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The Winking Judge Pub
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for The Winking Judge Pub
Review Highlights
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"...many times and I've always had good food and great service." In 2 reviews -
"20 Oz quality pints." In 3 reviews -
"Consumed the Tower of Yorkshire, and man what a tower it..." In 2 reviews
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie R.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2012
This is quickly becoming my favourite pub in Vancouver. I've never had a meal here that I didn't love. It's proximity to the theatre has made my friends and I give it a new name: Just Enough Time...
The music is fun. For someone who was a teenager in the 90s there's always a really fun mix of new music and nostalgia tracks, and sometimes they'll just start playing something random like half a Hole album, music from Dirty Dancing, old-school rap or Queen (which once got most of the bar singing). In my opinion, this makes it one of the more unpretentious and fun places to hang out because they're not always trying to cater to a particular segment of their clientele.
After living in Ontario, which has some fantastic pubs, I was dreading moving back to Vancouver's pub scene that seems to cater mostly to clubbers with a certain boring "upscale lounge" look imo, unless it's a dive bar. Luckily I found a place with great service, fantastic double caesars (and bar staff that will suggest really delicious drinks like adding an egg white to the amaretto sour you ordered), good pints of Guinness, and really good food that manages to still be classic pub food, but not an afterthought.
I love you Winking Judge, don't ever change. -
Review from Ronald A.
3/25/2012
We stopped in here for a quick bite before seeing The Hunger Games. Good movie by the way.
It had a great pub atmosphere, as you would expect on an early Saturday evening. Lots of conversation, good music from my era and a very friendly staff. We felt at home immediately.
We ordered appetizers; shrimp with chilly sauce for me, potstickers for Rebecca and clam chowder for Elise. Very good pub food. We saw some of the portions for other dishes; they were huge. You will not go hungry here.
When we arrived, we told them we had a deadline. We got in and out quickly. The beer came quickly, as did the food. It was good. The staff accommodating. If you want a good Irish pub in Downtown Vancouver, this is a great place to go. -
Review from Jenn C.
Downtown, Vancouver, BC
3/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
LOVE this pub. as another yelper has said "small place, good pub food, friendly service" - DITTO! this takes the true meaning of "neighbourhood pub" - it's practically a staple for my coworkers and now my friends have started coming as well - perfect!
If you haven't come in for food before, come try it! I highly recommend the very first item on their menu - english fries/wedges - DEEEEELLLICIOUS!
their drinks are cheap! staff are super friendly for the most part - we typically sit by the front windows looking towards the theatre - so it's fun people watching! Did i mention, they have a pool table in the back of the pub?
i don't need to say more - it's a fun pub, and recommended by lots of locals! go! -
Review from Alex R.
Vancouver, BC
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Small place, good pub food, friendly service (as long as you're not a table of leering guys), fair priced drinks and a pool table.
I particularly liked that there were tables along the windows for people-on-the-street watching. -
Review from Jenni L.
1/5/2012
This had to be the best meal we had in Vancouver. After days of seeking out fun places to dine, relying on suggestions from a concierge who obviously hated our American asses, and almost always being disappointed, we happened upon this place and thought we'd give it a try.
The meal was simple and to the point, but well made. I opted for a simple breakfast of eggs over medium, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit and an english muffin. Totally carb-loaded but fantastic. The potatoes were cooked so well I didn't even mind the heinous Canadian ketchup (am I the only one who can't get used to the sweetness?).
The bar itself was definitely my kind of place. Leathery, old and comfy. If I lived in Vancouver, I'd be a regular here for sure. -
Review from Doris L.
Vancouver, BC
10/24/2011
Okay. Let's get the good stuff out of the way first. The good stuff was that the service was OK. That's about it. Nothing spectacularly wrong or memorable about the wait staff.
The food was pretty bad. It had enough salt but that's about it. The good thing is that the beer was cold and they sometimes have pints (20oz) for $5. Too bad they don't have a very good selection of beer.
Overall, I expect better for a pub that charges about $8 a beer and $13+ a burger. -
Review from AJ M.
2/27/2012
From the U.S., so I wanted a bloody mary. I got talked into a Caesar here instead, outstanding! I ended up coming here nearly every day on my recent business trip to Vancouver. The Nachos are incredible, the half order is plenty for two, I can't imagine what the full order is like! Fantastic pub, the best i was at in Vancouver.
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Review from Evilyn T.
6/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A bunch of us came here already pretty cut to continue a round of drinking that had started elsewhere. I was happy to discover the highballs were like $5 so I had one or two, or four? It was at this point that we realized it was someone's birthday, so I instigated people shouting for rounds of shots, of which I didn't even partake in.
The waitress was smart and when someone ordered five shots of jager (since they were on special) and I gave the her the subtle "not-me" headshake, she came back with five shots, of which the one I got was a shot of coke! How sneaky! I did a shot with everyone, but no one had to know I was a sissy. Honestly, I guess I just felt weird about being so hammered at 6pm. How was I to get through the rest of Friday night if I was already shittered?
The bathrooms at this place are pretty misleading, I had to ask the waitress twice I was so confused, and I'm positive it had nothing to do with my state of inebriation. One bathroom had a picture of a David Bowie-esc person on it, which is apparently the men's room, and the ladies room has a picture of a guy with a beard on it. Ummm... what? Women don't have beards, bearded clams maybe, but why a picture of a dude with a beard? I mean, the bathrooms are probably just unisex, it's just a bathroom, not a bunch of stalls, so it doesn't reeeeeally matter which one you use. So in the end I used both at different times, but it was a very strange experience. -
Review from Crit V.
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chill bar, recommended by locals. Star rating could be all over the place depending on who you are and how rigid you might be.
Service was great, prices fair and the atmosphere is kick back. Lots of people to watch as you are on a corner. Will visit again. Recommended. -
Review from Brendan L.
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here visiting Canada...and it was OK....
Just came for drinks and the waitress was fun...
We had prob two pitchers of beer and a few shots...came up to be like $70...a bit on the high end but i guess its Canada....drinking cost more...
We didnt get to try the food but we had a good time with the drinks. -
Review from Barry M.
3/17/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Five words got me in here pretty easily:
"They have a pool table"
It was good to hang somewhere on the weekend to a bar that wasn't overcrowded and the music was so loud you couldn't have a conversation.
The staff were actually quite friendly and introduced themselves to us by name, which was nice. The smell of fish and chips made me want to come back another time and try it out. -
Review from Lisa Marie M.
Vancouver, BC
4/13/2011
Been here 3 times - not impressed
First time- food nothing memorable- nothing to write home about
Second time- Friday night -the oven is broke ! Limited menu. What is available isn't great. Artichoke Dip was just ok seved with stale taco chips( not pita ) Gyoza was not crisp and quite greasy.
The Yorkshire pudding dish was soggy and gross.
Third time - went for the Breakfast which the sign claimed it to be "the best " or something along those lines.
It was blah.....Irish coffee flavorless and over priced. Yogurt granola fruit dish was mini mini sized little cups like a toddler would eat and still be hungry. Added a Eng muffin and ham side which were OK
Found it to be over priced, lacking in both atmosphere & quality food
. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Vancouver, BC
8/15/2011
Worst service ever. The waitresses completely ignored me. My order of fries took almost 40 minutes and the pub was dead. Never again.
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Review from Johnny P.
Maple, ON
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lots of fun, great customers, and the waitress Amy is a knockout!
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Review from April R.
9/25/2011
Great place, cool decor, fun people. Great mixed drinks.
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Review from Will H.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I live across the street so its sort of my neighbourhood pub although there are lots of options in the immediate vacinity. Can't beat the location if you in teh middle of DT and I like the service and the specials. The pool table in the back is a little redic as there is no room to shoot without nailing somebody and they dont have any chalk for the ques always. My question is if you dont want us to use the table why dont you get rid of it? Other than that the owner is good to go and the staff are great!
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Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
2/6/2010 1 photo
All I wanted was a post brunch hangover curing beverage on a Saturday afternoon. All I got was double my nausea. I ordered a tall caesar and it was huge. I got excited when I saw it but then I took a sip: It was disgusting and tasted like pure vinegar poured into tomato juice. Gross.
The service was slow and took way too long to get a new drink (this time a lager) which was pretty warm and flat tasting. I haven't tried the food there but I don't know if I'll go back. Boo.Listed in: The LOST list
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Review from Jay G.
Toronto, ON
7/16/2009
I was only in Vancouver for about a week and went to this pub multiple times. It was situated really close to my hotel and the staff made it fun. Tons of fun.
Walking in this very small pub, it looks like your typical pub with dark wood everywhere, bar stools, long bar, dark walls, and knick knacks scattered along the walls. Chairs are a bit uncomfortable and the bar stools are, well a bar stool.
The place gets absolutely rammed in the afternoons with a very mixed crowd. Some post work, some no work, some young, and some old. The patio is a very popular place since it is south facing and has constant sun to bake in.
What makes this place fun is the staff. Fairly knowledgeable about beers and their city, absolutely hilarious, very pretty, and just a blast to have around.
Overall, this place is nothing special but it's staff is great and what really makes this place fun. Service could be slow at times but if you perch yourself right at the bar you'll get your stuff pretty quickly. Be sure to make nice with the pretty bartender and you'll definitely have quick service. Prices are average for drink but they do have daily specials to help save some much needed cash. -
Review from Tae K.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2009
Man, I feel bad writing this review because my friend works here (the friend wasn't serving when I went)... but the service here was absolutely brutal. We walked in for some beers and we waited... and waited... and waited to be seated. There were plenty of tables available, and a couple servers even looked and smiled at us a few times.
"Hi, are you going to seat us or just smile at us? No? Okay, they're just smiling."
Alright, fine. We sat ourselves down at a patio table... and waited... and waited to be served. Nothing. No one came. So I got up and got a pitcher from the bar myself. Our waitress, who I wouldn't recognize in a line-up, had no part in our experience at The Winking Judge.
2 stars for the food on other tables that looked pretty good (which we gave up on ordering after realizing how bad the service was) and the great location beside Scotiabank Theater... but unless my friend is working there and can get me a free beers and a meal, I won't be going again. -
Review from Whitney P.
Summerland, BC
10/18/2011
OMFG was it ever loud, dusty, dark; and the food was average. Never again.
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Review from Jessie M.
10/5/2010
Granted I was drunk every time I stumbled into this place (and even more so stumbling out), but this pub was cool! Why such low reviews? Ok the drinks are normally priced, not too high, definitely not low, the vibe is kind of silly.. a strange mix of 20-somethings with 50-somethings, and the staff is either ridiculously nice, or kinda uptight, but if I had to live in this area I would stop by on my way to Granville everytime for a more low-key experience.
But then again maybe this is just the half-dozen dirty martinis talking. -
Review from Tee D.
7/16/2009
I've had a huge hankering for pub food the last couple of weeks, so I was relieved to finally get my hands on some fish and chips, well, at least some chips.
I had the turkey club, which was nothing special - it was just a sandwich. Although if I had to change something, I would have preferred a different kind of bread or de-toasted the bread. The bread I got was a little too dry and hard to eat.
The chips were okay. I would have liked them to be a little crispier and saltier.
The guy had the halibut sandwich: their special of the day. That was pretty darn tasty.
I liked the location of the patio because it made people watching super easy and gave me a clear view of Japadog. Not sure what it is about it, but there's something about watching people eat hot dogs that makes me happy. -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
11/15/2008
Anytime a new pub is on the scene you can count on me to be there in a hear beat, particularly if said pub is done in the traditional British style!
My boyfriend and I decided to check out The Winking Judge Pub before seeing the new James Bond flick and it couldn't have been a more perfect outing. James Bond, an English Pub, English beer, what more could a person ask for?! You could ask for a true pub setting with eccentric Brit style, including stuffed pheasants and other such feathery on the walls, as well as beautiful, mahogany hardwood, great service and fantastic apple pie with custard!
I have recently discovered that the Winking Judge is also a new hangout for the British expats in town, always a sure sign of a good pub! After living in England for some time, I have a very strong affinity for the atmosphere inherent in a traditional pub and The Winking Judge Pub very well suits this ideal! The only reason I have left out a star is because I haven't tried the tantalizing, traditional with a twist, cuisine options but I will be doing that shortly so stay tuned! -
Review from Cameron H.
Vancouver, BC
7/10/2010
I've been here many times and I've always had good food and great service. The price of beer is the same as anywhere else downtown and the food is really good. NOT FOR HEALTH NUTS. Low fat is not on the menu.
I've never had a service issue here and they've always been accommodating when I'm in a rush.
It's always been reliable and that's becoming increasingly rare to find. -
Review from Megan S.
1/5/2009
Great location for a before or after movie drink. Lots of beer on tap to choose from. People here are generally friendly and might include you in their conversation (unless you scowl then they might leave you alone).
Interesting decor- I see someone else called it traditional. I don't know, but it's certainly different than my living room. Though it's a bit strange, I can enjoy the wackiness of it. This is a nice change from the highly cloned Irish bars on Granville or the bar/grill chains (Earls, Cactus Club). This place earns points for being different. -
Review from Kirun M.
6/3/2009
Not bad. Not great.
I did witness a old man get assaulted by a flying salt shaker (yes, it was being thrown AT him) by one of the other patrons because apparently he didn't tip the waitress. She was very annoyed at the drunk bunch when she found out-luckily the shaker bounced off a road sign and missed the guy. No people were harmed in the assessment for this review. I was annoyed too because of their stupidity. There was another really drunk group out on the patio with us also-near us, not with us. People apparently come here to get their drink on. It was a Sunday night. The first glass of wine I had here was not very good...the second was better. We didn't eat here. -
Review from Matthew B.
8/7/2009
This place wasn't a pleasant experience. We stopped to get lunch on the way out of town and we were pleased to find a seat right away. The waitress was prompt in getting us menu's - and then we asked for water. 15 minutes later we got our water and placed our order. I ordered the dip which advertised house sliced marinated beef. The sandwiches came, and sure enough it was nasty, tough, flavorless luncheon type beef. We finish up our food and beer and receive our check... put a card in, and wait... and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. She walks by multiple times... card hanging out of the portfolio and doesn't stop... nor is it easy to get her attention.
So - bad food... bad service - not ok. -
Review from A M.
Olds, AB
8/22/2011
Ate at The Winking Judge this past weekend on a trip out to Vancouver. Great location, easy walk from our hotel, and across the street from the movie theatre. Wasn't there to drink, just looking for good, pub-style food, and they didn't disappoint. Was surprised how few people were inside, was packed with the after-work crowd on Friday afternoon, but Saturday evening, there was hardly anyone there- led to quick service, great food.
Consumed the Tower of Yorkshire, and man what a tower it was. Yorkshire pudding, stuffed with perfect mashed potatoes, covered with a huge portion of prime rib & gravy, with a few carrots on the side. Delicious, delicious, delicious. Too big for me though, couldn't finish all of those potatoes. I would absolutely go back. -
Review from Stephen B.
2/19/2009
A Great, unpretentious, downtown watering hole. English Pub style. 20 Oz quality pints. Good clientele. Relaxed atmosphere.
A great place to stop and unwind after a miserable meal in Chinatown and before heading back to our hotel. Plus, admit it, it's just a great name for the pub. All menu items were clever. -
Review from stefan d.
1/7/2009
My first night in town, I stopped through here.. and .. well, I had to adjust to canadian pace of service or something.. actually I think it was just a fluke experience.. because I went back there several times and kind of fell in love with the place.
Real simple. You can sit at the bar and read and do your thing, or interact with the locals who were extremely friendly and hospitable. Good drinks, attentive service, and warm atmosphere. -
Review from Mike W.
Vancouver, BC
5/18/2010
A group of friends and I needed to discuss an upcoming camping trip so we chose to meet at the Judge -- it was the first time for all of us.
Pros:
I enjoyed the atmosphere, and the location is great.
Cons:
I'm afraid I have to agree with other reviews regarding service.. it was slow and disorganized, albeit relatively friendly. The interior is covered in pub-style decor, but it's all completely uninteresting. The drinks were overpriced ($6.50 for a strongbow.. on special??), and so was the food menu.
It's easy to complain about what's wrong with a place, and hard to focus on what's right. Even though my list of cons is longer than pros, I would still go back if the situation was right. -
Review from Vancity Girl M.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2011
Very meh. Standard beer selection. Food was okay. Nothing special about the atmosphere. Service was good.
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Review from Chloe S.
4/17/2009
Ditto to what Stephen B. said.
...I have to say, the only reason why the Mr. & I stopped in was because I just couldnt get over the name, LOL. We stopped in during later afternoon on a weekend-had the best artichoke dip and yes, 20oz pints. Yum -
Review from Erwin S.
7/12/2011
$5 martini's... Everything else was just ok
