Austin Bites: BJ's Brewhouse

South south Austin (we're talking Brodie and 290 South) is home to big box stores and mega-outlets, so when we heard about a new chain restaurant going in called BJ's Brewhouse, we weren't exactly vibrating with excitement. But the thing is, the food is surprisingly good, and if you can ignore the Cheesecake Factory vibe and the Disney-fication of America (and that's a BIG if), you can enjoy 7 custom craft brews (contract brewed by Houston's Saint Arnold's) and easily 30 additional beers on draft that read like a beer enthusiast's dream roster of hops and malt. A great place for apps and drinks, or to take your parents. In a state like Texas with its quirky brewing and beer distribution laws, it's easy to see any new establishment that takes Austin to new brew heights as a positive development.

BJ's Brewhouse (American)
Location: 5207 Brodie Lane #300 [map]
Phone: (512) 358-7474
Cost: Entrees $8-15
Atmosphere: Market-tested slick with a throwback-in-a-bad-way soundtrack. (Bobby Brown anyone?) We're calling it Post-modern Chain Cheese.
Food: We weren't really there for the food, but it was surprisingly good. The Mini BJ Pizza (the idea of which was met with mirth at our table as it doesn't sound very satisfying) was chock-a-block with sausage, peppers, sweet red onion, high-quality olives, and roasted tomatoes on a deep-dish crust. We also enjoyed a calzone with a superb crust and a just-right cheese-to-sauce ratio. The sauce was good, straight ahead marinara (not overly sweet like some chains seem to perpetrate.) The hot wings were decent, standard pub-grub, served with sauce on the side, and plenty of bleu cheese dressing. The real star here is the beer: many, many pages of sweet, sweet beer. The house brew is bracingly good, and not sparing in hops or malt. We expected this seemingly boomer-demo chain to be a bit more timid in its flavor profiles, but BJ's ales and porters are tasty enough for more extreme beer enthusiasts. Skipping the blond, all the other beers are tops. If it's your flavor, BJ's even has an Imperial Stout on the main list. Setting aside the house beers for a minute, the menu has a dizzying array of Belgians, dunkels, pub ales, indies, and locals. For just a minute, we were so happy it hardly mattered that the restaurant playlist induced ironical chuckling in regular intervals. Go for the beer and the reasonably-priced beer samplers, and try not to laugh too hard when your server asks if you'd like a Pizookie.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By shannon kreiger in Food on November 7, 2007 3:52 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

lindscap

Mmmmm, the Nutty Brewnette is delicious.

heyzeus

Saint Arnolds does not make timid beer. Mmmmmm winter ale.

k

bj's is delicious. they put your pizza up high for you!

well i guess home slice does that, too, but i first experienced it in caleefoorrniaaa

deadflowers

With a name like BJ's ... it has to be good.

lulub0820

I am a native Californian and understand the disdain for chains and things Californian, but I also understand the pleasure one can receive when eating a thick slice of pizza from BJ's coupled with a very enjoyable beer. I am glad you liked it!