BITE user comments - 0ddba11
Comments by 0ddba11
Via Bar and Restaurant, Nottingham
Such a shame....
When the water front area was first developed it was a lovely place to sit enjoy a pint in the sun, enjoy some good food in any of the pubs and admire the surroundings.
But, after paying a visit to Via Fossa only a couple of months ago, I was reminded of just how far downhill it's gone.
The service at the bar was appalling, the barman was more interested in giving his mate a free pint than serving paying customers, and the poor lady next to me asked for the wine menu to then be told "I dunno where it is, you'll have to look round the tables", and then there is the general clientel, which mostly consists of either pretentious posers or beered up half wits whose only real motivation in life is to see how many fights they can start.
And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...
After we had found a little secluded area to sit in and chat whilst we had a bite to eat, up goes the volume. I've stood behind concorde when it's taken off and it would be easier to hold a conversation behind it than in here!!
So to summarise, a nice venue, but might be a good idea to pull down some of the football memorabellia, turn down the music a bit, and cut out the offers on shots & alco-pops and it might stand a chance again.
1 Jun 2006 23:15
For the most part, I love the Vic, an excellent selection of real ales, continental beers and an UNBELIEVABLE range of whiskeys!
The best way to describe the food is 'good' and 'wholesome'. One of the best things is the vegetarian selection, it's great to see more than just Vegetarian Lasagne.
I have mixed opinions about the actual venue, whilst the interior rooms are traditionally cozy (easily mistaken for tatty) it could just do with being a bit bigger but then I guess it would loose it's homely feeling. I say this, because when it gets full, the only choice is to sit in the outside area with the patio heaters, and whilst it is a covered area, you can't help feeling a bit 'out of it'.
I kind of agree with the mobile phone comments, but, on the flip side, you do have to stop and think, has life come to the point where we can't even live without our phones for a couple of hours whilst we enjoy a pint and a chat with friends? I guess it's only pretentious middle class fascists like me that like to actually talk to the people he's with...
1 Jun 2006 22:51
Although I personally prefer places that offer some real Ale's, not everybody does, so this place does exactly what it sets out to do.
It's a pub thats well placed in the Centre of town that can catch tourists that have been caught in the rain or those wanting a quick bite to eat.
And you could do a lot worse for food. We had the vegetarian combo to share, and it was a delight to see a bit of thought going into a veggie dish in the form of Cheese and Brocolli parcels instead of just piles of chips and breaded mushrooms (which were also present to keep philestines happy!).
Couldn't comment what it would be like in the evening as we just popped in for lunch when it started raining ;-) but in all a great place for a lunch time bite.
1 Jun 2006 22:21
I have got to start by responding to the comment about staff being rude, I'm just wondering whether that person stayed at the other Queens Head in the neighbouring village, as there is another one that we nearly went to by accident, it has to be a mix up!
The Queens Head Inn in Tirril was pub of the year 2003, and recommended 2004 & 2005 - That's really saying something, and you can see why, it is a beautiful grade II listed building dating back to the early 18th Century with old wooden beams having a bit of a slant :)
The food is top notch, never have I had such a beautifully cooked peice of fish! The beer is excellent two, and lets face it, it should be, it doesn't have far to travel being brewed in the same building!
As for the room that we stayed in, small, but cozy, with a gorgeous en-suite and cracking views (complete with cows)
If you love real ale, good food and good company, you simply have to give the Queens Head a try, we're going back to stay longer and we're taking friends with us this time!!
1 Jun 2006 21:46
Ye Olde Dolphin Inn, Derby
I think I'm just going to end up re-itterating previous comments here but it's got to be said that Ye Olde Dolphin is probably the best real ale pub in the city.
The beers are well kept and there's always a small, but well chosen selection to choose from, including one of my faves, Black Sheep.
In the winter the snugg is, well, Snug! Especially with the fire roaring, it's toasty cozy.
In the summer, the little beer garden out the back comes alive, and they often have a BBQ too!!
It's a great place to go if you like to chat with friends over a quality pint, and even if you don't like real ale, there's the usual selection of stuff to keep everyone else happy.
1 Jun 2006 23:27