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Penguin Drive-In
(Now Closed)Burger Joint, Diner, and American Restaurant$$$$
Charlotte
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90 Tips and reviews
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KatieMay 1, 2013Fried pickles are definitely great. They are a little spicy with almost a hushpuppie flavor. The chili queso dog is also great with a little spice. Had a taste of their burgers and it was great too!
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Everything on the menu is good, so don't overlook the less traditional menu items! They have excellent Pimento Cheese, so I recommend the Winky Dinky Dog and the Plaza Pimento Cheese sandwich.UpvoteDownvote
Kenzie JeffcoatSeptember 30, 2010Southern style cheeseburger was amazing! Atmosphere was awesome. People were down-to-earth. The half hour wait didn't even bother me...just a cool place to be.UpvoteDownvote
Danielle WasserJuly 13, 2013Omg. Seriously. Amazing homemade food. Great atmosphere. Hush puppies and ranch hello! Burgers enuf said!Upvote1Downvote
$2 ALL drafts on Tuesdays and $3 Whiskey on Wednesdays...... ANY KIND!!!! Fireball, makers, you name it!!!.now thats hard to beat!UpvoteDownvote
Stephen BJuly 18, 2010The food is great. Expect a wait. It will be worth it. If you enjoy a good beer, chat up a local and see what they suggest.UpvoteDownvote
Sarah FFebruary 11, 2013One hour for the cook to prepare two burgers. Fries were fantastic. So was the banana pudding. Management wanted to give us free merchandise instead of a discount on our meal. Disappointing.Upvote2Downvote
TV Food MapsAugust 26, 2014Check out The Penguin as seen on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives , Man vs Food Nation Read moreUpvoteDownvote
Samantha LaineFebruary 15, 2010Go to Penguin Drive-in. Have anything on menu. Resist onion rings though are heavenly. Draft beer on special always. LoveIt. 50s diner meets Texas honky tonk. No colors, no patches but pjs allowed. Read moreUpvoteDownvote
Go to The Penguin and eat a Full Hemi burger if you're hungry. It's intense but worth it - the best burger in Charlotte. Pair it with cheap Shock Top pints!UpvoteDownvote
Lexie LongstreetFebruary 1, 2010Have the Hemi-burger, Southern style (chili, slaw, mustard, onion) with cheese and the fried pickles. Best lunch but go early or late or you'll have to wait.UpvoteDownvote
AmandaJuly 3, 2010go early to avoid a wait... order the fried pickles to share. Get a block burger for yourself and always get ranch to dip pickles and fries in!UpvoteDownvote
JennaAugust 18, 2010Get the soy dog with chili, onions, and a side of crinkle fries which you should then dress with salt and pepper. Voila!UpvoteDownvote
Anthony HendersonOctober 17, 2011Good food, just get the take out.. Its not really a attractive place to eat inside unless your a big fan of Red dinersUpvoteDownvote
Always check your to go bag. Its wrong every time. Last time no sauce for sweet potato fries, this time a fry missing, cole slaw, bbq sauce and the dip for the funnel fries. This sucksUpvoteDownvote
Marett MattoxJanuary 26, 2014Great food...worst service I've ever received. Sat in a nearly empty restaurant waiting to place order get drinks check out everything seemed to be a 30 minute process.UpvoteDownvote
Kristen HillDecember 11, 2011The fried pickles are to die for if you eat them with someone else!UpvoteDownvote
Alegandra PerezJanuary 21, 2013Used to be one of my favorite burger places but after today, I doubt I'll come back. The queso dip looked (and tasted) like rubber chili dip and the burgers were overcooked and dry. Svc was bad too.UpvoteDownvote
Jonathan JohnsonAugust 22, 2011Honey Chipotle BBQ Wings are insane! Most premium wing you'll taste.
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Kimberly KayeApril 3, 2010All I can say is Southern style all the way. Share the fries. Worth the wait in line!UpvoteDownvote
Brian SchindlerOctober 12, 2010Best burger in town without argument. Definitely a favorite place of mine.UpvoteDownvote
Jamie JoyceNovember 3, 2011Eat at the bar and look for Al Pacino. He's there.. I promise.UpvoteDownvote
Denny HeaberlinDecember 14, 2009Go to The Penguin, and see if you can take down the Big Block. It is absolutely the best burger in Charlotte!UpvoteDownvote
Matt FrazierJune 11, 2013First time visit and thoroughly disappointed. Pittsburger was good, but fries made it soggy. Service was terrible. There were about 13 tables with 2-4 people at each. Only 1 waitress and 1 cook.UpvoteDownvote
Jae CashApril 25, 2010Go to the Penguin and try the Brunswick Stew.... Right up there with the Fried Pickles!UpvoteDownvote
Adam Holden-BacheNovember 20, 2009The fried pickles and cheap beer are the attraction at this wonderful grease joint. Go early to avoid lines.UpvoteDownvote
Angel TruesdaleOctober 4, 2012Awful...just awful. First time trying since reopen and service was horrid. Chili cheese fries were inedible. Burnt hushpuppies. Dry food and overcooked. Also the sauces were bland...not ok.UpvoteDownvote
Anna RugilaMay 6, 2010The Boss Hog here is AMAZING! I love getting that with their sweet potato fries!UpvoteDownvote
Stephanie WilliamsJune 28, 2010MY new favorite restaurant and burger joint...FRIED PICKLES are the BOMB!UpvoteDownvote
$2 PBR tall boys everyday! Get on that! :)UpvoteDownvote
Vishrut ChowdaryApril 27, 2010very nice place.....excellent food....just that we need to wait long.......UpvoteDownvote
Darrell PriceJune 8, 2010Great place to sit down with friends. Famous for their fried pickles.UpvoteDownvote
Brittany WintersAugust 10, 2010Fried pickles, black bean burger, and some banana pudding! MMMM.UpvoteDownvote
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(704) 375-6959
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Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
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- 8.0
"This place has it all. Pool, ping pong, TVs, music, patio, a couple good beers on tap. Come here to hang out all day"
Chris Konecny - 8.9
"Great beer selection, kombucha, and cheap sandwiches to die for!"
Curtis Correll - 8.8
"Fantastic atmosphere, superb food and a Croque monsieur that is out of this world ..."
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