Aratapu Tavern
Reviews
This is a good old Kiwi pub! It has heart, even though it needs a little redecorating, keeping the same ambience though. The owners are lovely and the food very generous and tasty. We will definitely return when next in Dargaville
Husband & I booked in advance for Christmas lunch. When we arrived we reported to the gent at the bar and was vaguely told to sit somewhere, we pointed to a table for 2 and said we would sit there. We were then completely ignored, while folks arriving after us were being served. After half an hour the lady of the hotel came over & asked us if we were so-and-so...we said no, told her who we were & that we had a booking! 40 min after arriving we were served soup which tasted like someone had watered down a can of tomatoes & thrown in some cooked veges...it tasted disgusting and the tepid temperature didn't help! Main course was quite nice, but the warm ham detracted from the rest of the plate, It just didn't 'go' with what else was on the plate. I know it was a set menu, but if we were offered the choice of the beef or ham or a bit of both would have been much better, tepid ham just didn't gel. Halfway through that course something caught my eye...I was sitting 4" away from where a tv was sitting in a wall alcove, it was full of spiders, dead flies, cobwebs and all matters of dirt and dust! The only redeeming feature I could find was the dessert which was superb, jelly, fruit salad, Xmas pud and meringue! I'm sorry but for the overall experience, I have to say we will not return, the bad outweighed the good by about 90%
Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Great Hospitality.
