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St. Augustine's
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 1 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
54 reviews for St. Augustine's
Review Highlights
"It's a great way to enjoy a craft beer."
(in 6 reviews)
"...big reason I keep coming back are the Monday Cask nights."
(in 3 reviews)
"...within a short crawl of the Commercial Skytrain station."
(in 4 reviews)
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54 reviews in English
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Review from Esther G.
Vancouver, BC
2/9/2012
REALLY liked this place. But then again, their pilsners were on special for $4.95, and the wings were $4.50/pound on Wednesday nights. The rest of the menu is pretty high, so we definitely got value.
One knock on them is that they don't serve pitchers. Why not? Makes no sense to me.
The wings -- though tiny in size -- were hot, promptly served and really good. We got the salt and pepper (way better than it sounds), teriyaki and tamari-ginger. Yum.
There was a good crowd too, not overly loud and obnoxious and just a good atmosphere. Will have to come again and try their never-ending list of craft beer. -
Review from Jack L.
Kensington-Cedar Cottage, Vancouver, BC
Updated - 1/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Hi Anthony , I went to St. Augastine's for the pro bowl and was having a really good time with my friend and they were showing the game on 2 tvs and they were showing the Canada/ US soccer match at the bar tv's and then at half time for football they changed all tv's to soccer . I was so mad and let the server know and she said the bartender is new. This is the second time this excuse is used. The food is excellent and the servers are great but for sports, I will not recommend this place to anyone that likes NFL.this the second time I have given your business a chance to be a sports bar.
I have lived in this neighborhood for a long time and will surely tell everyone I know to spread the word to not go to your bar for sports......they'll change the channel in the middle of the game!
There are plenty of bars in the area who will show me some respect along with the game. What the hell!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/20/2011
Went for a nfl football game and they wouldn't change even one tv for a Seahawks game. U suck and I… Read more »
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Review from Tessa B.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
BEWARE! Their nachos come with the Sour Cream and Guacamole drizzled all over the nachos, not dipping style. So if you're not a fan of either of those, or of dripping sauces all over yourself, maybe ask for it on the side. Maybe.
The nachos were really all I had, so I guess that's all I can contribute. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT, OKAY?! -
Review from Purdy J.
1/5/2012
St. Augustine's has a wonderful, large selection of craft beer... One of the best in vancouver. Food is pretty standard bar food. They do know how to make yam fries.. Crispy and not too salty! However, it seems a bit overpriced for $8.
Friendly service with nicely renovated bathrooms. The atmosphere is lacking but there are tons of seating and TVs galore!
Small pet peeve: They serve 16 oz pints, the US measurement and I believe a pint should be 20oz, the imperial measurement.
5 stars for beer, 2.75 stars for food, 2.5 stars for atmosphere...A Perfect place to get amazing beer and watch a game with friends.Listed in: Craft Beer Heaven in Vancouver
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Review from Shannon B.
Coquitlam, BC
I love this place. It is currently my favourite place to eat and drink in all of Vancouver.
I had been here about a dozen times before writing this review and I can say I've never really been disappointed. The staff is great and the food is simply amazing - I've only had a few items from the menu but every time it was excellent. The chicken burger is my most favourite. The only negative about St. Augustine's (and it's HARDLY a big deal) is that service can be slow on busy nights; but I can't hold that against them because I would expect anywhere to have slow service when it's packed full on a game night.
Another thing: beer. Oh my God beer. I am NOT a "beer person". My knowledge of beers is to the extent of "give me something light that I can't taste. I don't care what is is or where it's brewed". St. Augustine's has opened my eyes. The first time I went there I tried 'The Paddle' which is, well, a wooden paddle with a sample glass of 4 beers of your choice. After that I was hooked. Their beer menu is expansive and different every time I go in. They have many seasonal, local, and even in house brewed beers. One neat thing I like is how they have a big flat screen TV above the bar that continuously runs through all their available beers, while showing how much is left - once it runs out, it's gone and removed off the menu.
This great pub is on the more expensive side of a moderately priced hang out, thus preventing me from going there every God damn day. A meal and a couple of drinks usually runs me $30-$60, depending on how boozy I get. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I've said before that I love St. Augustines, but I think it's fair to reiterate my love for this place and their beer.
I popped by for a tasting of the Storm and Russel Brewing "Big Smoke" and it was lovely.
The atmosphere in St Augustines is so welcoming and cosy it was the perfect place to drop in to on a cold and frosty fall evening.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2011
Amazing. Want to know why this place is amazing, because it has amazing local beer.
When I go out… Read more »
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Review from Nicole F.
12/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Shannon B. introduced me to St. Augustine's a few weeks back when we met up for some drinks.
I've been slowly learning more and more about beer and which types of beer I enjoy in the last year, so browsing their drink menu was rather exciting. I tried the paddle with the 4 samples of your choice. My favourites were the Fat Tug IPA which has a wonderfully strong grapefruit scent and a great citrus flavour, and the Valley Trail Chestnut Ale by Whistler Brewing. OH MY GAWD. This is the best beer I've ever had in my life, and oddly, it smells like baked goods. I was absolutely heartbroken to discover they were out of it the last time I was there, so I ordered some GIB Winter Ale and felt a little better.
I love the big screen that shows you how much of each draft beer they have left. So handy, I feel dumb for not having noticed it the first time I was there.
On my last visit the other week I had pretty much the best waitress ever. She was so funny and helped me gang up on my friend and tease him. Awesome.
Another thing - I usually HATE yam fries, but whatever the yam fries at St. Augustine's are seasoned with totally works for me. I am of the opinion that fries should be salty, no matter what kind of root vegetable they are made of. These were salty. They were AWESOME. -
Review from Peter L.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2012
If you are into beer than this place would be nirvana for you. Over 40 different craft brews on tap. Not being much of a beer drinker this wasn't such a big draw for me, although I was impressed with "The Plank." A board with your choice of 4 of the draught brews for 8.50 - I thought it was reasonably priced and liked the ability to try some of the specialty brews before I sprang for a full pint.
The food was good, menu selection is fairly limited but I'm ok with that, I'd rather a restaurant concentrates on doing a few items well.
I had the burger, was a good size and juicy. The bun was especially good. The fries were also very nice, perfectly salted and also with a generous sprinkling of pepper.
All in all a very solid 3 stars, although it is a bit pricey for what you get. -
Review from Ramon V.
Beer! Beer! Beer!
What else do you want to know? For all I care, they could only have bread and butter on the food menu and I'd still be happy.
It may not be the best drinking room in town, but it's certainly one of the better, and it raises the bar for other pubs in the vicinity. Here's why it shines. Each of their 40+ beers on tap is displayed as a lovely graphic on large LCD TVs with name, colour and a real time depiction of the keg level, 12 at a a time. See my pictures, and you'll see the future. Smaller monitors are even on display above the urinals so that you can pre-plan your next pint while the previous one makes its exit. I'm just glad that said keg doesn't slowly fill back up while you're doing your business. Yes I went there.
Not sure? Order a flight and sample 4 beers at a time.
Not rich? Go on a Tuesday and save a buck a beer.
It's a largish sized venue, good for groups. And it's right next to a Skytrain station. How much more responsible can you possibly be? They have a somewhat typical pub food menu to suit most tastes, albeit slightly higher priced than many bars.
ps. Bread and butter as a menu item. Why not? Seriously.Listed in: Yelp's 30-day Challenge, Beer!
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Review from Aaron S.
9/8/2011 ROTD 12/19/2011
Well I feel like an ass for riding over this place on the train and looking down on it without really knowing what was inside. You see no good can come from the Broadway and Commercial area. It's a square area where the skids that escaped from the DTE and got too lazy to go all the way to Burnaby got stuck. They just planted their asses right there and said "no further!" So I wrongly assumed it was just some crappy bar in a crappy part of town.
It whats on the inside that counts and whats inside is a whole lot of beer. Too much really. Sure that statement is going to make some angry but I was overwhelmed by the selection. Luckily they had a paddle to fix that problem. Since they only have the finest craft beers from all over you don't feel like you're getting ripped off. Even better on Tuesdays it's a dollar off the beers on tap. But back to the paddle. Eight fitty gets you four sample sizes of anything they have from the kegs. It was a lot of fun trying out all the different kinds and tasting them like we were wine snobs. But I liked that option better than buying a giant glass of something you turn out to hate. Better to sample and then go big. I also liked the fact that they also had Merridale Cider on their list which is a great cidery from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island and worth a try if you don't feel like beer.
Food wise it was hit and miss but I can't say that I was expecting much from a place that has it's focus on beer. We tried the calamari which was terrible and should not be served to humans. But the bucket of chicken dinner that we split between three of us was a winner. Though I'd trade that swimming pool of gravy they included for another side like potato salad.
I enjoyed the flat screen in the bathroom with the current selection of brews and how much was left of each of them in pie chart format. Pee faster they are running low on Raspberry Wheat!!!!! -
Review from David M.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2011
I've been here several times and usually have a good time. Yesterday, we went to enjoy a Seahawks game and have a some brew. We were told that only the Lions would be on every TV, so we went down the street and had a good time somewhere else. A loss for them, a fine afternoon for us.
As an update: I have been back several times in the past week as I was/am a big fan I'd like to revise my rating and make clear that one unhappy visit does not make for a bad place, just a chance to go back and drink more beer. -
Review from Kat S.
9/8/2011
Beer, beer, beer. I like beer. And St. Augustine's has just what I like and lots of it. The selection of craft brews is kick ass. The service was friendly, informative and great. The bucket of chicken was delicious. What more could you ask for? What's that? Sampler paddles with 4 draft beers for $8.50? Yes please! Make that ANY 4 beers they have on tap. Even better. Tuesdays are a $1 off any draft beer and $2 off appies... I have a feeling my Wednesday mornings are going to be rough ones in the future.
I can't recommend the calamari, however. They were soggy and the portion was pretty small, but another table had some nachos and they looked stellar.
Oh, and they are located within a short crawl of the Commercial Skytrain station. Even better! -
Review from Amanda F.
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
What to say about this place?
Well, I've been here 3 or 4 times since moving to East Van, and I wanted to review it before I leave Vancouver (sob!) and move over to England (win!)
It's got a kickass selection of local (and delicious) brew, and some unique beers that I hadn't tried before visiting. (Raspberry wheat ale? helllooo! ...awesome!)
A major complaint is that the patio isn't bigger. I've gone twice on shinshiney days and been unable to sit outside. Bummer. Also, the appetizer/snack menu is a bit boring compared to the fab beer selection.
In conclustion: Awesome selection of beer, Free WiFi, lots of buzz and energy, and right by the skytrain.
Great little bar, Commercial Drive area is lucky to have it! -
Review from Yvonne Y.
Vancouver, BC
10/5/2011
I was initially excited to try out St. Augustine's after we finish bowling nearby. What a huge dissappointment. Thankfully for medical reasons I was not able to waste $ on a drink. The food here is expensive. 3/6 of us ordered the Turkey Club. None of us liked it much. I was expecting something comforting, except it came with a tangy sauce and the roof of my mouth has been cut up for days now. Their toasted bread was way to hard and it looked like Safeway turkey deli cut. Yam fries were lacking in "meatiness". My friend ordered a Caesar salad and sent it back. They took away our friends finished soda's, without a refill and never asked if they wanted a refill. I just looked at my credit card bill, buyers remorse I tell ya! My T. club was $13 and $2 extra for yam fries. $18 bill, terrible food and service (waitress seemed unhappy to be there).
Positive - they kept our waters filled. Clean tables, comfy stools, renovated washroom
Negative - they took away our friends finished soda's, without a refill and never asked if they wanted a refill. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
9/12/2011
Location + patio + microbrews = hearts and stars. If you like your beer small-batch and local - and a little quirky too - this funny little bar diagonal to the Skytrain (handy, that) is where you want to drop in for a cold one.
I've only been a couple of times while in the midst of some long cross-town bike rides, so I hardly feel qualified to review, such is the mighty list of what's on tap. I see a few names of houses I recognize - Granville Island (but you can get that anywhere), R&B, Phillips, Red Truck - plus breweries from Washington and Oregon, and the Okanagan. (It's a 100-mile wheat and barley diet!) That Apricot Wheat Ale from Cannery Brewing in Penticton is juicy and delicious ... it's on the seasonal taps section now, but here's hoping it lasts. Oh wait, just checked the Live Beer ticker on the St. Augustine website ... 0% left! Nooooo.
Glancing over at the wine list, I also saw a resolutely local selection, mostly Okanagan, but also including one from lovely Vista D'Oro in Langley. But I digress - I'm all about the beer here. And the Drive-diverse people-watching from the patio. And possibly the $9 pizza on Sundays.
St. Augustine's got the goods, now if the only service were a little sharper. -
Review from geoff a.
Vancouver, BC
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
An amazing selection of taps for Vancouver!
The service has definitely become better over the last year (more knowledgeable and friendlier).
The food specials are usually a good affordable choice and tasty. (pizzas are my frequent choice)
It can get pretty loud, and there are too many televisions.
Definitely a good place to avoid when a popular sporting event is on. -
Review from Rheanna F.
Vancouver, BC
7/10/2011
Yelp's definition of a 3 star rating is 'A-OK' and that is exactly what St. Augustine's is. It's good and i'll be back, but i won't be going out of my way for it. Both times the bf and i have ended up here is because our first choice was unavailable and this was the most convenient alternative.
The first time i was here i had a soup and panini. They were alright, but nothing to write home (or yelp) about. My boyfriend had a hamburger that was also... decent. Mostly, i remember that the bathrooms were really, really cold. Like, i should have brought a jacket to pee, it was that cold.
We went back last Wednesday night for cheap wings because Toby's kitchen was closed. St Augustin's gets bonus points for being open a bit later than most joints! We were a bit bummed we hadn't hustled to get to Toby's in time, because St. A's wing special is 40 cents a wing (versus Toby's 25 cent special) and the wings were TINY. Don't get me wrong, 40 cents a wing is still a good deal, but when you know that if you had only left the house a tad earlier you could have eaten the same amount for almost half the cost and had a better portion, it kinda sullies things.
That said, i had a really tasty cider there, and my bf really enjoyed his beer! I would definitely get the cider in bottles if they sold it! (do they? i should have asked) I'm not much of a beer connoisseur, and most likely if i was actually a beer drinker i'd enjoy this place more. Although the inside is pretty bland, the service has always been good and the vibe has been friendly, so this isn't a bad choice. It's not my first choice, but as a second resort, i'm not too butt hurt coming here! -
Review from Elvis A.
8/24/2011
This bar has quite a selection of beers including some seasonal drafts that I have only encountered here on draft. My main reason for coming here was to watch UFC as I didn't realize its hard to find a place without cover showing UFC (Casino lounges are not my preferred choice). It does get really packed though so it might be wise to go early if you are a larger group. Food was average.
I had a burger with a side of sweet potato fries. Nothing memorable. The crowd on both occasions was friendly and and I was given the usual West Coast over East Coast talk (well at least it was better than the TO Vs Other big cities in Canada talk I usually end up having) Not a bad place to watch UFC. -
Review from Ravenas M.
Vancouver, BC
6/24/2011
Beer is awesome. St Augustines has awesome beer. Therefore St. Augustines is awesome. I consider myself something of a beer connoisseur, and the seasonal list keeps me coming back. The sampler option is a great way to get through the seasonal taps in a sitting (with a friend of course), and the regular selection is stocked with my favourite beers (Fruli, Gulden Draak, Crannog Ales). I didn't have to ask the server much as the menu described the beers rather well, but they were able to answer questions I did ask. Much better than some other pubs where the question "what craft beers do you have" is answered with a rather dismal list of pale ales, bleh.
If you really need to eat, or if you're a cicerone in training, the food is pretty good. Not a great selection and a little pricey... If I wanted great food though, I'd go to a place that is dedicated to making great food. For what St. Augustines does, they do it well, for Vancouver. -
Review from Yuri A.
Vancouver, BC
10/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A great bar for beer geeks. 40+ taps (including a great local selection), several of which rotate on a regular basis so there is always a mix of your favourite stand-by's and new styles to try. They have created a warm atmosphere and have embraced technology in a big way. Their live beer menu allows you to check out what's on tap online, so you can check out the new brews or make sure that they aren't tapped out of your preferred ale before heading out.
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Review from Mark H.
Had the brunch munchies, stumbled onto The Drive, saw Brunch on their chalkboard sign and went for it.
When you walk in you are greeted with a copious collection of beers on tap. If you are a beer lover, nothing is more beautiful. The bartender was serving a beer paddle sampler of four beers. Tempting but was a wee bit early for drinking. There's always next time.
Ordered the prosciutto eggs benefit ($9). All brunch dishes come with a bowl of fresh fruit and breakfast potatoes which are served in a cool mini frying basket. Prosciutto was good quality. Photo here: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
I also tried out a bit of the St. Augustine breakfast burrito ($10). What a beast in size. Ample hearty fillings topped with fresh salsa, this will put you through the day for sure.
With cheery service, a modern interior, plenty of TV's, and a beer selection that rivals Biercraft's (formerly Stella's) offerings, St. Augustine has my need covered.Listed in: Brunch Happiness
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Review from Brad T.
Vancouver, BC
5/2/2011
I am so lucky to live in a short stumble to St Agustines.
With over 40 craft beers to choose from on tap, this pub has yet to disappoint me. Every time that I go in the beer menu will be updated with new beers I have never heard of before. A must visit for anybody who claims to like craft beer even a little. If you are a Budweiser fan and prefer to not be able to taste the beer, maybe you should find somewhere else to go.
The service is always great and their new food menu is fantastic. It features a series of delicious "shared plates" which you can choose Flinestone sized ribs to pair with a pale ale or fresh oysters to mix with you wheat beers.
Only drawback I know of is that it does feature UFC nights, so if you are planning to enjoy a local pint, make sure the fights aren't on, or else you will run into a bedazzled crowd. -
Review from Dave M.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why would I give this 4 stars? It's not the kind of 4 stars I'd be giving to The Pourhouse, but here are my reasons:
*The food is pub food and it's average. The price point is reasonable, but they don't claim to have anything amazing food-wise unless you head to one of their special events, which at under $20 a ticket, are solid. Great food deals during the week and you get what you pay for. No false expectations.
* The beer is fantastic. They embrace the experimentation with a cask on Mondays and have the taps in pretty regular rotation to keep things new and fresh. Their systems are well taken care of so you get a good beer with each pint and can enjoy the experience of having something new without worrying about whether it might be flat, etc..
The price point for the beers range from under $5 and go up to $7-$8. You can get a taster of any 4 beers for ~$9.50 (if memory serves). It's a great place for a cheap lager if that's what you're looking for, but the premium price isn't too high either.
The real gem of the beer list is the seasonal selection. Last October you could get a 4-beer sampler of 4 different pumpkin beers. The winter ale list was just as broad.
This is a sports bar as well as a microbrew beer haven. Lots of TVs. It's important to note that UFC trumps Canucks on certain Saturdays so pay attention to that as well.
Service is an ongoing challenge for them, I think. It ranges from average to good and sometimes they totally drop the ball, but this is improving dramatically with time. -
Review from Sarah D.
5/23/2011
I've been to St. Augustine's on a couple occasions, and in short it's a great spot if you're lookin' for a nice pint of craft beer in an unpretentious environment. Their beer list is a couple of pages long, and has something that will appeal to everyone. For the indecisive, you can order a sampler flight of beers, which is always a fun choice. Monday nights are cask nights, where they open and pour extra special brews until they're gone.
The food at St. Augustine's is good -nothing to write home about, but solid choices for when you need sustenance. Their brunch is good, but the highlight truly is the beer menu.
Being so close to the skytrain station, the occasional beggar may wander in asking for change before the staff can usher them out. Ladies, keep an eye on your bags (good advice no matter where you are) and don't leave money to cover your bill on the table. I saw a drifter come in, grab cash off a table, and run out once. Sad, but it's also something us East Vancouverites have become accustomed to. -
Review from Shannon B.
Vancouver, BC
5/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great beer selection, average service.
Only downside...no pitchers of beer. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The food at St Augustine's is nothing to write home about - semi-pricey pub-style fare, it's the same crap you can get at pretty much any cultureless restaurant in Vancouver. But you aren't going there for the food.
St Augustine's has a selection of microbrews on tap that is unrivalled in the neighbourhood. Every Monday they have cask night, where they tap a cask and sell pints of it til it's out. It's a great way to enjoy a craft beer. They also have nightly beer specials, and they offer a four-beer taster that's the same price as a pint. This awesome feature, though unlisted on the menu, allows customers to quell a bit of that overwhelmed feeling that comes from reading a double-sided, tightly-packed beer menu.
For the beer connoisseur of East Van, St Augustine's is a necessary stop.
Oh, by the way, vegans, the veggie burger patty has cheese in it.Listed in: Just One Drink
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Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
St. August-TEEN? Or St. A-Gust-Tin? My East Coast friend insists it's the latter when he recommended this place to me.
I was aware there was a busy little pub near the Broadway/Commercial Skytrain station - but I always scoffed and kept moving to my more familiar haunts on the Drive. The reason why I was prejudiced against this place? UGLY TYPEFACE on the signage. Gothic-style type makes me think of ugly tattoos and uglier t-shirts. Maybe I'm being obsessive-compulsive about fonts, but if 'STOP' signs were in Comic Sans, I would disobey them out of spite.
Venture in and you're handed big 2-sided paper menu. Outside of not being laminated, I thought it was your typical pub menu - full of booze and below-average food enhanced by said booze. However, the entire menu was BEER - nothing but glorious, life-giving, nurturing beer. And it's not that lame shit Fogg N' Suds scam either (where the monster selection is purely bottled and half of the menu is 'sold out') - there are 40 rotating microbrews on tap (hence paper menus) sorted by beer style - with helpful notes on ABV, hoppiness and region. The selection is a bit mind-boggling from light lagers to heart of darkness stouts - with some oddly flavoured choices in between. Pro tip: Heed the warning attached with the 12 Year Black Currant Lambic - "not for the timid" indeed.
If you're not as permanent brain-drunk as I, the $8.50 4-beer sampler is a good option. However, the four ~6 oz. miniature glasses looked too small to properly sample the beers to me. If the sampler was three beers @ ~8 oz., I would have gone for that - and would have been more composed and richer at the end of the night instead of trying drink my way through the entire IPA selection in one sitting.
Taps beers range from about ~$5.50 - ~$7 a sleeve - which is pretty reasonable considering the selection. There is also a small bottled selection - where you can go off the deep end and drop $33 for a bottle of Chateau Jiahu made from a 9000 year old recipe. Ball out Neolithic style.
Service is hit-or-miss - the first time I came here, the waitress was prompt with the booze re-ups and replaced my beer when I returned from a smoke break to find my beer was gone. Bonus points for sharing my outrage that someone STOLE MY BEER! The second time - things got awkward when we moved tables and the competing waitresses shot daggers at each other as they engaged in a turf war for tips.
To be honest, the food kinda sucks and was pretty expensive. My $9 poutine was decent accompaniment for the brew - but not $9 good. And meatless nachos start at $14 - add meat and you're looking at $20 nachos. Yep. Nachos. $20. I state again: $20 nachos.
Finally, the decor. It's your average run-of-the-mill Vancouver pub with a lots of seating. I'm not a guy to pick on washrooms, but if you drink as many beers as a place like this place encourages, you'll quickly become familiar with the view over the urinal. The washrooms look unfinished and unclean. The last time I went, the men's washroom was out of order. My female friend didn't much like the ogling she received in the unisex washroom - and I wasn't gifted with the male urogenital system to waste time in stalls.
However, I think it can't decide if it wants to be a sports bar or a niche bar for the (admittedly small) population of beer connoisseurs. However, I will tolerate Canucks/Affliction apparel and yahoo whopping to enjoy the beer selection and cask nights. Hell, I'm am atheist and I still love the Benjamin Franklin quote: "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Maybe I'll get that tattooed on my arm -- in Gothic font.Listed in: A Compendium of Fine…, East Van Life
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Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 1/25/2011
Everything I said in my first review still stands... MINUS the crack about the service. It's been definitely worth 4.5 stars the last few times I customered this ever-changing ample beer menu hot-spot. Yeah, I said it. It's pretty busy nowadays. I'm calling it a hot-spot.
Oh, and the bathroom renos are COMPLETE!Listed in: Alive on the Drive, Drink it up, Where you'll find me, date night late night
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/11/2010
3.5 stars
I just want to say that we kicked butt in todays hockey game against Ottawa... Where did I… Read more »
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Review from Amy T.
1/4/2011
I've always passed by St. Augustine's and wondered about the restaurant who took over the Bino Restaurant that occupied this lot for years.
I finally had a chance to try it out the other day and I have to say... their wings are nasty. They are just drenched in sauce. I mean, I like saucy wings, but when it's 50% chicken and 50% sauce, I think you've gone overboard. I had one chicken wing was also the size of half a chicken nugget. What the heck is that and where do you find these dwarf chickens?
I also had the nachos and they were pretty disappointing. The ingredients didn't taste fresh and they were a little stingy on the toppings.
The saving grace is their beer selection. It's huge and for decent prices. If I were to come back, it would be just for the beer.
Don't waste money on the food. -
Review from Dan S.
Vancouver, BC
4/10/2011
If you're a lover of great beer then this is the place to go in Vancouver. 40 Brews on Tap with a constant rotation, some decent deals and for the most part, awesome service.
It's a bit pricey (especially the food) but as an occasional treat it can't be beat. If you are hungry the food is good, but if you're on the Drive, there's a LOT of great, less expensive eats.
9 times out of 10 the service is great. Knowledgeable, quick and pretty friendly, even when busy. Of course there is the occasional night when the server is a bit off, but hey, they're just human.
I can never make it for cask night because of my work schedule, but Monday night at 6:00pm seems to be THE time to go. One off, special made Casks are served up, but they sell out in under an hour. IF you get the chance, go! -
Review from Hootie J.
Vancouver, BC
I have driven past this place 4 times a day for several years, never was drawn in but tonight with a good playoff game in progress... why not.
Parking was not great but we found some, first impression inside was... awsome 14 TV's that I could count (and the best I found out later was that there are TV"s broadcasting the game... over the urinals!!! two stars just for that!)
We only had a bit of time so some beers and wings, Their wings were delish (small portion for price) the dip was good but it was + $1. It came across as a non commercial sauce, very good, I would be here everyday if they were half price.
If your in the hood and need some refreshments or nourishment... better than all the alternatives withing 1000m IMHO -
Review from Ken B.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2011
Beer Heaven Indeed!
I love pubs and I love good beer. St. Augustines would be my favourite pub because of their huge selection of craft beers. The decor and the atmosphere are not the greatest. Anyway, I cannot resist the beer selection and I must return many times to work my way through the 2 pages of the beer menu. -
Review from steff c.
Vancouver, BC
12/4/2010
A solid 3.5 stars, baby!
Let's face it, you're here for the beer.
You could have a burger. They're decent. Most of the food's decent. Solid, but nothing special. Just... solid.
Service? Hey, if the beer makes it to the table, I'm happy. Anything more than that, you might be asking a lot. It's not really something Augustine's is known for, the service.
But you're here for the beer.
And then, LA-LA-LA, like choirs of angels singing from heaven, you've found your happy happy eternal place.
Because, well, you're here for the beer.
With some 40 beers on tap -- with amazing microbrews among them -- and the incredible 4-tasters-for-$8 deal, this is really a place for people who appreciate good beer but don't have a Downtown Budget.
Not every beer lover needs Fancy-Ass-Food to go with it. Sometimes a solid beer-and-burger deal for $11 is all your soul needs.
This is that place.
It's also a block from the skytrain and Broadway B-Line, making it relatively easy to get to for transit folks who'd like to tie one on but get home safely without staggering a dozen dubious blocks. -
Review from Kari C.
1/26/2011
Went here around 11 on Saturday night for a friend's birthday, after a few games of bowling down the street.
The Canucks game was over, the place was still packed. There were about 10 of us and we were okay with squeezing into a smaller table, and were dealt with rather brusquely by the hostess. Fortunately, we were able to snag a giant table, just as another large group was leaving.
Everybody ordered beers and I ordered a tea, having to work a double shift the next morning and not wanting to nurse a pounding headache while drifting off to sleep. Everyone's beers arrived in less than 2 minutes, while I waited...and waited.
Fifteen or twenty minutes later, our server was walking by and I asked about the tea. Within 30 seconds, a mug, a spoon, a pot of water, a spoon, and a tea bag arrived at the table. I asked if it was supposed to come with anything else, like sugar, milk or honey, and that arrived, too.
A plate of nachos showed up at the other end of the table, while our end was starving, and wondering why we didn't get to order food. Every time one of our table's beer glasses were emptied, a server came by to take it away and ask if they wanted another. I attempted numerous times to catch their attention, with Hellos, Hi's, Excuse Me's, and even wild-arm-flailing, and was greeted with a curt "You have to ask your server if you want to order food."
She finally showed up and we ordered some potato skins: Deep-fried strips of potatoes, broiled with bacon, shredded cheddar and mozzarella, served with sour cream, salsa, and green onions. All right, nothing to write home about, but a deal for 6 portions at $8. The nachos were better, big strips of red, yellow, and blue tortilla chips, served with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream all mixed together. For $15, there weren't enough chips to go with the dip, which was pretty tasty.
To top the night off, I opened my pot of water to put the tea bag back inside after steeping it, and it was dirty. There was an old, wet label from another tea bag inside. Yes, there was piping hot water in it, but I don't want an unknown person's paper remnants and possibly licked-spoon germs in my drink, which, thankfully, I hadn't sipped yet. Customers never know how thoroughly clean a restaurant's dishes are, and this one managed to make it past the dishwasher and whomever made the tea. Ugh.
Our server was genuinely apologetic when I politely asked her for another tea, and a new one came flying back (in a different pot, I hope). She was actually very nice, but everyone else was kind of stiff, in a can't-you-see-I'm-busy? way. Either their ponytails were all too tight or they were feeling really tense, because they all had the I-just-ate-a-lemon face on.
This place was kind of a dive when it was The End cafe, but I liked that at least the people were fun and there was Latin music and dancing in addition to random, affordable food. Now it feels like another wannabe Cactus Club for hockey boys.
The 40 beers on tap were what brought our party in, but unless it's someone else's birthday and they choose to come here, I wouldn't visit again. If I'm going to fork over some cash, a spot that is a little more welcoming and with better food is more deserving.Listed in: Eff THIS Noise!
-
Review from Alex R.
Vancouver, BC
10/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars.
Great selection of local beers for around $6.
The patio is too tight for me to sit at because I'm tall but there's spacious room on the inside. Service is hit and miss, I don't think they have enough servers during the peak times.
I like how it's close to the Skytrain, very convenient. -
Review from Bev H.
Vancouver, BC
4/20/2011
I have walked by this place countless times, went in once for a quick drink. It was quiet, and the place deserted, though it felt oddly like a bingo hall/cafeteria inside. Ok, though~ nothing wrong with this place, I thought.
Went tonite with a friend, and not impressed at all with the service. My friend went early, being a canucks game- and was not allowed to sit at the bar. Nor, order a drink, until her party (me) had arrived. WTH.... We were not attempting to hold a table for 10 + people, there were just two of us. She managed to get a small table for 2 while I was parking. Server was slow, disorganized and indifferent~ though we enjoyed our beers, and trio of dips appetizer. My friend didn't enjoy her beer and sent it back, ordering a cocktail instead. When the bill arrived ( well before we finished the game, it was just plunked down on the table) the beer was still on the bill. My friend asked about it, and the waitress took the beer off the bill, but with definate attitude. Waited 15 minutes for the waitress to take our credit card, finally went to the bar to pay. Had to flag another server with a portable wireless terminal to process our payment, while our server was standing watching the game, back to both of us. Both my friend and I worked a long time as bartenders, and were not impressed with this evening's visit. Some of the dishes arriving to nearby tables looked excellent, though slightly pricey for pub fare for the drive. It was ok to watch the game there, they had a good number of easily visible tv's, but come on, this is Commerical drive. The drive has so many other places for a drink and game watching I won't be in a hurry to be back any time soon. -
Review from Rachel P.
Vancouver, BC
9/23/2010
My experience at St Augustines was totally OK, but I guess I am just a little confused by what niche they are trying to fit into, or are they just trying to fit into too many?
Its kind of an up scale pub/sports bar. I think.
It doesn't have the good semi-grimy homeliness of a real "pub", complete with regulars and staff who are familiar faces and "everyone knows your name" and all that kind of carry on. No indeedy.
But it does have 200 beers on their menu, which is very impressive. This to me is their draw card.
The decor is more like a bar/restaurant, so it seems that they are trying to be a little more upscale, but then there are 13 (mega overkill!) massive plasma screens on every available surface blasting sport, so not exactly somewhere you would sit and eat a nice meal.
The 35 cents wings on a Wednesday night were good. The service was OK. Kind of echoey and noisy in there, although being busy at least gave it some kind of vibe. -
Review from Alicyn C.
I may enjoy beer samping (mini beers) a bit too much. This is another great place to sit down on Commerical Drive and just sample beers. With 40 craft and micro beers on tap to choose from you are bound to find some new and enjoyable flavours. Bring on the mini beers!
My only complaint was going after a UFC event and they had run out of nachos. So sad! All I really wanted was a good plate of nachos to go along with my delish beer. -
Review from Kelley R.
Vancouver, BC
7/30/2009
Popped into St. Augustine's for a after work beer yesterday. The signs announcing 20 beers on tap and cheap, cheap, cheap drink specials had perked my interest over the last few weeks. This pub concept is the newest in a handful of ownership turnovers for this location. The beer selection was as promised, but only one variety was offered on special with the rest being a bit higher in price that I would expect to pay. The food was priced about average for what you'd expect at a pub, but all we had was beer.
The service was very slow. there was only one server on staff and she was covering far too many tables to give anyone adequate service.
the pub is large and open with a small outside seating area. It was pretty empty the entire time we were there. I hope they up the level of service and offer a few more reasonably priced beers so they can make a go of it. -
Review from Andrew F.
Vancouver, BC
7/5/2010 1 photo
I must admit that I had doubts about this place before I went in. In my 8 years of being in Vancouver I have seen the ownership change quite a few times from a Portuguese restaurant to a Pho restaurant to The Monkey Lounge to the End Cafe to finally St. Augustine's. I think this recent incarnation as a pub should put an end to these constant changes.
The beer is what I initially came for, and it's the reason I go back. Their local selection on tap is beautifully chosen, and overwhelming at 37 choices currently being offered! The seasonal picks, which change almost every month, are always exciting. But, the big reason I keep coming back are the Monday Cask nights. Cask beer names such as "Grand Cru w/ Blood Orange Zest" and "Driftwood Crooked Coast Alt Beer dry hopped with Czech Saaz hops" get me salivating like crazy. Add a tasty 1/2 price pizza to your beer(s) and you'll be a very happy customer.
The service is inconsistent, but the waitresses and the brewmasters know their beers like Jimmy Dean knows sausages. The place is great for larger groups and has lots of LCD TVs showing sports and more sports.
Do come down on Monday and enjoy yourself.
