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Blarney Stone
Categories: Nightlife Dance Clubs Nightlife Bars Pubs Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Dance Clubs, Pubs, Music Venues [Edit]
216 Carrall StVancouver, BC V6B 2J1
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 687-4322
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 2 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 3 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ages Allowed:
- 18+
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Blarney Stone
Review Highlights
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"...mixes Irish (and other) folk songs with classic rock covers." In 3 reviews -
"although, the bartenders were awesome too." In 7 reviews -
"The have a mix of traditional irish music and today's hits..." In 11 reviews
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2012
It's a great, safe place to have drinks--for some reason, i just feel safer here than the mayhem that can erupt on granville, agree? lol
the irish feel, live band, it's a great place to hang without the pretentiousness.
Surprisingly, it's part of Dine Out Vancouver, so I may consider giving it a try. They're also under same ownership as Whet resto on Granville Island, so they should know a thing or two about food, lol.
Stay tuned. -
Review from Hootie J.
Vancouver, BC
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been going to the Blarney for almost 30 years an the two of us have changed for better over the years.
In her current rendition she is big bright and clean, food is ok drinks are predictable -
Review from Daniel Y.
Vancouver, BC
12/17/2011
It's like your typical pub, but this place shines at night. It can get super crazy with everyone partying, but one thing I'm so annoyed about though is the live music. I get that it's an Irish pub and that sort of music is expected, but come on! They were playing really old-school music (and not the good kind!) and the pub was practically filled with 20-25 year-olds! What were they thinking?! Wake up! This isn't your old-folks home annual dance-off! Just stick with your relevant DJ!
Other than the bad music, the pub offers good food and a large selection of liquor for relatively low prices. -
Review from Katie S.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2011
If I could, I'd give the Blarney Stone a 3 1/2. It's a pretty solid place and I usually have fun there.
It's got a good layout and I love the "Irishness" (even if it's not that authentic). The band is awesome and really gets the crowd going.
My only complaint? Other than Friday and Saturdays, the place is deserted. Like dismally empty, so weeknight parties, steer clear of this locale!
Overall, a fun bar in Gastown. I've gone many times and I'll go many times more! -
Review from Krista V.
Vancouver, BC
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I know this place is mainly hip with first year uni students and backpackers. As a late twentysomething, I fall under neither category anymore (sigh). So this wouldn't be my first choice of bar to come to with friends.
However, we were looking for somewhere to watch the Canucks vs San Jose and every other bar in the area was rammed a good hour before the puck dropped. The Blarney Stone actually still had space!
Combined with cheap pub food and pitchers under $15, not a bad place to watch.
It also helps that this place is literally a 20 second walk from our flat. Sweet! -
Review from Warren M.
10/4/2011
Dropped in for a mid-afternoon beer simply because of the name. Almost had the place to ourselves. Lovely Irish waitress. Good to have a HARP after so many local brews.
Never looked at menu but feel it would be more a great place for younger 30 something's to hang out at night. Great bar ambiance, wood walls, balcony overlooking The main floor. Several outside tables with open doors do the next tier of tables feels outside too.
GREAT PLACE FOR A BEER, OR TWO, OR MORE! -
Review from Nicole F.
4/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Woah. WOAH!
So the Blarney Stone has a log of DEEP FRIED Mac and Cheese. I'm not even joking a little bit.
I ate the shit out of this deep fried log of delicious on Wednesday night. I actually did need a bit of help with it, especially since I had stolen some of the nachos and about half the cheese platter that was ordered by someone else at our table earlier on. It comes with a salad smothered in ranch dressing but I'm sure most of you don't care about a salad if you're ordering deep fried cheese pasta.
The nachos were alright, but my heart belongs to the Foundation's nachos. Nothing will ever compare, and I've accepted that. The cheese platter seemed like kind of a joke, but it's cheese and I didn't pay for it.
In the past I tried their Kilkenny Tofu which was so spicy that it was actually pretty unpleasant and I decided not to eat it, I never reviewed that because the waitress was nice enough to take it off the bill for us and I felt bad about writing a review based on that alone.
I would probably never come to the Blarney Stone to "go clubbing" on a weekend because I am not a fan of standing in line to get into a place where I'll hate everyone. During the week it's pretty great though just for kicking back with a friend and having a few drinks. Nights like that remind me of why I like the Blarney Stone. Also, it's fun to watch creepy guys who are poorly dressed hunt down girls to hit on. Really? You think you're gonna take a girl home in those dirty running shoes? Okay. Cool.Listed in: Mac and Cheese-aholics!
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Review from Siri W.
6/21/2011
Yeah, I go here. And yeah, it's fairly regularly. And yeah, I have definately experienced better. But damn it if I don't always have a good time at this place, against all odds.
The Blarney Stone is kind of an anomaly. Cover is a lot for what you get. It's always packed to the brim with first year University students and vaguely creepy older dudes scoping them out. The band is ancient and has the exact same set list that they do not deviate from under any circumstance - seriously, don't ask. The bars are almost impossible to get to and the bartenders ain't always the most attentive. The food is pretty bland. And please God don't ever go in on a non-Saturday and see it with the lights on or you might never come back.
That being said - this place seems to bring out the fun side of people. How can you NOT have fun bouncing up and down to an Irish jig? (It's really hard to dance sexy to an Irish jig, I'm just saying.) And for that, I must give the Blarney Stone props.
And you know what? Despite all my griping, you'll probably see me there again soon!Listed in: Oh, Oh the Places I Go
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Review from Lisa C.
6/16/2011
Well, when I found out they had deep fried Mac and Cheese - I was in love. YUM! Tasted just as good as it sounds :)
The service was good, and the atmosphere is awesome. I love this place! It also a nicely sized bar - with 2 floors. I prefer the top floor so I can watch the band and be close to the bar. -
Review from Allison F.
4/7/2011
Oh the Blarney Stone. A timeless choice. We came here when we first turned 19 and then again last weekend. There's always a wide age range of patrons and so you don't feel like you're partying with babies or seniors. I like how they've renovated the front area so there's another bar location choice. Staff is always very helpful and they have a wide range of drinks available.
Weekends have their live band, playing covers of all kinds. The DJ music in between sets provides rock music to dance to and so it's a nice alternative to your top 40 bars.
Cover is super high for Vancouver at $12 and so make sure you get your night's worth. Lines move quickly, especially at the start of the night, as they like to keep people outside to make it look popular. If you're a dude, get ready for a pat down at the front door! Wheeeee! -
Review from Brian W.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2011
Went to their Early New Years Eve Celebration with the Town Pants band. It was a good time, however, we arrived earlier than 8 pm to get in free but were hassled later by the band for a cover charge. I didn't mind paying it however.
The thin crust Veggie Pizza was really good, it was easily foldable to make it into a sandwich, which I've never really done before as pizza isn't able to make that happen easily. It worked out really well. It was delicious.
A big downside is that they don't take DEBIT CARDS. They make you pay high fees during their in-house atm machine which every business seems to have.
I have nothing else to say, except go to next years celebration! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Vancouver, BC
7/28/2011
I ended up here for dinner one Friday night when my friend and I couldn't get in anywhere else. I'm not a big fan of the new renovations. I liked this place better when it was a dirty crazy little bar where you would go when you really wanted to make out with someone! It feels like it is trying to be chic but fails terribly. The waitresses were horrible and barely gave me the time of day. They would ignore me as they flaunted their massive breasts and little skirts in front of all the male customers. We ended up staying to listen to the live band which seems to be the only thing that hasn't changed at all. Live Irish music is just so danceable. The only problem is the dance floor is full of 19 year old punks who can't handle their alcohol and ended up puking everywhere. Sigh.
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Review from Barry M.
7/20/2010
The only experience I've had is being manhandled trying to exit via the front door and asked to re-enter and exit via the side door. When there was no one in the lineup at the front except the bouncer...... wat
Maybe you're used to dealing with drunk douches. But I don't think I've ever received that kind of treatment even on Granville Street.Listed in: Bar-ry's List of Bars and…
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Review from Joanna F.
8/30/2011
I went here on Tuesday night with my cousin. It was pretty dead, but hey, it's a Tuesday night. The food is not too bad. Our server was a lil' rude. I really don't have much to say about it. My cousin says it's more fun on the weekend nights. I'll trust her judgement on that.
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Review from Kevir K.
North Vancouver, BC
4/19/2011
This if the fifth part in a five part evening. Part four was The Irish Heather.
We walked out of The Heather and debated what to do. At 2:20 I walked up to the door man and asked what it would take for me and my friends to get in (hinting that we would like to get past the line). He asked what time it was, I told him, and he indicated to wait until 2:30 so we could avoid the cover. We hung out on the street and watched the drama of a couple being ejected. I laughed out loud, hard and maniacally as I normally do, at some bar star (at the Blarney of all places) threatening the Blarney staff that she has "friends" and knows "cops" that will make their lives "difficult". She was mildly called a bitch by one staff member, and she complained to the manager. I'm surprised she wasn't called worse, since I wouldn't have held back about how much of a c**t she was. I talked to the doorman after she left and suggested he encounters about ten or so like her in an evening. Turns out it was about eight that night. He let us in a few minutes early without cover.
We walked in and immediately sat at the front bar. It was great service in that we had two bartenders and one busser for us. We ran into the manager from The Heather and had a drink with him. We were served pretty much until 3:00. The bartenders didn't have an issue with us sitting and enjoying our drinks after they turned the lights on. However, a bouncer came by about 3:10 and gave us a ten minute warning.
As we were heading out, we asked another bouncer about where we could keep the party going. He suggested a place on Granville. We hopped in a cab and were served another couple of rounds. but I will be keeping it a secret for the time being. I don't want to ruin it for those of us who know about the place.Listed in: MJP's Stag
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Review from Shawn G.
Lloydminster, SK
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pitcher of kieths and a decent sized Mediterranean pizza for $20.. how can you go wrong? Great atmosphere...
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Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
10/20/2008 1 photo
The Blarney Stone in Vancouver's scenic and historic Gastown features two storeys and a live band that mixes Irish (and other) folk songs with classic rock covers. Song requests are welcome, so don't be too shy to ask for your favourite tune.
The lineup usually begins to form around 9:30 p.m. The crowd is mixed, with mainly college kids packing the place on weekend nights.
Cover is between $8 and $10, with drinks running about $5 per pint. Check out the twoi-for-one shooters at the upstairs bar. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2008
I'm almost giving this three stars as a mid-twenties, quiet guy. As a late-teens early twenties college party dude I would have probably given this five stars. So I'll settle at 4.
This appeal of this bar is definitely the size. Lots of people (it's frequently busy with a line) and lots of space to sit or dance. There's often live music though it ranges from irish-y to non-irish-y to the point of confusion. Still enough of the standards to get your feet moving. There's also all the pool and nice long bars you'd expect from a pub atmosphere.
This was also THE place for birthdays when I was younger. And not only for the party atmosphere and ability to hold large groups but for the shot bar in the back. You could definitely cook up some deadly birthday concoctions there.
So for the young or young at hart looking for a real college party atmosphere, a trip to the Blarney Stone definitely can't hurt. -
Review from Tim L.
8/25/2008
If you went to The Cambie in first and second year, then you probably migrated towards the Blarney Stone in your third and fourth.
A slightly more mature crowd populates this place on a happening night and still keeps that casual vibe where everyone is just there to have a good time and drink and dance.
There's plenty of unpretentious people here and as a result I've met a lot of great people who are now friends.
It's easy to get drinks as the bartenders serve things up quickly and are efficient with the crowd. -
Review from jim g.
Burnaby, BC
1/2/2011
I stopped in here once for drinks when the next door Heather looked a bit full for my tastes. Luckily I was carrying cash as the bartenders expect a pay-as-you-go method. Speaking of the staff, they were amazingly friendly and talkative and showed a genuine interest in their conversations with the patrons.
Plus, it was the first time I've drank with a homeless guy...I really dig inclusive joints and this was pretty cool. -
Review from M S.
Vancouver, BC
11/4/2010
Blarney Stone is a terrible joke of a drinking establishment. Honestly. If you want a place that commits highway robbery with its cover charges (a jokes concept for this kind of place in itself) and drink prices, then look no further.
The bar itself has an atmosphere that can be described as consistently below par. The drink specials are lame shooters with barely any alcohol contained within, and their beer tastes consistently watery. But I suppose the weak drinks are consistent with the majority of its clientele and waitstaff, which generally made me feel like I had entered a timewarp back to high school, where all these washed up suburbanites and underagers still maintained some modicum of significance.
The interior of the bar itself is a failed attempt at charm. I can see what they were going for with the wood everywhere, but this choice of material has only facilitated the soaking in of spilt beer, and as a result, everything in the place always smells like piss. It doesn't matter where you are. The bar. The washroom. The tables. The dance floor. Next to anyone in the place. PISS. on every surface.
And I would forgive this fact if Blarney were cheap and/or fun. But it's neither. Last time I went there was a man who looked 85 playing an accordion and a bunch of people doing a jig on stage. Maybe this is just some sort of caucasian ritual I don't understand, but forgive me if I don't find this to be appropriate drinking music. It was no fun.
Nothing about this place is worthwhile. The waitstaff is also slow and not particularly friendly to make up for their general laziness and crappy bar. -
Review from Lauren N.
12/7/2008
The Blarney Stone is certainly an interesting hangout in the middle of Gastown. It's a little bit of Irish pub mixed with urban Vancouver dance club -- a strange combo indeed! But it pulls it off pretty well, and everyone there seems to be having a good time.
It was unlike any club I've been to so far, that's for sure. It didn't take us long to get in, and once we got in, it was nearly impossible to manoeuvre around. The place was packed! You literally had to squeeze your way through everywhere.
There are two floors, with the bar and small dance-floor on the main level, and additional seating on the upper level. Anyone who has had a bit to drink is cautioned on going up the stairs, because they are quite high and steep.
The night really got going when they started playing Great Big Sea and almost everyone on the dance-floor was jumping up and down, the guys with a great big pitcher of beer in one hand. Being of small size, I was terrified of being trampled to death -- if you're like me, all you can really do to save yourself is keep moving with the crowd. Otherwise you probably will get trampled.
I like that the crowd isn't made up of teeny boppers, and it has a more relaxed atmosphere, rather than the usual feel of a sweaty meat market like most dance clubs. The music was good, the kind that makes you wanna dance like you're jumping on a trampoline, but not really shake your booty. Personally, I prefer the latter kind. So overall, a good experience, but I'm still unsure if it's converted me to a pub-ish kind of club just yet. -
Review from oliver j.
Surrey, BC
11/14/2010
COCKROACHES, BRUTAL STAFF, PRICES HIGH = DO NOT GO THERE!!!!
As I approached the bar with 3 female friends the bouncers started whistling and making cat calls at the girls making them extremely uncomfortable. If we hadn't been meeting people there we would have walked right by, however talking to the bartender I discovered that the guy out front making inappropriate comments was in fact the owner of the bar.
While talking to the bartender I also noticed a group of cockroaches on a plate of half eaten food sitting on the bar. The bartender laughed about it and said, "ya we have a really big problem with cockroaches but that's noting you should see the size of the rats in here!" At that point in time we paid for our overpriced drinks (did not drink them) and found our friends to all leave as a group.
The crowd in there was grossly over served (guys walking around drinking from a jug of beer and no glasses) and incredibly young. It felt like we were at a houseparty with a bunch of highschoolers drinking for the first time. I am pretty sure half of the girls in there were no where near 19. The band members are so old they look like they could loose someone at any given moment (80+ years each) and I could write an entire review on the disgusting puke ridden state of the bathrooms alone.
I will NEVER go back and neither will anyone in my party, the owner should concern himself with the cockroach problem instead of focusing all of his energy on creeping out girls. -
Review from Hannah-Rose B.
Maple Ridge, BC
4/22/2010
Just a quickie.
I'm gonna say I'm a fan, based on the fact that I enjoy the live band (great if you want to listen to random jigs thrown in with some pop and rock), the service is friendly, and there is plenty of space to get off the dance floor for my left-footed friends. Not sure on the price (I'm never paying somehow) but my cheap buddies always want to hang here for the pitchers.
Yeah I'm 22, but I enjoy fun music, good beer, and a place that accomodates my party-friends and my chill-friends equally.
GO BLARNEY! -
Review from Sarah O.
6/14/2009
Someone must've gotten shot in here recently because the security here is pretty strict! They required 2 pieces of ID, bag search and a very thorough pat-down. And then to add to my stupefaction, they made me do the one thing I am too spoiled to do: pay cover charge.. BOOHOO! Saturday night's drink special was $4.25 canadian pint.. but they add "tax" and it comes out to $5. What's up with that???? I agree with some of the other reviews, the crowd is very young.. I felt very old until I saw an old man and I thought everything was going to be okay.. and then 5 minutes later, I see him on stage with his band playing Irish Jigs. This is as Irish of a pub you can get.. the live Irish music was pretty refreshing to hear but I had to leave after awhile because let's face it, jumping around in a crowd for 2 hours don't do it for me. Also, the pool table is an epic fail.. the space is so small that your poolstick hits the wall when you shoot.
All in all.. its just a typical pub with young kids, nothing special. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
6/27/2010 1 photo
Okay - since Three Lions Pub didn't have the best TV setup during our last football outing - my friends and I went to Blarney Stone to watch England implode against Germany. My buddy was excited since BS (teehee) was touted as 'England House 2010'.
It certainly had the right atmosphere with the crowd even more riled up and the host being the most vocal fan in the crowd. Also, there wasn't a bad seat in the house as there were plenty of TVs everywhere. However, a few sticking points with me:
(1) We had a 'priority guestlist' - which meant we got in before people that just showed up without reservations. However, there was plenty of space and way less crowded than Three Lions - the reason? $5 cover charge. REALLY? You're gotta squeeze people for a cover even when they are showing up at 6AM to eat your crappy breakfast? That leads me to the second point...
(2) The $9 English Breakfast was laughably lame - one small piece of banger sausage, rock-hard bread, 'grilled' tomatoes that looked microwaved, mushy beans, a couple of eggs and some half-decent home fries. Sure Three Lions was more expensive, but their English breakfast beat the pants off this one. A humiliating defeat coupled with a crummy breakfast (even for bar food) leaves a bad taste.
(3) So, I know it's a bar - but it's 7AM and people want coffee. After our first round of refills, I asked the waitress for more coffee and she informed me that the coffee machine was broken and they were boiling water to put through the machine. No problem - I can wait. When I came back from the half smoke break - all our coffee cups were bussed away and no one else in the bar got more coffee.
Other than the coffee thing, there were plenty of staff on hand and they were very attentive and quick to correct when they mixed up our orders (for some reason, some of our plates were missing bacon). A pretty good atmosphere and the paparazzi even showed up to get comments and reactions from the crowd after the game.
However, lame food and even lamer cover charge. Reading the other reviews, it seems like cover charge is the norm here. A shame really as some of the advertised drink specials looked cheap and the decor and atmosphere has potential. Oh well. -
Review from Darien C.
BC
11/17/2008
Blarneystone is a classic Van joint and a haven of college kids and weathered drunks alike. Having been around long before I, Blarneystone has made a great name for themselves as a place to drink, dance and mingle. The iconic of the iconic Irish pubs in Vancouver, they blow lesser facsimiles like Doolin's or Ceili's out of the loch. The place is two floors with plenty of bar space and seating. On some nights you may be fortunate to catch Kilarney playing. This band has been here for decades and always plays the same classic rock songs. I don't say this as a negative. A place like this thrives on its predictability. Have some beers and dance to some solid rock covers, hell you can predict the set list if you go often enough. Blarneystone is a great place to have a few and meet new people. Pretension remains at the door.
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Review from Sheridan P.
7/15/2009
this place was over-crowded with guys pushing girls out of the way for a place at the bar. the security outside were the probably nicest people there! although, the bartenders were awesome too.
fun music, but the ratio of good ol' hot people to"d-bag type men with barely legal young [skanks]" sucks . (thanks for the on-point description, dan f. as you can see, i did take one liberty.) -
Review from Daniella F.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2009
Blarney Stone has a fratty feel, and by fratty I mean older d-bag type men with barely legal young women. Awesome bartenders, though!
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
4/18/2010
I heard that this place use to be a hole in the wall - grundgy, dirty, and not my kind of place.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I was told that a bunch of friends were going so I wasn't going to say no.. besides it would be an experience right?
There was a mini lineup just after 10pm and there was a cover charge of $10 - boo! There was live music playing as I walked and it seemed pretty festive inside. The live music didn't suit my tastes in the beginning but I thought what the heck - i love live music! The bartenders were nice and drinks weren't shabby either!
After the band went off... the top 40 music came on and I was loving it! I wasn't paying attention to the back the bar but the place is HUGE. The dance floor is a large space and many long tables for groups to sit at.
Screens are available for TV watching and there is also an upstairs with more booths and tables for people to enjoy the entertainment. I was quite surprised at the overall size of the space and service and I just wish that there were more friends who would want to go and dance with me.. because the people I was with wanted to just "chill" which is cool too.
I see myself coming back to this place very soon.......... -
Review from Junior A.
2/2/2009
The best bar in Vancouver by far. The have a mix of traditional irish music and today's hits being spun by DJs. Try the local Granville Island Honey Lager...I wish that I could get that stuff in the U.S.
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Review from Jennifer W.
3/27/2010
It's a little offputting to know that this place charges a cover and a pricey one at that, but at least I went on a fundraiser night so my cover money went to a good cause. They've got live music. Apparently, the same band plays almost every night. They were good and the mix was pretty varied. Sometimes they played traditional Irish folk songs that make you want to jump into a jig, but other times they play classic rock covers that make you want to sing along. Then there are times when they play something that just makes you question why they thought it was a good idea to play it. When there is no band on stage, they play a mix of popular pop or rock songs. The music selection here is quite interesting to say the least. The bartenders are cool and approachable. They do pitchers here. The pints come in either mugs or glasses. The restrooms were super clean and had multiple stalls. There is an upstairs that is a bit quieter, but further from all the action. One thing I'll have to say is that the place is too big. I do wish it was a half the size it is because it could be more intimate. There were many tables, but they were set far apart from each other. There were also big loungey armchairs too. There is a dancefloor, but it did not get much action that night. Overall, it's a nice place to hang out.
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Review from Nick S.
Vancouver, BC
10/31/2010
Terrible service, and security was very forceful. Made myself and my partner feel very out of place. We paid cover charge, yet felt like we were criminals entering the bar. Management decided on embarrassing one girl to make one person feel better when announcing a best dressed award. Very immature!!! Would expect that kind of behavior at a primary school disco! Will not go back there again, and will spread the word to not head there! Prices are too high, and service low.
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Review from i i.
6/27/2010
They expressed that they were newly implementing a brunch menu. I had the pleasure of order huevos rancheros that was served so cold it was beyond edible. The reason I give the place a rating of 3 stars is because the service was really good as far as handling the complaint. They have good drink specials and the set up is great for drinking and watching sports but I think I'd avoid the eggs and just stick to traditional bar food.
