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    Hank's Downtown Dive

    4.5 (110 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars, Tacos
    Closed Closed

    Hank's Downtown Dive Photos

    HANK'S DOWNTOWN DIVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Hank's Downtown Dive

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    Reviews With Photos

    Caulidilla
    Juliet H.

    It's delicious and John at the bar is fabulous! Hubs and I truly enjoy cozying up to the bar for dinner and drinks at Hank's. The fried chicken, flounder, burrata, and the caulidilla are ALL fantastic. Loved the roasted oysters too. The flavors are poppin' and the innovation in the execution of the dishes and the plating always gets me. Like, burrata with no bread wanted or needed-- love it. IYKYK. Oh, and that freaking panna cotta with the pomegranate is absolutely EVERYTHING! It's truly a sleeper, but not to be missed (ever). Compliments to the chef and John. We love Hank's and we'll be back again and again. Cheers!

    What amazing wallpaper
    Karen S.

    Wow I wish wish I lived in this adorable downtown Cary' families, Christmas lights, bars restaurants. Love. Passed by this place, as a single not really wanting a dive bar, skipped 2x. Then, consulted Yelp. What a great experience Gold rush, my new fav drink Wine selection with a wine I was unfamiliar (Spanish, starts with an S) Despite wanting to order the elevated best fried chicken of your life enough for two, I opted for eggplant fries in a spicy red pepper sauce, crisp, dip panel and full of flavor. And the oysters. Perfect I will go here always when near Raleigh

    Food was unbelievably good and service was spot on even though they seemed very busy for a Monday. Jason the bartender was great. Lots of gluten free options. Had the pasta and the friend chicken. Both amazing! I've never had fries with green beans but that combo was awesome!!! The white bean hummus also tasted so fresh! I would highly recommend this spot!

    Rebecca L.

    Let's take a moment to appreciate just how divine this fried chicken is. Perfectly crispy, juicy, and served family-style with a generous pile of golden fries, crisp green beans and drizzled with chili garlic honey--this is the kind of comfort food that feeds both the stomach and the soul. The Moore's Farm broccoli was a standout side, bringing a fresh, earthy balance to the richness of the chicken. And let's talk ambiance--charming, cozy, and the kind of place that makes you want to linger just a little longer. Cary, you've got a gem here. No question--I'll be back for more.

    Lasagna
    Eric B.

    Great ambiance and vibe and lived the service at the bar. We tried several popular drinks and loved them all. The fried chicken was juicy and crispy--big portions and fries--and my wife raved about the lasagna. The real winner was some puft pastry bread thing w Indian curry spices or something...wow that was a tasty treat to start. We'll be back for sure...this was our 2nd time (we went last year visiting from our home in Austin, and now we live much closer in Richmond). 5 stars.

    Milk washed bourbon drink
    Jaclyn N.

    This little cute restaurant in downtown Cary is an entire experience. The portions are huge. I had the oysters and pork shank and both were delicious. The drinks were very very good. The fried chicken was enough for my two friends to share. The lasagna was average. My friend's portion was big but it wasn't something we'd get again. The Korean cauliflower was amazing. I wouldn't order the carrots again either. Our server was being trained and was as kind and attentive as could be.

    Brisket taco
    Shannon D.

    So it was pretty good. The tacos are 7 dollars a taco. The fried chicken meal is MASSIVE. So many fries, but the sauce that it's baked with is amazing. The beef and broccoli was just okay. I'd come back again but it's a little bit on the pricey side for the quality. Still good though. Nice atmosphere outside as well as inside.

    Bluefin Tuna sseasoned and seared to perfection served with delicious salad and a special sauce. Delicious!
    Dale D.

    1st year anniversary for Hanks Downtown Dive according to Matthew. Well lighted with view of Chatham Street in the Sunroom patio seating indoor and outdoor seating. Excellent heirloom tomatoes on grilled toast with basil is the fresh appetizer. Double Wrapped Tacos, shrimp, house made potato chips, and a special sauce is a delicious presentation with broccoli. Dozen fresh oysters on the halfshell from Pamlico, North Carolina was tasty, briney flavor, accented with horseradish, lemon slices, and a mignonette. I highly recommend that you visit Hanks Downtown Dive to enjoy the New Orleans style blues and jazz music, the well lighted dining and delicious food. Ask about the story of Hank. One of the best restaurants in the Downtown Town of Cary.

    Anthony H.

    The oyster both raw or cooked are must have ! Great service! Nice design and decor! The shrimp and grits was on the salty side! Otherwise it was a perfect meal!

    Heirloom tomatoes

    We found Hanks on yelp and boy did we luck out! Our server Naomi was wonderful and made us feel at home. The restaurant had the best vibe! The food was nothing short of spectacular. We had heirloom tomatoes, olives, lasagna and fried chicken. Next time we are in Cary, we will definitely be back! Thanks Naomi

    These heaters weee two feet closer and centrally located.  Evidently the table requested they be moved closer.

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    2 years ago

    Uhh, not at all a dive. There was an amazing mix of flavors in both my drinks and in my meal.

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    3 years ago

    Great vibe, creative appetizers in large sizes, excellent people watching, outstanding service

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    This place is a gem in downtown Cary. The fried chicken is so crispy and delicious. Drinks are awesome and the ambiance is very chill.

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    3 years ago

    Excellent meal, the steak and broccoli appetizer was a terrific surprise, quite good. Highly recommend spending time here!

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    3 years ago

    Don't let the name fool you. This is not a dive. It' has fun and quirky decor. Love the Gluten Free fried chicken!

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    Page 2 of 3

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    The Walk Up

    The Walk Up

    4.3
    (19 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    There's something ridiculously satisfying about finding a spot that feels hidden in plain sight,…read moreand The Walk Up absolutely nails that energy. Tucked above downtown Cary, this cocktail club delivers specialty drinks that are both creative and dangerously easy to keep ordering. The vibe is relaxed without trying too hard, making it equally perfect for catching up with friends. The real standout for me though? The massive outdoor patio. Spacious, laid-back, and ideal for lingering over cocktails way longer than originally planned. Cary keeps getting cooler, and this place is a big reason why.

    Also, age discrimination, I showed them my ID I'm 24 years old. You can search my name up online…read moreyou can go through court records you can verify that I'm 24. But they would not allow me in there. They said it's 21+ which really they meant it was Old people only. They refused to serve me and said it was the law because I "wasn't 21. " I will be following a civil case I am 24 years old. I showed them a valid government ID and I'm sure that the court will accept my ID and be able to verify my age by other means. Never go here they don't allow young people unless you're a retarded golfer you're a retired golfer. This is your spot. By the way, the drinks are below average and they have fake plants hanging off the walls no food horrible place. In fact, I'm so confident that it's horrible that you can contact me with any questions at 904-679-2513

    Photos
    Part of seating area, June 2025.
    Part of seating area, June 2025.
    The Walk Up
    The Walk Up

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    RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar

    RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar

    4.8
    (95 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Stopped by RBF recently for an afternoon drink and really enjoyed my experience!…read more First, we ended up finding street parking right next to RBF, but I think there may also be a dedicated parking lot outside the back patio? Not entirely sure since we still have no idea how to access it, but maybe look for that lot if street parking is challenging :) Anyway, RBF is located in the basement of a building, so we had to take an elevator down from the entrance we took. Inside, it's got chill vibes - it definitely feels like a wine bar :) We ended up sitting inside on a high top, but there were various couches and a good amount of outdoor seating available as well. It took a while for our server to come check in with us, but she was super friendly and helpful with the wine selections once she came over. I got a random glass of red wine (they do not serve beer, in case you were wondering!) while my wife tried out a couple of tasters and then picked out a white wine for herself. The wine was pretty tasty and it was definitely a generous portion. After sitting there for a while, we also decided to grab some bread with pesto on the side. It took a sec for it to come out, but it wasn't bad! Nothing extraordinary but I wasn't expecting anything super gourmet, so it was totally fine. Overall, we had a great experience here and I would definitely stop by again on a date night.

    What a find! RBF is a cool champagne bar with a well thought out selection of wines and bites. The…read morespace is nicely decorated as well. Although every inch appears to be covered, it's not stuffy and quite cozy. The vibe is chill and the music is great. The hubs and I enjoyed our first visit of many to come. The staff was attentive and helpful in walking us through the menu and offering advice on our selections. We settled on the Fierce & Fiesty wine flight, the lumberjack charcuterie board, and the croissants w/ garlic butter. All were delicious, prices are fair, and the portions and pours were great. We left feeling satisfied and happy to have found a new chill spot to add to our local repertoire. Cheers to your success!

    Photos
    Interior during the Holiday season
    Interior during the Holiday season
    Decor was unforgettable
    Decor was unforgettable
    Interior

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    Interior
    Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage

    Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage

    4.4
    (90 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $

    Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage nails the balance between neighborhood hangout and serious beer…read moredestination without ever feeling pretentious. The tap selection is honestly impressive -- taps galore with an ever-changing lineup that makes every visit feel a little different. I also love that you can enjoy a pint onsite and then wander over to the bottle shop side to grab some gems to take home. Dangerous for my wallet, fantastic for my fridge. The outdoor patio is spacious, relaxed, and full of happy people and happy dogs. Cary can always use more genuinely dog-friendly spots, and this place embraces it completely. Pups lounging under tables while their humans work through flights? Come for one beer, leave with a mixed 6-pack and at least three new dog friends.

    We stopped by Pharmacy Bottle recently on a night out and enjoyed our experience there…read more First, parking was a little tricky since it was the weekend and the street spots in Downtown Cary were mostly occupied, but we managed to find a paid parking spot nearby :) Not ideal, but oh well! Inside, it was pretty spacious, with a couple of couches, a few tables, and of course the bar seating. I saw multiple customers walking around with their dogs, so I'd say Pharmacy is dog-friendly. The bartender was attentive throughout, and I thought the draft beers were very reasonably priced. The selection on draft was only OK, but that's more based on personal preference, I guess :) Pharmacy also had a bunch of cans available for sale, some refrigerated and some not (presumably based on the type of beer). There was an additional fee if you chose to buy a can and drink it in the bar. Maybe this is normal, but it struck me as a little strange. They also had some food items available but I skipped those this time. Overall, I had a pretty good time. I'd definitely consider stopping by again but I'm not sure it'll be a consistent hang-out.

    Photos
    Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage
    Pinot Noir
    Pinot Noir
    Tea cider

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    Tea cider

    Hank's Downtown Dive - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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