Brickhouse Sports Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Raleigh

So. This was our first visit here. We were at the Raleigh Flea Mall and did a quick search to see what was around us that had good reviews. This place had a 5 Star so we set out to it. ( Note I do have 26 years experience in restaurant management and I do know what to look for and expect.) Going by appearance alone. You would think it was basically just like any other Sports bar on the inside. It's a nice big brick building with inside and outside seating. Could easily be a nice steakhouse going by the outside. They had my motocross on one of the tv's and I enjoyed it. The only sport I care about to be honest. 😊 But was nice to watch while we sat. The tables were clean and only a few people at the bar, a few shooting pool and maybe a couple like us sitting at the tables.

So, we started with an appetizer. It was awesome. It was a nacho dish that our waitress suggested. I do not remember what they called it . It honestly could have been our meal it was that big, and we even stated that when it arrived at the table. It was a Spanish plate with nachos. Cheese. Beans and fries among other things. We both were shocked at how good it was. My favorite dish at a local Spanish restaurant is a Nacho Supreme. Been eating it for years. This beat their best meal which for me is no easy task. So please take note when I say this was really good.

Because my girlfriend doesn't like jalapeños they put them on the side for me. Honestly one of the best appetizers I've ever had anywhere and we've done some really good restaurants together. We both ordered cheeseburger plates, but different. My girlfriend's had glaze on it. She couldn't quit bragging about how good it was and MADE me try it. 😊 Mine was more traditional. It was perfect. Cooked perfectly and tasted incredible. Enough so that recently we decided to look to see where another Brickhouse was located near us and drive to. We never do that, if that tells you anything. We were shocked to see there was only one location only in Raleigh. The food was like a polished very respected franchise. Two weeks later I tried Texas Roadhouse for the first time. I immediately stated, "This is Not a Brickhouse burger by any means! " I am actually using this location now to measure other burgers. Again giving some in site on how good the food here really was.

The waits here remember your orders without writing them down. Our order was not the most simplified order to take with request of this on the side, and not this, but this on this one. She did great.

The bathrooms were really nice and clean which is something I always notice after doing restaurants for 26 years myself. It to me is sort of the tell all about a place. Great restrooms and great restaurant.

Now with all the above, is their one thing that I see that might would keep you from going? Possibly. It's a sports bar. In my opinion it's more than that, they do too many things right to be just that. But I could see on a Friday night maybe taking someone here might not be the perfect environment for a couple. We went in the middle of the day and that was great for us. But I could see seniors possibly not feeling comfortable with this place at times. Not anything you can blame a restaurant for really. I mean it is a Sports bar. But something to take into consideration if not into that kind of scene. Maybe pick a better time to go if that might be you is what I'm suggesting. With that said, I suggest anyone to eat at this place. It was awesome and done right and we honestly look forward to coming back again! Great restaurant that truly deserves...

Overall Score: 3.9/10 – A visually impressive sports bar with great amenities for watching games, but the food quality falls short, making it a place better suited for drinks and sports than dining.

Atmosphere and Service: 7.2/10 – The space is fantastic, with huge TVs playing multiple football games, a spacious layout, and a welcoming staff. The bartender allowing pool play added a nice personal touch to the experience. However, the lack of a crowd for a sports bar on a Sunday afternoon suggests that the focus on food quality might be holding it back.

Margherita Pizza: 2.2/10 – A significant miss. This pizza lacked the essential qualities of a true Margherita, with no fresh mozzarella, barely any sauce, and a thick crust that resembled a basic cheese pizza topped with tomato slices. The execution was disappointing, and the dish felt like it didn’t belong on the menu.

Cheeseburger: 4.5/10 – Slightly undercooked, with an average taste that failed to stand out. The bottom bun became soggy quickly, further detracting from the experience. While the price was reasonable, the quality was underwhelming, leaving little reason to recommend this option.

Nachos: 5.1/10 – A creative concept combining onion rings, fries, and chips, but the execution fell flat. The hamburger tasted like basic taco meat, and the dish lacked freshness. It felt like something easily recreated at home using frozen grocery...

Celebrating HS graduation. Waitressdid not give us utensils, napkins, or straws. One by one we had to ask for each. We ordered water with lemon and she brought the lemon to us on a napkin. Dont know if she picked them up with naked hand or not. She said she "picked them up at the bar". When the last person in our group arrived, she ordered a lemonaide. The waitress NEVER brought it. After about 15 minutes, she was reminded to bring the lemonade.To top it off, we had to ask dor the checks. Then low and behold, the waitress went missing. She never came and got the payments, so we went to the bar to pay but was told that we could not. The bartender left the bar to go find the waitress. Finally when the waitress came and took the money she came back and brought back the change for one of the customers in the amount of $6 even when her check was $13.52 and she was given a $20 bill. So she still owed the customer $0.48 which the customer had to ask for. Needless to say this was not a good service for tipping. In addition we didn't even...