So why do I say don't go?  Because of the extremely rude customers and an owner who allowed the customers to be rude to us, who did not handle the situation as it should have been handled.  When we go out for Ladies night we ALWAYS stay at least 2 hours.  We order appetizers, main meals, drinks, coffee, and dessert.  We talk and laugh and have a GREAT time.  We had been at The Darling House for maybe 1.5 hours when we noticed an older man standing very close to our table, pretending to watch the tv, but mostly glaring at us, giving us nasty looks and commenting loudly about how long we were taking.  At the 1.5 hour mark we were just finishing up our desserts, but still drinking coffee.  The customer stood there off and on for at least 30 minutes.  No one at the restaurant, employee or owner, asked him to stop or even seemed to notice what he was doing.  About the same time we noticed the owner also staring at us, not smiling, not saying anything, just looking.  We were seated near the kitchen so he would walk over to the pickup window but then turn around and stare at us.  I was pretty sure it was the owner because he looked like the man pictured in the Pilot when they first opened.  Our waiter confirmed that it was the owner.  

As we were leaving the incredibly rude customer, who had been seated at a table, said loudly "FINALLY."  That annoyed 1 of my friends enough that she went back and told the waiter about what happened and told him that if they had nicely asked us to leave, we would have been fine.  The waiter pointed out the owner whom she also spoke to.  He did not apologize but gave excuses.

None of us would have been insulted if the owner or the waiter had politely asked us to vacate the table because they had customers waiting.  I have been asked that before after sitting at a table for 2 hours.  It is completely understandable.  But to just stand around and glare at us and to allow customers to do the same is completely unacceptable.  You can be sure that not one of us will ever go back there.  And we will all be passing the word about what a terrible place it is.

If you are looking for great food, great atmosphere, a place where you can spend 2 hours enjoying the food and company, owners who are friendly and speak to every customer and who would NEVER let a customer bother another customer, then head over to Chef Warren's in Southern Pines.  I would suggest that the owners of The Darling House head over there and take some notes.  Maybe even ask for some advice from Marianne and Warren because they won't last long in the customer service industry with the attitude they have.

I sent a letter to The Pilot about this but they won't print it.  They consider it a "private dispute."  I consider it letting people know when there is a bad restaurant out there.