Now you can go to Philosopher's for one of 3 reasons, for the food, for the drink, or for the atmosphere. But for me, the outdoor seating can't be beaten by anyone in Charlotte.
From the outside, this looks like a grungy hippie bar/restaurant, & maybe it is a little. But take a chance & pull up a seat outside, whether it's just to take in the view with a brew, or to grab a bite to eat. If the weather is nice, I don't think I'd go anywhere else in Charlotte midday. Starting with the beer, they have a pretty good selection & now have beer towers, which is basically a personal draft of 5 pints at your table. They also have a pretty good lunch menu with the typical bar fare but also some stuff you really wouldn't expect, & it's all pretty good. But I think the kicker at Philosopher's is the outside area that has ping pong & cornhole, & the occasional band. People sit outside all day here & play games & drink beer under the shady trees.
This place is definitely a fun midday visit if the weather is nice. Bring your friends & plan on staying a while to drink & relax away the day.