Hank's Downtown Dive — Restaurant in Cary

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...

My wife and I finally got the chance to try Hanks in downtown Cary and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long. I'll start with the food. It's absolutely amazing. The presentation is what you'd expect from a Michelin star restaurant and the flavors on each dish had me mind blown. The ceviche is the best I've ever had. Fresh ingredients that burst with enjoyment with each bite. We also got roasted oysters in kimchi sauce, chicken wings with a gojuchang (red pepper paste) sauce, Elotedilla, and a side of fries (ask for the hot honey sauce). We ate every bite. The service was impeccable. From the moment we walked in we were greeted with a smile and made to feel welcomed. We sat at the bar with John who not only took great care of us but also took his time to really navigate our experience with drinks and food. John's bar skills are truly unmatched. Coming from someone who has bartended for 15 years...John is a bartender's bartender. My wife got two drinks during our visit and said they both made her feel like she was back on a cruise sailing to a vacation destination. His drinks are perfect, his conversation is therapeutic, and you genuinely leave feeling like he cared about your experience. Danny was expo and was also interactive with us making sure our dishes came out correctly, clearing dishes that have been finished for new ones. Danny coursed out our dishes so that we got our food in waves. The other service staff were attentive and also helped our dining experience even though we weren't their guests. One waitress was kind enough to replace my napkins multiple times throughout my time at Hanks...(chicken wings are so good I made a mess). I can't say enough good things about this place and it's somewhere I plan to become...

I thought I wrote about this my first visit. But either way, this place exceeded my expectations on both visits! Both times, I ate in the outside patio they had, despite it being cold out. The heaters outside made it pleasant to a point that I needed to take my coat off. The atmosphere is quaint and intimate, making it a great ambiance for dates and catching up with friends.

The food is bangin'! Really large portions (almost intimidating), very flavorful, and probably healthier. We ordered their broccoli dish, fried Chicken with fries, and a lasagna with a salad. All of which were zesting, And savory. The fried chicken in particular. Also had a hint of sweetness from the honey glaze that they had on the skin. The carrots and broccoli with sweet potato with a special nut-based aioli was phenomenal. Even their regular french fries were delicious with slight spritz of lemon to complement the salty taste. With a lasagna, I could taste every ingredient including the bits of wine I suspect that they used for the tomato sauce. And the salad that came with the lasagna was fantastic. I don't even like vinegar, but the way that they used vinegar in the dressing made it beyond tolerable and dare I say quite pleasant. I miss The brussel sprouts that they had earlier in the winter. I hope they bring that one back.

The staff was great. Funny, cordial, informative about the food, and attentive, I felt genuinely cared for. Chloe, and Brittany treated me and my friend like royalty my last visit. The only thing that bothered me was whenever the heaters needed to be moved, the staff had to lift it from the handles at the bottom with the heater near their face. That bothered me for the safety...