Venue: Harp of Erin Hotel
Where:  636 High St., Kew East
Phone:  9859 1631
Date:  29 May 2009
Score: 13.5

In a recent call to Neil’s program, I was asked by a listener if I could nominate a pub for a Mother’s day luncheon in the Eastern suburbs. Two things struck me;

•    (1) you’re leaving it a bit late brother!!
•    (2) I am not really full bottle on pubs in the east, something I should be able to recall instantly when a question like this arises.
I mumbled something about The Hotel Kew and the Harp of Erin, both pubs I had reviewed in the not-too distant past that may fit the bill.

Today I have broken a rule by reviewing a pub, The Harp of Erin, within a 3 year time span of a previous visit (May 2007). I had been told that the multi-purpose venue had a massive face-lift and all cylinders were firing.

Certainly, the foregoing was true; the pub bore no resemblance to the previous interior and I thought it looked “suburban” fabulous.

Gone was the kitsch nod to a wild/west saloon; now it befitted its Irish name, with gold/black harp “motif” carpet, wood panelling, comfortable bar/lounge seating without the jigs and reels.

Indeed it is the best looking TAB in Melbourne; with 6 personal TV’s at private tables to watch the races, MTV, races, footy, races, foxsport, and races. They are in high demand on Saturday.

The beer is exceptional, but no 7oz glasses. Come on, it can’t be that difficult to buy 12 and even if they just gather dust, it is nice to know you can order in a smaller size.

The pokies are situated where harp rd and high st split and are set away from the dining room/public bar. Good.

The dining room is neatly spaced; it too having new tables/chairs and there is a real can-do about the place.

It is screamingly popular throughout the week, at night with trivia, music/dj (jack newman spins them in) with a younger crowd descending from miles away.

It has struck the right balance of being most things to most people, the familiarity between staff and patrons is something that other medium to large establishments may wish to take note of.

My criticism of the pub last time was that the food was inconsistent; this time around it is better, superior to straight up and down “pokie’ food”. And I think it can go another notch. Let the kitchen run wild with a duck or mushroom dish and create a signature dish (Not a parma!!).

The menu (food and wine) is fairly priced. Garfish fillets @$16, Parma (and massive) $19, Steaks start in the early $20s and end up at mignon, with choice of sauce (fully plated) at $28.

Tried was;
•    Veal shank, creamy mash, and seasonal vegetables - $23. Very filling, rich and meaty, worked beautifully on a cool day

•    Veal Schnitzel Holstein (egg/anchovies) @$18. Fully plated, it was a massive slab of the real McCoy and not top-side. The coating came away a little easily and could have done with maybe $30 seconds more cooking. None the less, it was superior to the ROTM.

•    Angel Cove Sav/Blanc @$25. Fair shopping for a ready to drink white.

Indeed the choice at the mid $20s range is plentiful, up to a Debortoli Pinot Noir at $40 – very, very fair.

This is a user-friendly, comfy slippers and brown cardigan type pub and is marked accordingly. I have spoken before about the rich commodity that is free – hospitality. This is a given at the Harp of Erin.

And just on Mother’s day – its only a rumour but was there an eastern suburbs hotel that said ‘Mums eat free, mother’s day”.

You wouldn’t, would you??