Shakey Ray's Tavern

Overall Score – 5.5 out of 10 This was a true tavern-style experience. The inside was basic with a standard setup, and while there was outdoor seating, it wasn’t anything special. The vibe leaned heavily toward a mixed bar crowd, with a dartboard area in use. Only one staff member was handling everything—phone, tables, and bar—so service was slow but friendly. Bathrooms were moderately clean. Bacon Cheeseburger – 5.4 out of 10 Decent burger overall, nothing that stood out. Just your average bar-style burger and fries. The added queso chips for $2 felt overpriced for what was served. Buffalo Wrap – 5.6 out of 10 This came with spice level options, which was a nice touch. The wrap had good flavor but leaned a little too salty. It was a decent size, though there weren’t enough onion straws to add texture. Still tasted good overall.

Great atmosphere! Shanda makes fabulous drinks and is attentive with a great attitude. She always greets me with a smile! These days it’s difficult to find a place that supports live music. They have awesome live bands almost every weekend in the evenings!

The food was absolutely amazing. I don’t know if I was just that hangry, or if the food was really just that good! We came during trivia night and it was a fun atmosphere just to chill and hangout a bit. Service was a little slow, but there was only one girl working up front with a pretty full house. The prices were very reasonable for three of us to enjoy meals and share an app. Over all, great experience, and we already plan on coming again now that we just moved here!

The bartender Merriam is awesome. Is the first time we ever been here. Lady treated us like gold. Thank you very much ma'am for the wings and drinks.

I ordered fried chicken wings with Shakeys tangy hot sauce. The wings were slightly crispy and flavorful! The BLT sandwich was prepared with crispy bacon and was delicious! I definitely look forward to eating here again!!!

I’m new to the neighborhood and Shakey Ray’s has such a great atmosphere that it immediately became my go-to. It’s friendly, relaxed, and feels good to be in. Stewarts attention to detail and his humor always makes the night better. Meriam and Andrea bring wonderful conversation and talking with Jaime, Yasmine, and Andrew is always a pleasure. Couldn’t ask for a better local crew, all around an absolutely lovely community & staff.

Guy on the phone seemed pissed off i had the nerve to call in a to-go order. One our meals looked like it had just been thrown in the takeout tray and mixed around. Slaw and chili put on bottom of dogs instead top? All over the bottom of the tray now too. Sad looking slaw. Thanks. Wings are good though.

Solid first visit to Shakey Ray’s. Their menu survived the potato skin purge of ‘21, so that was a plus. It was a decent bar dog, but I wasn’t a big fan of the chili. Bar chips were AWESOME.

Good food, great music, solid bar atmosphere. Highly recommend the Dagwood Sandwich, absolutely killer. Wings were also excellent and fries were hot and crispy. Service was fast and friendly. Not exactly the place to bring your kids on a Friday night, but if you enjoy a cold one and good bar food you'll be well taken care of here.

Love this place! Food is amazing (hot Yaki, extra crispy), best bar staff in town and always have great entertainment. Great crowd and a fun place to catch a game. Go check them out and they will always remember your drink order. It's like Cheers, but better

Lou is the best bartender I've ever had great experience every time. The wings are great as well!

1st the good news.....love the atmosphere...the music is awesome! they have Keno which is great. The food is usually really good. I was so happy to find haddock fish fry! (the owners are from NY!!...I'm from Syracuse) now the bad news. If you sit at a table....be prepared to go to the bar to get your drinks and let them know you are there. We have been there 5 times in the last 6 months. The last time my haddock was very light and not done enough (and they don't drain it well) but I didn't say anything. Sunday, June 30th we went and decided to sit at the bar figuring we would be waited on sooner. The bartender was not busy and was not real friendly. We got some drinks and I asked her to tell the cook to make my haddock brown and crispy. It did not come out that way and she didn't say anything just put our food down. I was bummed but didn't say anything again. Where have the friendly people gone? also the bar was all wet from previous drinks....I took wipes from my purse and cleaned it. I hope the owners take note because the place really is nice.

Great service from Meriam was on top of the bar. Drinks were cold and service was immaculate.

Lou was great had great service and drinks that's 100 will come back again very polite and is a nice server

Actually my daughter who lives near Winston Salem picked Shakey Ray's to meet my wife and I for a quick bite before attending a percussion competition. We did not really know what to expect. As it turns out it was a good selection. The food was good, I had two hot dogs all the way with tater tots, I love HD's and these did not disappoint,. My wife had the fish tacos and fries, my daughter had a burger with fries. All really good. Beer was on tap, of which I had Pernicious which a previous reviewer said was good. The waitress offered me a small glass to taste which in my book was beyond the call of duty. My wife had a couple specialty cocktails which she enjoyed. Ambiance: typical small sports bar, LOUD! Made even LOUDER by a non stop juke box playing god knows what. Not a place for quiet conversation or to discuss where to invest your money with your financial advisor.

The patrons are amazing, but in the last couple weeks it's going downhill. Honestly, if you want to line the pockets of Owners who care about the employees working for them, GO TO BASS LAKE OR MY WAY....,anywhere thier former head bartenders may be..,

My previous review was for the previous restaurant at this location (Archibald's). We wanted to give Shakey Ray's a chance and I am glad we did. The staff was friendly, the food was decent bar food, and they had several good beers on tap. The other patrons at the bar were friendly and we enjoyed some good conversation with them at the bar staff. This is a solid local hangout and we'll be back.

Was here last night. In the last month or so the food completely changed. Used to be decent bar food. Now it's awful. Why did you change it?! That being said, the bartenders and food servers are very good. Nice people and good service.

The first time we went to Shakey Rays, it seemed like an okay place with reasonable prices. When we went back, they had a new menu with new/higher prices. The price increase was significant and the food is not worth what they are now charging. We probably won't go back. They also need to get some new tables if they want to charge those kind of prices (current tables are so worn, the finish is sticky)

Ordered the Bacon Cheddar Burger. Came without bbq and onion straws. iF i choose to order this again, must I stay there to make sure the order is correct, Medium well asked for....well done instead. Check your pick up order before driving away. Business does not respond to positive or negative reviews...obviously not interested in customer satisfaction, one way or the other. STAY AWAY, This is the last time i order and will spread the news to choose another restaurant,

Went for the first time tonight and loved the atmosphere! I ordered the garbage plate, which was the most satisfying meal I've ever had. Wings are also on point. They have a great beer selection and make a mean old fashioned. You can't go wrong!

This is a good local place. Food is okay, nothing spectacular. Service is always great as are the drinks and beer selection. Staff is always willing to change one tv, at least, to the game you're looking for. We love college basketball and appreciate that. Wings are good, almost all of the time. Great place if you can get a seat. Interesting karaoke groups. Friendly patrons. Glad it's there & more than glad it changed owners a few years ago.

Selection of beer & wine is so limited unless you're a PBR or Bud person. The night we were there a group was playing darts - They thought it was funny to throw them at each other. Some bands they have are ok.

I have been to Archibald's Tavern several times now since it is in a convenient location. The one problem that I have always had is the service. They always seem to be understaffed but not that busy.. This past time we visited with a group, ordered a few beers and hung out. A few wanted to order food so the waitress came over and said she would be right back.. a little bit later I ended up having to find someone to say that we were ready to order food, she ended up calling our waitress over who finally took our order. The food looked okay, I usually opt to just grab a few beers here during trivia or when a game is being shown on one of the several TV's. A huge disappointment was that one of my friends ordered a beer & the waitress asked 16oz or 20oz so he decided to order the 20oz based on the price that was stated. When he got the check that 20oz beer was SEVEN dollars!! I can get a 23oz beer for less than that at any tavern or bar around the area, ridiculous. Since it is convenient I would go back to have a beer and watch football.

Bar scene with nice service. Average-looking place with rear strip parking. Not a hell of a lot to say because there's not much to it. From the other reviews, it sounds like a liquor joint with bad food and a hotspot for hard drinkers. I only had the food. I don't want to say it's bad, but it was utterly devoid of any frills. The burger was noticeably smaller than the bun, the fries were charmless, as was everything else involved - from lettuce to pickles. The bland meal was something you could whip up at home yourself after a quick trip to Food Lion. And I think dining out should be more than that, otherwise why even go out? Seasoning, presentation, care, etc. go a long way. Yeah not in love with the food. But since I cannot identify with the lame experiences depicted from some other Yelpers, they still get a somewhat favorable review. Barely.

This is the greatest dive bar in the region. Pernicious was really cold and staff was super friendly. Be sure to get the wings as they are crunchy and delicious.

99.5 rating for starters The service has been excellent and the staff does a good job making everyone feel at home. I must say I have only had the wings (Bone-In/Out) and they are easily some of the best Wings in the area without a doubt. My only suggestion is to offer more sauces for the wings. The sauces they have are amazing but more is always better :) Oh, and offer some seasoning options for the fries and tots.

Fast friendly service. Delicious wings. Menu looks very good. Weekend music and relaxing.

A pleasant surprise to the Holly Springs bar/tavern offerings! Under new ownership. (NOT Archibalds any longer.) New owner is same as High Park Grill in Raleigh. Good beer choices, friendly and competent bar tenders, great wings. (I'm from Syracuse so I know good wings) AND they have HADDOCK! Another good northeast staple that's hard to find in NC. And it's good!! The wife had a burger and it it was amazing. It actually tasted like ground beef!!! Lots of TV's, dart boards, good bar seating, high tops, booths and low tops. Friendly vibe with friendly locals. They will know our names at Shakey Rays!

Saw a coworker, Mark, of my wife, Teresa, and their band Doubt No More and they were awesome. We're vegetarian so we ate some Tater tots with cheese and sour cream. It was really delicious. The band was solid. Louuuuud. But Solid. The variety they played definitely makes me want to come back more to enjoy more and more. Good size bar. Everyone sang together

Obviously a place for locals Rather dark inside Decent service So called Cajun dry rub wings--not good at all They could take tips from Abbey Rd on wings If I lived closer I might go there for a beer but it's too far for me to drive since I don't love it

Hadn't been to Shakey's for over a year due to CV-19. Wife and I went Sunday for football and had a great time. Staff is friendly and I had one of the best bacon-cheese burgers with jalapeños I've ever eaten! Wife had wings, which have always been very good.

First time at Shakey's. Will definitely be back. Service was good, staff were friendly.

My wife and I have been here a few times since my last review, and overall things have gotten better. They have updated their menu and there are a lot more items especially the appetizer selection and they even added a couple desserts. Our waitress said they finally took the comments left from diners and made the patty melt larger to fit the bread, hopefully they will continue that trend with other comments. Kitchen is still a little slow but I can say that the table service has improved. Food was OK, though a little under seasoned. I upgraded my side to the garlic Parmesan chips and the chips were overcooked. The waitress replaced them with fries without any issue. I always see a lot of people at the bar, not many people at the tables. I would definitely classify this more as a bar that serves food.

Just had the worst "taco salad" there was absolutely no seasoning. They gave me a side of their chicken wing rub to make it better. Sorry but that was not enough. Yuck!!

Went for lunch We had the fried pickles which were awesome. I had the Cod fish sandwich which also was very good. My fried had the Jerk grilled chicken sandwich and he like it. The waitress was extremely nice and helpful.

After reading Jan's review we may try this place again. The last time we went, about a year ago, it took 10 minutes to be acknowledged when we walked in the door. The bardtender indicated we could seat oursleves. We got our drinks from the waitress and waited another 20 minutes; our waitress had vanished. I finally went to the bar and told them we had finished our drinks and we were leaving. I asked for the bill and the bartender said not to worry about paying. Good thing since by that point my husband and I were pretty hangry.

Come here Friday if you want incredibly slow service. They only had one bartender working the entire restaurant. Great place to get ignored. The good food is not worth the wait.

This is a legit dive bar with great pub grub. Even with distancing you can feel comfortable and have a good view of the TVs. Beer's cold. Food is hot. Drinks are mixed right. Nothing more can be asked.

Wow. How can the only "hang out" on the corner of Holly Springs road and Sunset lake, the "main street" for a mass of high end homes and hungry people, be so lame? First, they took a very nice corner building encased by wall to ceiling windows and painted them black. Forget about any view on the happenings outside. You get to look out at the parking lot. It's dark, and there seem to be some barflies hanging out regularly. Then you try to order. I've been there a few times out of a sort of necessity for something close and a hope for improvement, and I'm not sure if the waiters are stoned or just inexcusably slow. One woman forgot our order not once, not twice, but three times, coming back to ask us again and again what it was we'd asked for. She wasn't there the next time I came, but things hadn't improved much. To top this off, the food is just crap, frankly. How can you call yourself a tavern or restaurant and show such little care for a simple sandwich or burger? Yeah they have some fries or something that aren't a disaster, but who cares? This place is a sad mistake that should close or be taken over by somebody who wants to actually make money by selling good food while offering a place to hang out with family and friends on a very busy, viable street corner. The customers are there...

The food was OK but there are better choices in the area. My wife had a French dip and it was pretty plain. I had the chicken salad, salad. The chicken salad was OK but not anything to rave about either. The side order of fried green beans why wife had was the only thing on the menu with much originality to it. Archibald's tavern has passable food and a clean atmosphere. I'd eat here again if I had to but I probably won't. Life is to short for mediocre food.

Always a favorite place of mine . The staff is super friendly And attentive and the beer is a extra cold. They have a diverse menu of pub type food. The hamburgers are my favorite . They are made to Order fresh the way you like them. The locals love it so you know it's good !

Stopped in on a Friday evening about 6:45. Sta at the bar just under an hour waiting on my take out order of 2 cheeseburgers. No information given to me during the wait. When I asked if a 45 minute wait was normal for 2 cheeseburgers, the bartender said that they were really busy.

I'm sad to see that a couple of others had bad experiences at Archibald's. I've only had good times here. I personally think their burgers are fantastic, and any bar that has Magners Cider available is OK in my book. It's a neighborhood bar in a neighborhood that needed one. Works for me!

I had high hopes for this place, since they are literally right up the road from us. I saw a banner hanging outside last week, advertising a kids menu, so we brought our 3 year old along confident it would be a family friendly restaurant. Although we saw several other families with children and they did have booster seats, high chairs and a kids menu, I wouldn't say this is one of the BEST options for kids. The small space is filled with mostly high tops tables, a large bar, a few booths, jukebox, and racy looking bar game. It's rather dark and gave me a "bar" feel the moment we walked in and a drunk patron, sitting at the bar started talking to my 3 year old. We ordered the fried Macaroni and Cheese to start, hoping my mac & cheese loving child would have a go at them too. He wasn't interested and honestly (also a mac & cheese lover) I wasn't impressed either. To boot, the menu said they came with a spicy chili dipping sauce, but we got Ranch? The kids menu is decent and looks like pretty much every kids menu, although milk was not a drink option. My husband ordered the fish and chips and although the fish was crispy, it wasn't very flavorful. I ordered a hot ham and cheese with fries. The fries looked more delicious than they tasted (again, lacking flavor) and the hot ham and cheese was just that. It could have used some horseradish mayo or something....again, FLAVOR. As we were paying the bill, a game of trivia was about to begin. I would recommend this bar if you're looking for a hangout to throw back a few and play some games with friends, but we won't be back for a family outing.

I would like to preface this by saying that I'm super easy to please, and I've never been anywhere that's managed to mess up "bar food." After passing this place several times, we finally decided to try it. We were both disappointed. There weren't more than 10 people in the place, but service was slow. It took a while for us to get our orders in and then a long time to get our food, which seemed weird because they weren't packed and we didn't order anything complex. My husband ordered a cheeseburger and I ordered the fish sandwich. The food was okay- very plain and nothing special about it. My sandwich didn't come with tartar sauce, even though it was supposed to. Should I have just asked for some? Probably. But the service had been so slow and I was hungry so I just ate it. The place was clean and the prices were reasonable, but as soon as we walked out we said we'd never be back. If you want bar food, there are several other places in the area that do it better.

I have been three times. Each with different people for different purposes. The first time I went I went alone just to pop in and check it out and grab a beer or 3. Had recently opened and hadn't been yet. Always looking for a nice local place to grab a beer after golf, work, fishing, or just for the heck of it. It was pretty busy at the bar, but several tables were available. Being a single, I wasn't going to take up a table to drink a beer. So I stood at the bar behind those seated in the stools trying to make eye contact with the bartenders to place an order. After about 7 or 8 minutes I decided to try the universal sign of "Give me a drink". I held a $20 in my hand that was clearly visible to anyone who looked in my general direction. 10 minutes later I still had a $20 in my hand instead of a beer. So I left. The 2nd time I went was after spending an hour at the Wake County Shooting Range and I decided to pop in for a couple as my kids were at a party that wasn't over yet and had some time to kill and the bar is right down the street from where they were. I also happened to be hungry. Place was not to busy so actually got some service this time. Fish and Chips were one of the food specials that night, so I got it. Big mistake. It was clearly a mass produced, frozen and reheated product and it showed. Was wet, soggy, and bland. On the bright side, my beers came quick and the fries were good. Third time was again after a trip to the shooting range and went there after with a friend who was leaving town the next morning. I didn't eat but he did. He didn't have any complaints about the food. I just had a few beers. But the original beer I ordered it turns out was out of stock and it took the server a few minutes to come back after placing the order to tell me they were out. The staff should know which beers are not available and let you know when you try to order one. I guess its an alright place for just grabbing a drink or two, but I wouldn't plan on it being a place to go for the night and have a meal.

Great spot to grab a bite and get a cold beverage. The menu is large and the food is good. Casual, fun atmosphere with friendly servers. Relaxed crowd and lots of tv's to watch your favorite sporting event. There are tables to sit outside as well and booths, high and low tables and seating at the bar inside ( full menu available at the bar). Prices are also reasonable and the kitchen is open late.

Hey the owner has really stepped up his game. The new menu is fantastic, my favs wings and spaghetti (family secret) . Seems like a more professional family environment... early evening nice change of pace have no issue bringing my son. On the other side of the coin great crowd for Sunday football and they have some really great bands late night. My hat is off to the owner.

Had some family in from out of town and wanted to grab a bite and watch a little football before everyone left. This is definitely a locals bar where it seems the inmates are running the asylum. We love football and cheer for our team, but allowing large groups to bang on tables, throw cups at TV's and scream at other customers in such a small place is too much. There were other families there who actually left because of such behavior by the other patrons. Food was pretty decent and maybe it's not always like this, but someone needs to know that not everyone is a local and management saying "those guys are just are just big fans" is not necessarily an acceptable response.

Terrible service. Waitress got order wrong. Paid $6.00 for iceberg lettuce and a couple of mushrooms and cucumbers? Salads at McDonalds have more on them. You can't raise your prices and not improve on the food. Went for lunch, place had 2 other people in it, the entire lunch hour. We now know why and won't be back. It's a shame. The atmosphere is nice and the place is nice, but the food and service were less than nice.

So this was the perfect restaurant, not a tablecloth in sight and friendly staff. Good food, decent service, good atmosphere, and normal down to earth people. What more can you want.

Decided to give this place a try. The cajun dry rub wings are great, the patty melt was very good. The house chips did not disappoint and the burgers are good. They had a good crowd and the staff is very friendly. We'll be back.

Archibalds Tavern has great food and a great friendly neighborhood atmosphere! The bartenders, owner and staff are friendly and accommodating

Sittin back ready for some good live music from Chris Hagan. Great specials to boot. Lots of good beer choices on tap. Super cold.

We used to love this place....good food in a casual atmosphere. But at some point it became a haven for drunks. We tried several time to visit on Saturday afternoons (before 5:00) and the place was overrun by their "regulars" - profane, drunk, and incredibly annoying that early in the day - "F-bombs" shouted at the top of their lungs. It was clear that these "regulars" were valued over any other customers.

Owner not considerate and rude. Food is horrible and there are many local drunks that hang here. I would rather get food at McDonalds. The music? What? I still can't hear 4 months after a band played here. This is a college bar with no college near by. Go somewhere else.