes if he could get our bill as it was getting dark and mosquitoes were biting. We never saw him or our server -- finally, one of us went in and paid. The food was good, but the service really ruined it. read more

Have been eating here for years but this summer was a drastic decline. Food came out at all different times so our table had to wait until everyone received their meal to start. I guess forgot our drink order. Never got water refills. Bread was bad. Food was cold. Atmosphere is great. So disappointed. Usually go several times while on the Cape, not this year. All for $150. Will try again next year. read more