Growing up in a middle eastern household, the number one thing you’re taught other than becoming a doctor, is to always eat good food. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. In simple terms, if the Assyrian people are going to eat, they’re going to eat a meal worthy of traveling through their digestive tracts. It's very rare that I come across fast food or even restaurant food that compares to mama's home cooking, but once in a blue moon I cross paths with a place so delicious, I can’t help but go home and tell my mom about it.
I traveled deep into Burbank in search of a meal deemed fit for an Assyrian, and fortunately we found Gordon Biersch.
I am not usually a man to roar and boast about food as I was taught to be silent and efficient. “Scarf down the meal and don’t make a noise,” my grandmother would exclaim, “The dinner table is for eating, you can talk all you want when we move to the pastry table!” Yes, we have multiple tables for different meals. But this restaurant was quite different. My friends had forewarned me about this place. One visit was enough to get them raving on and on about the food, the atmosphere, the service. It was almost as if they were behind an elaborate advertising campaign for Gordon Biersch themselves, making sure only the greatest of honors reached my eardrums. Though wary at first, I was excited and ready to see what all the fuss was about.
Decor inside Gordon Biersch's Burbank Location
You are immediately greeted by two huge swinging doors finely crafted with traces of wheat engraved into the architecture of the building. Welcoming vibrant lights lead you into the mouth of the beast, which looks no different than a glorified bar at happy hour. Though centered around alcoholic beverages, Gordon Biersch has an impressive menu that featured gourmet dishes ranging from hand crafted pasta to one of the greatest takes on a chicken club my taste buds had ever encountered. The ambiance where we were seated (the corner of the restaurant) screamed comfy and cozy, a place you wouldn’t mind being plastered at through the late hours of the night.
Now let's get to what really matters, how did the food taste? If you couldn’t already tell, everything was perfect about this little spot, especially the food. Although we all ordered relatively simple dishes, each one boasted its own take with unique flavors and presentation. I personally ordered a California chicken club expecting nothing greater than what Chick Fil-A has to offer but I was so very wrong. Topped with avocado, ranch dressing, fresh tomatoes, and a beautiful piece of barbecued chicken breast, that thing blew my mind. As I sit here typing this out, I can still taste the remnants of that meal, only wishing I had bought more for the night ahead. Beyond that I had an order of garlic fries which hands down were the freshest garlic fries I’ve ever had. Period. My friends also ordered pasta and German sausages which were delightfully exquisite. I simply have no negative comments about this establishment.
Avocado Chicken Club
Spicy Sausage Links
Gordon Biersch is a brewery restaurant in the heart of Burbank and why you aren't there this very second getting boozed out of your mind in the company of some of the best food imaginable...is the question you should be asking yourself. With fair prices hitting all time lows for such excellent food, I really can’t see anyone going wrong with it.
Atmosphere: A dark, relaxing environment for end-of-day de-stressing. Recommended Dishes: AvocadoChicken Club, The Wild Pasta, and The Spicy Sausage Links. Acoustics: Quiet and somber, plenty of space to eat in peace. Price: $$ (Not too cheap, but not too expensive). Gordon Biersch 145 S San Fernando Blvd. Burbank, CA 91344