Recommends

chapelhilldiner64

Joined 4 years ago

Solid restaurant. A small group of us frequently go to Weathervane for breakfast, and while I've noticed there is some variability in the quality of the food (often really good, a few times not good at all, occasionally mediocre), I think overall it's one of the best (and most reasonable) breakfasts in town. I wish their coffee were better - you'd think with Southern Season there selling coffee, there would be more pains taken to ensure a really good cup of brew. But that's really my only complaint. My husband and I have also gone to Weathervane quite a few times over the years for dinner and have been really pleased! The fish specials they have are often fantastic, and they've had various dishes on their menu (which changes) that have been real standouts. They also have a lower corkage fee if you buy a bottle of wine there in the store.

Recommends

HAM0829

Joined 4 years ago

Same name, entirely different restaurant. Excellent food and reasonably priced.The last time I ate at Weathervane (more than 10 years ago,) I was so disappointed, I swore that I would never return. A friend told me that there was a different chef now and convinced me to give it another shot. What a difference! Appetisers are great - I could make a meal of them. The bread is to die for, and the shrimp and grits are better than Crooks Corner. The Osso Bucco - well, it's the closest thing to heaven on this earth. Atmosphere is o.k. Could use some flowers on tables or some more aesthetics. Service is spotty. My waiter was great, but I heard complaints from the table beside me.

Doesn't Recommend

dermlady

Joined 4 years ago

Horrid experiance. My sister and I went to the Weathervane to have a sisters night out where we could experience terrific food and time together. When we arrived we were escorted upstairs and were the only ones up there. It took 15 minutes before were asked what we wanted to drink. While we waited for the drinks to arrive three other groups came in and were seated. They were asked about the drinks and then the waitress took their orders before she even asked what we would like to eat. The other tables received and finished their appetizers and entree's before we were given the appetizers. My sister had a salad which she truly enjoyed. However,when the Cauliflower fritters I ordered were given to me they were tasteless pieces of dough. When the server asked me how I liked them I honestly told her they were bland. She took the remaining fritters to the back and I watched as she made a comment to the manager, he looked up at me and they started laughing.

After waiting another 20 minutes our food was brought out and the Herbed Chicken with wild mushroom risotto I ordered was tough to cut and difficult to chew. The risotto however was very creamy and very delicious. My sister ordered the Salmon special with fresh tomatoes and spinich which she stated was very dry on the outside. After we were done eating we waited another 20 minutes for the ticket to be brought to us. Overall our server kept our tea glasses full but otherwise acted as if we were a burden for her to bear. We paid the bill and as we were leaving my sister overheard the host and hostess at the main entrance laughing and making unforgivable comments about the us and our overweight sizes. I will never step foot in their door again and I WILL spread the word about the unprofessionalism of not only the staff but the management .

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: Service,Food,quality,

Doesn't Recommend

kilroy1973

Joined 6 years ago

STAFF NEEDING OVERSIGHT AND TRAINING. Having eaten at the Weathervane several years ago, I decided that it would be a nice place in-between Raleigh and Graham for my party to meet for dinner Saturday night. I strategically placed myself at the inside entrance of the Weathervane within Southern Seasons to not miss anyone. Staring down the corridor (main thoroughfare for patrons), I noticed ice chips being hurled from an alcove at a female waitress who was waiting for drinks from the bar. The thrower of the ice chips finally came out to collect the potential hazards, but not all. An elderly female patron walked through the leftover ice chip mine field. Thankfully, she didn?t slip. Noticing the thrower, I told him ?you know you have several pieces of ice that you did not pick up?if someone falls, you understand that it would a OSHA reportable?. He shrugged it off without apologizing for his childish antics. Since it was now 6:30pm, I proceeded to the hostess desk to let the host and hostess who were standing there know about that we were there. No sooner that I stopped speaking, they both proceeded to expound about their disdain for a fellow employee. I truly expect this behavior at a fast food restaurant, but not at a place that has >$15 entrees. Our waiter came on strong but he nosed dived after we ordered. He had to be reminded to bring the two sweet teas ordered and then reminded repeatedly to refill them. He also forgot to bring me a spoon with my after dinner coffee. I ended up stirring my coffee with an extra fork. The meal itself was AVERAGE at best. The Malbec recommendation was the only redeeming suggestion of the evening. If you want to slip and fall while heading to the bathroom, hear employees talk trash about one another, and have an average meal without getting refills on your beverage, then I HIGHLY recommend Weathervane Cafe. Then if you can still stand after falling, please go and shop at the pretentious Southern Seasons where the associates will completely ignore you.

Recommends

dwe1978

Joined 6 years ago

Good food. Relatives of mine were visiting for the weekend. Two of them are vegetarians while the third is a vegan. Not many options out there. But the website to Weathervane said that there are vegan options. When we got there, the host had no idea of any. The waiter knew a little more but turns out there was really only one options. However, all of us liked the place. The wine was delicious. And my veal was very good too. I definitely plan on going back again.

Recommends

l_olive

Joined 5 years ago

Not as good as it used to be. We've been faithful Weathervane customers for the 3.5 yrs that we've lived in Chapel Hill, so we too have noticed that the fare just isn't as good as it was. The menus don't seem to have a "wow" dish that you can always count on. Quality of steak was awful, but the joke bordelaise sauce was even worse. Dishes include too many starches (mashed root veges plus potatoes on one dish) and veges (excluding greens which are usually excellent) aren't cooked adequately. We've had inconsistent quality and frequently not available appetizer menu items. The bread is pasty and mediocre. And being regulars, we have given our honest opinions to the kitchen, but such feedback has never been acknowledged. The good side of it all: its forcing us to seek out new local eateries.

Recommends

acertainkind

Joined 6 years ago

You've Changed. Hadn't been here in some time in almost a year since I moved across town. The food is still good, but the ambience and pep are missing. Last time I was here they I had a killer steak (huge!), and there was this intense bearded guy in a cowboy hat and tux playing/singing some of the most original dark jazz songs around, and the pasta was just to die for. Another night they had this exotic flapper girl playing delicate Erik Satie and Chopin, which was also sweet. This time there was a vacant piano and so-so food. Staff is still friendly, but something's changed. The economy perhaps.

Doesn't Recommend

ehis_1

Joined 6 years ago

Stunned at the poor quality. When we have clients in town, we try to give them a local experience. The Roy Williams radio show at Spice Street, Mama Dip's, and The Angus Barn, just to name a few. I want to take them somewhere that they can't go to anywhere else but right here in NC. Our clients offered to treat us to the restaurant of our choice as a "thank you" for the work we had done.

We took a party of 10 to the Weathervane on a Wednesday night (to "The Boardroom"). Everyone was impressed with A Southern Season. They enjoyed purchasing gifts for friends and family that they didn't buy at an airport. Everything was off to a good start.

We order several appetizers that were mediocre at best. The "shrimp" hushpuppies were a joke. The hushpuppies were OK but there was 1 teeny tiny shrimp for every 2 hushpuppies. The entrees were OK to good if you ordered the pasta or chicken. Unfortunately, most of us ordered the strip. I received the single worst piece of meat I have ever eaten. This is no exaggeration. The cut was so fatty and gristley, I was unable to chew most of the steak.

Unfortunately I did not send it back to the kitchen b/c I did not want to offend our hosts/clients (from overseas, different etiquette). I wish I had b/c the following day, I spoke with the other members in our party who ordered the strip and they indicated that their steaks were equally unedible. I gave The Weathervane the benefit of the doubt and hoped that this was an isolated experience. I sent an e-mail to their customer service expecting nothing more than some words of regret. I did not receive a reply. I sent a follow up e-mail several weeks later. Again, not one single word of reply.

Having one bad night is understandable. The lack of customer service is unforgivable. I can't bring myself to book another dinner at this restaurant....

Recommends

livingstonm

Joined 7 years ago

Can't Beat It. What a deal! I have had some of the same fair for a substantial amount more, and with out more to offer. I have felt over several visits to the Weathervane that the food is excellent, high quality and delicious. I have also enjoyed the friendly, yet elegant ambiance. It sets a high standard for consistent and interesting meals for my wife and I.

Recommends

alexiswitha

Joined 7 years ago

fantastic. I went to the Weathervane on Thursday night, with a small business group, and it was superb. The atmosphere was calm and cool and our food was excellent. We shard the crab dip and artichoke bruschetta appetizers, which were both large enough for all of us, and we all liked them! My entree was the chicken piccata, and it was delicious, and different. I will certainly go back again. We were also greeted and seated promptly and the service was above average. I give it two thumbs up.