My absolute favorite place in Carrboro. Love the Moroccan influenced cuisine. The wine selection is really good and I enjoy the cocktails. Surprisingly, this is the most child friendly place in Carrboro with an excellent kids menu. Thumbs up to the very knowledgeable bar staff, that makes the dining/ drinking experience a poor bliss. read more

Omg. This one of my favorite restaurants around. But their take-out Valentine's meals were (and it's hard to believe), even better than usual! I mean they just nailed every single item. Extraordinary, world class meals. Thanks Tandem! We appreciate you. read more

Everything was wonderful!! The wine & food selections, the beautiful building & the service! Love the list of locally sourced food items listed in the menu. We will definitely be back read more

Great food and fantastic service! We were visiting the area for the weekend and were recommended to come here. When going to a new restaurant it's always great to have a server guide you and Kirsten did exactly that. She recommended the lamb shank which we both ended up getting and definitely did not regret it. We are Not too familiar with lamb as an entree but it was incredible here and we would recommend it to anyone. We finished our dinner with a chocolate pudding cake to satisfy our sweet tooth. Kirsten was an incredible and super friendly server which was the cherry on top of a great experience. Service was timely as well. Would recommend this restaurant strongly! read more

I love going here! The food is always unique and delicious and the staff is welcoming and accommodating (especially during these unusual times). I highly recommend the salmon and mushroom risotto! read more

Spring risotto and lamb shank meal were terrific. Stuffed squid and Farmer's Plate not so much. The lamb that stuffed the squid overwhelmed the flavor of the squid. The Farmer's plate didn't have much flavor or texture. The wine list was decent , but the French Pinot that we ordered was not available. The Oregon Pinot turned out to be an decent substitute though. Server was pleasant and adequate but inexperienced. Nice outdoor seating. We'll go back again. read more

I was excited to finally check out this relatively new addition to Carrboro. Sadly, I will be unlikely to return. First off it was Saturday night and when I tried to get a table for 2 I was told they were "full" and since we didn't have a reservation we could sit at the bar or outside. Fine, that's what we get for not making a reservation. When my face said that wasn't the greatest option and I was thinking about leaving the hostess offered "or you could sit at a high table". Um, so you're not full and yes a "high table" will be fine. Then in the hour plus we were there 3 tables in my sight line remained empty. The menu selections were interesting. The menu itself had a huge glob of dried food across one of the pages. We ordered the cauliflower ravioli to share, my husband had the chicken and I had the monkfish special. The food had some unique flavors, but was over salted. Portions were small for the price. My husband's was steaming hot, mine was lukewarm. Overall I was not impressed. The service was friendly and attentive, my water glass was always full, and plates were cleared quickly. However, the food took FOREVER to come out. At one point the manager came over and "checked in" and apologized for the wait. This was a nice gesture, a nicer gesture would have been to comp a drink, dessert or an appetizer. I was getting hungry and cranky. All in all I feel like Tandem has had enough time to work out the kinks and just didn't live up to my expectations. We headed to the Venable for dessert, which was delicious. Also if you look at the lower star, hidden, less "helpful" reviews you will see several people have had similar experiences. read more

Balls on a plate. I really wanted to love this place, but not this time. My friend and I stopped by on Friday of UNC's graduation and were seated at the bar and met with a special weekend menu. I had already picked out what I wanted online and make sure there were affordable veg.options for her. Unfortunately, the special menu was missing these items, so we opted for two sides each. I got the stuffed calimari and chickpeas fritters. I still have dreams about how good the fritters were, but unfortunately they have been overshadowed by the calimari, which was stuffed and lightly grilled. I should have gotten a photo because the calimari was large pieces and it literally looked like balls on a plate. The rubbery outside and bland inside was a huge disappointment. WHY!? I couldn't finish them. Maybe next time I'll try brunch, but with plenty of other brunch places in town, why chance it? read more

GIANT WASTE OF TIME. If I could give zero stars I would. Reservation was at 7:45 on a Tuesday. We got there early at 7:25 and we were seated by the host who poured water and left. Would have been fine with waiting for our reservation time. However, we figured since we were seated we might see the server soon. Fast forward to past 8pm and we hadn't seen or heard from anyone about a status update on anything (kitchen being slammed, only a few servers, whatever the reason). We heard nothing. No chance to even get a drink order in. No one even acknowledged us leaving. Too bad too because we planned on going all out to celebrate my husband coming home from a 9 month deployment. Manager even spoke with every other table and skipped ours. Apparently COVID hasn't left this establishment from caring about business. read more

My wife and I went to dinner here on a Sunday night. I ordered the short ribs and they were really terrible. In going back and looking at the reviews, it seems that the short ribs in particular have been inconsistent. We hit them on a bad night. The table behind us actually made a bit of a scene and sent theirs back. I probably should have done the same. They were tough and fatty and difficult to even cut with a knife. We did have a mussels and they were excellent. Given the menu pricing though, I'd rather see them 86 the short ribs than serve them before they're fully cooked. read more

Came here for brunch. Great atmosphere and decor. Food was nothing special, standard American brunch items that are on the saltier side. Stay away if you have hypertension. Perfectly poached eggs on the benedicts. Good presentation, would be good for date night. Service was standard. Would prob go to other places on franklin/carrboro if in the area. read more

Made a reservation for a Saturday night and we got there and and were not seated until thirty minutes after our reservation time. There were a lot of people that were waiting for tables and mostly all had reservations. The hostesses seemed to be a little overwhelmed and unorganized but were friendly! The food was delicious - I had the Salmon and my boyfriend had the lamb shank and both were great. We also got the stuffed crab deviled eggs as an appetizer and they were also good and we were wishing we had more of them! Although the food was good, everything was pretty slow moving. Our beers took 10-15 minutes to arrive and the main course took a while to arrive. That being said, Our waiter was very nice and helpful! read more

Great food. Pricey but worth it. Outdoor patio that is dog friendly is what gets them the 5th star

Came here with some extended family, 12 of us total, kids, parents, and grandparents. The food was amazing! The short ribs come in a huge pot and were delicious. The special was a swordfish dish that was cooked perfectly. Our waitress was great. She made recommendations for the kids that worked out beautifully. I loved my pomegranate spritz cocktail and the smoke and mirrors cocktail was a big hit with those at the table who drank bourbon. Overall, everyone had a great time and loved their meals. The plates and bowls were outstanding also! I wanted to take some of the handmade looking pottery home. read more

We had a 30+ dinner party here. The food was amazing and creative. My entree was a pistachio and horseradish-encrusted salmon and every bite was a flavor explosion. The staff was top-notch. I can't wait to go back! read more

We have frequented Tandem quite a few times. The last time we went it was very disappointing. They were out of the tajine vegetables and the kitchen got so backed up that we haven't been back since. The flavors haven't changed over the course of going and just not somewhere I'll be rushing back to. read more

We called at the 11th hour on Mother's Day to see if they could accommodate a late afternoon party of 15. Miraculously, they could. Our food and service was fantastic. Our waiter Brad was as good as I've seen in a long while. Large parties are difficult but he made it look easy. Made smart suggestions, had exactly the right cadence, and kept things moving. And our food was fantastic - especially the Short Ribs. The decor is also great - has a fantastic, vibrant look and feel. Our only minor snag was the wine supply. Our first and second choice on the wine list was unavailable. Our third choice was good for 2 bottles only. Our 3rd and final bottle was our fourth choice. read more

I have had several wonderful meals at this new restaurant and they have never failed to impress! The deviled eggs are wonderful and the chickpea fritters are inventive and delicious. My dining companions had a perfectly cooked salmon entrée and the braised short ribs and raved. Wait staff and bartenders are friendly and informative. The chef's table is a great location to see the restaurant and the kitchen. Looking forward to spending evenings on their patio this summer. read more

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Amazing food every time, great service, doesn't get better than this in the Chapel Hill/Carrborro area. Loved their burger, short rib, and breakfast dishes. read more

We really love Tandem. It's a great night out - the atmosphere is energetic, if a wee bit loud for close conversation. The service is outstanding. I love that they leave a bottle of water on the table, so that you never have to "catch the water person". Food runners make sure that your food gets to the table as soon as it's ready. Our most recent dinner had some huge hits and one disappointment. Disappointment first...we always get the bone marrow appetizer, and it is usually fantastic. This night, not so much. The fried oyster was missing (they ran out) and the bone itself was rather devoid of marrow. I'm glad it was the first time we tried it, because I wouldn't have ever ordered it again. Fortunately, I know it is typically much better. The cauliflower appetizer was SO good. It was crispy and spicy, and completely exceeded expectations. The duck bastiya roll was ok - probably just not our taste, as it was sweeter than we would have liked. The star of the show was the salmon. I ordinarily wouldn't gush about salmon, but it was excellent. Perfectly cooked and set upon a bed of black rice with a creamy curry, truly outstanding. read more

Really a 3.5. Entrees were kinda overpriced for what you actually got. The drinks were solid. Mussels appetizer was really good, probably the best thing we ordered. Decent atmosphere. read more

What follows recounts brunch. Eight friends walk into a sleepy foyer, backed by a bar which bustled hours earlier; and proceed to sit outside on an unseasonably warm February Sunday morning. They sit and wait, it's ab it slow but for eight guests among many in a small courtyard, unsurprising. Tandem is about the atmosphere as much as it is about the food. We lingered over 2 hours, moving from coffee to mimosas, and lingering conversation. We never felt rushed. We sampled dishes including the pancake stack, Shakshouka with avocado, fried chicken Benedict, house lox benedict, biscuits and gravy, and pork belly BLT. Take a breather, let it digest. Tandem builds a modern American menu on top of superb ingredients and vintage (handmade?) earthenware. The atmosphere is simultaneously upscale and approachable, the price scale targeting the former more than the latter. That said, portions were generous all around; My biscuits and gravy appeared light until the rich gravy and hearty biscuits were cleaned from my plate, and I felt no need to eat again that afternoon. The Shakshouka demanded more bread than was provided but complementary croutons were provided to take up lingering sauces. They make a mean hollandaise, just saying. Service was personable if somewhat slow - whether that was a result of our large group and its distractedness, I cannot say. The experience of Brunch at Tandem entices me to visit for the dinner service, I suspect it may even exceed my experience. I must complain about small but glaring mistakes they, made for an upscale brunch however. No dairy-free milk was available for the lactose intolerants at our table and tea was passable, but priced disproportionately. Coffee was good and served in a deep carafe, however my Americano (hot water and a shot, think of me what you may) was an overpriced $7.50. In all, the food and experience were good, glaring issues prevent Tandem from standing amongst the instutions in surrounding blocks. read more

Tried last nite for dinner. Great vibe in an old, renovated brick warehouse type space along with other unique shopping in the building. Started with crab deviled eggs which were good, not the best we've had. Wife had shrimp & grits special which was indeed some of the best she's had. I tried the lamb chops, medium rare at the suggestion of the wait person. Probably should have gone with medium as they were a bit tough. I also had to ask for a steak knife which should never happen when it's clear you couldn't cut it with a regular table knife. Ended with chocolate pudding cake which was sinfully rich, served with coffee ice cream. Overall, food and service was quite good with a few dings above as noted. The place was never quite full, perhaps because of the price point, but the rather large bar was very full. We'd like to come back and try other dishes on what is a very smallish menu, but some tasty sounding options. read more

Server was excellent. Very polite and friendly. Food delicious, especially the bone marrow dish. But i was disappointed with the wine service. I had a $10 glass of pinot grigio that you could purchase as a full bottle at Trader Joes for $7.99. Then the amount was very small. The server even admitted that they are really strict on their pours, actually measuring the level in each glass. Seriously? First you over price your wine then you skimp out on the amount. Give the micromanage a rest guys. The trick is to make your customers happy, not annoy them with petty nonsense. read more

Everything was great tonight. Service, Food, Atmosphere. Our server Brad was fantastic at helping us pair a variety of small plates and space them appropriately throughout the evening while our guests went with entrees. Chef is super. Incredible blend of seasoning in both the sweet and the savory dishes. His Moroccan heritage and French training blend well. Each dish unique. The 72 hour short ribs do not need knife. Tandem is easily now in our top 3 to 4 fav in CH/Carborro. read more

Food was amazing, but giving a two star as the service sucked. We actually had to go and ask if we had a waiter because after 20 minutes no one came to our table. Even after the bar tender volunteered to be our waiter we still had to ask for things like refills and the check since the bar tender was making drinks and serving other tables. For Tandem to be such a nice restaurant and a bit on the pricier side (our bill for two was $120) I would expect better service. Great food but don't be surprised if the wait staff ignores you. read more

Saturday lunch for 6. Sat outside on the patio. This place has a great vibe!! Food was great. Started with cheese plate and calamari. Best calamari we've had in a long while... perfectly cooked, not overly fried, not greasy, with a horseradish (white) dipping sauce. 3 ordered sandwiches... grilled cheese was the best... 3 cheeses plus a tomato with a side salad. 3 ordered salads... grain salad best by far, loved the carrot purée! The others, chicken salad and poached shrimp salad were nothing special although they were beautifully plated. Service was very good. The only downside was the parking. read more

A comfortable interior, with a talented bar staff and dishes that spans from edible to noteworthy. But even for a town as small as Carrboro, there are better choices. The prices are high, even by the town's fine dining standards, portions are small (not helped by plating that dwarfs the food), and the service, while, pleasant, is slow. (In my two visits, wait time for a server came was in excess of 9 minutes; ticket times ran close to 18--and this during the season of coronavirus, when the number of staff equaled the number of customers). read more

I and my five companions had a very unpleasant experience at this restaurant, and I will never return: 1. Bartender didn't know how to mix a Sazerac cocktail. A small thing but in this community in a restaurant of this pretension, a surprise. Things went south after this. 2. Our food dribbled out to the table one diner's dish at a time rather than coming all at once. 3.. Each and every hot dish was served to us cold. Imagine eating a cold poached egg on your Eggs Benedict. Not warm. Actually cold. I sent it back. My companions asked for theirs to be reheated. 4. Coffee? Three requests elicited the server's response "we are still making it". We finally got it at the end of the meal. Thanks but no thanks. 5. The server delivered the wrong food to one of our party. Shrimp and grits somehow became a small side order of grits. 6. Complaints yielded only mild interest on the part of the manager. 7. The food itself was, even if it had been served hot, poorly prepared. Shrimp and grits (when it finally arrived) was greasy and adorned with only three pitiful over- cooked shrimp. Salmon Eggs Benedict was served without so much as a piece of parsley or any other garnish. 8. Finally, the server added insult to injury by giving us a bill for the cold eggs that were returned and the side order of grits served in error. After protest, the bill was adjusted. An ignominious end to an unfortunate meal. I guess we should have been tipped off by a 1/4 full restaurant during the Sunday brunch hour on a UNC home football weekend, when every other decent place in Chapel Hill -Carrboro was packed. read more

The only reason I get this restaurant one star is because of the liquor, but I can buy the liquor in any ABC store. If I can cook better than you why would I come back? This is one shit hole of a restaurant, pretentious and horrible food. You took $100 or so from me but ill never eat there again. I know I'm using my wife's yelp, but my name is Anthony Mitchell and if you have any problems with this review please holler at me. read more

I had a good meal at Tandem but must downgrade the experience based on my interaction with an otherwise good menber of waitstaff regarding a "short pour" martini. When I commented jokily about the short pour (including the statement that i was not complaining but just commenting), I was told in a patronizing manner that the glass was extra large. I have seen enough martinis up close over the years to know this was patently false. Better just to own it read more

My boyfriend and I had lunch here recently and it is really one of the top restaurants in the area. We had a friendly and efficient server with very helpful recommendations. The food was delicious! Their soup of the day was a coconut-based soup with bold and complex flavors, perfect for the rainy day we were having. We split the portabello burger and the BLT (made with pork belly I REPEAT PORK BELLY) and both were incredible. The inside is beautifully designed and spacious, great for groups or a sweet date night. We even got to see the private room in the back which would be perfect for small parties/meetings. Last but definitely not least, the hostess Queenie was THE BEST!!!!!!!!! From the moment we walked in the door, she had a huge smile on her face and really kicked off a great experience. Her energy is contagious! She was such a gem. I can't wait to come back! read more

The atmosphere is nice but the food I ordered was mediocre. The burger has pieces of fat that I was spitting out...will not be ordering that again. The agnolotti was fine maybe a little soupy and not enough ginger. The Cesar salad was simple and not worth the price. The special curry pumpkin soup was good and the chickpea fritters were good. Nothing stood out really and for the prices I would expect greatness. It was extremely loud and I could only hear the person sitting next to me. I think the worst part was being told they were out of oysters and then 20 minutes later seeing a staff member get off work, sit at the bar and then be served a plate of oysters. I was appalled by that. Sure, eat the oysters you've been saving but don't do it in front of costumers who wanted them and were told no. Overall probably won't go back. It's rough too because I'm born and raised in Carrboro and have seen many restaurants fill that spot and wanted one that stood out. read more

Beef shorties are legit. I haven't been disappointed yet except their hostesses are pretty dumb. They tried to put us in the back room at 4 person table when we only had 2 in our party. The server wasn't the brightest either. He gave my friend the spoon when it was for my food. Then he switched our checks with the table next to us but caught himself. Food is good, the service not so much. read more

Hello Emma, When we visited City Kitchen last, we were told you had started this new place, Tandem, at Carrboro, and so being foodies, we were eager to try out Tandem. This past Saturday, on 10th Sept, me and my husband walked past Tandem and were looking at the menu posted outside at 11.30am when someone who passed us by said, "It's a great restaurant, really good food", prompting us even more to try out your place. My husband remained outside continuing to read the menu while I walked in to check what Vegan dishes Tandem had to offer. I was informed that the "brunch" was only on Sundays, and was first handed a dinner menu at 11.30am. I told the host/hostess (it was a guy and a girl at the entrance, did not manage to catch their names), we were hungry then and would like to dine. I was then handed the lunch menu. I asked about what could possibly be made vegan, these were the suggestions: omelet without the goat cheese; to which I said, "but the omelet will have eggs, won't it? Can you make one without eggs?" By then the hostess left and the host was alone talking with me. He then suggested Shrimp, to which I said again, "but we are vegan, we don't eat any animal products". Immediately he said extremely rudely, "Look this is the menu, I need to go and turned his back and walked away". I have never been treated like this ever, and least of all I did not expect this of your restaurant Emma. We were so excited to try this place since we live close by, but now am even scared to walk by after this encounter. read more

Excellent!!! The entrees were a little pricey so we split a salad and got 2 appetizers. The apps a huge and plenty if you're looking for a moderately sized dinner. Otherwise, definitely share!! They are too huge to eat alone. Chickpea frittters are amaze balls. Dessert is delish as well. Get the Sticky Toffee Cake. read more

I was delighted with our visit to Tandem for dinner on a Sunday evening. It has been a long time since I have discovered a new restaurant that truly left me excited, but Tandem is that place. Atmosphere: large, but still inviting. The ceilings are high, but somehow Tandem avoids the excessively loud environment found in so many restaurants. The tables were comfy. The bar looked inviting and we definitely want to go back and sit at the bar in the future (and order dessert--they all sounded so wonderful but we needed to get home to the babysitter). Everything seemed clean (sanitation score =100%) and tasteful. Food: We had a mushroom risotto appetizer, a crab deviled egg appetizer, and a salmon entree with black rice and coconut-curry sauce. I can't find fault with any of them. The flavors were strong and unique, the presentation was lovely, and the pace of the meal was good. I have a few dietary restrictions and this did not seem to present a problem for the staff. Drinks: We enjoyed a craft cocktail that was yummy and reasonably priced. My server was knowledgeable about wines and I had a great time tasting three different wines before I settled on a favorite. Finding the perfect wine was fun in this environment. Service: We were greeted and seated immediately by the hostess. Our server, Elizabeth, knew the menu and wine list so well. She offered astute recommendations and feedback and she was a joy to interact with. She gave the perfect amount of attention and never missed a beat. Thank you, Tandem, for a great evening. We look forward to coming back soon. read more

The food was great, and service impeccable. Our server Bradley's dedication to an exceptional experience was not to be ignored.

We had dinner here Sat night for our anniversary and the food was awesome!! Def be back!!

Great space and atmosphere. The food selection is small but EVERYTHING I've tried has been excellent and reasonably priced... except for kids choices: they are not listed on the menu but they offer (at the time of this review) salmon with fries and peas or pasta with different sauce options. We ordered the salmon for our 4yo. It was perfectly done, better than any salmon I've ever had in town. Fries and peas also excellent. However at $8 for the salmon + $3.50 for a milk, $11.50 to feed a 4yo for lunch is expensive. read more