Smugglers Pub & Cafe — Restaurant in Nelson

Went here last night with my husband for dinner. The lovely server came and got our order and she was very attentive and specific about asking if we wanted salt on our fries etc. very good!! I liked that. I ordered the CREAMY pasta with tagliatelle and my husband ordered the beef burger and fries. The food came out after not having to wait too long and I took one look at my pasta and was instantly disappointed. It wasn’t creamy. The sauce was separated and butter was sitting underneath all the pasta and literally no creamy sauce to be seen anywhere. Soooooooo disappointed. Then my husband is abit of a burger connoisseur and was looking forward to it! Bit into it and he was like noooooooo. The pattie was soooo dry he couldn’t eat it. It was chewy and just yuk. Took the pattie out and ate the rest of the burger and fries. I finished a tiny portion of my pasta and took the rest home but potentially won’t eat it. Now, the fries!! The fries were amazing. I got chicken salt on mine and they were great! Let’s be fair, if they can’t maintain a consistent heat while making a creamy sauce so that it doesn’t separate, or maybe they used the microwave??????? Who would know. And they can’t simply put a beef pattie on a grill - well, we won’t be back. A waste of $66 dollars with...

An amazing dinner out! A great place with lots of classic atmosphere, dark wood and a real pub style and feel. When we first walked in I expected standard pub fare. My first impression was the team were fantastic in every way- friendly, helpful and made great menu suggestions. The menu is "not your usual" pub grub but rather a far more interesting one with a great combo of delicious slow cooked meats that melt in your mouth, burgers that hubby said "that's the best burger I've ever had" ( and he's had more burgers than Ronald), and tasty nibbles like hoisen glazed park belly nibbles and the old classic deep fried camembert (a long term fav of mine) Their wine selection is decent as well and the outdoor seating on both sides of the restaurant/bar area provide options for morning and afternoon sun- perfect! I expected a good dinner after a friends recommendation but was very pleasantly surprised- it was much better than that. I loved it. It was a great experience in every...

Very disappointed with our most recent visit. Food prices have gone through the roof with a chewy, poorly cooked steak with a side of chips and a collection of leaves costing $37.90. To choose a sauce for the steak (mushroom or cracked pepper etc) was an additional $4.

The staff were friendly but the service was lack luster. Forgetting to bring a steak knife, serving our 2 year old her meal so piping hot it burnt my hands when checking how hot the chips were and forgetting the dessert that came with the kids meal.

The waitress stacked my families used dishes on top of each other on our table while I was still eating my meal.

We will not be returning as the menu has changed over the years and now the prices are so ridiculously expensive. It is not a luxury dining establishment, with the patrons being exceptionally boisterous and loud (after all it is a pub) yet your wallet will think it...