Brownings location for Anoosh???what do you think

Anoosh asked me to ask the people that eat-- what do you really think of the browings location? what type of food would you like to see there?? Pros & cons-- thanks in advance

[Robin Garr]

Anoosh asked me to ask the people that eat-- what do you really think of the browings location? what type of food would you like to see there?? Pros & cons-- thanks in advance

Are you talking about Browning's specifically, Paula, WITHOUT Park Place?

I think that space is meant to be a pub of some sort, and preferably a brewpub. Keep the brewing equipment. Keep excellent beer. But then maybe turn it into something like a brasserie, with simple fare but better than you would expect.

For me, the problem with the location, is that I just never thought about it. Guests will ask where can we eat downtown and I can rattle off a long list, but I never,ever thought to include Brownings. And I'd eaten there and enjoyed it, but it was just never top of mind. Don't know what the problem was.

I don't know if it would be best to play up a baseball theme sort of thing or try to stay away from such a thing. If I associated the restaurant with baseball, I probably would only think of it during baseball season. On the other had, if it had a "hook" of some sort, I'd remember it all the time.

Well, that wasn't very helpful.

Yeah, I think Robin's got it. A premier Brewpub that is a destination unto itself. Like how I will drive allllllll the way across the bridge to Rich O's. ::insert happy face here::

WHY DON'T THE SMILIES WORK????

Leah, every thought is helpful! Robin, it would not include Park Place. That area would be catering/private parties.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated. We understand that parking is an issue there-- what is your opinion on parking?

[Robin Garr]

WHY DON'T THE SMILIES WORK????

Mary and some other people are working on a site remake for the forum and the LouisvilleHotBytes reviews, and the auto-smileys were a temporary casualty. They'll be back, but frankly, it's not a priority, and please do not complain in capital letters unless you are willing to volunteer to help fix it.

You can always make smileys typographically in the meanwhile.

Colon : plus right paren ) =

Colon : plus left paren ( =

semicolon ; plus right paren ) =

Colon : plus Capital D =

and so it goes ...

I never thought of it either when considering eating downtown. I think some of the problem is that is seems to be hard to park around there. That may not be true but it just seems hard to access the restaurant.

I have a hard time reconciling Annosh's style with a pub environment. Just as to location - hate it. I just forget that there is real food available at a ballpark. But that's my issue to overcome!

I think most people think "it's a ballpark restaurant with ballpark food". It's connected in their minds. It will need some marketing dollars to explain the concept to the general public.

New arena coming will help.

Parking on game days?

Paula

Just saw a copy of the press release from mayor's office about your loan approval. Congrats!

Simply put, I think its a bad location for year round dining. I think a better location would be on fourth street between the Galt House and Fourth Street Live. I think a new restaurant row could develop there, and you get substantially more pedestrian traffic and conventioners there. Also, you would still be close to the baseball park and even closer to the basketball arena. I just see central downtown as a better area right now (theres actually more residential in central downtown with all the apartment highrises) and the fringes of downtown like east downtown may take another 5-7 years to settle down as some of the local condo units like Fleur de Lis fill up and provide the Browning's location with some business on those cold nights in January, when both Browning's and Park Place were essentially empty.

Strictly from my point of view, I would definitely visit it if they retained the Brownings line-up of beers and turned the dining area into a sort of brew pub. That would make it the closest brewpub to where I like (since BBC downtown can't serve food.)

Good bison (burgers, if not other things) is also a plus when I'm looking for a brewpub, especially since we have such a wonderful preponderance of bison in Kentucky. Regardless, if Browning's beers remain the same you can bet that I'll visit.

Also the occasional beer dinner, with a prix fixe menu paried with selected beers, would bring in my business. I still recall fondly the last Browning's Winter Beer Dinner and the venison sausage they served.

Does location influence prices? Although reasonable in nature compared to all other restaurants, I always found Brownings slightly more pricey than other local Brewpubs. While some people would say the location is extra nice - downtown baseball stadium - other brewpubs, such as Cumberland and BBC on Fourth, are also nice venues.

Now, people might say, "Well, Brownings has better food." That might be the case. I do remember going there a few times and finding nothing that really jumped off the menu. Point being - I'd be more likely to frequent it if the prices were slightly more in-line with other brewpubs.

Note - my memory could be failing me. Please tell me if my price analysis is off base.

Anoosh asked me to ask the people that eat-- what do you really think of the browings location? what type of food would you like to see there?? Pros & cons-- thanks in advance

The location must suck...because you don't hear many people talking the place up.

If I were going to start a brew pub I can't think of a better blueprint than the Big River Grille in Chattanooga. The place has it all...great location, great craft beer (without a lot of that fruity foo-foo swill) and a menu that is creative, regional and a full two notches above standard "bar fare". The downtown location has LOTS of personality...without that forced ambiance common in this type of establishment. It has been going gangbusters for...I dunno...10 or 12 years, maybe more. A year or two ago they opened up a new pub near Hamilton Place (think "Mall") and managed to do so without -totally- ruining the concept.

http://www.bigrivergrille.com/index.php ... tion_id=21

From a very selfish perspective (and assuming an open mind) I'd like to see something more out toward I-71 and the Watterson. I would promise you at least 52 visits in the next year <insert BIG smiley face>.

Paula,
My suggestion is bar food, but kick it up a notch. Anoosh will know what I am talking about. I would focus on being different, not me too. Heavy on craft beer lighter on domestic. The thing on the food, keep it unique and affordable.