Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

Oh, where to begin? At the beginning, I suppose. My family and I were in town for a vacation and to visit some friends. On a Saturday night, my wife went out on an adult outing, while I took the kids to the wax museum and to get something for dinner. It’s bad food, but they have a decent kids menu and was less than a block away, so I took the kids to the Hard Rock Café. Half empty restaurant, one hour wait? Ha! Ok, let’s find somewhere else to eat.
I jump on my phone and see a pizza place down the street, but it is actually packed and you can see people waiting inside. We walk another block and I see a restaurant up ahead with outdoor seating. And what’s this? Several families with children? And is that a corn dog on that kids’ plate? And no one at the hostess stand? Let’s do this!
We walk up and I see the bar is pretty full, but there are plenty of tables open and there was a bunch of tables outside too. I was told it would be 20 minutes. Better than the hour at HRC. Maybe this is how restaurants create buzz in DC? Kids were getting the hungry grumps, so I decided to roll with it. It was this or McDonalds at this point.
They didn’t take my name, I was just told to wait, «over there». So, we stepped to the side and waited «over there» and stared down the host for a few minutes. No one left, no one came to say anything to the host, he spontaneously took out some menus and gave them to a girl after about five minutes and said they were now ready for us! We passed their test!
We were sat in a nice big booth and informed they were out of kid menus, but our server would know what was on it. Rachel came by a few minutes later, made small talk and asked us for our drink order.
We perused the menu and Rachel returned with our beverages and was ready to take our order. I don’t know what else is on the kids menu, as my son seemed eager to give the corn dog a try (with house made chips on the side), so we went with that. My daughter ordered the 8 oz. tenderloin medallions (and hey, it’s a vacation, so I let her get fries AND chips for her two sides!) Rachel thanked us and started to walk away. Yep. The guy paying the bill might like a bite to eat too, if possible. It was at that point I wondered if we should have gone to McDonalds.
I ordered the homemade tacos with shrimp and lobster. The kids and I chatted about the day until the food was brought out by a silent girl. Corn dog and chips, check. My son nervously wondered if they would be able to bring him ketchup. I assured him they would.
Ok, backstory: we are from Nebraska and sometimes I forgot how spoiled we are in having access to really great quality meats. So, when my daughter received her charcoal briquette, err, I’m sorry, her tenderloin steak, we all just kind of gaped at it. It had a lot of visible gristle for a tenderloin. Also «medallions» where we are from will usually net you two or three small cuts of very tender meat, not one big hunk. I asked her to cut it in half and (working together) we managed to split it open to find the greyest looking dead steak I’ve ever seen. I had to think and we tried to remember if Rachel had asked us how she wanted it done. We didn’t think she did and I wonder if they went with well done since it was for a kid?
We sat there for a bit while everything cooled down to room temperature and beyond. Finally we flagged someone down to ask for ketchup and inquire about their steak policy’s. By the time things got sorted out, my son ate his cold corn dog with ketchup and my daughter filled up on fries and chips while waiting for her second steak.
The kids always beg for dessert and some looked good, but do you know what I did? Paid the check and took them to the McDonalds around the corner for ice cream!
Sorry, due to the food quality and service, we won’t be back.

Nice atmosphere. Great service. Beer is good. Food is OK if you stick to bar food — burger/​wings/​fries/​pizza.
Entrée items not so much — seemed to be «heat-​n-​eat» with very little attention given. Salmon with asparagus & brown rice. 3 burnt and flattened asparagus spears, crunchy, inedible rice that must have been in a warmer for days, and an under-​cooked piece of salmon with a so-​so sauce. Other entrees were undercooked and the spaetzle was mushy and over-​warmed.
Great if you want to meet for beer and a burger, but don’t go for anything that requires attention.

So, I had no idea that this used to be a former Riggs National Bank. The architecture and design is most definitely historic and ornate in nature. Fun and lively ambiance aside, the service and food was spectacular. Our waitress, London, was so incredibly sweet, patient and friendly. We had the Kobe Burger and Golden Export. YUM! Everything came out reasonably fast and was delicious. All in all, I love this particular Gordon Biersch. The food and service are amazing, but the gorgeous, historic architecture is the cherry on top. Love it!

The sausage platter – 3 lager-​soaked bratwursts that come with sauerkraut & bacon potato croquettes along with braised red cabbage – is top notch. I could eat this all day – keeps me coming back.
The daily «fresh» beer line-​up is thoughtful and samples are not a problem. The Milk Stout Plus is a smooth dark brew.
The staff is well-​chosen. I find that they love sports as much as the customers and display terrific spirit when games are played. Made it a point to dine here when the Caps were dueling the Penguins in play-​off competition for the ’16 Stanley Cup. The servers were enthusiastically supporting the hometown team by wearing Cap jerseys, cheering madly and yet providing with-​it service. Am still in disbelief the Caps lost, but what a glorious team, huh?!
I do like watching sports here. If you are a sports junkie, like me, you’ll feel right at home. What this establishment has done with the former Riggs Bank space is impressive.
The pricing is not inexpensive but not over the top. «Celebrate Spring» menu is moderately priced; GB’s «warming carmel» beer of Spring, maibock, goes down easily. Neither will last long. Hopefully more economical seasonal menus will be in the future (hint, hint). Also wish BG had a lot more traditional German cuisine to go with its own brand of German-​influenced brews. The food options here are surprisingly «nicht sehr Deutsch» (not very German).

On a trip from NC and stopped by after the spy museum… The server delievered a sample glass of wine per request, but left it all dinner… The food was average… Entrees were delievered before the salads… Had to get the manager twice… Hand down worst resturant on trip!!!
Go to Palaleos in Georgetown or Rays the Steaks… Higher on price, but service trumps the bill total in my eyes.
Jason

I always thought the DC F St location of Gordon Biersch was a tourist-​trap restaurant, along the lines of Hard Rock Café, but I think they make decent food, I especially like their version of the veggie burger. But it was today’s level of service that I am speaking of and why I think I’ll take my guests elsewhere next time, I’m the one who suggested Gordon Biersch.
A trio of us went today for lunch at 1pm, if I eat out for lunch I always go after the noon lunch crush. The 3 of us arrive at 1pm today, grab a booth, skim the menu and order at about 1:15. 3 salads, we each ordered a simple salad. The salad was fine, the waitress was fine but it took the kitchen 30 MINUTES to make 3 simple salads!!! Finally, after one of our trio mentioned the long wait to the waitress, the salads come to TWO of us. Unfortunately, even though I asked for a salad without meat, the kitchen put meat on it and it had to be redone.
If the place was packed we would’ve turned around and went somewhere else. But it wasn’t packed, there weren’t a lot of folks in there at all, so for three salads to take that long was a bit much. I doubt my friends will want me to bring them here again. The waitress was nice though.

In the base of the hotel. That is where their room service cones from!
Decent bar food. Big portions.
Heard a great musician there one night, too!

A great casual dining place. And lots of tables and seats, which was what we were looking for (everywhere else was either too busy or too expensive).
We tried the boneless wings appetizers: hot and crunchy and served with four different sauces on the side. I got lobster and shrimp mac and cheese – very good and very filling.
I enjoyed our time here and would come back.

Went here this weekend after touring the mall — dismal is the only way to describe the service and the response from management. Sat at table 15 mins before a server came by, then 20 minutes for our drinks and another 40 minutes for our food. Almost all the food was right — the medium well steak was medium rare and they forgot side items. When we asked the manager about the status of our food it was brought right out but he never asked about our obviously frustrating experience.
Disappointing and we won’t be returning.

Nothing amazing but a decent happy hour spot where you can usually get a seat. The garlic fries are the star here as far as food and their beers are pretty enjoyable too. The Margherita flatbread pizza and BBQ burger are both pretty good too.
This place isn’t life changing but it’s a solid place for a beer or a burger.

On a rainy day in DC, a friend and I were wandering the streets looking for a drink and stumbled upon this Gordon Biersch Brewery location. The building (formerly a bank) was open and bright (despite the overcast day) and very impressive. We took a couple seats at the bar and ordered a flight as we warmed up and dried off.
Our flight of 6 beers included the Golden Export, Hefeweizen, Czech Pilsner, Marzen, Schwarzbier and a seasonal (I can’t remember exactly what that one was). Gordon Biersch brews and serves German style beers, following the good old German Purity Law. I found all the beers to pleasantly be what you’d expect.
Can’t speak for the food. Our bartender was attentive and the beers were good overall. I don’t know that I would seek out Gordon Biersch in the future but it’s a good place to get out of the rain.

Came here for drinks and the service was so slow. I couldn’t determine if its the server that was slow or the bartender pouring the drinks. It wasn’t a full house so I don’t understand why.
My friends had really flat beer, but isn’t this a brewery? Maybe it was a bad post blizzard night.
Plus side the building is beautiful! I was in awe. The openness, marble columns, waffle ceilings (not sure if this is the correct term) and the moldings were really true to the grand DC architect.

By far the worse experience I’ve ever had at a bar. Even a good beer can’t make up for the horrible service.
We were seated and waited 15 min for someone to come take our order. Ordered a beer sampler. Waited 20 min and finally flagged down our waiter and asked about our beer. Said they didn’t have glasses. So we ordered a regular beer. After waiting another 15 minutes he brings the wife a beer and not me. So the wife and I shared her beer. Now after being seated for one hour!!! We both got a beer. Oh and you ask, what about food. Yeah we finally got that 1 ½ hours later… The only comforting thing was it wasn’t just us. The person to the left of us complained and walked out. The person to the right of us didn’t hold back. She freaked out on the manager.
Never got my beer sampler. Even went back later when there were no more than 20 customers. Ask for the sampler and the said they did t have any glasses. Never got one even though I saw them serving others the samplers. Bottom line: Beer is good but not worth the horrible customer service.

What seems to have been lost on so many Unilocal reviewers is the fact that this restaurant is sited in a former bank building. For me, it’s quite fascinating to see the direction that our financial services have taken, as these services have moved away from traditional brink-​and-​mortar locations, and now are using digital access or newer buildings featuring drive-​through access. This restaurant, however, is a remarkable instance of the classy, grand features once found in banks. We thought the beer was excellent, with a good range of choices on tap. That, much more than the unremarkable food, would be our reason to spot back.

Pretty reasonable chain. The beer selection is a little limited I think, but it’s got what you need.
In terms of food I would stick to sliders and things like that. Tried the sirloin tips but they were over cooked, overpriced, and under seasoned.
Garlic fries as everyone else mentioned in their Unilocal reviews are a fine choice.
I got the artichoke crab dip too which was not enough crab!
The egg rolls were surprisingly good.

They are conveniently located near many of the tourist spots (and across the street from the International Spy Museum aka the best museum ever) and carry a decent selection of beers brewed in house. The bar area is pretty large and the dining room décor and ambiance was great as well.
I went there for happy hour when I was visiting DC and I was not disappointed. The happy hour deals were reasonable with sliders and most food items for less than $ 5. With their sampler size option for beers, you’re able to try multiple beers.

I love this place. When I lived in DC I frequented it often. I decided to go back 5 years later and it was just as good. My main thing is that I am a lover of beer and they have great beer on tap, their food is good too. The only disappointing let were their garlic Parmesan fries. I remember them being heaven, and this time I ordered the happy hour version and it lacked garlic. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was because it was the happy hour version. Everything else was yummy tho! We also had the sliders and the brat dogs. Both amazing and j would definitely get it again!

I’m sitting here with my boyfriend eating our calamari, waiting for my entrée to come out. This calamari has absolutely no taste. Bland all around. The dipping sauce hardly saves it. Halfway into that dish, i find a hair, much shorter than any of mine. And our waiter is a bit of a moron. I’m asking questions about the menu, he doesn’t know the answer to anything. I’ll give him credit for going to get an answer for me, but then he tells me he doesnt know why they have similar dishes on the menu because they’re basically the same thing. When in fact they’re actually very different. Downtalking the menu of the restaurant you work at doesn’t make me want to eat here. I’m only sucking it up now because I’m starving and dont have the patience to go elsewhere at 8pm
Update: I let the manager know about the hair, didn’t ask for it to be taken off our bill because we had just about finished the dish anyway. But he went ahead and took it off for us. Much appreciated.

I’ve been to the Tysons Corner location several times and always had a great experience. The DC location is no different!
While I’m not a beer drinker, I realize that the beer selection is impressive and, according to my husband, very good. He ordered some beers, and we split garlic fries (we weren’t here for a meal). Those garlic fries… I don’t know what to say about them other than that they are DELICIOUS. If you like garlic and you like fries, GET THESE. My only complaint is that we ordered a large and I am pretty sure we got a small (I only realized this the following day, when we were at the TC location and ordered a large. The discrepancy between the size at the DC location and the TC location was very noticeable). But anyway, they were unsurprisingly delicious.
The location itself is beautiful. It’s HUGE and open and airy and bright. The staff seemed friendly and helpful. I really don’t have anything bad to say. I wish we had been to this location more often when we lived in the area. Definitely check out Gordon Biersch, you won’t regret it!

Garlic fries! If you have not had them you are missing out, although their sweet potato fries are some of the best I have tried. Lots of places do fries Gordon Biersch does them well.
I had not been to this location in a while and I am glad I went back. It is looking likely we will have an office HH here at some point this summer.
I got the BBQ burger and it was good. One friend had a salad and another had the tacos, both gave thumbs up. We tried a couple of starters. The southwest egg rolls were good. I think the crab risotto fritters were over cooked making them a little challenging to enjoy.
While none of us got one on this trip I am also a fan of their pizza combinations.

In den US amerikanischen Countryradiosendern wird derzeit ein Titel von
Toby Keith hoch und runtergespielt, der heißt Drinks After Work und man
kann sich vorstellen, dass dieser Titel nach einem Besuch bei Gordon
Biersch entstand. Abends gegen fünf Uhr ist die Bude voll mit
Geschäftsleuten und wahrscheinlich auch Politikern (eher keine
Diplomaten, die sitzen in den Diningrestaurants), die bei ein paar Drinks After Work abschalten wollen. Denn hier geht die Jagd ja
weiter! Entweder will man der Kollegin oder zumindest der Dame am
Zapfhahn imponieren, aber zumindest für sich selbst muss es eine
anspruchsvolle Nummer sein. Dabei ist Gordon Biersch so eine Mischung
zwischen einem Brauhaus und einer Bahnhofshalle, aber sehr cool gemacht.
Ausgeschenkt wird Bier mit deutschen Namen (Weizen, Märzen, Export),
was aber natürlich in der hauseigenen Bierschbrauerei gebraut wird. Ich
sitze an der Theke und beobachte das wilde Treiben, die meisten
Bierschbesucher kennen sich, oder lernen sich schnell kennen. Sehr
sozial, sehr lustig und mit nicht unerheblichem Bierkonsum, alter
Schwede. Nach einem Bier kommt der kleine Hunger, den es aber in den USA
ja kaum gibt. Meine Brauer Combo hat mit Käse und Fleisch gefüllte und
aufgeschnittene Wraps, drei Minihamburger mit leckerem gewürzten
Schweinefleisch zwischen den fluffigen Scheiben und mit Knoblauch
aromatisierte Pommes Frittes. In meinen Essplan passte das nicht, aber
es war ganz lecker. Zumal die Preise in der Happy Hour zwar nicht
halbiert, aber doch ordentlich reduziert sind, so dass das ganze Mahl
mit ein paar Märzenbieren knapp über 20 US$ blieb! mehr als fair. Cooler
gute-​Laune-​Laden zur Verabschiedung des ernsten Tagesteils.

In some way it reminds me really to Bavarian restaurants. The beer is good, the food is typical U.S. with some international references.