Agreed. The food is great but the service is outrageously bad. I sincerely want to see this business do well...I hope the owners will take the hint and do something about their sub-par service. If you have plenty of time (it can be very slow) and are in an excellent mood (the service is maddening), do give it a try simply for the food.

Chain restaurants are typically low on my list, however, this Chili's is supremely bad. The food is mediocre and the service is sometimes lacking. I fully understand that folks with families sometimes need a casual dining restaurant for convenience purposes, but I'm not a fan. I've simply never had a meal at our local Chili's or any other Chili's that's impressive or even ok. The management does seem eager to please and take ownership over the restaurant, which is great. We've got a lot of great local business and restaurants that serve excellent meals without the fast food taste, I'll take those any day.

Sweet Basil is excellent! I agree with the poster above that it is indeed cramped, but isn't the type of place to go when you're in a rush. The lunch wait can sometimes be lengthy and it is close quarters. The food is completely worth the wait and the being squeezed in close next to other diners. The grilled cheese, ham with fontina, and Greek salad are all spectacular. Be sure to visit this downtown Southern Pines landmark!