The service was good. Our food was hot, and extremely delicious. We ordered the portobello chicken breast, the sauce was incredible, two large chicken breast and homemade mashed garlic potatoes. My daughter had the French onion soup and you can see by the picture it was delicious too. I did forget to take the picture at the beginning when our food was served. We enjoy coming to the Cotten Exchange we always visit when we're at the beach. This was the first time eating at the Pub, we wanted something different and this was enjoyable. Would visit again. read more

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Great service and generous portions. Hidden in a corner of the exchange. Cozy booths and very nice people working v here. Our 2nd time visiting. read more

Paddy's Hollow - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Stopped in for lunch with a friend, getting there right as they opened for the day. The manager told us about their fried green tomatoes and assured us the food overall was very good. He was right! The service and food was really fresh, tasty, and nicely done. Their fried green tomatoes were unique and interesting and very good! Their salad with grilled chicken was excellent too! Service was very nice as well. Highly recommend stopping in! read more

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First thing, we love the aesthetic, low light bar feel. Friday afternoon in February was fairly busy and though understaffed we still received great service. We enjoyed two local beers, the sampler appetizer, the French dip, and a Philly cheesesteak. Both my wife and I's favorite was the jalapeño poppers on the sampler(which I did not see as a regular menu item). Everything else was good, the Philly was a bit salty for my taste, but the fries were really delicious! read more

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I came with my wife on Friday for dinner and I wanted to say the experience was phenomenal. I ordered the fried green tomato BLT and my wife got the fish and chips. The food was absolutely amazing and our server was a tall outgoing man who was very humorous. Not only was the food amazing but the experience our server provided was next level. Such a cool vibe and experience, can't recommend the place enough. Next time we're in Wilmington Paddys will be our first and last stop. read more

I'm a huge fan of an Irish pub so stopped here for lunch while exploring downtown Wilmington. Our service was super friendly and helpful. Like any proper Irish pub should, they had a nice selection of beers including Irish options - including my favorite Smithwick's. Also, like any good Irish pub they had a great hamburger and fries. The ambiance inside is very pub-like which I really enjoy but can be dark. The kids enjoyed their kids menu and fries quite a bit. read more

Paddy's Hollow - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Out of all the restaurants located in the historic district of Wilmington we chose Paddy's Hollow. We chose poorly. The decorum and ambience are spot on and rather charming but I can't eat the decor. But let's start with the positives. My sister order the fried shrimp and my daughter ordered the fried green tomato sandwich. Both came out looking good and were enjoyed. My mother and I ordered a cheesesteak to share. It was by far the worse cheesesteak I have ever eaten in my life. It was literally burnt meat and bread. There was no cheese and no onions on the sandwich. It tasted like they scraped all the gristle off to clean the griddle and put it on our sandwich. Our server never came out to check on us mostly because I think she knew that sandwich didn't look right and she just hid instead of letting us send it back. I counted that another server in the restaurant walked by us 8 times in the amount of time it took us eat. I was starving! I hadn't had breakfast so I ate most of my half of the sandwich but not all. My mother took two small bites out of hers. Once my sister and daughter had finished eating and we sat there for a while our server finally emerged. I told her straight away that this was indeed an awful sandwich and she agreed. Said the owner was in the back and she would show it to him. The owner never came out to apologize or to correct this atrocity. We were not offered to remake the sandwich or something in its place and we were fully charged for something that was clearly burnt and not a cheesesteak. How do you mess up a cheesesteak? If you want a hit or miss place to eat where the owner clearly doesn't care about quality and customer satisfaction then by all means eat here. read more

Paddy's Hollow - A "cheesesteak" with no cheese or vegetables that I wouldn't serve to my worse enemy. - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Paddy's Hollow I saw as I was walking in Downtown Wilmington. I didn't venture far from the hotel on this visit as the first day was rain and the second was so cold and windy. Paddy's Hollow is in the Cotton Exchange on the middle level I'd say. Its hours are limited and it closes at 5pm so I did my best to plan accordingly. I arrived a little after 4 and was seated. There were a few others there at the bar but I was the only one there in the dining section. I wasn't sure when the kitchen would close. I did order something on the simpler side because it was closing soon then something I could reheat easily if I didn't finish. Although I will say I wasn't given any restrictions on ordering. I went with the chicken tenders and fries. The portion of fries was generous to say the least. The tenders were good but the honey mustard sauce was what made the meal pop. I was even offered a tea to go. Paddy's Hollow is on my list to dine again as I was pleased with the food and service. read more

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Food was so good forgot to take pictures. Husband and I split a rack of sweet and tangy ribs. Whoa, yummy sauce, tender falling off the bone. Fried green tomatoes were the perfect proportion of breading and tomato, dipping sauce just a touch of heat. Bread pudding for dessert: PERFECT. read more

We were there around 3 for a late lunch and aside from my french dip a sandwich, and the architecture and decor, everything else was bad. The food that they did have (they were out of Philly cheese steaks) came out after about 40 minutes. The steak my friend ordered medium came out well done. The fries we could tell had been sitting under the warmer for some time. All three of us ordered water that got refilled once by someone other than our server. She was pretty inattentive. All three of us work in the service industry so are understanding, but I went inside three times during our meal. 1. Ask about the length of time of food was taking 2. Ask for the check after waiting a long time 3. To address the fact that we were charged for the over cooked steak that we sent back and did was not consumed at all. The manager was kind enough to remove the steak and take %20 off our total, so we were appreciative of that. However, probably won't be going back. read more

I was pretty disappointed in my visit with Paddy in the Hollow. It was a slow night and we apparently had the bartender as our waitress and we were not too close to the bar for her to be able to be aware of our needs when drinks were low or when we were ready for our checks. when our food arrived she never came to check on us to make sure were all set and I was waiting for some condiments and had to go get them myself. the chicken strips really tasted and looked as if they were frozen and the fries were just ok. I wouldn't come back since there are plenty of other restaurants to chose from in the area. read more

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Awesome atmosphere, good drinks and appetizers. Service was very nice just a tad slow.

Paddy's is a relatively quiet place. Not your typical Irish Pub. They have 16 beers on tap, but only 3 are Irish; Guinness, Smithwick's and Harp. One thing I really liked was there is only one TV in the bar, and it is off to the side. The place was moderately full early on Saturday night so we sat at a high top on the bar side. The decor is typical dark wood Irish pub-ish. There were several families with young children so it is probably not a rowdy place, also a good thing. The menu is surprisingly not Irish. They have a Sheperds Pie made with ground beef, a brisket sandwich and fish and chips. The rest was basically pub food. I had the burger, a bit overcooked for my taste. Kim had the shepherds pie, also not memorable. We were served fairly quickly, but that was the last time we saw our server until our check. To be fair she was also the bartender, but a little more attention would have been nice. read more

Paddy's Hollow - Menu cover - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

If you're looking for an Olde Wilmington vibe with great food and a relaxed atmosphere, look no further! Located in the old Cotton Exchange, directly across from the river front with brick thruways, you can easily imagine a horse and buggy tied up outside where the patio sits now. This pub is a must stop for visitors and a wonderful chill place for locals. Do not miss the Fried Green Tomato BLT - the best BLT this side of Merritt's in Chapel Hill - and the French Onion Soup is to die for. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, they've got something for everyone, and even if you just want to saddle up to the bar and hang downtown, you can't lose! read more

Stopped in for a snack. Didn't want to fill up before new years dinner. Had wings, fried green tomatoes and smothered fries. They have a good drink selection. Cant really review for foods. W enjoyed it but it's pretty basic. I wanted the crab dip but they would not substitute the bread. Not sure how GF friendly they would if we were to go for dinner. The atmosphere and all was nice though read more

Paddy's Hollow - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Paddy's is always a solid source for a good meal while downtown. The food quality has remained fairly consistent even during these trying times. The ambiance has also remained constant even from the 1990s. The service however, can run hot and cold. On a previous visit, we were told to "chill" by a waiter who refused to seat us. We then were seated but waited for 20 minutes without being recognized as potential customers. Business was slightly busy, but no need for the rude behavior. read more

First time here and it was a great experience! Food was great and also the service. Nate was our server and he did an amazing job making sure we were taken care of! read more

We came here on Saturday just to relax and enjoy some good drinks and food! The food is amazing and our bartender Jay was fabulous! Let me tell you if you are downtown please come show some love to Paddy's Hollow you won't be disappointed! A lot of history this way and the ambiance is very fitting! read more

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Giving it a 5 even though didn't eat there. We were visiting Wilmington and needed a sit down break and a cold drink. Our drinks soda and a beer. The rating was for ambiance and friendly staff. Menu looked good but we knew wouldn't be close when ready to eat. Saw a couple who had food, it looked good. read more

The nachos and French Onion soup. 16 beers on tap and terrific service. It's off the beaten path and worth the steps. The staff is outstanding and the ambiance is European. Enjoy! read more

Paddy's Hollow - The bar - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Ok, came back for another Guinness and wound up drinking 2! Definitely a great spot to grab food and a pint

We were drawn to the aesthetics of Paddys Hollow inmmediately. On the courtyard level of the Cotton Exchange is a cute little patio, doorway, and sidewalk that I dare you to resist walking down. Upon entry, we also really liked the interior- very typical Irish Pub. Dark woodwork, deep booths. I ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT. The tomato was really thin and there were only 2 slices, so that was a little disappointing. The French Onion soup was very different- but still good. My husbands food was fine, but boring enough that a few days later, we don't even remember what he got. The service wasn't very friendly or good. We had to ask for things like napkins and refills. Next time we're at the Cotton Exchange, we'll probably try something else. read more

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Came in on a Saturday night because it was close to my friends hotel. I always love an Irish pub. This is a nice location and had a real Irish atmosphere and relaxed vibe. To our surprise, they didn't have a lot of Irish food items. I got the Guinness Braised Corned Beef Brisket with fries. It was a good sandwich but I thought it would have been toasted rye bread. The best part was our great servers. They were very nice and attentive. Plus, we liked the great Saturday drink specials! read more

Paddy's Hollow - Drink specials 1/29/22 - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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5 star rating for this hidden gem! It was midday on a Friday and my family and I were exploring the area. We were there for the Cotton Exchange but we were getting hungry. A little sign was posting with the cute name 'Paddy's Hollow' and we had to check it out. This cute underground restaurant holds all the charm from days past as well as some delicious smells! I ordered a BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger (not shown here). I should have take a photo but I ate it pretty quickly. It was one of the best burgers I have ever had! If you have been wanting to check out Paddy Hollow...don't hold back! Go for it, you won't regret it! read more

Paddy's Hollow - Front Entrance. - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

It has been over 10 years since my last visit but this place looks the same (in a good way.) This place has such a cozy feel and the staff were friendly. I had the fish and chips and it was good with a big portion. The fries and slaw that came with it were good as well. My only complaint about my dish was it was a little greasy and the batter didn't stay on the fish. The menu looked good and varied and it's a place I will definitely visit again soon. read more

Paddy's Hollow - Fish And Chips - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We had a really great lunch here today! There were 5 of us and we sat outside. Service was nice and the food was great. I have to say that the salad dressing was one of the best I ever had. It was a Greek vinegaraitte and it put Greek restaurants to shame. I love my steak salad and everyone else loves their food, too! read more

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17 bucks for a martini that's not even full?! Are you kidding me?! This is hardly fine dining and obviously not NYC! The food isn't terrible but not good either. Service is blah. The atmosphere is good on a dark rainy day and that's about it. Won't be going back. read more

The food is absolutely amazing and well cooked and the staff is very kind. It's a very relaxing environment as well, resembling that of an older bar. I absolutely love this place read more

Paddy's Hollow - Food - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Paddy's Hollow has one of the Best French Onion soups in the area. I will focus on the French Onion Soup and the Jalapeno poppers in this review. They also have great burgers, salads, and French Dips. The menu has a great variety of foods. I have eaten at Paddy's for years and have NEVER had anything less than well-cooked, served, and prepared food. The French Onion soup is made with Guinness which adds a great depth of flavor. The presentation is beautiful with the cheese melting down the side of the bowl. The amount of cheese and bread are really appropriate and balances well. If I could change one thing, I would add more bread into the soup as Brasserie Du Soleil does. (That's another review). I prefer the dark and flavorful stock that defines this soup. The onions except for one stray piece were perfectly cooked, being neither over nor undercooked. The one stray piece appears to just have been an onion that was only partially cooked. The Jalapeno poppers were perfectly fried and served at the correct temperate. Very hot, but not to a ridiculous level. I do want to mention that during the last two visits my wife and I have had. We experienced the most personable and wonderful server we have ever experienced there in years. The servers are always friendly and efficient however, Jay H. stands apart at a whole new level. While still tending the bar, he also acts as a server. He amazingly can balance both jobs, and his smile, easy-going attitude, and personality never falter or suffer given the rapid pace and expectations of his multiple responsibilities. read more

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Went here for lunch and was a little nervous at first because it is a literal hole in the wall but man, we were proved wrong! Hubby had the burger and loved and I had the corned beef sandwich. It was all delicious! The fries were fresh and flavorful, the spicy mustard was the perfect pairing for the sandwich, and the beef was melt in your mouth. I also had a draft Guinness that was the perfect pour! Would definitely go here again for a pub meal that feels like you're in another country. read more

Paddy's Hollow - Guinness corned beef sandwich - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The wait time was about a 35 minutes wait due to shortage of staff. I ordered the brisket sandwich and I have to say I was very disappointed. A bit of sliced brisket some cheese and a hill of lettuce and chunks of tomato. No mustard or sauce. The mash potato were slim to nothing and lacked any flavor at all. I do not recommend because you'll be disappointed. read more

Meghan was my server at the bar, she recommended this. I was blown away, food was so good and excellent service. read more

Paddy's Hollow - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Always enjoy paddy,'s. Good food and polite wait staff. Look forward to many more visits.

Tucked away on the back side of the Cotton Exchange is a gem known as Paddy's Hollow. This place is full of nostalgia! The hobbit like entrance. The dark wood finishes. The long extended bar with the Guinness tap. It's everything I look for when I look to escape the monotony of chain restaurants and pubs. Paddy's has an extended menu full of pub grub and home style eats. Fried fish, Shepherds Pie, Ribs, shrimp, burgers and you can even find a nice plate of nachos here. My visit on this night included one of their fine chargrilled burgers. They are done exceptionally well and I never feel guilty ordering a burger here. I would guess they are hand packed and always cooked to order. I washed it down with one of those black beers (Guinness Stout) and left full and happy. I love me an Irish pub and Paddy's is the best in Wilmington. read more

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ordered mandrian chicken salad, menu said fried chicken tenders or fried teriyaki shrimp. my chicken came grilled and was a sliced chicken breast not tenders! I asked for crackers , any kind, waitress said they had no crackers or bread of any type. they serve steak, ribs , salads, surely they could rolls or crackers. but they can tell me what to tip. ambiance is good. read more

This was my first time dining here, and the restaurant environment was a real treat for me. It is a really comfortable, cozy, charming restaurant and bar, tastefully decorated and warm and inviting. Great lighting and acoustics. I especially loved the early 70's music playing, including some Linda Ronstadt, Neil Sedaka, Barry Manilow, Heart, and others. Right up my alley! Nice, mellow mainstream music, which is hard to find these days. Additionally, our server, Karina, was excellent. Unfortunately, I was not at all happy with my shepherd's pie. There was little to no meat in it. It was literally just a gravy with just a few scant vegetables... mostly whipped potatoes. I probably should have sent it back. My friend ordered the corned beef on rye; it was very salty, but very lean and delicious. The restaurant is very clean, and I could tell that the owner takes pride in his establishment. I'll be returning, but I won't be ordering the shepherd's pie again! Oh, and by the way, I was told by our server that the fish and chips is not a traditional beer-battered fish. That was a disappointment. If they were to do a beer-battered battered fish, they would be the hot spot for fish and chips because there are seemingly no Wilmington restaurants that make a traditional fish and chips. read more

Paddy's Hollow - Shepherd's pie, mostly potatoes. Very little meat if any. - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Interesting place, we came here for mimosas while waiting for a table at another place and then decided to come back the following Sunday for lunch & drinks. I got the chicken BLT with fries and my friend got the crab cake sandwich with no bread, she also got the French onion soup to start. She said the soup was not good- there was barely any soup mostly just cheese and the bread. She said the crab cakes were good though. My sandwich was fine, HUGE, but nothing special. Same with the fries- nothing special. Service was okay, same with drinks. This place would be a lot better if their menu had a focus. The menu is tad bit all over the place. Their outside patio is really nice to enjoy drinks on. read more

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The fish and chips were pretty good but everything else was mediocre at best. The crab cakes and crab dip tasted very fishy. The Bleu cheese dressing was excellent. Even the Guinness taste was off. I now understand why the place was practically empty at 6:30 on a Friday night. read more

Great service! Fried chicken sandwich was fantastic, great breading and very generous portion. I recommend sitting at the bar with Corinna. Quiet delightful all around read more

Went to Paddy's Hollow for lunch while visiting my son who attends UNCW. He has always wanted to go there because it is a very interesting establishment with a very unique history. They were very good about following all CDC guidelines. The waitress that seated us was very pleasant. We sat in a booth and were only 2 of 3 tables completely spread out. My son, daughter and I all ordered the French Onion Soup as well as the Reuben sandwich. The soup was not as good as folks have reviewed. The broth was very bland. I make my own French soup, and not to seem conceited, but it was much better than Paddy's soup. The reuben was actually dry. I always tell my son not to order it when we go out, because once again, mine is always better than anywhere we have ever ordered it. So overall, the service was very good, the food was ok. We would probably give them another chance in the future as it is an interesting establishment and perhaps the chef was having an off day. read more

Paddy's Hollow - My son outside of Paddy's Hollow with his "unimaginary" friend Beekle - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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