Combines a sophisticated feel with a relaxed and chill aspect to it. Unpretentious and welcoming. Food was satisfying and loved the short menu read more

Lovely spot in Downtown Cary. We sat on the patio since we had a dog with us and it was cozy. We split three small plates - roaster oysters, shrimp and rice, and the shaved asparagus. The oysters were amazing - perfectly done and tasty. The shrimp and rice is Very spicy but went well with the asparagus that had homemade cool and creamy ricotta under it. Our waitress was excellent and we had a great experience. Would definitely go back! read more

My husband and I dined in for dinner and really enjoyed our experience at this "dive". I ordered a beer followed by the gin gin mule for drinks and enjoyed them both. To start we had the heirloom tomatoes and for our meals it was a brisket and fish taco with rice & beans for my husband and the baby back ribs for me. My favs were the starter and brisket taco. Dessert is a must order, we had the quatro leche and it was amazing. Welcome to Downtown Cary! read more

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First time here after reading some good reviews on Yelps but there were some low score reviews and I thought maybe those are just flukes. We ordered a cocktail-it was pretty looking and tasted kinda light on the alcohol but mostly ice and maybe slightly on the expensive side. We had the roasted oysters (3) $10-it was the best dish we had. I forgot to take a pic but it was tasty and not overcooked with lots of butter. Another appetizer was the crispy cauliflowers, which was a generous portion. It was a bit too vinegary for my preference but well executed with good balance of saltiness and mildly spicy and slightly sweet. However, I do feel that it was overpriced. My most disappointing experience was with the ribeye. It didn't taste like ribeye and looked like a stripe steak and it was too salty. The pic showed 3 pieces of steaks left and we only had 2 pieces before I took the picture. There was barely 6 oz if I have to guess. Not much to eat and it wasn't great steak like some of the reviews. We had the blue cheese on the side and I thought the blue cheese was surprisingly mild and not pungent and seemed quite tasty by itself. Overall, I thought it was an overpriced dinner for what we ordered. A lot of people ordered fried chicken to share and there seemed to be more food. The table next to us had flounder and the portion was very generous with lots of sides. Maybe we picked the wrong entree. Probably won't be back for a long while. For what we paid, I would be much happier next door at the Chinese restaurant Our server, Kristin, was very attentive and nice. The manager (?) tried to keep us warm with an outdoor heater but it kept going off, so that made the dining experience even less pleasant because it was unexpectedly chilly after an afternoon rainstorm. read more

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Amazing vibe and very friendly staff. We ordered Mango salad, lasagna , Beets, and dry fried eggplant. read more

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I was in town for work and my colleague and I had dinner here. We went on a Tuesday evening around 6. They were booked but there was plenty of space at the bar. I really liked the ambiance. It was a vibe. We ordered 4 appetizers: smoked trout tartine, cauliflower, shaved asparagus and the Birriadilla. The appetizers were huge and we probably could've gotten away with 3. I took some back to the hotel for late night snacking. I had a Sauvignon Blanc with my meal and it was pretty good. Our server/bartender was very nice. He recommended the dishes and he was spot on. I recommend for a few drinks and appetizers at the bar. If you are looking to dine at a table, I recommend reservations. read more

We have been to Hank's multiple times since moving to the Triangle in late 2022. We love to take visiting family and friends here for a nice dinner. We enjoy the vibes of the inside, and dining on the patio when the weather is nice. The menu changes regularly with the seasons, so we never get bored! The service has always been fantastic. They have delicious shareable starters, fun drinks, and filling entrees. We will definitely continue to go to Hank's for celebrations or a date night. read more

I met a few coworkers here for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised by the food and drink. The food was amazing! We had several appetizers and they were all devoured very quickly. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the employees were quite friendly and attentive as well. I will definitely return to this spot when I'm in town for business. If you have heard about this place or seen it and haven't yet visited, check it out. read more

Awesome place is not divey at all!! Lovely place with amazing food and stellar service!! We will be back when we return to Raleigh. read more

Hank's Downtown Dive - Bottled martini service - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Delicious drinks and always fresh oysters. Check their online menu for new dishes! Also have a good selection of wine. read more

Hank's Downtown Dive - ! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Uhh, not at all a dive. There was an amazing mix of flavors in both my drinks and in my meal.

We love Hank's! Great service, cool vibes and delicious food and drinks! We've never had a bad meal here. The ceviche is my fave - so fresh and delicious! Beet salad, shrimp tacos, french fries, it's all yummy! It's fun to order a few things to share. The draft cocktails are so good too. They have outdoor seating, tables and comfy booths indoors and the bar is always hopping. If you've never been to Hank's, give it a try. One of our favorite spots in Downtown Cary. read more

My husband made reservations for us to celebrate my birthday yesterday. We had both been pretty eager to check out Hanks, based on reviews and blog posts. The thing we kept reading was that the menu was limited, but that was because everything was outstanding. My husband made reservations a few weeks ago, looked to change them because we had something pop up, but there were no reservations to be found. No problem, we moved things around to make it work. When we got there, there were tons of open tables, so I was curious as to why reservations were needed, but I digress. We started off with a margarita (hello national margarita day) and a Rye cocktail, that was reminiscent of an Old Fashioned. The Marg was admittedly too strong, but it was my birthday and, why not! The Rye drink was absolutely fabulous. We ordered the buffalo cauliflower and clams to start. The cauliflower was delicious, I enjoyed every bite of it! The clams were fishy to me, but my husband loved them! We followed up our order with the Fried Chicken (the waitress said that it was one of the best things on the menu), brisket tacos and fish tacos. This is where the meal fell apart for us. I am a good Southern Woman and absolutely love Fried Chicken, and it just wasn't good. The breading had no flavor whatsoever and the leg was really dry, which is just not what you would expect from a piece of dark meat. The polenta that was served on the side was uninspired, completely bland and wasn't worth the calories to eat it. I will say that the salad on the side was absolutely perfect - solid! The brisket tacos were good, the brisket was cooked perfectly but had no flavor or depth to them. The "Hanks Sauce" was outstanding and pulled the taco together, so much so we ordered a side of it to drown the taco in. The fish taco was fairly generic and unmemorable. We did order a side of fries that were perfectly cooked and seasoned. I really wanted to like Hanks. The decor is great, the atmosphere is lovely and the service was good (was a little disappointed that I wasn't wished a happy birthday upon sitting down, despite it being included in the reservation - but that sounds a bit petty). If the meal had come out to $75, we would have called it a wash, but it was close to $200 and it was just okay at best. Maybe we went on a bad night, it was a Tuesday, but we would be hard pressed to give them another shot. read more

Hanks has been one of our go to places, but last few times we haven't been impressed with the food. I give it 2 stars for service and Ambiance. I had the mushroom lasagna last month was amazing. This pass week we gave Hanks another try, the lasagna was the worst I have ever had, dried out everything, honesty I should of sent it back that was my bad for not complaining. For the prices at Hanks there's NO excuse pawning old dried out food to a good customer . Like I said my fault for not sending it back. read more

Hardly a "dive"! We had amazing service, Food and drinks at the bar last night right in the middle of the Saturday / Christmas rush. The roasted oysters were phenomenal and the flounder and fried chicken entrees were both fantastic. Might just make this a holiday tradition. Highly recommend! read more

We were actually going to get Di Fara pizza when I noticed Hank's as we were parking. Intrigued, we decided to stop and try it out. We were sat outside in their patio (even though the inside did not appear full). I usually try not to question their seating decisions as I'm sure there is a good reason for it. The patio did have lots of heaters to help keep us warm. As we walked through the inside, I couldn't help but notice how cozy and warm the decor is! It's beautifully decorated and you wouldn't be out of place if you dressed up for dinner here. For food, they have a rotating menu which I absolutely love. They even had oysters!! So good! I honestly couldn't tell you all the items we tried but EVERYTHING was a winner. I couldn't believe how great the food was and the fact that I had never noticed this restaurant before. The prices here are higher and the food is "fancier" but you get what you pay for. If you are a "foodie" you will love this place. The restaurant is not very big so I imagine as the word gets out, you will definitely need reservations. Would be a great option for a date night/girls night. Leave the kids at home and enjoy a drink! read more

Great vibe, creative appetizers in large sizes, excellent people watching, outstanding service

One of the coolest places in Downtown Cary. If you like craft cocktails and tapas, this place won't disappoint. Reservations are absolutely necessary, and in advance if you want to sit outside. read more

What a fantastic meal! We've been regulars at SideBar since they opened, so we were excited to check out Hank's. It did not disappoint! I started with the White Negroni (strong and delicious), and my husband had the Peach Mai Tai (amazing). For our meal, we split the cauliflower app to start and that may have been my favorite thing we ate. Like a great twist on Buffalo cauliflower without being Buffalo cauliflower. Highly recommend. Entree-wise, I had the Ribeye, and my husband had the Tuna. Both were beautifully cooked, expertly plated, and perfectly sized portions. Just delicious. We wanted to try a dessert, so we got the Quattro Leches cake, and it was creamy and delicious. Like a cross between regular cake and ice cream cake. We loved our meal from start to finish, and we will definitely be back! We left with a list of all of the things we want to try next time after seeing all of the great food coming out of the kitchen. read more

Let me preface this with the fact that I was a tad worried about the menu. Ahead of time I didn't know what half the stuff was but based on reviews, I figured why not! This place definitely has the wow factor. It's beautiful and in a great location and they definitely aim to please. We had a reservation and were seated in a large booth with our friends. Drinks were great and always filled, both cocktails and water. We learned the menu is almost constantly changing, which to me is a cool concept. I'm a picky eater but this means there will always be something I like when I come back! As a group we ended up with a bucket of GF chicken (amazing), a cauliflower app that was amazing, a crab cake app that was so different but SO good, plus a tuna dinner and a few other small salad type things. I'm not an adventurous eater but they have done their home work and hit a home room with this one. Now minor negatives (or not), I def wouldn't bring my kids, it's not cheap, allergy wise it was a touch of a worry with so many ingredients BUT they killed it. Way to go read more

Breath of fresh air for Cary downtown. Enjoyed the tacos (brisket & shrimp) the apps (brandade, cauliflower) the cocktails ... as well as the location, patio dining, service and vibe. All high marks here. read more

First of all, downtown Cary is busting at the seams with people, dogs, and lots of yummy food. Hank's is the newest addition to this scene. My husband and I were greeted and seated at the adobe-like patio. He ordered a Cantaritos(tequila, grapefruit lime, salt and aperol) from their "Draft Cocktails" menu. It was delicious. I ordered a Gruner Vetliner from the wine list. I was actually surprised that they had this type of white wine from Austria on the menu. Impressive. We both got tacos (brisket and carnitas) and Queso. The food was delicious. The service was attentive. We will definitely be going back again. read more

Hank's Downtown Dive - Outdoor seating! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

What a wonderful addition to downtown Cary. Love the vibe...many great drink choices. The tacos are a must. We sat at the bar and struck up conversations with others - so nice to be out and about again. There's plenty of seating both inside and outside but do plan to wait as has become very popular very quickly. read more

Hank's Downtown Dive - Cheese dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Hank's Downtown Dive is divine. We did the whole gambit - cocktails - apps - small plates - big plates (we were too full come dessert) and each bite was better than the last. The chips that come with their ceviche are dangerously good (the ceviche wasn't bad either - ha!) read more

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This place is a gem in downtown Cary. The fried chicken is so crispy and delicious. Drinks are awesome and the ambiance is very chill.

Was happy to make my first visit. Great food. Was surprised to find oysters on the menu and so happy I tried them. I ordered a 2nd round of them after a couple tacos. Very happy with service. My man behind the bar listened as I described what I like for my old fashioned and made it as requested. Can't wait to head back and try more. read more

This place never disappoint. The atmosphere is cool. The food is excellent. The service is solid and knowledgeable. The drinks, the beer and the wine are all on point. read more

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We had an excellent time at Hank's. We'd been in a time before just for drinks (the Aperol Spritz is stellar) but this was our first time eating. Started with a white negroni, still bitter but less sweet than a classic negroni but had a herbal flavor. Great when cold but a bit too herbal when it warmed up. Tried the mushroom toast and while it was good, we probably would not get again. The oysters were great and we loved Hank's hot sauce enough to buy a bottle to take home. Both tacos we had were excellent but the shrimp one was OMG great and I hope they opt to keep that as a normal item. The brisket one was still quite delicious. The fried chicken came with fries and a small salad. Fries were really good. The chicken was perfect. So crispy, great flavor, very moist. Liked adding some of that hot sauce on it, too. Wonderful waitress handling multiple tables did great. Enjoyed talking with Matt, too. read more

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Excellent meal, the steak and broccoli appetizer was a terrific surprise, quite good. Highly recommend spending time here!

I didn't even know Hank's was there but went for first time with friends. Nice spot with cool sunken outdoor patio. Old fashioned was excellent as were all 3 apps we had with the ceviche being a stand out. Very nice staff. Will definitely be back. read more

I wanted to dine in downtown Cary's small town, neighborhood feel. Thanks to Yelp, I found the" Dive", read the reviews and linked to the menu. I knew I had to try it so booked right away for the next night with a friend. We were both delighted. From reservation, seating, to waiter, server and especially the chef's incredibly delicious options for dinner, we enjoyed a perfect evening. We look forward to returning again soon. read more

Hank's Downtown Dive - NC Trout topped with Roe, cushioned with collards and polenta stacked beneath. The best I've ever experienced of these tasty treats! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

We had family in town and thought this sounded like a good spot but we were wrong. The food is not very good and overly salted - the French fries were the best thing on the menu...the fried chicken was okay. Tuna tartar and cauliflower, JUST SAY NO. The shrimp tacos and brisket tacos....I could see paying $2 for but completely overpriced at $7 and almost inedible. The menu is all over the place and I feel like they've yet to find their identity, good flavor, or quality food. We, unfortunately, won't be back to spend our money. read more

Ambiance is cozy, and the food is delicious. I had the yellow fin platter. It was filled with delicious veggies, a generous portion of tuna, and an amazing sauce on the side read more

Don't let the name fool you. This is not a dive. It' has fun and quirky decor. Love the Gluten Free fried chicken!

Thursday night date night, left the kids at home. We were fans of Sidebar and had been meaning to try Hank's for a while. Great food, drinks, service, and atmosphere. We had the raw oysters, mushroom toast, beets, tuna tartare, and a wahoo taco. Also various draft beers and some tasty cocktails. Everything was good and we'll definitely back. I hope they open for lunch/brunch on weekends, we need more spots like this in DT Cary. read more

Thank you for another fantastic evening at Hank's Downtown Dive. The table service provided by John was awesome. He was friendly, attentive, enthusiastic...he provided great food and cocktail recommendations. The bar service provided by the wonderful Mars was amazing. My friend and I both ordered 2 Old Fashioneds during the evening. Mars made the best OF I ever had. John and Mars are definitely my 2 favorite "Hanks" at HDD. The food was so delicious. Our oyster appetizer came with some of the best oysters I've ever eaten. Our entrees were just as perfect! Thank you again. Cheers, Jim Coughlin read more

We've visited Hank's several times- the kids DIE for the fried chicken to share, and we love the tapas-esque appetizers. Sitting out on the patio is relaxing with top notch service. It's one of our go-to's I. Downtown Cary! read more

Great atmosphere for a first date or any romantic date. Service good, but not great. Very welcoming upon arrival. Food and cocktail and wine was substandard. I believe Hank's wants to portray itself as a high end cocktail bar. It does not get there. My gin and tonic had "cheap ice", which means ice a restaurant would dispense for soft drinks. It melted fast in my glass and turned my drink into watery. And I bet Hank's dispenses its tonic from one of those auto dispensers used to quickly poor soft drinks....yikes. Why not charge $1 more and dispense Fever Tree tonic? Not good for snobby cocktail drinkers and I admit to being one. We ordered the $26 fried chicken entre. I was disappointed that Hank's took its burger off the menu. I dont know of any high end or mid range or any restaurant for that matter that removes the Burger from a menu. Hanks needs to return it and before it does, it needs to competitive restaurant shop....as this restaurant needs major help. I suggest the owner and chef visit Neuse River Brewing as a similar appeal fine dining/dive bar. Its burger is fabulous. My fried chicken was an insult, especially at $26. It came in a cute bucket....kinda like KFC! But, at KFC, the bucket is full of chicken. The Hank's bucket is stuffed with balled-up paper towels below the fried chicken to fool the customer into thinking the bucket is full....do what?! Three pieces and that is it...worse part is the fried skin of the chicken was admittedly excellent. But, akin to the famous old Wendy's commercial "where's da beef?!", my reaction was "where's da chicken?"...very very little actual chicken below the tasty skin. This restaurant needs major help with its food and drink...I would like to see it exceed. But, as downtown gets more and more trendy and as more restaurants open, Hanks is at risk of getting left behind. read more

Very cool place with great food. I had the shrimp but added a side of bread to soak up the broth.

Hank's is very solid. I've been several times and tried several items. The octopus is so delicious. It's one of my favorite dishes. I can't quite tell how they do it, maybe a salamander? It's blackened to a crisp on edges but also still extremely tender, so there's some wicked high heat going on. Cocktails are great, GREAT. I came with a friend who is gluten free and she was really excited about her options, especially the fried chicken. I tried her chicken and it was stellar. We ordered a dessert that was kind of disappointing. The Blondie was dry, crumbly, and gritty from the cornmeal. It was served with ice cream and delicious caramelized apples which made up for it, but the standout was supposed to be the Blondie and it was honestly borderline yuck. read more