Folks have been emailing in their first impressions of the Pittsboro Carolina Brewery to the chatlist. The Brewery opened it’s doors for dinner on Monday August 6. They will start serving lunch on August 20.
Our take on it. This will be a great local watering hole. Give them a couple of more weeks to settle in.
Recent Chatham Journal newspaper stories about the Brewery –
Something new is brewing in Pittsboro
On Friday, August 3, local Chatham County dignitaries and business people attended the pre-opening event at the new Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro to welcome owner Robert Poitras to the neighborhood.
Carolina Brewery to open new location in Pittsboro
[Jul. 27, 2007] Chapel Hill’s award-winning Carolina Brewery will open a second location in Pittsboro in August at the intersection of Highway 15-501 South and Highway 64 Bypass.
Art excitement brewing in Chatham
[Jul. 27, 2007] Chatham Artist’s Guild artists will be featured in August and September at the new Carolina Brewery & Grill at the intersection of 15-501 South and Hwy 64 Bypass in Chatham County. The first of a series of Carolina Brewery art exhibits will display two-dimensional works of art by sixteen juried Guild artists.
Here are the Chatlist #2888 posts –
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:46:05 -0400
From: jan…crippledgoose.com
Subject: Visit to Carolina Brewery
Last Wednesday night we dined at the new Carolina Brewery. The waitress was very young and obviously new in her position, so the mistakes she made were minor and should disappear with added experience. The food was very, very good. The half serving of nacho appetizers was in our opinion, a full serving, just so you know, and was also very good. Unfortunately, the atmosphere, or should I say, lack of, was disappointing. We felt like we were dining in a warehouse. No ambiance, nothing comfortable or relaxing in the decor at all. Maybe that was the intent and it’s just not the type of dining environment for us. It was also very loud. When we dine out, which is a treat for us, we like to be able to carry on a conversation. Also the bench type of seating (we had our own table), was clearly not being met favorably by customers. You could see the change in their faces when taken to their seats. Will we dine there again? Yes, but we were both really hoping for more of a fine dining experience.
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:48:34 EDT
From: Hipvegan…aol.com
Subject: Sticking up for the Carolina Brewery
What is going on with all these negative remarks about the newest eatery. I was there and had a great meal. The veggie burger and sweet potato fries were excellent. The waitstaff was very nice. And I went into the shop next door one morning and found pleasant people behind the counter.
I am happy that we have something different finally in Pittsboro. I enjoy the General Store because that is a unique place in itself. Would I eat at the Scoreboard no because their health rating has been terrible and it does not seem clean. Als Diner needs to get there act together. The Soda Shop very clean and wonderful people. Flamingo Restaurant good.
Hardees are you kidding me. Andy’s steak shop no thank you. To me these places are not restaurants. they are greasy spoons. I think some people are sorry grapes that possibly Pittsboro is growing.
Keep up the good works Carolina Brewery. My friends and I will be back.
Aurora
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:12:34 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Darryl Wally darrylwally…earthlink.net
Subject: Brewery
Erica,
Thanks for your counterpoint to posts of others (and my own) about the brewery. I will definitely give it a try and measure things for myself.
I hope this turns into a great place.
Darryl
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:16:54 -0400
From: “G T” gailmail723…earthlink.net
Subject: Carolina Brewery
Thanks for all the reviews on the Carolina Brewery. My husband and I play a scoring game at every restaurant we visit. We score the place 1-10 based on food, ambiance, service, cleanliness, noise, etc. (not in that order specifically). I can tell you we both automatically reduce our scores by 3 points if we can’t hear ourselves think. Generally we don’t give a noisy place a second try. We aren’t snobs, we love family restaurants, diners, and dives, but we don’t like noise. I think we’ll skip the Carolina Brewery until we hear from other Chatmeisters that the place has an all clear as far as noise control.
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:46:49 -0400
From: Duncan Murrell duncan…rattlejar.com
Subject: I’ve enjoyed the food and the beer at the Brewery
I’ve enjoyed the food and the beer at the Brewery, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the staff at the bar and the wait staff, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing my neighbors and friends up there having a casual meal and telling jokes.
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:02:16 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: gws…mindspring.com
Subject: Carolina Brewery
I have been and I enjoyed it. I did not notice the noise issue so it must not be overwhelming. The food was good and the service was good as well. My experience has been that new restaurants need a few weeks to get everything in sync and the Brewery seemed to me to be ahead of the curve in getting things together.
Anyhow, I expect to return many times with the family.
Greg Stafford
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:51:42 -0500
From: “Mary DeMare” mary…chathammarketplace.coop
Subject: let’s get a beer!
Hi All,
First of all, thank you to everyone in wonderful Chatham County who continues to support Chatham Marketplace!
As you know, Chatham Marketplace is also by no means perfect…I’m happy to describe us as a constantly improving work in progress.
I remember those days and weeks right after opening last May and anxiety returns like a wave over me. There were so many problems (big and small!) that we could never have anticipated before opening, but seemed incredibly obvious once we had customers. If it wasn’t for the patience and understanding of the people in Chatham, we would not have been able to get past those rocky first days.
So, I implore everyone to have patience with Carolina Brewery’s start up days.
There’s a locally-owned restaurant & brewery in Pittsboro! Don’t give up!
If anyone wants to go to Carolina Brewery for a Bynum Brown, give me a call
😉 .
Cheers,
Mary DeMare
General Manager, Chatham Marketplace
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:24:05 -0400
From: Jim Kirkman jmk…email.unc.edu
Subject: Carolina Brewery Suggestion
I almost hate to add to the growing number of posts on this topic but I’ve received a suggestion from an employee that I feel I should pass along.
The Brewery has comment cards available that are far and away the most effective way to let management know about your experience at the restaurant. Of course, if you have a particularly unpleasant experience a conversation with a manager would be in order, but if you are interested in trying to help improve the environment at our latest drinking and dining emporium please consider filling out one of these cards.
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:49:18 EDT
From: Smwg1966…aol.com
Subject: Carolina Brewery Pittsboro location
My husband and I enjoy the Carolina Brewery in Chapel Hill when dining out. Noise is not an issue for us. We enjoy dining where we can laugh and talk with friends. Glad to have the new location in Pittsboro.
SG