Dooley's Tavern and Grill — Restaurant in Wilkesboro

8/8/25 edit:

Changing back to 4 stars. The burgers today were perfect!

It's unfortunate that Google won't allow a reviewer to add another review if the experience changes; just add a photo update.

So I'm forced to edit my previous 4 star review a year ago down to 3 stars based on my latest experience. The Hangman's roast beef sandwich is cold roast beef on a plain, cold bun right out of the plastic bag. I added pepper jack cheese which, cold, added to the cold sandwich I could have made at home for half the price. And the French fries arrived cold as well. Miserable experience.

One of the best places in Wilkesboro. Above average burger-based restaurant with a amazingly terrific variety of toppings. Unfortunately they really all taste much the same. The burgers are really huge regardless of whether you order small, medium or large. The buns are all the same which IMO are way too much bread and I often end up cutting the upper and lower buns in half. My suggestion to the kitchen is to go for differentiation vs quantity. Potato buns as an option perhaps?

Terrific fries as the basic side. Truly awesome sweet potato fries too. Best in the area for sure.

Nice bar, which COVID has has had an impact on seating unfortunately.

The draft beer is limited again I think due to customer volume during the COVID constraints (which this place complies with quite well). Today I was disappointed though by ordering a draft (from the brewery across the street) only to be given a can because the keg was out. One can ran $9 with no warning until the bill arrived.

Outside seating is great and inside tables which were very, very tight have been spaced out much more than pre-COVID. Dog friendly on the outside which is terrific.

It's a place worth checking out if you're...

I really wanted to like this place but was so disappointed! It was my birthday dinner..one of few Saturday nights out with a babysitter of 2 toddlers..and after researching all the great reviews...I thought this place would be great. We planned to eat here because we loved the location, ode to local history (even the menu sounded great with nods to local history). There was music at the park right next to it so I thought this would be a great night for us. I am giving 2 stars only because it was a very busy night. I hoped that was a lot of the problem but I am not sure. First of all..it was very loud in there. Not the locationsfault but still thought I would mention for those that hate that. The cheese wontons were good but we waited 1 hr for them!!!! We waited 1.5 hrs for 2 burgers and fries!!! I still would have been ok with that if it was good but it was not! Our fries were greasy and soggy. Our burgers were dry and had no flavor plus they were not cooked as we ordered. I swear they tasted like ground beef thrown in microwave. I ordered mushroom swiss burger and there was like 4 mushrooms on my burger that were not even cooked all the way. Our buns tasted just like old ones bought at grocery store. Our food took so long to get that we missed the chance to see band next door. Our food was so bad we only ate half and left hungry. On top of all this it cost $43!!!!! I rarely write bad reviews but felt I should to help others waist...

My wife has Celiac. Decades ago, I helped Whole Foods Market in getting it's gluten free baking program off the ground (back when they were still allowing the NC stores call themselves Wellspring). I know the sort of work, dedication, and attention to detail required to even make the most basic of gluten free baked goods safely in a commercial setting. These guys know their stuff, and their food is far beyond basic. Prices are average for any normal upscale burger house, even the gluten free options don't carry much of an extra charge (especially considering the typical extra cost associated with the ingredients needed for that). All around great food, great service, and a great little bar and grill feel. When celiac sufferers eat out and they're forced to eat at a hybrid restaraunt (that does both regular and gf), it's always a risk. It's hard to impress on someone just how easy cross contamination is with gluten, even in a restaraunt that tries to have gf stuff on offer. Neither my wife nor I have any concerns about Dooley's. It's very clear that they take it far more seriously than most, and have the knowledge to keep things segregated and uncontaminated. I cannot overstate how important it is in our communities to have a restaraunt like this available, and while we wish there would be at least one in every town, this place alone means that Wilkesboro is now our official birthday, anniversary, date...