Atlanta Recommendations

I live just around the corner from Wrecking bar, and go to Wrecking Bar easily twice a week, and I would like to point out that the crowd is older, is not quite true. Maybe on the night that you went, but 99.99% of the time, that statement is not true. I am in my 20s, and never feel that I am significantly younger than the average there.

Sounds like you just had a bad experience, as Wrecking Bar has some of the best food in the area. In terms of food its definitely Wrecking Bar > Porter >>>>>> Brick Store. Love me some Brick Store, but apart from a couple menu items, the food is very meh, and they hardly ever change their menu. I enjoy that Porter/WB have specials/rotating menus, and BSP does that, but to a much smaller amount.

 

I couldn't disagree with you more on the food or the atmosphere there. I'd say that the crowd is mostly mid 20's to mid 30's, and the food there is some of the best/most creative in the area. Also it sounds like the people you sat near would have sucked (no pun intended) at any bar and aren't the usual clientele for any brewpub.

I'd chalk it up to a bad night there for sure - and recommend next time that you get the Corn Pups and/or the Pastrami sandwich instead of the veggie gyro (unless you're vegetarian). I can say from experience that both of those options are incredible there. I'm sorry that you had a bad time, but in my experience those have been few and far between

 

The food at Wrecking Bar isnt good enough to elevate them above over Brick Store when it comes to out of towners asking for beer bar recommendations. Brick Store and Porter have FAR superior beer menus. The cellar at Brick Store is the best in the state and it should be the top spot to visit for anyone out of town.

If people want serious food recommendations there are some seriously good spots to eat in Atlanta and none of these places are making the list.

Also lulz at "and the food there is some of the best/most creative in the area" followed up by "next time that you get the Corn Pups and/or the Pastrami sandwich"

 

The Brickstore is fine as a beer bar rec, obviously, but their food is not on par with The Porter or The Wrecking Bar. Not even close. Not to say it's bad, but it's comparing fresh apples to two week old apples (on the tree), they're still very good at two weeks but not the same. The Wrecking Bar obviously doesn't have the beer list anyone else does since they don't sell anyone else's beer (guest taps once in a while, nothing else), but to dismiss them completely because of that is stupid. Bob and Neal are brewing the best beers in the State by far and have the most expansive and esoteric lineup around. Twain's, as contrast, does solid beers as well, but you won't see a huge variation of styles, certainly not a list of barrel aged beers, Goses, or other unique offerings. 5 Seasons doesn't compare to either as their beers aren't very cutting edge, nor is the food or service (the service at Westside is the worst I've ever experienced). The Wrecking Bar should definitely be on the list for an out of towner looking for good, local beers and solid food choices.

If this is strictly about food, then someone should post on a different forum. This is after all Beeradvocate, not foodadvocate.

 

It's obviously on the list. We are talking about it. Their food isnt good enough to elevate it above Brick Store or Porter.

 

Let me ask you one question, are you OTP or ITP?

 

lulz...what do you think?

 

OTP. And I hope to god you tipped the "free" valet.

 

Considering that they change the specials up daily and weekly based on locally sourced produce and meats, so I was giving you two "old standby" menu options to try that I find a bit more flavorful than the veggie gyro. I would also recommend trying any of the daily offerings they have.

I am consistently impressed with the creativity of both the chefs and the brewers. Wrecking Bar is one of the best brewpubs I have ever been to and they do a phenomenal job with their beer including casked/barrel aged offerings.

If we want to change this into a discussion about a bottle list, I would definitely recommend The Porter or Brick Store instead of Wrecking Bar, but bottle lists weren't a qualifying factor in the OP's post. If you still insist that Wrecking Bar is not worthwhile, I'd advise OP to disregard those opinions and say "more beer for me" when he gets here since you aren't interested.

 

Of course you do. Except that I live ITP and I have lived ITP my whole life. And of course I tipped the valet. Ugh you can't be serious.

 

This thread went down hill fast.Does anyone even remember the op's question? I mean otp vs itp? I'm pretty sure the op doesn't give a shit about about that. And yes the bottle lists are always a qualifying factor in recommendations for places to go as a beer geek. The food is decent or better at both places. You can get a satisfying meal at either place. Op please do yourself a favor and hit up both places. Both are fantastic. Sometimes I like to hit up wrecking bar because I know the beer is fresh and brewed on site and delicious, but Brick store has more than I could ever ask for as far as selection and service and just the way everything revolves around the beer.

 

I have not been to Porter or Brick Store, but have friends rave about both places. I plan to visit again soon and try them out. Lots of great bottle shops in the area, Hop City and Greene's are my favorite, but they also have several Total Wines as well. I would tell you to go to whatever is closest to where you are staying. I have done the Sweetwater tour and it is underwhelming, basically just beer at a discount for an hour or so. I heard Monday Night has a cool setup, but have not been.

 

It's disingenuous to act like the vegetarian options dont count when talking about the quality of the food. But hey, corndogs.

 

That's the beauty of BA. Everything is destined to go off topic in two second, and the points don't matter.

I just wanted to defend the fact that Wrecking Bar should be considered alongside with The Porter/BSP, and DawgPhan had one bad experience, and that does not outweigh everyone else who has been there and loved it.

 

Agreed. Overall beer variety is superior at the beer bars (as one might expect)

It's also disingenuous to judge an entire food menu by one item. But hey, this is the internet

 

In your opinion. Shitting on a place you didn't like when clearly you are in the tiniest minority seems a little hostile. What happened that made you so angry with The Wrecking Bar?

I've had bad tasting food at The Porter, but it was something I didn't fully know what it was. I certainly wouldn't condemn them for it. BSP got a low heath code score, likely due to an asshole inspector, I won't condemn them either. Your hatred for The Wrecking Bar seems to go beyond one bad experience. In a sea of great experiences and favorable reviews, it does seem suspect.

 

Perfect summary, couldn't have said it better myself. Someone just has a vendetta against Wrecking Bar, and neglects the fact that 99% of beer people in Atlanta LOVE Wrecking Bar. He is just missing out.

 

OP asked for suggestions, I said Brick Store. Someone said the food at wrecking bar was better. Been a while since I have been to wrecking bar, decided to go back with when an out of town friend wanted to meet for dinner.

Went to wrecking bar. Had good time with friend. Ate so-so food and drank a couple of great beers and a couple of average beers. Reported said experience on the interwebs. Neck beards come out of woodwork to defend wrecking bar and tell me I am wrong about my experience. Some questioned if I tipped a valet or if I actually lived ITP. They gave great evidence to the greatness of wrecking bar food like "they have specials" and "they have corn pups".

I dont hate wrecking bar, nor do I have a vendetta against wrecking bar. I dont think that any of this was unfairly shitting on the place. Having a different opinion isnt weird.

 

I think it is more the way you phrase things. You seem like the, I'm cool on the internet type, or the I have big balls and I am more important than everyone else mentality. Your "report" was more of a bashing, and less of a report. And when you bash a place that is widely loved by many on here, expect people to come back at you. And then to insult all of us is laughable. I hope that I never run into you in the Atlanta beer scene, you are just downright annoying and the epitome of what is wrong with Beeradvocate as a whole. Someone that says others are neckbeards, are usually the worst neckbeards.

 

Neckbeards? Never heard of this until googling it just now. Definitely a derogatory comment if I've ever seen one, especially since I don't fit the description at all. Can't speak for Kmccabde33, never met him.

No one said you were wrong. If you hate The Wrecking Bar, then you hate them. Suggesting to someone coming into town, looking for good local beer to completely avoid it, that is wrong. Clearly your loyalty is elsewhere so there's no point in arguing further, you're just that one random person who doesn't like some of the best locally made beers in Atlanta or the pub where they're made.