"Downtown Waxhaw, with its lively main street full of bakeries and antique stores, already has that insanely charming small-town feel, as if it was plucked right out of a made-for-TV holiday movie. Add a neighborhood Irish pub pouring pints of Guinness to the mix, and it’s a whole different level of charm. That pub would be Mary O’Neill’s, where the menu is devoted to hearty dishes that transcend typical bar food, like the Reuben egg rolls, soothing beef and stout stew, and bread pudding with a dreamy whiskey caramel drizzle. With occasional live bands and sticker-adorned walls, Mary O’Neills is an eclectic little piece of personality away from the city." - Kayleigh Ruller