Pub Visit

When I hear the term pub, I think of a dark, crowded place where drinks are served along with chips, nuts or other 'beer match' items. I imagine a stinky and smoky place filled with men. It would be located underground or at some dark alley. It would have a low ceiling and poor ventilation.

Don't ask me where I got this concept of a pub. All I know is that before today, I don't recall ever stepping into one .

Yes, I went to a pub today. I joined about a dozen officemates at lunchtime to celebrate someone's birthday. Agincourt Hotel could not be further from my concept of a pub. (The name of the establishment has the word 'hotel' in it. That in itself told me that I have got pubs all wrong.) Perhaps the true definition of a pub is a place where alcohol is served. I think all those San Miguel commercials back home made me equate beer houses to pubs.

The pub we went to was bright and spacious. It was clean and well-ventilated. It was located a couple of blocks from the office, not in some God-forsaken alley. The ceilings were high, nobody was smoking (I think it's illegal) and the place was filled with men and women alike. Best of all, they served lunch, not just drinks, and their food was great.

I had a rump steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. Others had porter house steak, steak sandwich, chicken schnitzel, roast chicken, Japanese salad, and the like. Some of them ordered beer or asuho. I just had a lemonade.

I arrived with three other members of our team so I was able to get an idea how the mechanics of such lunch outs would go. You order and pay at the counter before you sit down at your table. They will give you your ordered drink along with your change. Don't forget to bring the gadget with a number that they give you. Find a good table to occupy. It doesn't matter how near or far you are from the counter because the gadget will beep and light up when your food is ready. You bring your number to a window so you can claim your meal. Condiments, utensils and serviettes (napkins) are readily available nearby. Pick up what you need and you're good to go!

I thought their claim stub gadget was cool. The closest I've seen to that sort of restaurant gadget was the buzzer in UCC Cafe at the Paseo Center. Press the button and the waitress will visit your table. Of course here in Australia, since things are essentially self-service, you do the walking. Even if they did have staff going around collecting dirty dishes and wiping the tables clean, for everything else, it was each man for himself.

By and large it was a good first pub experience. Next time someone invites me to go to a pub, I won't hesitate to join them and I won't worry that I'll return smelling like Marlboro Country.