Whisky River — Restaurant in Charlotte

I visited there recently and it might be the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I was coming home from a business trip and had about an hour and a half to get something to eat. I went to the front to get in line to get seated and there was a girl in line in front of me and a guy behind me. A woman who was acting as the hostess was walking back and forth kind of ignoring the fact that we were all standing there. Normally I go sit at the bar since you don't have to wait in line if you just sit at the bar but it was packed. There were lots of spaces open on the perimeter of the restaurant. The guy behind me tries to ask the woman walking around if it's ok to sit at one of those perimeter-area seats. She cuts him off before he can even asks and scolds him as if he were trying to cut in line. She aggressively told him to wait his turn and that he just needs to wait in line. It was so rude. We looked at each other like, "WTH". I noticed a guy get up from the bar but the girl in front of me did not go to that seat. Being courteous, I tapped the girl on the shoulder and pointed to the seat. I politely asked that if she didn't want to sit there at the bar, could I sit there. The woman saw me asking her and rushed over to me and reprimanded me for talking to the other customer. She specifically told me not to talk to the other customers and that she handles the seating. I tried to explain that a man had gotten up from his seat and I was just being polite by offering it to her in case she didn't see it. She again told me to be quiet and not talk to anyone. I told her I'd talk to anyone I wanted. She then told me to "own my anger". Confused, I asked her what she said and she repeated in a loud, nasty manner to "own my anger". I told her she had a big chip on her shoulder. Her eyes were filled with anger and hate as she looked at me, and I can speculate why. She definitely had a predisposed opinion about me and attitude that drove her behavior. I decided I'd had enough and said I would not even eat there anymore, and attempted to walk away. She continued to make big hand and arm gestures towards me and even pursued me across the restaurant as I walked away towards my gate, making gestures and hurling insults, which I could not quite hear. I decided to turn around and go back to the restaurant to find a manager. I went to the bar and the bartender told me I'd have to wait and that they were really busy. After about 10 minutes a young guy who looked like he had been cooking in the kitchen came out. He was nice and I told him what happened. He said he would talk to her. I said "talk??, you need to fire her. He said he was just an hourly manager and could not really do anything. I asked him to at least document the situation and he said he would. He offered me free food, which I politely turned down. He told me he was sorry and that this employee had been complained about before. I said, Really?" He said, yes, that she had been complained about before for similar behavior. I will never go back to that place again and am floored that they allow someone so rude, aggressive, and unstable to work in a restaurant, even if it's in an airport. That woman hated me the moment she saw me, as well as the guy behind me. I made a complaint to their website and requested to be contacted but never heard back. Now it's been over a week. This experience was not just "bad", but it was embarrassing. To be yelled at and reprimanded for trying to get something to eat and for just being polite. As a 46-year-old, I thought I was done with...

I walked up to bar to order burgers to go. The “ girl” was texting at the cash register with her back to me. I waited a few minutes, then asked, “ excuse me”. She ignored me. The gentleman next to me at bar asked “ honey, hello?”Or something like that to get her attention . She whipped around, looked at him, and he pointed to me, “ she needs to order”. She threw menu at me , then left. I waited, she didn’t come back. So I went and asked a waitress if I could just order some burgers, and for a beer while I waited. I asked to speak to a manager , to explain my customer service issue, and was told( at 6:30pm) that he was in a meeting. He apparently was in another building ( and I would miss my flight). Honestly , I don’t think that was true. So I asked to speak to the assistant manager. He was complacent, mildly apologetic, and I told him he should consider her lack of kindness, that in a customer service position I should not have been treated with such disdain.I own my own small business and this behavior should never be tolerated. I felt like I needed to address my concerns with a manager , so I took a picture of the restaurant name on the outside of the restaurant, so I would know exactly where I was .I did not take pictures of anything else at that time. Next thing I know, the whole bar crew is taking pictures of me. The waitress that “ supposedly, helped me”, was back at the bar having conversation with the whole front end staff, and they’re all laughing, poking fun, and making me feel very uncomfortable. I was alone. These were very intimidating waitresses. I was returning from a Doctors continuing education meeting , and felt bullied. Not quite used to this behavior . I felt discriminated against. When my waitress brought my burgers, I asked her why she was ganging up on me at the bar. Then she said she was going to call security and take my drink from me. All the while? The whole bar staff was taking pictures and laughing, Again, I was being bullied and discriminated against. I left watching my back. And I called my credit card company to change my card number. It is not too much of a surprise I felt that was the next disrespectful thing they would do. Bad behavior. Discrimination, bullying. You need to...

Whiskey River at Charlotte Douglas Airport offered a truly unique atmosphere—definitely a standout among typical airport dining options. The rustic-meets-modern vibe, combined with live music and a lively bar, makes it feel more like a destination restaurant than just a quick airport stopover.

One of the biggest highlights of my visit was the live music. The artist performing during my meal was exceptionally talented and really elevated the whole experience. It gave the space a great energy and made waiting for my flight genuinely enjoyable. It’s rare to find such quality entertainment inside an airport!

When it came to the food, I was pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes. Everything served was generous—especially for an airport restaurant—and the flavors were solid. I didn’t feel like I was being shorted just because it was a quick-grab meal while traveling.

That said, the service could have been better. It wasn’t terrible, but definitely slower than expected, especially considering airport travelers are usually on tighter schedules. The staff was friendly enough, but there seemed to be a staffing shortage that affected the speed of both seating and food delivery. It’s something I hope they improve because the rest of the experience was worth it.

Prices are what you’d expect at the airport—slightly higher than normal, but nothing outrageous. For the portion sizes and the overall vibe, I felt it was fair.

Cleanliness was also on point. The tables were wiped down promptly, and while the floors weren’t spotless, they were relatively clean and definitely not a concern. For a high-traffic airport venue, they’re doing a decent job keeping things in order.

Overall, I’d probably visit Whiskey River again if they’re a bit better staffed. The atmosphere, live music, and satisfying food make it a worthwhile stop if you’ve got some time to spare during a layover. Not perfect, but definitely one of the better airport dining...