Gordon Biersch Brewery
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.
Why It's Essential
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.
Why It'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.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> Kobe beef sliders (mini burgers)<br /> Fried calamari<br /> Fresh-cut potato chips, blue cheese, bacon<br /> Garlic fries <br /> Shrimp and chicken potstickers<br /> Fried artichoke hearts<br /> Glazed chicken wings<br /> Blackened ahi tuna<br /> Lobster and crab cake<br /> Crab and artichoke dip<br /> Roasted garlic, bruschetta, tapenade and hummus<br /> Southwest egg rolls (chicken, black beans, corn, pepperjack cheese)<br /> Wedge salad with blue cheese and bacon<br /> House salad (greens, tomato, cucumber, bacon, spiced pecans, cheeses)<br /> Soup of the day<br /> Red beans and rice<br /> Chicken andouille gumbo<br /> Seafood Ccobb salad<br /> Classic Cobb salad <br /> Fried chicken salad<br /> Chicken or salmon caesar salad<br /> Gorgonzola pear salad, pecan crusted chicken<br /> Ahi tuna salad<br /> Spinach salad<br /> Hummus and goat cheese salad<br /> Grilled chicken salad, artichoke, tomatoes, cashews<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> New York strip steak<br /> Marinated steak medallions<br /> Teriyaki flatiron steak<br /> Gorgonzola bone-in ribeye<br /> Steak and tempura shrimp combo<br /> Marinated steak medallions with stuffed shrimp<br /> Chilean sea bass, miso vinaigrette<br /> Grilled Chilean sea bass<br /> Beer battered fish and chips<br /> Barbecued salmon, Asian barbecue sauce<br /> Grilled mahi mahi<br /> Seared tuna<br /> Cedar plank pecan crusted salmon<br /> Lobster and shrimp mac ‘n cheese<br /> Lobster and crab cakes<br /> Red beans and rice, andouille<br /> Lobster and shrimp tacos<br /> Cajun fish tacos<br /> Ranchero chicken tacos<br /> Pizzas (standard and custom combinations)<br /> <em><strong>Pasta</strong></em><br /> Chicken medallions, mushrooms<br /> Grilled chicken pasta<br /> Chicken parmesan<br /> Pecan crusted chicken, sherry cream sauce<br /> Fire roasted chicken and fettuccine pesto<br /> Sweet and spicy cashew chicken <br /> Spicy shrimp stir fry with Asian vegetables<br /> Pasta jambalaya<br /> Chicken marinara<br /> Cajun pasta (andouille, chicken, shrimp)<br /> Teriyaki chicken and tempura shrimp combo<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches</strong></em><br /> Märzen barbecue chicken, bacon, cheddar<br /> New York steak sandwich<br /> Southwest chicken sandwich, pepperjack cheese<br /> Grilled chicken, avocado, Swiss cheese sandwich<br /> Blackened mahi mahi sandwich<br /> Roasted turkey sandwich<br /> Pulled pork and cole slaw on challah bun<br /> Lobster and crab cake sandwich<br /> Kobe cheeseburger<br /> Cheeseburger <br /> Barbecue burger<br /> Mushroom Swiss burger <br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> Strawberry cheesecake<br /> Double chocolate fudge cake<br /> Warm apple bread pudding<br /> Triple chocolate brownie
Deficiencies
In a place like this, the hamburgers should be three times as good as they are.
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.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
2
Service