This is Hickory's only Speakeasy! Go through the door labeled No Entry and find a beautiful little…read morebar lounge. Small and comfortable with a few food options a d a long list of carefully crafted cocktails from excellent mixologists.

This has become a staple for us. Great food and service. Consistent standards every time.read more

Notions was OK. I had a smash burger - the burger was decent, the side of a grit cake was…read morehorrid. It was a wedge of grits that were covered in breading and deep fried. Who possibly wants to eat deep fried breaded grits? We ordered some apps and I forget what my wife and SIL order, but the overall opinion was just OK. No one wanted to return. Plus... the inside restaurant smelled like something died in there. We ate outside, as eating inside was impossible due to the smell. When I went to use the bathroom about an hour later, they had heavily perfumed the restuarant.

Overall a really nice surprise in Hickory NC! It's a combo of burgers & sushi which is unique but…read moreactually works quite well. I got the bento box to try a little of everything and my slider was well cooked and had a ton of flavor and the sushi roll was fresh & balanced. We sat on the patio which was super nice for a pretty day. Service was great and attentive, may be a new favorite in Hickory.

I have had two experiences with Cowa Sake. First of all, I ordered takeout from them through…read moreDoorDash. Everything was neatly packaged and remained warm for the drive to my hotel. I had the dumpling of the week which was DIVINE and I also had a spicy tuna roll which was excellent. Most recently, I stopped in for lunch. I ordered the tuna poke bowl and it was good. I didn't enjoy it as much as the sushi roll and dumpling I tried previously because it didn't have many ingredients and was a little bland. But I will consider this a one off since the other food I've tried from here was so good. The space is trendy and bright. It is a little loud, at least during the lunch hour, but it is a fun vibe. Staff are kind and work hard. This is a great restaurant.

My husband and I went to the Inferno Tavern, Newton NC for the first time tonight. It was…read morefantastic!! I'd like to start off saying that it is almost impossible to find a place that will make an espresso martini in and around this area. I asked for one first thing and the bartender had no issues making one. I was pleasantly surprised. The espresso martini was SPOT ON!! DELICIOUS!! My husband enjoyed his coconut rum and Coke so much, he got two!! My second drink was off of their "winter cocktail" menu. This menu was unique and intriguing. I can't for the life of me remember the name of the drink I got, but I promise most people based on description would pass. DON'T pass!! The drink was served warm with wine, rum, and spices. It taste like an apple cider or a flavorful tea, I could not taste the alcohol, that makes it a true cocktail in my opinion it also makes it dangerous!! hahahaha!! Move over Long Island ice tea!! We both got burgers. Both flame grilled I believe. Cooked perfectly and soooooooooooooo good!! My hubby got the inferno burger. If you love spicy, This one is for you!! It's not for the faint of heart. I chose the American burger. It was everything you want in a classic burger and it's my new fav place for a burger!! I chose a wedge salad for my side. It was large for a side. I only wish they had charred/grilled the wedge just to step it up a notch. Hubby got the pub chips.... tasty and plentifu!! Overall food was delicious. The staff were very nice and attentive. The building is beautiful and their vintage adds, mural, and gargoyles are a delightful and unique touch to the decor. I hope to see more the next time we go. We WILL be back for more!!

I would give it a zero star if I could. Went to try Inferno. Had to seat myself. No big deal. But…read morewaiting 10 minutes and not one person acknowledged us. Not even a middle finger. Another customer arrived and was taken care of before us. Not very good if you're trying to be a successful restaurant. This place will not make it if they continue like this. Very unorganized. Ambiance was kind of low. Felt like I was at a funeral. Unfortunately I can't comment on the food.

Disappointing. This was our first time experience at this restaurant; and we won't be giving it a…read moresecond try. It was our anniversary, we had high hopes based on other reviews. However, Service was extremely slow. Chicken was visibly burnt and dry, fettuccine pasta had no flavor whatsoever. We sent back a drink that was made wrong and told the server we will just stick with water. However when we got the bill the drink was still on there. The most confusing part was that the place wasn't even that busy so the poor service was perplexing. Hopefully this review saves someone else from the same bad experience.

We have eaten here several times over the years and have always enjoyed our meals and the ambiance…read more We have brought friends and family for special events, however after a recent visit in November 2024 we probably will not be back. We made an early reservation because we had a show to catch later, and it is a good thing because even though there were only 4 other tables in the dining room the service was extremely slow. Our server only came a few times over the 2 hours we were there and food took an abnormally long time to arrive. We had water to drink, no alcohol. We had some shareable appetizers, 2 mains, and a shared side. Nothing crazy. They had a recent menu change according to the server and we are NOT a fan. They changed the bread app and it is not very good. The old bread app was chefs kiss, new one, 2 thumbs down. We had the meatball app, flavor and good, but they were literally cold inside. We would have sent them back, but they took so long to arrive that we didn't want to run out of time. My wife had the scallops, they were literally cold, had grit on them and there were 5 small scallops. I had a steak, it was cooked perfectly and was fork tender. However it lacked flavor and if i hadn't added the sauce it wouldn't have had any taste. The shared potatoes were just ok. Our food was cold, service was slow, portions were lacking, and our bill was over $180 with tip. We routinely go have a nice meal like this once a week and happily spend more than that on a killer meal, but this was lack luster compared to past visits. I can't say we will be back this time. Hope I hear they improve. To those about to dine, you have been warned.

Solid bar with solid food. Nothing crazy but nothing bad either. Prices are good and you won't be…read moredisappointed. Inside is pretty cramped but the service is good. The chicken tenders were a little tough but you could tell it was real chicken. Overall a great spot if you just want some easy bar food.

This was a place that was on a number of YouTube videos for Hickory so we decided to get a beer…read morehere. It was VERY busy, but we got a table in the bar. We ordered a beer each but honestly they were a bit flat. We didn't send them back, but also didn't want to complain or order another so a beer each and out. It was okay, nothing special.

Omg what a beautiful venue. My cousin just had her wedding and reception there a few months ago. I…read morerecommend. We had our own brid suite to get ready in. There was a full kitchen and bar. Outside by the lake was beautiful, that's where the wedding was. Inside we had plenty of room to dance and turn up. 10/10

This is a nice event center the outdoor wedding area by the Lake was amazing. Very serene. We…read moreattended a 5 PM wedding in August and it was very cool and comfortable in the area where the wedding was held. The cocktail area was nice. The reception hall was great. This is a real nice venue. The bridal suite is awesome

First time here, sat at the bar. great time, amazing food, great service! all around an amazing…read moredinner! our bartender was very informative, he recommended a pumpkin spice espresso martini, which was literally the best one I've ever had in my life!!!! the we split a bottle of mascato (so reasonably priced, $22). The vibe was a guy playing piano who sang so well! we enjoyed the dimmed lights and the lowkey vibe atmosphere with it being classy. overall great dinner!

Disorganized and Disappointing…read more We had high hopes for Duke's, especially with its upscale vibe and menu, but the reality fell far short. From the moment we sat down, things started going sideways. First red flag? The water left on our table had bugs floating in it. Not a great start. The waitress, while friendly, seemed completely overwhelmed--she forgot our orders multiple times, asked the same questions repeatedly, and left us waiting far too long between check-ins. It took 40 minutes just to get our soups, and the entrees didn't arrive until over an hour after we ordered. The entire experience felt chaotic. At one point, another server brought two dishes and a drink to our table that weren't even ours. Total confusion. Now let's talk about pricing--specifically, a $12 charge to split a 24 oz ribeye. How does that make sense when one person might not even be able to finish it? It felt like a greedy upcharge for no real reason. Menu clarity was another issue. The sides weren't listed clearly, and no one explained that the "loaded potato" option was actually a soup--not an actual potato. The clam chowder? It's a tomato-based red soup, which is definitely not what most people would expect when ordering chowder. A simple explanation from the staff would've gone a long way. The duck was actually fantastic, the crab cakes not so much. Dessert was also oddly handled. They offer a brownie, but ask, "Is that okay?" as if there are other options (there aren't). Then they bring one brownie split four ways--literally bite-sized portions on a single plate for a group of four. It felt more like a sampler than a real dessert. When it came time to pay, we were asked if we were ready for the check, but then they came back later and had to double-check everyone's order just to get the bill right. And instead of bringing the check, you're told to scan a QR code to pay--likely a move to avoid credit card processing fees, though it puts the burden on the customer to complete the transaction. Overall, Duke's tries to present itself as upscale, but the execution just isn't there. Sloppy service, confusing policies, and unnecessary upcharges make it hard to justify a return visit. Definitely not the dining experience we were hoping for.

Everything was great including the atmosphere. Kids chicken tenders was only 2 small pieces though,…read moreso I'd just take note of that. We got the Philly cheesesteak pizza and it was great! They had live music that was just perfect for the space.

Staff is always ready with a smile and a good drink. Wood fired pizzas are awesome and the burgers…read moreare good too. Stop in Friday and Saturday morning for brunch! The bar staff is awesome and are very knowledgeable about the wall of bourbon and whiskey, they won't steer you wrong