Doolan Brothers Ellerslie — Restaurant in Ōrākei

If there was a way to give a single POINT of one of the single stars, I would give that rating.

It's a bit sad that I was ranting and raving about how great things were to my husband and we just stopped in on impulse based on this, only to find the BIGGEST let down in culinary history.

Here are a few things that took place...

Entered, seated ourselves and waited patiently for around 10 mins to be served. (Didn't happen)

Walked up to the bar to the TWO people behind the bar to ask a question. I thought I was being heard, but obviously when I was talking, the game was more important, followed by the guy walking off. ( I was the ONLY person there!)

My husband then went to the bar to ask for service, considering I was blatantly ignored. When the guy pursed his lips for being interrupted, he finally came to our table and took our order.

Food was brought out pretty quick, but it was lukewarm. My assumption is , it was left under a heating lamp. Nothing to write home about really. Considering you pay around $4.50 for bacon and get about a tablespoons worth of diced bacon pieces that Countdown could have provided cheaper... it was a HUGE let down.

No forks at the table, thank God my husband washed his hands before he had his meal.

Honestly, from start to finish, this was the worst experience I have had at this place. The last one I visited was in the Viaduct. My guess is, they are all run by different holders so I cannot blame the brand on one management's lack of service.

It's probably another reason people go is for the beer, Lord knows they won't be able to tell after a few drinks how poor the food or service is!

I will try to upload a picture of the $4.50 "bacon." I just would hate for someone to go in thinking this would be quality, when it's not. The bill is $60 for two people and NO drinks as we did...

I used to live near Doolan Brothers more than 20 years ago. After almost two decades living abroad I have recently moved back into the area. I often stop in to have a pint in the afternoon. Whereas I used to be a patron on Saturday nights I am now a daytime guest so can only comment on the service and atmosphere during daylight hours. The beer selection is pretty good and the staff are welcoming, diligent, and friendly to even a relatively new face like me. They are excellent. I haven’t eaten here yet but I’m sure that will come. I like this place a lot and am happy to call it my new local. UPDATE: Today I ate at Doolan Brothers for the first time. A good friend from my Melbourne days was visiting so we had lunch and a few beers. My friend had the chicken schnitzel and I had the butter chicken curry with added roti. Both meals were generously proportioned and both were exceptionally good. My mate rated his schnitzel as 9/10, I’d give the same rating to my chicken curry. As usual the service was friendly and welcoming and suitably informal (I’m too old to be impressed by formal service that comes across as merely stuffy). A thoroughly enjoyable lunch that puts most self-proclaimed “gastro pubs” to shame. Looking forward to eating...

I recently visited Doolan Brothers Pub with a group of colleagues for a colleague's last day and had an amazing time! The service was top-notch, our server was friendly and attentive throughout our visit. The atmosphere was lively and upbeat, making for a great environment to catch up and celebrate.

The food was fantastic, we all had different meals and everyone was impressed with the quality and flavors of their dishes. The pub's menu had a wide range of options to choose from, including traditional pub favorites and more unique dishes. The drinks were also great, we enjoyed a variety of beers and ciders.

Overall, Doolan Brothers Pub exceeded our expectations and we had a fantastic time. It's the perfect spot for a night out with friends, a special occasion, or even a business lunch. I would highly recommend this pub to anyone looking for great food, drinks, and service in a...