Hitting Rock Bottom

The last time I hit a Rock Bottom was in Denver, six years ago. And then, only because it was probably the one place still open in the area. Or wait. Was I in Cincinnati? That’s the trouble with chain restaurants; it’s hard for any location to retain a distinct place in the mind.

However, Milwaukee’s Rock Bottom Brewery possesses a feature that should make it both appealing and memorable: An outstanding riverfront location with a large, attractive patio overlooking the water.

                         

Said patio is an awesome place to grab some lunch, bask in the slowly-shortening days of summer sun, and watch boats cruise by, especially if you are sitting in Diedre’s section. This girl is quite possibly one of the most pleasant servers I’ve ever had in this city.

Seriously, ask to sit in her section and be sure you tip her really well. (Note: Nobody made me say that. I’m just reminding those of you who may have a few rounds before the bill shows up to throw in a little extra even when your tip-tallying skills may feel foggy!) Also, if it’s a nice day, think about going a little early. We stopped by shortly before noon today and while we had no problem getting a table, within thirty minutes more than two-thirds of the patio tables were full.

Like most brew pubs, the menu here consists of a somewhat expanded and glorified version of typical bar fare. Appetizer selections include the usual buffalo wings, quesadillas, nachos, and a sampler platter. Other items include soups, salads, pasta, pizza, steak or chicken dishes, and of course, the burger.

As I may have mentioned to you earlier, I almost always order a burger whenever I’m eating somewhere that contains any reference to “brew” in its name. Sure, I have made the occasional creative foray into the pasta or salad section, but I always found that to be a mistake. You may have had very pleasant dining experiences involving sirloin steak or grilled snapper at brew pubs (And if so, please let us know where!), but I always found myself wishing I’d stuck to the plain and simple burger.

Thus I ordered a Brew Burger with fries and a side of BBQ baked beans. And Scott had the massive Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla, made with five different cheeses, chipotle seasoned chicken, a dash of walnut pesto, and some pico de gallo. He swears it was good, and we’ll have to take his word for it; I couldn’t eat another bite after consuming a mere half my burger and all the fries.

                      

As for the beer, I can’t report firsthand on that either. I will tell you that most beer fans I know would encourage visitors to first take advantage of some of the other brew pubs in town, like maybe the nearby Milwaukee Ale House, before heading over to the Rock Bottom Brewery. But definitely don’t discount the Rock Bottom just because it’s part of a national chain. The beer is certainly decent and, for those focusing more on food, the menu features a lot more items that actual incorporate brew as one of the ingredients. Plus, there’s that patio. You have to love the patio. Unless, of course, it’s January . . .

Comments

[Kelly]

I love their quesadillas.

[Lynn]

I love the patio too!

[Alba]

There's nothing wrong with Rock Bottom's beer - they have quality craft brews. Each location has an independent brewmaster who’s allowed to do what they want. Rock Bottom is much more adventurous than the Milwaukee Ale House when it comes to brewing beer and they keep their seasonal offerings well stocked. It’s very hit and miss at the Ale House.

[Karen]

Now that the weather is starting to turn into fall, I feel like I have to take advantage of patios before it gets too chilly outside.

Additionally, I agree with Alba. I like both the Ale House and Rock Bottom, but the brews at Rock Bottom are indeed more adventurous - and interesting.