Pooch's — Restaurant in Lillington

I stopped in here for the first time today. Overall, I was pretty happy with my experience. There were good things and some things that could improve:

The lady at the register, who I believe may have been the owner, should consider hiring someone for that position. Nothing against her personally, she just doesn't seem very experienced in front-of-house roles. The interaction with her felt awkward and not very welcoming. This could improve.

After ordering, I took a seat. The atmosphere feels nice and the decor is perfect for this space. There's a TV to watch some sports or whatever is on while you wait. I felt comfortable in the seating area. Overall A+ in this department.

A younger woman came out from the back to deliver my food and she was very polite and definitely made me feel like I was being taken care of. A+ there.

The smash burger was delicious, the fries were nice and crispy, and I think the price is reasonable for the quality. Great job here.

I also got a River Dog, which comes with some toppings like chili and onions. This was a little less impressive in my opinion, but for $4 it's hard to complain much.

It does seem like the dogs are roughly the same quality as a convenience store dog, but I think if they start using better chilli (or make their own) and better buns, then that would elevate their dogs dramatically, and I would happily pay a few more dollars for it.

In conclusion, this is a great place to drop by for a quick bite and some delicious smash...

Great spot! Got the pimento burger, chicago dog, and macaroni salad.

The decor and atmosphere is nice. The inside of the place has more seating than you'd think looking at it from the outside.

The dog was very good. Good char on the dog which I enjoy. Macaroni salad was very solid. Burger was extremely well done. It's a smash burger. Meat is solid. Good amount of pimento cheese. Toppings were fresh. Only small complaint would be that the pickles they use on the burger are those sweet bread and butter pickles which kind of ruined the burger for me, though I could tell that without them it would've been a very strong burger. That's more of a personal preference thing. I'll just get it without them next time.

Lastly, I tried one of their whoopie pies, which was without a doubt the highlight of the experience. I got the chocolate one. The cake is soft and moist, and the filling is wonderful! I'm not even a big chocolate guy, but this was one of the best desserts I've had in a long time.

Last thing worth mentioning - the price!! Got everything pictured here for under $20. I'm used to Wilmington prices so this was a breath of fresh air.

Overall great experience. Service was nice too. I will be...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best Burger in Harnett County – Hands Down! If you’re anywhere near Lillington, do yourself a favor and head straight to Pooches. I stopped in for the Smash Burger and fries, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. This isn’t your average burger – it’s the perfect balance of crispy edges, juicy beef, melty cheese, and all the right toppings on a fresh bun. And the fries? Golden, crispy, seasoned just right, and served piping hot. What really blew me away was the price – high quality food without breaking the bank. It’s rare to find a place that delivers both incredible flavor and value, but Pooches nails it. Great food, friendly service, and unbeatable prices. This little gem in Lillington just became my go-to....