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Categories: Irish, Pubs, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Fish & Chips [Edit]
Neighborhood: Fourth WardI used to work at Ri Ra's and most of the time that generates a horrible review - however, I loved this place. The food was always good quality and kitchen staff was awesome. The selection of import beer was good and the bartenders could make up some crazy concoctions. I always had a blast working on the weekends cuz the crowd was fun, the music good, and the tips = phenomenal! One hint: if you don't want to wait 30 minutes to get a drink from the bartender then snatch up a cocktail waitress and they'll get in bout 5 minutes. Allow time for them to fight the crowd to and from the bar and you'll have your drink in no time. And yes - a tip is appreciated.
Anyhow! A little history about that bar that I learned while working there: everything downstairs is imported from Ireland. The owners have a partner over there who does nothing but look for antique stuff for ambiance. Ask you server the next time you dine downstairs about some of the artifacts. It's actually pretty impressive.
Oh! And if you get a chance to dine outside on the patio take it! It's always comfortable and has a seperate restroom out there which is nice since there's not an abundance of restrooms.
Everybody needed to try their martinni called the butterfly kiss. This drink will take you where no man has gone before. If you love martinni stop here first to get kissed by the butterfly.The place is a bit tight by at least they have and 2nd floor open on sat-sun. I only love this pub downtown to get my focus juice on before I move on somewhere else in town. I not much a drinker but that drink will get you started so don't try to feed the pig or you will be orking around.
Ri-Ra's is an Irish pup, not a stereotypical Chinese man saying "We Lost".
On weekend's they'll have a cover, but this is offset by the lack of a bathroom attendant, so the overhead expense for going out here is in line with the rest of downtown Charlotte.
The prices of drinks are probably a bit higher here, so you may wish to get a base going before you find yourself here.
The bartender was pretty nice to me. I used an iPhone app with a drink database to order a random obscure cocktail and "Irish Twist". She had no idea what it was but made it for me using the iPhone recipe, injecting some uniqueness into my Ri-Ra's experience.
And it may have just been the Irish Twists handling my perceptions, but I'm pretty sure she liked me.
Yes, you have to pay a five dollar cover. Yes, that's super lame.
The band was awesome and the bartenders were amiable and generous. It was crowded, but I didn't have any problem getting service from the bar.
The smokiness definitely didn't bother me because I'm used to Mississippi bars which are much worse. It seems like this is where the younger crowd hangs out. I certainly enjoyed myself. Ri Ra Rocks.
Apparently it's cool to wear a Christmas sweater too. Do it.
Do you really want to go to an "Irish pub" where you have pay a cover, shove your way through the ridiculous crowds, wait 30 minutes in line at the bar and pay five bucks for a Bud Light bottle?
It's definitely hopping on a Saturday night and boasts a nice and pretty downtown location...but god, do not think that this place actually passes for an "Irish pub".
Although the crowd can be a hassle on busy weekend nights, I have to say I'm a fan. Ri Ra is a large, interesting pub with a variety of food and drink options. I'm a sucker for the "authentic" Irish pub feeling, with lots of little nooks and crannies to hide away. It does make the crowds less overwhelming. Did I mention I hate big crowds?
The live music is usually fun, and the service is fast and friendly when you can get to the bar. The servers are good, too, if you get a table. I recommend getting in around dinner time and leaving before the late-night crowd gets too thick.
Went with my husband for dinner once and the food was okay. I got a steak with some kind of whiskey sauce it was decent. The potato cakes were good.
As for the nightlife it's okay when it's not packed but once it's full it's hard to get around because the room is so small. Drinks are okay if you can get someone's attention at the bar, or even get to the bar in the first place.
Service is usually pretty good - when it's busy they're a little harder to get ahold of.
Last time I went for lunch my only complaint was they kept the door to the outside open and the sun was shining right in my face.
All in all it's ok, but not the best or most authentic Irish Pub I've been to. After all I am weighing it against Boston pubs...
We stopped in here for a drink on a Friday night. One of the more authentic irish pubs i've been to. The decor had a nice Irish feel and they had a band going at it upstairs(another example, they pronounce Smithwicks properly, if you don't understand, just ask an irishman)
They charged a $5 cover, ladies were free.
The place was pretty hoppin, lots of drunk girls having a blast.
We pulled up to the bar and had a few drinks. A nice selection at a decent price. When it comes to Irish bars I'm always a sucker for a shot of Jameson with a Guinness chaser and they didn't disappoint.
It sounded like there was alot more fun to be had upstairs(live band, dance floor etc) but we were just to tired to check it out, maybe next time.
I haven't spent much time at RiRa's for late-night drinking, mostly because of its reputation for being crowded. But I had an awesome, nap-inducing dinner there one night.
My friend and I had done an afternoon fundraiser/bar crawl one day and we were starving afterward. We headed to RiRa's at around 5 pm, before any of the crowds got there, and we were seated upstairs. We were the only people up there for most of our meal. Had we been on a date, the candle-lit atmosphere would have been awesome. I had the beef and Guiness stew. It was heavy and so so delicious. So my point is that if RiRa's doesn't suit you as a bar, definitely try the food during a less-busy time. It's well worth it.
My brother took me and my parents here after a Bobcats game. It was pretty crowded and my brother and dad had to pay a cover (it was ladies night). We were able to find a couple of stools together and sat down. The bartenders were very quick to come over and get our drink orders. We were also seated close to the live band that was playing, who were awesome by the way. It is a little smokey inside but I didn't come out smelling of smoke so that was a plus. Some people had ordered food and it did look pretty tasty. Next time I will have to get some spinach and artichoke dip which is what the people next to us had. There are two levels, from what I've heard the upstairs has more of a club atmosphere, needless to say we didn't venture up. The first floor was great if you ask me. Live music and good drinks, can't get much better.
Ri Ra's is a popular place to go if you're up for a big (and by "big" I mean wild and drunk) night out in Uptown Charlotte--that much has been well-documented. I've definitely partaken of a few of these nights. It's a nice bar, with lots of room and generally lots of fun people looking to get after it. Again, this has all been said before.
What I wanted to write about is that Ri Ra's is a nice place to head for lunch, especially if you're downtown (or Uptown, whichever your prefer). They have a really efficient salad and sandwich line--it's conveyor belt style, where you pick your bread, your meat, your toppings etc. It's a really quick process, and so it's a good place to head if you're not sticking around, or if you're in a rush. But the food holds up--it's not bad at all.
It's right next to the Bank of America building and offers a huge plaza of outdoor seating, so its location is ideal. Especially when it's nice out.
I've had good times at Ri-Ra, and I've had some bad times.
Most of the good times were due to the band playing, which is sometimes really good, and most of the bad times were a combination of bad music and overcrowding.
This place has been a popular mainstay of downtown/uptown as long as I can remember.
It's tall and long inside but very narrow, and when its crowded it can offer up a bit of a claustrophobic vibe.
Since its so popular, it can draw a bit of an unruly, late-night crowd as well. Most of the people here are cool however, and the staff seem to be nice and accommodating.
Still, its hard to get a beer or drink, and I usually don't spend more than an hour or two here before bailing for more comfortable confines.
I can't speak to the food, as I've never eaten here. I have seen a menu though, and it looks decent, and decently priced.
I only go to Ri Ra for the nightlife aspect, so I'm not going to comment on the restaurant aspect. And as for the nightlife, I don't mind going here, but don't really prefer it either.
Located right in the heart of Tryon in downtown Charlotte, this place becomes really packed on weekend nights. And while I don't mind paying the $5 cover for guys, I don't really enjoy this bar when it gets way too crowded. It can get very difficult to move, either upstairs or down, but sometimes you can move out to the patio on nice nights & find some breathing room.
As for the atmosphere, Ri Ra has just never really done anything special for me. I just think of this place as a nicer bar that's always crowded, so I'm always looking to get out of there when my friends want to stay. They have live bands some nights & that just adds to the claustrophobia of the upstairs. If you can get a table, the place isn't as bad, with a good beer selection & excellent bar tab system. You can open your tab at either the upstairs or downstairs bar & then proceed to order from either bar. This takes away from the hassle of always having to go back to the same bar you opened your tab at.
Other than a nice setting inside, Ri Ra just never seems to impress me and/or make me want to come back again. I'm sure there is a reason the place is always packed, so I guess I'm just out of the loop on loving this place. So while it's not a one of my favorites in Charlotte, I don't mind the place for small chunks at a time.
Awesome ambiance--the kind of place you can spend an entire evening in because there's so much to look at. The story is that the interior was dismantled from a real 19th century Irish pub, shipped over here and reconstructed right on Tryon Street, whether that's a bunch of blarney or not I can't say but they pour a lovely beer and the fish & chips are phenomenal.
A great spot for visiting guests.
Civilized, respectable locations don't charge separate covers for the gander and the goose. Yes, it's that simple.
Well, Ri-Ra, I used to be a fan of your Irish authenticity, in terms of a cozy, low-key beer every now and then. But seems you have taken a turn away from legitimacy, and towards masses of drunken revelrers. A shame, really, for my once favorite bar in Charlotte.
I had such a blast at this place! I went here with my boyfriend and a visiting friend, and we had a nice time. It's your typical beer selection, and the irish ambiance is also typical, but nice.
We came in on a Thursday night (and did not have a cover). We found a table with only two chairs, and one of the servers was quick to drag another over for us.
I don't recall it being smoky, plus my friend is a smoker, and she was going outside to smoke, so its either non-smoking or she was just being nice to us non-smokers.
The band we heard was great! Loved the music they played, from 80s to bluegrass, and in some cases, a mixture of the two! It's really loud, so if you are with your friends and want to chat, it's a bit difficult for that.
Overall, a good time. Good people, good music, and good beer.
I normally HATE chain Irish pubs, but this particular one is a cut way above the rest.
Great food, very very nice staff, a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, and great (meaning talented and not obnoxious) Irish/Scottish entertainment.
When Rira's Irish Bar first opened it was the only game in town on the NationsBank side of Uptown. It was the start of Charlotte's new night life.
This is an Irish bar which means that the beer is good but the food is just so-so. Come here for after work get togethers but hit one of the other restaurants if the plan is dinner.
Not bad for lunch though.
I just found out that it is a chain. While I am surprised it does make sense since everything in Charlotte tends to be a chain. Very few places with local flavor especially in Uptown Charlotte.
This was the most pleasant dining experience I had on my business trip to Charlotte, and of course it occurred the afternoon I was leaving. After spending a week in suburbia hell, I wanted to see if Charlotte actually had a downtown, and happily I found it, along with affordable parking. We were super hungry, so we literally stepped into the first place that served food once we got out of the car. Luckily it was Ri Ra. I hear this is a rocking place on the weekend, but on a cold Tuesday afternoon, we pretty much had the place to ourselves (except for the loudmouth "screenwriter" at the bar). We sat by the fireplace and enjoyed Harp on tap and sandwiches. My pastrami was delicious, but if I could do it again I would have the full serving of the magnificent mac n' cheese. The lunch menu was extensive with very reasonable prices. The best thing about this place however was our waiter, who is getting married in Jackson Square down here in NOLA this August, bless his heart. He was super nice and attentive with zero fakiness. Best of luck to you, kind sir!
When I walked into this place I felt like I was walking into my dad's favorite bar in my hometown. It was very casual and laid back, with the big wooden chairs and comfortable atmosphere. The food was about the same as the bar back home too. Good but not spectacular. It tasted very fresh and well cooked, but pub food is rarely worth getting too excited about. The waitress was very attentive and took good care of us. She really wanted us to have a good time.
I have visited the Charlotte Ri Ra several times when I have been in Charlotte on business and have always enjoyed myself. Yeah, it's loud, crowed and very smoky (especially for a smoke-free Californian), but that's what makes it a Pub. When traveling on business I often have to find placed where I won't feel awkward dining alone, and a lively Pub always keeps me from sticking out. This evening I just had the Guinness BBQ burger, a few pints of the dark stuff and I stayed for the acoustic music.... I'll be back.
I went to Ri-Ra's last night for the first time and was hoping for more of a crowd. The place actually was full on the ground floor, we ended up sitting at the bar and grabbing a couple of beers. It seemed like a pretty cool atmosphere and the food menu looked amazing. We tried the craic fries, which were excellent. I absolutely LOVE places that have a theme to their food, and Irish this place was! Guinness was the first thing on the menu- on the appetizer list. The beer wasn't too expensive and it felt like you were at a hole-in-the-wall bar straight out of Europe. I'm going back for the night scene soon- There's a little area set up for a band. And although I haven't heard an actual band here- ALL places that have live music rock.
We were there on a Friday night and LOVED it!! Upstairs wasn't our thing. We got a table below the band (a guitar player and drummer) and we just could not stop dancing! I haven't danced in public in so long, but their music got me going! Our group of 15 people ranged from 30 year olds to 60 year olds and everyone had a great time.
The bar is attractive. The beer is cold. The fish and chips ranks right up there with Mrs. Paul's
The food looks great so I'd definitely try it again for lunch or dinner. But it's a tiny space, even with the upstairs, so don't go on weekends if you don't like being mauled to death by overly tan twenty somethings in polo shirts.
Over-crowded, nothing special
Definitely a great Irish pub! I was a little disappointed that the downstairs is completely all smoking tables since that seems to be where it is the liveliest but in all reality, it wasn't that smoky so we ended up eating downstairs anyway. I ordered the Shepherd's Pie which was veryyy good, definitely recommend it! The decor is very authentic and could definitely see this place getting pretty crowded later on at night since the upstairs and downstairs are really not that big. However, would recommend it as a place to check out if you are visiting Charlotte!
I went here one morning in search of a proper fry-up. It was okay. The service was pretty good; but, the bangers could be a little better.
So I'm stuck here for work for a week and found this nice pub. Not exactly my scene, but the wait staff was super friendly and suggested better spots for me to check out. Beer selection was pretty typical and drink prices were pretty cheap (considering I live in NY)....Next time i'll try the food!
not your average Irish pub... on the weekends it can get packed... and upstars they have a DJ or band and it can get a lil crazy... on big nights it is hard to move beacuse of so many pople but i guess it is like that everywhere in CLT... i have never eaten there food... but have heard it is ok...
Great irish pub. Interior is great, looks like an authentic pub. They've got great food. Service is pretty good as well. Like most bars in Charlotte it's filled with smokers but that's par for the course in NC. Two levels, downstairs looks more the irish pub part. They typically have entertainment in some form either upstairs or down. Definitely worth a stop for a pint of Guinness!
good food great atmosphere
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