If I was rating on ambience alone this would easily be a five star. However, I have to take into account the food too.
I had been hearing for months how good The Liberty was and that its burger and fries had won local awards so I went in with high expectations.
The menu looked really good but I am a big fan of first ordering what a place is known for so I got that burger and fries. We also ordered a pretzel tower to get us started. The pretzels were delicious and well worth it for some pre-dinner chomping or if you want to just get a few beers and something cheaper to munch on. They also have a great beer selection with a few things I had never even heard of and their own beer brewed specifically for them.
The burger was huge in that it was stacked high with toppings. I am not sure how they feasibly expect someone to fit that thing in their mouth but they do. And I did. It was actually very very good. I don't think it is the best burger I've ever had and perhaps not even the best in Charlotte but it was delicious. It was a little expensive for what it was though.
The fries were another story. I like my fries crispy especially when seasoned unless they are thick cut. These were thin cut and soggy. Then they were crammed into a cup. I only had a few but I know I've had better in Charlotte and think they somehow must have stacked the voting deck on their award or our table just got a bad batch. They also give far too many (just below Five Guys proportions).
I think they could come down on price by giving less fries and a slightly smaller burger which would allow me to budget more for a few of their tasty brews.
As it is, I wouldn't say no to going back, especially to try a few more items and soak up the atmosphere and great beers. But, I think the food (based on my experience) was given too much hype.