Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewery
140 S Westnege Ave, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007
Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewery Menu
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Address :
140 S Westnege Ave
Kalamazoo, MI, 49007 - Phone (269) 382-2739
- Website https://www.gonzosbiggdoggbrewing.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :3:00 pm - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
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Adam K.
Great selection of great beer and food.
(4)Larry H.
Great new brewpub in Kalamazoo. The beer is amazingly good, the food is even better and the service is top notch. Favorites so far are the pulled pork sandwich, and the white cheddar burger top it off with the kahleslaw (not a typo). For a starter try the poutine or goat cheese fritters.
(5)Melissa M.
I didn't eat while I was here, so my review is strictly for the beer. fantastic!! I love it. I love the 5 oz tasters!! Definitely worth stopping in.
(4)John K.
Really good food and micro beer in a very walkable neighborhood just off downtown Kalamazoo.
(5)Thomas C.
Really excellent house brewed beers. The Burning Sun Redd, Into the Night Stout, Nimble Limbo and Vanilla Porter are terrific. Nice ambiance inside, and large attractive outside seating area. Full menu, but I just had beer tasters.
(4)Nathan L.
I have been here a few times with others and have been very happy every time. The kitchen does close a little early sometimes. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. The food is really delicious and the beer is great. They have a wide selection of food and beer. I have tried several varieties of their beer and have liked almost all of them. I would highly suggest this place and am happy that they have outdoor seating as well. Families would probably be ok if it was early enough in the day.
(5)Robert B.
Hands down the best 12 beers on tap in KZoo. Exceptional customer care. Fantastic food. Had to buy a dozen growlers so I could bring Gonzo's to NJ with me. Gonzo is a genius. Keith, Luke, Jake, and Jeremy are amazing. I am praying Gonzo can get his brews to NJ.
(5)Andrew M.
Stopped in on a busy Friday evening and had a wonderful meal and absolutely wonderful beers! The environment is perfect, the big windows add a huge value to the atmosphere of this place and they play greatly great music to entertain their guests. The food is excellent, the appetizers ample and did I mention the beer? It's my favorite beer in town, ever better than Bells.
(5)Brian B.
Great vibe, amazing micro brews. A must stop. Every beer in the flight tasting was amazing and got better and better. Very drinkable, crisp and high ABV.
(5)Carrie H.
We love a good brewery so we thought we would try it out. It was a Friday night so we expected a wait, the hostess said it would be 25 minutes and we decided to wait. When I noticed that people who were coming in after us were being seated I went to see what was happening. The hostess had to flip back to my name and I got to see that there were many names after mine crossed off. I was upset and asked why she said it was because we had a baby and they were waiting for a low top so we could use the highchair. I said that they could have at least asked us if we wanted to wait longer for a low top or go with a high top instead of assuming. Like I said we like a good brewery so we have had to make do at high tops many times. After a while the hostess came up to us and asked us if we wanted to share a high top table with the three people she had just sat there. We did not really want to so we asked how long it would be for a table to open up and she told us 20 min. She was really rude about it too. That is after we were told 25 to begin with and had already waited 45. Needless to say we will not be going back there. Instead we went to the Olde Peninsula Brewpub and enjoyed great service! So if you have a baby do not go here!
(1)Dr. Brett M.
Beer is great and food is awesome. Buffalo chicken dip is a must. Friendly staff makes it a great place to hang out.
(5)Edet N.
Good food, extensive beer lists and a cool environment. I loved how the layout of the beer list made It all make sense to the non-beer snob. I recommend this place if you're in the area and want some unique beers and good pub-style food.
(4)Moira G.
the food.... fresh, fast, unique, and scrumptious! the beer.... delicious, unique, and did I mention delicious?!? definitely a new must try place in Kalamazoo! blown away at how long I was missing out on such a gem!!! ps. Wednesday are beer and pint night for $10 and their pizza is as good as their beer!
(5)Michael S.
Some of us met there for a Guild tour, the other day. We heard some not so good things about the brewery. Nothing specific, but they didn't like it. I, however, did! The owner, Greg, took us on a brief (OK that it was) tour. He seemed very knowledgeable and quickly answered all of our questions. We got back to our seats and ordered food. We already had our beer. I got the Scottish Ale and my SO got the Vanilla Porter. Both were great. The rest of our party liked theirs, too. I really liked my Pesto Chicken sammich. The prices are quite reasonable. It's fairly large, so it was easy to find a seat. I think we bypassed the check in stand, but nobody got crazy over it. Our server did not delay in taking our orders. Sadly, it was the server who caused me not to give this place a fifth star. At first it seemed like we were her first ever customers, but as time passed, she did get better and friendlier. I'd love to go back.
(4)Alicia S.
Usually if I'm going to Gonzo's I get a beer or two and maybe an appetizer, but this week I ended up visiting them for a full blown lunch, aw yeah! My incessant drooling quickly wiped to the conclusion that every food item on the menu sounds pretty darn good! After experiencing great turmoil of what to get, my blood-thirsty carnivorous side took over and I ordered a big juicy burger and decided to switch it up by subbing a side of Kale coleslaw ( in attempt to be healthier, I guess?). I enjoyed every last bite of that burger, man... If only I remembered what it was called. The Kale 'slaw was good too, but it all happened so fast! I feel the portion of the side could have been bigger. Next time, I might just stick with the fries... A little hypercholesterolemia never hurt anyone, right? And of course, I went with my usual choice beer choice when I'm at Gonzo's to wash it all down- Vanila Porter, YUM! Overall, I was a happy panda.
(4)Zach G.
I think Gonzo's best characteristic is the ambience of their location. I really like the inside of the restaurant. It has lots of big windows and pretty cool decoration. Also has great outdoor seating. The palace is always pretty busy, so I guess people really like it. From our perspective, the positives of Gonzo's are: -great beer selection. They always have really good beer! -great location and ambience. -great outdoor seating. -usually get seated pretty quick The negatives are: -iffy service... I feel like whenever I come, the service is not really that great. They aren't flat out rude but not that friendly and kind of slow. -the food... They have great drinks, but that is about it. I would not suggest coming specifically to eat. Dry nachos... Greasy, sloppy burgers.. Not good food.
(3)Aly O.
Really nice place! First time here, and I'm really impressed. Large bar, indoor and outdoor seating. The beers are great. The vanilla Porter is unbelievable. Fair prices, beautiful clean place, and a good selection is two thumbs up from me, guys!
(5)Kendra K.
I thought I'd update since I've been back a few times post pregnancy. Beer is excellent!!! I have been going on Wednesday nights. Free pint of beer with a purchase of a pizza. The margarita pizza is the best I've ever had! So tasty!! Staff is always pleasant. New favorite place at the moment. :-)
(5)Steve W.
I was fortunate enough to be in town during Gonzo's 1 year anniversary party. Stopped in for dinner and to try some of the 12 unique beers they had for the anniversary party. Although there was somewhat of a wait, our table only took about 15 minutes (quoted 45). I wanted to try as many beers as possible, so I asked about flights. Our waitress, Chuck-a woman, told me I could do as many beers on a flight as I wanted. As I had already tried the top choice in a pint, I went with the other 6 that interested me. Most of the special beers were bourbon barrel and brandy barrel aged, which isn't really my thing. The beer was tasty, but I preferred some of their standard brews over the anniversary brews. For dinner, I had the pulled pork, subbing in the grilled wheat bread, and the kale salad as a side. The sandwich was good and the BBQ was unique, but the kale salad was probably the highlight. It would probably be a 3 or 4 star place without the service, but Chuck really gave us a stand out experience. I highly recommend trying this place out if you're in town.
(5)Pam R.
Service and quality is going down steadily. This used to be our go to place, but it's gotten worse over the past few visits...beer quality is mediocre at best, service is HORRIBLE! and food menu has changed and servings are smaller with higher prices. Surprisingly empty tonight for a Friday night, so I think others are seeing the same decline. Service was so bad tonight we walked out without ordering a thing......
(2)Matt H.
Dinner time and this place is packed to the hilt... But there were three spots at the Bar just for the three of us. We were greeted at the door by a rather comedic young man and were told there was a wait...but we saw seats at the bar and were told we could sit there with our 10 year old. The bartender was on the move and got our orders quick for beverages and even provided a sample of cream soda for my daughter....star number 1! We ordered a "Wilbur" pizza which had copious amount of cheese, pulled pork, sausage, pepperoni, etc. the crust was thin and extremely crunchy and the sauce was slightly sweet and delicious! I thought that I was doing a double take when the bartender revealed that his twin brother also worked here... See picture. They agreed to take a quick mugshot while they hurried around, making people happy. Beer... The reason we came here... I ordered up a magic trick Hefeweizen which was fannnntastic with hints of banana and spice and 6.0 ABV and IBU of 17. My wife was on a fruit kick today and ordered up a Razzamazoo which is a raspberry wheat at 5.8% and 10.4 IBU... And she called it her perfect beer; so be impressed folks! I had a bad experience here when Biggdogg first opened but I've had a change of heart and we will be back a little more often. The one star reduction is because you can't taste the beer before you order one. I meant; come on. A 1 ounce shot to sell a pint??
(4)René C.
The venue was pretty great (fairly new) and the service was spot on. My family and I enjoyed this place. I do agree with some other people on Yelp - I think the beer is better than the food. This isn't a bad thing, because the beer (at least the hefeweizen) was amazing! If you have the time, stop in and have the "Whole Hog". How can you refuse a burger that has pulled pork AND bacon on top of a beef patty with beer BBQ sauce?
(4)Mike M.
The short short version. Deeeelicious beer, great bartenders, cool owner, good food. I'd have to say their Marzen was probably the best one I had this past fall, alas Gonzo's is a little too far away to enjoy it more than on this one trip. Hopefully I can get back there soon to try some more of their beers. We got there late enough on this trip that I reached my done point while here. Their IPA was quite solid and I didn't hate their pumpkin beer, which is actually a compliment from me. One of these days I'll quit trying pumpkin beers, but I have friends who love them so I keep trying them in hope that I will find one I like. I always try and sit at the bar when I go to places since that is where you can usually get the scoop on what their best stuff is, and what would best match your taste. Gonzo's was no exception. The bartenders were great at putting up with our, um, exuberance, and in answering our questions about their seasonal beers. Definitely will be back, earlier, next time I'm in Kalamazoo.
(4)Leslee B.
Gonzos just keeps getting better with every return visit. The beer choices are great and the friendly staff is even better. Thank you, Matt & Greg!
(5)Melanie R.
Quick review I checked in then checked out. Couldn't find a beer I would like. No IPA's that weren't fruity or light or black....ugh. Too many choices in this town, so I left. Too bad, because the food is pretty good here. I'll check back in the fall. Bummer.
(2)Paul B.
Having been to most Kalamazoo microbreweries, I feel this is in the top two. A good choice for foodies as well as an adventurous beer selection. It is more than worth the trip. While the beer choices are adventurous, this would be the envelope for Gonzos to push, more non traditional "out there" recipes especially sours. That would take me to 5. I will be back.
(4)Amanda L.
Love, love, love the marg pizza. It's all I order anymore. Drunken crab hush puppies also a good try! Yummy beer with good eats. IPA IS NOT PORTER TASTING. ITS AN IPA. EXPECT HOPPY AND BITTER. Also, must consider dessert. Do the cheesecake. Bar ambiance is laid back and has artistic recycled furnishings. Fun little micro-brewery. Filled with character.
(4)Bill A.
We were here last night. The food (burgers and pizza) was outstanding! The beer always great. Our server, Lauren, was efficient, attentive and very personable....she kept us laughing during our visit, a trait that we look for. We will definitely return again...and again!
(5)Michael R.
Great food and good beer. There are better breweries in Kalamazoo but not very many of them have as good of food. Love their smoked meats and you should be able to find at least a couple of beers you like even if you don't find one you love.
(4)Micki G.
Sampler was individually priced - which was great. The vanilla porter was our favorite. We didn't eat - outside seating was a bit noisy
(4)Erin R.
Appetizers were great! Definitely order the nachos! The beer was disappointing, just OK. With so many other breweries to choose from, I wouldn't go back for brews. Good spot for patio and apps.
(3)The D.
Beer and food are just okay. I know it's new so I am hoping in time their beers will improve. We did like the nachos and the service was pretty good. WE Just found nothing special about the beer
(3)Chrissy D.
*sigh* this place has mixed reviews in my book. My first experience here was great. The chicken nachos were fresh and hot, the burger my boyfriend had was fantastic, and the beer was cold. Service was fine, and the staff was kind. crab hush puppies- delicious fries/chips- yum quesadilla- pretty good The second time I went with a group of friends (5 of us total) and there was a wait. We decided that the wait would be worth it due to the food quality....so we waited...and waited...the hostess was very polite and checked in with us periodically to apologize. While we were standing there, another 5 person group comes in and is seated right away by the manager. Either he did not check with the hostess or they were friends of his. Pretty sure it was the latter of the two. Really!? We are standing RIGHT in front of your eyes and have been waiting for about 40 mins. The hostess was embarrassed and apologized profusely. He never apologized for his wrong doing and walked past us on several occasions. I am not flustered easily but when the manager looks you straight in the eye and does not apologize for his intentional wrong doing....c'mon my friend....you need better manners than that when it comes to keeping and accumulating returning customers in the restaurant industry...so we apologized to the hostess, let her know it was not her fault, and left.
(3)Nicole L.
Myself and a friend just came in for our first time. We are both service industry workers so we cut places slack, but this was ridiculous. We sat at the bar. There were 4 other people at the bar and 4 staff behind the bar. We were completely ignored. No one even looked at us. We sat through 2 Bob Marley songs before deciding to head to Bell's instead. The "Caribbean" theme has also got to go. A server was wearing a life vest and snorkel mask and there were plastic blow up palm trees everywhere. Thumbs down, this place sucks!
(1)Ken H.
The food here was outstanding. I recently ate here with a group of 13 and everyone loved their food. I had the Chicken Nachos which were great. I tried the pizza and the fried goat cheese appetizer. Both were very good. I'm not a big beer guy so I don't want to review that. Gonzo's offers 5 oz tasters for $1.50- $2 each. You can build your own flight of as many beers as you want. I did hear a few complaints about the chairs not being very comfortable, but I didn't notice.
(4)Jessica I.
We found this place by accident on a stroll to Waldo Stadium, and it ended up being a pretty good find. We had the spent grain bread sticks and the goat cheese poppers, both of which were really tasty. We also got a sampler of the current tap list, and while nothing really made my eyes roll back in my head, there were a few standouts and everything was very competent overall. The big drawback of our visit was a perpetually screaming toddler, and we were dismayed to see that Gonzo's had a high chair for the urchin. Breweries should not resemble Romper Room.
(3)Travis K.
My group stayed off with the cheese bread and marinara sauce which was amazing. Much better than most ive had. Two ppl had the house creme soda and said it was delicious. I had an ipa that I can recall the exact name of and my girlfriend had a razberry beer. Both were very good. We as a group had two whole hog burgers, nachos, and a pizza. Everyone really enjoyed everything. The whole hog burgers were probably my favorite even though I only managed to steal one bite. The nachose were loaded with plenty of toppings and there was nothing to complain about with the pizza. Service was great and the interior was very nice. I will definitely go back! This place is a wonderful addition to downtown.
(5)Meghann B.
Great food, great staff, great beer!!! The bartender was very knowledgeable and taught us so much new stuff. I'm not one for super hoppy beer. The razamazoo beer is on point!
(4)brian f.
We tried 7 beers last night. Of them, my son liked the vanilla porter and vanilla stout. Personally, i thought they all had a funky aftertaste. Somewhere between dishwater and sewer turd. The atmosphere is nice. They certainly spent a lot of money on the buildout. It is very appropriate for the type of establishment this place is. Other than not liking the beer very well, i was a bit put off by the bartender. He seemed like a douchy tool. There are so many good places in kazoo you can go. Why bother coming here?
(2)Lindsey R.
The beer, service, and food was all pretty good. I ordered the nachos without chicken, which were good. The lettuce tasted pretty old, but otherwise no complaints about the food. My friend ordered the pizza and hummus, which both looked fantastic. The beer I ordered was fine. It wasn't something I'd rave about, but it wasn't bad either. I think if it had been a $5 beer I'd have been thrilled, but it was a $10 beer. Not quite up to par to cost that much. I did LOVE the taster option. Its a great way to try a few different kinds without breaking the bank OR being hung over in the morning. After paying my tab, the server brought me the wrong change. Not the end of the world - I was a server - but she never came back to the table so I could tell her. All in all, I had a good experience. I'm sure I'll be back at some point.
(4)Gabe S.
A group of us ventured to Gonzo's during Kalamazoo Beer Week for Gonzo's Barrel-Aged release, which featured Brandy Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter, Brandy Barrel-Aged Nature of Evil, Brandy Barrel-Aged Dunnie the Bounder, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter, and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Nature of Evil. Naturally, being the craft beer enthusiast that I am, I had a sampler of all five choices. All 5 were very solid and the 3 brandy barrel-aged beers were interesting. My favorite out of all 5 was the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Nature of Evil, which is their imperial stout. All in all, the beers were great. Now on to the food. We ordered the Drunken Crab Hushpuppies to start and they definitely did not disappoint. Great crab & hushpuppy flavor. They were a little denser than I would have liked, but still very, very good. The sriracha mayo was a very good dipping sauce. I ordered the VP Haystack Burger and my wife ordered the Whole Hog Burger. Both were fantastic burgers. The meat is prime beef which makes it that much better. The fries were on point as well. All in all it was a very good experience. The food and beer were both great. I can't wait to go back and try something different.
(5)Al M.
First time here, read all the reviews. Beer is amazing, so is the food. We had poutaine, buffalo chicken dip and pizza. All excellent. Nathan is the best, great customer service and beer recommendations. The Vanilla porter rocks. Don't miss out on this great brewery!
(5)Jim M.
Once again, the two breweries closest together are very different, but both in a good way. Where Rupert's Brewhouse revels in a dive-bar atmosphere, Gonzo's BiggDogg Brewery has a chrome and glass open feel; leaning more upscale. I arrived by bicycle, and found a bike rack across the parking lot for what looked like decent patio seating, but the weather had everyone inside. The bar area was definitely the center of activity, with fun, good-natured bar backs and a personable owner/manager. I felt very welcome, and settled in for a Magic Trick Hefeweizen. It was a very good weizen: well balanced. I also picked up a "howler" - 1/2 growler - of their Dinglefritz IPA, as this was my last stop before riding to the hotel. I enjoyed the IPA as well. Great atmosphere, and excellent beer: I recommend giving Gonzo's a try!
(4)Hale L.
First time here and definitely not the last! Ohhh the Vanilla Porter Ale....yummy! Check out the daily specials!
(4)Alyssa C.
In Kalamazoo for a conference and went out for beer and pizza with a bunch of friends. With a beer lover, a vegetarian and someone on a strict medical diet at our table, Gonzo had a tall order! They cheerfully answered all of the dieter's questions and the vegetarian found food she liked. The spent grain pizza is also incredibly good. For my part (beer lover), I had a flight of fantastic beers. Their vanilla porter is excellent, as is their white IPA. I'll be going back next conference!
(4)Chris M.
I stumbled upon Gonzo's almost purely by accident. Inexplicably, several other Kalamazoo-area breweries don't have televisions, and being a Saturday during college football season, that posed a certain dilemma to me. Gonzo's had plenty, and the other spots missed out on my business, which wasn't much to begin with, but still. As expected, Gonzo's provides the brewery staples, like pale ales, hefeweizens, etc. Yet what I took from them was the wings. Wings are likewise brewpub staples, and a lot of places simply go through the motions. Gonzo's didn't, and I appreciate that. My goal that day was college football, quality beer, and pub fare. Gonzo's delivered on all three counts. For all I know, the Big Dog could be generic most of the time. But I will award them the five stars here because somebody there understood the bond between breweries and televised sports, something I would have thought every brewery did.
(5)Eddie M.
Fairly small inside but nice open area. Large bar and plenty of tables inside. They even have a food menu with unique specialty food. If you have enough beers you can even venture next door and buy yourself a new Mercedes-Benz. The Saxon action is a great IPA to try.
(3)Nathan R.
I had the Black and Blue burger and Kaleslaw. Really loved the Shoddy Lock Stout, and the torte for dessert was unique and delicious. Subtle changes and it could have all been 4 or 5 stars. I gave it a four for the awesome staff.
(4)Timothy B.
Spent grain pizzas were top notch. I enjoyed the pork pizza and the price was reasonable. The beer was average. I got a flight and liked about 3/6 of the brews. The wheat/fruit beers need a considerable amount of work. It's a new place so there is still time for refinement. Pretty good beer selection. Apparently they were hosting a beach bash when we were there so the staff were all dressed up in beach gear. They had a tent set up with beach games but nobody was interested in going out there. No patrons were wearing beach gear so I would say that promotion was a colossal swing and a miss. Summary: go for the food, maybe grab a brew or too, but don't bother for the ambiance or the the events that are hosted.
(3)Steven T.
Stopped in around 5pm, seated immediatly by a very friendly hostess. Service was outstanding! Our waiter answered menu / beer questions and offered suggestions that turned out to be fantastic! - Mac and Cheese: Five Stars! - Chicken Sandwich on Sourdough: Five Stars! Tried a sampler of 5 of the in house brews and they were all excellent! Good crowd & very welcoming environment, this is one of the best breweries in Kalamazoo!
(5)Tiffany H.
After spending a wonderful Valentine's weekend in Chicago, the drive home had us beat. Not up to making dinner ourselves, my husband and I decided to finally try the BiggDogg on a Sunday evening. The restaurant was about 70% full and about half of those tables were finishing up their meals when we arrived. Soon after being seated, the first clue that the service wasn't going to be up to par revealed itself. After 8 minutes, our waiter finally came to introduce himself and to take our drink order. My husband had a few questions about items on the menu, such as "What style of BBQ is the bbq sandwich?" and "What kind of sauce is that served with?". The server couldn't answer either of them. We placed our order and waited 20 minutes. During that time, we noticed that our server had plenty of time to hangout with the bar staff and to catch a bit of whatever was on the TV. We were famished by the time our food arrived. I ordered a medium burger and my husband went with the BBQ sandwich. When I cut into my burger, it was grey in the middle and way past the "done" temperature. I sat there for about 5 minutes waiting for our waiter to check back. He was nowhere in sight and no other server came around to our area. With my stomach angrily grumbling, I gave in and reluctantly ate half of the burger and the accompanying chips that were on the side. Ten minutes had passed when the server finally emerged from the kitchen to see how our meal was. We told him about how overdone the burger was, to which his only response was "Sorry." He brought the check and when we saw that no discount had been given my husband inquired to why. The server told us that his manager specifically told him not to discount anything, but he'd go back and ask again. When he came back, there was a 10% discount on the bill delivered with the message of "we hope you'll give us another chance." My husband insisted on speaking to the manager. She came over and declared "I heard you had a problem." Without letting my husband explain, the manager started in with because I had eaten half of the sandwich, all of the side dish and had failed to inform our server of a problem, she would not take the burger off of the bill. Once my husband got a chance to explain the full situation, she apologized for not listening and removed the burger from our bill. In summary, the food at BiggDogg is probably pretty good. We probably just caught them on an off day with my burger, as my husband's meal was pretty tasty. Unfortunately, the level of service that we experienced on this visit is enough to keep us away from this business for a very long time. BiggDogg needs to train their waitstaff on how to keep things casual but maintain a sense of professionalism. Ultimately, management needs to take a course on hospitality and learn that accusing customers of shenanigans is not the way to go in solving a problem.
(1)Blane K.
Found this place at taste of kalamazoo and had to try it again. Came back for some more barbecue and delicious brews. Will not disappoint even the fussiest of foodies. Yum. Dont miss the dessert apple pie puff.
(5)Brian F.
A bit too polished and corporate, but the beer is good and the spent grain pizza was excellent. We ordered a flight of tasters, and I liked that they provided a laminated piece of paper detailing the beers characteristics on which the tasters were placed. It's a nice touch that I've seen a few times before, and I think it definitely improves the tasting experience.
(4)Kate Z.
I'm from Denver where there is not a shortage of breweries and since we moved here this is now one of our favorites. The bar staff is always friendly and fast and the food is some of the best brewery food in Kalamazoo. The beer is not quite our favorite in Kalamazoo because it's not as smooth as some others, but since the atmosphere is nice and the food is affordable and better than the overpriced bad food of the Kalamazoo is full of we end up here every other weekend.
(4)Zena G.
This was the first time my fiancé and I came here and from just walking in this place it had a great feel. Food was great we had the nachos and burgers and everything tasted just right!! Our waitress Molly was very personable too and we really enjoyed the atmosphere :) I recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Shawn B.
First visit here. Arrived about 5:15 on a Friday, plenty of close parking, expected that to be a busy time, but we got a table right away. Server was friendly and efficient. It did fill up quickly after we arrived however. Ordered four tasters, vanilla porter, academy slim, dog days, and razamazoo. I loved the razamazoo, def one you could have a few of. I also really liked the vanilla porter, more than I expected. It was like a liquid dessert :) Not sure I could handle a full 20 oz of it, but I did get a second taster. We ordered chicken nachos and a margarita pizza, not sure I'd call it a margarita pizza, but still good. Both very good. I noticed they were getting their outdoor seating area ready and when warmer hits I liked to go back and sit outside.
(4)Josh C.
I was actually really disappointed with this place overall. At first glance the decor was very nice and the selection unique. I tried several beers but none of which were really up to par. They were not terrible by any stretch but just never met expectations. I will give it another shot next time I'm in the area but will have my reservations.
(3)Hayley G.
Such a great establishment that almost doesn't get enough credit! I love the atmosphere, but nothing beats eating out on the patio during the summer! The waitstaff is really great, helpful, and efficient. I have never had bad service, and am always greeted with a smile! (It counts more than you think it would!) The beer list is phenomenal. Some of the beers change with the season, but the vanilla porter (all the rage is true) is the best! I'm also a fan of their red ale and their IPAs. (The names are slipping my mind currently.) We have tried multiple appetizers, but my favorite is the spent grain breadsticks! They are so delicious, and pretty amazing for 'bar food,' if you'd like to call it that. If you're looking for a good burger, most definitely order them here! The Black and Blue burger is delicious, and whether you get the fries or the kale slaw, you won't be disappointed either. The kale slaw is so fresh and light; perfect if you've already eaten all of the breadsticks! Additionally, I hope they bring this sandwich back in the summer, the Cuban. This was the BEST Cuban sandwich I have ever had, with a bonus of the kale slaw being a part of the sandwich! When and if it makes it back onto the menu, do yourself a favor and order it!
(5)Marino C.
Great microbrewery. Good beer and great food. A good place to talk and hangout with friends. Also, they have TVs if you want to go watch a game. Must try their poutine.
(5)Henry H.
It's good. I've said this about some other places: the beer is good and highly drinkable, it's just a little light on body, I want more out of it. The food menu is small but everything I've had has been tasty.
(4)Shannon C.
I really liked the garlic bread -- it was thin and crispy, not thick and tough, which was great. I don't typically like breweries, because I'd always rather be drinking liquor than beer, but the beer my husband had was okay. He liked it well enough. This place is strange, because it used to be part of a used car dealership, and you can tell -- huge windows, open floor plan, high ceilings. It's loud in there, and I felt really exposed. I'd probably go here again if other people I was with wanted to, but I wouldn't seek it out on my own (I'd find a place that serves gin!).
(3)Beth C.
Probably my preferred brew pub. Great atmosphere, superior food, awesome staff. This is where I love getting samplers so I can try lots of new brews! It's sometimes a wait to sit, but always worth it.
(4)Annie B.
My brother, niece and I decided to the BiggDogg brewery after I had heard much about vanilla porter that I had to come and try it. After looking at their beer menu I decided to order a flight... With every beer . My brother was the DD and my niece isn't much for beer and while they tasted each one it was up to me to finish the flight and what a good time that was! We also ordered food (and it may have been the beer talking) but it was good too. Not typical bar food. We ordered the blue crab flatbread to share (It had a spicy remoulade), I ordered the "black and blue" burger with kale slaw (surprisingly tasty), my brother had the macaroni and cheese (he ate every bite) and my nice had just a regular burger (she doesn't often try new things and the beer was enough new stuff!). They were playing good music and we were thoroughly entertained by the hostess and her regular and glowing hula hoops. All in all we had a very good time and most definitely will be back.
(5)L.J. P.
Excellent food and excellent beer. Particularly fond of the Vanilla Porter. My recommendation is get a flight of their beers and sample a variety of their craft. The food is also very good. For what i received on my visit, i felt things were appropriately priced and i received very good service.
(4)Dan W.
First visit last week. Beer is VERY good for a start-up. The spent grain bread sticks were some of the best bar food I've ever had, and I've had a LOT.
(5)Katherine H.
Not a beer person, so the food was important - and pretty tasty. Nice job on the smoked chicken, haven't had a clunker here at all (except for the awful barstools -- flat, hard metal.)
(3)Katelyn H.
Best food of my life. Oh and beer, there's beer too. The drunken crab hush puppies are amazing and you need them in your life.
(4)Cat N.
I visited Gonzo's on Western's graduation weekend with a party of 4, so when we walked in we expected a wait. What we didn't expect was the beyond terrible service, abhorrent management, decent food, and amateur craft beers. We had high hopes going in as the place was very aesthetically pleasing. Upon walking up to the hostess stand and asking how long the wait would be for 4 people, a nervous-looking girl answered maybe 30 minutes, but she would know more in about 5 minutes. While we stood and waited for over a half hour, there were 4 OPEN TABLES. Staff members frequently walked around attempting to look busy while not actually doing anything. At one point, 3 members of the kitchen staff were out at the hostess stand trying to "help" them, and by help I mean flirting with the completely incompetent hostesses. Finally, we offered to bring chairs over to a table so that we could sit down. After being seated, we had no waiter. For 20 minutes. I had to walk up to the hostess stand and ask who our waiter was, and I was pointed in the direction of a bar tender. To his credit, this guy was great; he worked behind the bar and got our order in once he was informed that he was pulling double duty. He answered questions accurately and genuinely seemed embarrassed by his co workers. The food was pretty decent; however, if you are a brewery, your food should not have to be your redeeming quality. I had an IPA that tasted like a porter, my sister got the vanilla porter which was doused in vanilla, and another at the table got the geyser brown ale which was reminiscent of swamp water gone bad. In a town known for its craft brewing, this was a sad excuse for a brewery. Almost every beer on tap was 5.8% or above, with some beers in the 7-10% range. This isn't a crime in and of itself, albeit somewhat trashy, but when patrons have too much of your high percentage beer it needs to be addressed. Which, brings us to the worst showing of hospitality of the night. In the table crammed directly behind us, there was a group of 4 men who clearly had been drinking for more than awhile. Aside from the usual beer spilling and slurred words, these guys were out of control. The manager cut one guy off by REFUNDING him $5, and letting him stay at the table with his friends while he drank their beers. We watched him attempt to take his pants off at the table, hit on a table of ladies who physically had to push him away (twice), and peed on the window right by the entrance. At this point, any good manager would have asked this man to leave. Not at Gonzo's! Super drunk and peeing everywhere? Stick around we'll make sure your friends get you another round of the 10% Nature of Evil! After hearing said drunk talk about wanting to punch one of the girls at the table that refused him, spilling beer on me, and ramming his body into our table and landing on my lap, I walked up to the bar. I politely told the bar tender that this man was making our table and the table of women extremely uncomfortable. The manager came over to their table 5 minutes later, says- "Everything good here? Great!" and walks away. Call me crazy, but when a patron is peeing on a table and threatening to punch women, you should kick him out. This was the last straw for us and we left as soon as possible. When expressing our distaste to the manager on the way out, he simply smiled and said what are ya gonna do? Grow a backbone, learn how to serve, and brew some better beer Gonzo's, or you're not going to last long.
(2)Dave L.
Calling yourself a brewery means first and foremost the beer must be better than the food. This is not the case here at BiggDogg (I must say that I also HATE all the Gggggggggs, yes the extra letters spill into the menu as well). My wife and I went here about a month ago for lunch. I was excited as I love a good craft brew, and I heard the food was supposed to be good. I'll cut to the chase, the beer was forgettable at best, and terrible at its worst. Not have been to this place before, I got a flight of five beers. A Pale Ale, an IPA, the Vanilla porter, an amber ale, and a wheat beer. I'll start with the best, and that's not saying much. The IPA was meh. Hardly any hop flavor or aroma is not a good trait in an IPA. I rated the Pale Ale a tick below as I couldn't tell what they were trying to do with this beer. Now onto the vanilla porter. The menu stated that a "hint" of vanilla was present, and that it was a "benchmark of balance". The first thing you smell and taste is vanilla. Waaaaaaaaay too much vanilla, and it was on the verge of medicinal; maybe imitation vanilla extract? This beer was the opposite of balanced. Finally, the amber (Burning Sun Red)...this beer takes second place on my list of truly terrible beers. It tasted grainy, rushed, amateurish, and left a lingering after taste that was just awful. I can't say enough how bad this beer was. Avoid like the plague. I gave BiggDogg two stars because of the food. My wife had a chicken salad sandwich that was pretty good. I got the Italian sausage. The sausage was ok, maybe just a GFS/Sysco product, however it arrived on a terrible hoagie bun from Rensma's bakery. There was more bun than meat, and the bun had a dry sponge taste. We also had some goat cheese fritter things which were also good. Somebody mentioned the chairs, and yes they are terrible. The support bars for the legs are not high enough and jab into your heel if you try to scoot the chair. I will be back to try the pizza which is made with spent grain, but will be drinking water.
(2)P Yelp N.
Excellent example of another outstanding Kalamazoo / Portage Micro Brewery. Only serves beer fermented on sight, but they are exceptional with delicious complementing pizza, burgers, and more.
(5)Sandra K.
Very good IPA per my beer lovin' husband and the Drunken Crab Hushpuppies and Poutine hit the spot on this cold icy winter day!
(5)Jeff S.
Cicerones, beer lovers, potential customers, "BEWARE!" Gonzo's BiggDogg modus operandi appears to be one of pressuring its guests into buying more of their product, versus assisting the customer to choose a beer that he/she would enjoy! I'm not a fan of this business approach and I absolutely refuse to reward it! Let me expound on my recent visit to the "Chihuahua" of Kalamazoo microbreweries and to add a little note about my beer experience. First, the experience: I have attended several Great American Beer Festivals (GABF) in Denver and I have visited hundreds of microbreweries throughout the U.S. I have also attended scores of wine tastings, visited scores of wineries, and recently attended a few wine industry tastings in the Chicago area. The gold standard shared by serious tasters, cicerones, and sommeliers is that one only needs a mouthful in order to obtain a sufficient taste. So what's my beef with this whiny pup of a microbrewery? Simple! I asked for a splash (taste, smidgen,..) of 2 or 3 beers. Just enough to make an educated choice in order to purchase a pint. The firm answer to my question was that they only allow guests to purchase full (5 ounce) tasters. Upon requesting to speak to a manager, the manager informed me that they believe it takes a full taster pour in order for a customer to make the appropriate choice. Since I saw no need in consuming an additional 10 -15 ounces of beer to find 16 ounces of a beer I might like (other than adding to Gonzo's bottom line), I decided to take my business elsewhere and boy am I ever thankful for being barked at by Gonzo's! They not only lost our business that day, they lost our future business, and Keith (the manager) didn't seem concerned that I promised to share my customer dissatisfaction on Yelp. BTW, I have only run into this attitude one other time, but once I discussed this with the manager of the establishment, he allowed me to taste a few and was sincerely concerned in keeping his customers happy (I might add, we made several more purchases and we plan on being regular repeat customers with them). Now back to the good news and why I'm grateful for Gonzo's pissy attitude and lack of concern for their customers. I immediately headed a few blocks away to Tibbs Brewing Company. Tibbs is a smaller venue, but with tons more charisma. It's obvious that they value customers and they have great beer! I loved, loved, loved their Belgian Tripel and we enjoyed chatting with the brewer! Our next Kalamazoo stop for great beer was Boatyard Brewing Company. This is yet another Kalamazoo brewery with character and great beer. I highly recommend the Gingerbread Man Porter and the Black-Eyed PA! Boatyard also afforded us with a more intimate environment and the opportunity to have another great chat with the brewer. So the moral of my story is that folks that want your business will go out of their way to earn it and that folks that don't want your business will typically let you know that from the start. I'm grateful for Gonzo's leading me in the direction of Tibbs and Boatyard! Let's hope the "Chihuahua" of Kalamazoo gets a clear picture that businesses prosper when they value the customer and when they exhibit confidence in their product! Frankly, I would have been happy to purchase an ounce of two or three beers if that had been an option. I just don't believe it's necessary to have to buy as much as 15 ounces just to select a 16 ounce beer of my choosing. Ruff, ruff!
(1)Chelsea W.
I visit Gonzo's on Sunday as part of my brewery hopping for Kalamazoo beer week and this was my first visit and I had a pleasant experience but wasn't overly wowed so i wavered between a 3 and 4 star rating. There is a good selection of many different types of beers so whether you prefer IPA's, Porters, Stouts, Pale Ales...they have something everyone would be into (except may cider drinkers...I don't think they had one on tap). I tried the holiday porter and really enjoyed it- it had a lot of spicy holiday flavors like cinnamon/nutmeg so i felt like I was drinking Christmas in a beer and who doesn't like that? I didn't order any food but there were a ton of things on the menu I would try that ranged from appetizer/finger foods to full meals so I think this would be a great spot for people to meet up especially if people have varied hunger levels. The service was good...wasn't outstanding but it was good enough. The atmosphere seemed a little undetermined like it might have been a lot of people's first time there and the staff is still settling in or something because I couldn't get a good solid feel for what type of crowd would draw to the restaurant. I would visit again and maybe even become a regular if i was a local (I live in Florida now) but when I come back to Kalamazoo this will probably stay on my list of places to stop back at.
(4)William B.
Thought the food was very good but the beer was a little disappointing. For a brewery with such obvious means at start up I really expected better craft beer.
(4)Steve S.
First of all, having gone to college in the hometown of Bell's over a decade ago and having just moved back, I couldn't be prouder of the microbrew scene in the Zoo. Keep it up! First time here and was impressed. Great porters. No...excellent. Didn't try the other beer types, but can't wait to. Good burger and a surprisingly good side salad (kale-based). Not a huge menu so don't go expecting a variety of entrees. This I think, makes the place shine even more though. When they concentrate on the typical bar eats and the beer, a brewpub can't go wrong. In this case - homerun. Service good.
(4)Keith U.
Craft brewing gone commercial. Looks & feels like a restraunt. No tasting- $1.70 just to find out if you like the beer. Way too many TRUE craft houses to give this place money.
(2)Laura H.
Was excited to check this place out when I came home for the holidays. My friends and I like a good beer. Sadly we were very dissapointed. I got four tasters- their pale ale, the IPA, the Geyser brown ale and, the vanilla porter. The pale ale was ok. The IPA was lacking in hops for me- I like west coast IPAs. I couldn't take more than a taste of the brown ale. It tasted like cough medicine. The vanilla porter was probably the best. My friends got their spiced porter which was okay. The food was fine, but not good enough to overlook the sub-par beer. Instead of a second round my friends and I opted to get mix and match 6 pack at Beer and Skittles. With so many other options for good beer in the area, I doubt I'll be back.
(1)Nicole S.
We honestly almost skipped this brewery on our trip to Kalamazoo. THIS IS A MUST SEE IN KALAMAZOO. We have visited almost all of the 12 places on the 'Give a Craft' tour in Kalamazoo and this brewery is definitely one of our favorites. The place looks almost brand new. Our bar tender was knowledgeable, attentive, and accommodating. We ordered the mac and cheese for an appetizer and I kind of wish it was my entrée, it was that good. The beers are very tasty and we'll balanced. Be sure to ask about mixing the chocolate and banana beers for a delicious complementary mixture of brews.
(4)Tim F.
We made our third visit to Gonzos last night to have a night cap. I absolutely love their food. We always get the spent grain bread sticks which are amazing! They literally melt in your mouth. On our last visit I had the vanilla porter haystack burger which is this amazing combination of deliciousness packaged up into a burger. The star of the show though (you'll either love or hate it, and I love it!) is the kale salad. We always make sure we get some kale salad. The beer selection is good and the beer drinkers in our party always ooh and ahh over the vanilla porter. Not being a beer drinker I lover they're bottomless homemade root beer. I keep saying I'm going to try the cream soda next time but always stick with what I already know is yummy. Hoping to get back again soon!
(5)Chelsea W.
I visit Gonzo's on Sunday as part of my brewery hopping for Kalamazoo beer week and this was my first visit and I had a pleasant experience but wasn't overly wowed so i wavered between a 3 and 4 star rating. There is a good selection of many different types of beers so whether you prefer IPA's, Porters, Stouts, Pale Ales...they have something everyone would be into (except may cider drinkers...I don't think they had one on tap). I tried the holiday porter and really enjoyed it- it had a lot of spicy holiday flavors like cinnamon/nutmeg so i felt like I was drinking Christmas in a beer and who doesn't like that? I didn't order any food but there were a ton of things on the menu I would try that ranged from appetizer/finger foods to full meals so I think this would be a great spot for people to meet up especially if people have varied hunger levels. The service was good...wasn't outstanding but it was good enough. The atmosphere seemed a little undetermined like it might have been a lot of people's first time there and the staff is still settling in or something because I couldn't get a good solid feel for what type of crowd would draw to the restaurant. I would visit again and maybe even become a regular if i was a local (I live in Florida now) but when I come back to Kalamazoo this will probably stay on my list of places to stop back at.
(4)William B.
Thought the food was very good but the beer was a little disappointing. For a brewery with such obvious means at start up I really expected better craft beer.
(4)Edet N.
Good food, extensive beer lists and a cool environment. I loved how the layout of the beer list made It all make sense to the non-beer snob. I recommend this place if you're in the area and want some unique beers and good pub-style food.
(4)Moira G.
the food.... fresh, fast, unique, and scrumptious! the beer.... delicious, unique, and did I mention delicious?!? definitely a new must try place in Kalamazoo! blown away at how long I was missing out on such a gem!!! ps. Wednesday are beer and pint night for $10 and their pizza is as good as their beer!
(5)Michael S.
Some of us met there for a Guild tour, the other day. We heard some not so good things about the brewery. Nothing specific, but they didn't like it. I, however, did! The owner, Greg, took us on a brief (OK that it was) tour. He seemed very knowledgeable and quickly answered all of our questions. We got back to our seats and ordered food. We already had our beer. I got the Scottish Ale and my SO got the Vanilla Porter. Both were great. The rest of our party liked theirs, too. I really liked my Pesto Chicken sammich. The prices are quite reasonable. It's fairly large, so it was easy to find a seat. I think we bypassed the check in stand, but nobody got crazy over it. Our server did not delay in taking our orders. Sadly, it was the server who caused me not to give this place a fifth star. At first it seemed like we were her first ever customers, but as time passed, she did get better and friendlier. I'd love to go back.
(4)Alicia S.
Usually if I'm going to Gonzo's I get a beer or two and maybe an appetizer, but this week I ended up visiting them for a full blown lunch, aw yeah! My incessant drooling quickly wiped to the conclusion that every food item on the menu sounds pretty darn good! After experiencing great turmoil of what to get, my blood-thirsty carnivorous side took over and I ordered a big juicy burger and decided to switch it up by subbing a side of Kale coleslaw ( in attempt to be healthier, I guess?). I enjoyed every last bite of that burger, man... If only I remembered what it was called. The Kale 'slaw was good too, but it all happened so fast! I feel the portion of the side could have been bigger. Next time, I might just stick with the fries... A little hypercholesterolemia never hurt anyone, right? And of course, I went with my usual choice beer choice when I'm at Gonzo's to wash it all down- Vanila Porter, YUM! Overall, I was a happy panda.
(4)Zach G.
I think Gonzo's best characteristic is the ambience of their location. I really like the inside of the restaurant. It has lots of big windows and pretty cool decoration. Also has great outdoor seating. The palace is always pretty busy, so I guess people really like it. From our perspective, the positives of Gonzo's are: -great beer selection. They always have really good beer! -great location and ambience. -great outdoor seating. -usually get seated pretty quick The negatives are: -iffy service... I feel like whenever I come, the service is not really that great. They aren't flat out rude but not that friendly and kind of slow. -the food... They have great drinks, but that is about it. I would not suggest coming specifically to eat. Dry nachos... Greasy, sloppy burgers.. Not good food.
(3)Travis K.
My group stayed off with the cheese bread and marinara sauce which was amazing. Much better than most ive had. Two ppl had the house creme soda and said it was delicious. I had an ipa that I can recall the exact name of and my girlfriend had a razberry beer. Both were very good. We as a group had two whole hog burgers, nachos, and a pizza. Everyone really enjoyed everything. The whole hog burgers were probably my favorite even though I only managed to steal one bite. The nachose were loaded with plenty of toppings and there was nothing to complain about with the pizza. Service was great and the interior was very nice. I will definitely go back! This place is a wonderful addition to downtown.
(5)Meghann B.
Great food, great staff, great beer!!! The bartender was very knowledgeable and taught us so much new stuff. I'm not one for super hoppy beer. The razamazoo beer is on point!
(4)brian f.
We tried 7 beers last night. Of them, my son liked the vanilla porter and vanilla stout. Personally, i thought they all had a funky aftertaste. Somewhere between dishwater and sewer turd. The atmosphere is nice. They certainly spent a lot of money on the buildout. It is very appropriate for the type of establishment this place is. Other than not liking the beer very well, i was a bit put off by the bartender. He seemed like a douchy tool. There are so many good places in kazoo you can go. Why bother coming here?
(2)Andrew M.
Stopped in on a busy Friday evening and had a wonderful meal and absolutely wonderful beers! The environment is perfect, the big windows add a huge value to the atmosphere of this place and they play greatly great music to entertain their guests. The food is excellent, the appetizers ample and did I mention the beer? It's my favorite beer in town, ever better than Bells.
(5)Nathan L.
I have been here a few times with others and have been very happy every time. The kitchen does close a little early sometimes. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. The food is really delicious and the beer is great. They have a wide selection of food and beer. I have tried several varieties of their beer and have liked almost all of them. I would highly suggest this place and am happy that they have outdoor seating as well. Families would probably be ok if it was early enough in the day.
(5)Robert B.
Hands down the best 12 beers on tap in KZoo. Exceptional customer care. Fantastic food. Had to buy a dozen growlers so I could bring Gonzo's to NJ with me. Gonzo is a genius. Keith, Luke, Jake, and Jeremy are amazing. I am praying Gonzo can get his brews to NJ.
(5)L.J. P.
Excellent food and excellent beer. Particularly fond of the Vanilla Porter. My recommendation is get a flight of their beers and sample a variety of their craft. The food is also very good. For what i received on my visit, i felt things were appropriately priced and i received very good service.
(4)Jeff S.
Cicerones, beer lovers, potential customers, "BEWARE!" Gonzo's BiggDogg modus operandi appears to be one of pressuring its guests into buying more of their product, versus assisting the customer to choose a beer that he/she would enjoy! I'm not a fan of this business approach and I absolutely refuse to reward it! Let me expound on my recent visit to the "Chihuahua" of Kalamazoo microbreweries and to add a little note about my beer experience. First, the experience: I have attended several Great American Beer Festivals (GABF) in Denver and I have visited hundreds of microbreweries throughout the U.S. I have also attended scores of wine tastings, visited scores of wineries, and recently attended a few wine industry tastings in the Chicago area. The gold standard shared by serious tasters, cicerones, and sommeliers is that one only needs a mouthful in order to obtain a sufficient taste. So what's my beef with this whiny pup of a microbrewery? Simple! I asked for a splash (taste, smidgen,..) of 2 or 3 beers. Just enough to make an educated choice in order to purchase a pint. The firm answer to my question was that they only allow guests to purchase full (5 ounce) tasters. Upon requesting to speak to a manager, the manager informed me that they believe it takes a full taster pour in order for a customer to make the appropriate choice. Since I saw no need in consuming an additional 10 -15 ounces of beer to find 16 ounces of a beer I might like (other than adding to Gonzo's bottom line), I decided to take my business elsewhere and boy am I ever thankful for being barked at by Gonzo's! They not only lost our business that day, they lost our future business, and Keith (the manager) didn't seem concerned that I promised to share my customer dissatisfaction on Yelp. BTW, I have only run into this attitude one other time, but once I discussed this with the manager of the establishment, he allowed me to taste a few and was sincerely concerned in keeping his customers happy (I might add, we made several more purchases and we plan on being regular repeat customers with them). Now back to the good news and why I'm grateful for Gonzo's pissy attitude and lack of concern for their customers. I immediately headed a few blocks away to Tibbs Brewing Company. Tibbs is a smaller venue, but with tons more charisma. It's obvious that they value customers and they have great beer! I loved, loved, loved their Belgian Tripel and we enjoyed chatting with the brewer! Our next Kalamazoo stop for great beer was Boatyard Brewing Company. This is yet another Kalamazoo brewery with character and great beer. I highly recommend the Gingerbread Man Porter and the Black-Eyed PA! Boatyard also afforded us with a more intimate environment and the opportunity to have another great chat with the brewer. So the moral of my story is that folks that want your business will go out of their way to earn it and that folks that don't want your business will typically let you know that from the start. I'm grateful for Gonzo's leading me in the direction of Tibbs and Boatyard! Let's hope the "Chihuahua" of Kalamazoo gets a clear picture that businesses prosper when they value the customer and when they exhibit confidence in their product! Frankly, I would have been happy to purchase an ounce of two or three beers if that had been an option. I just don't believe it's necessary to have to buy as much as 15 ounces just to select a 16 ounce beer of my choosing. Ruff, ruff!
(1)Adam K.
Great selection of great beer and food.
(4)Al M.
First time here, read all the reviews. Beer is amazing, so is the food. We had poutaine, buffalo chicken dip and pizza. All excellent. Nathan is the best, great customer service and beer recommendations. The Vanilla porter rocks. Don't miss out on this great brewery!
(5)Jim M.
Once again, the two breweries closest together are very different, but both in a good way. Where Rupert's Brewhouse revels in a dive-bar atmosphere, Gonzo's BiggDogg Brewery has a chrome and glass open feel; leaning more upscale. I arrived by bicycle, and found a bike rack across the parking lot for what looked like decent patio seating, but the weather had everyone inside. The bar area was definitely the center of activity, with fun, good-natured bar backs and a personable owner/manager. I felt very welcome, and settled in for a Magic Trick Hefeweizen. It was a very good weizen: well balanced. I also picked up a "howler" - 1/2 growler - of their Dinglefritz IPA, as this was my last stop before riding to the hotel. I enjoyed the IPA as well. Great atmosphere, and excellent beer: I recommend giving Gonzo's a try!
(4)Dr. Brett M.
Beer is great and food is awesome. Buffalo chicken dip is a must. Friendly staff makes it a great place to hang out.
(5)Kendra K.
I thought I'd update since I've been back a few times post pregnancy. Beer is excellent!!! I have been going on Wednesday nights. Free pint of beer with a purchase of a pizza. The margarita pizza is the best I've ever had! So tasty!! Staff is always pleasant. New favorite place at the moment. :-)
(5)Nathan R.
I had the Black and Blue burger and Kaleslaw. Really loved the Shoddy Lock Stout, and the torte for dessert was unique and delicious. Subtle changes and it could have all been 4 or 5 stars. I gave it a four for the awesome staff.
(4)Steve W.
I was fortunate enough to be in town during Gonzo's 1 year anniversary party. Stopped in for dinner and to try some of the 12 unique beers they had for the anniversary party. Although there was somewhat of a wait, our table only took about 15 minutes (quoted 45). I wanted to try as many beers as possible, so I asked about flights. Our waitress, Chuck-a woman, told me I could do as many beers on a flight as I wanted. As I had already tried the top choice in a pint, I went with the other 6 that interested me. Most of the special beers were bourbon barrel and brandy barrel aged, which isn't really my thing. The beer was tasty, but I preferred some of their standard brews over the anniversary brews. For dinner, I had the pulled pork, subbing in the grilled wheat bread, and the kale salad as a side. The sandwich was good and the BBQ was unique, but the kale salad was probably the highlight. It would probably be a 3 or 4 star place without the service, but Chuck really gave us a stand out experience. I highly recommend trying this place out if you're in town.
(5)Pam R.
Service and quality is going down steadily. This used to be our go to place, but it's gotten worse over the past few visits...beer quality is mediocre at best, service is HORRIBLE! and food menu has changed and servings are smaller with higher prices. Surprisingly empty tonight for a Friday night, so I think others are seeing the same decline. Service was so bad tonight we walked out without ordering a thing......
(2)Matt H.
Dinner time and this place is packed to the hilt... But there were three spots at the Bar just for the three of us. We were greeted at the door by a rather comedic young man and were told there was a wait...but we saw seats at the bar and were told we could sit there with our 10 year old. The bartender was on the move and got our orders quick for beverages and even provided a sample of cream soda for my daughter....star number 1! We ordered a "Wilbur" pizza which had copious amount of cheese, pulled pork, sausage, pepperoni, etc. the crust was thin and extremely crunchy and the sauce was slightly sweet and delicious! I thought that I was doing a double take when the bartender revealed that his twin brother also worked here... See picture. They agreed to take a quick mugshot while they hurried around, making people happy. Beer... The reason we came here... I ordered up a magic trick Hefeweizen which was fannnntastic with hints of banana and spice and 6.0 ABV and IBU of 17. My wife was on a fruit kick today and ordered up a Razzamazoo which is a raspberry wheat at 5.8% and 10.4 IBU... And she called it her perfect beer; so be impressed folks! I had a bad experience here when Biggdogg first opened but I've had a change of heart and we will be back a little more often. The one star reduction is because you can't taste the beer before you order one. I meant; come on. A 1 ounce shot to sell a pint??
(4)René C.
The venue was pretty great (fairly new) and the service was spot on. My family and I enjoyed this place. I do agree with some other people on Yelp - I think the beer is better than the food. This isn't a bad thing, because the beer (at least the hefeweizen) was amazing! If you have the time, stop in and have the "Whole Hog". How can you refuse a burger that has pulled pork AND bacon on top of a beef patty with beer BBQ sauce?
(4)Gabe S.
A group of us ventured to Gonzo's during Kalamazoo Beer Week for Gonzo's Barrel-Aged release, which featured Brandy Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter, Brandy Barrel-Aged Nature of Evil, Brandy Barrel-Aged Dunnie the Bounder, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter, and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Nature of Evil. Naturally, being the craft beer enthusiast that I am, I had a sampler of all five choices. All 5 were very solid and the 3 brandy barrel-aged beers were interesting. My favorite out of all 5 was the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Nature of Evil, which is their imperial stout. All in all, the beers were great. Now on to the food. We ordered the Drunken Crab Hushpuppies to start and they definitely did not disappoint. Great crab & hushpuppy flavor. They were a little denser than I would have liked, but still very, very good. The sriracha mayo was a very good dipping sauce. I ordered the VP Haystack Burger and my wife ordered the Whole Hog Burger. Both were fantastic burgers. The meat is prime beef which makes it that much better. The fries were on point as well. All in all it was a very good experience. The food and beer were both great. I can't wait to go back and try something different.
(5)Mike M.
The short short version. Deeeelicious beer, great bartenders, cool owner, good food. I'd have to say their Marzen was probably the best one I had this past fall, alas Gonzo's is a little too far away to enjoy it more than on this one trip. Hopefully I can get back there soon to try some more of their beers. We got there late enough on this trip that I reached my done point while here. Their IPA was quite solid and I didn't hate their pumpkin beer, which is actually a compliment from me. One of these days I'll quit trying pumpkin beers, but I have friends who love them so I keep trying them in hope that I will find one I like. I always try and sit at the bar when I go to places since that is where you can usually get the scoop on what their best stuff is, and what would best match your taste. Gonzo's was no exception. The bartenders were great at putting up with our, um, exuberance, and in answering our questions about their seasonal beers. Definitely will be back, earlier, next time I'm in Kalamazoo.
(4)Leslee B.
Gonzos just keeps getting better with every return visit. The beer choices are great and the friendly staff is even better. Thank you, Matt & Greg!
(5)Melanie R.
Quick review I checked in then checked out. Couldn't find a beer I would like. No IPA's that weren't fruity or light or black....ugh. Too many choices in this town, so I left. Too bad, because the food is pretty good here. I'll check back in the fall. Bummer.
(2)Nicole S.
We honestly almost skipped this brewery on our trip to Kalamazoo. THIS IS A MUST SEE IN KALAMAZOO. We have visited almost all of the 12 places on the 'Give a Craft' tour in Kalamazoo and this brewery is definitely one of our favorites. The place looks almost brand new. Our bar tender was knowledgeable, attentive, and accommodating. We ordered the mac and cheese for an appetizer and I kind of wish it was my entrée, it was that good. The beers are very tasty and we'll balanced. Be sure to ask about mixing the chocolate and banana beers for a delicious complementary mixture of brews.
(4)Tim F.
We made our third visit to Gonzos last night to have a night cap. I absolutely love their food. We always get the spent grain bread sticks which are amazing! They literally melt in your mouth. On our last visit I had the vanilla porter haystack burger which is this amazing combination of deliciousness packaged up into a burger. The star of the show though (you'll either love or hate it, and I love it!) is the kale salad. We always make sure we get some kale salad. The beer selection is good and the beer drinkers in our party always ooh and ahh over the vanilla porter. Not being a beer drinker I lover they're bottomless homemade root beer. I keep saying I'm going to try the cream soda next time but always stick with what I already know is yummy. Hoping to get back again soon!
(5)Hale L.
First time here and definitely not the last! Ohhh the Vanilla Porter Ale....yummy! Check out the daily specials!
(4)Alyssa C.
In Kalamazoo for a conference and went out for beer and pizza with a bunch of friends. With a beer lover, a vegetarian and someone on a strict medical diet at our table, Gonzo had a tall order! They cheerfully answered all of the dieter's questions and the vegetarian found food she liked. The spent grain pizza is also incredibly good. For my part (beer lover), I had a flight of fantastic beers. Their vanilla porter is excellent, as is their white IPA. I'll be going back next conference!
(4)Chris M.
I stumbled upon Gonzo's almost purely by accident. Inexplicably, several other Kalamazoo-area breweries don't have televisions, and being a Saturday during college football season, that posed a certain dilemma to me. Gonzo's had plenty, and the other spots missed out on my business, which wasn't much to begin with, but still. As expected, Gonzo's provides the brewery staples, like pale ales, hefeweizens, etc. Yet what I took from them was the wings. Wings are likewise brewpub staples, and a lot of places simply go through the motions. Gonzo's didn't, and I appreciate that. My goal that day was college football, quality beer, and pub fare. Gonzo's delivered on all three counts. For all I know, the Big Dog could be generic most of the time. But I will award them the five stars here because somebody there understood the bond between breweries and televised sports, something I would have thought every brewery did.
(5)Eddie M.
Fairly small inside but nice open area. Large bar and plenty of tables inside. They even have a food menu with unique specialty food. If you have enough beers you can even venture next door and buy yourself a new Mercedes-Benz. The Saxon action is a great IPA to try.
(3)Aly O.
Really nice place! First time here, and I'm really impressed. Large bar, indoor and outdoor seating. The beers are great. The vanilla Porter is unbelievable. Fair prices, beautiful clean place, and a good selection is two thumbs up from me, guys!
(5)Timothy B.
Spent grain pizzas were top notch. I enjoyed the pork pizza and the price was reasonable. The beer was average. I got a flight and liked about 3/6 of the brews. The wheat/fruit beers need a considerable amount of work. It's a new place so there is still time for refinement. Pretty good beer selection. Apparently they were hosting a beach bash when we were there so the staff were all dressed up in beach gear. They had a tent set up with beach games but nobody was interested in going out there. No patrons were wearing beach gear so I would say that promotion was a colossal swing and a miss. Summary: go for the food, maybe grab a brew or too, but don't bother for the ambiance or the the events that are hosted.
(3)Steven T.
Stopped in around 5pm, seated immediatly by a very friendly hostess. Service was outstanding! Our waiter answered menu / beer questions and offered suggestions that turned out to be fantastic! - Mac and Cheese: Five Stars! - Chicken Sandwich on Sourdough: Five Stars! Tried a sampler of 5 of the in house brews and they were all excellent! Good crowd & very welcoming environment, this is one of the best breweries in Kalamazoo!
(5)Kate Z.
I'm from Denver where there is not a shortage of breweries and since we moved here this is now one of our favorites. The bar staff is always friendly and fast and the food is some of the best brewery food in Kalamazoo. The beer is not quite our favorite in Kalamazoo because it's not as smooth as some others, but since the atmosphere is nice and the food is affordable and better than the overpriced bad food of the Kalamazoo is full of we end up here every other weekend.
(4)Zena G.
This was the first time my fiancé and I came here and from just walking in this place it had a great feel. Food was great we had the nachos and burgers and everything tasted just right!! Our waitress Molly was very personable too and we really enjoyed the atmosphere :) I recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Shawn B.
First visit here. Arrived about 5:15 on a Friday, plenty of close parking, expected that to be a busy time, but we got a table right away. Server was friendly and efficient. It did fill up quickly after we arrived however. Ordered four tasters, vanilla porter, academy slim, dog days, and razamazoo. I loved the razamazoo, def one you could have a few of. I also really liked the vanilla porter, more than I expected. It was like a liquid dessert :) Not sure I could handle a full 20 oz of it, but I did get a second taster. We ordered chicken nachos and a margarita pizza, not sure I'd call it a margarita pizza, but still good. Both very good. I noticed they were getting their outdoor seating area ready and when warmer hits I liked to go back and sit outside.
(4)Tiffany H.
After spending a wonderful Valentine's weekend in Chicago, the drive home had us beat. Not up to making dinner ourselves, my husband and I decided to finally try the BiggDogg on a Sunday evening. The restaurant was about 70% full and about half of those tables were finishing up their meals when we arrived. Soon after being seated, the first clue that the service wasn't going to be up to par revealed itself. After 8 minutes, our waiter finally came to introduce himself and to take our drink order. My husband had a few questions about items on the menu, such as "What style of BBQ is the bbq sandwich?" and "What kind of sauce is that served with?". The server couldn't answer either of them. We placed our order and waited 20 minutes. During that time, we noticed that our server had plenty of time to hangout with the bar staff and to catch a bit of whatever was on the TV. We were famished by the time our food arrived. I ordered a medium burger and my husband went with the BBQ sandwich. When I cut into my burger, it was grey in the middle and way past the "done" temperature. I sat there for about 5 minutes waiting for our waiter to check back. He was nowhere in sight and no other server came around to our area. With my stomach angrily grumbling, I gave in and reluctantly ate half of the burger and the accompanying chips that were on the side. Ten minutes had passed when the server finally emerged from the kitchen to see how our meal was. We told him about how overdone the burger was, to which his only response was "Sorry." He brought the check and when we saw that no discount had been given my husband inquired to why. The server told us that his manager specifically told him not to discount anything, but he'd go back and ask again. When he came back, there was a 10% discount on the bill delivered with the message of "we hope you'll give us another chance." My husband insisted on speaking to the manager. She came over and declared "I heard you had a problem." Without letting my husband explain, the manager started in with because I had eaten half of the sandwich, all of the side dish and had failed to inform our server of a problem, she would not take the burger off of the bill. Once my husband got a chance to explain the full situation, she apologized for not listening and removed the burger from our bill. In summary, the food at BiggDogg is probably pretty good. We probably just caught them on an off day with my burger, as my husband's meal was pretty tasty. Unfortunately, the level of service that we experienced on this visit is enough to keep us away from this business for a very long time. BiggDogg needs to train their waitstaff on how to keep things casual but maintain a sense of professionalism. Ultimately, management needs to take a course on hospitality and learn that accusing customers of shenanigans is not the way to go in solving a problem.
(1)Blane K.
Found this place at taste of kalamazoo and had to try it again. Came back for some more barbecue and delicious brews. Will not disappoint even the fussiest of foodies. Yum. Dont miss the dessert apple pie puff.
(5)Brian F.
A bit too polished and corporate, but the beer is good and the spent grain pizza was excellent. We ordered a flight of tasters, and I liked that they provided a laminated piece of paper detailing the beers characteristics on which the tasters were placed. It's a nice touch that I've seen a few times before, and I think it definitely improves the tasting experience.
(4)Josh C.
I was actually really disappointed with this place overall. At first glance the decor was very nice and the selection unique. I tried several beers but none of which were really up to par. They were not terrible by any stretch but just never met expectations. I will give it another shot next time I'm in the area but will have my reservations.
(3)Dan W.
First visit last week. Beer is VERY good for a start-up. The spent grain bread sticks were some of the best bar food I've ever had, and I've had a LOT.
(5)Katherine H.
Not a beer person, so the food was important - and pretty tasty. Nice job on the smoked chicken, haven't had a clunker here at all (except for the awful barstools -- flat, hard metal.)
(3)Katelyn H.
Best food of my life. Oh and beer, there's beer too. The drunken crab hush puppies are amazing and you need them in your life.
(4)Hayley G.
Such a great establishment that almost doesn't get enough credit! I love the atmosphere, but nothing beats eating out on the patio during the summer! The waitstaff is really great, helpful, and efficient. I have never had bad service, and am always greeted with a smile! (It counts more than you think it would!) The beer list is phenomenal. Some of the beers change with the season, but the vanilla porter (all the rage is true) is the best! I'm also a fan of their red ale and their IPAs. (The names are slipping my mind currently.) We have tried multiple appetizers, but my favorite is the spent grain breadsticks! They are so delicious, and pretty amazing for 'bar food,' if you'd like to call it that. If you're looking for a good burger, most definitely order them here! The Black and Blue burger is delicious, and whether you get the fries or the kale slaw, you won't be disappointed either. The kale slaw is so fresh and light; perfect if you've already eaten all of the breadsticks! Additionally, I hope they bring this sandwich back in the summer, the Cuban. This was the BEST Cuban sandwich I have ever had, with a bonus of the kale slaw being a part of the sandwich! When and if it makes it back onto the menu, do yourself a favor and order it!
(5)Marino C.
Great microbrewery. Good beer and great food. A good place to talk and hangout with friends. Also, they have TVs if you want to go watch a game. Must try their poutine.
(5)Henry H.
It's good. I've said this about some other places: the beer is good and highly drinkable, it's just a little light on body, I want more out of it. The food menu is small but everything I've had has been tasty.
(4)Shannon C.
I really liked the garlic bread -- it was thin and crispy, not thick and tough, which was great. I don't typically like breweries, because I'd always rather be drinking liquor than beer, but the beer my husband had was okay. He liked it well enough. This place is strange, because it used to be part of a used car dealership, and you can tell -- huge windows, open floor plan, high ceilings. It's loud in there, and I felt really exposed. I'd probably go here again if other people I was with wanted to, but I wouldn't seek it out on my own (I'd find a place that serves gin!).
(3)Beth C.
Probably my preferred brew pub. Great atmosphere, superior food, awesome staff. This is where I love getting samplers so I can try lots of new brews! It's sometimes a wait to sit, but always worth it.
(4)Jessica I.
We found this place by accident on a stroll to Waldo Stadium, and it ended up being a pretty good find. We had the spent grain bread sticks and the goat cheese poppers, both of which were really tasty. We also got a sampler of the current tap list, and while nothing really made my eyes roll back in my head, there were a few standouts and everything was very competent overall. The big drawback of our visit was a perpetually screaming toddler, and we were dismayed to see that Gonzo's had a high chair for the urchin. Breweries should not resemble Romper Room.
(3)Annie B.
My brother, niece and I decided to the BiggDogg brewery after I had heard much about vanilla porter that I had to come and try it. After looking at their beer menu I decided to order a flight... With every beer . My brother was the DD and my niece isn't much for beer and while they tasted each one it was up to me to finish the flight and what a good time that was! We also ordered food (and it may have been the beer talking) but it was good too. Not typical bar food. We ordered the blue crab flatbread to share (It had a spicy remoulade), I ordered the "black and blue" burger with kale slaw (surprisingly tasty), my brother had the macaroni and cheese (he ate every bite) and my nice had just a regular burger (she doesn't often try new things and the beer was enough new stuff!). They were playing good music and we were thoroughly entertained by the hostess and her regular and glowing hula hoops. All in all we had a very good time and most definitely will be back.
(5)Lindsey R.
The beer, service, and food was all pretty good. I ordered the nachos without chicken, which were good. The lettuce tasted pretty old, but otherwise no complaints about the food. My friend ordered the pizza and hummus, which both looked fantastic. The beer I ordered was fine. It wasn't something I'd rave about, but it wasn't bad either. I think if it had been a $5 beer I'd have been thrilled, but it was a $10 beer. Not quite up to par to cost that much. I did LOVE the taster option. Its a great way to try a few different kinds without breaking the bank OR being hung over in the morning. After paying my tab, the server brought me the wrong change. Not the end of the world - I was a server - but she never came back to the table so I could tell her. All in all, I had a good experience. I'm sure I'll be back at some point.
(4)Nicole L.
Myself and a friend just came in for our first time. We are both service industry workers so we cut places slack, but this was ridiculous. We sat at the bar. There were 4 other people at the bar and 4 staff behind the bar. We were completely ignored. No one even looked at us. We sat through 2 Bob Marley songs before deciding to head to Bell's instead. The "Caribbean" theme has also got to go. A server was wearing a life vest and snorkel mask and there were plastic blow up palm trees everywhere. Thumbs down, this place sucks!
(1)Ken H.
The food here was outstanding. I recently ate here with a group of 13 and everyone loved their food. I had the Chicken Nachos which were great. I tried the pizza and the fried goat cheese appetizer. Both were very good. I'm not a big beer guy so I don't want to review that. Gonzo's offers 5 oz tasters for $1.50- $2 each. You can build your own flight of as many beers as you want. I did hear a few complaints about the chairs not being very comfortable, but I didn't notice.
(4)John K.
Really good food and micro beer in a very walkable neighborhood just off downtown Kalamazoo.
(5)Thomas C.
Really excellent house brewed beers. The Burning Sun Redd, Into the Night Stout, Nimble Limbo and Vanilla Porter are terrific. Nice ambiance inside, and large attractive outside seating area. Full menu, but I just had beer tasters.
(4)Chrissy D.
*sigh* this place has mixed reviews in my book. My first experience here was great. The chicken nachos were fresh and hot, the burger my boyfriend had was fantastic, and the beer was cold. Service was fine, and the staff was kind. crab hush puppies- delicious fries/chips- yum quesadilla- pretty good The second time I went with a group of friends (5 of us total) and there was a wait. We decided that the wait would be worth it due to the food quality....so we waited...and waited...the hostess was very polite and checked in with us periodically to apologize. While we were standing there, another 5 person group comes in and is seated right away by the manager. Either he did not check with the hostess or they were friends of his. Pretty sure it was the latter of the two. Really!? We are standing RIGHT in front of your eyes and have been waiting for about 40 mins. The hostess was embarrassed and apologized profusely. He never apologized for his wrong doing and walked past us on several occasions. I am not flustered easily but when the manager looks you straight in the eye and does not apologize for his intentional wrong doing....c'mon my friend....you need better manners than that when it comes to keeping and accumulating returning customers in the restaurant industry...so we apologized to the hostess, let her know it was not her fault, and left.
(3)Paul B.
Having been to most Kalamazoo microbreweries, I feel this is in the top two. A good choice for foodies as well as an adventurous beer selection. It is more than worth the trip. While the beer choices are adventurous, this would be the envelope for Gonzos to push, more non traditional "out there" recipes especially sours. That would take me to 5. I will be back.
(4)Amanda L.
Love, love, love the marg pizza. It's all I order anymore. Drunken crab hush puppies also a good try! Yummy beer with good eats. IPA IS NOT PORTER TASTING. ITS AN IPA. EXPECT HOPPY AND BITTER. Also, must consider dessert. Do the cheesecake. Bar ambiance is laid back and has artistic recycled furnishings. Fun little micro-brewery. Filled with character.
(4)Cat N.
I visited Gonzo's on Western's graduation weekend with a party of 4, so when we walked in we expected a wait. What we didn't expect was the beyond terrible service, abhorrent management, decent food, and amateur craft beers. We had high hopes going in as the place was very aesthetically pleasing. Upon walking up to the hostess stand and asking how long the wait would be for 4 people, a nervous-looking girl answered maybe 30 minutes, but she would know more in about 5 minutes. While we stood and waited for over a half hour, there were 4 OPEN TABLES. Staff members frequently walked around attempting to look busy while not actually doing anything. At one point, 3 members of the kitchen staff were out at the hostess stand trying to "help" them, and by help I mean flirting with the completely incompetent hostesses. Finally, we offered to bring chairs over to a table so that we could sit down. After being seated, we had no waiter. For 20 minutes. I had to walk up to the hostess stand and ask who our waiter was, and I was pointed in the direction of a bar tender. To his credit, this guy was great; he worked behind the bar and got our order in once he was informed that he was pulling double duty. He answered questions accurately and genuinely seemed embarrassed by his co workers. The food was pretty decent; however, if you are a brewery, your food should not have to be your redeeming quality. I had an IPA that tasted like a porter, my sister got the vanilla porter which was doused in vanilla, and another at the table got the geyser brown ale which was reminiscent of swamp water gone bad. In a town known for its craft brewing, this was a sad excuse for a brewery. Almost every beer on tap was 5.8% or above, with some beers in the 7-10% range. This isn't a crime in and of itself, albeit somewhat trashy, but when patrons have too much of your high percentage beer it needs to be addressed. Which, brings us to the worst showing of hospitality of the night. In the table crammed directly behind us, there was a group of 4 men who clearly had been drinking for more than awhile. Aside from the usual beer spilling and slurred words, these guys were out of control. The manager cut one guy off by REFUNDING him $5, and letting him stay at the table with his friends while he drank their beers. We watched him attempt to take his pants off at the table, hit on a table of ladies who physically had to push him away (twice), and peed on the window right by the entrance. At this point, any good manager would have asked this man to leave. Not at Gonzo's! Super drunk and peeing everywhere? Stick around we'll make sure your friends get you another round of the 10% Nature of Evil! After hearing said drunk talk about wanting to punch one of the girls at the table that refused him, spilling beer on me, and ramming his body into our table and landing on my lap, I walked up to the bar. I politely told the bar tender that this man was making our table and the table of women extremely uncomfortable. The manager came over to their table 5 minutes later, says- "Everything good here? Great!" and walks away. Call me crazy, but when a patron is peeing on a table and threatening to punch women, you should kick him out. This was the last straw for us and we left as soon as possible. When expressing our distaste to the manager on the way out, he simply smiled and said what are ya gonna do? Grow a backbone, learn how to serve, and brew some better beer Gonzo's, or you're not going to last long.
(2)Melissa M.
I didn't eat while I was here, so my review is strictly for the beer. fantastic!! I love it. I love the 5 oz tasters!! Definitely worth stopping in.
(4)Bill A.
We were here last night. The food (burgers and pizza) was outstanding! The beer always great. Our server, Lauren, was efficient, attentive and very personable....she kept us laughing during our visit, a trait that we look for. We will definitely return again...and again!
(5)Michael R.
Great food and good beer. There are better breweries in Kalamazoo but not very many of them have as good of food. Love their smoked meats and you should be able to find at least a couple of beers you like even if you don't find one you love.
(4)Micki G.
Sampler was individually priced - which was great. The vanilla porter was our favorite. We didn't eat - outside seating was a bit noisy
(4)Erin R.
Appetizers were great! Definitely order the nachos! The beer was disappointing, just OK. With so many other breweries to choose from, I wouldn't go back for brews. Good spot for patio and apps.
(3)The D.
Beer and food are just okay. I know it's new so I am hoping in time their beers will improve. We did like the nachos and the service was pretty good. WE Just found nothing special about the beer
(3)Dave L.
Calling yourself a brewery means first and foremost the beer must be better than the food. This is not the case here at BiggDogg (I must say that I also HATE all the Gggggggggs, yes the extra letters spill into the menu as well). My wife and I went here about a month ago for lunch. I was excited as I love a good craft brew, and I heard the food was supposed to be good. I'll cut to the chase, the beer was forgettable at best, and terrible at its worst. Not have been to this place before, I got a flight of five beers. A Pale Ale, an IPA, the Vanilla porter, an amber ale, and a wheat beer. I'll start with the best, and that's not saying much. The IPA was meh. Hardly any hop flavor or aroma is not a good trait in an IPA. I rated the Pale Ale a tick below as I couldn't tell what they were trying to do with this beer. Now onto the vanilla porter. The menu stated that a "hint" of vanilla was present, and that it was a "benchmark of balance". The first thing you smell and taste is vanilla. Waaaaaaaaay too much vanilla, and it was on the verge of medicinal; maybe imitation vanilla extract? This beer was the opposite of balanced. Finally, the amber (Burning Sun Red)...this beer takes second place on my list of truly terrible beers. It tasted grainy, rushed, amateurish, and left a lingering after taste that was just awful. I can't say enough how bad this beer was. Avoid like the plague. I gave BiggDogg two stars because of the food. My wife had a chicken salad sandwich that was pretty good. I got the Italian sausage. The sausage was ok, maybe just a GFS/Sysco product, however it arrived on a terrible hoagie bun from Rensma's bakery. There was more bun than meat, and the bun had a dry sponge taste. We also had some goat cheese fritter things which were also good. Somebody mentioned the chairs, and yes they are terrible. The support bars for the legs are not high enough and jab into your heel if you try to scoot the chair. I will be back to try the pizza which is made with spent grain, but will be drinking water.
(2)P Yelp N.
Excellent example of another outstanding Kalamazoo / Portage Micro Brewery. Only serves beer fermented on sight, but they are exceptional with delicious complementing pizza, burgers, and more.
(5)Sandra K.
Very good IPA per my beer lovin' husband and the Drunken Crab Hushpuppies and Poutine hit the spot on this cold icy winter day!
(5)Steve S.
First of all, having gone to college in the hometown of Bell's over a decade ago and having just moved back, I couldn't be prouder of the microbrew scene in the Zoo. Keep it up! First time here and was impressed. Great porters. No...excellent. Didn't try the other beer types, but can't wait to. Good burger and a surprisingly good side salad (kale-based). Not a huge menu so don't go expecting a variety of entrees. This I think, makes the place shine even more though. When they concentrate on the typical bar eats and the beer, a brewpub can't go wrong. In this case - homerun. Service good.
(4)Keith U.
Craft brewing gone commercial. Looks & feels like a restraunt. No tasting- $1.70 just to find out if you like the beer. Way too many TRUE craft houses to give this place money.
(2)Larry H.
Great new brewpub in Kalamazoo. The beer is amazingly good, the food is even better and the service is top notch. Favorites so far are the pulled pork sandwich, and the white cheddar burger top it off with the kahleslaw (not a typo). For a starter try the poutine or goat cheese fritters.
(5)Laura H.
Was excited to check this place out when I came home for the holidays. My friends and I like a good beer. Sadly we were very dissapointed. I got four tasters- their pale ale, the IPA, the Geyser brown ale and, the vanilla porter. The pale ale was ok. The IPA was lacking in hops for me- I like west coast IPAs. I couldn't take more than a taste of the brown ale. It tasted like cough medicine. The vanilla porter was probably the best. My friends got their spiced porter which was okay. The food was fine, but not good enough to overlook the sub-par beer. Instead of a second round my friends and I opted to get mix and match 6 pack at Beer and Skittles. With so many other options for good beer in the area, I doubt I'll be back.
(1)Brian B.
Great vibe, amazing micro brews. A must stop. Every beer in the flight tasting was amazing and got better and better. Very drinkable, crisp and high ABV.
(5)Carrie H.
We love a good brewery so we thought we would try it out. It was a Friday night so we expected a wait, the hostess said it would be 25 minutes and we decided to wait. When I noticed that people who were coming in after us were being seated I went to see what was happening. The hostess had to flip back to my name and I got to see that there were many names after mine crossed off. I was upset and asked why she said it was because we had a baby and they were waiting for a low top so we could use the highchair. I said that they could have at least asked us if we wanted to wait longer for a low top or go with a high top instead of assuming. Like I said we like a good brewery so we have had to make do at high tops many times. After a while the hostess came up to us and asked us if we wanted to share a high top table with the three people she had just sat there. We did not really want to so we asked how long it would be for a table to open up and she told us 20 min. She was really rude about it too. That is after we were told 25 to begin with and had already waited 45. Needless to say we will not be going back there. Instead we went to the Olde Peninsula Brewpub and enjoyed great service! So if you have a baby do not go here!
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