Outer Dunes Brewing Company — Restaurant in Castle Hayne

Family friendly?

I am not one to post negative reviews- it has to be a pretty bad experience for me to do so. Sadly we had a very bad experience. I waited for emotions to settle before posting but still feel this review is necessary. The owners need to decide if they are a family friendly brewery or an adult only bar. You cannot call yourselves family friendly while also expecting children to sit at tables and not move around. You can’t have it both ways. The children in our party are well behaved and have never been in trouble at other establishments. But they are 3 and 4 year olds who want to run around outside on a beautiful day.

It was very crowded and 90% of the clientele were parents with their children. The owners brought a group of kids who had been playing over to our table and said “I’m not sure who’s kids these are but they can’t be in the landscaping or running, they need to stay with you at your table.” At one point, a friend’s 3yo bumped into a stranger and her mom (who was right there with her) told her to say excuse me- she received a comment from the owner “this is why you need to watch her” and “maybe next time don’t bring her” and “well, this IS a bar.” We came for the Grimmburger food truck - for a chance to catch up with friends at 5:00 in the evening and we were met with the vibe from Outer Dunes that our money is no good there while our kids are in tow. We took our Grimmburger home with us as we didn’t want to spend money supporting a business that does not support the families in the area.

Their website says “Yes we welcome families until 8pm. After 8pm, guests must be 21 and over. Please keep your children supervised and out of the landscaping, parking lot and road. No running. throwing or horseplay is allowed. Families that cannot follow the rules will be asked to leave. This is for everyone's safety and enjoyment.” If the owners would like to continue under the current rules/vibe, I would suggest a revision of the website to read “No, we are not family friendly, though we do allow families under the following conditions.”

If the owners would like to adjust and adapt I would suggest small signs that say “please stay off the landscaping” as it is not obvious to parents with the landscaping being mulch and rocks. I would also suggest removal of “no running” as a rule as that is an unrealistic expectation for an area of gravel with picnic tables. Maybe “children are permitted to play and move about the outdoor area- we respectfully ask they keep off the mulch and rocks.”

We will not be back under the assumption that the owners will continue to run the establishment as is. If we hear of improvements, we may reconsider but for now we will meet all the families at Mad Mole, OTap, Biggers Market, Wilmington Brewing Co.

Ogden/Porter’s Neck is in need of a truly family friendly brewery/bottle shop. Build it and...

I'll start this review on a positive note, and speak to the essence of the business. It serves beer, wine, and basic snacks. It allows patrons to bring food, have it delivered, or buy from the organized food trucks that come each day/week. It has wonderful beer selections, both from local breweries as well as their own they are starting to make. The food trucks are wonderful and cater to a breadth of tastes. The music and events that are there are inclusive and provide a lovely atmosphere. This is a location that serves alcohol. And is meant for adults.

This is not a restaurant. Nor is it a park or playground. It is understandable that parents and children who are respectful and treat other's property with respect may feel attacked as they are lumped in with other parents - many who are giving the 1 star reviews - who admit in these posts to not watching their children, attack a business owner and woman (with name calling or about her own status as a mother no less!), and expect this place of business to cater to them and their under 21+ children. I have heard within my own neighborhood that neighbors will no longer patronize the business because it is now 21+. I hope that they do reconsider because the bar/brewery is still the same and serving what it was intended to serve. Perhaps, grouping together with other parents to spring for a babysitter for a couple of hours (or have a sleep over at one parent's house each week) so that parents can enjoy some adult time, with other adults, who perhaps do not want to have children running around and screaming, jumping all over the property, and getting nasty comments or stares when those adults are being adults (talking about adult topics) at a bar.

But also - please remember that one an entire year, these same families came with their children, disrespected the owners, their hard working staff, as well as their property - and other patrons, on a consistent basis that led to this decision. And, it was not made overnight. There were incremental changes in an attempt to placate the parents who felt they have to bring children to a bar. Bottom line, any negative review on here has said nothing about the quality of service, quality of beers, or quality of the events or event space. In fact, I feel that many are having an emotion reaction BECAUSE it IS such a wonderful place. I can truly empathize when several bad apples ruin for others and by no means is it a mark on those who have been respectful. Perhaps it's a great opportunity to wait a bit, get a babysitter, head to the bar, see how you like it without your children. If you still don't like it, then absolutely no harm no foul! But, please remember to separate the purpose of the business with our own selfish beliefs about the "customer is...

I understand as a business there are decisions that are made that are not always going to be received by all in a positive light, but the way the news is delivered and presented once changes have been made is very important. I personally have no issue with an establishment who’s primary business is serving alcohol makes the choice to have a 21 and over policy, but when there is a huge following in the neighborhood that have families that typically include children this information would need to be relayed in a more appropriate manner. Like I don’t know, perhaps some sort of sign at the entrance, and not wait until someone has made the effort to settle in and then deliver the news they have to leave because their accompanied by an infant! Outer Dunes Brewing Company I ask that you take note of the way you interact and treat particular people/groups specially families. I may be wrong but from my past experiences at your brewery it did appear to be a welcoming place for new parents to get a chance to meet up with their friends who they may not have seen for a while within the neighborhood to have a change of scenery and catch up. I can’t speak for everyone else but I know my 6 month old is not going to get to rowdy after 0 rounds of beer at 4 in the afternoon. Will dad get rowdy after a couple of rounds, possibly? Might be to late but perhaps some sort of compromise can be made and the 21+ policy can kick in after a certain hr. I would agree that a child shouldn’t be present after 8 or 9pm, heck if you really want to be a buzz kill then 6pm. Just seems like a very rash and harsh stance that could end up being self sabotaging in your case. I get it, not everyone enjoys kids but not everyone should be judged or excommunicated just because they have them and want to enjoy the afternoon at the local brewery with them. I’m sorry for any previous bad blood you have had with folks who have children but this is a very bad look. I wish your business the best and I hope to see more then just one offering that you actually brew in the future. I had high hopes...