BITE user comments - GEPC
Comments by GEPC
The Porterhouse, Covent Garden
Met an old mate here yesterday at 3pm. Not Surprisingly not as ram packed as others have said though by 7pm when we left it was busy. Nice Porter, Oyster Stout and Red. Staff efficient and friendly. Far worse pubs to converge on in central London.
17 Dec 2013 12:11
One person�s nice is another person�s...whatever. Visited this pub today. Being a bank holiday Monday and the weather not as rainy as predicted I thought the pub might be heaving (is that a pun?) especially as the web site advises booking the restaurant at weekends and bank holidays, but it was very quiet (may companions thought too quite). There was the hub-a-bubble of a few locals. The low ceiling, timber beams and leather chairs make the inside a picture post card of a traditional country pub. The pint of Landlord�s was very nice and I have to say the food from the snack menu was excellent value. Disappointingly the side order of chips, were anaemic and saggy. However, the home made steak and kidney pie, was one of the best I�ve ever had. I�ll be back.
31 May 2010 20:33
I visited this pub on 18 May (a lovely Sunny day) with my daughter, grandson and son in-law. Although the governor was a little bit surly. I didn�t find it as bad as others.
There was one �Basil Fawlty� moment when we order our food (more later) the governor said there would be a delay due to the large �French party� having unexpectedly descended on them. I tone seemed to imply that being French was more of a problem than the fact it was a large party or unexpected. Later when clearing the table one of them complimented him on the food to which he replied, with a smile that looked like he had wind, �Who said the English can�t cook hey?� Which some of took to be a serious question and a debate ensued, gradually petering out as the governor strutted off, with pride swelling his chest, from the beer garden to the pub.
The food was good and reasonable the drinks were a bit expensive but not outrageous. The Moorlands was well kept and refreshing with the Sunday roast.
The only problem with the food was that vegetables turned up for table 65 (our table) before the roast. A look around the garden and table 56 had a roast with no vegetables. A situation I quickly corrected. I have to say it was very busy and the odd minor error was not a problem. I wouldn�t go out of my way to go back, but I would not avoid the place.
20 Apr 2010 09:45
Found this pub on 28 March 2010 � Nice atmosphere, very friendly staff and beer well kept. Nice pint of Wells Bombardier. The food that others had looked good and home cooked, in keeping with the rustic look. Sunday Roast was a bit disappointing. Good value, roast potatoes and veg all good, just let down by the meat. Very thinly cut, almost transparent looked and tasted like Fray Bentos. We would happily have paid a couple of quid more for hand carved slice.
29 Mar 2010 11:28
I've worked in the area on and off for many years and like most pubs a change of landlord makes all the difference. This has been in and out of favour with me and my colleagues over time. Not been in here for several years but Christmas (2009) and the New Year, this was one of a few pubs open so gave it a try on the way to Warren Street. Beer is well kept and some of the staff (all female) are friendly and up for a bit of banter. Summer it is too popular and can be stuffy. However the rest of time a traditional cosy pub ideal for a pint and a chat with some friends.
12 Mar 2010 09:38
Sunday before Christmas and went for a drink before the Italian pizza place next door.
Looked like they normally do half a dozen beers or so, but only one available when we arrived around 8pm. The ale I had was just on the point of going off. If there had been a choice I�d have taken it back. Had a good atmosphere with the locals seeming to enjoy it. Could have been the Christmas rush but staff were tired and relatively disinterested. Four behind the bar all doing �stuff�, but only one serving. Bar sticky, as was floor around it. You could give the Goat the benefit of the doubt, but I won�t be rushing back.
22 Dec 2009 05:28
Visited this pub on the way back from taking my grandson on the Bluebell Railway Santa Special. Sunday, early evening few people in the restaurant but bar was empty.
Old pub with an extension, which houses most of the restaurant. Beer was nicely kept. Service was on the slow side considering it was quiet. Food was good prices on the high side (but not expensive) However we got generous portions of traditional food eg Ham Eggs and Chips. Not so generous on the prawn curry � so if you hungry go for something safe.
22 Dec 2009 05:13
I went to this pub a couple of days back with a mate I meet up with a few times a year. We got there about 5:30 so the tourist cliental was off its peak and the post-work cliental was on its way. Managed to get a seat on the balcony and it is a nice place to sup a pint and look down on the hustle and bustle of the world. Pint of Tribute was excellent, but you don�t often find a pub with St Austell Brewery fare on sale very often, so we thought we would try the �Proper Job�. It looked and tasted exactly the same as the �Tribute�. I then thought I try the �Clouded Yellow� (a wheat beer) and when that came up looking and tasting the same as Tribute I complained. It turned out that they only had Tribute and all three taps were the same. They still charged the wheat beer price until I complained. Nice through the Tribute was I was really pissed off that they just didn�t say up front that they only had the one beer.
3 May 2009 10:37
This used to be part of a small chain of pubs; The Mint at Banstead was the only other one I�d been to. It�s a bit of a drive to get to so have usually gone for the food and the walk across the racecourse. Having said that, they always used to do a nice drop of Pride, so used to try and get someone else to drive. Visited a couple of weeks ago and its been revamped, suspended chrome spotlights an all. Part of the pub is drinks only and the restaurant has a more formal boundary. Pride was still good but the food is �gastro� and prices much higher. Food was faultless but not sure it was worth the difference. Service was quick, but I had to stop one waitress leaning across me while I was eating to clear an empty bread roll plate. They cleared away as the last mouthful went in, so the experiance felt rushed. Price and service probably make it not worth the effort of getting to as often as I'd used to.
3 May 2009 09:11
Went here one day over Christmas 2008. Lunch time too, so not necessarily a typical experience.
Police notice on the door was asking for witnesses to a murder at the pub the week before. Inside it seemed quite � nice pint of London Pride. Obviously had a party the night before as bits of streamer, silly string and a �roast potato� on the floor. Cleaner on Christmas hols? Food is good value and good portions. Basic pub grub difficult to fault, anything else and you may not get what you expect � e.g, Nachos come with grated cheddar cheese, not proper Nacho cheese. Large car park and outside area.
19 Jan 2009 15:15
Great location but restaurant. The food is at best �so so� the Sunday roast was poor with the meet having little flavour just like a frozen ready meal. But what was unforgivably was the poor service. Having been show to our table and given menus� nothing � after 20 minutes I asked a passing waitress if I could order some drinks. �Who�s your waitress?��I don�t know we haven�t seen her yet� Just a moment sir I�ll find out who it is and send them over� 10 minutes, not 2 or 5 but 10 minutes later a waitress arrives to take our order for drinks. 15 minutes after that � we did have to remind her too � our drinks arrive. 45 minutes to get a drink!! Starter was another 30-minutes on top. Others were complaining and getting desert and drinks for free.
Everyone was busy but they were not coordinated, or a team, they wondered back and forth to the kitchen empty handed, past people that had finished their meals, without attempting to clear the table. Drinks were brought to the table and the empties not taken away.
It must be the management, as the Rubbing House and The Darby Arms seem to be able to recruit and train local staff (and the foods much better too). I don�t know if this is typical of the Beefeater chain but I won�t be making any efforts to find out.
28 Sep 2008 21:10
I have organised 4 pub quiz evenings here over the last 12 months for around 50 people. Latest Jan 2008. The function room upstairs is great for this with its own small bar. The change in management made little difference; the staff were as helpful as before, provided table service and ferried beers from the main bar as needed. Buffet came out on time and was devoured without complaint. Will be back to organise the 5th soon.
9 Feb 2008 14:52
The North End Tavern, Worcester Park
Not eaten here but nice atmosphere and beer is generally good. Still has a dart board which are getting rare in these parts
16 Jun 2007 19:49
Went here for Sunday lunch yesterday. Beer excellent, food very good (not cheap, but good value). They�ve extended the restaurant area by putting some large umbrellas up outside. Probably a good idea in the summer but on a cold and breezy November, think again. Get there early and grab a table in the main bar. Also avoid 13:00 � 16:00 on a Sunday if you want food as although still good they have taken on more than they can cope with so orders go missing and the staff are too busy to notice your waiting.
20 Nov 2006 07:40
The Harp, Covent Garden
I like this small pub. good selection of well kept beer. Upstairs (at the back) there is a small lounge area which is often empty, even when down stairs is heaving. Sadly no bar upstairs. Service is always quick and you get a full pint which seems to becoming increasingly rare in many pubs recently.
12 Nov 2016 12:46