On the Square

Really cute little historic restaurant. The Rachel sandwich was really good. The fried probably were good 30 minutes ago. Now they are cold and limp. They have a decent selection of alcohol at the bar and a nice wine room. I'd try it again.

Delicious food and great staff! Salmon was the best and molten chocolate hit the spot. Thanks to Mary Cherry, delightful!

The steak was appropriately prepared, tender and tasty. The potato straws were a garnish, not a side dish. The greens were good. Things went well until it was time for the check, at which time we were pressured and embarrassed into ordering dessert which we didn't want. I recognize that "upselling" is a common practice in corporate restaurants, but in an expensive restaurant it is unwelcome, inappropriate, and indiscreet. We drove an hour to meet our daughter and her boyfriend for dinner. We'll choose another venue next time.

Dinner is great here. Lunch is just ok. Service at lunch could use a vast improvement in the friendliness area. I have eaten here several times and it’s always the same. Dinner how ever is the best in the area.

An absolute gem among a sea of fast food restaurants and diners. EVERY part of the experience was superb......from their specialty drinks to the appetizer to the main course allllllll the way to dessert! Do yourself a favor.......and get on over there!!!

A great restaurant in Tarboro, which was a somewhat surprising find all things considered. The Sushi was great and the dishes I saw pass by looked really awesome. We sat outside which was a nice option. The wine selection was terrific even though I opted for a local beer from Tarboro Brewing Company but that was a great choice. The location isn't exactly on the "square" but it's 1 block off main, convenient, and easy to find parking. If you're headed east or west on US-64, take the short drive into downtown for some great, upscale but casual food.

Clearly one of the finest restaurants in town with a great wine selection. The place with filled with both locals and people from out of town. Very high quality food.

I've only been here for lunch but it has been good every time.

Stopped by after a visit in Scotland Neck to Sylvan Heights Bird Sanctuary. My husband had the Reuben and I had the Rachel. They were excellent! I saw some other meals and the burgers also looked amazing. Topped it off with a wonderful slice of cheesecake to go! Definitely will be back. Delicious!

Even with the positive reviews here on Yelp, I was surprised (in a good way) at our experience here. Walking past historical markers for Confederate "heroes" and knowing the history of the city conveyed a sense that Tarboro's best days are behind it. If all of Tarboro can be as good as On the Square, it's got a lot to look forward to. My wife and I received a friendly welcome as we came through the door for our early-ish evening reservation (and got the Blue Hair Special seat next to the post in the middle of the back dining room - oh, well). Service from the start and through the meal was attentive but not bothersome. I began with the Classic Daiquiri, which was wonderfully tart rather than cloyingly sweet. Sandy had a Bees Knees as a mocktail and was charged an appropriately low price for what is basically club soda with some juice and honey syrup (for price gouging on this, I'm looking at you MACHETE). Brussels sprouts, Atlantic cod, and petit filet were all well-prepared and delicious -- and modestly priced for the quality. If I am ever in the area again, I will certainly and happily go back.

Excellent service and food. I will return for a nice dinner or just a glass of wine. Tarboro is a nice town, perfect for a short getaway

Wow! This place is fabulous. We drove 4 hours from Charleston SC to meet our son and wife for dinner. Everything we had from cocktails, apps, entrees and dessert was so good. I had the vegetable linguine and it was so good I made everyone try a bite. The bread service was great and the staff kept our waters full. I can't wait to come back

Very good food, well prepared and lots of flavor. Excellent service and nice casual atmosphere. We drove down from Raleigh for an early afternoon dinner and this was worth the trip. We sat in the sunroom which was perfect.

Enjoyed company Christmas party in back room. Challenging to have party all together with steps though. Flounder was perfectly breaded and crisp browned, squash tasty, but if I was hungry I'd prefer pasta instead. Hubby really enjoyed his filet, seems they're famous for it, not so much the onion ring. He liked the craft IPA too. Best part, only reason for the review was the Amazing carrot cake! It's deconstructed, on the side candied nuts and plump golden raisins for texture eaters. Cake is a light sponge that melts in the mouth. Loved the light whipped cream instead of typical sit-in-the-gut cream cheese frosting, which I usually scrape off. Good for my weight this place is 2 hours drive for us. Service was great too.

Worst ever!!!! $12.24 for Turkey & cranberry with a side salad. Let me just say that the meat was @ room temp. & so was the side salad. What ever happened to keeping it cooled? The on line menu states one price what comes with it. Then when I called back up there to complain about my order she states that it doesn't come with sprouts & instead comes with lettuce!!! I diffidently will not be going back there. I'd rather eat Subway @ least the meat & greens are chilled!!! NOT WORTH THE TRIP!! IT WAS A TO GO ORDER!!!

All outstanding. Seats are a bit uncomfortable - wooden booths and no cushioning. Not fancy ambiance, but the food is delicious. On the pricey side. Service was very good, too. I hope they decide to expand their dinner hours to Monday and Tuesday. We prefer evening dining hours.

To start with the good: the food presentation was absolutely gorgeous and the staff were kind, knowledgeable about the food, and courteous. Moreover, the sides were quite good, as the diced squash had a pleasant, oniony undertone and the scalloped potatoes were tender and delicate. Unfortunately, at least for me, I did not find the flavor of the food to be commensurate with the local hype or price. To focus on the main course: it was my hope that the Berkshire pork with jalapeño glaze would carry a distinct and memorable flavor. But, while tender, the taste itself was underwhelming, and I have a hard time distinguishing it from any other run-of-the-mill seared pork chop. Ultimately, I went away wishing I would have eaten somewhere else. A shame.

Food was outstanding. The watermelon appetizer was top notch. Wine was very good and they make a nice Manhattan. It took forever to get dessert due to a tech problem.

Had awesome valentine dinner everything was excellent i had a scallop shrimp in a butter spinich cream sauce in a puff pastry. Clamchowder is a must loaded with clams more clams than vegtables with a right creamy texture. My wife had the crab cake and shrimp meal equally as awesome. Great wine and specialty drink selection. Chochalate martini was perfect dessert. My wifes irish coffee topped with thick fresh made cream from the kitchen. On the square made my wife feel like she was really treated special. Thank you

The food is amazing! Albeit, pricey, it was just so good, I didn't mind. My friend got the turkey cranberry sandwich with potato salad. The sandwich was so delicious, but kind of messy, because the bread was pretty thin and tore apart, but not a big deal, it was still wonderful. She loved the potato salad. I got the house salad with shrimp. It was perfect! Everything was fresh and plentiful. The shrimp were done just right. My husband got a burger and a baked potato. Both well loved and cooked just like they're suppose to be. The burger had a ton of flavor. He loved the bun it was on. My friend's husband got the penne pasta with chicken. A good size portion. The sauce was creamy and tasty. Our waitress was very robotic, not very welcoming or responsive. We would still return for a special occasion or something, for the price.

Another good meal at On The Square last night. Great food and great service. Really nice to have such a great local gem!

Centorri moscato is my absolute fave!!!! And they always have a case for me!!!! Love y'all's lunch menu as well absolutely delicious every time

Ever changing menu with excellent execution. Easily one of the best restaurants in North Carolina. Excellent wine selection and knowledgeable and friendly wait staff.

Great food, the Thai shrimp and mussels were incredible last time I ate here. Steaks are good, Calamari is popular. Local Tarboro Brewing Co. beers. Can't go wrong here!

excellent food..very good service also..we will be back.nice ambiance we were very happy.( I am a chef myself)..the wine also was very good.thank you

Delicious! A fine restaurant for special dinners. I have been twice and was impressed both visits. Highly recommended.

Best restaurant in NC! I've eaten all over the state! (And the US) This is the place I come to for the best of new things to try and Stephen does not disappoint! Nobody does fish like OTS! Fresh fish is the hallmark of any true fine dining experience! BTW, If they ever put lamb shank back on the menu... get in line! You big city folks, it's worth the drive!

Outstanding! we were passing through town on our way to the outer banks and were blown away by everything we ate. Chicken and Waffles were among the best I've ever tried. Short ribs were innovative and delicious. Wine selection was a tightly curated selection from around the world. If that's not enough of a reason to eat here, then I want to point out that the wait staff was just wonderful. We will be back!

We were visiting a friend in Greenville and wondering where to take her to dinner. We wanted something different than our usual places in Greenville and I happened upon On the Square in Tarboro. I made a reservation on line after looking at the menu of Facebook. We were not disappointed. We were seated promptly and our server was right over with waters and took our drink orders. The service from four different people all evening was exemplary. Professional and most welcoming. The wine and martini were excellent. The oyster small plate we split as an appetizer was delicious. The ladies spit the pan fried sea bass and I had the salmon. Both were delicious. We split the chocolate lava cake with ice cream to end the meal. Everything was beautifully presented and sauces on our fish entrees were amazing. This is a hidden gem and we will definitely be back.

This review is for lunch, which I understand is a very different experience than dinner. I'm not the type to give small towns special passes and ratings on their food just because they're small towns, and 3 stars is what I would give On the Square's lunch if it were in Any City, USA. Lunch is counter-order only (despite waiters bringing the food out), meaning if you end up wanting anything else as you go through the meal, you have to get up and stand through the line all over again. I had that experience and stood there looking longingly at my food. Despite the longing, my food -- a grilled pimento cheese and a scoop of potato salad -- decidedly did not knock my socks off. The sandwich was good, but far from memorable. (This coming from a guy who frequently has insatiable pimento cheese cravings, and is thus perhaps more likely to have gooey sandwich on the brain.) The potato salad was very smooth and very bland -- and I usually like smooth, bland potato salad, so I can't imagine what others must think. Nice beer selection. Carrot cake (which I ordered to-go and ate later) was just ok too; at $3.50 for a not-huge slice, I'll skip it and go for a cappuccino muffin down the street at Addie's for less than half the price. On the Square is definitely the "good food" option in downtown Tarboro, and I'm sure I would return for lunch again if I come back through. It's a cute space and I'd like to sample some other things. And although I must try dinner one day to see what all the hype is about, I approach it with caution -- with far steeper prices than lunch, it better not be anywhere near as forgettable.

This is one of the best restaurants that you will ever eat in I'm serious. I've eaten a ton of great food and this husband & wife (worked in NYC) team know what they are doing. If you are ever near Tarboro please eat & drink here. Next time I'm in ill post some pics of the seasonal local fare.

Salads are nice here. I enjoyed the strawberry salad twice and both times, there was ample strawberries. The pecans add a nice crunch and the feta was a perfect compliment. I even asked for avocado and they accommodated.

Wow! Scallop salad. Got so excited when I saw it I ate the four perfectly seared scallops before I could snap a pic. Met their seafood supplier coming in the door, Inland Seafood. Love that they use local, fresh seafood and not US Foods like so many others do. #shoplocal Looking forward to meeting the owners next time I eat here. They are here most days I hear but happen to be out today.

Vivian Howard of Kinston's Chef & The Farmer gets all the fame, but having eaten at both fine restaurants multiple times, I must give the edge to On The Square. While I have been disappointed at times with Chef & Farmer, I cannot recall a single disappointment at On The Square. And as an added bonus they are generally cheaper than Chef & Farmer. If you live in Greenville or Rocky Mount, make the trip at least once. There are no establishments in either of those cities that match Tarboro's gem. Recommendations: The pan-seared oysters are perfection. And the grilled romaine salad was so good I started copying it at home during the summers.

Excellent food! The roast beef was awesome and the bread was so fresh. Worth the visit!

Absolutely delicious! Great menu, a lot of interesting offerings with plenty of seafood. My wife had the soft shell crab, and I loved the grilled amberjack. The sides perfectly complimented the entrees. I cannot recommend a restaurant more. It's worth a drive, if you're not Tarboro local.

I've eaten here twice and both meals were delicious. This time I had the hot roast beef with fries. Very tasty. Previously I tried the Oyster Po'boy. Their food is very well prepared and the restaurant is well maintained.

This place is a gem! Lovely staff and delicious food. They really go above and beyond on presentation as well. Recommend sitting at the bar and chatting with the bartenders. They were great to chat with and had wonderful food and drink suggestions.

Best Veggie Burger I've ever had anywhere in USA - fresh, healthy, delicious

Wow. What a pleasure. We were weary travelers and so glad we discovered this place. The back story is amazing. The BLT salad was amazing. The vegetable bisque was amazing. They gave us complementary fried okra. I haven't had okra that wasn't sliced. The breading was awesome. Service was spot on. I will look forward to our next visit.

This was only my second time to On The Square, and it was just as good as my first! Our table was ready when we got there (had reservations) and our waitress was super friendly and attentive. We decided on the calamari to start, and it did not disappoint! It was topped with a wasabi crema with a duck sauce on the bottom to help balance the spiciness. Yum! For my entrée, I had a meaty white fish (the name was unusual and now escapes me) served with fried Brussels sprouts and sweet potato hash. So flavorful! My mom had the Amberjack with Asian slaw which was a little too spicy for her taste, but I thought it was incredible. My dad had the seafood trio which was nicely presented but unfortunately, not enough to share :( My boyfriend opted for the ribeye (basic) which he was not over-the-moon about but food also does not excite him quite the way it does me :/ In conclusion, even though Raleigh (and now Durham) have amazing restaurants, OTS is worth the drive to quaint, little ol' Tarboro for a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a nice, relaxing evening where the food, service, and atmosphere is not to disappoint!

A must do for anyone who likes a true chef experience. Lunch is good but the dinner menu is the real gem We are lucky in Eastern North Carolina to have a restaurant like this. ---with any drive to get to. We live in Rocky Mount and love to dine in Tarboro at On The Square. The food display is as fabulous as the food it's self.

One of two genuinely fine Inner Banks restaurants - along with Chef and the Farmer down in Kinston. Very much well supported by the local community and definitely worth the drive out of Greenville. The actual space itself is a little odd, with some of the tables set in a walled-in-porch of sorts. The food, however, is nicely prepared and presented.

This is an excellent restaurant in the sleepy little town of Tarboro, NC. If you are driving along 64, there are worse places to stop than this place. The owners insist on fresh food, prepared properly. The setup minimizes the use of waitstaff during the lunch hours, which keeps the lunch prices down. The dinner atmosphere transforms this high-class lunch stop into a first-rate gourmet restaurant. Seriously, can I gush any more about this place? It's great!

Great food for lunch with good price. It's a great place for lunc between Chapel Hill Area to Outer Bank, NC. Best food in east NC. * Pros: - All food are great - reasonable price - Easy to park - Nice set up * Cons: - None

This restaurant was top drawer across the board! The food, the selection, the service, the price ... this place was a total surprize. A gem in eastern North Carlina. We each had a petit filet with a carrot/potato mash. Tender, succulent, done to perfection at medium. Even the clientele and the bartender were friendly and very personable. In the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, "I'll be back!"

I am blown away there aren't more reviews for this awesome place! Hands down the best in Tarboro, heck even Eastern NC! I rated 4 stars as opposed to 5 because I am holding them to the same standards that I would any place in RVA, DC, and other larger cities. And I should, the owner is very well known in the wine and culinary world of NYC. The menu offerings are almost without exception local, creative, and prepared exceptionally well. I have never had a bad meal here. The sushi is (surprisingly) very good and I hear they have even opened a food truck dedicated to just sushi. The beer and wine choices are always fantastic, which is the very last thing one would expect in such a small, sleepy albeit charming town. It is evident that the owner takes great care to choose the wine and beer carefully. If you're ever within an hour's drive of this place, it is absolutely worth a visit for dinner!

I was in town on business when a colleague suggested we eat here. It's a cute little place in downtown and was very busy even after the lunch hour (we came in a little after 1pm). Now when you walk in, don't expect a maître'd to escort you to a table; you are in rural eastern NC. We had to order our food at the counter and then find a table ourselves. I ordered the Hot Roast Beef which was, hands down, the best roast beef sandwich I've ever eaten. Juicy and tender. The caramelized onions and roasted red pepper added to the flavor and texture. Delicious! I only wish I lived closer so I can go back and try their other items. I gave 4 stars because the waitstaff walked by several times without checking on us. Had they stopped I would've sent compliments to the chef.

We have some friends who live in Scotland Neck and usually when we get together it's in foodie Durham. However, they mentioned this unusual spot they frequent in Tarboro and we decided to head to their turf. I've had limited exposure to dining in eastern NC apart from bbq spots, so my expectations were low. "Fine dining" in Tarboro?? What is a Tarboro anyway... After a consult with google maps, we headed out. Tarboro, as it turns out, is a pretty quaint little town, and the little brick building that houses the restaurant seemed compatible with the feel of the town, happily well-worn and well-loved. We had reservations and the table was a little awkwardly placed and I was sandwiched between a pole and another table. Not a deal breaker, just a little uncomfortable. First world problems... We started with calamari appetizer which was probably among the best I've ever had. The breading was clearly homemade, savory, well cooked and there was a red pepper honey glaze drizzled over it which tantalized my tastebuds. Savory here, sweet there and a little dash of heat in the middle. It's not on the menu, but we highly recommend it. They had a special of chicken livers and for whatever reason, it piqued my interest and ordered the app size. They were fried and served in a mushroom sauce and mashed potato. They were fine, but I'd stick with the calamari. I got the shrimp/mussel thai curry which was pretty average. Description sounded flavorful, but it tasted muted and slightly bland. Not bad, just not unique I guess. Wife got the swordfish with strawberry pico de gallo and that was really delicious. Fish was well seared and the punch of the pico complemented the milder meat. Friends got the chicken and waffles which were above average. Not at the dame's level, but a good sweet/savory mix. Finally there was a grilled romain salad which was half a stalk of romain lettuce, lightly grilled and drizzled with cheese, balsamic and other toppings. Desserts were good, strawberry short cake, carrot cake and chocolate lava were all above avg. I don't count much for service anywhere I go, I eat out for the food and to not do dishes. Service here for those interested was ok. Server was nice, but took her time. It was saturday night and relatively busy. Nothing really stood out, took a while to get desserts and a check, but we were in good company so it wasn't a big problem. She didn't seem to know a lot about the menu and wasn't too helpful with recommendations, but was affable enough and various staff came and filled up drinks. Again, just average. For what it is and the location, we had an enjoyable meal. Dishes are hit or miss, but when they do it right, it's really right! They are more on the expensive side and I feel like they are trying to be fine dining, but are not quite making it. That's not to say the food wasn't good overall. We were definitely satisfied. And will likely go back when it's convenient. Probably won't make another special trip for it though. For a one time visit, I'd give it 3.5 if I could, but has potential to be a solid 4. So, rounded up for expanding better cuisine in a rural area! Bold move and hopefully they will keep getting better.

I went here from suggestions friends gave me and I wasn't disappointed! For lunch it's self-serve. Meaning you order your food at the counter and they bring it to you when it's ready. I had the roast beef sandwich, which I'm not exaggerating, it's by far the best roast beef sandwich I've EVER had. The lunch menu was full of sandwiches, salads, and some pasta dishes. I asked to see the dinner menu, but the lady who helped me said they changed the menu every other week and it wasn't prepared yet. Even though I didn't see it I was still impressed to know they changed up the menu often. The prices were reasonable and everyone was helpful and courteous. I recommended this little gem if you're in the area!

Have dined here many times over the years and have always had good food and service. Last night was no different. The 3-star rating is because of a sanitation grade rating of only 90. Not sure what is going on to cause such a low rating for this type of restaurant, but we will have to think twice before going again until we know steps have been taken to correct whatever led to this rating.

Excellent restaurant! I've been going here for years and always receive great service and excellent food. My favorite go-to is the Turkey Bacon Melt. I also enjoy their tomato bisque. Give them a try and you will not be disappointed.

We were really looking forward to trying this place, had heard really good things. Staff were very new. Menu was not fitting for Tarboro nor were the prices. Service was subpar at best. Drinks took over ten minutes and were watered down. Dinner was ok but not all that the hype had in store. It's a good venue for Tarboro but we were very disappointed.

Excellent food and service! The grilled romaine salad was amazing as was the clam chowder! Sea bass was one of the best fish I've had in the area however my mom ordered the jambalaya and it was mediocre at best. Molten lava cake with ice cream was incredible and my mom loved her cosmo! (Sangria was ok). It's a must try! Expect to spend $100 plus for food and drinks .

A-MAZING !!! Went there with my friends from about 45 minutes away....Let me tell you....the drive was worth it. The food, the service and the atmosphere was 5 stars !

Although the lunch my husband and I ordered on the way back from the OBX was perfectly satisfactory, I feel compelled to give it only 2 stars. Hers's why- when I walked in to pick up my take out order dressed in a T shirt, shorts and sneakers, I was given a serious stink eye by the woman behind the register, as well as the table of Tarrboro's finest sitting in the back. Although I too hail from a small town and understand how strangers are often scrutinized, this establishment may want to take a second look at the environment it has created. Welcoming traveling yelpers who are picking up lunch may be a wise business decision. The unsweetened tea was quite tasty, by the way.

Second time here - dinner the first time and lunch today. The food is delicious, and it is a very fun little spot. A must for those stopping through town. I had scallop salad and my colleague had the fried oyster sandwich. My only complaint is too much iceberg lettuce in my salad, otherwise all was good!