This place absolutely nails the Irish pub vibe in the best way possible. The atmosphere is warm, lively, and inviting, and the bar area is especially great. Having the open roof adds such a cool touch and makes it a fun spot to hang out. The espresso martinis are killer and definitely worth ordering. And the fries with aioli? Easily one of my favorite parts of the meal, they are impossible to stop eating. Overall, it's a great spot for drinks, good food, and a fun pub atmosphere. I'll definitely be back. read more

My husband and I visited The Workman's Friend for dinner, an Irish pub in Charlotte, for the first time at the end of August and had a fantastic experience. It was fairly busy, but we walked in without a reservation and were seated indoors right away. We ordered two Guinnesses, the Mussels appetizer (with garlic bread), and split the Fish & Chips plate. Everything was incredible. The cod was perfectly beer-battered, the hand-cut chips were crisp and hearty, and the green peas and tartar sauce rounded it out beautifully. The mussels and garlic bread were also delicious (even ordered a second garlic bread). I would 100% order both dishes again. Our server was also friendly, attentive, and gave honest, helpful recommendations. Prices felt fair for the quality, and the overall experience hit all the right notes. We've already recommended it to friends and will definitely be back. A cozy, welcoming spot for comfort food done right. read more

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Walking up to Workman's Friend I could tell it was my kind of place, who wouldn't notice the Butterfly Highway sign among the native plants hugging the building? Inside the atmosphere was appropriately Irish. I was further delighted to be served a drink with an agave straw that would later be added to their on- site commercial composter. Wait staff gets 5 stars! read more

Located in Plaza Midwood, it appears to be the place to be on a Saturday night. There are 2 sides. One side is a bar area whereas the other side is the restaurant. We sat in the back part of the restaurant. Drinks were flowing. Service was great. The waiter was very attentative to our entire group. The only negative comment was that it was very hot. There was no relief to the temperature where we were. I can understand the bar area being warm because its is open to the outside. A door separates the two side so I don't know why the restaurant side was so hot. No air being exchanged at all. Overall I really liked the vibe of The Workman's Friend. We will be back. read more

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Workmans is a household favorite of ours! Their tomato soup is amazing, and so is their Shepards Pie. Not to mention their drinks and vibes are always great. Will always be back to Workmans read more

The Workman's Friend - Grilled cheese and tomato soup - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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So we tried this restaurant after not being able to get into a different one because it was so crowded. The atmosphere is very underwhelming, and after sitting down and viewing the menu we almost considered leaving. But we wound up finding something we thought we'd like and it was surprisingly very tasty. We were both pleasantly surprised at our meals. I had a burger and fries, but it was no ordinary burger. And the fries were REAL fries. They were delicious. My husband enjoyed his fish and chips. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. This restaurant could use a refresh, deep cleaning and some additions to the menu. If the environment was more appealing and the food choices more plentiful, this place would be amazing. read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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If sitting in an open air window seat on a sunny day with a refreshing beverage is your vibe, this is the spot for you. The Honey Badger is such a yummy, light cocktail and it was perfect for a warm Saturday afternoon. To add to the good vibes, there is sure to always be excellent people watching while peering out over Central Ave. This place has all the goodies! read more

The Workman's Friend - Honey badger drink - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Maybe good for a lunch or dinner but late night cocktails would absolutely not recommend

This place has become a plaza midwood must-stop. The food is totally underrated, I've never had a bad meal there. The fish and chips platter is probably my favorite. The drinks are delicious as well. While I am not a coffee drinker, I heard the espresso martini is one of the best in town. Obviously the outside covered patio was one of the best things they could have done, sitting there on a warm summer night and watching Plaza Midwood shenanigans going on, it just pure entertainment. During your next visit to the area, make sure you grab some food and drinks here, read more

Stopped in for dinner as an 8 before a comedy show. The area was lively with restaurants, bars and people all around. Pub atmosphere, with TV's galore, beer taps and full bar. Service was excellent. Plenty of Irish pub food choices. Fresh Guinness was a bonus. Dined on burgers, Shepard pie, sausage rolls. All hot delicious and plentiful. Enjoy! read more

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Great staff, super attentive service. The sausage rolls did not disappoint! Good selection of taps and ambiance is exactly what you're looking for in a great local pub! Highly recommend the okra, they do it so well! read more

The Workman's Friend - Fried Pickled Okra - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This was my first time ever in a pub, and I can say it didn't disappoint! I decided to join my friends after we hosted an event, and they chose to go here. This was honestly the best decision of my life. The Workman's Burger was the best burger I've ever had, although I wish I had gotten bacon on it just due to my love of bacon. I can't even explain how amazing their mac and cheese was--it had a perfect amount of crunch and mix of cheese. The environment is also very welcoming, and the service is great. If I could give this place a 10/10, I would! read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Def my fave restaurant in Plaza Midwood! I'm a creature of habit, so I usually get the tomato soup and grilled cheese with a glass of sparkling wine. Food is def yummy . I've also gotten the Shepherd's pie and the burger which are both really good as well. Their sparkling wine is pretty good, though a bit more in price than other places I'll admit. I usually do make a reservation on open table if I plan to eat. Usually get seated near the back which has a great ambiance and isn't quite as loud as the bar area, though still loud. Service is nice when I have a reservation, and food comes out fairly fast. Whenever I just come in without a reservation, I usually just sit at the bar for some drinks with a friend. Bar service is usually nice and usually get a drink fairly fast with kind service. I also like sitting in the kinda outer bar part behind the bar. If you sit at the front when it's open, your dog can sit outside near you. Only part of the bar that's kinda dog friendly. But my fave time is just getting dinner here or drinks on a Thursday. As an introvert, this place gets way too busy on weekend evenings, though many probz love that! Overall, just really like the food, drinks, service, and ambiance on non-busy nights! read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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first time in when I arrived waayyy too early for a death by tacos thing on tax-day eve '24. needed something to do for about 34 minutes and a passer-by suggested walking a block and a half to here... so I did. long bar stretches almost from the front door to the drinking hall in back. easy access to the side porch is through a door on the left and many people were in and out during my brief stay which hints at fun and games just beyond my reach. asked Joe for a brandy cocktail but they were fresh out (he actually went and looked!) so a smattering of B&B instead to produce a serviceable rendition. yea for me :-) hope to make it back when I have more time and see how many whirls we get on Peter's fun-o-meter. read more

The Workman's Friend - thank you Joe! - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The ambience of this place is great for any occasion. We've come here late night for drinks and early morning for brunch and the staff killed it both times. The cocktails are always amazing and the food is good. I got the tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch, it was the perfect size. I especially love the outdoor patio and music--good for all ages and occasions! read more

The Workman's Friend - Tomato bisque and grilled cheese - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My wife & I ordered burger & fries - very good size & flavour and we enjoyed great service - by a South African bloke named Jordan. Very pleasant, efficient & professional. Loved his accent and humour. Well done, lad. PS. Amazing aioli sauce! read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My mom was craving fish and chips and while visiting my brother in town, he told me about a neat place to check out with them. I'm really happy we came here. It was worth the drive leaving Uptown to go here. We love college football and it was a plus to get to catch some of the game while we grabbed IPAs and food. The fish and chips came in a decent portion that was shareable as an app. It worked out perfectly because we were bar hopping and didn't need too much to eat yet. For Harry Potter fans, this place and its atmosphere gives off Hogsmeade vibes. It's also family friendly as well. We sat at the bar but there were plenty of tables for families to sit at as well. There are two areas too, so if the inside bar is full, you can go sit outside at the other bar. Highly recommend this place! read more

The Workman's Friend - IPA - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Started our anniversary dinner at WF with a glass of wine for my wife and I love Magner's and was so glad they have it on tap! The bar area full with a younger crowd standing and enjoying their beers. We were a few minutes early for our reservations and were sat right away around 4booths from the bar area which made for a loud and rowdy backdrop to dinners We ordered mussels in white wine and sausage roll for an appetizer. She had her heart set on the burger and I debated between the Shepard's pie and Irish stew. Our server helped me choose the Shepard's Pie. The mussels and sausage rolls came out together each served on a piece of slate with the mussels piled high in a camping pot. They were served with in the wine sauce which was great for dipping bread and the sausage rolls. The sauce mussel and tomato was a tasty combination. There was just enough tomatoes to eat one tomato half with each bite of mussel. They provided a bowl for the mussel shells but the number of mussels provided far exceeded the space in the bowl so it was like a game Tetris trying to get all the shells in the bowl. It's never a bad thing when the portion size exceeds my expectations and especially so when the food tastes great. We finished all the bread provided so we asked for more to absorb the great sauce in the camp pot and while we waited, discovered the sausage rolls also tasted great in the sauce. We waited to order our main entree until halfway through appetizers and it's a good thin we did. These 2 starters both tasted great and both were in fair portions. My wife's burger was reduced to burger slider appetizer which came with 2 and we also got their famous "bag of chips". I proceeded to order the Shepard's pie. Krissy's sliders were just the right size with the meat, cheddar cheese, tomato l, arugula and a sunny side up quail egg on a toasted slider bun. The quality of food and the tremendous presentation of the food definitely enhanced the meal. She ate one of the sliders and did not have room for the second so I didn't let it go to waste! My Shepard's pie came in a crock with a thick layer of mash potatoes on top with a browned crust on top and it came with a pub salad. The Shepard's pie was very tasty with the beef and vegetables in the beef broth. Big fan of the Shepard's pie. The pub salad had beets, and cukes with arugula in shallot vinaigrette dressing. I ate about half of the Shepard's pie and all of the pub salad. We both really enjoyed this tremendous meal for our 22 anniversary at WF and will definitely add this to our favorite places in Charlotte list. Thanks! read more

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Such a charming spot with a cozy atmosphere. I sat on the covered patio and had truly amazing service friendly, attentive, and exactly what I needed after a long day. I especially loved the fish and chips perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and the fries were just right. I also had the charcuterie board, which was generous for the price, and they only charged a small fee to add smoked salmon. The vegan chili was a bit more watery than what I'm used to in Texas, but the flavor was fantastic. Overall, I have nothing but good things to say great food, excellent service, and a memorable atmosphere, I'll definitely be coming back. read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Amazing food with great service from Vince! Went here to wrap up a birthday weekend downtown! The bangers and grits were perfect ( a little heavy so come hungry ) the drinks were excellent! The Culchie was amazingly refreshing! read more

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Always hits the spot, whether breakfast or late-night....spot on!! Food is good, guiness, harp, and espresso martinis are all good here read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish breakfast sub Irish sausage & sourdough with coffee. - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Oh definitely. We were seated by the fire place after enjoying a beer at the bar. Fish and chips and v shepherds pie . Really great. Satisfied a pub night perfectly. It's a little in the pricey side for 2 Guinness but that's how it seems everywhere these days read more

I'm a sucker for Irish pubs and this was an amazing one. On the day we went they had an Irish band and the bartender was actually Irish so it was probably as close to being there as you could expect. They didn't have my favorite Irish beer due to some issues with their supplier but they had others, including Guinness. Everyone was very friendly and the place was clearly popular with locals. read more

The Workman's Friend - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Some friends and I went to a birthday party at The Workman's Friend. Upon entry, the pub seemed rustic in nature. Also, the fireplace was on at the end of May which was interesting. We were seated at a long table. For an appetizer, I tried a cup of vegan chili. My hubby had the pub salad. Our appetizers came out fairly quickly. My chili was ok, nothing special. It was your average vegan chili made with kidney beans. My hubby started that his salad was really good. Next, we ordered our entrees. I ordered the vegan curry and my hubby ordered the open faces roast turkey sandwich. Again, the vegan curry was average. The curry was uniquely colored. I was expecting yellow curry but I believe it was red (I could be wrong). The flavor was just ok. There was nothing unique about it. I make mixed veggies and add curry to them all of the time. I guess ai was expecting something else with bolder flavors. My hubby said the turkey sandwich was average in flavor as well. Nothing was special about it. He did not like the fries. They were not seasoned at all. I did love my lemon blueberry mock-tail. It was delicious. Overall, The Workman's Friend is just an average pub with food the could use some love and more seasoning/spices. Even the drinks didn't deliver. Hubby's Rating: - Pub salad - 3.5/5 - Turkey Sandwich and fries - 3.5/5 - Bison Old Fashioned (was water down) - 2/5 - Workman's Friend (wasn't mixed as described in the description) - 2/5 My rating: - Vegan Chili - 3/5 - Vegan Curry - 3/5 - Lemon Blueberry Mock-tail - 5/5 read more

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Workman's friend was very dark - great if you want some privacy, or peace and quiet, perhaps not great if you want to socialize with friends or focus on interacting with others. This is definitely the type of place I'd go after a long day at work or if I want to focus on my own thoughts. read more

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Came here on our most recent little bar crawl. Cool spot. Our friends said this was a must. And it wasn't as busy as it usually gets. Super great selection on beers. We sadly didn't eat here just in our liquid diet. read more

The Workman's Friend - Inside - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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STEVEN! Dopest bartender ever so kind and welcoming this is definitely my new home bar! It's nothing like a bartender taking the time to get to know you asking what's your likes and dislikes he is the MAN ! read more

Rating it 3 stars because I don't enjoy the food, but the ambiance and drinks are pretty strong.

Fun spot to drop in for a drink and a bite. Love the outdoor setting and great service. Regular crowd is friendly. Highly recommend the Irish American Grilled Cheese with hand-cut chips. read more

Stopped in for a quick bite, nothing fancy or anything to speak of specifically but the service was good so that's to be appreciated

Cute establishment and I walked in and the bartender was very friendly. I chose to sit in normal seating area. My waitress wasn't very attentive and I was the only one not sitting at the bar. Took a long time to get a refill on my tea and by the time I did I was done eating and ready for the check. I got the Shepard pie that came with a lil salad. The salad was delish and fresh. The pie came out piping hot, it was good but I admit I have had a more flavorful one at other places. I went on lunch in middle of the afternoon on a Friday so wasn't crowded at all, but I can imagine evenings and wkends it's probably jam packed. They do have a small parking lot behind their building which comes in handy, if you have ever been to plaza midwood you know parking can be scarce especially on the wkends. read more

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5 stars for the cheeseburger alone. She's thick, she's juicy, and she's totally packed with flavor! If you're questioning whether or not to add the $2 bacon, just do it. Trust me on this. It takes this delicious burger from incredible to elite. We'll keep coming back for this burger. read more

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What a neat German Restaurant. Dark wood and all decorated for Christmas!started with Guiness of course and Great Mussels!!! Loved the broth they were in ! Two of us had the Fried Fish which was incredible ! Beautiful presentation and Delicious Cod. With great sauces ! And Peas !! I had the Purple Potato Gnocchis! Really Good and Huge !! You have to try this bar and Restaurant !! read more

The Workman's Friend - Fish Fry - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Their Cast Iron Chicken is amazing and well worth the price!!! Food: 5 Customer Service: 5 Location/Parking: 5 Cleanliness: 5 This Irish pub is situated in the heart of Charlotte,  NC and is a popular spot for the locals. We decided to stop by here recently to have dinner with our daughter, while we was visiting the Charlotte area. They have a private parking lot in the back, and there is nearby street parking available. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. They have a full bar and a very extensive selection of beverages. We decided to order their cast iron chicken and their fish & chips. Everything came out very fast and hot and was well seasoned. The portions are very plentiful and could easily be enough for two people. The affordability is very reasonable because of their portion size. Our waiter was very courtesy, attentive, and professional. Make sure you come early they get busy really fast, when we arrived approx 5ish, and 30min later it was really packed. The bar is very popular! I'm positive that we will return for another visit and tried them again the next time I'm in town!!! The vibe was just right. read more

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The drinks are great and the vibe is great. Outside area is loud and nice vibe and inside is dark, quite but also very pretty. Vegan chili and sprouts was okay, didn't like it that much. read more

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Stopped by on 12/31 around 6-ish with my parents for a quick evening meal. We were quickly seated and thankfully we came at the time that we did as it quickly got very busy in the bar area. My parents ordered the mussels as an appetizer, cast iron chicken with asparagus and Mac n cheese, and fish and chips. Both my parents loved the mussels (so much so they almost ordered another round to go!). They said that they were well seasoned and flavorful. Both enjoyed their meals as well. My mom also ordered the raspberry beret which was tasty but got watered down rather quickly. I ordered the cast iron chicken with Mac and cheese. Really enjoyed the chicken and Mac. The fries were so so - loved the crunchiness but they felt maybe undercooked on the inside. I also ordered the Honey Badger which was okay. It was supposed to be sweet but it was more on the bitter end. Overall, a decent restaurant that you should add to your list! Looks like it would be a cool hang out spot after work and a place to hang out with friends read more

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Best Irish pub in the city. Vibe and pints are unmatched. Priced fairly for the area. Has a solid shepherds pie and burger

Came here after dinner to grab a couple of drinks. We came around 8 pm and it was already busy! This is a restaurant, but they have an outside room/patio that has a bar and table seating. You can see this room from Central Ave if you're driving by. We were able to snag two seats at the bar and were able to stay there comfortably until we were ready to go. They offer IPAs, wines, seltzer, and hard liquor. Bartenders were super friendly and attentive. They had about 4 working the bar, so there was always someone there ready to take your order. It was a very lively place and your typical bar scene, but no issues at all. We had a great time just sitting and enjoying our drinks. I would definitely come back to try their food as it smelled wonderful. They are located off Central Ave. So, of course, parking is crazy but easy to find location. read more

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I've been here for plenty of beers, but finally went for dinner! It was incredibly cozy inside - I got to sit near the fire. Menu has a great selection and variety! Started with the meat & cheese board. My boyfriend loved all the cheeses. I loved all the unique flavors on the board - candied pecans, unique crackers, onions that tasted like French onion soup! I really enjoyed the salad + the fact they had multiple unique salad offerings. Service was good and quick! read more

The Workman's Friend - Harp Lager + Meat & Cheese plate - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Such a cute spot! Sat out on the covered patio and honestly had the BEST service I've had in a LONG time. It was exactly what I needed. The charcuterie was perfect and got a lot for the price - they also only charged an extra $4 to add the smoked salmon from another board to the charcuterie I ordered Also ordered the vegan chili which was a little more watery than I'm used to in Texas but tasted fantastic! I will definitely be back and highly recommend read more

The Workman's Friend - Ambiance covered patio - Irish Pub Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina