Vinnie’s Sardine Grill & Raw Bar

This restaurant closed on 12/​16/​2012.

Come here for drinks, cheap wings, and lots of televisions – do not come here for the seafood. Very disappointed by all their oyster dishes: blackened oysters are just in a bowl of spicy butter, fried oysters
really not crispy, and raw oysters just adequate (so was the fish taco).
Definitely not worth the $ 50 we spent between 2 people.

Let’s cut to the chase, 35 cents raw oysters, Monday to Friday between 5 and 7. Enuff said! You all have no idea how many times I have ran out my office door, driving like a mad lady trying to get there before the critical 7pm strike… And it’s worth every ounce of effort. Ok, the oysters vary in size, for instance last night I ordered 18 and half were decent sized and half were a bit tiny. They always give you enough cocktail sauce and horseradish to clear all your sinuses. Combined with $ 1.50 beer special (bud light), it’s a damn good $ 10 dinner :) I have also tried the clam chowder and it was delicious. Monday night is their all you can eat crab legs night. They have drink and food specials every night of the week, but truly I am here for the oysters.

Sketch on the outside, awesome on the inside, and free convenient parking? I’m in!
Met a co-​worker here for drinks the other night and had a really good time. The fried shrimp were both jumbo and delicious and the drinks were cold and timely. What more can you ask for? Not a lot. Wait, i’m thinking… nope not much at all.

Well, first off… They were out of oysters.
Major bummer, as we had a party of 8 and we were visiting from out of town and went just for the oysters… regardless, we ordered the seafood sampler and the table had a variety of other things.
The seafood was drenched in butter, which of course makes everything taste good, however, the seafood was just ok. Crab was super small and there wasn’t much of it.
The rest of our party was very disappointed– they felt like their meals were overly breaded and tasted the same, so much so, they all got sick of their meals before finishing them.

This place is just average in my opinion. My fiancé and I dined here for lunch and ordered the spinach artichoke dip for an appetizer and two entrees. He got the fried scallops and I got the blackened salmon. I wanted the red beans and rice for the side, but the waitress informed me they are no longer serving that. Hmm, why have it listed on the menu then? I went with the cole slaw instead. A few minutes later, she came back to the table to say they had run out of the dip. We were disappointed, but decided to substitute it with the shrimp scampi appetizer.
The appetizer came out a few minutes later and it was decent. I thought the scampi had a good flavor and we each had about 6 shrimp. Next came the entrees. My salmon was seasoned well, but very dry. It was served with tarter sauce, which I thought was an unusual combination. In the end, it turned out saving my salmon by adding much needed moisture to it. My favorite part of my meal was the cole slaw. My fiancé said his entrée was just OK and didn’t end up finishing it. Our total cost for 2 entrees and an appetizer came to about $ 40. There are better places we could eat at for that price.

I have mixed feelings about this place. On the one hand, there are other places that I’d rather frequent. On the other… I’m there pretty much every Thursday night. Paradoxical is my middle name.
So why is this joint frequented so much by myself? It’s my Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour Crowd hang out. The proximity is right, and the drink specials meet the reqs.
ATMOSPHERE:
Great on the inside. Interesting décor, plenty of space, and a sweet little «grab it» lobster tank that I’ve seen people simultaneously win lobster and lose money on.
On the outside… a little sketchy. There’s a couple of outdoor tables, but service to them is pretty slow. There’s a good bench outside to sit on for people who take smoke breaks. There’s also corn hole, but it’s in the parking lot, so you don’t get much wiggle room. They’re minus a bean bag ever since a car ran over it.
Also, beware of some of the very sketchy characters that you can meet outside that place. I’ve seen many people get threatened with violence out of the blue from unstable people. Just… watch your back and who you talk to.
TIP: Parking is pure hell in that place, so do yourself a favor and park in the Rite Aid parking lot adjacent.
DRINK SPECIALS:
Cheap. $ 1 lights, $ 2 Shock Tops, and moderately priced on all other drinks. Appreciated.
FOOD:
Something went wrong here. You’re really tossing the dice if you’re not getting a tried and true dish in this place. While I fully recommend the honey glazed shrimp, BLT, and fried oysters, there are a few things to stay away from until some guaranteed changes are made.
First, the conch balls. Sounded different, I like clams, decided to go for it. Crispy on the outside, but mushy and uncooked in the middle. Shrimp scampi appetizer — I don’t know what kind of mad scientist cook is back there, but what came out of that kitchen was a soup bowl with 10 shrimp in it, floating in 2 ladles of butter. It was messy and embarrassing, though tasted good once I had the shrimp draining on multiple napkins I had laid out.
TIP: people rave about the all you can eat crab legs, but the price went up form $ 20 to $ 30. You can get that cheaper at Tin Tins any day of the week, with a full buffet to boot.
SERVICE:
This is a running joke in our HH. They seem to go through waitstaff there like people go through oysters. When we first started frequenting this place, the joke was to make sure you can nurse a beer for half an hour, because it’d take an extra 15 minutes to get your next one. Admittedly, the service has gotten noticeably better, though not consistent.
To sum it up:
Cheap beer
Sketchy characters
Better places to eat
… I’ll be there on Thursday regardless of everything I just said.

Is this a place you would go for fine dining? Nope. Is this a cool place to hang out, grab a bucket of beers and partake in some light bites while watching the game or catching up with friends? Yep! I like the jalepeno poppers and oysters. The place can get super-​crowded at times, but it can be fun if you know what to expect. As Michael says, parking can be a challenge… but from time to time, David and I park and ride the light rail up to Southend to grab a beer and a bite at Vinnie’s.

Been a Vinnie’s fan since it opened. Went through a bit a rough time a few years back. Seemed like a staffing issue. Ate there yesterday. Food was hot & good. Didn’t wait very long. It formerly had a reputation of taking forever to eat. Parking almost empty lately. Try it again.

So my baby and me live in Center City, so with the light rail we get the pleasure of visiting a few bars in the South End and Vinnies is a new review for me, yet I’ve been to this place many times before.
So a nice little walk to the light rail and a quick trip down to the station that is right by Vinnie’s
Walk up and inside the bar is strickly dive. Well worn, both in patrons and décor. The wait and bar staff are top notch and all the ball… and I’m sure they’ve seen it all.
They have drink and food specials during certain times and days of the week.
But for me and my girl, it was the sampler plate which was good, but honestly, I think next time we’ll just have crab legs… yummy!
Pricing is moderate, though not cheap. There are more TVs in here than you can shake a stick at and always folks in this place.
FYI…parking is a challenge… if you find a space in lot then consider yourself lucky and go and buy a lottery ticket… otherwise just go in and enjoy yourself.

After two rounds of golf and copious amounts of the golden nectar known by locals as «beer», I always find myself back at Vinnie’s.
Great deals (to a Canadian) for beers in a bucket. The buckets of steamed oysters are pretty slick as well. Oh! Best Po’Boys around… the area.
Last time I was there I switched to Original Fish Sandwich, which was blackened grouper (or was it?!). Immense and delicious.
Next time I’m allowed back in the State, I’m there yet again.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cheap drink specials and buckets/​plastic baskets of seafood are A-​OK, but the star of Vinnie’s?
***THE LIVE LOBSTER CLAW GAME***
This game is cruel, and hilarious, and absurd, all at the same time. Think of those claw vending machine games you pay $ 1 or 50-​cents for at the front of Wal-​Mart stores. You move a metal claw and it picks up a stuffed Care Bear if you’re lucky and got claw skillz.
INSTEAD OF STUFFED UNICORNS, YOU GET TO PICK UP LIVE LOBSTAHS. AHHHHHHHH!
How wrong is this? Imagine you’re an animal, and a giggling teenager (or adult husband) is paying $ 2 to pluck you from your tank, and EAT YOU! I’ve seen lobsters help each other out. If a fellow crustacean friend is in the jaws of the metal claw, another lobster will reach out and save it, by latching on.
It’s a sad, horrifying sight… but simply fascinating! I can’t stop watching! My husband can’t stop playing! It’s like The Hunger Games… SEAFOOD STYLE! When you do get a lobster in your grips, Vinnie’s will steam it for you, free.
Oh yeah. The rest of the food is okay. I grew up in New England, so I’ve had my share of good crab legs and clams and oysters. The boiled potatoes and corn are either mushy or rubbery and overdone. The food at Vinnie’s is mediocre… but it’s the lobster claw game that gives the restaurant 3 stars, not 2.

Yes, this place is a little rough with lots of blue collar customers. Great beer specials and wonderful oysters on the half shell, only 35 cents each M– F from 5til 7 pm. Fresh seafood baskets of shrimp, fish scallops and sides.
Excellent waitress, Ashley, very attentive to service. Other location in Matthews closed thank God, what a dump… great place if you wanted a fight.
South Blvd is good stuff

What can I say — Vinnie’s is a little rough around the edges. If you can get past that (and find a parking space), you’ll find yourself amidst great drink specials, decent food, friendly staff, and even friendlier regulars.
The staff may not be the most knowledgeable out there (I asked if I could have the tuna for my sandwich seared, since the menu says it is sashimi grade — our server had no idea what that meant), and the establishment may not be fully prepared at all times (a few people wanted chardonnay, there wasn’t any chilled. but then there actually was? … but they had to keep refilling the glasses they were initially served instead of bringing new ones out each round because they were the only two clean ones in house?), but it’s a great laid-​back vibe with very filling portions and decent food. And really, if you’re just in need of a tv with the game on, liquids, and maybe something fried — you’ll definitely be taken care of.
We ended up there on a trivia night and the trivia, although overall easier than some, is poorly run. Multiple part answers that took forever to tally, lots of screaming at regulars amidst the questions for no reason (funny at first, but by the third round you’re over it), but they do have a free raffle that goes on in between the rounds. Since some higher up at Vinnie’s writes the questions– there is some raunchiness, some a little incorrect, and the girls tend to trip over the questions a little bit. But, hey, really great drink specials help pass the time.
Ever since I left Florida for CLT, I’ve been missing a relaxed raw bar and seafood joint, and Vinnie’s fills that, or as best as one could hours from the ocean.

Not really sure why all the other locations have closed down based on my recent visit during lunch. This location seems perfect, maybe the others just didn’t work out due to bad location, not sure.
I had the Mahi Tuna salad and it was fantastic. Very fresh and plentiful. The bed of greens was chilled and the contrast of the coolness of the salad and the warmth of the Mahi Tuna really made for a great combination.
The service was great. Waitress was very attentive, keep the drinks flowing and she made sure we were being taken care of.
My co-​workers all ordered different items but one consistent theme was apparent. They give you plenty of food! You will not go away hungry or upset that you spent $ 10 on lunch. Very affordable and good value for lunch.
Never been here for dinner but I imagine it may be a good spot at night to enjoy a cold beer and socialize given its location.

I’ve been to Vinnie’s twice now. I super LOVE the $ 1 beer specials, and they have also have a good selection of beers on tap. Not an oyster fan, I haven’t ordered those. The first time I went there, I had their shrimp and grits with bacon and cheese. These were some of the BEST grits I’ve ever had. The second time, I had their fish and chips. The fish was good, but the fries were soggy and sub-​par (I’m very picky about my fries). I had a piece of peanut butter pie, which was also pretty good. Their prices are good, and both times I’ve had good service. My biggest complaint is the size of their parking lot. The second time I went the restaurant was less than half full and all the spots were taken.

Nicole… this place may have cheap beer I guess if cheap beer is all your going after if you even can get one! I thought I would try this place out while waiting on some friends that where at the Sugarland Concert it was 7 pm not very busy 15 minutes no server what do they do when its busy? Come on a million bleach blondes in this city that want to make big tips … .Then why do you not hire them? Terrible service with a brain like Walmart people will always come in !
To many places in Charlotte for a cold beer. Sitting in the parking lot watching people sitting on a bench looking in space not saying a word making love to a Bud not saying a word.
GREAT PLACE. NOT!

When I think of Vinnie’s, I think of the phrase «It is what it is». This is a no frills kind of place with amazing people watching (I’m looking at you sketchy men at the bar) and cheap drinks. They have a $ 1 beer special along with nightly specials. This is usually the first or the last stop of the night for me but I wouldn’t dedicate an entire night to hanging there. Their food is decent and same for the service but again… it is what it is.

Seeking fried goodness and cheap beer? Belly on up to Vinnie’s. And maybe bring some stretchy pants.
I’ve been to Vinnie’s a few times and I’m always intrigued by their super cheap brew specials (as Michael E. points out). This is a great little spot to grab a beer and some grub and watch the game. The waitresses here are always friendly and sport teeny little tanks — which I’m sure is a big hit with the guys.
I’m really happy that smoking is outlawed indoors, as this place used to be almost unbearable in the evenings. No one likes to have a big side of smoke with their shrimp po’ boy. And by the way, although a ton of their menu is fried (and well made), they do offer a great crab leg special on Monday nights that I am just itching to try.
Per hubs, this is an amazing place to score oysters, too!
Now…which Monday am I going to plant myself for unlimited crab legs???

A group of co-​workers told us about the great Grouper sandwiches at Vinnie’s. We both ordered. He had the blackened and I had the fried. My sand which was not particularly sweet as true Grouper. However what really got my angry what the waitress bragged about how it was flow in daily. I should have know by the blurred tramp stamp she was a liar twice over. Turns out the business has been caught not once, but twice for selling catfish as grouper. I would gladly pay extra for true fresh grouper.
What is interesting is they were caught by the Charlotte Observer. Here is what they found.
More restaurants caught in fish-​switch
Are you getting the fish you paid for and the fish you ordered, or are you eating something else entirely? We’ve asked the question before and found surprising results.
Now we are putting local restaurants to the test again.
Buying one thing and getting another? Is it fraud? A mistake? An oversight? Or a cheap way to increase profits margins? Whatever you call it, you can’t call it grouper. Our hidden camera investigation took us to nine different local restaurants, all selling grouper.
We ordered the grouper, put the sample into a bag, on ice, and in the mail to be DNA tested at the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauder dale.
Our mission? To find out whether, seven months after we first busted local restaurants substituting grouper with cheaper fish, restaurants have learned their lesson.
The results? Out of the nine restaurants we tested, a third were not giving you the grouper you ordered.
«I’m a bit surprised because I thought with all the publicity from the last time we found a lot of substitution, restaurants would sort of get the message that (there) are forensic methods that are able to identify whether they are substituting seafood or not,» said Dr. Mahmood Shivji, Nova Southeastern University.
Here is the kicker, Vinnie’s — Read on friends…
Our third failure is a repeat offender: Vinnie’s Raw Bar on South Boulevard. The first time we found catfish masquerading as grouper in their signature original grouper sandwich, the manger told us, «We don’t condone any misleading whatsoever.»
Really? Because here’s what happened when we called to order the blackened grouper sandwich this time:
Ordering over the phone, Anna said, «I’d like to order the blackened grouper sandwich that you have?»
The Vinnie’s waitress asked, «Blackened Grouper Sandwich?»
«That’s right,» said Anna.
When we shipped the «Vinnie’s Blackened Grouper» off to the lab, DNA tests showed that grouper is really catfish.
«It’s quite disturbing because that same restaurant was found substituting the first time, clearly they have (not) learned their lesson and they’ve done it again,» Shivji, our DNA scientist, said.
So everyone stop patronizing this establishment. The number of articles in the local papers are all lies.
Feel free to call these fraudsters