Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant
Categories: Breweries, American (Traditional) [Edit]
1075 E. 20th StreetChico, CA 95928 (530) 345-2739
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
38 Reviews for Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant
This place is so good! It's better to go for lunch and get the beer sampler....wide variety of food made with fresh ingredients.
I drove up with David O. for a tour and lunch - his Bday present from me! We drove from Elk Grove - and it is a nice day trip to make if you are looking for something to do. Also - we went and walked around Chico State and checked out a the downtown area - we had a great time here.
The food here is fantastic - we both had sandwiches that we shared - the were not just your basic sandwich and they have a huge selection of food!
We also shared the beer sampler - another fav on the menu. I am not a fan a dark beer but I did find a few that I really liked and my beer taste might be changing a bit.
This place has the best vegie burger I have ever eaten. I am not a veg, but love veg food. We ate here twice in one weekend trip to Chico, it was that good. The restraurant was big, clean, efficient (didn't wait long for a seat or food or BEER!) I bought a sweatshirt - good deal, good quality. We even took a tour of the brewery. If you're in Chico, this is a must go, for food, beer, or a touristy jaunt.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
*Drool* This is the home of my all time favorite beer, Sierra Nevada's Schwarber. Its a black ale that the only serve at the tasting room and select Chico bars. When visiting Chico it would be wise to take in some of the local attractions. Most worth while attractions happen to involve drinking and Sierra Nevada is at the top of the list...If you're a beer lover like myself. The taproom is in the main dining room, the food is very good and I suggest that if you have time place enjoy a meal here. If you only have about 30 minutes order the sampler. It's so good. You get to try every beer Sierra brews even the ones the don't leave Chico. It is a fun thing to do on a date, with friends or maybe if you just had a really shitty day. Sierra Nevada has the ability to liven any ones spirits. One note, they brewery does not sell growlers and the restaurant does close early for weekend dining.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
The drive from Medford, OR to Chico, CA, isn't even close to six hours like the girl in Medford tried to convince me. But it was in the 4-5 range.
Rolling down that little highway from the I-5 south to Chico, we listened to William Shatner's Has Been disc. Our destination: The Sierra Nevada brewery for lunch with the Misfats who hadn't broken down outside of Yreka four hours before.
All that driving was making us thirsty.
I've had Sierra Nevada before; it's one of the few decent brews you can get in the bars in my home town of Los Angeles. It has serious competition up in my current home of Seattle, but still makes it onto the menu in spots like the Columbia City Ale House, which features local brewers and organic food and drink.
We pulled in to the parking lot on a fine sunny warm day. Oh yeah, California. We had left the rain and cold a day and a half before.
We walked in and the gals at the reception asked if we wanted a table. "We're here to meet a couple guys. Maybe you've seen them... well you can't miss them really." And you couldn't. Misfats singer Glenolan Hamzinger was wearing a bright red "I know KUNG FU" shirt. Guitarist Foil sitting next to him, each with an 18 beer sampler spread in front of them.
I reached for a hot wing and got a raised eyebrow from Hamzinger. "Never reach for a fat man's food," he tells me. The hot wing was delicious. So were the onion rings (I made sure to ask first before reaching for one of those).
I couldn't decide on a beer, so our waitress brought me a couple samples of the amber ales. I wasn't in the mood for either, and wound up with a wheat beer, similar to a Pyramid Hefeweizen, with a slice of lemon in it. On a hot sunny day, I have to say that really hit the spot.
I ordered an Ahi Tuna salad, and prepared for it to be awful. I'm spoiled by the seafood in Seattle, but it's really easy to eat awful on the road and I wanted to get some greens and some fish in me. It was pretty good.
Service was great, food was good, beer was good.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (2)
Cool (5)
In my everyday life, I'm happy with institutions like Rock Bottom, that have the audacity to serve fresh, small batch beer. Nothing beats beer made by people who care. With that in mind, I thought going to Sierra Nevada Brewery would be somewhat of a pilgrimage for me, but I really had no idea.
I have decided that this is my Mecca. They have proven themselves to be the gods of micro-brew. Sam Adams, you can lick my balls, because Sierra shits on you everyday. No surprise that a beer wonderland grew up in Chico.
I know the Pale Ale with the green label isn't for everybody...namely girls, but Sierra Nevada brews a plethora of beers. Even the most snooty girl would enjoy the crystal wheat...I guarantee that. They have a beer for every taste, every season, and every occasion.
Get a sampler and try like 18 different beers! 18!
They also raise natural beef from the spent grains from the brewing process and serve it here...bomb.
For all you tree-huggers out there, they will be completely self-sufficient, electricity-wise very soon.
I WILL come here again when I visit my homies in Chico, you bet your sweet ass.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (4)
Cool (3)
5 stars for the beer (I'd give them 150 stars if I could...) and about 3.5 starts for the food, so I'm averaging it out to 4 stars.
I am dreaming still of the beer samplers. It's like beer appetizers! Different flavors in bite-sized portions. Mmmmm.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this brewery was in a town that I was visiting for work. I've always enjoyed Sierra Nevada beer and was very pleased to have the opportunity to go to the brewery.
Luckily, my first day in Chico, the donkeys that I worked with decided to take me here. Unfortunately, since I was trying to be a little professional, I didn't house a brew. I did, however, have a decent burger with great fries and three different types of mustard. I'm a small fry myself so I was unable to finish my burger (It was gigantic). On the other hand, the dudes who were with me completely devoured their entire meal as well as my left over fries. It was disgusting.
All in all it was a great restaurant.
So, I have been a HUGE fan of Sierra Nevada for years but, I had never been to the brewery. When I helped my friend move to Chico a few months ago. Naturally we went to the brewery. The first night we ate dinner, It was a Saturday and it was PACKED! But, the ambiance and quality of food is well worth the wait. And, you can always try one or more of their many beers, including just about all of their hard to find specialty and seasonal ales. Cutting out the middle man by visiting the brewery directly also gives the customer and beer connoisseur cheaper beer...not to mentions the items in their gift shop are fairly reasonable for the tourist in us all.
The food was so good that we came back for lunch the next day. To our pleasant surprise, the menu had changed completely and we were able to try a whole new set of dishes. And my friend (who is not a vegetarian, she just loves veggie burgers) swears that their veggie burger is the BEST she's ever had!
I highly recommend Eating and of course drinking at Sierra Nevada if you are ever in the Chico area. Please enjoy my pictures :)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Great beer deserves great food and at the Taproom you can get both.
For an upscale take on the basic beer and hotdog, try the the sausage sampler appetizer with the Summerfest seasonal pilsner - just the right mix, especially with the assortment of mustards (also from Sierra Nevada of course).
For the main course, I had the Spicy Ahi Tuna. The 'vertical food' presentation was appealing but unnecessary. The tuna was perfect, just slightly spicy (I could have handled more heat) with a few chunks of avocado to remind us that we're in California.
All in all, a great meal.
Great food, great ambiance, great place to take out of towners.
Sierra Nevada has gained a name for itself internationally, and thus, it brings in the tourists. It offers great food and a fantastic gift shop. If you live Sierr Nevada then you just mist stop in to the Brewery and take the tour, visit the gift shop.
The burgers are great. The out door seating is nice during the warm Chico summer days.
Food is OK, more like a glorified TGIF or similar family chain restaurant.
But of course, you come here for the beer.
The beer sampler is great, and its spread out before you like one of those shot glass chess sets. All filled up with a delicious variety of Sierra Nevada.
Get ready to wait, it seems like its perpetually packed. Its a great place to eat and sample beers when in the area, but I imagine that once the novelty of the place ends, its just another restaurant (which great beer!)
My first stop on arrival in Chico did not disappoint.
The food is fine, service is very good, and the beer is unbeatable. The beer sampler is a great way to taste 2 oz. of everything and includes many that you shouldn't miss and won't find distributed in other places.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Came here with some friends for dinner the other night. This is a nice fancy "date" place without the requirement to look like you came out of the salon.
The atmosphere is great, the food was great (calamari, prime rib, pasta), the service was great, malt shake was great, and the beer (according to my friends) were great.
Oh yeah, the copper kettles are beautifully polished. They kept a wonderful job making this place look fantastic! Parking wasn't a problem, but the wait time was 45 minutes at around 9pm.
Taproom is awesome. Try the Beer sampler plate. 18 mini beers. After finishing that I guaranteee you will have felt very buzzed and very full.
The tour is very nice and the giftshop is very resonably priced!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Sierra Nevada does it right. The menu is excellent -- have loved every item I've ordered, as have my dining companions. The offerings are way beyond the typical brewpub quality. The fish & chips are really incredible -- some of the best we've ever had, including right on the coast, fresh from the ocean. Perfect accompaniment to the brews there. The burgers are huge. They have a big Cobb-type salad, with loads of protein, turkey, eggs, bacon, Gorgonzola, tomatoes, etc.
They offer a cute beer/ale sampler so you can taste and compare all their offerings -- perfect way to explore some new flavors without having to commit to a big glass of something you may not be wild about.
Prices are very reasonable, especially at lunch. This place does fill up on the weekends, so if you'd like to visit, consider going at around 3 or 4, between the crowds.
Desserts are great too. (If you're not consuming beer, consider the milkshake -- it's divine! However, in my experience, beer + milkshake = yech later on.)
The service is extremely friendly and accommodating. There is a beautiful outdoor patio with heaters for chilly evenings. Great ambiance.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
My fiance and I go to Sierra Nevada for a couple of beers after work. The Beer is awesome, they really know what they're doing there...Food is always a disappointment to me unless I breakdown and get the cheese burger, but everything else is pretty bland.
Once upon a time they had an incredible Meatloaf Sandwich on their menu! Why did they take it off???? Did they just decided that their goal was to make their dining experience worse?! Dah!
If you're listening Sierra Nevada, Bring the Meatloaf Sandwich back, it'll improve the lives of many. :)
Ah, Sierra Nevada. First choice if there was a few extra bucks for a dinner out for whatever reason.
Oh some levels, there is that whole Sierra Nevada-Chico connection. In some circles of town, talking ill of Brew a la Grossman is on par with going to the Vatican and saying you'd be happy to preside over the pope's wedding.
But the landmark status aside, the food here is seriously good. And I've eaten there WITHOUT having a beer, so it's not drunk munchies making the marginal magnificent (I'm looking at you, Tacos De)
Atmosphere is great. Never had a bad server, either. They're right on top of things. I've been fortunate to not have a super-long wait for a table, although it's been known to happen on occasion. You don't need to wear a tie, but have some freaking respect and at least have a button on the shirt somewhere, guys. Some of us have to do it five days a week for work, you can survive a couple of hours without using your check to acknowledge your allegiance to a band or sports team.
So go and eat there at least once. Not only will you'll be able to say you've done it, you'll be able to look back on the experience fondly.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
Awesome beer. Great service. Food was ok. Ordered up the bbq pork ribs. Could have been more moist. They were served up with fries made with sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes? Too heavy to make for some nice crisp french fries. Perhaps the food is there just to keep people from getting too drunk too fast? Doesn't matter, though. The beer and the service will keep the good times going.
Holy Moses! You Calis know how to pack a place. We were here from Seattle visiting folks, and apparently ... this is the only place to go. We were at the bar with a little two year old waiting for a table for what seemed to be an eternity. But the seasonal pale ale was surprisingly good. It seemed better than the usual stuff you can find in Washington state (now that I'm spoiled by Seattle's micro brews).
The food was pretty good. The beer battered onion rings were heavenly and definitely worth the $7 and arm and leg. I'd definitely go on a quieter night (if there is one) with fewer people in our group.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
The food is great, but let's be honest... you don't go to Sierra Nevada for good eating (although you could) but you go to Sierra Nevada to get your drink on. Fifteen beers not available anywhere else, only in the SN taproom and house specialties all on tap. This place is heaven for the beer lover. Great food is just icing on the cake.
A lot can be said about a restaurant by their bruschetta because it's easy to make and it's familiar to anyone who has ever eaten out. While it might have been easy to be turned off by the combination of flavors, as a chef I was thoroughly impressed by the choice of ingredients used. Foccacia bread spread with pesto, topped with corn, cilantro and cotija cheese. What a bold combination! Now that's fusion cooking for you. A true testament to California cuisine.
But it's all about the beer. Sierra Nevada is truly the beer lovers beer because of its hoppy flavor and smooth feel. The tour just confirmed my notion that SN truly is one of the best beers in the world. Pitchers in the taproom are only 10 dollars, pints for $3-3.50, half pints for $2.
My girlfriend and I had lunch here for our one year anniversary. How many girls would allow their boyfriends to celebrate their anniversary at a brewery? Probably not many. That's why Julie, you are the best!
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
First, I could give SN one-star, and you'd still go...because it's Sierra Nevada. Like taking out of town guests to San Francisco for the first time, you take them to the Golden Gate bridge...got to.
Thursday night through Sunday night, SN is packed to the gills...always a wait. For some reason, Chico people (and tourists if we have them) love SN. Yes, it is our "sacred-cow", claim-to-fame, reason for being etc. BUT, the food is mediocre...NOT BAD...just not what others would have you believe. I'll give them props for a good menu and good recipe execution; the food is always cooked properly . Where they miss, however, is the quality of ingredients. The produce has that grey-ish, just-came-off-the-Sysco-truck look and taste about it. Seriously, if they did nothing but change produce suppliers from Sysco to local farmers (we have many around here)...it would be off the hook.
The atmosphere, which was once "amazing", is now dated. It reminds you of a grand '80's fern bar.
Go for the beer. Everyone knows Pale Ale, but they actually brew @13 beers that can only be found on tap at the brewery. They even have an "estate" beer called "20th Street Green" that utilizes hops grown on the SN property...it's very good.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
A fun place for family visits, dates, or birthdays... it's special but not overpriced. You can dress your dinner down with the famous burger, thick rich chocolate shakes, fish & chips, and the beer, of course, or class it up with some fancy six cheese ravioli... Their fancier items are just as good as the plain jane fill 'er up luncheons.
Even if you're not 21 you can still appreciate this place. Recently there was a family with two young kids sitting at the booth next to our table and the kid gleemed "Daddy! help me spin the table around!" and we laughed, thinking the kid is silly and confused with the spinning tea cups at Disneyland but all of a sudden the whole family twirled around their table in the booth -- the tables do spin!!! I was slightly jealous, but took note to sit at the round booths next time! (unless I plan on getting the sampler, then I think a more sturdy surface is suitable) So it's good for youngins and oldins alike.
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (6)
Cool (6)
Great place, nice atmosphere. Beer kicks ass, food is serviceable, free tours. We were there yesterday and some jackass started peppering our young and enthusiastic tour guide with arrogant, stupid questions. She handled it well. You go, Audrey!
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Since I am on my "Sierra Nevada" is great kick, it is difficult to not give this place the 5 stars it should have. But, because of the potential long wait (for any party more than 2) and the ill-designed bar/waiting area, I have to take one star away. Oh... one more thing, the restaurant did not take the effort to offer suggestions on beer and food pairings. I know, I know... people like certain beers but maybe this is a good chance to expose your other "flavors" with your food.
That being said, the food surprised me. I was expecting the usual pub faire that I have had from most brewery restaurants. The menu includes: Artichoke crusted halibut, shrimp scampi, sausage platter, chicken and dumplings, rib eye steak with option to add jumbo shrimp tempura, as well as your regular fish & chips, burger, buffalo wings.
Your meal begins with warm crusty bread paired with an olive oil and reduced to a syrupy consistency balsamic vinegar. YUM!!!
I had the chicken and dumplings and it was GOOOOOOD! A very substantial chicken leg and thigh portion with carrots, mushrooms and celery in a creamy sauce! MMmmmmm...
Definitely worth the trip and all the calories!
Can I add a sixth star?
If you want to see what a brewery is supposed to be when it grows up, look no further than Sierra Nevada Brewery.
SNB has typical pub fare like fish and chips, pizzas, and burgers (all good), but their menu also offers entrees made with quality ingredients, like the artichoke-encrusted halibut and the Greek flatbread salad. I'm a sucker for the Sierra Nevada salad which comes with candied pecans, gorgonzola, and cherry tomatoes. And the service is solid for a brewery that handles as much business as this one. I've always found the servers to be personable and attentive.
Oh yeah, don't forget the beer. For my money, Sierra Nevada has the best beer on the planet. Try out the Early Spring Beer. Or try them all and get the sampler - 18 or so beers for $8.
The place is usually busy, but it is worth dealing with the masses in order to sit and relax on the back patio. Or better yet, rub shoulders with the regulars and stake your place at the stately bar.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I was here just once but I remembered that the food was pretty good. The more memorable thing though, was the beer..make sure you get the sampler..mmmm Sierra Nevada...good stuff!
Love the Sierra Nevada taproom. Good food and the beer is obviously a big hit. Being that i'm not really a beer fan, I would usually stick to wine, but i'd encourage anyone to try the sampler to really get a taste of what the taproom has to offer. For tourists and newcomers to Chico, no visit would be complete without a little stop off at the taproom giftstore, where you can purchase an array of Sierra Nevada memorabilia, such as sweatshirts (which everyone seems to want to wear in Chico), mugs, t-shirts, key chains, etc. Basically, it's a good place to eat in Chico if you want to escape the student only crowd, but also don't want to go somewhere too intimate.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
The food is pretty good here, but let's be honest, we are all here for the beer. There are beers on tap here you won't find anyplace else. The sampler is a nice place to start, but all those flavors start getting tiring. If you really want to enjoy the experience, start off with a nice light beer, and work your way up to a dark beer. Stick with 4 or 5 beers you haven't had before and then come back next time to try the others.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
For Chico this establishment is the top of the tops. Beautiful cherry wood and brass details decorate this spacious brewery. I went to school in this fabulous party town and have to admit I didn't really visit the brewery that often. The food was a little pricey for my starving student bank account, so I'd save this place for special occasions. Although the beer is wonderful and varied, the food isn't anything special. Its brewery food...fish n' chips, salads, meat. There are definitely better restaurants in Chico to go for food, but for beer, this is Mecca.
The Taproom can have a long, long wait but the food is always above my expectations for brewpub fare. If you like their beer, try the sampler. It's a good deal, and for those of us who can never make up our minds, it's a good way to pick which beer you actually want to drink for the night.
Pretty much always a complete winner for me. I've been drinking Sierra Nevada beers from a young age, having grown up in a neighboring town to Chico. Once the taproom opened up, my family would always meander over to chow down on some of the best pub food there is.
To this day, every time I journey home to Michael Mecca, we seem to end up in Chico for a lunch or dinner at the Pub.
A couple of notes for those passing through:
1. It's gets effin' crowded around 6-8 and they don't make phone reservations.
2. The lunch time menu and dining is a relaxed, solid value.
3. It's pretty much right off of Highway 99, so you can just pop in if venturing elsewhere like Lassen or Shasta for a weekend.
4. While the Sierra Nevada beer sampler seems like a good idea, it's as telltale a sign of a tourist as short pants at Fisherman's Wharf in SF. Don't let it stop you, just be warned.
Best Beer. Worst Food. Take the tour, order a beer sampler and the fish and chips (they're very good). "Dinner" (aka: "a proper meal") is awful.
Finally did a tour of the brewery, which was cool, since it was just us and the guide! After you must get the sampler, good stuff. Restaurant is good too. Great filet, yummo salads, pizza is really tasty too. Nice ambiance, good service. A must for visitors.
ps-it is really good beer, unless of course you are a fan of Bud, for shame...(even if you are, some of their stuff in-house is really light, or opt for the darks, nice variety)
I was here only once, and it was a number of years ago, but I'd go back in a heartbeat. First of all, as other reviewers have pointed out, the food is noticeably better than what usually passes for brewpub food. I'm not even sure what I ordered -- I think that it was a rack of babyback ribs -- but I do remember that it was excellent. Second, the taproom was pouring all of the seasonal Sierra Nevada brews that are sold only for a limited numbers of weeks each year outside the brewery. There I was, late in the spring, with the possibility of drinking beautifully fresh samples of Bigfoot Ale, Celebration Ale, and about 6 or 8 other beers! I started with a sampler rack but made sure that a pitcher of Celebration got ordered by my table as well. (I came with a group of Chico residents, who drove me back to my hotel.) Even though I had extremely high expectations, I was in no way disappointed by my visit to the taproom. If you like beer and good food, be sure to keep Chico in mind as you travel.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
My wife and I took a last minute road trip up north last weekend and spent our first night in Chico. We found out from our innkeepers that Chico happens to be the home of the Sierra Nevada brewery and that they have a well-recommended restaurant. We came here for dinner and I basically came away with two impressions: 1) they serve very good food, and 2) I still HATE Sierra Nevada beer (although I kinda already knew that - it's too sour and hoppy for my taste and it gives me a headache). I'll try to keep my opinion of their beer out of this review because I know that a lot of people actually like their beer and this review is I guess supposed to be about the restaurant. Anyway, like I said they have very good food, and they have a rather interesting menu that spans from pub grub to steak & seafood to "pan-asian cuisine" (man I hate using that term). Also available, although I couldn't actually find it on the menu, is their beer sampler. For around ten bucks they will bring you 16 2-oz glasses each with a different variety of their terrible beer. The restaurant interior is very nicely designed and offers you a view of the brew kettles inside the brewery portion of the building. It can get a bit noisy and crowded, but I didn't think it was too bad. You might be waiting a while for your table, and they don't take reservations, but they do have a nice sized bar where you can drink your time away and they have every type of Sierra Nevada Beer made available on tap (too bad it all tastes like sh*t - oops, sorry, back to the restaurant review). They offer live music sometimes on weekends, but oddly enough they close at 10pm. Given that this seems to be "the" restaurant for the masses in Chico, you'll find yourself surrounded by everybody from families to stupid college kids (don't get mad, I was a stupid college kid too once), so if that kind of thing gets on your nerves, you might want to come during a weekday night. My opinion of their terrible beer aside, this is a really nice place, and if you happen to like Sierra Nevada Beer, you'll probably think that you've died and gone to heaven.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
great beer, horrible food. all that you need here is a sampler and maybe some appetizers. serious maybe on the appetizers. come here to drink samplers, period. take the tour though cause it is really fun. the gift shop has great gear too that is reasonably priced.
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
Food in Chico
While it's not abundant, Chico has some of the… -
Top Restaurants
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the… -
Hungover hungover send…
You know you always end up eating out a lot when… -
Thirsty Thursday
When that weekend anticipation rolls around like… -
CA Spotlights
These were my fav yelped places I've visit or… -
Beyond the Fringe -…
We have family strewn all across the state, and…
Hot and New
- Brooklyn Bridge Bagel Works
2 reviews
Chico, CA
- Tres Hombres Long Bar & Grill
13 reviews
Chico, CA
- Hotel Diamond
5 reviews
Chico, CA
- Rawbar
17 reviews
Chico, CA
- Spice Creek Cafe
4 reviews
Chico, CA