Interactive drinking. Drinking with the purpose of talking with other people, having a conversation and you know, meeting the world. I don't like bars where someone else music is all I can hear. I don't like pubs where they pay a band to entertain me, whether I want them to or not. Especially not to listen to a shoddy version of a 80's hit that I didn't like the first time around, played with too much feedback and no bass line.
I also don't generally choose a pub on the food. Pubs should concentrate on good beer and wine, not frilly table food. Gastropubs are an exception, and a class of their own.
This makes the Garrick's a very good spot. They don't play live music. The jukebox is audible but not so that you can't talk over Motorhead's Ace of Spades. And they have good beer. Lighthouse's Race Rocks or Beacon IPA, Phillips Blue Buck and Vancouver Island all grace the pubs. They also often get a guest barrel or two in, such a Central City's Red Racer IPA (a wonderful hoppy brew). It's served well, fast and fresh. Score one.
The place is small, and packs out weekend nights. Don't expect plush seats and brass fittings. This is wooden seats, chipped bar and an original brick fireplace. Blue collar bar, with a mix of real blue collar workers, rockers and wannabe scensters. This makes for an interesting crowd of people, and striking up a conversation about the hockey or the guy who just got asked to leave can happen easily. Or you can find a corner of the patio on a summer day and catch up with you best friends. Score two.
The staff are great. They work flat out to keep the beer flowing, the patrons seated and not too rowdy, and will happily stand and chat to you if they're not slinging out the beers. They have some odd love for the Ottawa Senators, but you can't have everything. Plus the ability of the waitress to manage crowd control on a busy Friday evening quite the sight... despite giving up 50 pounds and 4 inches on the smallest of the trouble makers I've seen her deal with, no-one's ever actually stood their ground. Maybe that's Canadian politeness. Or force of personality. Score three.
The one thing that's not so good is the food. Which is okay, as I stated, I don't go to a pub to eat. But it's only just passable at the Garricks, so moping up the fourth pint of Race Rocks is approached with caution. Grease is liberally used to fry up 90% of the menu, and the freezer is well stocked for instant everything. The good news is you can see the kitchen, as it takes up one corner of the bar area. But it's never great, and I'll never be eating the nachos again. But Nachos and me don't agree, so might not be the Garrick's fault that one. One against.
That all said, on my list of place to drink socially in Victoria, the Garrick always features in the decision.
Location : 69 Bastion Square
Telephone : (250) 384-6835
Website : http://www.bedfordregency.com/pub.htm
The reason you like Garrick's is because it is located at bastion square which reminds you of the golden days at WSTM, where you shared your office with the guy from the same land where the best WR in NFL is!
ReplyDeleteMust have been the company I kept, that's it :)
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