BITE user comments - Boongie
Comments by Boongie
Generic city centre pub. THe rare sunny days couldmake this a good sitting out pub. It is characterless but I had a fantastic pint of Dark Isle recently. Beer was very well kept.
1 Feb 2010 22:50
Wow I'm quite surprised the rating is so low here (5.7 at time of writing). Great selection of real ale consistantly well kept. Bar staff can be a wee bit surly but on the up side plenty of seating andscreens for rugby / football.
1 Feb 2010 22:36
Comfortable, fun one room pub with original features. Nice selection of real ales, 3 pumps.
1 Feb 2010 22:30
Good selection of real ale - 5 handpumps; Warlock Stout, Double Dark Oatmeal Stout, CoronationSt, Fireside Ale, Stewarts IPA. The stouts were very well kept but not so sure about the others, IPA was a bit flat.
Ate a Christmas lunch which was ok but nothing special and not quite worth the �14. But y'don't get much for �14 on the Royal Mile! �3.10 a pint! I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous comment.
15 Dec 2009 22:00
Fantastic selection of ale (week after their beer festival in Nov 09) all beautifully kept. Nice atmosphere with attention to detail having a room for the footie and a room for the rugby.
Would travel from the opposite side of town to sup here.
15 Dec 2009 21:45
Ok bar as far as atmosphere but ale was not good. Limited selection of real ale and what was on (Deuchars IPA) wasn't that good. Not hurrying back.
15 Dec 2009 21:35
Tried this bar as we had heard ofthe legendary real ale. Loved the comfy bar, atmosphere was great (yes it is primarily a gay hang out - get over it! we are a hetro couple with no prejudices just a love of ale). The beer was very well kept. The bar staff were a bit snippy and too hurried with the pints so the ale wasn't poured in an optimal manner. I forgive that as the quality shone through.
15 Dec 2009 21:32
I maybe missing something here, it's a branch acting as a column - not a tree.
1 ale on tap, strip lights and 2 people playing darts one of which worked there. Maybe on a different night there is atmosphere but not on this particular Friday!
15 Feb 2009 17:32
Friendly, good beer - 4 on tap in Feb 09. Good locals pub.
15 Feb 2009 17:30
We popped in for a nice IPA after a chinese next door (great food at the Peking Inn) only to find a couple so drunk their fumblings with each other's nethers so clumsy they ended up on the floor splattering candole wax everywhere. That was in between said "lady" trying to pick a fight with every female in the room.
One impressive think though... As she hit the deck she didn't spill a drop of her Vodka and lemo.
I'd stil go back - when the kevlar vest is dry.
7 Dec 2008 15:23
Nice enough, loved the Faro and Kriek. Nice atmosphere though the one waiter who seemed to be working the whole cafe was initially rude later just took the p!ss. Didn't feel unwelcome though. Second the cheese comment, very nice.
2 Oct 2008 23:51
Hmmm, this place was hyped to us beyond belief. I think that caused the lustre to dampen.
The cate upstairs had 25 draft beers on the go, half of them American. Granted they were good, small brewery beers but I didn't cometo Belgium for USA beer. Downstairs in the pub it seemed to be heaving, mainly with big groups of drunken holiday makers. Not my cup of Faro, though the selection is superb in bottle. It isn't the only beer haven in Brussels.
2 Oct 2008 23:47
Not fettered by knowing this restaurant as a cafe or bar I can only comment as a restaurant - that's what it is. A food place with a crackin' beer menu!
Was there last weekend and I think it smacked yellow off Delerium's teeth! But then that's comparing Gueuze with a Kriek. Had beautiful beers to accompany a perfect Chateaubriand. Oude Kirk Kriek De Cam, sour enough to burn through your tum yum yum.
2 Oct 2008 23:43
Hard one to rate.
Food was tops, never even heard of pangasius, i'd never lived. Rate the food a good 8. The ambience was comfortable, clean, pleassant butbland. A bit blonde and magnolia. This would be fine if it wasn't housed in a fantastic ancient beamed building. I sat thinking I was missing out on an atmosphere they could of preserved.
So the beer... a 5. They only had Green King IPA available and it wasn't that good a pint. Shame. Get a few guest ales in and this pub would rate higher.
15 Aug 2008 23:21
When you've had enough of the Canny Man prices and surliness try a real local pub.
Bennets has a c1964 decor, no that's not a trendy retro styling. It has a telly the size of a Ford Escort perched high up in the corner. Snacks include scratchings, ordinary crisps, pickled eggs... There is generally 1 or 2 pub cats stalking the visiting dogs.
But the most important thing...
The ale. Generally have a minmum of 3 guest ales and more often 5. We've had lovely Stewart's ales - a mighty fine Pentland IPA is a regular. Ossian is also frequently poured. Frequent south of the border guests as well. Beer is always well kept.
15 Aug 2008 23:13
The Caledonian Sample Room, Edinburgh
The comments so far are for the original pub. It's now an upmarket "All Bar One" stylee. Owned by the The guy who has the Cambridge (I think?). Friendly staff, good selection of wine and food reliable. It's in afairly baren area for pubs so busy.
12 Aug 2008 23:37
Can't be arsed to comment, just like I can't be arsed to go to this pub. Unfriendly atmos, but ale ok. Go to Bennets over the road, more character(s).
12 Aug 2008 23:32
Don't know about a good pint of 80/-
... it's a good beer mug of 1980. And that is generous - I'm having 1962 shouted at me. Truth is it isa good pint, no other options and it is a funny place. Why oh why is there so much space behind that bar? Gotta like it.
12 Aug 2008 23:11
The Old Thameside Inn, London Bridge
Hot day desperate for cold drink... Loooooonnnngggg wait but got a cold Magners... drank it... had another. Not really much to report, the pub smelled a bit funky, waiting was dueto inefficient service. The ale the better half had was forgetable.
12 Aug 2008 23:06
The Percy Arms Hotel, Otterburn
Friendly staff and well placed to stop between Newcastle and Edinburgh on a prettier road than the A1.
No real beer stocked, John Smith is the only ale. Food is fine when you just need to eat.
12 Aug 2008 23:00
My only visit to a Cambridge pub while staying last week. Think we chose a doozy. Nice pint of Elgood's Black dog for me and a fine pint of Old Wag for the better half. Good beer garden and menu looked good but we had no time to eat.
12 Aug 2008 22:54
Great selection, both real ale and continental bottles. But chaotic serving style, though last visit was a saturday afternoon.
Pint (a honey beer) was a bit tepid, bit too warm and flat - like a jug poured ale of yonder. Better pints to be had but must be the biggest selection - worth the visit.
18 May 2008 23:43
As a passing punter had a lovely pint of Endeavour that I still rave on about. Only downside, the tall table in the front bar was wobbly and I spilled about 15ml - gutted!
Hope to visit again.
18 May 2008 23:40
Dark mild, yum yum yum! Beautiful tiled interior. Real gem.
18 May 2008 23:37
Brilliant pub, run by a man who knows beer. Foodmenu looks very interesting, not tried yet.
In a city centre full of good real ale pubs (Lion, Ship & Mitre) why would you go out of the centre? For the Baltic that's why!
18 May 2008 23:35
Closed, now Henricks (rude, slow service, poncey clientele)
18 May 2008 23:30
Pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie, pie,pie, pie, pie. Nice real ale had a well kept pint of Schehallion. Did I mention the GREAT pies? Sat afternoon had a few folk in watching the geegees relaxed. I liked the old photos of Corstorphine on the walls.
Oh and the pies are good!
17 May 2008 20:32
We just waited 1 hour for breakfast, which turned up cold, they forgot the tea and orange juice. Service is lousy. No ale to speak of but lager ok. At least the FA cup was being shown.
17 May 2008 20:29
Lager consistent but staff ignore you to thepoint of doubting your own existence.
Variable pricing a pain. Been charged 4 different prices varying by 55p for the same round. Food can be good.
17 May 2008 20:27
An experience. Did a stint working nightshift and we celebrated our last night with a pint of lager shandy in the PB at 7am. Again... an experience!
Cheap and local!
17 May 2008 20:21
Corner pub with a couple of tables in a sunken outside bit, it catches the sun in the afternoon. Not an ale pub but consistent quality of lager and guinness.
17 May 2008 20:18
Had a beautiful pint of well kept ale and cheese toastie. Didn't mind standing for one.
17 May 2008 20:14
Worth finding the dates for their beer festival. They always have a good selection ofwell kept ale. Service is efficient at both bar and food side.
17 May 2008 20:12
The bar is a disgrace. It now looks like a "build your own bland scandic looking bar". No ale, no atmosphere, no way I'm staying here!
17 May 2008 20:09
Generally an ok pub. Good beer selection, food can be hit and miss.
Lovely beer garden if the bad neighbours upstairs aren't complaining. Depending when you visit you'll be battling at the bar with the bankers from round the corner. Some nights 3 or 4 leaving dos from RBS can make it a pain to be served.
17 May 2008 20:07
I was going to rate this based on the good beer, good service, laid back atmosphere. NowIcan add less Americans if the boycott works - bonus! Only joking :)
Seriously this is a goodplace, I speak to more strangers in this bar than any other, it's just friendlier.
Great selection of ale, always something new to try. Only down sideis it's popularity, never get a seat!
17 May 2008 20:04
Still has a good all day breakfast. So it is nicknamed "Pretty Naff", I can't help but like it. No ale but friendly staff.
Please please please sort the toilets out! Even on a lunchtime they are like an open sewer in a war zone!
17 May 2008 20:00
Still fab burgers. Guest beer always interesting (and well kept) and good wine list. Can't fault the consistency of this bar. It's where I met my beloved so it has a special place in my heart.
17 May 2008 19:57
Good to here the toilet debacle is fixed! Saves wading through sewage spilling from the gents as I did a year ago. Now if they can sort the bar staff out so they aren't so bloomin slow!
Food is generally ok, ale is passable, service in the past off putting.
17 May 2008 19:54
Just can't like this place. Tendancy for the clientele to have an ale snob feel yet they put up with a mediocre pancake flatness to the beer.
I just don't get the fuss. There are better pints to be had in Edinburgh.
17 May 2008 19:50
After one visit and one pint of ale I'm hooked! Lovely atmosphere and excellent pint. Really shows up the more "talked about" Bow Bar.
17 May 2008 19:48
Been done up and lost its charm imho. Menu expanded beyond the pies, so it's now a run of the mill pub not worth travelling to but good for a nice pint if you are passing. Beer still seems to be treated well.
17 May 2008 19:45
Can't beat the burritos and the margartitas are fine to. Nice unpretentious bar. Hard to get a lunchtime table.
17 May 2008 19:43
I like this pub. Guinness and Deuchars IPA has always been well kept and served well.
Sunday morning brunch isreally good. One of the best value mealsin Edinburgh!
17 May 2008 19:39
I too "want" to like this pub. But the ales I have had in the last three visits (Jan, Mar & May 08) have been flat and lifeless. More often than not the bar staff pour until any head that develops is sliding down the glass to the floor. Ladies are annoyingly up stairs and often less than clean.
17 May 2008 19:35
Wetherspoons, Edinburgh Airport
The old Wetherspoons has closed and the new Wetherspoon's called The Sir Walter Scott has sprung up in it's place. It's in the model of a wood panelled library a bit packed with tables. Gorgeous selection of real ale. I don't bother with the lounges anymore, just grab a snug, a tasty pint and a snack.
1 Feb 2010 23:00