Address: 2017-2021 Great North Rd, Avondale
Hours: Ppen noon-late seven days
Ph: (09) 828 7481
Web: www.avondaletaphouse.co.nz
I really wasn't sure what to expect when I turned up at this establishment. The Taphouse is at the Avondale roundabout and is as much a part of it as the never-ending flow of traffic.
I came here because my partner had got one of those Grab One vouchers for a pizza and a beer and I love a bargain. But I have to say I felt a little nervous when I entered the bar because many bar staff have a tendency to make you feel as though you're there under sufferance when you mention vouchers.
Anyway, I needn't have worried - the wonderfully friendly and funny manager, Monica, saw to that. She organised our meals, had us seated and comfortable in short order and even offered us a taste of each beer before we'd decided what we'd order. And she did it all with a sense of humour that would be priceless if you could bottle it. Genuinely interested staff who actually enjoy the customer interaction are rare these days, so I can only hope Monica is getting paid her worth.
Anyway, apart from the staff, there are a other reasons to recommend this place. For one, it's a genuine free house, so instead of simply offering the beer of one of the major suppliers, it offers beers from three major suppliers: DB, Lion and Boundary Road.
