The Penguin Drive-In

1531 East Blvd, Charlotte
(704) 444-0603

Recent Reviews

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Deaja Gladden

My server Jules was such a great server! Very attentive and caring. Thank you!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Anndei

Pros: Our server was phenomenal!!! It looked like they were short staffed, but she was handling her tables flawlessly (the other tables weren't so lucky).
Cons: The place itself gave confused identity vibes. As far as I remember, this place was known as a hole in the wall with great burgers, but when you enter it's like they tried to fancy it up and turn it into a basic biatch. At that point they should have just started over with a new name and all.
The most disappointing part was the food. Bland AF. The only part of the burger that had any flavor was the cheese. Maybe instead of the fancy linen napkins they could use the money for salt and pepper. This was not the experience we were expecting for one of Charlotte's iconic places.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 5

Antiana Stevens

Went here solo and sat outside at a table, ordered Nashville chicken tenders and fries with no seasoning. I started to get cold outside so as my food was coming out I asked to be moved inside. The male waiter suggested the bar and made a snide comment about “you don’t want be out there sitting at a table alone like a weirdo” I stated “I do it all the time” (sorry you lack confidence) and then as I observed my food the fries had seasoning and the tenders were rly small with some seeming to be all bread and overcooked. The manager I guess came out and said that’s just how they come. I declined and left. Will not return

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

Colleen LaRock

We were wondering around after a game and found this 💎 gem. Seating inside or out and has a bar area. Has history in Charlotte. Service was good. Food was delicious. I forgot to take pictures of the food but one had brisket and the other the prime rib. Good choices 👌
When you go, please explore the historical artifacts scattered both inside and out. Enjoy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Gyasi Cunningham

This was one of the worst restaurants I have ever ordered food from. I came in on Wednesday night before they had gotten busy, visibly they only had about 6 tables sitting down when I had walked in. They seemed a little short staffed but since they weren’t busy I assumed it wasn’t a problem. I ordered Togo since it was just myself and wanted to eat at home, it took about 15 minutes just for the host in the front to take my order. I had ordered the firecracker shrimp and a smash burger. Proceeded to wait 40 minutes for my food just to get around 10/15 small fries, an overcooked burger, and 6 tiny pieces of shrimp, it was an utterly pathetic meal, I should have taken pictures but was to frustrated to think of that. I got a refund and do not plan on coming back. 0/10 I do not recommend going to this restaurant.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

B Edwards

They no longer have the veggie burger on the menu. Not many options for vegetarians.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 3

erik sessoms

Racist staff and weird vibes. Food is also lackluster. Way too many other delicious spots in charlotte than have to put up with racist in 2025.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 1

Brian Mahoney

Emily was a great and attentive server. Sat out aide and enjoyed the weather.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Deiana “Dee” Duncan

Came on a Saturday but it wasn’t busy at all. Service was SLOW. Was it terrible? No. Was it great? No. Will we be back? No. AGAIN, service was slow and we had to ask for refills… with no ice. Burger was okay, turkey BLT was okay… worth the price? No. It’s $15 for a small size cup margarita and $7 for a green tea shot… absolutely NOT…. When have food and dunks been the same price?

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 1

Victor Lopez

Very bad service. I don’t understand how I ordered before two other tables and didn’t receive my food until 20 min later. Not sure why this would happen but it wasn’t pleasant. Ve ry disappointed with this and will NOT be coming back.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 1

Isabel Stroozas

this place sucks.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 4

MadMage

Wait staff was among the worst I have ever seen. I counted more waiters than customers wandering around aimlessly and somehow still only managed to see my waiter a grand total of three times in my HOUR stay. I had to flag down other staff for my check and some extra condiments and never got a drink refill after my waiter served me Coke Zero instead of Coke.

The food itself was... decent. For fast food.. However the price was not 'fast food'. I got a swiss burger; it was dry, about the size of a McDouble and the beef itself was chewy and gristly. Clearly a low quality grind. $13 did not get me a side, either - the dozen or so fries I got were an additional $3 and we're rationing our condiments in little cups.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 1

Keith Stanford

The food was great. It was nice and hot. We asked our server for recommendations on the menu and he provided a recommendation for each section of the menu which was awesome. We ordered the spinach dip as an appetizer. It was tasty. My lady and I both had the Philly cheesesteak with fries. The portions are nice and were more than enough food.
The Philly was decent.
If we happen to be on this side of town we will be back

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Fries w House-Seasoning

Jenna Wilson

The shrimp appetizer was delicious. However, overall this was a very disappointing dinner and dining experience. For starters the music was so loud it was hard to ear one another sitting side by side. And the entree’s were subpar to say the least. The manager happened to be our server and his communication skills were deplorable. We politely communicated our food was cold and not cooked properly after over an hour wait with barely any other customers in the restaurant. When our entree returned, we both received an over cooked piece of meat that was so tough it was uneditable. The manager never came to check on us to see if the second attempt was any better. He vanished for so long we had to ask another waitress to get him to come to our table. I fully understand maybe he was understaffed or was having an off night, but he was trying to argue that the meat was suppose to be served this way (burnt with rubber texture.) Between the terrible customer service and food, I will not be returning.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Dianne Burgess

A family get together recently and we chose this place. Unfortunately the service was very slow, took a while to take our orders by 3 different waiting staff, and for a party of 7, food was delivered in batches, with one person's fries arriving after they'd nearly eaten their chicken. The enthusiasm of one of the waiting staff evaporated as the meal went on...and was infectious. We wanted to leave, too, but it took ages to get the checks. The place was not busy. I don't think I'll be returning.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: French Dip Burger

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