May 2023 - Eat it Charlotte

Those of us who grew up in the 90's will be familiar with the TV show Buffy the Vampire slayer. The gist of it was that the town in the show, Sunnydale, was sitting upon a Hell Mouth, where hell meets earth. This is the feel Thomas Street Tavern gives me and it comes to mind when deciding whether I should visit this Charlotte, NC bar. It is in this food blogger's opinion, that this spot is the best dive bar in Charlotte, but maybe the worst place on Earth. It is a place where you stop in for "just one drink" at 2PM and end up waking up handcuffed to a stranger's bed wearing a gimp mask. Regret is the word I use to describe my time at Thomas Street Tavern, but I always keep coming back. Let me dig in deeper to say why Thomas Street Tavern is the best dive bar in Charlotte. The Look First, the lay of this place. It is big or at least feels big. There is a small front porch, a large, dark, dingy inside that sometimes has music. there multiple bathrooms that usually have a line, one of which you are sure to get locked into as I did on many of a drunken night (I will let you figure out which one). Really, I thought it was my new home on one faithful evening, I almost got my mail forwarded until one of the staff rescued me. The best part about Thomas Street Tavern is the backyard. In the summer there are two bars (one that is cash only) with ping pong tables (among other games) and a ton of seats. It is a great atmosphere for meeting a lot of people. In the winter they have the fire pits going so the area is open all year regardless of how cold it is. The layout alone makes Thomas Street tavern the best dive bar in Charlotte. Food and Drink This is EatitCharlotte.com after all I should at least mention the food. The food is fine, although I haven't run through the menu. It used to be better back in the day, but so was everything. The wings will do in a pinch, the nachos are good, and they have some decent specials. It is typical bar food, I would say the wings at the Moosehead grill are superior, but in terms of dive bars in Charlotte, I would rather spend my night at Thomas street Tavern. As far as Charlotte bars, this is not a place you visit after the opera. More like if you just escaped from jail. The drinks are why you come to Thomas Street, well one of the reasons. Somehow this bar didn't get the memo that you are supposed to overcharge your customers for watered down drinks. If you want to get drunk for cheap, come to Thomas Street Tavern. The pours are hard. Whatever you are planning on doing the next day, cancel it. Trust me, you won't be up for it. The Staff I think I need to at least mention the staff at Thomas Street. To me, they are all down to earth and great at their job (maybe because I want them to keep the strong pours coming). Yes, they all seem pissed off, but I can hardly blame them. Surround yourself with hundreds of drunk people and see how you react. The employees that work there are friendly and make everyone feel welcome. The Vibe What makes Thomas Street Tavern the best dive bar in Charlotte is the utter Chaos vibe of the spot. This place makes the bar scene in Star Wars look like a night at the Ritz. There are some interesting characters at this establishment, some of which I am sure live there. There are people I see every time I step foot in the bar. Whether it is a Friday night or a Tuesday afternoon (guilty as charged). It is just of hodgepodge of folks from all spectrums. Age, race, political background all getting drunk (among other things) and giving each other Syphilis just getting along. Thomas Street Tavern is a crazy, unpretentious spot. Everyone knows what it means when someone in the group says "lets go to Thomas Street." It means, let's turn tonight into a possible sh*tshow (but in a good way). Mercifully it closes at 12PM, but then the whole crowd just moves to Workman's Pub around the corner. I think it is the fact that you always run into people you know, combined with the idea you make new friends , is what keeps me coming back. That and the cheap drinks, with just a friendly atmosphere (I never saw a fight there, although I am sure it has happened). There are worse ways to spend a night, just cover all your mirrors so you do not have to look at yourself in the morning. Conclusion: Thomas Street Tavern- The Best Dive Bar in Charlotte In this food blogger's opinion, yes Thomas Street Tavern is the best dive bar in Charlotte. Some might say it isn't a dive bar, but we call those people blind. This place somehow grabs a hold of you and doesn't let you go. Just be sure to remember to grab your jacket, credit card and soul before leaving!