Mount Holly Restaurant Guide

Great food, quaint atmosphere, friendly people. What more could you ask for? So glad I found it!

Me and my dad have been going here since i can remember. He grew up in Mt. Holly and I think there is no place like it!! Fried bologna with cheese and slaw - nothing like it. Love it!

Great News that the Bright Star will remain!!! As one who grew up going to high school in the 60's, I remember the people, the cruisin', people watching...and eating Chuckwagons. I have been back off and on through the years and was always glad to see that it was still there giving good service and serving good food in a fun atmosphere. Glad it is now non-smoking. Good Work!!

Wonderful place to eat. My family loves it!

There isn't a better burger in eastern Gaston County

Thank you for the comments. As of 1/1/09 the BrightStar Grill is non-smoking. We are also expanding the restaurant to include a larger kitchen and dining area. One of the exciting things about our remodel is that we will be the first restaurant in the US to also have an internet radio station in our dining room. Thank you for your business and we hope you keep coming back.

Thank you for your compliments and we are listening. Here is a news release that will come out this week.

Howard Black, owner of the BrightStar Grill in Mt. Holly announced today that the 47-year old restaurant would start remodeling within the next few weeks. The BrightStar Restaurant is a local landmark that has severed many generations of area residents. R. J. Terry opened the BrightStar Grill in 1961 and Howard and Deborah Black took over management of the restaurant in 1997.
Our goal is to touch everything and make it right, but still retain the unique atmosphere. He explained, “We want to take something that has been great for a lot of years and make it a little bit better without changing what people have come to expect.”
Mr. Black pointed out that, “In the past we have wanted to update and modernize the restaurant, but were limited in what we could do.” The property was recently sold to Carlton Broome who plans extensive renovations of the property.
Mr. Broome said, “We considered building a new facility, but realized that if we did, it just wouldn’t be the BrightStar.” He adds, “Although it would be more expensive we decided to take the present facility and give it a complete face lift and remodel. We believe area residents and the regular customers want that.”
Included in the remodel will be a new entrance from Rankin Avenue and expanded parking for customers. Mr. Black said, “we feel that the new entrance and marquee will make the BrightStar more visible and accessible for our customers.” The old entrance from Madora Street will continue to be open.
Other improvements will include an expanded dining room, new bathrooms, a pickup window and an addition for a new kitchen. New equipment will be installed to be more energy efficient and increase service capabilities.
The restaurant will utilize modern eco-friendly technologies, including Rinnai on-demand hot water heaters, computer controlled thermostats and hybrid heating & cooling systems that will save on utility expense in the future. Other environmentally friendly items will include low-flush toilets, water saver faucets and energy efficient lighting.
The exterior will receive a badly needed facelift with a new roof, paint and guttering. The bathrooms will be relocated within the building and brought up to current standards. Mr. Black adds, “We’re even going to have baby-changing station in the bathrooms.”
The new interior décor will include new tables and chairs with walls being adorned with past pictures of the BrightStar and the community. All pictures will be black and white and framed to match the new color scheme of the interior. Deborah Black, the owner’s wife asks that anyone having old pictures of the restaurant or any picture that they desire to be displayed may bring it by the restaurant during the next few weeks. She said, “We would love to have pictures of people that came here while they dated.”
Mr. Broome explained that the large rocks on the south side of the building would remain intact. Mr. Broome says, “Those rocks have been played on by generations of children and that is what a lot of people remember about this place. We think it’s best to leave them.”
The menu will remain the same with selections of Lottaburgers, hamburgers, hotdogs, BBQ and other items. Mr. Black added, “Our plans after the remodel is to keep doing what we’re doing now, but just a little bit better.” Future plans include offering breakfast and a larger selection of items, but the basic menu and recipes will never change.
The restaurant will be open for business while most of the construction is going on. Mr. Broome said, “At some point the restaurant will have to close or have limited service during the renovation, but we hope that will be a short period of time.” Mr. Black added that everyone is invited to come by and see the plans for the restaurant and to take one last look at how it was.”

I love a fancy restaurant and fine cuisine, but there's nothing like Bright Star. We love the food. The building itself may be a ugly to some, but for us, that's part of the charm. It's in need of some TLC, but the food is great. The Lottaburger is perfect. My buddy lives a half-hour away and makes the drive over for his weekly fix. As a matter of fact, he and his brother are riding over tonight to meet us for dinner at the Star.

If you want a recommendation, I always get the Lottaburger with onion rings.

Good stuff.

Love, love, love the lotta burger. The place even though it is supposed to look like the 50's could do that with just props, it could use a little paint and remodeling. I would go there weekly if it was non-smoking. The place is just way too small for people to smoke in there. No one wants to put up with smoking while they eat. I have heard my same complaints from lots of people. Come on Bright Star, your food is wonderful, please fix the other problems, please.

THIS PLACE HAS BEEN THE HOOTS SINCE THE 70'S, COULDNT FIND A BETTER PLACE TO HANG THEN THE BRIGHT STAR........

We love the Bright Star. Got to try the Lotta Burger when you go.

The seating arrangment could be bigger.

Pretty good, looks like it came from a Movie like Grease

old musty setting BUT OK!

FOOD IS GOOD!

RIGHT OUT THE TWILIGHT ZONE!