03/20/09

Great microbrews...

by maryke

We enjoy this family friendly pub especially when we want to see a local televised game. Great selection of microbrews and wine. Food is avergae, but that doesn't stop us from ever eating there. Only real complaint is the homemade chips are usually cold, MUCH better when served warm...

• Pros: Booze, sportsbar, service, atmosphere watching games
• Cons: Average at best food

11/14/08

Good food, good beer

by dwe1978

We've been to the other location for a party and enjoyed it. In terms of the food and beer, the Chapel Hill location is excellent. But our waiter wasn't the greatest. I had the hamburger which was very good and my fiancee had the pork chop special which she enjoyed. I tried one of the beers which was really good, and I can be very picky about beer. However, the waiter just wasn't that good. When she ordered coffee, she didn't get cream or a spoon to stir it. When she asked him for it, he was sort of surprised that someone would want cream. And just his overall demeanor wasn't great. But we liked the food and plan on going back sometime.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Bad waiter

09/05/08

Friendly, Fast, and Great Food

by ejdinnc

This is one of my favorites. The atmosphere is fun and friendly: plenty of televisions (some in HD) for all the sporting events, brewing equipment for the beer, and friendly fast service. Drink wise they usually have 6 beers on tap, I would recommend the IPA as its my my absolute favorite. Food wise there is so much that I like there but for first timers I would choose from the following: Burgers, Fish and Chips, BBQ, and Salads.

I'd say the best thing about the Carolina Brewery is the consistency. They have seating both upstairs and an outside patio on Franklin Street in addition to the 1st floor area. This is great for when I am entertaining visiting work associates. I am always 100% confident that I will get seated quickly. They have never messed up an order and always have my beer on tap.

My most recent experience, the reason why I am writing this review, was a party that I attended in their private dining room upstairs. There was about 20-25 of us and they did a great job taking care of us. The pitchers of beer never ran out. The appetizers were hot and delicious. We had our own private HD television on one wall and windows that over look Franklin Street on the other. All together a great experience.

• Pros: Free Valet Parking, Location, Food, Beer, Football Package
• Cons: For a family, a UNC Game Night might be a little too busy, but it's lots of FUN!!!!

09/05/08

Come for the Beer, Stay for the Food

by LizT714

When friends come to town, I usually take them to the Brewery because it's one of my favorite places to eat and it's nice to introduce someone to beer brewed right here in Chapel Hill. With a great permanent menu, there's something for everyone but their seasonal menu is carefully thought out and keeps things interest so there's always something new. My favorite dishes are the BBQ plate b/c it's just really, really good Eastern-style NC BBQ and the Jambalaya, but you've got to taste one of their burgers as well. The atmosphere is great for dinner, but also for just stopping by after classes or work and having a drink. Behind their bar, you can see the actual brewery which adds to the atmosphere and reminds you that there will likely be a new beer on tap in the coming weeks (try the Oktoberfest!). I've never had a problem with the service there and their bartenders and servers are knowledgeable and friendly.

I've watched many a UNC game there and love that they have a big projection of the game. They have a lot of special events going on like shuttles to UNC games and bands in the parking lot (more so in Pittsboro) which gives it a very community-oriented kind of vibe. A definite plus for a local business. It's well-loved by many in the Triangle area and has amazing beer, there's a variety, but my favorite is the Flagship IPA, which is always on tap as far as I know. Two thumbs way, way up.

Note: I usually go to the Chapel Hill location, but their location in Pittsboro is very cool because they have a much larger brewery there and is separated from the bar by only a glass wall.

• Pros: Beer, Seasonal and Permanent Food Menus, Location
• Cons: Parking is sometimes an issue, but they have a small lot in the back and there is a pay lot less than a block away.

07/29/08

Poor service

by smasonnc

I've been to Carolina Brewery before and enjoyed it. We tried to go again Sunday evening and were surprised at the poor service. First, we got there and the hostess was talking on the phone on what seemed to be a personal call. We waited awhile and finally she said, "I'll call you back."

My husband, my daughter and I asked for a table saying we only wanted to have a beer (it IS a brewery after all) and were told that all the tables were for dining, even though only two of them were filled. We didn't want to sit at the bar because my daughter is too young to drink. "Is there anyplace we could sit besides the bar?" we asked and were directed to a small table. We sat there for about 10 minutes without being acknowledged and after being dripped on several times by the AC vent we decided to bag it and go elsewhere.

In a nearly empty restaurant, the only table at which we could sit was under the drippy AC. Huh?

• Pros: They used to have good beer. Maybe they still do.
• Cons: We have no way of knowing if the beer is good because we never got waited on.

10/19/07

Great Friday Night

by knightst

Yeah well this was my first time in Chapel Hill from Wilson and I wanted to see what this place had to offer visiting some friends up here. They said we should just take a walk and we stumbled in this Brewery of all things on Franklin St. So I thought it was a joke or something at first so I walked in and well wouldnt you know they had some some good stuff. I am a Bears fan and the bartender was too, Nate I believe was his name and he was just on the ball. So we thought well this place seems nice enough might as well get some food. Got a table downstairs and had this guy who was really sharp. I cant remember his name but he had blonde or brown hair and average size guy. Really friendly too, I have never had a waiter just talk so freely to us. He knew his thing about beer. Got me this Copperline beer, man was it good. The food was good too, now in all fairness my fries were cold as a fish. But this guy talked to the cook or someone a got me a brand new batch. Now I am happy as long as someone is working to help me out and this place really shone. Wasnt expecting it. I think this is going to be our hang out when I come up here to visit my friends from high school. Go up , the Brewery, watch some games and get some beer. Even the manager was coming around and saying hi, really nice lady named Kristy or something. I am definitely come back here.

• Pros: This place just had great beer and Service
• Cons: Parking

10/08/07

GREAT Beer, Bartender- BAD customer service, food

by charlimarshall

10/07/07 First time at the Chapel Hill location on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Bartender was very nice, informative and helpful with beer selections. Beer was great.

Thought ...ok lets try some lunch. We had a waiter named Daniel. He was very bland and unsmiling. I ordered my Cheese Steak, I asked for onion rings instead of fries. He simply said No can't do that. My friend inquired about the chicken quesadea, he asked if they would make it with no onions...again Daniel said NO and something else we could not understand as he was mumbling. I finally said I guess we have to get whatever he gives us and he walked away. While waiting for the food there was no checking on how things were ...drinks...nothing.

When the food arrived it was cold and greasy. My friend and I traded our dinners midway in hopes of something better. It was not. When Daniel FINALLY came to give us the check he asked how things were, I stated that things were not fine, the food was cold and he had absolute no customer service abilities. He went to management and they came over to the table. They came over and stated that I should not berate the waiter but instead I should have told them. I did not berate I simply told it like it was. He asked.

They said nothing else and walked away. Boy, that sure did help and make me WANT to go back.....NOT!

11/13/06

Comfortable atmosphere

by llooper

I first went there with a pretty large group, and have enjoyed returning with my boyfriend for good, solid, relaxing dinners at Carolina Brewery. The menu has a nice variety, especially for a pub, and the brews are good too!

• Pros: food, ambience
• Cons: Parking can be a challenge on Franklin St.

Award-winning brewery anchors the West Franklin bar scene with bustling business and hearty eats.

by Contributor

In Short
The brick front opens to a bi-level space packed with a post-college workforce on break. Behind the ample bar, large brewing tanks dominate the landscape. Early evenings are quieter, with a clientele geared more to the food than the tap. The menu is ambitious for a brew pub, ranging from quesadillas to sesame-encrusted tuna and fish-and-chips. Salads, burgers and pizzas are a cut above average. The brews change seasonally; count on a broad spectrum.

07/01/06

Good food even if you don't drink beer or root for UNC

by tdotson

We went there on a whim and keep coming back for solid food and a friendly atmosphere. The restaurant gets raves for its burgers, which are quite good and are served with homemade (gasp!) fries, but the menu is much more ambitious. The seasonal menus always have interesting items - the Asian chicken pizza on the spring menu was amazing, as was the jerked chicken wrap with mango salsa. The garlic knots are homemade and served with marinara, quite a deal for 95 cents. We like the sweet potato chips, served with brown sugar. Their iced tea is fine, the servers certainly aren't career waitstaff but are friendly and eager, and the Carolina vibe is fun. Oh, and the beer there is good (I like the amber, but the sampler is a good place to start) and the restaurant is smoke-free, at least in the summer. It's an interesting old urban space, fronting out on Franklin but with free parking (if you can get a spot) behind the restaurant. We always go for an early dinner and kids would be comfortable then. With low prices, a good menu variety, and fun atmosphere, we keep returning.

• Pros: Value, good beer, fun servers
• Cons: I'm guessing it gets louder later in the evening, but we haven't been then