Bartender was good and beer was cold and priced well. Don't know what these other bad reviews were…read moretalking about, probably a bunch of people that have never been to a dive bar or small city bar.

$66 for 2 vodka sodas?? Then the old man bartender became quite defensive, condescending, and…read moreaggressive when asked for an explanation. There's more to the story, but I'll wait to see if I get a response from this dirt bag bar.

I've been to this place over a dozen times over the years. Sometimes just for drinks and other…read moretimes for hot dogs and drinks. Brought many family members here when they are in town. My latest experience (a few months ago) will be my last. The service here just ruins the experience. We've had issues here with poor service many times but I've always let it slide. Workers are consistently not friendly and just seem disinterested in their customers and their jobs. Went in with my 2 sons for hot dogs and beers like I've done many times before. We fill out our hot dog orders and stand at the bar a good 10 minutes as the 2 people behind the bar completely ignore us. They were not super busy- just a few bar patrons and two couples sitting at a table drinking. No one came to take our hot dog tickets, or drink order. The one bartender (female) clocked out and bolted after 5-6 minutes. The other bartender (male) never came to our end of the bar like we were invisible. They both saw us, they both knew we had been standing there for quite a while, they just didn't care. I think neither of them wanted to cook hot dogs. We decided to just leave and go elsewhere. I didn't make the decision to leave lightly. I waited longer than I should have and even asked my youngest son what his thoughts were (he is as calm, patient, and level-headed as they come so I deferred to him). He said we should leave since they obviously didn't need our business. Why can't this place just have a dedicated person to cook and do odds and ends and not share the cooking duty with the bartender who often times has no interest in doing so? Such a bummer since this is a cool place with good vibes but they hire the worst employees. Here's a novel idea for the owner- offer just a little better pay to attract some better workers and I'll bet that would increase your business and more than offset the increased costs. But Nope! Owners just never get it and insist on cutting costs at the expense of losing customers due to bad experiences. Done with this place.

Very disappointed- after getting charged $35 for One beer and 2 hotdogs. I certainly didn't leave…read more that kind of outrageous tip and reached out to Cardinal to correct and they have refused as of today. 8/21/25 I've been to this and several of their other locations and won't be back. Watch your credit card for them and fraudulent charges.

McKinley's is a Clayton anchor! Tucked into the heart of town, this old-school sports bar feels…read morelike it's been here forever--in the best way possible. Every wall is lined with TVs playing whatever game matters most that night, while dollar bills cover the walls like a scrapbook of good times, tall tales, and nights that ran a little longer than planned. The décor nods proudly (and somewhat creatively) to Irish heritage, with touches of green, classic signs, and a love of good beer doing most of the storytelling. It's a place where locals gather, strangers become regulars fast, and the atmosphere is equal parts loud cheers, friendly debate, and comfortable familiarity. Unpolished, well-worn, and full of character, it's the kind of small-town sports bar where the drinks are cold, the TVs are always on, and everyone feels right at home. The menu leans into its claims of Irish roots with a lineup of familiar pub classics--hearty, comforting dishes that feel right at home alongside a pint. But as solid as those classics may be, the real standout is the good old pub burger. Cooked exactly the way you ask for it--perfectly rare, juicy, and full of flavor--it's the kind of burger that reminds you why simplicity done right always wins. Served up hot and fresh by a friendly face that treats you like a regular, it's not just a meal, it's part of the experience: honest food, genuine hospitality, and a plate that keeps people coming back. Cheers!

Lunch was very mid. The housemade chips were disgusting. Oily, greasy crumbs. Took forever to get…read morefood when the place was empty. Dark ambiance. I won't be coming back here.

Just a quaint little tavern! Great service and friendly staff! Family celebrating a great Aunt…read moreturning 99 years young!

The atmosphere and environment of the entire area is worth a stop. Be sure to try the pizza too..read more

Exploring Clayton with my sister. We chose lunch!. Cozy place with smiling attentive staff. Our…read morewaitress Nicole was efficient, knowledgeable, and attentive without being intrusive. Jeff was Johnny on the spot, kept water glass filled, made great summer cocktails--Jeff you Rock! Welcoming atmosphere in a small space with large vibes. Lets get to the food. Appetizers ordered were 3 Meatballs and Mango Jalapeno Wings. Delightful to say the least. I chose Uncle Joey and my sister chose the Blackened Chicken Wrap which were awesome and very flavorful. All food was complimented by the awesome Summer Cocktails. We tried the Tropical Splash-- I just needed one really;-)--for now. All in all a very successful foray. We'll be back soon.

Randomly happened upon this restaurant a couple of years ago and have been constantly happy with…read morecoming to visit ever since. The parking situation is interesting, there are a few spots behind/besides the building, curb parking in front, and then a dirt area that it doesn't look like you can park in, but people do. The food is consistently good. I've had their salads, sandwiches, pizza and a few dinner specials. They also usually have several seasonal cocktails. Inside, you seat yourself and someone greets you quickly. Outside, I think they want you to make contact with a server first, and then sit down. Everyone I've encountered here has been very nice and service is quick. I make a point to stop in when in the area.

Happened on this place on a walk in the city. Great drinks and cool atmosphere! The bartender was…read moresuper accommodating and let us hang out before the inside opened.

Reminiscent of a few clubs up in NYC. Friendly staff. Cute bartenders. Worth a visit.read more

You know it's good when you meet some people that know your home bar in a different city the minute…read moreyou walk up. I went and paid no cover for three great local bands. Nice people good service. Small, or cozy depending on your pov. Prices a little high but not awful. $4 beer and $9 whiskey. Ask first.

this is the worst bar I have ever been to. I was almost impressed by how bad the DJ was. it sounded…read morelike his Bluetooth was disconnecting for half of the show but he pressed on courageously. awful pool table with cheap sticks.

Best pool hall in NC. Historic, full of a great vibe second to none. And the service is always top…read morenotch and extremely attentive and knowledgeable and professional. A favorite!

Sweet dive bar! The outside looks sketchy but the inside is pure gold filled with history. Perfect…read morespot to grab some friends and play some rounds of pool. They also have darts, arcade games & shuffleboard. All the beer is canned and fairly priced. They have some sodas too. You can't smoke but there's a faint smell. Cool spot to bring a date or hang with friends! Accessible & really friendly staff that can show you some tips and tricks with pool.