Gordon Biersch Brewery. CBD: 200 Poydras. 504-552-2739.

Written by Tom Fitzmorris October 07, 2010 17:50 in

2 Fleur
Average check per person $15-$25
 BreakfastNo Breakfast SundayNo Breakfast MondayNo Breakfast TuesdayNo Breakfast WednesdayNo Breakfast ThursdayNo Breakfast FridayNo Breakfast Saturday
LunchLunch SundayLunch MondayLunch TuesdayLunch WednesdayLunch ThursdayLunch FridayLunch Saturday
DinnerDinner SundayDinner MondayDinner TuesdayDinner WednesdayDinner ThursdayDinner FridayDinner Saturday

Gordon Biersch Brewery

CBD: 200 Poydras. 504-552-2739. Map.
Casual.
AE DC DS MC V
Website

WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
New Orleans doesn't have many brewpubs, but the number seems to be rising now that the Saints have been doing so well. Any time there's a big game, a host of television sets show it, and Gordon Biersch packs to the rafters. It's typically a young crowd, who are there for the beer and the standard American eats: burgers, salads, pastas, tacos, and steaks, all given a little twist by the corporate kitchen. A few local dishes (red beans, jambalaya pasta, gumbo) let you know you're not in Anywhere, USA, but just barely.

WHAT'S GOOD
The beers are brewed in house and are good enough reason to come here. All the various brews, light to dark, are well-made and interesting. Although most of the cooking is done on site, most of the menu is what you'd find in any other American chain restaurant. Nothing I've had here inspires a hunger in me. And I work a block away from the place.

BACKSTORY
Gordon Biersch (the last names of its two founders) began in 1988 in California as a small brewery, and it still functions in that capacity, making beer for a number of private labels as well as its own. The restaurants--twenty-nine of them now--began opening in 1995, and are now independent of the breweries. The New Orleans restaurant opened year or so before Katrina, a sone of the restaurants in the Harrah's Hotel.

DINING ROOM
A dimly-lit, high-tech, masculine space has actual rafters to which the crowd can fill on game day. The brewery's copper tanks are dramatically displayed. The bar is long and congenial; they make decent cocktails as well as serve up the brewskies.

ESSENTIAL DISHES
Starters
Kobe beef sliders (mini burgers)
Fried calamari
Fresh-cut potato chips, blue cheese, bacon
Garlic fries
Shrimp and chicken potstickers
Fried artichoke hearts
Glazed chicken wings
Blackened ahi tuna
Lobster and crab cake
Crab and artichoke dip
Roasted garlic, bruschetta, tapenade and hummus
Southwest egg rolls (chicken, black beans, corn, pepperjack cheese)
Wedge salad with blue cheese and bacon
House salad (greens, tomato, cucumber, bacon, spiced pecans, cheeses)
Soup of the day
Red beans and rice
Chicken andouille gumbo
Seafood Ccobb salad
Classic Cobb salad
Fried chicken salad
Chicken or salmon caesar salad
Gorgonzola pear salad, pecan crusted chicken
Ahi tuna salad
Spinach salad
Hummus and goat cheese salad
Grilled chicken salad, artichoke, tomatoes, cashews
Entrees
New York strip steak
Marinated steak medallions
Teriyaki flatiron steak
Gorgonzola bone-in ribeye
Steak and tempura shrimp combo
Marinated steak medallions with stuffed shrimp
Chilean sea bass, miso vinaigrette
Grilled Chilean sea bass
Beer battered fish and chips
Barbecued salmon, Asian barbecue sauce
Grilled mahi mahi
Seared tuna
Cedar plank pecan crusted salmon
Lobster and shrimp mac ‘n cheese
Lobster and crab cakes
Red beans and rice, andouille
Lobster and shrimp tacos
Cajun fish tacos
Ranchero chicken tacos
Pizzas (standard and custom combinations)
Pasta
Chicken medallions, mushrooms
Grilled chicken pasta
Chicken parmesan
Pecan crusted chicken, sherry cream sauce
Fire roasted chicken and fettuccine pesto
Sweet and spicy cashew chicken
Spicy shrimp stir fry with Asian vegetables
Pasta jambalaya
Chicken marinara
Cajun pasta (andouille, chicken, shrimp)
Teriyaki chicken and tempura shrimp combo
Sandwiches
Märzen barbecue chicken, bacon, cheddar
New York steak sandwich
Southwest chicken sandwich, pepperjack cheese
Grilled chicken, avocado, Swiss cheese sandwich
Blackened mahi mahi sandwich
Roasted turkey sandwich
Pulled pork and cole slaw on challah bun
Lobster and crab cake sandwich
Kobe cheeseburger
Cheeseburger
Barbecue burger
Mushroom Swiss burger
Desserts
Strawberry cheesecake
Double chocolate fudge cake
Warm apple bread pudding
Triple chocolate brownie

FOR BEST RESULTS
Come for the beer and the fresh-cut, freshly-fried potato chips. The rest of the fare is not terrible, but it's just okay, and with so many other excellent restaurants in the area, it seems a shame to fill up one's stomach on this stuff.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
In a place like this, the hamburgers should be three times as good as they are.

FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.

  • Dining Environment
  • Consistency +1
  • Service+2
  • Value
  • Attitude +2
  • Wine & Bar
  • Hipness
  • Local Color -1

 

SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
  • Good for business meetings
  • Many private rooms
  • Open Sunday lunch and dinner
  • Open Monday lunch and dinner
  • Open after 10 p.m.
  • Open all afternoon
  • Unusually large servings
  • Quick, good meal
  • Good for children
  • Easy, nearby parking