Sheila G.
Yelp
We played tourist (Why? Because we were!) and went to Little Creatures because it's in the guide books. I didn't expect the crowds. I didn't expect having to hustle for our seats and stand over diners waiting for them to leave, as I did years ago at Lundy's in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. I didn't expect service, having learned that pubs follow the British pub rule: go to the bar and order.
The crowds were massive on a Sunday afternoon, especially with families and babies and yikes! strollers (or are they called buggies or prams?) to run over people's feet. We managed to snag two uncomfortable stools at a communal table, but then noticed a couple nearby settling their check. So we stood over them until they invited us to sit down while they finished, thereby guaranteeing our table. Others waiting weren't so lucky, and a near-fight broke out at the table next to us, with someone slipping into a table another patron had been waiting for. By the end of our meal, a couple of hostesses started taking names for seating, signaling a welcome end to the madness.
But despite the maniacal atmosphere in this cavernous establishment, miraculously we did get rather good service from the harried waitress, who took the time to explain the nuances of the various beers, though it was hard to hear her over the din. My "beer" of choice was the Pipsqueak Cider, and hubby had the Rogers, but at 10 and 9 dollars respectively, they sure were no bargains. I did love that cider, so it wasn't a total loss.
Forsaking the free food on our cruise ship (yeah, like we didn't pay for that), we shared a tomato pizza. Despite this being neither Naples nor New York, the pizza was decent. Not fabulous, but definitely passable.
There's a reason why Little Creatures is in the travel books. It's an experience. If I lived in Freo, I probably wouldn't set foot into it. But as a tourist....