Seeing as how I'm about to go here to get some work done, I figure it's time for an update. Especially as I am now one of the locals who has probably been the subject of some amused people-watching during Redskins games.
The reader's choice awards the Nickel keeps getting are deserved. It's a great place to go if you have an adventurous palate. There was one week I came in and got a duck quesadilla. Now they've got ostrich on the menu. It's also a great place to go if you want the bartenders to have your drink ready for you when you walk in the door. It's usually my first stop when I haven't eaten all day and the only things in my fridge are potatoes, kale, and bread. The combination of good food and bartenders makes it better than anything I could come up with out of the fridge. I've also done some working lunches out there and been surprised to see I'm not the only one with a laptop up and running. That's the Nickel in a nutshell: come out and do whatever, just don't be a jerk.
And if you go you'll eventually see someone you know or someone who'll just start chatting with you. The crowd runs the gamut from yuppies to retirees, rednecks to PhDs, but it's a friendly bunch for the most part.
Tried this place for lunch on Sunday. Sort of a dive, so it was my kind of place. Â Found the food to be very good. Â I had the fish and chips and my wife had the eggs benedict. Â The fish was piping hot and the fries were hot and crispy. Â The eggs benedict came with tater tots. Â The eggs were slightly over done, but not too much. Â I had a Sweet Josie Brown Ale. Â Overall, the menu was not extensive, but interesting and the beer list was good. Â Christina, the bartender/server was excellent. Â I think this is a place I will definitely try again.
Review Source:My wife and I were out and about on Easter Sunday, no particular plan, and we were glad to find a place open. We stopped in here for dinner, and to sadly watch Duke get eliminated from the NCAA tournament. Fried pickles! They made my Easter! :) The burger was good, and the adventurous beer menu produced a rich stout (don't remember which one) which complemented it perfectly. Friendly place. Casual. Inviting. I will happily stop in again, anytime.
Review Source:I will have to admit, I am completely biased in regards to the Nickel. This is ' my spot '. The environment it great. It is always full of great people and is by no means a quiet place! If you don't know anyone going in you will have at least three new friends by the time you manage to tear yourself away from the refreshing, small town familiarity. It is absolutely tiny ( which just adds to the whole experience in a home-like manner). There is a sit down bar, standing space in the center of the room, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. Almost every time that I have been there an Irish fiddler has been playing on the sidewalk outside ( weather permitting! She likes to spend time inside without her fiddle during the winter months. There's not enough space to play. Too many happy customers get in the way!).  The food is typical pub food with a unique flavor and I have been told (more like taunted) by my older siblings that the beer selection is amazing, as is the beer  itself ( I'll be old enough to tell you first hand before you know it!). Â
One very important thing to note: YOU HAVE TO TELL THE SERVER THAT YOU ARE THERE! I have watched countless customers become frustrated and stomp off at the lack of service at the Nickel. This is by no means a representation of the company. There are just so many people that formal service is thrown out with the dirty dishwater. The solution that many people do not realize is to just flag 'em down. The waiters there are the nicest and most reliable you will ever find; they're just operating at full capacity from the minute they're open to the minute they close. Â
For the kids:
Tony's Shirley Temples are the best this world has to offer. He usually puts FOUR cherries in there ( I know, it's unheard of!) and always makes sure to mix it up so all the red stuff doesn't sink to the bottom ( Yucky!). Â Always ask if Tony is there and if he can make your Shirley Temple. It's the best, I promise!
Please, let me know if this helped!
Love,
     -The Nickel Fiddler.
     ( Look closely at my picture and you'll get a look at the best bar in town ;] )
Have eaten at a lot of great spots, but these guys are truly unique. Â Always have a plate/sandwich of the day that is unbelievably interesting. Â Appetizers are homemade, nothing defrosted (same for the meals too). Â Outstanding beer selection, always interesting. Â
It is a small place, and really not very kid-friendly, as the kids will need to sit still in a generally crowded bar area. Â Get a babysitter and go there - worth the trip.
Been here several times, staff is nice, burgers good but last week everything we had was soooo greasy. I had to press my fries with a napkin to be able to eat some of them. I had the turkey sandwich & cheese which was dripping with grease. Can someone tell the kitchen that grease is not a side order! Â Cooking 101- don't serve the food with soaked in grease.
Review Source:I expected decent pub food, but I got PHENOMENAL pub food. I lived in the UK for 7 years and never had pub food this good. Their chicken wings are worth the trip alone (and I'm from Buffalo!). The fish and chips were exquisite - the haddock was moist and flaky, the fries were perfect. My boyfriend got a burger, and it was the best cooked burger I've EVER had. It melted in your mouth, but wasn't rare. Simply perfection. We arrived at 11:45am and by 12 the place was full, and now I know why! It's worth the 30 minute drive from DT Raleigh just for a chicken wing.
Review Source:I sort of fell in love with the Wooden Nickel the first time we walked in the door. We have only managed to go a few times since our move - which makes downtown Hillsborough our local stomping grounds, but I already consider the Nickel our favorite watering hole.
It's teensy-tiny inside, with beautiful wooden floors, bar and a bit of wall flair (think owner photos, signs, etc.). The beer selection is fantastic, with a mix of microbrews and local beer in bottles and on-tap. The food is also good, pub food but with a real culinary spin (such as a grilled chicken sandwich with arugula, onion chutney and goat cheese). I haven't tried the wings yet, but based on the other reviews, those are next!
Being as small as it is, it gets crazy crowded quickly. Although the size is also part of the Nickel's appeal, its why it gets 4 stars and not 5.
It's hard not to feel affectionate towards this comfy little dive bar on the main drag in Hillsborough. It's a very locals-type place, and though plenty of drinkin' goes on, you'll also see lots of families coming in for dinner with the kids. They have regular beer specials and food specials as well. The normal menu is pretty standard pub grub, but everything I've had has been nicely done. The specials tend to go further out there, and it's worth it to tag along. I've had an ostrich burger, roasted chicken with mango sauce and a few other tasty things.
Never had an issue with service, and they seem very adept at keeping up with you and your tab even when you roam from the bar to a table and possibly back again. It's usually pretty crowded, so if you're picky about having to sit at a table, you might have an issue.
Stopped by with my girlfriend yesterday while we were exploring historic Hillsborough.
We loved that they've got a great selection of NC beers on tap, and the
fried mushroom app we order was tasty and perfect for drinking over.
The place definitely feels like a local watering hole, but we got great, friendly service from both the waiter and the bartender. If we lived closer to Hillsborough we'd probably end up locals at the Nickel in no time.
We'll definitely be stopping in again the next time we're up that way!
We stop here fairly often on the way back from Smith Mountain Lake. It's our fave place in the Borough. For good reason too. They're always awesome. It's my favorite kind of place - a hole in the wall pub in a cute little town. They carry all kinds of local brews, and of course the staples, like guiness. They have two TVs posted up inside to catch a game, soccer, football, whatever is on. The servers are on point. ALWAYS. The blondie that runs around the bar is always on top of filling waters and I've never had a complaint about the service as it's always great.
Atmosphere, service are great- what about food you say? WELL, the wings are just yummiLICIOUS! They're also gianormous. I get the Thai and Nickel hot sauce mixed together and I'm always so delightfully happy that I can't stop smiling. they're some of my favorite wings in the RTP area. I've dabbled into a few other dishes, but the wings are absolutely a standout meal.
And another plus is the outside seating. It's a well shaded little picnic area right in front of the pub that is quite enjoyable on a nice day.
Definitely a locals hangout! If you are a local you will get better service. However, good beer selection and food is great.
Awesome fried mushrooms, zucchini, and you can't ever go wrong with the tots!
Get here early, it gets crowded, and seating goes quick. Outdoor seating is available if weather permits or not.
I've been hearing about this place for a while and finally stopped by. Given its relative fame, I was shocked how small it is -- small like whoa. For Durham folks, think roughly half the size of the front room at the Fed. A claustrophobe like myself would avoid at night, but for lunch today it was totally doable: crowded but not packed, and friendly folks sitting next to me at the bar. (They even let me pilfer an onion ring to try. Score!) Chatted with them. Chatted with the bartender. Read all of 2.5 pages or something of the book I brought in. Kind of what I think "public house" is supposed to mean.
I had the bacon cheeseburger with various substitutions, as I tend to do. No bbq sauce, add spicy maple spread (how could I not?), which was way messy and made hand scrubbing a complete necessity when I was done. (Thanks to the cook who saw me trying to open the bathroom door with my wrists and lent a hand!) Cheddar instead of American, though American may have been the better choice -- cheddar was actually small crumbles of whiskey cheddar, which is super tasty by itself but not quite what I wanted on the burger. No pickles. Pretzel roll (yum!) instead of ... a bun or something I'm guessing. No extra charges for any of that. And tater tots on the side, also a free sub-in. Tasty, fattening, satisfying.
Pretty decent (though fairly small) draft selection -- a handful of locals plus a couple others.
Would have sat outside at one of the few tables in front and enjoyed the (gorgeous!!!) sunny day, but the jackhammer half a block up kinda killed that idea.
After 2 of the bartenders came into the pub where I work and raved about the Wooden Nickel, I had to get in and see what all the fuss was about! My husband and I got there a little after 7 on Monday and they were already hoppin! We got 2 seats at the bar and ordered a beer and a Basil Hayden on the rocks. Both were amazing and well priced. We started with the onion rings (yum) and then shared the Fried Egg Burger(local beef!!) and the Thai Chili Wings.
The bartenders were very friendly and attentive.
We plan to make The Wooden Nickel a regular spot for dinner and drinks...
Great little bar in downtown Hillsborough. Â I stopped in for a pint before dinner next door and was surprised by how crowded it was. Â There are a few tables out front and maybe room for 20 seated inside. Â There are a few seats at the bar and a long standing rail in the middle of the bar. Â So needless to say, it can get packed and uncomfortable very easy. Â That said, there is a great beer list featuring lots of local craft brews and while I didn't eat the specials menu looked great. Â The andouille burger read pretty nicely...
Also, it was 1/2 off wing night, which I believe is every Tuesday. Â I can't remember what they call it, maybe its buy 6, get 6, but however they phrase it the deal is great. Â The wings also looked HUGE. Â I will definitely go back to check out that special.
Good spot that I'll no doubt enjoy again. Â I'll update again once I feast.
Hillsborough, NC does not have much to offer in terms of night life or even restaurants. The Wooden Nickel is a great dive bar with a very solid beer selection considering its location. When I went it was very busy, I ordered bangers n mash. They arrived faster than I expected and the portions were huge. The bangers were more mild than I had expected, but the potatoes were very good.
Review Source:Nice little bar in Hillsborough. Â It was extremely crowded when we were there for the Mother Earth tap takeover, so on a normal day I could see that smallness being a little more cozy. Â Really like the atmosphere though and really enjoyed the Mother Earth beer. Â Split an enormous basket of tater tots too that were really good.
Next time I come I need to plan on a meal though because the food looked and smelled great too.
The Wooden Nickel is small but this can be seen as a plus -- as some point you're going to have to say Hello to your neighbors at the next table, whether it's when you ooch by to your own table or when they comment on the dish that just arrived at theirs.
Each time I've been here, the staff has been friendly, professional, responsive, and outgoing. The menu is typical American pub food (burgers, wings,fries, sandwiches, some salads, etc.) with a few surprises (the Seared Ahi Tuna and Paz's Old Bay Edamame items come to mind). To date, everything I've had here has been good.
The beer selection is good for a pub this size and includes regional brews.
The Wooden Nickel is also dog-friendly, having outdoor seating. Indeed, the staff brought out a small bowl of water on two occasions. (I usually carry a portable water bowl for The Dog, but it was nice that the staff provided a fresh bowl and ice water when all I asked for was a glass of tap to pour in the portable bowl.)
Of course, you can't discuss the Wooden Nickel Pub without mentioning their Jumbo Chicken Wings. Having tried the flavors Hot, Nickel Hot, honey BBQ, and Sweet Thai Chili, I haven't found a clunker, yet. The Sweet Thai Chili was especially good, just be sure to wash your hands afterwards or you'll leave a sticky trail that no CSI experience is required to follow.
The pub is in the middle of downtown and a five minute walk in nearly any direction pretty much covers all the good stuff downtown. Streetside parking is available in front of the pub and additional parking can be found on side streets, in a public parking area around the corner and about a block or so to the south, and behind the establishment.
Prices are reasonable and credit cards & debit cards are accepted.
Possibly the rudest bartender I've ever encountered. I know I'm not a regular here - I'm just a tourist, but the last time I checked the customer is always right and even if you think they are a stark raving lunatic, you smile and play the game.
I had one beer in this establishment and was calmly waiting for a table to open up to order some food. When one did, we immediately headed over to sit down when this couple who came in 10-15 minutes after us, sat down at the table.
Thinking they didn't realize we had been waiting, I smiled and said, we were waiting for a table and we came in before you did. The guy smiled real big and said "tough, that's the way it goes". I was really surprised, and was like seriously? Â Are you serious? Â He said yes, and if I had issues to take it up with the ladies at the bar who grabbed those seats before he could. "Tit for Tat". Â I pointed out that we had had nothing to do with those ladies, we had been waiting for a table, and he said "too bad we got here first".
So I was really upset by this, but the fact that this man was a rude asshole wasn't the Nickel's fault, right?
So the bartender goes to his table then bee lines for me and said "you can't assault the other guests here". I told the bartender we had been waiting for a table longer (which he knew having brought us our beers) and how rude I thought that guy was for jumping ahead if us. Phil (that's the bartender) said to me, "there is no wait list, no line, you get a table when you can - obviously you should move faster next time".
I asked for the check, and we left without eating.
The thing is, even if the bartender thought I was a bitch, or he was looking out for his regular customer, or his dog just died, Â you don't insult the guest. I was there with someone new to the area who was looking for a place close to her farm to visit - possibly regularly. She thought this might be it until our experience there last night.
After years of serving behind a bar myself, I understand the job and how stressful and rewarding it can be. This guy has no business dealing with the public.
Unless you are already a regular here (in which case, you are probably safe), stay away from The Wooden Nickel.
Let's be realistic. Â You don't compare this Hillsborough joint with downtown Durham or Raleigh. Â It has its own identity here in the 'borough. Â It has some small town feel with some big time drinks and food. Â We first ventured out here during the Superbowl. Â They had ample seats and the service was fast. Â The food was delicious and I liked that they offered a lot of specials - namely the Roethlis-burger - score! Â And a variety of other dishes. Â I was also super impressed with their beer selection. Â They had quite a few local brews not only in the bottle but on tap. Â They have a chalkboard full of their currentl local selection which at the time was around 15 extra brews aside from the regulars. Â
We came on an unusually warm winter night recently and hung around outside. Â This place is typically filled to the brim with men - I'm thinking the wifeys are home with their babies in this Let-It-To-Beaver-esque town. Â The bartenders are great and have a great memory because they never asked me my name and our tab was always correct. Â We ordered some fries and sandwiches this time and they were delicious. Â The fried green tomatos were also really good. Â And for the wings - I suggest getting Nickel Hot, the perfect amount of heat without losing flavor.
We picked Wooden Nickel Pub for lunch based on a recommendation from fellow Yelper Melanie B. Â She was spot on with her call that this is a place that has to be on the A list. Â We were doing a little trip east on I-40/85 stopping at various historical sites and timed our arrival to hit Hillsborough a little past lunch in case there would be an issue with crowds. Â When we walked in, there were only a few people sitting at the bar so getting a table was no problem - but it got much busier within the hour. Â :) Â There are also a few tables available on the sidewalk as well.
Atmosphere: While it is small (probably 6-8 tables inside) and 10 or so seats at the bar, its welcoming and comfortable. Â There is also a free standing community bar running down the center that certainly sees a lot of use when they are busy. Â There are several colorful chalkboards advertising food specials, beers on tap and by the bottle. Â Unique, interesting wall decorations round out the local, cozy feeling.
Food: Â The regular menu and chalkboard specials give you lots of variety. Â And while it's a pub, don't think the menu is just typical "pub food". Â For example, my girlfriend (again on Melanie's recommendation) went with braised duck with white cheddar and apple sandwich. Â I ordered off the menu with the bbq brisket sammy (the bbq is homemade) and homemade onion rings. Â We also shared a LARGE basket of fried banana peppers. Â So, as you can see, you can get pub food as well as very unique alternatives. Â
The braised duck was delicious and I'm a little jealous I didn't get it. Â The fried banana peppers were awesome and I had to make the conscious decision to stop eating them in the hopes of having any chance to eat my sandwich. Â I thought the brisket was good (think sloppy joe but with brisket) and served on a delicious bun but the items mentioned above outshone it. Â
Another strength is the beer and booze selection. Â Between the two of us we had a Highland Gaelic ale (served in a 20 oz glass!), a dark IPA and a bomber of Stone's Lucky 13 Bastard. Â This is the first place I've actually seen this available! Â The bar is well stocked and I spied Johnny Walker Black, Gold and a bottle of Oban scotch on the shelves. Â Nice. Â Our final tab with a well-earned tip was about $60
Service: Â One of the bartenders greeted us as we walked in and came right over with menus and gave us a rundown of the available beers. Â I've read other reviews that the bartenders were good people and I was very pleased with the service. Â They both stayed very active and managed the growing crowd well. Â
Overall: I've already talked Wooden Nickel up to several of my friends and my family. Â I'm sure I'll be back to spend an afternoon or evening trying some more of their food and beer options.
Food: 8/10; Service: 8/10; Atmosphere: 8/10 (not sure what it is like when is busy though); Value: 7/10
Love everything about this place.
First - it's local. Â The crowd is local and they always have local beers on tap.
Second - the food is good. Â Basic pub menu - nothing too out of the ordinary - I like that because I don't goto pubs for a gastric-adventure. Â Okay, the old-bay edamame is a but unusual but very taste.
Finally - It's chill. Â No one is there to be seen. Â Everyone is having a good time.
Downside - as others have mentioned - it is SMALL. Â Tough to get in sometimes and very crowded and hot.
Tip - Find them on Twitter for special events and to know what's on tap.
I am going to start my review saying how much I wanted to like this place. The bar atmosphere is so outstanding and I absolutely love "hole in the wall" kind of places.
I and my boyfriend went on a Saturday afternoon after going ice skating at the sportsplex. We grabbed a four top in the corner because there was a child laying in the way of the only two top left. At first, our service was pretty good. The male bartender let me try some of the Cherry stout on tap and was pretty patient with me while my bf went to the restroom. It went downhill from there. They brought my boyfriend the wrong soda and it took us more time than it should to get this guys attention and have it corrected. I ordered wings, and my boyfriend the Chili. The chili was good and very beefy, but I was a little disappointed in the amount of the food for the price. My wings were spicy and pretty good, but its really hard to screw up hot wings. Our service just kept getting worse and worse, both bartenders walked by 3 or 4 times before realizing our glasses were empty.
Then came the worse part. A few regulars came in and were having to stand at a island like counter in the middle of the bar while they waited for a table. It was obvious from the stare of the female bartender, that she wanted us to go so that she could get her regulars in. I was really put off by this behavior and for the first time I can think of, we tipped poorly. We left after paying our rather high bill, and unfortunate to say, I won't be going back.
Ah Nickel, how do I love thee?
Tip 1 - Every St. Pats the Nickel does an OUTSTANDING menu. I think i had bangers and mash last year. Or maybe corned beef and cabbage. Doesn't matter, it's all good.
Tip 2 - They serve tater tots. Love me some tots.
The Nickel's a good, local bar. It's small - I would guess that 35 people could stand/sit inside. However it'll be swealtering hot. Hot. But it's a great lunch place and a great after work place.
The bartenders are super nice. Make sure you say hi to Jess or Phil for me. They'll pour a fantastic pint or get you a nice Johnny on the rocks or whatever it is that the fancy people drink.
If you're in Hillsborough, this is the place to stop for a drink. If you're close to Hillsborough, add it to the possibility of places you'll go. If you're in Raleigh, you're just gonna miss out!
What is it about Hillsborough and all the wait staff being so darn friendly? I like the Wooden Nickel not because it has outstanding food, but because it has beer and more importantly, it has friendship. I feel loved being at the Wooden Nickel. I go just for the fries, the beer, and the love. I don't even know anyone who works there, nor do I live in Hillsborough. Yet, when I want my bar experience to feel like a warm fuzzy boozy blanket, I head to the Wooden Nickel. Oh, did I mention that they have good burgers. Well, they do. Burgers, fries, beer, & love.
Review Source:feeling a little seedy? head over to hillsborough (surprisingly close!) and check out the wooden nickle.
it was packed last sunday night (MLK weekend) but we still managed to shark a table in the back by the video crack. phil, the unmistakable musician slingin cocktails for rent, welcomed us with open arms. literally! and we got down to business.
sporting a full bar with an interesting, albeit condensed, wine list and the obligatory local brew selection, there's something for every imbiber. i'd had a few already, so i stuck with a couple of guinesses.
the food was an unapologetic adventure in all things fried: fried banana peppers and onion rings with chipotle ranch, fried asparagus, fried chicken arms doused in one of 6 or 7 sauce choices (my lady ate the arms... i'm a veggie), fish n chips, and garlic fries. not exactly within my new years diet, but fun none-the-less.
the best part of this dive is the clientele. everyone seemed to know everyone else, floating from table to bar to another table. my favorite part was when the dude in the kilt and doc martins showed up and phil tickled him behind the knee. it's all just one big happy family at the nickle.
(ps- i love the new no smoking law!)
Ate here last Sunday with the wife and the MIL. Â We needed a place to eat lunch and nothing much was open. Â I'm glad we stopped in. Â For those people who live in Durham, it reminds me of Dain's Place. Â Small-sized bar (not good at all for large groups) with a darn good beer selection and a menu worth coming back for. Â
I had a fried egg burger, which was amazingly delicious. Â Made with local grass-fed beef, it tasted perfect on its butter grilled bun. Â My wife had barely dug into her meal by the time I had inhaled it. Â Only thing I would say negative about the burger was that it was 1/4-pound, but should be 1/3-pound, though I know grass fed beef does cost more. Â The MIL had a chicken sandwich of some sort that she really liked. Â And the fries come covered in sea salt and pepper, a fav of mine.
The beer I ordered, a Peoples Porter from Foothills Brewing Co., was a 20-ounce English pint, not your regular 16-ounce American pint. Â A big plus. Â The rest of the selection, while not huge (maybe 16 beers total on tap or in bottles), was high quality.
They have two TVs, which were showing NFL games when we were there. Â I feel sorry for the Charlotte Panthers, as they were relegated to the small TV with no sound. Â Maybe they should have switched QBs earlier in the season?
If I were a local to Hillsborough, I'd be a frequent visitor.
The more I visit here the more I've grown to love it.
The food has always been great. Last night I had the Monster BLT with onion rings. The onion rings were amazing, made inhouse with beer batter (PBR). The BLT was very good, apple cured bacon, nice toast, lots of lettuce and a thick slab of tomato. One of the folks I was with had a buffalo chicken wrap and fries. The wrap was good too, seasoned perfectly. The fries were pretty good, thin cut and a LOT of them.
A hole-in-the-wall in Hillsborough. My (Hillsboronian) friend suggested it for drinks one night. There was a wonderful cast of characters, all locals and all regulars. It's a small joint that can get smoky fast, so we mostly sat outside on the benches. Pub atmosphere with limited beer options, but you come here more for the relaxed and informal feel. I haven't been during the day, but my colleague takes his (4-year-old!) daughter there for lunches -- great grilled-cheese, I'm told.
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