Hank's Downtown Dive

LOVED it. First time here, and if you're in the mood for it, Hank's is near perfect. But let's start with what Hank's ISN'T: -A dive. It seems that the name is meant to evoke a casual vibe (which it does superbly), but this is high-end small plates and specialty cocktails, in the heart of Cary's revitalized downtown. - Cheap. This isn't a "lots of food for a low price" place. Think of it as a New American/fusion edition of the concept of tapas--small bites (but big enough to share) paired with drinks in an unhurried atmosphere that can be one part of your evening downtown. If you're budget-conscious, maybe make this one stop in an evening's activities that also involves a food truck or a pizza slice from Di Fara's. Now, some that Hank's IS: - A place with great service. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable (he'd been working there since it opened). Staff that delivered the food took the time to check if we needed anything else. And our drinks were brought out to our patio table by the bartender--a nice touch. - A place for great drinks too. The owners also own Sidebar down the street, and the bartender at Hank's is at the same level. You don't have to limit yourself to their cocktail list--if you want that Paper Plane, be assured that it will be perfect. - A place that will make both vegetarians and meat lovers happy. Our vegetarian daughter loved the white-bean hummus, crispy cauliflower, and strawberries and cheese. My wife and I are seafood fans, and we thought both the ceviche and the oysters were great. But for us the star of the night was the Burrata. If I have to come up with a complaint, it's that the hot sauce that comes with the oysters lacked punch. And finding parking (especially on a Friday night) can be a challenge. But neither issue will prevent us from coming again. -

Great ambiance and vibe and lived the service at the bar. We tried several popular drinks and loved them all. The fried chicken was juicy and crispy--big portions and fries--and my wife raved about the lasagna. The real winner was some puft pastry bread thing w Indian curry spices or something...wow that was a tasty treat to start. We'll be back for sure...this was our 2nd time (we went last year visiting from our home in Austin, and now we live much closer in Richmond). 5 stars.

The oyster both raw or cooked are must have ! Great service! Nice design and decor! The shrimp and grits was on the salty side! Otherwise it was a perfect meal!

This little cute restaurant in downtown Cary is an entire experience. The portions are huge. I had the oysters and pork shank and both were delicious. The drinks were very very good. The fried chicken was enough for my two friends to share. The lasagna was average. My friend's portion was big but it wasn't something we'd get again. The Korean cauliflower was amazing. I wouldn't order the carrots again either. Our server was being trained and was as kind and attentive as could be.

So it was pretty good. The tacos are 7 dollars a taco. The fried chicken meal is MASSIVE. So many fries, but the sauce that it's baked with is amazing. The beef and broccoli was just okay. I'd come back again but it's a little bit on the pricey side for the quality. Still good though. Nice atmosphere outside as well as inside.

I was in town for work and my colleague and I had dinner here. We went on a Tuesday evening around 6. They were booked but there was plenty of space at the bar. I really liked the ambiance. It was a vibe. We ordered 4 appetizers: smoked trout tartine, cauliflower, shaved asparagus and the Birriadilla. The appetizers were huge and we probably could've gotten away with 3. I took some back to the hotel for late night snacking. I had a Sauvignon Blanc with my meal and it was pretty good. Our server/bartender was very nice. He recommended the dishes and he was spot on. I recommend for a few drinks and appetizers at the bar. If you are looking to dine at a table, I recommend reservations.

Such a great local Cary spot. I have found myself having a meal at their bar more than once in recent weeks. The cocktails are delicious. Their menu variety is great for sharing. I think they update it regularly, so I can't wait to come back and try some updates on the future.

We found Hanks on yelp and boy did we luck out! Our server Naomi was wonderful and made us feel at home. The restaurant had the best vibe!The food was nothing short of spectacular. We had heirloom tomatoes, olives, lasagna and fried chicken. Next time we are in Cary, we will definitely be back!Thanks Naomi

Uhh, not at all a dive. There was an amazing mix of flavors in both my drinks and in my meal.

I had to come back. This time I was solo and just ponied up to the bar. Started with the olives and the gold rush (a bourbon concoction of amazingness), and had the lasagna for my main meal. The fact that all of this was gluten free made it all the more impressive. Love the ambience and service here and plan to work my way through every delicious item on this menu. Highly recommend.