831 Bourke St, Docklands

8592 1220

TAP831

When?: 26 April 2024

SUMMARY:

Deep in the southern end of Docklands in Bourke St, is TAP831 (its location), a neat, modern, double storey pub that does a very solid, and serviceable trade for the businesses and tenants here.

As everything here is built from the turn of the century, their premises are similar to many of the area: a space within a bigger space, but it is foolish to dismiss TAP831.

The colourful interior is dominated by bright yellow padded stools with backs dominating the perimeter, a wonderful modern bar with an array of taps, a switched on staff demanding they serve you (what a delightful change!). Big screens for sport and despite views to the contrary, no shortage of on street parking.

Upstairs is set up for functions, and the pub plays its part with Happy Hours 5-7pm Monday to Friday, Trivia monthly, and a very reasonably priced menu of pub favourites.

Pokies: No
TAB: No

Drinks stick to familiar brands, but $6.50/pot of Carlton D was excellent, and a small wine list was priced to the mean with Jim Barry Riesling (13pg), and Sanguine Shiraz (15pg) were fine drops.

Two great pub starters were delivered by TAP831;

• Karaage chicken, jumble of spicy coated pieces, with a chilli aioli (15)
• Prawn and chicken wantons (5/16), which had a blistering XO and black vinegar sauce to support them.

Mains consists of Pasta, e.g., (prawn, garlic, chilli, crab oil $29), and classics such as pale ale barra fillets (27), chicken parma (27), all come fully plated.

Tried was the Beef Burger, (27], bacon jam, cheddar, pickles, TAPS secret sauce (pretty sure it was a cocktail sauce), it’s a tight tasty beauty of 180g. And a large veal schnitzel, coleslaw and chips (30), easy pub eating. Pepper sauce at $3 extra, Hmmm.

Later in the week is where this pub flourishes, but although it trades 4pm Saturdays, (no Sundays), it’s pretty quiet early in the week.

There is a challenge here to resell the area, but whatever relief to traders here that is in the councils remit, then please support those here.

TAP831 is one such.What is undeniable is no secret that the Docklands has its issues, best summed up as lacking identity. But for those willing to explore, and put up with the chill and wind, there must be many more places like TAP831 that are doing their absolute best to win new friends.

Score: 13.5