My recent visit to Carolina Ale House was at around 3:30 PM, during a very slow period, specifically to give them a chance to assess their service and food quality without the pressure of peak hours. Unfortunately, I encountered several inconsistencies that raised concerns about potential performance under busier conditions. Here’s a quick look at what I ordered:
Appetizer: Dry Rub Wings
Appetizer: Spinach Dip
Main: Double Smash Burger with Fries
Service Observations
My service experience was notably lackluster. The waitress suggested wings for an appetizer and a salad for lunch. When I expressed disinterest in a salad, she pivoted to selling me burgers. Throughout the meal, basic necessities were overlooked: no napkins were provided, refills were only given upon request, and plates were not cleared promptly. Mistimed appetizers arriving with the main course and a runner delivered our dinner, which proved the waitress was completely inexperienced. I observed two staff huddles where the younger staff primarily socialized, while the older staff seemed to be the only ones actively moving around. This lack of attentiveness felt lazy, especially during a slow period. I chalk it up to having immature waiting staff.
Appetizers: Hits and Misses
Wings: The wings were dreadful. They were literally dripping in grease. The “dry rub” was clumps of wet spices soaked in grease. I specifically ordered the dry rub with a side of garlic parmesan to check for hidden shortcuts, and it confirmed my suspicions. There was no crisp, which can be acceptable, but the meat-to-price ratio was poor; at $12 for six, they were undersized and a total letdown for the price. The garlic parmesan sauce was served cold, though its flavor was good. The accompanying carrots were scaled white and very dried out, indicating they were not kept in water – a lazy oversight.
Spinach Dip: The dip itself was tasty, but had a pool of grease on top. A simple napkin soak before serving would have made it perfect. The accompanying pita and chips were extremely bland. They lacked seasoning, and the pita was merely warmed, not properly toasted. While the chips offered a much needed crunch, they appeared to be unseasoned, straight from a bulk bag.
Lunch: Disappointing Burgers, Exceptional Fries
Double Smash Burger: My double smash burger was terrible; which is double upsetting because it looks SO good. The buns were soggy from bacon and burger grease. The onions were literally dripping in fry grease. It was so disappointing to pick up the burger and feel the bottom bun turn to a doughy mush in my hands. The buns desperately needed more toasting. The burger meat itself was too thick for a “smash burger.” The whole point of a smash burger is the Maillard reaction from being pressed thin and crisp, which this was not; it was just a regular double burger. The bacon was good, the lettuce tasted fresh, and the cheese was fine. The biggest issue, once again, was a lack of care for the basics. How hard is it to have a toasted bun and to dry up all the grease?
Fries: The fries were amazing. I’ve never had steak fries with such crispness. Steak fries usually sacrifice the crispy texture for more potato and weight, but the batter coating on these made it possible to have the best of both worlds. They were great. With a distinctive seasoning, they could have been truly exceptional, perhaps the best steak fries I’ve ever had. Ordered a side of BBQ sauce which was good, but again, it was served cold with hot fries. This consistent oversight with cold sauces needs addressing.
Ambiance And Future Outlook
The place seems to only care about the food’s photo aesthetics, yet the dirty TVs (one with a spitball) raised concerns about cleanliness standards behind the scenes. Both the front and back of house need to take accountability for their laziness. Someone who cares about the establishment is needed for quality control. This is the single reason why this was my first and last review of a chain/franchise. I will only review independent, owner-operated establishments going forward.
Overall Review and Conclusion
Score: My Experience: 6/10 | Value Is A Bit Low
Given my experience, I feel it warrants a second chance. I need to determine if the lack of effort was due to a single lazy cook or if it’s a systemic issue with the entire staff. A second chance for service is also necessary to see if attentiveness improves; although I do have a strong belief that we are in a different era of “service” as a society. My conclusion is I would go back if the staff told me they would control quality, but I definitely will not re-review it due to it not being independent.
The Food: If the plan was to make everyone eat with their eyes, the burger would have been highly rated. The wings are nowhere in value compared to other places that serve wings. A paper towel soak on the top of the spinach dip and throwing some salt on the chips would have changed a lot. A lot could have been changed if the people preparing the food would have took an extra minute or if the manager on duty provided quality control.
The Price: $10.99 dip is good value given how big it is. $11.99 for 6 wings is terrible value. $15.99 double burger is give or take standard pricing. Overall it would be average value if the wings weren’t there, but since they are, the value drops.
Full Disclosure: I met with the manager the first time I went into the restaurant and told him I would review the food. He asked how much it would cost him, I told him I am not doing that kind of thing and said I am a paying customer that gives honest reviews. He then proceeded to give me a business card and told me about brunch and how he wanted me to come by and have a big sampler platter to try multiple items on the menu. I told him I would email a copy of my review and see where we would go from there. I didn’t touch more than 2 of the wings and it was removed from my bill. The email was sent to the manager days later with no response.