The George Harcourt Inn

Last Saturday, my wife and I went to the George Harcourt Inn that’s over at Gold Creek.

I wanted to check it out after a recommendation from a mate. He told me, its a good place to sink a couple of pints.

So my wife and i rock up at about 8pm, walked to the start of the beer garden and this is where it starts to get fun.

Ever see those movies where somebody walks into a bar and as soon as they do, every thing stops. All the patrons stop what they are doing and stare at you, the music stops, you know the “what the hell are you doing here?” welcome.

Well that is exactly what we got. Everyone in the courtyard just stop chatting and stared at us as we walk by and into the Inn itself. Inside was not much better.

The Inn itself is quiet small with only about 8 tables (biggest would sit 4 or six if you are friendly). A band was setting up in the corner and people were at the bar.
The place was fairly full of people but with only a couple at the bar in front of us.

Once I made it to the bar the barkeep asked how could he help. As it was our first time, I simply said we were after some food and not sure what the set up was here.

The barkeep was less then enthused to tell us what the deal is and even astonished that my wife would order a couple of pints at the same time. So out put was the barkeep that when I asked for the house special, Speckled Hen Ale, he gave the expression “you gotta be kidding me, that pours like Kilkenny so I’ll be here forever”.

No a good start for a new patron.

After finally finding a table (the was a party on that booked 50% of the tables and it was a full house) we sat awaiting our meals.

One hour later, one of the barkeeps came out and asked if we were still waiting for our food. Answer was simple - Yes, yes we are.
Ohh I got ahead of myself a bit. When we order our meals, I was impressed to see some decent almost restaurant quality meals available (I was expecting pub meals). My wife ordered the Steak and I ordered the Veal , paid and walked away. Five minutes later a different barkeep came out (the best one of the lot) and informed us that they were out of the Beef and Veal. After trying 3 other dishes, we finally found one that they still had stock of, Chicken Kiev and Grilled Salmon.

The meals themselves were quiet delicious. the Kiev had the most garlic butter sauce I had ever seen, the salmon was done just right and both salads were filling with a delicious dressing.

Overall, what can I say about the Harcourt Inn.

If you were to drink a pint or several on a regular basis, you would be accepted as a regular and I think treated better by the staff. The problem with that is, they do not give you the right impression the 1st time and hardly encourage you to come back.

It is a good place to good with a couple of mates to sink a couple of pints after work but not a place you would go for a meal (food was good just not the right atmosphere).
I will go back there for pints of beer maybe once a week to become a regular. Mainly because they are 5mins from where I live but it isn’t a place I would go for a meal or a night out on the piss.

Food: Tasty with a surprising large range…when available

Bar: Small range of On Tap beer

Regular: Good place to have a few pints after work only.

Overall: