- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Alexander Michael's
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Nightlife Bars Pubs American (Traditional), Pubs [Edit]
401 W 9th StCharlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Fourth Ward
(704) 332-6789
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
Savage J. said: "Excellent food, great beer selection (cheap too), kind staff and service!!! The burgers are out of this world! The best part about this place is that there is typically always open seating when I've gone. Let the hipsters and…" read more »
87 reviews for Alexander Michael's
Review Highlights
-
"My favorite was the fried pickles." In 17 reviews -
"The london broil looks amazing but i did not try it." In 11 reviews -
"Love this place for its micro beers and spicy crab soup." In 3 reviews
Loading...
87 reviews in English
-
Review from Dave L.
Updated - 4/18/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Back again, 9 of us this time!
Short and sweet.
Say it with me people!
"BURGERS, WINGS, AND BEER! OH MY!"
Great place, Great Owner, Great employees!
See you all soon!Listed in: Good for Groups
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
3/18/2012
Will continue to prop this place!
Was back 3 weeks ago with 14 people.
The wait folks are great,… Read more »
-
-
Review from Mike L.
Charlotte, NC
2/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place is a GEM! A nice relaxing neighborhood restaurant.
The London Broil sandwich is awesome! The crab soup is Awesome!
I got a turkey sandwich that was on special once and it was just OK.
I believe the owner works there everyday. Good staff. I can't wait to go back.
One of my favorites. -
Review from Mary Kathryn D.
Charlotte, NC
2/15/2012
I love this place! The staff is always nice and friendly. On Thursday's they have Grateful Growers porkchops for dinner. The food is solid and they have local beer on tap.
Locals refer to this as Al Mike's and it is a wonderful 4th Ward pub. -
Review from Zach R.
Charlotte, NC
12/20/2011
In 79 reviews, no one has given this place below 3 stars. That should tell you all you need to know. Consistently good bar food in a quiet, pub-like environment. Service is always consistent, too. Nothing fancy - but that's perfect for me. Go for the London Broil sammy at lunch. Reasonably priced and delicious.
If I had a magic wand and could change a few things about this restaurant, I'd focus on parking and adding more tables. Street parking in a quiet neighborhood can be limited. I've been here a handful of times when there has been a line out the door with people waiting for a table. Both faults, however, are incredibly hard to control.Listed in: Lunch Joints
-
Review from Chris L.
Charlotte, NC
3/16/2012
Great atmosphere and tucked neatly away in the 4th ward neighborhood, Alexander Michaels serves up pub food right.
-
Review from Roger H.
Asheville, NC
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Neat place in the historic area of downtown Charlotte. Walkable to all the tall buildings but feels like you are in a neighborhood. Looks like an old-fashioned store with a tin roof.
More of a pub than anything. Don't look to be knocked out by the food. But it's good. Had a half turkey sandwich with gumbo for lunch.
The bar is really cool though. Good selection of beers including two highland beers from Asheville and other craft beers. I'll be back. -
Review from Trey S.
On Thursday, Aug. 18th, I had the pleasure of visiting Alexander Michael's for dinner. This was probably the fifth or sixth time I have eaten at this local neighborhood gem, and I can assuredly tell you, this Alexander Michael's experience was just as good as the first.
My date and I walked in pleasantly surprised that despite the warm, quiet, lazy, summer evening outside, Alexander Michael's was cool, dark, and very lively on the inside. We were directly escorted to a table in the cozy restaurant, just behind the bar.
My date ordered the chicken pita with fries (I've taken a picture of it), I ordered the craw fish bake (see pic). The bake was a cross between a shrimp pasta and a seafood casserole. It was perfectly gooey and cheesy - but not heartstoppingly so. As for my date's pita; she loved it. I had a few bites and can attest to its legitimacy. Both OUR MEALS WERE EXCELLENT!!
I am truly of fan of this elegant and intimate Charlotte jewel. To me, Alexander Michael's is a place where you can get elegant, all-american bar food, but with an upscale twist. If you haven't been to Alexander Michael's - GO! If you've already been, GO AGAIN!!Listed in: Food in Charlotte, NC
-
Review from Karuna S.
San Jose, CA
1/16/2012
There's something about the simplicity of this place, and the friendliness of the staff, that keeps bringing me back here. Since I've moved to Charlotte, I've tried the fried pickles at almost every restaurant I've been to, and I have to say.. the ones at Alexander Michael's are among the top three in this city! The food is simple and tasty (even if you just want a simple garden burger, Cajun fried & a blue moon!) The atmosphere is cozy and unpretentious. It's a great place to visit even on a Monday evening!
-
Review from Paul H.
11/8/2011
This was bar food heaven. Looks like a regular neighborhood bar on the outside and inside. We stopped by around 9 and there was about a 20 minute wait for a table. The places looks like it only fits about 75 people max.
Waiting for a table we sat at the bar and I noticed they had a great beer selection on tap and I'm not talking Anhueser Busch B.S. Lots of craft beers and a good amount of local brews. I tried a few high ABV brews that were really good and put my head in another world. I had been in town for about 3 hours by this time I'm really liking Charlotte. For dinner I tried something called "What It Is". it's a Cajun pasta dish. Being Cajun, I was hesitant to try cajun food so far away from the deep south but they came though. I considered licking the plate. I was actually sopping up the sauce with bread like I usually only do at home. I was thoroughly impressed. -
Review from April S.
Charlotte, NC
9/5/2011
I am not one of those people who raves obsessively about Al Mike's but I do think that the place is unique and has a great ambiance. I have not yet tried the London Broil, which I've heard is one of their more popular dishes, but I have had the She-Crab soup and it is very delicious!
The staff is always very friendly and I love the older wooden benches (They are similar to those of 300 East.) At night, candles are lit and it feels very comfy and cozy inside. I think this would be a good place for a first date but the menu isn't terribly extensive or expensive (if that's what you're going for on a first date...) You can order entrees, as well as salads or appetizers like quesadillas. The bar has a nice beer selection as well. It is located in the heart of 4th ward, snuggled between houses and cobble stone streets, which can make it a little difficult to find but perfect if you live in uptown and can walk to the restaurant while taking in the beautiful houses and scenery along the way.
Full Disclosure: Ladies... if you want the REAL reason to visit Alexander Michaels, here it is.. COOPER. He is one hell of a handsome man that works here. I have seen him a few times while visiting here and he has been extremely helpful and charming each time. I sat at a table facing the door last time I was here and watched every single woman, young and old, swoon over Cooper as he greeted them at the door with a huge, bright smile. I am normally not impressed by the looks of most men but Good Lord help me if he is single. I don't think I could handle it.
I also hope Cooper does not frequent http://Yelp.com...
;) -
Review from Travis W.
7/21/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Love Al Mike's! I love the daily specials that almost always include a fantastic salad and just the other day an authentic Cuban sandwich. The decor is a mix between old school pub and cozy restaurant. I've been here several times and seem to always get a salad because they normally do their salads with a spinach leaf base, throw in some pasta for good measure and top it off with fantastic grilled chicken.
It's a little off the beaten path which can be a breath of fresh air from the places to eat lunch or dinner down Tryon Street. It looks to be built from one of the renovated homes there in the neighborhood with a 'dollhouse' style exterior in my opinion. Cool character for a restaurant.
One thing to note is that it's a bit dark in there because there isn't any overhead lighting or if there is, it's very minimal. So if you sit back towards the back prepare to eat by candlelight (even at lunch). The only windows are towards the front so that's why. -
Review from Dee S.
Charlotte, NC
8/24/2011
I agree with most of the group. A hidden gem here in Charlotte. As you sit in the restaurant and watch the horse and carriage go by, you feel like you're in some other city.
Great atmosphere and food.
This was me and my husband's first date...per my suggestion(he was new to town). -
Review from R C.
San Mateo, CA
10/8/2011
Back in Aug when I was out in Charlotte a co -worker took me to Alexander Michael's. This place is a cute neighborhood gem. I loved it! It's removed from the main uptown area of Charlotte and it seems like this is the place where locals go.
My dinner was awesome. I ordered their blackend cat fish sandwich with fried pickles. Yum! Since, fried pickles don't exist in CA, I loved eating them while I was out in Charlotte. If I'm ever back in Charlotte, I would eat at this place again. ;o) -
Review from Michael C.
Charlotte, NC
7/8/2011
Luckily for me, this restaurant is only a five-minute walk from work so it's always one of my top choices for lunch. The London Broil sandwich wasn't as medium-rare as I'd ordered, but delicious nonetheless.
One thing I appreciate about this restaurant is the frequency of daily-specials they offer during lunch. Everytime I've gone, they've offered at least two specials of the day, which shows some kitchen character. I'll definitely be back again. -
Review from Jeff S.
5/11/2011
This is one of Charlotte's hidden gems.
It's not the easiest place to find and it's not the easiest place to park near since there are restrictions on parking on the street depending on the time of day. But it's nice to see history preserved in this area of town. It's like stepping back into the turn of the century.
Anyway, about Alex Mike's. The building used to be an old grocery store, now it's a neighborhood pub. The staff is supper friendly and accommodating.
The restaurant itself is dark and intimate with wood everywhere, candles on the tables and soft lighting throughout. Tables are close but you don't feel that you are sitting on top of the next table.
The menu is short but has a several appetizing selections from pasta dishes to sandwiches. We got there and spent 45 minutes just in conversation and drinking before ordering our meals. The meal came out within 15 minutes.
I had the feta chicken which was wonderful - savory chicken on top of a bed of penne pasta with veggies and feta. The fried pickles appetizer was good as well. Others in my group tried the sandwiches which were good as well.
I can only hope that Alex Mike's stays open in Charlotte for another 28+ years.Listed in: QC Dinner Group, Yummy in my tummy!, Cool and Quirky, Beer me!, Uptown, downtown, upside down
Comment from Steve C. of Alexander Michael's 5/17/2011
Thank you Jeff!! Just to clarify about parking......The… More » -
Review from Julia S.
Charlotte, NC
5/17/2011
(repost - since I'd originally had this under Andrew Blair's, and I confuse two-named things constantly)
Weird. I feel like I ate at a totally different place than every other reviewer. Maybe ABs gets flustered when they try to put on their fancy-pants for Restaurant Week.
Yeah, it's a little faux-pub, a little fratty, but there are only two TVs (god, my standards are dropping) and the food is cheap. What did I get? The nachos. What will I probably get every time I come? Said nachos. No art, no pretention - fried flour tortillas dusted with something aromatic and carefully smothered with black beans, cheese, tomatoes, and (tehehe) lettuce shreds we'll just go ahead and call chiffonade. Simple, textural, good. For 7 bucks. Jalapenos needed, my spicy friends, so ask. The size of your head, this pile, no, torso.
It's 1994 up in this joint, and they don't give a damn - but it limits the veg selections. I can respect the beer list, and the service was quietly good. Darkish lighting. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach underneath the 5 pounds of nacho that the place swims in RL polos and Sperrys on the wkends (and this is before I perused other yelper's thoughts on the subject) but for Monday night nosh, it competently hit the spot.Listed in: No more TV Eye
-
Review from Shauna H.
6/2/2011
My first impression was what a cute neighborhood! The historic and charming homes are such a treat in a city where everything seems brand new.
Upon entering this pub-like restaurant/bar we were seated and greeted promptly.
I ordered a cider on tap (a favorite of mine), a side salad, and the "What it is" . The star oddly enough was the salad, she said all their dressings were homemade and it certainly tasted that way. The "What it is" was just ok in my opinion. I have had my share of amazing pasta dishes but never have been much of a rotini fan. The dish has a lot of dried herbs and I just prefer fresh...the chicken seemed almost too rubbed in cajun spice for my taste. That being said, I would like to give it another shot and order something else besides pasta ..I really am a tough critic in the Italian department.
My biggest gripe of the night was the pace of service. I don't know if the server (or chef) had somewhere to be but she was going a mile a minute. I wanted to relax and enjoy my meal not be rushed in and out in less than 45minutes. My dinner came as half of my salad remained uneaten...and the salad was literally brought out in less than a minute after I ordered it. I realize its a small venue with limited seating but there wasn't anyone waiting for a table and last I checked this was not at a fast food joint.Comment from Steve C. of Alexander Michael's 6/4/2011
Shauna - I want to thank you for your review. I posted it in… More » -
Review from Gabi M.
12/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
We had one night to go out to dinner during our recent Charlotte visit, and Al Mike's is where my friend wanted to take us. Of course, I had to look up the reviews on Yelp before I agreed, and once I did, I was sold.
And now that I've been, I must say, Charlotte Yelpers, you are right on with this one!
I love this incredibly charming historic restaurant and the 4th Ward neighborhood that surrounds it. AM's atmosphere is warm and inviting. Luckily, we arrived early on Saturday night (around 6:30), so we didn't have to wait for a table... (The restaurant did, however, fill up within a half hour).
The highlights in my eyes:
*great beer selection!
*fried pickles!
*burger
*onion rings
It was my first time ever trying fried pickles, and I'm a fan! We devoured them as an appetizer for the table.
We weren't huge fans of the crab soup, and I'd stay away from salads... they are nothing special.
The service was attentive with a snap of attitude. I think they probably are friendlier toward their regulars, but that's fine by me. If I lived in the area, I'd be a regular too!Listed in: Gabi does Charlotte!
-
Review from Greg G.
5/17/2011
Great place for a quick lunch...a big part of the reason I enjoy coming here is it is a quick walk from Uptown, and the stroll takes you past some pretty funky, old-timey houses in the 4th ward.
Their burgers and sammies are all very good. I think I've had every sammich on their menu during one lunch or another, and have never given a single one a thumbs down. London Broil and the Cajun Catfish sammich are the best ones. And after perusing the bar menu, I have had to fight off the urge to order a beer to wash them down with every time as well, due to my presence being required back at work. I enjoy pubs that stock such a wide variety of beers, and this one also includes a rotation of fine ales from another favorite spot of mine, Olde Meck Brewery. I appreciate a bar who keeps it in the QC family!
This bar is quaint...maybe a little TOO quaint. Being that it is in an old, renovated house, the seating can get cramped at times, especially during peak traffic hours. Service gets bogged down too, both by the level of traffic and unwieldy setup. However, these are nit-picky issues that are easily overlooked when good food and hospitable atmosphere are taken into account.
I hope to come back when I can kick back and imbibe on some good libations! The food alone definitely warrants returning again and again. -
Review from Taylor A.
1/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know that house in college where all your stoner friends lived that had all those tie-dyed sheets up all over the place for "decor". Imagine they decided to open a restaurant serving a bunch of beers and expensive food. This is the vibe I get here.
From the bearded bartender who looks like he just woke up, to the "holy crap it's so dark in here they need to turn on the lights" vibe, I don't really know what to make of this place.
We decided not to eat at this place due to everything I wrote above, but enjoyed a few beers before moving on.
If you're into beards and eating expensive food in the dark I think you'll really like this place, hippie.Listed in: Best of Charlotte, NC
-
Review from David F.
Huntersville, NC
1/2/2012
One of the best spots in all of Charlotte. Great for business lunches. The london broil sandwich is one of the best steak sandwiches I have ever had. Nice atmosphere and good beer selection too.
-
Review from RJ C.
Charlotte, NC
5/2/2011
great location, good food, good atmosphere.
Tucked away in 4th ward, Alexander Michaels is a great restaurant after a walk through the neighborhood.
The restaurant is a little dark, but some good history about the place and a local favorite.
For food: seasonally - the chicken pot pie is great, and everyday - the spicy crab soup is knock your socks off good.
The rest is fine, the selection isn't the best. But overall, A-OK -
Review from Lacey M.
Portland, OR
11/24/2010
Love this place for its micro beers and spicy crab soup. The london broil looks amazing but i did not try it. Five people at my table ordered and greedily scarfed it down leaving crumbs not even fit for a mouse. Hehe ya that good! Can't wait to waunder in again and i love that they have local meats on there menu.
Our server was so sweet too. -
Review from C R.
Charlotte, NC
3/3/2012
lots of character here. nothing special but just a solid place to grab drinks and good food. great neighborhood feel.
-
Review from Nicole W.
8/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Alexander Michael's is the quintessential go-to spot for solid food, good drinks and superb company all packaged into a quaint little spot in the 4th ward.
Hubs and I used to frequent this sweet little spot fairly often when we lived Uptown. It's the perfect locale for a delicious burger or even better, in my opinion, an amazing chicken pita. I've tried a handful of different things at this stop, but I always go back to the pita. Plenty of moist, well seasoned bird stuffed into a fluffy, mouth watering pita, special sauce, cheese and lettuce and tomato. If I'm feeling all healthy schmealthy I go for a side salad or fruit, but their onion rings are pretty tasty too!
The service has always been super friendly and laid back - just how I like it at this kind of joint. Next time my tummy's growling in the 4th ward I'll definitely make a trip back to Alexander Michael's!Listed in: Uptown, Baby!, Fave Lunch Locations, Tasty & Homey
-
Review from Casandra G.
Charlotte, NC
We were taken here by a couple of locals (I guess we're locals now too though) on Wednesday night and fun was had. It's got a busy, friendly vibe and overall satisfying food.
The good: to contradict a previous reviewer, I found the beer selection to be quite respectable. You've got mainstream goat piss, mainstream Irish, beer snob local, national and international. I was very pleased by the Gaelic ale from Asheville. Very pleased. Also, the nachos were truly a work of art. I can't stand flour tortillas but flour tortilla chips are great for this mouthwatering mountain of peppers, beans, tomatoes, olives, cream and little chicken bits.
The ok: well, I found my pasta - the Honey Chicken - to be just ok. The chicken itself was nice and juicy. I don't know what I expected from the pasta. I think it was overall a bit sweet, and perhaps a nice pungent feta topping would have broken that up a bit better. What it came with was a bland kind of Parmesan, I think.
I might return and try something else on the menu - like their massive 1/2 pound burgers - and we'll see if it'll make me a fangirl. -
Review from Jess C.
Al Mike's looks like a house that turned their 1st floor into a bar. The atmosphere is really chill, and they have good cheap beers on tap and serve typical bar food. There was plenty of street parking when I went.
My fave part of Al Mikes is that it's a very non-uptowny bar in uptown, check it out!
Btw, what is with people and fried pickles?! -
Review from Corey Tess T.
Phoenix, AZ
7/22/2010
Good fried pickles. Good Chocolate Martini. When I moved to Charlotte someone took me here and then I didn't know anywhere else to go yet, so I would go here quite a lot - even took my visiting family here. It's a good bar, joint, eatery, but after I found more stuff, I never returned... not sure why..
I do have fond memories of the chocolate martini...Listed in: CHARLOTTE
-
Review from Jeremy M.
Charlotte, NC
1/5/2010
As always, the food here is just as amazing as the decor (old general store), atmosphere & staff. You name it. As many have said, this is "bar type" food but it is always so much better than that so I hate to put it in that genre.
We were seated very quickly as a waitress was already walking to greet us as we walked into the door. We sat down & were checked on very regularly by whom I assuming is one of the owners. Real cool laid back kind of guy.
As per usual, we got an order of wings (wild flavor) & I had my mind all made up to try something different today off of the menu (usually eat a burger or London broil sandwich), but was told of two specials that both sounded incredible. The first one, grilled cheese with hearty chicken stew, is what I had. My friend and his brother had the other special, meatloaf w/ onions on rye bread. Everything was tasty and great as always. The wings are hands down some of my favorite anywhere. My friend also got some crab soup which he said was very good.
Hands down one of my favorite places in Charlotte and can say without a doubt have never even had a mediocre experience here, let alone a bad one. Can't wait to go back.Listed in: Favorite Uniquely Charlotte…
-
Review from Alessandra S.
Charlotte, NC
7/9/2008
I recently moved to the Uptown area and have been frantically trying to experience every bar and restaurant the city has to offer to find my "go-to" joint. We were "tipped off" by a fellow Charlottinian about Alexander Michael's, and were intrigued by the directions he gave us to get there. "You're not far from it. Off the beaten path. Shortcut through the shrubs." I already liked it.
Once we found the shortcut, we immediately smelled the food and followed our noses. It is tucked away in a residential area and if the food didn't smell so good you might walk right by it. We sat at the bar and needed to pull the candle closer in order to read the menu. If you take anything from this review let it be this: Honey. Garlic. BBQ Wings. YUM.
I ordered the veggie burger as my main and was expecting nothing exciting, since most restaurants serve the usual warm-on-the-outside-cold-in-the-middle-sad-excuse- for-a-meal hockey puck. I was surprised that it was not only excellent and flavorful, but clearly home made. They had a great selection of micro-brewed beers in addition to the usual suspects, so my fiancee was happy from the moment we sat down. Laid back, fun and low-key, we definitely found our go-to joint. Oh, and ladies, watch out for the pole in the bathroom. You'll thank me later. -
Review from Homer S.
Hoboken, NJ
5/4/2009
Okay it's a cool looking building with a nice little history. Other than that why are people peeing their pants for this place?
I admit we only ordered fried pickles (which were good) so perhaps the food is superb. The beer selection was subpar (something I consider vital to have a good bar; either that or really really cheap specials).
I'm glad I went once. Likely not again. -
Review from Lee Ann D.
Charlotte, NC
4/8/2010
I like this place a lot! Ive been a few times now and every time i go this place is packed but we get there at the right time cause I've never had to wait!!
If you like wings the Garlic Honey wings are soooo good!! I would definitely recommend to come here they have good beers a good neighborhood feel and of course good food. The servers are very nice and helpful!! -
Review from Pinaki S.
Charleston, SC
12/29/2008
Just wow. If you ever come to Charlotte, go to the 4th Ward... its one of the most interesting downtown residential neighborhoods I've ever been in. When you go there, make sure you stop in here for some fantastic people watching and great beers.
Seriously, walking here transports you completely away from the hustle and bustle and rowdiness of Tryon. -
Review from John R.
Greensboro, NC
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was our first visit to Alexander Mike's but picked it based of previous reviews =) and because it is not far from the Fillmore music venue. When we arrived, at about 5:30, it was still very quiet but began filling up fast (including other tables obviously going to the Carbon Leaf/Big Head Todd and the Monsters concert.) As soon as we walked in a server approached and guided us to a booth.
Food: We started with the Crab meat Supreme Quesadilla app ($7.60). My girlfriend had the 4th Ward Stroganoff ($13.75) and I had the Feta Chicken ($13.95) as entrees. For drinks, she had a Duvel and I had a Hefeweizen and Oktoberfest on tap.
As for the starter, I was not very impressed with the quesadilla. The menu advertises it has pepper jack cheese but I detected no pepper jack, just regular monterrey jack cheese. Also, I personally got two bites of crab meat (my girlfiend had several). Given the very mild flavors of crab and monterrey jack, this was a very bland quesadilla. Granted, it did come served with sides of sour cream and salsa and I thought the salsa was pretty good. I just would have preferred the actual quesadilla to stand on its own a bit.
For the stroganoff, my girlfriend really enjoyed it and would have clean-plated it if she wasn't a carb watcher. I did steal a piece of the beef and thought it was very tasty with the red wine definitely coming through. My Feta chicken was also good (how can you go wrong with Feta?) with extra props going to the sauteed veggies that make up bed along with the penne pasta. They consisted of broccoli, mushrooms, red and green peppers and red onions. I thought they were very well cooked and the white wine/garlic saute was very tasty. The chicken itself was good though a touch overcooked but not enough to ruin the plate. Be advised that, as advertised, it does come sitting in a "broth" so is a wet dish.
Our meal, including two pre-concert tequila shots ;-) and an appropriate tip, came to about $90 -- not cheap but we did splurge on alcohol a bit.
Service: Our service was excellent with our waitress obviously very familiar the menu and restaurant. As a plus, as it got busier two owner/manager types stayed available in the dining area helping out and making sure everyone's visit was up to par.
Atmosphere: This must be one of the big draws as AM is in an old converted house right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. All dark wood with a gorgeous bar, its easy to imagine coming here after work to just hangout for awhile. A couple of HD TV's are present, as well. It is a fairly tight space, however, so I also imagine there must be times when it is standing room only.
Food: 7/10; Service: 9/10; Value: 7/10; Atmosphere 10/10Listed in: Pub Crawl
-
Review from Rafael R.
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2009
Al Mike's, as it is locally known, is housed in a 1890's Victorian era building that housed the E.W. Berryhill Store for 70 years. During the 60's & 70's, the building housed multiple businesses, from a paint store, a thrift store, grocery store and delicatessen. In 1983, Michael Alexanders neighborhood tavern opened for business.
A popular neighborhood institution, Al Mike's retains some interesting building characteristics, such as the supporting pole almost directly in front of the women's restroom door, which lends itself to many a bumped head as well as built in coolers that are original turn of the century ice box coolers.
We dined on the Spicy Crab Soup, which one of my dining partners characterized as melted Velveeta with crab and while that description might sound rather unappealing, it was quite yummy. In addition to the three cheese on Texas Toast sandwich, which was ok, but a bit on the dry side, my other dining companions had other basics, such as sandwiches and burgers. This is tavern food, so don't go expecting high end meals. The appeal of this restaurant, as a visitor to Charlotte, is that it is located in the Fourth Ward, a small district of brick and Victorian buildings and the unique history of the building that houses Al Mike's. -
Review from Sarah b.
Austin, TX
3/1/2009
Wow, what a pleasant surprise! I never would have known about Al Mike's (as it is known casually) without reading the reviews on Yelp. Most people said very positive things, so we decided to go here for my birthday dinner. There were 5 of us, and then 7 on a Saturday night. Granted the weather was terrible, but we were easily seated at a comfortable table in the middle of the restaurant. The waitress put up with our indecisiveness with grace and humor, and answered all of our questions very nicely.
Our group started with the Fried Pickles, and even with that many people one order was enough. Of course, if you know Fried Pickles you know that too much is not a good thing. These were light and not greasy, even though they came out to us super-hot and fresh out of the fryer. Their ranch dressing was wonderful, and really complimented the sharp dill taste of the pickles.
Our entrees arrived very quickly, and our table ordered everything from one of the specials, to pasta, to a burrito. All reports back on entrees were positive. We had a vegetarian in the group and he was easily acommodated by their menu.
My Feta Chicken dish was chicken (duh) served over penne pasta with lots of veggies and covered in feta cheese. The taste of the dish was great, and my only complaints had to do with texture. The sauce was more of a broth, which is how it was described in the menu, but I guess I was expecting a bit more structure to it. And, the chicken was tough. Flavorful, but tough. The rest of the dish was great. The feta was lively, and there were some wonderful mushrooms in the sauce that were a treat to discover every few forkfuls.
Because it was my birthday, I got a free chocolate brownie! It came out with a little candle in it, which was very sweet. Our group also ordered the bread pudding. Between the two desserts, I think the bread pudding might be the superb choice even though I'm a chocolate girl through and through. It had a complex flavor that was just delightful. The brownie was good, as really all brownies are.
I prefer wine, and while the wine list is not extensive here I was perfectly happy with the pinot noir on the menu. If you are a beer drinker, than this place has a ton of options for you! The rest of my group drank beer, and heartily enjoyed it.
I am so glad to have found Al Mike's, and I strongly recommend that you make the effort to find it in the 4th Ward. It's easiest to get to off Graham Street - just turn south onto 9th and it's a block or so up the road. Loved it!!! -
Review from Eric K.
11/2/2008
My partner took me to Alexander Michael's last night for dinner. When he lived in Uptown, he used to frequent the restaurant often, but it was my first time. You could say I got my cherry popped. Alexander Michael's is tucked away from the Uptown skyscrapers in the residential section. You probably wouldn't see it unless you knew it was there. It looks like it could be just another house on the quiet street. There are no big signs for it and not a lot of discernable noise from the outside.
Once we got inside, though, we saw that it was quite packed. We were lucky to get seated right away in the crowded room that resembled something of an English or Irish pub. The lighting was low and the casually dressed crowd was "older" than a lot of Uptown bars, so we felt like we fit in with the 30- and 40-somethings.
We started with a Woodchuck Cider (not everyone carries ciders!) and it was sweet, bubbly, and refreshing. We enjoyed that our server wasn't overly attentive, but she was there whenever we needed to order and checked up on us only when necessary. I tried the blackened catfish and my partner had the honey chicken. Both were delicious. Mine (accompanied by spicy black beans) had just the right amount of cajun flavor. And the portion sizes were just right -- not enough to overfill you, but not enough to leave you hungry when you left.
It was definitely an enjoyable experience, and I look forward to returning to this new (to me). The only disappoint is that we weren't able to see the famous pole that they talked about on the back of the menu. It's located in the women's restroom and apparently it's caused quite a few bruises. Funny! -
Review from Jon P.
Cockeysville, MD
5/21/2008
Bored at night at the Double Tree near the bus station in Charlotte I needed a better place to hang out. Tired of hotel bars and expensive consultant watering pools I found myself looking for a out of the way neighborhood bar.
Enter a young woman I met on a flight from BWI to CLT. She told me about a cool neighborhood bar with 10 minutes of the hotel. I sat on this information for two weeks until last evening when I gave in and took a walk.
Located in some cool neighborhood that I have no idea where in Charlotte is a really great bar with a very laid back atmosphere and genuine customers.
You enter the establishment and it takes you back to those old European bars in Amsterdam. Dark, unassuming and quaint. Service was top notch, and the food was excellent. I have the Vegetarian Burger on Texas Toast with onions and tomato. Pretty good in my book. Done just right. I topped it off with 2 Amstel Lights and some good conversation.
I need to find more places like this. The great thing about A.M is it is not that easy to find. And in this busy world we all live in t A.M is the place I want to be.
Thanks Airtran girl, much appreicated!
http://www.almikes.net -
Review from Mark T.
Charlotte, NC
1/17/2010
I've only ate here one time at lunch and quite enjoyed it. This is one of those places that you'd never find unless one, you find it on the infamous Yelp!, or two, someone took you here because they knew about it --mine was the latter. The location is buried in a residential area of uptown Charlotte right off the beaten track --which really gives it a unique feel.
The insides kind of had the feeling of a snug, English style pub. It was quite small and the tables were pushed relatively close together. Its overall appearance was pretty clean despite its dark look and feel.
The food was pretty good. I got their club sandwich with fries and my kids got the grilled cheese --which looked and tasted great! The club sandwich was alright, using just regular deli meat and cheese on thick toasted bread.
The staff at this place were great. They were very friendly and polite and pretty efficient, too. The only downside to this place was I thought it was pretty expensive for what you got. -
Review from Tim B.
Charlotte, NC
10/16/2008
Definitely my favorite "neighborhood-y" type of place in town--and, come to think of it, one of the only restaurants in town that has that sort of feel. Dark, cozy--just a really cool spot. Not far from uptown, but in a more residentially area than you'd expect. It even kinda looks like a house from the road.
Great bar scene if you're looking to meet up for a few drinks (definitely not the type of place to really meet people or get sloppy, if that's what you're looking to do), with really cool, knowledgeable bartenders.
Good food, too. Last time in, I had the wings (definitely above average) and a pulled-pork sandwich, which was great. Simple, American-style food but done well, with great ingredients.
Definitely a great date place. Cool vibe and classy in an understated way--check it out!
