Chow Down Atlanta

We were next door getting fitted for dresses for my sister’s wedding and decided to have a late lunch here; not because we like it but because it was a mere few steps away and I was beyond starving. I don’t think they changed the decor all that much from when this place used to be Rock Bottom Brewery. I do like the new patio with a working fireplace.

We were given several menus. The regular one was two-foot high and 5 pages long. It would take a good 10 minutes just to read everything on it. The Oktoberfest menu, available for a limited time, was more navigable. The Festbier Combo was actually pretty good and came with an assortment of appetizers. The fries were crisp and golden with lots of garlic bits. The garlic taste might be a little overpowering to some but I love garlic and these fries had lots of them in taste and in appearance. Two skewers with grilled bratwurst, knackwurst, and Hungarian sausage also came with the combo. The sausage was excellent in flavor with the charring from the grill giving it additional smokiness. The bratwurst and knackwurst pretty much tasted identical and although they weren’t all that bad, they weren’t all that good either. I did notice a snap in every bite, however. I loved their version of pretzels. They were fat, soft, and doughy inside. A few dips into the beer mustard and you’ve got an excellent snack.

The Fresh Mozzarella pizza caught my eye so we had to get it. What a disappointment when it came out with small globs of what they call fresh mozzarella. It didn’t even taste like fresh mozzarella at all. While the crust is chewy and thick, which was okay, the pizza sauce was almost non-existent. The only taste you get is crust, bland cheese, and basil.

The Beef Short Ribs entree was huge. The ribs were fork tender but tasted blandish on its own. The mushroom jus was added at plating instead of cooking them in it. It would have been so much better if it was the other way around. The mountain of sauerkraut mashed potatoes was a good touch and tasted quite good. The braised cabbage had a good sweetish hint. A hearty meal if there ever was one.

I have been to another GB location and was never blown away by the food. GB is kinda like a last resort when it comes to choosing a place to eat. It was there, it was convenient, so we went.

Insider tip:
Plenty of parking across the way or you can use the parking deck.

The scoop:
Gordon Biersch Brewery – Buckhead
3242 Peachtree Road NE
Buckhead, Atlanta, GA 30305
404-264-0253

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Buckhead, brewery, pub food, beer

The last 3 times I went to 5SB, I had the burger. Each time, I was sorely disappointed. And to think they have used to have one of the top 10 best burgers in Atlanta. Each and every time, my medium burger gets delivered well-done. Each and every time. I’ve had it taken back a couple of times and the best they could do is medium-well. Still not acceptable. The last time I went was this past Saturday. Again, I ordered medium and it came back very well-done. Dry and bland. I give up. So I’m crossing off 5SB on my best burger list. /End rant.

  

P.S. The Wild Mushroom Pizza and Calamari were both fabulous.

Technorati Tags: 5 Seasons Brewing, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, brewery, beer

Had lunch with my best friend over at Gordon Biersch in Midtown today. It was my first time and I was really impressed with the decor and ambiance.

I loved the high ceilings and the upper mezzanine where they have a private banquet room, a billiard room, and a bar. Lots of warm wood contrasted with cold steel with light colored walls to balance it all. I really like it. Sadly, no amount of ambiance or decor can salvage the disappointment I had with my food.

I asked our server how the Meatloaf Sandwich was and he said it was, “really, really good”. It was also the lunch special so I went ahead with it. What came before me was two unappealing, very-dry looking squares of grilled meat on a bed of shredded lettuce and a slice of tomato in a big dried-out bun. All I can say is that the taste was as bad as it looked — bland, bland, bland — and no amount of ketchup can save this sandwich.

Okay, so I probably ordered wrong because my friend’s Chicken Caesar pizza was quite tasty. It had chunks of tender chicken, crisp lettuce, and gooey cheese; and the crust was chewy and doughy. It was also big for a lunch portion, although, my friend, being a guy, had no trouble finishing it. Overall, it was flavorful and I wouldn’t mind ordering it next time.Verdict

I wouldn’t mind coming back to try a few other things from their extensive menu. The problem with micro breweries is that they usually would rather let their food take a back seat to their brews.

Insider tip:
Attentive service but the kitchen is very slow. Valet and self parking available. Located on Peachtree and 6th.

The scoop:
Gordon Biersch
848 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404-870-0805
Fax: 404-870-0806

Hours:
Sun-Thurs: 11:30 AM – 12:30 AM
Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM

Technorati Tags: Gordon Biersch, micro brewery, Midtown, Atlanta, Peachtree St., 6th Street, meatloaf sandwich, chicken caesar pizza