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The Galway Hooker Irish Pub
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
25 reviews for The Galway Hooker Irish Pub
Review Highlights
"Best of all, the Comedy Zone is upstairs."
(in 3 reviews)
"love the atmosphere and the fun live music."
(in 5 reviews)
"Patrick's Day, but just being here is so much fun."
(in 2 reviews)
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Morgan D.
Charlotte, NC
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great place! love the atmosphere and the fun live music! Jalapeno Mac and Cheese was great!
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Review from Maricel T.
Huntersville, NC
1/13/2012 1 photo
Their happy hour appetizer special is great. $3 until 4-7pm weekdays. I recommend the Mediterranean Slouvaki. Flavorful and refreshing. You also won't feel like a glutton for ordering a main entree. The Jerk Chicken is really spicey. Spicier than I like and expected but good. I really like their Grouper Picatta. Cooked and flavored just right. Service upon entering is great and so is the wait staff. A little slow though. Watch out for the loud and obnoxious young professional happy hour hoppers. They're the reason why you can't hear. They're literally sitting/standing next to each other but their talking so loud as if they're in a football stadium.
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Review from Rob S.
I took a cross country tour of Ireland a couple years ago and despite the lush green sights, the Blarney stone, and the tour of the Guinness factory, my fondest memories were checking out the local pubs at every town I came to and the unique atmosphere each one contained. I collected pub glasses and matchbooks from all of them, and discovered for the first time Guinness's sister beer Smithwicks. So when my wife and I settled into Huntersville, we found out about this place which boasted the whole bar was shipped over from Ireland piece by piece so I couldn't wait to check it out.
Turns out this place is the real deal, you walk up to a authentic stone pub in the middle of an otherwise common street near Birkdale. The inside of the restaurant is cozy and warm, and they have a nice outside seating area with tables as well. The menu is not completely dedicated to Irish fare, they actually have a lot of interesting mixes with a dash of Irish style to them such as their take on Canada's favorite "poutine" dish. They also have a very unique appetizer in their gourmet popcorn. If you are looking for bangers and mash though don't worry they have it along with of course Guinness on tap, and if you haven't had it before I recommend a Smithwicks, pronounced "Smiticks". Not a lot of places carry that in Charlotte, so it was nice to see it here. Unfortunately they don't have my other favorite Irish beer which is Beamish, but it is very similar to Guinness.
A couple other things I should mention is they put on one of the best St. Patrick's Day parties in Charlotte. They team up with the other bar near by and rope off the entire block and throw a party in the street. They even setup a bar in the median with flat screen TVs so you won't miss any March Madness action. They also throw a great New Years Eve party, for around $50 per person, you get all you can eat, drink (beers, and liquor), and they have a dance floor upstairs with a live DJ, from what I can remember of the night it was a blast or so my wife tells me!
Anyway definitely a place to check out if you have not been there before, and one last note they also have the LKN Comedy Zone on the top floor that has had some big acts, we saw Screech from Saved by the Bell, Pauly Shore, Tommy Davidson, Jamie Kennedy, and Aisha Tyler there. -
Review from Arin D.
Charlotte, NC
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been here several times but never for dinner. Some friends suggested meeting me here for a bite one night . They have a very eclectic menu. Everything from Irish, stick to your ribs kind of food to Mexican influenced yummies and of course American pub favorites. I had the Fish tacos and they were fantastic. The fish was baked not fried and the ingredients were all very fresh. I really enjoyed my meal and I highly recommend it. I always forget about this place but I wish I didn't. The service is excellent and you can't beat the Pub Charm.
Kudos! Lovin it! -
Review from chad h.
Cornelius, NC
7/26/2011 33 Check-ins Here
I don't come here nearly as often as I want to. I always enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and the drinks and usually end up drinking or eating too much.
I think the food and drink prices are more than fair and are on par with the overall quality. I think the place stays true to it's Irish roots by offering some Irish inspired dishes and offering darker, heavier beers as well as everyone's domestic go-to. Also, the whiskey selection is something to appreciate.
Also, I am often impressed at how the waitresses and hosts can keep up with the scrambled mess the place becomes once the bar area fills up, but the service is always great.
Upstairs is the Comedy Zone where you can see comedians as their on their way to the D list, but its still a great experience. -
Review from Jeff H.
Jacksonville, FL
Noreen is Back! This happy fact bumped the Hooker right on up to a 5. The "Irish" is back in the pub... Classic pub interior of dark, well-worn woodwork. A stone fireplace lends it an affable cheeriness. It sports a massive wraparound patio with extensive seating for warm weather or standing space to indulge your tobacco craving. I do like the layout and feel of the place.
They pour a good pint of Guinness (I've had Guinness in 40 states - bit of a connoisseur) and a good drink. You'll find an interesting mix of folks here. Locals, folks from the hotel, blue and white collar and everything in between.
The service has always been excellent and the staff take very good care of their customers.
I haven't eaten there, so I cannot yet comment on the grubbage.
A spot like this is a go-to choice for drinks - one or many... Dig It Indeed!
This treasure of a place also sports a comedy club upstairs. A true find for an area that doesn't sport a lot of night life.
Slainte! -
Review from Kendra S.
Cornelius, NC
1/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
They definitely know how to properly pull a pint of Guinness. Some places have funky pipes, but this was one of the best Guinnesses (or Guinneai?) I've had on this side of the Atlantic.
I haven't had the food yet, but if it's as authentic as the atmosphere and Guinness - I'm sure it will be great. -
Review from Jessica K.
Concord, NC
3/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy food. Good prices. Nice atmosphere.
I've had the Irish Onion Soup, which was tasty, though I wish it was a little more brothy... and a cheesy pasta and shrimp meal, which also was tasty, but could use more tomatoes. The prices can't be beat! I bought three friends a pint yesterday and paid $7 for all three! The staff is great! There is lots of parking! Best of all, the Comedy Zone is upstairs! -
Review from Jen G.
6/22/2011
This is NOT your typical bar fare. This truly has Irish roots. Shepherd's Pie that's big and rich and hearty. Enough to fill up and satisfy my weight lifting hubby. The burgers are kickin and I tried my son's tenders and they were pretty good. They try to use only locally sourced products. Good beer selection and they can make a real shandy w/out being told how. Solid service. Nice atmosphere.
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Review from kari z.
Huntersville, NC
7/31/2011
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
Great FOOD! Great Service! Great atmosphere! Will go back for more!
The wait staff were very friendly and the owner very nice. Really like the fact that they used fresh LOCAL produce and meats. I know they have a comedy club there also...have to go back and check it out. Give it a try! -
Review from Justin C.
9/9/2008
This is the model by which all Irish pubs in America should aspire to become. Drinks, decor, atmosphere, service...they all remind you of the greatness that lies just across the Atlantic.
Galway has a plethora of little nooks and crannies to enjoy your favorite pint, one of the true reflections of a real Irish pub. Drinking out in the open with your friends is done at the bar, not the entire pub/restaurant, which most places get wrong. The pubs in Ireland are full of little "rooms" or closed off tables where people can not only drink but talk. While we are a very social race, we do enjoy privacy from time to time.
The patio is certainly one of their best features, and one of the best in the Lake Norman area as well. While the view isn't anything spectacular, it's nicely shaded off by lots of hanging baskets and a great cast-iron fence. It's a really comfy area, especially at night when the bar area fills up.
The bartenders here are real pros, and you can tell they take their pints seriously. As anyone who really knows how to pour a stout does, they hold your pint until it has settled, instead of just handing it to you while the head is still making its way to the top. They also have that over the top jovial spirit that we Irish are known for, which makes paying for the pint that much easier.Listed in: I Need A Drink!, When Ireland calls...
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Review from tammy S.
Washington, DC
3/22/2011
What a fun place to be for St. Patrick's day celebration. The crowd, the band, the dancing as well as people watching/meeting were so much fun and lively. You don't need to be in Savannah, GA to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but just being here is so much fun!!! Also, the tent set up was perfect to accommodate so many people each year.
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Review from Lisa F.
5/15/2011
Very good food and cozy atmosphere. Of course if you go on a weekend late night it's not going to be as quaint but in the winter the fireplace is nice or patio is nice in the summer. I usually get the salad with shrimp. The way they prepare their shrimp is very good here. They have live music sometimes on the weekends. One weekend I visited and they had a blues/jazz band that was very good. Service has always been excellent as well.
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Review from Brett M.
Cornelius, NC
8/6/2008 1 photo
Rising up in the middle of Kenton Place, facing a row of buildings that include everything from an ice cream stand, a dance studio, printing company and a Japanese restaurant stands....an Irish pub? And an authentic one at that?
Indeed.
Built piece by piece in Dublin by the aptly-named Irish Pub Company, the Galway Hooker was dismantled and reassembled in its current location, where it opened in 2002.
It sports a wrap-around outdoor patio, a large wooden bar, hardwood floors, a stone fireplace, and enough authentic Irish decor to make you wonder why everyone doesn't have a lilting Irish accent.
There's even a miniature door behind one of the tables in the seating area, for leprechauns I presume. Don't bother trying to open it. I already tried...it's locked.
My friends and I have been to the Hooker (its just much fun to say) on many occasions...for dates, St. Patrick's Day, to visit the Comedy Zone-Lake Norman upstairs, and sometimes for no reason other than they serve beer and girls go there!
The menu offers largely American fare, with a small Irish section for those wanting the full-on Irish experience.
Appetizers run in the $8-10 range, while most entrees run $13-15.
My recommendation lies with the Kobe beef burgers...excellent!
What really singles out the Hooker (again, fun to say), aside from its authentic Irish construction, is its nightlife.
Live music is offered nightly, and the crowd is almost always up for a good time.
My acoustic band played there recently, and we were surprised when a group of girls started dancing on a table and asked us to announce that all girls should take off their underwear and throw them into a pot.
The pot in question was located on a ledge, which was attached to a main wooden column rising out of the floor in the middle of the restaurant.
I never did see any underwear flying through the air, but I was also busy trying to remember chords and words and figure out who was going to get me another beer.
So what did we learn?
That the Irish, by name or by birth, know how to feed you, water you and throw a good party.
The only drawback is the lack of indoor space on really crowded evenings. The outdoor patio solves some of this during warmer months however.
Being partially Irish myself perhaps I am genetically predisposed towards being biased, but I recommend the Hooker to anyone looking for a nice meal and/or entertaining evening.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from T K.
Mooresville, NC
10/9/2011
Good atmosphere if you can get in. Terrible hours. Tried to visit several times and they are closed. What self respecting Irish Pub opens after 4pm??
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Review from Brad S.
Cornelius, NC
4/19/2011
Only Irish about this place is the decor and that's not saying much. This place has nachos on the menu. This is a karaoke and sports bar. I had a lot of hope in this place when it was being built. Pretty much a failure. The lake trash has tainted this place. Go to Ri Ra's or Connely's on Fifth if you want a good Irish pub.
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Review from Sandy M.
Cornelius, NC
5/9/2011
This is a fun place that you go to have a good time and then eat if you are hungry. Food is pretty good if you are into irish pub fare, but I just usually go to enjoy the bar or comedy club and then enjoy a shepherd's pie or jalapeno macaroni and cheese while I am there.
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Review from Justin L.
Hollywood, FL
2/7/2011
Had live music and good beer prices. It' s not that big inside so can get packed quick with little amount of people. All in all its a cool bar to go and hang out on a friday night
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Review from Patrick D.
Charlotte, NC
12/27/2010
Best Irish pub outside of the city. Good beers, good food and great service. My friends go to the hooker on a regular basis and I go every once in a while with them. They always have good live music and everyone always has a great time. Their drinks are a bit pricey but they pour a good stiff drink. Probably have the best car bombs as well. Also check out there comedy club upstairs. They have some big acts that come around every once in a while.
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Review from Tom G.
Huntersville, NC
1/10/2011
Great new menu with a lot of great food. You can enjoy traditional Irish dishes as well as plates like fish tacos. The beer selection is also fantastic with a lot of specials.
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Review from Kevin J.
Cornelius, NC
3/27/2011
Fish and chips plus a great selection of cold beer. One of my local favorites.
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Review from Chris P.
Charlotte, NC
7/22/2010
I used to live right behind the Hooker and have been there several times. The food was always great, and the atmosphere is pretty cool. I didn't realize Brett's history lesson below, thats pretty cool. And I do agree with Andi that its usually really loud in there for some reason. But nonetheless, if you're looking for a good dinner spot a step up from the usual, the Hooker is fun. Try the (I think it's called...) Hooker Red beer. Pretty good from what I remember, although I've heard its just their name slapped on a common beer..... Not sure if that's true or not. Any help?
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Review from Lara M.
Charlotte, NC
12/21/2010
Awesome. Great comedy, great food. Love it and will come back soon. :)
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Review from Andi M.
1/15/2010
This place has a great vibe! The music is awesome (although a bit loud for easy conversation), the tables are spaced well apart, and there is a nice fire going in the winter. We started with the wings (buffalo style), and they were very good. I had the fish and chips, and was really glad I substituted jalapeño macaroni and cheese for the chips. It was the best mac 'n cheese I have ever had - awesomely spicy! The fried grouper (no cod here) was huge and delicious. My husband's jerk chicken was not our favorite, as the sauce was too sweet. That won't keep us from coming back, however. This one is a keeper!
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Review from Mark W.
Cornelius, NC
2/1/2011
My wife and I, who eat at the Galway pretty regularly went there tonight and discovered that they had introduced a new menu. I don't know if there are new owners or a new chef, but whatever it is, its not working. If you want to know the new menu just take the old menu and remove all the best dishes. No McCune Beef Medallions, no chicken piccatta, no salmon with dill sauce, the green beans are completely different (i.e. bad), no jalapeno mac and cheese, and probably worse of all no seafood combo. If that is not bad enough the prices are now outrageous. We tried one of the new appetizers, the bacon pimento cheese dip, which was pretty good, but we weren't given enough bread to eat it. The entrees were brought out while we were still eating our appetizer and the waitress barely checked on us......on a Tuesday night.
If you want a similar experience without the noise and better service I would recommend a chain, because that is what the Galway now resembles instead of the excellent restaurant it used to be. So give your money to Chili's, Hickory Tavern, or Applebee's, all the atmosphere at half the price.
