OK! Well, Pats Pub (Connected to The Patricia Hotel) begins before you get inside. Good parking right next door, and the bartender reimburses you for the ticket, that's cool. Outside Pats pub, about every 3 minutes even on a slow night you will get asked for change, a smoke, or encounter a random mentally ill person. Standard fare for East Hastings, but understand Pats is NOT in the "worst" part of Vancouver's skid row, normal people can visit this area without any real problem generally speaking. That said, I wouldn't exactly "recommend" single alone young women come here, particularly at night. Even guys should be "cautious" in this area, unless you know it real well and are super comfortable --- if this is you then you don't need this review though I suppose! I am in no way saying don't come here or to avoid. Im not even suggesting that its dangerous necessarily, I'm just saying "have your city hat on" and don't be stupid.
SO, Pats. Right inside there is a cool pool table where youre not in anyone's way. Then there are 3 or 4 old school video games and a pinball machine. All good and cool. Also, there was a photocopied gig poster advertising an upcoming "rockabilly" gig. This is good as well. It means they have bands, and where there's rockabilly, there is likely to be punk, harder blues, and hard rock & roll. You know, all the GOOD stuff that's a blast to see live. This really begs the question as to WHY were they playing 80's top 40 satellite radio?!?!?!? Yes, everyone's punk ,rockabilly, classic rock , and heavy metal favorites including Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Madonna were being blasted for everyone to enjoy (im being sarcastic)!! Any joint that doesn't have a jukebox should be violently trashed, ESPECIALLY one that is trying to be somewhat of a live music venue ---- and a "rockabilly" venue at that?!?!? Mr. Nekroman, Chuck Berry, Mike Ness etc. etc. etc. would be choked to say the least. PLUS it really says something about an owner / manager / bartender etc. who feels THEIR music choices are the best, and thusly FORCE everyone to have their ears bleed. I mean, its not like Pats doesn't have a "general theme". IF we went to a "known" dub step place, then we cant complain. But Pats, especially lately is "generally known" for rock and roll of some vein or another, not 80s synth garbage which was crap when it was new and still is.
ANYWAY, I head up to the bar, and this is where things go further south. Hopefully for just this particular night, but nonetheless it goes downhill. The cheapest beer available is Pats own house "Ale" at $13 for a jug. This is cheap if you're from London England, but offensively and comically offensive if you happen to be from the United States or even most other provinces har har har! SO I order this jug of house draft, and the crude, abrupt, shelf-assed, no-makeup, mad because she has no boyfriend, "bartender" passes me the frosty well - poured jug .... And two HOT glasses. I mean these things were HOT to the touch PLUS my eyes were watering from the intense pine-sol / javex fumes. Holy crap ha ha ha!! At this time, I politely ask if I could get cold glasses, or stick these two in the ice for a minute, or room temperature glasses at least. I don't remember her exact words , but she started huffing and puffing and stomping around looking for chilled glasses while loudly complaining about her chore she had to perform. LOL.
My 2 friends grabbed burgers and fries, both quick, fairly tasty, and fresh (hot fries etc). So that was all good. That's the review. Neither a place to get to as soon as you can, nor a place to completely avoid. Worst part was the abrupt bartender and the AWEFUL MUSIC that made no sense for this venue. Hey, owners!! You need to cater to a niche or PIECE of the pie and make them happy and loyal rather than trying to please everybody, ok?!?! You think the Michael Jackson people are going to like rockabilly and rock music?? No. And vice versa. These damn places need to be PREDICTABLE in what they are offering in order to create a decent customer base, that's, heheheh, BASED on something other than the house made "Ale" that tastes like flat molson Canadian with dandelion flavoring added to make it appear high class and mask the low quality. NOW, perhaps Pats rules when theres a gig. But it should also be at least a cool place on non-gig nights for the same people who go to the gig. If the only time people go is for a show, then may as well just have it at a rented community center. HAAHAH! OH YEAH, where / when is the STANDARD drink / food special for each day of the week? A $3.50 drink special is kinda standard everywhere these days.
Last comment: Pats pub is CASH ONLY!!!! You may use their ATM for a $3.50 service fee :)
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