There is no better restaurant at the lake, if you want a steak or homemade pasta it’s the place to go!
H Sneller
My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary at the lake and decided to try The Tavern Trattoria — and let me just say, it far exceeded our expectations! From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the warm atmosphere and genuine hospitality. The food was simply outstanding. Every dish showcased remarkable care, balance, and craftsmanship. You could truly taste the thought and passion that went into each bite. It’s rare to find a place where every course feels like its own little masterpiece, but The Tavern Trattoria delivered exactly that. The service was top‑tier — attentive without being intrusive, friendly without being forced, and wonderfully knowledgeable about the menu. We even had the pleasure of speaking with the chef, whose incredible background and obvious love for the culinary arts made the experience feel even more special. We left feeling amazed, grateful, and already excited to return. If you're looking for a memorable dining experience with exceptional food and service, The Tavern Trattoria is an absolute must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Capt Chris Stockton
As a fellow Lake area business owner of multiple businesses myself: I must applaud John and Sherri Buchanan. The authenticity extends far beyond the plate. From their host at the door all the way through Chef John personally making his way to each and every table with the upmost concern of the quality and experience their guest receive; they do not lack in any part in their delivery of a fine, quality, and personal dining experience. Hats off Chef, well done!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Stockton
As a fellow Lake area business owner of multiple businesses myself: I must applaud John and Sherri Buchanan. The authenticity extends far beyond the plate. From their host at the door all the way through Chef John personally making his way to each and every table with the upmost concern of the quality and experience their guest receive; they do not lack in any part in their delivery of a fine, high quality, and personal dining experience. Hats off Chef, well done!
Linda Richardson
Tavern Trattoria is everything you want in an Italian bistro—warm, inviting, and absolutely unforgettable food. The homemade pastas are the clear stars: perfectly cooked, rich, and full of depth, the kind that makes you slow down and savor every bite.
The smoked old fashioneds were exceptional—beautifully balanced with just the right amount of smoke, easily some of the best we’ve had.
Owner and chef John Buchanan truly worked miracles, especially with the appetizers and pastas. Every dish felt thoughtful and elevated while still being comforting and authentic. We met him for the first time tonight and felt like he was an old friend. Although we did find out he’s from our little town, Union, Mo which is delightful.
We were so satisfied we couldn’t even fit in dessert, which honestly says it all. Can’t wait to come back—this place is a gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amy Paterson
Had a lovely meal with friends. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Chef made his amazing mushroom soup which is a must order when available! The bread app is also a must order. Big fluffy herbed focaccia served with marinara and olive oil. I’m a bread person and can vouch it was delicious! Service was top notch. All in all an enjoyable dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Pasta, Voodoo Pasta
Shelly Broughton
We had a wonderful dinner at The Tavern Trattoria. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, I loved the old wine jugs, made me want to go home and dig out ours from when my great great grandparents made homade wine from our grapes they brought over from Germany. Our Server Mark was newer to the restaurant but you wouldn’t have known until he told us. Mark was very knowledgeable and was such a hoot to talk to. I would request him again! The real star though is the chef and owner he came to our table to great us since it was our first time and he even delivered our appetizer and our meals! The plates were presented so beautifully and the food was so delicious it was like we were back in Italy 🇮🇹. You could taste the long hours and love it took to get all the ingredients just right to prepare each dish once it’s ordered. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaleigh Mintz
This restaurant is amazing and I highly recommend! My husband and I came in and Colette was our server. She was wonderful and everything we had was so delicious! We came in hungry and ordered so much food. First time I tried Bone Marrow and it was so good. We will be back to try other dishes. Thank you so much for a wonderful Birthday meal and experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Shipp
Amazing dining experience! Superb drinks with a gorgeous bar. Great flavor to everything and the pasta was fabulous! Colette was a great server!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robin Noble
Delicious food and amazing staff, will get back here soon!
What a wonderful visit. Wife surprised me with dinner here and we got there fairly late. No worries at all, they accommodated us fully! The server Britteny was absolutely delightful, the food was amazing and the vibe and atmosphere are pure perfection. Can't wait to work our through the whole menu! Thank for staying open late!
Brenda Adams
So, it gave me great pleasure that I could give my husband a fantastic dining experience for his birthday at The Tavern Trattoria in Laurie. We come from a big city (Omaha) so we have experienced fine dining but both of us feel that John Buchanan and staff have provided equal to or better than anything we experienced previously. We made reservations at the Trattoria. We are probably weird in that we choose not to eat in the dining room, but dine in the bar, where the ambiance is simply beautiful. Lovely Jessica behind the bar took great care of us, making note of the fact it was my husband Wayne‘s birthday. We each enjoyed a happy hour cocktail and then moved on to our main course. I really enjoyed the short rib lasagna with the house salad. The birthday boy enjoyed the voodoo pasta – which he had his last visit and thought was delicious – along with a Caesar salad. I ordered a bottle of the Chiante, which was a perfect pairing for our meal. All dishes were extraordinary. Afterward, we enjoyed a leisurely cigar and cocktail in the company of other like-minded patrons in the Oak and Ember lounge at the Trattoria. Our birthday experience was a true delight and we thank the Buchanans for a truly wonderful experience.
Sharon Sykes
Hubby surprised me with an unexpected date night this restaurant is a 5 star from the warmth when you walk inside to the incredible staff & the chefs dishes are mouth watering excellent!! The plus was a lavender martini my new favorite place to dine . Thank you for a delightful, delicious experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jeff m
OMG THIS PLACE IS BEYOND WONDERFUL!!! EXCELLENT SERVICE, Atmosphere, food!!!! THIS IS A WONDERFUL HIDDEN GEM!!! 🥰😍🥰🥰😍🥰😍😍🥰😍🥰 THE OWNER/Chief honestly dose care about everything!!!
There is no better restaurant at the lake, if you want a steak or homemade pasta it’s the place to go!
My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary at the lake and decided to try The Tavern Trattoria — and let me just say, it far exceeded our expectations! From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the warm atmosphere and genuine hospitality.
The food was simply outstanding. Every dish showcased remarkable care, balance, and craftsmanship. You could truly taste the thought and passion that went into each bite. It’s rare to find a place where every course feels like its own little masterpiece, but The Tavern Trattoria delivered exactly that.
The service was top‑tier — attentive without being intrusive, friendly without being forced, and wonderfully knowledgeable about the menu. We even had the pleasure of speaking with the chef, whose incredible background and obvious love for the culinary arts made the experience feel even more special.
We left feeling amazed, grateful, and already excited to return. If you're looking for a memorable dining experience with exceptional food and service, The Tavern Trattoria is an absolute must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
As a fellow Lake area business owner of multiple businesses myself: I must applaud John and Sherri Buchanan. The authenticity extends far beyond the plate. From their host at the door all the way through Chef John personally making his way to each and every table with the upmost concern of the quality and experience their guest receive; they do not lack in any part in their delivery of a fine, quality, and personal dining experience. Hats off Chef, well done!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
As a fellow Lake area business owner of multiple businesses myself: I must applaud John and Sherri Buchanan. The authenticity extends far beyond the plate. From their host at the door all the way through Chef John personally making his way to each and every table with the upmost concern of the quality and experience their guest receive; they do not lack in any part in their delivery of a fine, high quality, and personal dining experience. Hats off Chef, well done!
Tavern Trattoria is everything you want in an Italian bistro—warm, inviting, and absolutely unforgettable food. The homemade pastas are the clear stars: perfectly cooked, rich, and full of depth, the kind that makes you slow down and savor every bite.
The smoked old fashioneds were exceptional—beautifully balanced with just the right amount of smoke, easily some of the best we’ve had.
Owner and chef John Buchanan truly worked miracles, especially with the appetizers and pastas. Every dish felt thoughtful and elevated while still being comforting and authentic. We met him for the first time tonight and felt like he was an old friend. Although we did find out he’s from our little town, Union, Mo which is delightful.
We were so satisfied we couldn’t even fit in dessert, which honestly says it all. Can’t wait to come back—this place is a gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a lovely meal with friends. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Chef made his amazing mushroom soup which is a must order when available!
The bread app is also a must order. Big fluffy herbed focaccia served with marinara and olive oil. I’m a bread person and can vouch it was delicious! Service was top notch. All in all an enjoyable dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Pasta, Voodoo Pasta
We had a wonderful dinner at The Tavern Trattoria. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, I loved the old wine jugs, made me want to go home and dig out ours from when my great great grandparents made homade wine from our grapes they brought over from Germany. Our Server Mark was newer to the restaurant but you wouldn’t have known until he told us. Mark was very knowledgeable and was such a hoot to talk to. I would request him again! The real star though is the chef and owner he came to our table to great us since it was our first time and he even delivered our appetizer and our meals! The plates were presented so beautifully and the food was so delicious it was like we were back in Italy 🇮🇹. You could taste the long hours and love it took to get all the ingredients just right to prepare each dish once it’s ordered. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This restaurant is amazing and I highly recommend! My husband and I came in and Colette was our server. She was wonderful and everything we had was so delicious! We came in hungry and ordered so much food. First time I tried Bone Marrow and it was so good. We will be back to try other dishes. Thank you so much for a wonderful Birthday meal and experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing dining experience! Superb drinks with a gorgeous bar. Great flavor to everything and the pasta was fabulous! Colette was a great server!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and amazing staff, will get back here soon!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing restaurant amazing staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a wonderful visit. Wife surprised me with dinner here and we got there fairly late. No worries at all, they accommodated us fully! The server Britteny was absolutely delightful, the food was amazing and the vibe and atmosphere are pure perfection. Can't wait to work our through the whole menu! Thank for staying open late!
So, it gave me great pleasure that I could give my husband a fantastic dining experience for his birthday at The Tavern Trattoria in Laurie. We come from a big city (Omaha) so we have experienced fine dining but both of us feel that John Buchanan and staff have provided equal to or better than anything we experienced previously. We made reservations at the Trattoria. We are probably weird in that we choose not to eat in the dining room, but dine in the bar, where the ambiance is simply beautiful. Lovely Jessica behind the bar took great care of us, making note of the fact it was my husband Wayne‘s birthday. We each enjoyed a happy hour cocktail and then moved on to our main course. I really enjoyed the short rib lasagna with the house salad. The birthday boy enjoyed the voodoo pasta – which he had his last visit and thought was delicious – along with a Caesar salad. I ordered a bottle of the Chiante, which was a perfect pairing for our meal. All dishes were extraordinary. Afterward, we enjoyed a leisurely cigar and cocktail in the company of other like-minded patrons in the Oak and Ember lounge at the Trattoria. Our birthday experience was a true delight and we thank the Buchanans for a truly wonderful experience.
Hubby surprised me with an unexpected date night this restaurant is a 5 star from the warmth when you walk inside to the incredible staff & the chefs dishes are mouth watering excellent!! The plus was a lavender martini my new favorite place to dine .
Thank you for a delightful, delicious experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
OMG THIS PLACE IS BEYOND WONDERFUL!!!
EXCELLENT SERVICE, Atmosphere, food!!!!
THIS IS A WONDERFUL HIDDEN GEM!!! 🥰😍🥰🥰😍🥰😍😍🥰😍🥰
THE OWNER/Chief honestly dose care about everything!!!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ one of our new favorite BEST!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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