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Garrick's Head | Victoria | Bastion Square


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#1 masiyou

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 02:33 PM

My friend and I were served some really awful food at Garrick's head last friday. I don't think either of us are picky eaters at all, especially when it comes to pub fare, but we were both compelled to send back our pulled pork sandwiches - a soggy, flavourless mess. The wings we got to replace them were just as bad. Mine were extremely dry in a sauce that was mostly sugar.
I don't expect much from pub food but that was beyond acceptable. Swan's shines in comparison.

I like drinking there and I seem to recall having decent food there in the past. Is this normal?

#2 pontcanna

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 09:07 PM

Interesting you should say that. I've always enjoyed Garricks Head food (and beer selection) but a bunch of us went for an office Xmas lunch the other day and there were loud complaints about one item in particular - the veggie burger, which was very thin and overcooked. One person sent it back and it returned to her basically the same. I wonder if things have changed in the kitchen? If "The Ledge" is getting the same food, there'll be trouble - gay people won't put up with bad food. Sexual orientation stereotype ahoy!

#3 gstc84

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 11:45 PM

I find the food at Garrick's Head pretty hit-or-miss. I've had some pretty good meals there and some awful ones. I mostly just go there for a beer or two now, and avoid the food. There are a lot of pubs in Victoria and most of them have better food and a better atmosphere.

Only been upstairs to the Ledge once, and was actually really impressed by the quality of the food. The place was dead though...

#4 Baro

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Posted 10 December 2010 - 07:06 AM

Many of my friends love this place but the four times I've been there I kept hearing "sorry it's usually not like this" about the mean service, and bad value/quality of food. A place doesn't have so many bad days on a fluke, generally that means it's a bad place.
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#5 G-Man

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Posted 10 December 2010 - 07:19 AM

I have not been in Garrick's Head for about 14 years I guess Ishould try it again. It seems like a pretty grubby pub which I like. Will avoid eating by the sounds of it though.

#6 gumgum

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Posted 10 December 2010 - 07:59 AM

This is my favourite pub, hit or miss.

#7 weirdie

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Posted 10 December 2010 - 08:25 AM

The service can be pretty mean to downright nasty in there at times, especially from one waitress in perticular, but I've gotten used to it and I keep going back. I get the same thing to eat every time I go (the veggie burger) and I haven't noticed any variation in the quality but it'll be interesting to see if it's as bad as pontcanna says.

We threw a private party at the Ledge for Halloween and I would recommend it to anyone looking to book a space for relatively cheap.

#8 masiyou

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Posted 10 December 2010 - 08:43 AM

I should have mentioned that the service was quite good that night even though they were very busy.

#9 OSJ

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 09:52 AM

sorry to anyone who doesnt like the food here. we cant cater to everyone. on that note, we sell a lot of food and most of our business is return customers. there are bad nights just like anywhere. not an excuse, just a fact of doing business. i will make sure that our chef reads this and i would also like to know Weirde wich server you find rude. i will definetly talk to her.
the veggie burgers are house made and we get rave reviews on them daily. sorry you didnt like the burger. we often get told there the best ones around.
The pub also has the best draft lineup in the city bar none. hope you can make it back to give us another try for those who have complaints.

as for the ledge, it is all done from the same main kitchen and people up there really like the food as well.
the ledge has been growing by the month. there really isnt another gay venue in the city that serves full meals and a great room.

Pontcanna, i feel your table last week got off to a bad start to begin with. Someone in your group was upset that they could not have a baby in the pub. i apologize for that, but as i said then it is a Liquor Lic. thing and not our rules.


the more feedback i get the more we can improve, we are among the last of the real pubs in victoria. I have been here for 12 years and have seen many changes for the better.

let me know if i can do anything for those that did not have a great experiance here.
thanks
Jay

#10 Mike K.

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 11:44 AM

Thanks for making yourself accessible, OSJ. I think that means a lot to people who see that their feedback is being heard by a proprietor.

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#11 OSJ

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 12:34 PM

thanks, i have also made my staff aware of what was said and it will be worked on.
sorry if i came across a bit harsh. little bit defensive when ya read stuff like that first thing in the morning.

especially these days when everybody is a critick, a lot of people don't know how hard it is running a business in the service industry.
I understand that with todays prices and economy that people want the most for the hard earned dollar.

our prices are pretty good for a downtown place, and the staff that are here have been for many years.

#12 gstc84

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 03:09 PM

Definitely, huge thumbs up and tons of respect to you OSJ for being responsive to the people. I haven't been in in a couple of months but I'll definitely be coming back after the holidays now. And you're right about having one of the best draught lineups around, easily.

#13 EskimoDave

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 08:01 PM

I can think of two other places in town with comparable, if not better draft lists, unless it's changed since I was there last. Best place downtown for sure though.
http://beerontherock.com, a comprehensive Vancouver Island beer blog.

#14 OSJ

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 08:17 PM

I can think of two other places in town with comparable, if not better draft lists, unless it's changed since I was there last. Best place downtown for sure though.


where were ya thinking?
we have NO domestic beer on tap. that alone makes it the best lineup.
here's a qucik list for ya what we have now.
Lighthouse- beacone ipa,race rocks, keepers stout

Big rock- grasshopper, mag pie rye ale(only line on the island)

phillips- hop circle,bl buck,
accusation ale,slipstream,phoenix,chocolat porter

VI- pipers, islander, hermans

Driftwood- driftwood ale, Blackstone porter(only draft line out there)

sleeman- honey brown, OD

OK spring- 1516, pale.

Strongbow, Guinness

sorry to get off topic guys.

#15 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 14 December 2010 - 08:28 PM

^ I'm cool with all that, but why be so anti-mainstream beer for what you have on tap? People like what they like. Why not serve them? The biggest Canadian brewer only has a 5% stake in the market.
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#16 OSJ

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 08:23 AM

because thats what my customers ask for. very beer culty group. my slowest beer still sells more than a keg a week.
in 2008 we were named number 1 pub in BC by the northwest brewing news.
in the 12 years i have worked at Garricks, we had a domestic line for 3 months and it didnt sell. we are Phillips biggest acount and have been with them since day 1.
a lot of my bar daily regulars have been drinking there for more than 15 years.
we charge $6.25 a pint, taxes in. and $.5.75 a pint for the daily specials.

#17 pontcanna

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 08:37 AM

^ I'm cool with all that, but why be so anti-mainstream beer for what you have on tap? People like what they like. Why not serve them?

Don't even get me started on the Soprano's Lager :)
Might as well make an argument for putting Big Macs on the menu...after all, people like McDonalds.

#18 pontcanna

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 08:47 AM

the veggie burgers are house made and we get rave reviews on them daily. sorry you didnt like the burger. we often get told there the best ones around.

One of our staff who previously attended a function at GH really enjoyed the veggie burger and recommended it to others, guess that's why it was ordered by several in our group. She wasn't there the other day, so no direct comparison was possible, unfortunately.

i feel your table last week got off to a bad start to begin with. Someone in your group was upset that they could not have a baby in the pub. i apologize for that, but as i said then it is a Liquor Lic. thing and not our rules.

Clearly there's nothing you can do about that, I think when the office lunch notice thing went around, someone who'd been away on maternity leave didn't clock that GH is a pub-pub (as opposed to the "looks like a pub restaurant") and brought the kidlet. Oh well.

I'll just say that the decision to go to GH was almost unanimous, but you can't please everyone. I've never had a bad meal or duff pint there personally.

#19 OSJ

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 03:40 PM

just stumbled upon this, have a read..........
http://dinehere.ca/v...ks-head-pub-the

#20 mik

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Posted 16 December 2010 - 11:45 AM

In my opinion Japanese owned Sleeman/OK Springs is no less "domestic mainstream" than Molson or Labatt. That being said, having two restaurant locations that serve 15 beers brewed on the Island (and Gulf Island) I certainly admire the heavy focus that Garrick's Head places on the local craft beer scene as well. And, while we are proud that the KnockanBack is Phillips longest standing account, I dream of having the LONG history of offering a great beer selection at very fair prices in a no-nonsense "real" enviroment that GH continues to provide. Well Done!
PS: Many of my staff are regs of the GH and you would see a lot more of my ugly mug if I wasn't working 7 days a week.

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