(See the comments for an update November 2009)
Yet another new bar has appeared on Hollywood/Wyndham, and, unlike those around the Centrium, this one looks rather less designed simply to milk the wbankers of their hard-earned cash.
Four reprobates and a wbanker met there for lunch on Friday and it went rather well. The Wheel has a set lunch consisting of the soup of the day or one other starter, plus a choice from about 8 main courses; prices vary in the range $68-88 if I remember correctly.
Everyone took the soup, which caused some stress on the kitchen – the first three got a spinach soup and I got carrot and ginger since they had run out of the spinach (one reprobate was on a liquid diet). It was generally agreed that the soups were pretty good – I certainly enjoyed the carrot & ginger (which had, apparently, been supplied by the employer of one of the reprobates) which was served with warm bread and (real) butter.
Mains were split between fish and chips, and cottage pie. The fish & chips were deemed “OK”, but hardly what you would get on the quayside in Whitby. The cottage pie which I had was also OK, but needed some enlivening with lashings of Worcestershire sauce, which was readily provided.
My main gripe was the price of the beer: before happy hour (3-9pm) Guinness was $64+10% per 500ml (called a pint, but not – this town needs a weights & measures authority urgently). Carlsberg wasn’t a lot less. After 3pm the Guinness dropped to about $40+, which is more reasonable, but still it is ridiculous that beer in bottles is cheaper in this town than beer on draught. Cartels rule this town in so many aspects.
The service was good – Bruce, the American manager, was on hand to keep the Filipino staff in line with what he expected – and we were fortunate to be there when they were taking photos of the food for a brochure or website which resulted in a free plate of nachos. The walls of the bar are also also covered with large LCD screens for sports coverage. I’m not sure how many NOW feeds they have, but it’s at least two, and there are, I think 5 or 6 screens.
This isn’t a big bar, but it does offer an alternative to The Globe if the latter is full. More screens, far less choice in beers, better food, and (like the Globe) a refuge from the wbankers down the street at Wagyu et al. Give it a try.
April 14, 2008 at 12:23
I did quite like it though it must get rammed in the evening given it’s rather narrow. The food was quite tasty and the service was OK. Plus you can smoke at the tables near the door but not inside which gives smokers and non-smokers a choice rather than having to communicate by phone from one pub to another…..
LT
April 15, 2008 at 18:18
WTF is going on at Wagyu – I went past there last night and the place was heaving. Is it banker central now? Nice to know there’s another place to steer clear of if so.
I love the smoking ban (well, the bits of it that the govt didn’t pussy out of) and so the Globe will still get my coin.
Nothing against smokers or smoking as a hobby, but I got sick of having to dry clean my work clothes every time I went out for a drink somewhere.
April 15, 2008 at 18:40
In fact the Globe has an exemption from the smoking ban, but apparently a poll amongst the regulars actually resulted in it voluntarily going non-smoking!
April 16, 2008 at 13:31
As a smoker who frequents The Globe from time to time, I have to say the pub is much the better for having gone no smoking. This does not apply to every pub however. The Globe was particularly poorly ventilated, and the walk outside for a fag is just a few yards so no problemo.
Now, $64++ for an undersized Guiness is taking the proverbial. But it also got me thinking about service charges. I reckon an informal appraisal of them in future reviews would be handy.
- does the establishment charge one?
- is it actually for service (i.e. can we not pay them if service is shite)?
- does any of the x% actually go to the service staff?
For example, yes, no, no were the answers at Soho Soho last time I was there.
April 24, 2008 at 16:32
I remember those fish & chips.
However have just had marginally better in McSorley’s up the hill and round the cornerish.
April 27, 2008 at 21:37
Okay. I will try.
November 4, 2009 at 00:25
An update on this. The Wheel closed its doors for a few weeks over the summer and it has reopened under new management. I haven’t been back at lunchtime, but now in the evenings they only have a very limited “bar snacks” menu. Happy Hour is 3pm-9pm and is 40% off, but after that the drinks aren’t cheap ($50 for a pint of Carlsberg, $60-something for Guinness, $48 for bottles).
There’s a quiz night on Tuesdays with quite reasonable prizes, and couple of guys were strumming and singing very competently this evening around the quiz, and afterwards it moved to a more open mic / karaoke format.
The place was pretty full so it seems that the change of management has done some good.
I learned today that, very regrettably, The Globe will be closing soon being unable to afford a rent hike having been there for 16 years. This is great shame, but I guess The Wheel may pick up some of that business too.
November 14, 2009 at 17:34
Good news: The Globe will in fact be moving into the space formerly occupied by Le Tire Bouchon.
November 14, 2009 at 17:43
Yes – good news indeed. That’s a big space relative to the old Globe! Anyone any ideas on the closing / reopening dates?