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

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!

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

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

Meh... Our daughter has Celiac Disease so having a place that offers true Gluten Free Fried Chicken was something we had to try. We had cocktails which was the best part of the evening, cauliflower app, oysters and 2 orders of chicken. Cauliflower was good, oysters fresh but no mignonette or cocktail sauce, just lemon and horseradish. The fried chicken was a huge disappointment, no flavor, the meat wasn't tender and the skin under the brick like coating was basically a rubber seal between the meat and the breading. It was just not good on any level and the "polenta and salad" on the side didn't add much. Overall the menu is weird, very limited and simply all over the place, fried chicken, tacos, tuna tartar... Price wise this place is fairly expensive for the quality of the food, ambience is fine, service average...noticed the staff congregated and talking by the bar quite often. There's just nothing that would ever bring me back for a second try, hence why it was much less busy than other restaurants in the area. They need to find their identity and execute their limited food options much better. read more

Was pleasantly surprised to be able to walk in on Saturday night and grab a table for 2. Drinks were good and food was *mostly* good - excellent tacos, cauliflower and mushroom toast. Oysters were outstanding. The potato "rosti" was disappointing because it was boiled (or steamed) potatoes. It tasted "fine" but it wasn't close to what a rosti is supposed to be - which is similar to a hash brown. 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

This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. Even though it is in the heart of downtown Cary, I didn't know it existed because there isn't any signage on the exterior. I came across it on Yelp and decided the menu looked interesting enough to give it a try. The name of the restaurant and the early photos on Yelp don't do it justice. It is far from a Dive Bar. The interior was beautiful and the outdoor area was cute and cozy. I highly recommended the fried cauliflower, it didn't come in a thick coating of fried batter like it does at most places. It was paired with a nice sour cream like dipping sauce. My favorite dish was the grilled octopus. It had great flavor, was grilled just right and plated beautifully. I didn't care much for the potatoes side. It didn't have much seasoning and could have been crisped a bit. The liver paste toast was interesting. I don't know how I feel about it. I usually like liver patte but thinly spread out not in bloobs. My friend loved the toast though. The fish taco was meh, I wouldn't recommend it. The fried chicken was the only thing Dive about the restaurant. They could do away with the KFC bucket it was served in. It cheapened the meal. Otherwise the fried chicken entre was not bad. The cocktail my hubby had was strong, which is always a plus. We all enjoyed the food and will be back. read more

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

Hank's is a wonderful new addition to downtown Cary. Lovely ambiance. It's got a chill and romantic vibe so this would be a great place for a first date or date nights in general. Drinks are great. We ordered the cauliflower appetizer and weren't too impressed. The appetizer or food menu was honestly not that appealing. Service was decent. read more

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

The cauliflower is amazing. Also the steak and I'm not a red meat person. The atmosphere is lovely.

Amazing food, incredible service... had an amazing bottle of champagne and the lasagna is one of the best I've ever had... it's always the place I bring family and friends when they come to town. read more

Price for quality of food was great. Everything was well seasoned. Would go back in a heartbeat. I sat outdoor on the patio as well which was quite nice. read more

Very solid dining experience with a unique ceviche appetizer followed by a very interesting flashfried flounder main. Sides were excellent, finish the whole plate. Interesting wine list as well. Very enjoyable experience all around read more

Upscale menu, Brooklyn vibe, knowledgeable staff. The Buffalo Cauliflower was delicious but filling for an appetizer. Will def be back!

Amazing food and drinks. Good wine selection. Attentive waitstaff. Would definitely recommend trying this place!

Everything about our visit last night was five-star. We had to wait just a few minutes beyond our reservation time for a table to be cleared, but it was worth it. The service was friendly and professional, and all the food we had at our table was excellent. Among the four of us, we had the heirloom tomato salad, steak main dish, gluten-free fried chicken with fries and watermelon salad, a shrimp taco, and succotash. We sampled the margarita and the mojito and both were quite good (although the ice/beverage ratio was a bit high). Keep in mind, the tacos are small and priced accordingly, so you will need several or add in a couple of small plates. read more

Went here with my cousin the other night and had an amazing dinner. Great staff and nice ambiance. I love the changes in downtown Cary.

Service was stellar and warm. Loved the cauliflower, succotash and fried chicken. The server let us know of the kids menu which wasn't listed which was helpful and the kids loved their "fancy" meal. Cocktails were delicious and lovely looking. Only thing I would skip was the affogato. Was hoping it was more of a traditional affogato but it ended up being more of a foamy soda float like dessert-skip it and get the quatro leches cake. read more

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

I will definitely go back to Hank's! Such a cute patio and the service was very friendly and welcoming. Our queso wasn't that hot, but it was still good and the cocktails were great! Looking forward to my next visit when we order dinner as well! read more

We enjoyed a great meal here last week. I had seen Hank's various times and wanted to check it out. We were surprised by the stylish decor and innovative menu items. The mango salad was fantastic. read more

Everything was excellent, great food, unique and delicious drinks, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. A wonderful addition to downtown Cary. read more

The food and drink here were delicious and the service was terrific! EVERYTHING on the menu was GLUTEN FREE so for me, as a celiac I was thrilled. We tried many things - mango salad, beets snack, lobster gnuddi, friend chicken and shrimp tacos, plus both desserts. Each dish was enormous and absolutely delicious with unique twists. read more

This place is fabulous! The beef and broccoli appetizer and burrito cheese was to die for. The atmosphere was adorable, upscale but laid back. Jo was our server, she was fabulous! read more

Sorry Hank, but this costly experience was just.. MYSTIFYINGLY AWEFUL. And I'm not even picky. First off.. the two best items on the menu were the olives and on. my part, the burnt grapes with pistachios. Everything else we ordered made me feel like they lost their chef because it was borderline inedible. The Tuna Tartar... God awful and so salty (both the crackers and the tuna) that you may as well called it Salt Lick Tuna. It was that bad. And Hank my friend. when you call something Cauliflower on your menu, people order it because of the cauliflower, not because of the lb. of garbage smelling, orange soy and sesame paste you doused all over that wonderful vegetable. My wife almost vomitted smelling that bowl, and before you react to this, go ahead and smell it yourself. It's that bad. Now.. the brisket tacos... The brisket looks boiled, pale, and dead, with these old, lifeless crispy noodles on it... You can't serve tacos in downtown Cary that look like dog food compared to a local food truck. Again.. pitiful. The shrimp taco? With the whole 2 small shrimp on it and non-delightful sauce? You guys HAVE to be kidding me? The only thing that turned out as it should was the fried chicken and french fries, which cost a whoppng $30. They add what she called "flash fried" green beans to it that made the vegetable taste like dried up salty wet noodles rather than a healthy green bean.. These guys could make a piece of toast go bad. Don't expect a hearty drink either. The bartender had zero personality and made martinis the size of a shot glass. Nothing is right about this place. Go there.. A downtown dive that isn't divey at all... No local would ever visit this soulless place. To finish it off, they had a giant painting that was not hanging from a wire, but from the bare edge on a loose screw that fell in the restaurant. This place is a train wreck and FOR SURE has paid for whatever good ratings they have. Out of business in one more year, tops... Go there, try it. The food is mostly inedible. Best of luck and I hope Hank finds this review and turns things around. read more

We visited Hank's Downtown for the very first time on Saturday, July 10th and it was amazing!!! We started our evening at the bar where we enjoyed Cantaritas. My goodness! I've been craving another one ever since. Absolutely delicious! We also enjoyed a snack of chips and queso. The chips were lightly dusted ina spicy seasoning that was fabulous.. we will definitely get them again.. Once at our table, in the delightful courtyard, we had the shrimp and succotash. Ya'll, this is not your mama's succotash! So flavorful with additional veggies (thi I'm not exactly sure which ones. Maybe okra and kale?) Anyway, my girlfriend and I had the crabcake for our entrees while our husband had one each of the brisket taco and por tacos. The crabcake was so good! My only complaint is that there was only one and I could easily have eaten two. We each tried a bite of the brisket tacos and I think they are the best I've ever had. The pork was good too but the brisket is where it's at!!! We were too full to get dessert but there will definitely be a next time so maybe then. Hank's is a terrific little joint that is a must try for everyone. You won't be disappointed! read more

Hank's Downtown Dive - The Cantaritas! Tequila, grapefruit, lime. Aperol and taking. The glass has a spicy salt as well. So delicious!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Love this place! The food is incredible!! Awesome drinks and the decor is beautiful. Love the outdoor seating area. Not great for kids but the perfect adult spot. We plan to be back often for date nights! read more

This place was surprisingly awesome. Based on the name, honestly I wasn't expecting much. We just stumbled upon it. The bartenders and cocktails are top notch! The food was amazing. We sat at the bar and the service was amazing. read more

Perfect casual spot for drinks and unique yet approachable food. We sat at the bar, bartender Nick made us feel welcome right away and his recommendations were spot on. The food was excellent, service quick and attentive. Definitely coming back soon, so glad to have this option in Cary. read more

Great food and atmosphere. I am happy Cary is getting more places like this. Gin gin mule is delicious. The menu changes but most of what I have tasted has been great, Including the fingerling potatoes and mushroom ricotta toast. Some of the things I have tried didn't really do it for me but it was more a matter of my taste as opposed to them not being good. Everything seems high quality and thoughtful. read more

This place is no dive bar. Food and drinks are way overpriced. The wife and I ordered the fried chicken to split and it came out cold. Actually most of the food came out cold. The only redeeming value of this place. Was the ribeye I ate because I was starving. I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

Had drinks and dinner here Friday night. Great little "dive"! Menu is small but everything we tried was on point. And the cocktails on draft are yummy! What a great addition to downtown Cary! read more

First visit to Hank's last night. Cute place, friendly - a nice addition to Cary's growing downtown. I got a couple of intriguing-sounding starters, but they were disappointing. The crispy cauliflower was pretty good, but the pieces were so large they needed cutting to get bite-sized pieces. The BBQ shrimp was, in my opinion, ridiculous. About 5 medium-sized shrimp served in a black bean soup-like setting. The shrimp were WHOLE. Not just tail on, but completely unpeeled, head still on. Yuck. I had to pluck them out of the soupy mixture and decapitate them and peel them with my fingers. This is NOT the "finger food" I had in mind!! I'll go back, for sure, but I'll ask more questions before ordering! read more

We absolutely love Hank's. Their rotating menu is always phenomenal and seasonally appropriate. Their margarita on draft is everything. We take friends here, family, have date night - even ate standing at the bar one night with my crying newborn strapped to me because it's just that good. So grateful Downtown Cary is growing and gaining gems like this. The decor is 10/10 as well. We love you, Hanks! Such a fun concept. read more

Our first experience at Hank's was fantastic! Fried Cauliflower appetizer with a ranch dip was a tasty start, along with a creative and delicious beet, radish and fennel salad. The featured ceviche was founder, lime and avocado...also terrific. Fish tacos got a thumbs-up, too. The cocktail menu featured "draft" margaritas, made ahead and served in tall glasses. My Gin Gin Ginger Mule was the perfect combination of mint, lime, Gin and ginger. Loved the outdoor space they've created...private and uncrowded on a weeknight. read more