Week Four, The Royal Oak

Week four (20/9/12), The Royal Oak Launceston, 'The Oak' as it is more affectionately known amongst the locals was an interesting place to be this week. The place appears to be a bit rough with the paint peeling off the walls, names engraved into the bar and tables and so many 'artsy' drink coasters torn and cut into different things.

After having two newbies in the past few weeks we were down to the 'regulars' the dedicated eaters. I think everybody as a teen went to The Oak and has a story or so to tell, its just one of those places, and this week will add another story to my list.

We stayed traditional and resisted entrees, we did however all have the Mixed Grill at $28.00 it was the most expensive item on the menu, It did come with bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, chips and salad.

'JK' - Mixed Grill

1- Presentation 8

 2 - Taste           9

 3 - Size              8
4 - Cost/Value   6
5 - Venue Vibe  7
6-  Service       8

 

At least this week he got the steak knife with his meal.

 

'JK' thoughts - Good Steak.

 

Next up, 'JS' Mixed Grill and Mushroom Sauce $2.00

 

1- Presentation 8

 2 - Taste           7

 3 - Size              6
4 - Cost/Value   7
5 - Venue Vibe  8
6-  Service       8

 

Thoughts - The Oak is a good all round pub, it's beautifully seedy.

'LB' Mixed Grill and Mushroom Sauce.

1- Presentation 8

 2 - Taste            5

 3 - Size              5
4 - Cost/Value   6
5 - Venue Vibe  6
6-  Service       6

 

 Thoughts - Capsicum Is Fucking disgusting..

'AJ' Mixed Grill, Medium-Rare with Mushroom Gravy

1- Presentation  4

 2 - Taste           6

 3 - Size              8
4 - Cost/Value   7
5 - Venue Vibe  5
6-  Service       6

 

Thoughts - Meals came out in a very reasonable time, steak was cooked bang on! Only downer was a strange salad.

 

'AG' Mixed Grill, Rare with Garlic Aioli 

1- Presentation 6

 2 - Taste           4

 3 - Size              8
4 - Cost/Value   7
5 - Venue Vibe  6
6-  Service       7

Thoughts - I ordered a 'rare' cooked steak and was presented with a steak I'd class as 'blue' otherwise, the steak was a great size, we got to eat at the bar! BUT they got rid of the woodfire!

We all agreed that the meals were a very decent size, I think the vibe rated so decently because we had our own little corner of the pub and bar.

Time for the overall results..

1- Presentation  7

 2 - Taste           6.2

 3 - Size              6.6
4 - Cost/Value   6.6
5 - Venue Vibe  6.4

 6-  Service       7

 

The timer was on again this week they managed a total time of 31.42mins the fastest time we have seen yet! The Oak probably wont be any of our next local pub but it fared pretty well against the other 'bigger' named pubs we have been to, large variety of beers mainly in stubbies or cans a big range of wines both red and white and plenty of spirits on offer.

Right, That's The Oak done next week The Duke Of Wellington,

Week Three, British Style

 Week three (13/9/12),  Cock N Bull British Pub. A British themed pub, they have a decent model of the Titanic and a hell cool Knights suit of armour and that's pretty much England apparently..

Another week, another new face appears but we lost last weeks newbie to 'sickness'

This pub used to be a regular for a couple of us and the food let them (pub) down then and we stopped going there because of that fact, Can they redeem themselves this week and return the faith?

We stayed fancy again this week and ordered entree AND mains, the pricing of the entree and the mains was on par with the other two pubs we have been to.

Staying with the split up voting again this week everyone had different meals!

First up 'JK' with the Marinated Steak $25.90.

1- Presentation  4

 2 - Taste            5

 3 - Size              4
4 - Cost/Value   5
5 - Venue Vibe  4
6-  Service        -0

He was harsh last week, but this week was for a good reason as they failed to bring out his Steak knife with his steak!

'JK' thoughts - 'Not too bad, did have a hot blonde working tho'

Next up 'AJ' Who had the Scallop Pie $22.90

1- Presentation  5
2 - Taste            2
3 - Size              5
4 - Cost/Value   4
5 - Venue Vibe  3
6-  Service        1

Thoughts - 'Very average service, good meal but hot main with cold chips'

'LB' With the Bangers and Mash, with veggies $17.50

1- Presentation  8
2 - Taste            6
3 - Size              7
4 - Cost/Value   8
5 - Venue Vibe  6
6-  Service        5

Thoughts - 'Too Hot'

'AG' With the Surf and Turf $ 29.90 And the Salmon Pate as an Entree

1- Presentation  8
2 - Taste            6
3 - Size              8
4 - Cost/Value   5
5 - Venue Vibe  4
6-  Service         3

Thoughts - ' The Salmon Pate was amazing, light and full of flavor. The steak on the S+T was an awesome size, the scallop and prawn skewer on top of the steak and the garlic sauce was cold as were the chips! And $8.70 Guinness Pints.'

'JS' With the Beef and Guinness Pie $20.00 And Curry Veg Empanadas as Entree.

1- Presentation  7
2 - Taste            6
3 - Size              7
4 - Cost/Value   6
5 - Venue Vibe  7
6-  Service        4

Thoughts - 'Cold chips, the pie had good flavour. The highlight was the Entree!'

Lastly we have the latest Newbie 'RB' who suffered a burnt mouth from his mains which was a Chicken Parma with Chips and Salad $18.90

1- Presentation  5
2 - Taste           8
3 - Size             7
4 - Cost/Value  6
5 - Venue Vibe 7
6-  Service         2

Thoughts - ' The chips were cold, parma cooked well not over done, salad had too little dressing on it. Service was poor 40 min wait for meals - too long. didnt clear the tables between entree and mains,'

I think we all agreed that the service was below par especially having to go downstairs to order our meals because they don't do table service. They can't carry plates, forgot the steak knife BUT they do have Tas Keno.

Now the overall verdict is

1- Presentation  6.1
2 - Taste          5.5
3 - Size             6.3
4 - Cost/Value  5.8
5 - Venue Vibe 5.3
6-  Service         2.5

The timer was on again this week and they managed  Entrees at 24 minutes and Mains 16mins later so that made a total of 40 minutes from the last order till the last meal was on the table. The meals came out 7 mins faster than Irish last week but the vibe and venue made the time seem to drag on this week. 

Was the faith restored to the old faithfuls? Have to say its still a fence sitter, the one parma on our table was a decent size but the ones we saw on the way out weren't as big so the Cock N Bull Launceston, You didn't impress us enough to bring us back regularly again.

Right so that's our thoughts on The Cock n Bull Launceston. Next week - The Royal Oak. See you next week for the latest update.

Week Two, Irish Style

Hmm, so here we are again (6/9/12) another week another pub. This week Irish Murphy's
( http://irishmurphys.net.au/ ) Recently voted the 'Best of the Best' In a local radio station poll, for good reason too.
This place was just awesome fun the whole time we were there, the bar staff/restaurant staff were a laugh, a very relaxed pub, even though it took 20 mins for a raspberry soft drink. These guys are very professional don't get me wrong, a waiter sitting down to take orders cause our table was definitely the best there.

The Meals are well priced both Entrees and Mains massive variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks available.

The verdict is going to be broken up individually this time around as we had a newbie and only two people had the same meal, there will be an overall average at the end

The verdict on the Irish Stew $19.50 by 'JS' and 'LB'.
Who also shared an Entree Garlic Pizza $11.

1- Presentation  7.5
2 - Taste            7
3 - Size              8
4 - Cost/Value   7
5 - Venue Vibe  7.5
6-  Service         5.5
JS- Thoughts on the stew 'A very nice meal, made even better with pepper. The soda bread was strange but went well with the stew'
JB- 'Great, Good Times'

Next up, 'AG' with  The Surf and Turf $28.00
Who also had a Three Cheese Pizza as an Entree $11.

1- Presentation  6
2 - Taste            6
3 - Size              4
4 - Cost/Value   5
5 - Venue Vibe  9
6 - Service         8
'AG' Thoughts- 'The steak was a bit smaller than expected and also over cooked, The Kilkenny was cold and great as per usual. The service was just awesome'

Next we have 'AJ' With the Chicken Breast $23.50
And also a Three Cheese Pizza for Entree $11.

1- Presentation  6
2 - Taste            6
3 - Size              8
4 - Cost/Value   5
5 - Venue Vibe  8
6-  Service         7
'AJ' Thoughts- ' Great meal, good and funny vibe'

Now we have the harshest scorer so far 'JK' Who had the Marinated Rump Steak $24.50

1- Presentation   2
2 - Taste            2
3 - Size              4
4 - Cost/Value   3
5 - Venue Vibe 7
6-  Service        4
'JK' Thoughts on the Rump, 'Meh' 

Lastly we have the newest member to our 'Crew' T from Punchy who had the Shamrocks Burger $19.50
 1- Presentation  7
 2 - Taste            9
 3 - Size              8
 4 - Cost/Value   9
 5 - Venue Vibe 8
6-  Service        2
T from Punchy's thoughts on the burger, ' The burger was juicy as..' The service was marked down because of the 20 minute wait on his raspberry soft drink, but managed to score that for free!

So the Final total for everything,

1- Presentation  6 2 - Taste           6.1
 3 - Size             6.6
 4 - Cost/Value  6
 5 - Venue Vibe7.8
6-  Service       5.3

Unlucky about the final score for the service Irish, You served us well. Even I could make a drink faster than you did.

Now we started the timer this week right after the meal order was taken, we did a lap when the Entree's came out at the 22 minute mark, the mains did come out another 25 Mins later so that made it 47 minutes pretty reasonable given the good company (at our table) and that fact that they were almost packed to capacity. Also we didn't book a table, just rocked on up and demanded food.

So overall Irish scored pretty well, better than last weeks pub (not hard).
Next week (tomorrow cause I took ages to post this) We are off to an English style pub,

Cock N Bull British Pub

 Thats two down now, still heaps to go. 

See you soon for the next update on our adventures.

Please feel free to lay down a comment or suggestion! CHEERS!!