06/27/07

Char-grill Cary is different .... for a reason.

by apexdad

This is my first time reviewing / informing but felt compelled by some of the mis-information posted here about this great Raleigh tradition. For the folks who are whining about the Cary Char-grill being different, there is a good reason, it the first one that is a franchise and not owned by the original owners. My family and I ate there the other night and had the chance to speak to Kurt, one of the owners. This is their first franchise store of many more in the future. Yes, it is a different concept than the stand-alone stores but is meant to be easily repeated in more available locations. The food is still cooked the traditional Char-grill way (My wife and kids loved it) and their burgers are far and away the best in town. The only drawback we found is that because they do not cook ANYTHING ahead of time, you have a wait of 7 to 12 minutes, but everything comes out piping hot and is great. Secondly, yes, I agree with the other old timers, I wish they were still able to cook your burger to order (medium, medium well etc) but that was not a change by Char-grill but by the state hlth dept. And "shakes too thick" as a complaint!? McDonalds is right down the street...... Thanks for coming to Cary Char-grill and good luck witht he franchises!

• Pros: Freshest , hottest burger and fries in town.

06/04/07

Cary gets a Char-Grill!

by chloecallie

I love the new Char-Grill that recently opened in Cary (Cary Parkway at Waldo Rood). It has outdoor and indoor seating, which was nice, considering it was 90 degrees. Inside it is nostalgically decorated with some articles about the original restaurant on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh and the Edwards Drive location. The food was superb! I had a hamburger steak junior. Love the fries too.

• Pros: great food
• Cons: you have to wait while your food is cooked, but it is all fresh.

05/06/07

Good Burgers, Fries and Milk Shakes

by robcitrix

My family and I stopped at Char-Grill after spending a day at Pullen Park which is just down the road. Had very good burgers (not the best I have ever had), fries and the milk shake was good too although a little too thick for my liking. I do agree with the review that was written earlier. . .the burgers would have ranked higher if you could choose how you would want them cooked (I like mine medium-rare).

No inside seating. There are two picnic tables outside if you choose to eat there.

Everyone should try at least once. We will be back!

• Pros: Burgers and Fries
• Cons: Milk Shakes too Thick; Not Enough Seating

11/09/06

I have never, ever had a better cheeseburger- Raleigh Natives Know!

by leighh

I am a Raleigh native although I currently live in Charleston, SC and have been here for 7 years but everytime I go home I plan a trip to Char-Grill! I cannot believe there are people out there they do not think Char-Grill cheeseburgers are the best! I have been a Char-Grill fan for at least 21 years out of my 26 year life! They truly are perfect- a great place for cheesburgers, fries and shakes! To this day, I have not found one place that even comes close to matching the Char-Grill cheeseburger (and definitely not Hardees!!!)

• Pros: THE BEST CHEESEBURGERS EVER
• Cons: NONE!!!

08/07/06

Excellent Food, But Customer Service Seems to be Sliding

by edrock

I've been a huge fan of Char-Grill for the past 22 years or so, and I still think their burgers are some of the best around, and their fries are absolutely out of this world.

However, I've noticed that the customer service is not what it used to be. Their posted hours say they are open until 2AM on Friday and Saturday evenings, but I found them closed at 5-10 minutes until 2 this past weekend. When I arrived my watch said 1:53, but they were closed. I called Time and Temperature (919-683-9696) to verify my watch and found that it was actually 2 minutes fast. This means that Char-Grill closed even earlier than I thought.

The moral of the story is that if you want to leave a bar in time to get to Char-Grill, you apparently need to leave so you can get to the joint by 1:30. Otherwise the night employees might close a little early, leaving you hungry.

• Pros: Best fries anywhere, super burgersq
• Cons: Posted Times not observed

07/08/06

Beats In-N-Out and Original Tommy's in California

by 427hevn

I grew up in North Carolina, graduated from NC State in the 80's (i must have downed 12 Char-Grill cheeseburgers every week during my undergrad years), and I've lived in Southern California for 10 years.

While Southern California has many great burger joints, particularly In-N-Out and Original Tommy's, nothing can surpass Char-Grills cheeseburgers (all the way) and Steak Jrs.

For transplants from the left-coast, give Char-Grill a fair taste test and you will not be disappointed!

It's where a quarter-pounder goes by the name of "Junior."

by Contributor

In Short
If "Happy Days" had to be filmed in Raleigh on a shoestring budget, you'd surely find the Fonz holding court outside this home-spun, '50s-style eatery. Unspoken food orders are taken on voting-style slips of paper, and the only contact with employees is at a pay window. Choose from half-pound or quarter-pound steak sandwiches, char- or cheeseburgers, chicken, pig-pickin' style barbecue, hot dogs or salads.

• Pros: great burgers
• Cons: no seating

06/10/05

Always a good choice

by kafox

If it's nice outside and your hungry, go to Char-grill. Close to NCSU and always good.

• Pros: Great Food, Fun
• Cons: Not enought seats

06/01/05

"All the way" does not mean ketchup...

by chocolateyshatner

The End MUST be near!

Why change after all these years of mustard, chili and onions? Who the heck knows. But now, fans of this Raleigh landmark, "all the way" means BACON and KETCHUP!

To quote one of the greatest cops of all time, Dirty Harry, "Nobody, and I mean nobody, puts ketchup on a hotdog."

Come on Char-Grill, do not succumb to the tasty prospect of new customers from "upwards yonder" by dowsing your classic burgers and dogs with the miscreants of condiment society, ketchup and bacon.

"All the Way" means different things in different places. Despite being universally used in the restaurant biz, "all the way" is every local's way of adding its special hometown touch to the food it serves. It is personal. It is important. It should be protected and untouched in every city from Raleigh to Sepang.

• Pros: classic , cheap, good
• Cons: change, staff, change

06/06/04

Simple & Good

by kmcintosh

I've been in Raleigh one year, but Char-Grill must represent Old Raleigh. I doubt that much has changed about the place since it opened, which contributes to it's atmosphere.

The lunch crowd waits patiently as orders are prepared. Many sit on the walls surrounding Char-Grill to eat & talk.

The burgers are great! & the brownie or apple turnover complete the meal.

Highly recommended!!!! Enjoy!

• Pros: Great Tasting Burger, lots of choices, Priced Right