Grab cold pint, meat pies at Big Ben

I've been waiting to try Big Ben Pub in South End for quite some time now. For some reason the red telephone booth and cozy building have been calling me off the main road.

My boyfriend and I decided to try Big Ben for a late dinner rather than a late night bar because we didn't want to miss out on English favorites like fish and chips. That night we were greeted by a friendly lady wearing a British flag tie and humming along to the Beatles, of course.

The decor is simple, but adds a rustic charm to the pub. White plaster walls with chunks of exposed brick are adorned with framed USA Today articles highlighting the restaurant. Countryside paintings are scattered along the entrance wall and depict men on horseback, fox hunting with hounds. Above the fake wooden fireplace at the back of the bar is a picture of the Queen Elizabeth II pouring a beer, which is pretty amusing. On the mantel a bust of Winston Churchill sits between two porcelain dog, and conveniently guarding the fireplace (with a large ax) is a life-size Beefeater man statue. The dark bar is separated from the dining area by a thick wooden partition with cream-colored lace curtains.



Prices at the pub were a bit higher than other bars I've visited, but the food was delicious. The small portion of fish was lightly breaded and complimented by lemon and malt vinegar. However, if patrons decide to go to the pub for lunch, meals are a bit cheaper. Lunch specials during July range from $7.95 to $9.95 and include items like bangers and mash, haddock and chips and Scottish meat pie.

The pub also offers 17 beers on tap, $3 well drinks, $4 20 ounce pints and $5 martinis. Patrons can participate in trivia on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. and enjoy live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 11 p.m.

Big Ben Pub
2000 South Boulevard
Charlotte, N.C., 28203
704-817-9697
http://www.bigbenpub.com/
Hours: Monday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.