Charlotte’s Newest Bar, the Ugly, Opens on November 15 | Eater Carolinas

"Opening Wednesday, November 15 in NoDa, I would describe the Ugly (424 E 36th Street) as deliberately ‘just a bar’: no reservations or waitlists, a peg board behind the bar with plastic letters listing only six batch-made cocktails, canned beer (not just IPAs), a photo booth, and a bright red neon sign inviting passersby to embrace “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly,” which are also three weekly drink specials. I get the sense it leans toward an accessible, slightly dive-y vibe without pretension—bartenders are permitted to tell patrons seeking more complex drinks like a margarita to go next door to Idlewild, and the focus is explicitly not on top-shelf liquors or cocktail-lounge comforts. The food is quirky and low-effort—bags of chips, bar nuts, Hot Pockets straight from the grocery aisle, and possibly Jimmy Dean croissant breakfast sandwiches until 2 a.m.—while the decor and soundtrack are eclectic (reclaimed road signs, random Japanese art, and playlists ranging from Madonna and Tupac to banjo-laced folk), all meant to create a loose, everyone-welcome atmosphere (“as long as you’re not hurting anybody”) underscored by a framed “Better late than ugly” drawing inside the door." - Timothy DePeugh