Harolds Chicken & Ice Bar - Charlotte

My friend and I were searching for a late-night bite and stumbled across Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar. Options were limited at that hour, so we decided to give it a try. The menu mainly features chicken wings and fries, which is exactly what we ordered. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t memorable either—just decent enough to satisfy a late-night craving. If you’re looking for something quick and filling, this spot will do. They offer a variety of specialty cocktails, which seemed popular. The drink menu had a good selection, but we didn’t try any this time. The place also doubles as a hookah bar, so if you’re into that, it might be a plus. The ambiance is casual, and it feels like a place people go more for the vibe than the food since there is a DJ. It’s located in an area with several other shops, so parking wasn’t an issue, especially at 11 PM on a Saturday.

Would I Go Back? If I’m hungry late at night and options are slim, I’d consider stopping by again. It’s not a must-visit, but it’s convenient and gets the job done.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 3

The food was decent but it took a long time to receive. We sat at the bar and the service was not good whatsoever. The bartender behavior was very condescending. I believe her name was Aynessa. Multiple occasions ignored our request. I would have came back for another try because the place has a lot of potential if they hired proper staff for customer service. Also once receiving the check, gratuity was included. It was only 2 of us. The service is bad because they get tipped regardless which is why I will not return.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

When entering, We were not greeted. I had to ask to be seated... The server came over, took our order, and never checked back on us until the food arrived after about 40 mins.
Food came out luke warm and clearly cooked on OLD oil.
To be known for the wings.. this was not it! No season at All.
This was my birthday lunch and I would not return.
I will say the female manager/ bartender did make things right!.
Drinks were good!

Recommended dishes: Fish Sandwich, Wings, Chicken & Waffles, Fried Shrimp

Mixed bag. Went Friday night - food, drinks and hookah were amazing. QC was a great! Circled back because the service was so great. Saturday service was mediocre. Hookah took almost an hour with no explanation. So I guess if you go on a good night/day, 5 stars…

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Chicken and Fries

I would give it 10 stars if I could only when QC is working the bar. Tried it 12/27 and QC was AMAZING… so amazing we came back on 12/28 and it was trash. If QC is working you will for sure have a memorable experience. If he’s not working, try again on a different day

I’m originally from Chicago and have eaten my share of Harold’s Chicken. Since being in Charlotte I’ve frequented this location on my lunch break and have had a great experience either Mia.
Tonight after work, me and my coworkers went to have food and a drink. When we walked in, one of my colleagues stated that she had a bad experience with the bartender, Aynessa, previously. I didn’t really hear her say that because I would have left. However, we stayed.
She pretty much threw menus in front of us and never really said anything. She never returned to ask if we were ready to order. She brought us waters and quickly walked away. After about 10 minutes, one of my colleagues said, “we’re ready.” She didn’t respond and then another colleague said, “we’re ready” and she just looked at her. My colleague didn’t respond because she thought she was in the middle of something and then Aynessa says, “what you want” with a nasty disposition.
We order and still with a nasty disposition she grabs up the menus and walks off.
I ask the hostess if the manager was available and she says she’s in the back. She asks if I want to speak to the manager and I said later, because I wanted to wait until my food came out.
As we’re waiting for our food and drinking our drinks, I notice that Aynessa is smiling and talking with other customers around the bar. When she brings our food, she’s scowling again. I say, “hey you having a bad night?” To which she responds, “why?” I say, “it appears as though you’re having a bad night.” She states, “I’m not so stop making assumptions,” in a nasty tone and walks away. At this point, I ask the hostess for the manager.
The manager finally comes over and I explain all that’s happened and state that she’s been rude to us since we’ve sat down. The manager says she will talk to her because that’s not her typical behavior. I share with the manager again that this is my first encounter with her so I don’t know her baseline but this is our experience. She states that she will talk to her to see what the problem is. My colleague then shares with the manager that she’s experienced Aynessa before and her experience was exactly the same. I told the manager that I don’t want her service at this point because I don’t appreciate how we’re being treated.
The manager the tends to us for a while and after she finishes, Aynessa is still nasty but begins to ask if we’re “ok” or need anything. We order another round of drinks and she brings them.
When we finish up and ask for our checks, she brings them. There’s an issue with a gift card and she’s nasty about that. We pay the bill and move on.
I’ll be honest. I did not leave a tip because I did not appreciate the experience and how we were disregarded and disrespected by Aynessa. I did leave a message on the signed receipt next to the $0 for the tip.
It’s clear that she has an issue, and I’m not sure what it is but if people are spending money and coming into this establishment, they deserve to be treated with respect. Aynessa is disrespectful and nasty and if she’s there, I will turn around and walk out.
And let me be clear, I’ve been to hole in the wall Harold’s, actually in Chicago and have had a better experience than this one. Aynessa has to do better or find something else to do.
Also the food was cold. It wasn’t crowded and we’ve never had issues with Mia.
Let me also add that as we were leaving out and going to our cars and discussing, two other customers (both women) heard us talking and said they agreed and thought it was just their experience. They both stated that Aynessa had a bad attitude.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: Wings

Harolds could be a nice spot if it was JUST focus on being a club. The food is not good. On one occasion the chicken taste like fish grease, on another it tasted like old grease. The part I don't understand is charging 20% gratuity off top on any order. Gratuity comes from having good service, which is not the case. The service was horrible. It takes forever to get your food, and most times you have to ask where it is. Focus on being a club, food needs to be left to a real restaurant with consistency in service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 1

Anyssa was amazing, she had great service & was very polite. 10/10 ask for her!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My waiter was Shonda and we had to ask the other waitress for her more than once to come to our table. We waited 15-20 for one drink. The restaurant was not crowded at all. The bartender spent more time trying to fix the tv than make our drinks. Shonta a kept disappearing waited 10 mins for one set of silverware looks like she was texting on her phone in the back. She then forgot about my friend’s water and my other friend’s food order. Food was good but Shonta could have been more attentive.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 1

Food was fried very hard . Chicken, shrimp, onions ring, and fries cooked in the same grease. We had to wait over a hour for bad food.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 1

I tried the wing and shrimp combo. The food was very good. The food could have been 5 stars but honestly the shrimp was a bit spicy, which My server warned me about, that it made the wings seem under seasoned. I enjoyed the whole meal but next time I'll try the chicken alone to give it a fair shot.My server was super nice. The music was a bit loud for my taste but since I was alone it didn't bother me. I definitely recommend Harold's.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Shrimp, Chicken Wings

Let me start by saying the place is really nice, our waiter and other staff members were on point. My food experience on the other hand was disappointing. I had the fried whiting and shrimp, which was unseasoned and undoubtedly cooked in day old grease, and the wings dear lord were horrible by a long shot. We had the strawberry hennessy wings, which sounds good, but lacked flavor completely. I eventually asked to speak to the manager, which I rarely do. The manager was cool, but when I complained about the food it was written all over her face that she was not about to comp shit,… Instead she agreed to recook the food. She said our wings are cooked in LARD, I’m like LARD, smh. All in all the recooked food taste just as bad….unseasoned fries, unseasoned fish with enough bones in the fish to rebuild a damn dinosaur. We ended up with a $340 dollar tab for pretty bad food and hookah experience. This was a Friday night and the place was empty and not jumping at all.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Wings

I ordered the snack sized fried okra, and the funnel cake waffle w/wings, which came with a mimosa. The fried okra was 10/10 perfect. I didn't care for the dipping sauce that came with it, but the okra was perfect. The funnel cake waffle was hot, soft, tasty, and VERY SWEET! No syrup needed, literally. The wings were well fried, but bland. I mixed some of that unused syrup and some hotsauce as a dip for the bland chicken. I'm giving a 3, because the portion size did not match the price. See pics. The waffle and wings were $19 (1 waffle, 3 wings)... the okra was $5...
I was 2/3 done with my food before my friend was served. Our waitress was very friendly but MIA a lot. The music was SOOOOOOO LOUD, we struggled to have a conversation. We asked them to turn it down a little, and they did, for about 10 minutes. This was 12:30pm on a Sunday! It's BRUNCH time! Why is the music so loud? We eventually gave up and sat in the car to talk. Even at night, ppl need to be able to have a conversation over a meal without screaming...

Parking: Plenty of parking and wheelchair accessible

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Fried Okra

Great service!

Parking: Great customer service from Ron! I will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Catfish, Chicken Wings

Parking: Everything was good

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Wings 12, Fried Okra