Of all the sports bars in Charlotte, there is something about Hickory Tavern that keeps me coming back. The staff is friendly and the tvs are plentiful, indoors and out. They also have a large bar area that makes it easy to hang out with friends and still have a good view of the game.
I went this weekend to watch the Panther's game. The place was packed and the energy was high. The food is also pretty good. I like the plain jane wings (aka dry rub) and the Carolina dog, a grilled hotdog toped with chili, coleslaw and mustard. The hotdog is served with your choice of a side, so I got the sweet potato fries. The fries were okay. They were drizzled with honey (which I didn't mind, but I didn't expect). They also weren't hot (they were luke warm at best). My friend ordered the jerk chicken wings and he really enjoyed them.
I must say that I was impressed with how attentive our waitress was. The place was full and she still took our order quickly, checked on us regularly and did it all with a smile.
Overall, this is a solid spot. They have daily drink specials, good bar food and nice servers. It's a good spot to watch the game.