McGuire's Pub — Restaurant in Hickory

What can I say about McGuire’s? I love it. I’ve been going to McGuire’s since before I could drink, and I’ve got all kinds of memories there.

It’s not a raucous dance bar, or a pool hall; both of those are available a block away. It’s not a craft beer Mecca; the row of taps is shorter than a single barstool. It’s not a Main Street, mainstream bar where high school reunions meet up and local bands play cover songs every Friday night.

No, McGuire’s is something else entirely. McGuire’s is where I go when I want to really catch up with someone. There’s music, but it isn’t pounding your eardrums into submission. There’s sometimes a crowd, but you can have the bar to yourself at the right time of day. There are a few dartboards, but at least one is located directly above a seating area, so they aren’t in high demand.

I’ve had relationships begin at McGuire’s. I’ve had them end (abruptly, without me realizing) at McGuire’s. I’ve determined which booth has the perfect amount of lighting, and any other booth seems like either the surface of the sun or a total eclipse.

Anyway, I could wax poetic about McGuire’s all day, but here’s how to really have the experience I’m trying to convey: Order a Churchill sandwich, hot, and get some pub chips. Ranch on the side, unless you don’t want to try the best ranch in town. Get a $2.75 pint of PBR, or if you’re with some friends, a $10 pitcher. Spend a couple hours really talking to someone you love. Not screaming at each other in a loud, obnoxious bar. Enjoy yourself.

And please, get out...

Since the closing of Murphys and the last closing of McGuires, I have been waiting and hoping for an Irish pub to come back to Hickory. Specifically to have a proper pour of Guinness. Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to have to keep waiting as this place seems to have more Guinness signs/merch than they do Guinness glasses. Mine was served flat and in a typical pint glass that you will find at every other OHB operated establishment. This place is not an Irish pub but merely another Taproom or Hickory Station trying to pass itself off as an authentic pub experience. The service was quick and friendly, our server was lovely, the food was... ok at best. I wanted something different but was served the same tired experience that you can expect from any OHB restaurant (which is 90% of downtown Hickory.) I am truly...

This English style pub is a wonderful place to relax, eat and drink. My wife and I rolled in from out of town on a Saturday afternoon and were served by a delightful young lady named Carrie. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. We selected beers on Special, for her, a Saranac Tropical Storm IPA, and I had a Saranac Blueberry Blonde Ale, which was excellent. From the appetizer menu, we ordered the Pub Chips and we requested them to be semi-floppy. They were cooked exactly right. The prices were fair, too. There was a dart board available for play, as well. The Pub is hard to find, as it below street level in the front and has no sign at the back entrance. The parking lot for the back entrance is across the street from the...