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    The Cardinal Bar

    4.2 (150 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs, Beer Bar
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Cardinal Bar Photos

    THE CARDINAL BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - The Cardinal Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    My bffs and I at Cardinal
    Jamie T.

    One of the best bars in Raleigh. "Old school" with great service and chill vibes. Hot dogs are incredible! If you're paying more than $4 / dog in Raleigh you're getting ripped off. My puppers love it here too. Cardinal will make hot dogs for your furry buds, too. Check this place out, really dang good.

    Walter H.

    Good, but nothing special. The hot dog was tasty, but I've had better. The toppings were fresh, though. A decent option if you're nearby.

    Big daddy dog
    Michael M.

    Best dogs this side of the mason Dixon. Definitely go to this place. Vibes are sick, music slaps, the pinball machine will keep you coming for more 10 out of MF'n 10.

    Hot dog!

    BEST hot dogs, BEST bartenders, enough said! This place is the best for a cold beer and a hawt dog

    Beer, hot dogs, Zapp's chips, and football......
    Chris H.

    The Cardinal Bar is a really cool place that's been around awhile. It's a neighborhood joint in a rapidly gentrifying area of downtown Raleigh. The beer is cold and the hotdogs are good. Prices here are reasonable and two dogs, chips and a beer will set you back about twenty bucks. Service was good also. There is plenty of seating and there is a parking lot and street parking available.

    Order card

    Hot dogs are off the charts, they use a toasted top-sliced bun which cannot be beat. Also the vibes are really great for a nice day!

    Hotdogs

    Great hot dogs the best hot dogs .. shout the goat miss Anna in the back whippin them dawgs up!

    Lorraine N.

    cool little dive bar with yummy hotdogs. slither in grab a basic beer and enjoy listening to the local banter. the afternoon i visited they were all watching slasher horror flicks. it was pretty fun. the bartender was a cross between a young robin williams/bradley cooper/and my son-in-law maybe it was the cocktail he concocted for me. worth a visit!

    Outside

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Beer, booze and hotdogs. What else do you need. Thanks for the great service. Xxxxxxx

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    5 years ago

    I love a small, homey place. I love how simple the menu is! The dawgs were soo good!! Highly recommend this somewhat hidden gem!

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    Page 2 of 4

    Ask the Community - The Cardinal Bar

    How late do they serve food?

    1am

    Do they accept mobile payment, like apple pay?

    No mobile pay

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    Blackbird Brewery

    Blackbird Brewery

    4.5
    (39 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    I first got to try Blackbird at a Halloween Yelp event, where they brough about half a dozen of the…read morebeers for us to try. I was impressed with so many of them, that I knew I had to make the journey from Raleigh to Wake Forest. On a chilly Saturday afternoon, I took the lone remaining seat at the bar. The service was incredible friendly (Cheers!) and they let me try 4 samples, which was very much appreciated. My favorites were the Juicy January and and the Yellow Submarine, both are Hazy IPAs. The JJ had hints of creamy pineapple in it, refreshing without being too light. The YS tasted a little more balanced, a really good all around beer. The Where I Belong was also good, this one leaned a little more towards West Coast, but it didn't have a strong piney taste like a lot of West Coasts can. I even noticed hints of caramel in it as well, which helped to counter the hops. There are several TVs and they'll put on just about any game you request. Also if you're into pumpkin beer, try the Pumpkin Amber when it's around. It's a Top 3 pumpkin beer that I've ever tried, and I've tried at least 25.

    The low down:This place never disappoints! The customer service is consistently friendly and…read morewelcoming, and the beer and wine selection is fantastic--there's truly something for everyone. Tonight was extra special thanks to the incredible live music by JT Parrothead. The energy, talent, and atmosphere made for such a fun and memorable evening. Great drinks, great people, and great music all in one spot--what more could you ask for? We'll absolutely be back!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Blackbird Brewery
    Inside

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    Inside
    Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout in Wake Forest

    Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout in Wake Forest

    4.3
    (23 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Came to an event here and this place was a vibe! The owner was walking around greeting people and…read morebeing so helpful! The drinks were great and very affordable. There is plenty of free parking and seating indoor and outdoor. Will definitely return.

    Came here for an adoption event Lonerider hosted for TriBeagles, which seems to be a regular event…read more So, we bought some drinks and left with two new dogs. Lonerider was very accommodating and accessible for both humans and dogs. Let's talk about beer and cocktails. As I was DD, you'll have to take my spouse's word for the beer. He enjoyed a couple of IPA's on the menu, and they very kindly made me a mocktail for half the price (which I'm grateful for as the drive back to Northern VA is kind of long, and I don't need to get pulled over with two newly adopted beagles already scared for their lives.) The outlaw extra menu, which is made up of specialty kegs on tap, also had a good variety on it. The big screen with all the different beers currently available is pretty cool. And I like that there's a fridge stocked up with take home beers, too. Plenty of parking outside. The beer garden was packed full of people and dogs and pop-up shops, still with room to sit and enjoy a beer or two. Inside there was plenty of seating and room to move around without stepping on any paws. I love that a portion of the proceeds from these events always goes back to TriBeagles, and I'm thankful for local businesses supporting these precious dogs in finding homes by providing event space. I wish we lived closer, Lonerider. We'd be here all the time.

    Photos
    Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout in Wake Forest
    Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout in Wake Forest
    Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout in Wake Forest

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    Fortnight Brewing Wake Forest

    Fortnight Brewing Wake Forest

    4.5
    (4 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Fortnight has become a weekly tradition for their trivia nights on Mondays. They've gone through a…read morecouple of staff here and there since my last review two years ago and we love the current bartender and service. We always have a fun time and having trivia and music bingo nights has gotten us out of the house for sure. They no longer have food trucks but you can still bring in your own food or order food from one of the restaurants next door. It's a fun place to hang out after work Monday nights and their bar menu selection is great!

    Fortnight Brewing is a nice addition to a newly constructed retail area here in town. It has a nice…read morebeer hall feel and there is plenty of seating inside and outside under a covered area alongside. I've been to the Cary location several times and their brewing products are mostly in the English style that I like generally. They do have wine, Prosecco and a bar that offers a limited cocktail menu. It's a thing these days to go to a brewery and see the tanks and brewing equipment but, their brewing operation is at the Cary location, which is impressive. If I remember right, they made their own yeast for their beer recipes. I liked their Kolsch and Best Believer from the sampler I had. They also have rotating food trucks on weekends, primarily, that will be parked at the rear of the establishment.

    Photos
    Strawberry moonshine with chocolate liqueur
    Strawberry moonshine with chocolate liqueur
    More than just beer.
    More than just beer.
    Fortnight Brewing Wake Forest

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    Gatehouse Tavern

    Gatehouse Tavern

    3.2
    (205 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Jess our waitress gave us an overview of some favorites on the menu and wow.... We benefited from…read moreher knowledge. I enjoyed the House Hibachi with salmon and hubby enjoyed the Wagu Texan burger. The bar is louder but we enjoyed a booth on the quieter side. Everything was delicious and a beer hit the spot too. Be sure to ask for Jess.

    Gatehouse Tavern is located in the Gateway Commons shopping center. Lowe's Foods is the anchor…read more Parking tends to be hard to find near the restaurant, so more spaces are available if you park closer to the grocery store. The sports bar is divided into two sections: a dining room with tables and booths, and a bar with high-top seating. The restaurant was fairly quiet until the karaoke was about to start. Then it seemed like you needed to scream to hear a conversation. They also have trivia nights, so that likely isn't as loud. I ordered the Wagyu Burger, and it was cooked to order and delicious. The mashed potatoes for the side were lukewarm and rather dry and bland. The way they were presented at the table made it seem as if they were meant to go with something, like butter or gravy. I would not recommend the mashed potatoes, but the burger was delicious. The sweet potato fries, another had as a side, looked good, as did a salad. Service seemed good at first with the drink and food orders. But once the food was brought out, I don't think we saw the waitress again until it was time for the checks. A bill with a credit card for another guest at a different table was even brought out with the processed checks. So make sure you get the correct credit card back.

    Photos
    Gatehouse Tavern
    Yum!!!
    Yum!!!
    Gatehouse Tavern

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    The Cardinal Bar - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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