3 /5 Jamil Ahmed: April 2024 update:
Unfortunately, Im downgrading my previous 4-star review of Pacific Tavern to 3 stars. My recent visit fell short of my initial positive experience due to several unexpected issues.
The live music performance during my visit on 27 Apr 2024 at 5.30pm was uncomfortably loud. The excessively loud music made communication with the wait staff virtually impossible, especially considering our reasonable request for a quieter seating area was not fulfilled.
Furthermore, I was disappointed with the response to my declaration of being autistic. The staff didnt meaningfully acknowledge or understand my needs and opted to primarily interact with my partner (leaving me to feel like I was being ignored). A manager offered a strange apology when I declared my disability.
Pacific Taverns menus still lack clear allergen and dietary labelling. This remains a significant issue for diners with allergies or dietary restrictions.
I hope Pacific Tavern will address these concerns.
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February 2024 experience:
My partner asked to have her tea with the tea bag/leaves to the side so that she could control the teas strength (to accommodate her digestion/stomach sensitivities). We were twice served a teapot with tea leaves already in the boiling water, which meant my partner could not fully enjoy the tea. Our waiter eventually sorted this out, but it was a needless stressor and disruption to our evening, especially as my partners request was reasonable.
The grilled sweet potatoes were undercooked, so I sent the dish back and asked for them to be cooked longer. I think an entirely new dish was prepared for me instead, but I would have been happy to have had the original one cooked a bit more in a pan. The taste of the sweet potato dish was too bland for my liking, which I fed back to our waiter with the important disclaimer that my palette is based on South Asian cuisine and spices.
The desserts were good. I especially liked the banana cake.
I would like more vegan food options like pies and traditional meals with vegan proteins replacing the meat. I would also like clearer menu labelling to indicate which dishes are suitable for different dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and so on).
We enjoyed the atmosphere and wooden furnishings. Our waiter was great and attentive. We would like to come back here soon.