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Frequently mentioned in reviews: burger (19) good (17) order (15) service (14) great (14) Hickory (13) Tavern (13) server (13) chicken (12) ordered (11)
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  • 2/5 Christopher W. 1 year ago on Google
    The only reason I am giving 2 stars is due to the Music Bingo, otherwise I would never step foot in this place again. Not the first time the service sucked, but tonight was really bad! They were having a 2 for 1 special on burgers. My son ordered a burger, well done and his came out fine. I also ordered well done and took the first bite and could tell it was under cooked immediately. I showed the waitress that it was still very pink in the middle and reiterated that I asked for well done. A few minutes later, she was back at the table with another burger. This time, I cut it in half and it was even more under cooked, almost raw. She asked if I would like to order something different. That order was a little easier and it came out fine. When we were ready to go, I was charged full price for the burger & full price for the other meal as well. To top it off, you would think the manager would at least come by the table, but I got no apologies what so ever and 3 different employees said they were not sure where the manager was.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Chris F. 1 year ago on Google
    Poor service. Reuben sandwich had turkey mixed in. Was left under heat lamp a long time as the side facing up was a rock. Bread cut my mouth and lips. Side against plate was mush. I ordered the fries with it. I received 14 fries. It looked so small I counted and that 14 included all the little 1 inch broken pieces of fries. Meat was also dried out where exposed to heat lamp. May have been put in oven? Anyways. Table had dried lettuce pieces stuck to it and a varied assortment of other crumbs. Server acted like I was a bother because I came at 315 pm. Took order and never came back. Somebody I never saw before dropped off plate with food and also never came back. Used men's room before leaving and it was dirtier than a highway rest stop with garbage on floor and plumbing leaks mixing in with the garbage for you to walk through. Door, knobs, handles have a visible sticky coating of filth. Unsanitary place. Even the front entry had debris on rugs and floor as well as an unused broom and dustpan. I so wish this restaurant would get it's act together. It's near home and could be fun. I have been to others and they are so much better. I would encourage anyone looking to go to one of the other Hickory Tavern restaurants in surrounding area rather than be disgusted at this location. I should have complained but instead I paid and tipped the lousy server. I guess that is how they stay in business.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Luvleeh P. 10 months ago on Google • 391 reviews
    Arrived with high hopes left in good spirit but totally dissatisfied. 1- The waitress Morgan (purple hair) was nice and really a sweet soul in taking our orders & having fun with my friends blindly choosing my dinner (a fun game we now do) . Heavenly Hershey lol the other waiter worked well with her in getting our needs met as at times we didn't know where she was. 2- The place wasn't packed enough for delays, but there were some. 3- it was nice & and clean, and I love the quotes on the wall. However, decor was lackluster on tables. (Salt n pepper shakers) 4- the food left A LOT to be desired. No salt, no flavor. Our appetizer nearly choked me with large chunks of artichoke( no pun intended.) I literally had a piece get stuck in my throat/mouth. The size of the order verses the chips left us gazing at how this is an appetizer. Despite it my friends liked it - tho not the chips, although I did not because-It lacked flavor. The chips were bland. Our meals were just as bland... we left most of the food. I would say come for drinks but they were only ok. The Sangria was terrible. Our rum drinks were fine. I don't like giving bad reviews, but this one was unavoidable... even my 2 friends felt the same. Hopefully, the food options improve so that guests can get a better experience... one that matches the energy of its servers/employees. Lastly- the bathroom was clean. I asked for napkin and got a roll of paper towels handed to me. I'm not sure if that's part of the vibe... I was grateful. Took a while to find our waitress so we can get our check and go... and even longer to find them to pay after receiving the check. All in all, I'm willing to give them a second chance solely off "Heavenly Hershey's" and Morgan's energy and vibe... If you won't change the flavorless options... (they had the NY something that had overcooked chicken and no flavor) put on the menu " no seasonings are used in the making of these meals". Just kidding- but seriously consider something.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Felicia C. 1 year ago on Google
    Was really disappointed by the Indian Trail/Sun Valley location tonight. We’re frequent customers to several locations and never have an issue. I went tonight with my husband and our 2 children and sat outside. We were there for almost 30 minutes and never had anyone come greet us at our table. There were other customers sitting outside, it’s not as if we were the only ones. A few different servers walked by us, one cleaned tables from others that had just left, another was serving food and drinks to other tables outside. We asked the hostess twice about our server, but still never received service. One server was nice enough to come up to us at one point to ask if we’ve been helped, but when we said no, she just replied with “okay, let me find out who your server is.” Still not even a drink order or a greeting. We waited another 5-10 minutes after this server said she’d find out, but ultimately left because 30 minutes with 2 young kids, and to not even be greeted was a little ridiculous. I’m not saying we won’t be back, but this was just a very disappointing experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Garrett K. 1 year ago on Google
    Good place to watch sports. The food quality is okay. Do not order the Buffalo Chicken sandwich, it's fallen prey to shrinkflation. Seriously, it couldn't have been more than a tiny 4oz flat piece of chicken- very disappointing for the price. I think McDonald's serves a bigger chicken breast. I wish I took a pic but it was hard to find the chicken under an enormous bun. My wife's BBQ Chicken nachos were legit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Chris W. 1 year ago on Google
    I’ve been to this location several times and the service is always terrible. Having to ask multiple times for silverware, condiments, refills, etc. The food also takes forever to come out no matter how empty the place is. Expect a minimum of 40 minute wait on anything your order. The only reason it’s not 1 star is because the food is decent if you get the right things. The side salad is really big and really good. It’s just hard to want to come back to a place where their best quality is a side salad.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 SunShyne B. 1 year ago on Google
    Unfortunately I have to give 1 star and it has everything to do with management, bartender and the cook. Our server was great so I still made sure to tip her well because our issues had nothing to do with her services. I ordered a burger and asked for "no pink" when I bit into my burger it was "all pink" and so I asked for it to be brought back which it was. I also ordered a drink, a margarita which was horrible! I even let it sit for a while thinking the ice would melt to make it better but it didn't so when I asked for my burger to be taken back I also asked that my drink be taken as well. I was asked if I wanted another drink but I truly didn't want to try another one. Our server let the manager know and he looked over at our table and walked away. He walked by several times (it wasn't busy at all) and just kept looking at us, at one point I just stared back because it was uncomfortable. Finally my burger came out and he brought it over and never apologized for the mishaps. Although I was disappointed I tried to make the best of it and still put in an order for 12 wings to go...which we were told they were going to give them to us "on the house" I appreciated that gester. We most likely will go back... I just feel it's important to give honest reviews so companies know what their opportunity area is.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Chris E. 1 year ago on Google
    My husband went in person to order a to go order. Waited over an hour with a half full restaurant. Gave us 60.00 worth of soggy gross food. No doubt it had just been sitting there while he waited forever. He received poor service at the bar. I use to love this location a couple of years ago. It has really gone downhill.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ramon P. 1 year ago on Google • 133 reviews
    My kids and I were in Sun Valley to see a movie and stopped in for dinner at Hickory Tavern. Morgan helped us and was awesome. The food was great and came out quickly. We had burgers, the "chicken wafflewich," pretzel bites, gouda mac & cheese, and mozzarella sticks.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 P.L. W. 1 year ago on Google
    I was so disappointed! I have been a loyal HIckory Tavern fan/customer since the beginning. We stopped by yesterday for lunch before catching a movie. The first thing we noticed was how filthy the floor was. The food and paper waste under each high top in the bar area made it look as though nothing had been swept or moped in weeks. But, we decided to overlook this as they were not terribly busy and we’d get in and out quickly.The servers did work hard, as they had two separate rather large parties, but they still lacked any sense of urgency in tasking. We also witnessed inappropriate behavior exhibited by one member of the staff to another that left us in disbelief. I had a burger that may have been the worst hamburger I have ever tried to eat. It was barely lukewarm and the fries were under cooked. I had unsweetened iced tea and had asked for sweetener. It never came and finally I searched it out myself via another server. Our server took the order, it was delivered by kitchen staff and she never came back to our table to check on us. We even had to search her out to get the check. There are 7or 8 other restaurants in Sun Valley Shops to eat. We chose poorly yesterday, but we will not make that mistake again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Stacy O. 2 years ago on Google
    It might have just been a bad night for the cook, but my medium burger was very well done. To the point I had to cut one side off because it was so burnt. Their nachos are very bland, with no flavor. The chips are very thick and not very good. Won't be back
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Mike S. 9 months ago on Google
    6/27/23 Why one star if the service and food was great? First, our server Anna was awesome. Not only a sweetheart but really working hard all night, seemingly by herself. Here’s the negative part. The manager “Erin” (last name I’ll withhold to be nice) is in the wrong business where your job is to properly service the customer. That’s not what Erin did. My wife and I ordered 2 OMB Captain Jack draft beers, 16 oz. They got to our table, and with 2 sips, we knew both were flat. It’s ok, it happens. So my wife took them to the bar to switch them out for something else. ERIN intercepts my wife at the bar and asks what’s up. My wife politely says “these are flat, so we’d like to order something else.” So Erin takes both glasses, and in front of people at the bar, proceeds to berate my wife and tries to convince her the beer isn’t flat. We’re both grown adults in our 40’s and 50’s and Erin thinks she can school us on the deep science of carbonation. Erin takes a straw and swirls it in the beer glass and says “I see bubbles, they aren’t flat. Just pour her another one” This so-called hospitality manager Erin is arguing with my wife over 2 flat untouched draft beers. My wife (already embarrassed and now flabbergasted) says “if it’s the same keg, I don’t want it. We want to order something different” So she asks the bartender for 2 other beers, which we eventually get, and they were not flat. Corporate should know about this woman, ERIN who was working the Wesley Chapel store. She clearly needs a refresher course on pleasing her patrons, with a smile. Not a ridiculous public debate about 2 pints of $3 dollar draft beers. Hey ERIN, here’s a pic of the Samuel Adams they brought me. THIS is not a flat beer, it has a HEAD. Understand? Little bubbles do not constitute fresh beer. You’re welcome for the lesson. 👍🏼
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Richmond M. 11 months ago on Google
    My girl brought me dinner from the Hickory Tavern in Indian Trail tonight. I was looking forward to the order of Fish and Chips since they use Grouper instead of the normal Cod or other White Fish most places use. Much to my disappointment not only did it take an unusually long time to get the order but the slightly burnt tasting, gravel like breading was thicker on one side of the fish than the slice of fish itself. (Thats pretty sad considering the size of a grouper) all 8 pieces of of my fish were like this with some having very little fish at all. Save your money and your teeth and stay away from this dish and stick to a burger or wings. This was my first time picking up from this Hickory Tavern and may be my last, its not the first time I've had Sub Par food from other locations of this chain.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nicole D. 6 months ago on Google
    Went into hickory tavern tonight and I have to say this is one of the best experiences I have had in a while! I ordered the Diablo burger and it came out perfect! The onion rings were crispy and it was delicious! Our server haven really made our experience, she greeted us with a smile and was very attentive! Definitely ask for her! Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. We will be back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Haneefah D. 5 months ago on Google
    Great food, great customer service, and great atmosphere! I love coming here in the weekends.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Robin F. 8 months ago on Google • 214 reviews
    We went there today after the movies. When we first walked in we waited about a good 5 minutes before my hubby had to ask someone if we could be seated as no hostess upfront. We were finally seated. Our waitress was super sweet. She was very friendly and kept coming to the table to make sure we had everything we needed. Our lunch was great, tasted good and nice and hot. So was really pleased with our meal until we were up front and about to walk out and a huge water bug was walking across the floor!!!!! We immediately told the hostess and she looked and ran to the back. So we just left and have to say sadly, we will no longer come back to this location. I would have taken a picture, but I was off putting seeing this right after we ate.

  • 4/5 Jim S. 4 months ago on Google • 179 reviews
    I ate lunch at the Hickory Tavern in Sun Valley on a recent Friday afternoon. They have a nice selection of beer on tap, but it was too early to drink. The Hickory Tavern has lots of great bar food, including wings, burgers, and nachos. I was eating healthy before the holidays and ordered the cedar plank salmon. It has a chili lime sauce, and it was excellent. For my side, I had the crispy Brussels Sprouts with bacon & Balsamic glaze. Wow, they were delicious. I look forward to coming back to the Hickory Tavern to have a few beers and a burger.

  • 5/5 Anthony D. 1 year ago on Google • 165 reviews
    This was my first time dining at Hickory tavern. The place had a great bar, sports, and restaurant decor. Kid-friendly and has lots of TVs all over the place to watch sports or anything you desire. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable especially about the menu. The apps we had were the nachos with chicken and they were very tasty. I got a burger and my sister got the chicken sandwich and my wife got the big salad with chicken. Everything looked as good as it tasted. Over all the place is worth it for good food. I would like to come back during a football game to see the game there with a few apps. Overall a solid 8.8 out of ten.

  • 2/5 Gail C. 2 months ago on Google • 75 reviews New
    Came here with a large group of 12 without a reservation as honestly did not think they even took reservations given it is like an ale house. We had no problem waiting as not in a rush but the issue was the attitude of the manager and hostess. They treated us like idiots for not having made a reservation and were very condescending and taking about us to others. We did not complain when they sat us at a table for 8, maybe it could hold 10, but we happily squeezed in. Our direct server was good but the food came out in spurts so not everyone was able eat at the same time as there are no food runners. The citrus shrimp on the tacos were very wet and not grilled, the tater tots had that old fried oil taste and the bbq chicken on the power bowl was very spicy when it should not be spicy at all. I have not been an HT fan given prior experiences but the group wanted to go here.. sadly they continue to disappoint.

  • 3/5 Nicole C. 2 months ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    I'll start off by saying our service was great and we had no issues with the waitress. She was attentive and made sure she checked in multiple times. The food was lackluster. I ordered fish and chips. I would recommend taking this off the menu until it's revamped because it was almost off-putting. There were 3 small pieces of cod with a ton of batter that wasn't cooked properly. My husband had the wings, which were good, crispy on the outside. If you need a place to eat that's kid friendly but subpar food, this will work.

  • 5/5 Glenn R. 11 months ago on Google
    I recently visited Hickory Tavern with a friend, and we had a memorable dining experience. The casual and comfortable ambiance set the stage for an enjoyable evening. We opted for outdoor seating, soaking up the delightful atmosphere. As for the food, I ordered the BBQ burger, but I decided to switch things up by replacing the BBQ sauce with their delectable pepper jelly. The combination was a stroke of genius, resulting in a burst of flavors that left me craving more. It was truly a delicious twist on a classic burger. Speaking of standout items, I must mention the tater tots. They were absolutely phenomenal! Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. Trust me when I say these were the best tater tots I've ever had. A definite must-try! Unfortunately, my friend's experience with the smothered chicken was initially disappointing. It arrived tough and chewy, but here's where Hickory Tavern truly shone. The moment we brought it to the attention of our waitress, she sprang into action, displaying exceptional customer service. She promptly replaced the dish with another serving of smothered chicken that was tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Kudos to the attentive and friendly staff for swiftly rectifying the situation. The pricing at Hickory Tavern was reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the overall dining experience. It's a place where you can enjoy fantastic flavors without breaking the bank. In summary, my visit to Hickory Tavern was a delightful blend of delicious food, welcoming ambiance, and attentive service. I highly recommend trying their BBQ burger with pepper jelly, indulging in the incredible tater tots, and embracing the friendly Southern hospitality. Hickory Tavern is a gem that deserves recognition on your culinary map!

  • 5/5 Kathy P. 4 months ago on Google • 13 reviews
    We go to here at least twice a month. This time we ordered the chicken bbq nachos cheese steak and the tavern burger and rum and coke drinks whenever we visit. The food is great, nice portions and the waitress is very friendly

  • 5/5 Brad B. 8 months ago on Google
    This was a really great choice! The wings are amazing! So much so that I have been dreaming about getting back just for the wings. They were cooked to perfection and the garlic Parmesan 🔥🔥🔥! The jerk was amazing also. Thanks to Rachel who was absolutely a fabulous server! The chef even came out and I was able to tell him how he put his foot in the food! We shall be back! If you haven’t tried this location….it’s a jewel!

  • 3/5 Ethan V. 10 months ago on Google
    I'll start by saying they are hopelessly understaffed. The food was ok, my wings were fried to mummification, better than raw though. Wife's burger may have made her intestines revolt. My father in law wasn't a huge fan of the fried fish. But I have 0 expectations when I eat out so the fact we eventually got food even though at least 2 tables near us who showed up 5 to 10 minutes after us got their food first was a nice plus. The staff were very friendly and did their best to keep up. Props to them.

  • 4/5 Katelynd S. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was good. I got the chargrilled wings, Korean BBQ. My date got the Charleston Burger. Both were good. Brussel sprouts was my side. They were a little hard, could have been softer. Tasted good though. Service was sub-par, waitress was gone for excessive amounts of time, and I honestly did not remember her name, she was that absent.

  • 5/5 Matthew (. 10 months ago on Google
    This place has good burgers. The waitress was friendly and came over to ask how everything was and if we wanted refills. I tasted the atmosphere 3 stars just because there was so much nice that I had to tell to have a conversation across the table. Some people like this but not me was the waitress asked us about 5 times of everything was ok. For me a Mac of 2 times is good to keep me enjoying the atmosphere. Kept the 5 stars on service because she obviously cared about her customers and her service. Truthfully I would give 1 bonus star for that.

  • 5/5 MISS W. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was very good! They have changed the menu up and I can't wait to go back. Salmon, shrimp, yellow rice, spinach dip was all tasty.

  • 4/5 Pulaski 1 year ago on Google
    This is the closest I have ever found to a British pub, though it more "sports bar" than pub, but the menu is good for a sports bar and there are plenty of tables and booths away from the immediate bar area. The waitresses are always friendly and attentive. My wife had a burger, which is always a good option here and I had the NY Food Truck Chicken, which tasted great, especially the chilli sauce (which is the sauce that Americans need to put on their gyros to turn them into a proper kebab); though the chicken was just slightly dry, not bad, just slightly.


Call (704) 238-9111 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed outside
  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
    • ✓️ Private dining room
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Curbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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