Patangata Tavern — Restaurant in Hawke's Bay

I was recommended by a friend who recently went for dinner. Unfortunately our party of 7 time warped back into an episode of faulty towers. We all entered and showed our passports. I showed my card proving I'm double vaxed which my 84year old mothers card was accepted by him but not me. He said NO that wasn't good enough and was told that I needed to produce my passport (fair enough) but when I said I can't access it due to no wifi reception the man behind the bar said that was my problem and not his (remember just walked in so not expecting such a rude response). I asked about the WiFi to download my passport which took his tone further down the obnoxious level because I asked if the password was case sensitive to which he replied can't you read the card. We all sat down and discussed what meals we wanted. I took the order to the bar only to be told that they had run out of our selected meals so after a few more attempts of going back and forth to the table and bar we ordered what was left. I ordered the scotch fillet meal medium rare which came out well done and paper thin and for $30 was overpriced, seafood chowder was inedible as it was overpowered by lemon juice. Beef and chicken schnitzel were deep fried. And to top it off one guest was still eating because his meal came 10mins after everyone else's a girl started spraying pledge on surrounding tables which was suffocating. The man behind the bar I believe is actually the owner! I will never go there again nor will I recommend unless you want a substandard/overpriced meal and want to be subjected to bad service with an owner who has a chip on his shoulder. This experience doesn't even...

Four of us adults went out to this Tavern 17th February for lunch. As the owner was busy making coffee and delivering food, to clients that were already there before us, we were prepared to wait our turn and he advised that he wouldn't be long. After some time he came back from delivering his food & picking up dirty dishes and immediately went to the other counter where drinks were served and took orders from other people who came into the Tavern after us, leaving us still waiting to order. We waited for at least another 10mins or so while he kept taking more and more customers orders. In the end we assumed that he wasn't interested in serving us so we walked out and went on to Otane where we were served immediately. We had originally driven to Patangata Tavern after seeing their advertisement in the local newspaper, however we certainly would not go back again if this is the type of service one receives - very...

This is a traditional rural Kiwi pub with hearty pub food. Think fish'n'chips, nachos, wedges etc. The tavern has a cosy interior with lots of local rugby photos and other knick-knacks, like shearing tally books pinned up next to the bar. The staff are friendly and service was good. The food was fairly average on the whole, but if you can modify your expectations (i.e. don't expect a Wellington bistro) you won't be disappointed. My partner had a steak which he said was a very nice cut of meat, but overcooked - more like medium well than medium rare. I had the "Pea, Pie & Pud" - a steak and mushroom pie encased in mashed potato with peas on top and serious lashings of gravy. I'm giving Patangata Tavern 4 stars for being a great traditional Kiwi pub with lots of character and...