the bower has been an occasional visit for us because of theirkidsplayground which is fantastic. if you have children 8 and under, this place is a great venue to let them run around while you enjoy a meal.
the bower is a post-quake product. designed from shipping containers it’s been in place for some time. one side services people preferring an afternoon beer accompanied by the occasional band, whilst the other side is cafe style with a large outdoor dining area with children’s playground.
the menu has changed since we first started going many years ago, with a more recent introduction of smoked meats.
on this particular visit i ordered just a half rack of ribs which was $20 and akidsmenu pizza for my son. the meat is tender and definitely fall off the bone. it’s not absolutely layered in bbq sauce which was a bonus as that dan often be overwhelming. on its own, the smoked meat was probably a 4. a bit light on the seasoning and perhaps didnt get as much smokey flavour as i would have liked but it was still lovely.
the one downside is that the pub side must have a smokers area down the other end of the corridor that houses the toilets. cigarette smoke wafts down that corridor and fills it up. given the place hosts a lot of kids, it would be good if tye bower could ensure children weren’t exposed to the smoke. the one downside in this visit.