Big Tree Inn

The building and atmosphere were beautiful, and both entrées looked great when they arrived. We were seated at 6:51 PM and had our food by 7:32 PM, a perfectly reasonable wait. My Shrimp Étouffée and my friend's Atlantic salmon were enjoyable, though the portions felt a little small. The prices were reasonable, and our total for two was $120.77. The French onion soup was good in itself, but it had big chunks of what I think was blue cheese throughout. A few bites were mostly cheese, which was too much for me. My friend's first choice of appetizer wasn't available. We weren't told until about 20 minutes later, and he ordered something else, so it wasn't a major problem, but an earlier heads-up would've been nice. Our server was friendly and pleasant when she came by, but she wasn't very attentive. Dessert was a mixed bag: my friend liked his, while my crème brûlée was tiny and the worst I've ever had. There was hardly any caramelized sugar on top, so it lacked that satisfying crack, and then I found a long hair in it, which ruined it for me. I'd probably give the place another try, but the soup, delayed appetizer update, inattentive service, and dessert all took away from the meal.

The menu changes now and then, which keeps it feeling fresh, and the food has always been incredible for me. I've never had a bad experience at Big Tree Inn. Everyone there is wonderful, including April, Stacy, Hannah, Lizzie, Tom, and others whose names I don't know. They're friendly and know the menu well, and I enjoy hearing their suggestions and personal favorites.

It's a lovely historic home that now serves as a restaurant and hotel. The service was good, and our waitress was delightful. But they absolutely wouldn't change or substitute anything in the food. If you have food issues, this isn't the place for you. We won't return.

My granddaughter is almost 5, and we came here for some special time together. They treated us very well, and she loved the fancy presentation of the Chocolate Cake.