JT Schmid's Restaurant & Brewery

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +16.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

This place sat in the shadow of the Honda Center, which was right across the street. Our server, Diana Z., told us that she did $10 K in sales one night while working on the patio and for that reason, she recommended that people NOT visit after a Ducks game. The place gets jammed to the gills, the servers become frazzled, and it just is not pleasant.

It was pleasant at opening on a Saturday morning just after opening when my brother and I stopped by on our Orange County excursion. The parking lot fronted a large archway followed by a sweeping path up to the front door and beyond that, a patio area. Entering, the m.d.s. with its glass case for logo items sat at a left-oblique with the oddly angular mica and dark marble-topped bar beyond and on a right-oblique to the doorway. Against the back wall, behind glass, was a bank of six (6) FVs, followed by the brewhouse off to the right. The right wall was dominated by the kitchen, which was also behind glass. The Barley Room, a banquet facility, was in the far left rear corner and the Reagan Room, a semi-private meeting room, was directly to the left of the m.d.s.

Beers: Extra Stout (6.7); Emil's Amber Ale (5.2); Hefeweizen (5.2); JT Light (4.8); IPA (6.9); and Honey Ale (5.8). Both my brother and I stuck to the very hoppy IPA. Note: No growler sales due to their proximity to the local sports venues.

Mom: On a slow day like when we visited, sure! On a game night, even I might be headed elsewhere.

08-20-2008 17:46:38 | More by woodychandler

DoubleJ

California

3.43/5  rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$$

Although this establishment has been around for ten years, I never stepped inside the place until yesterday. It was my first day of school and the weather was hot, so why not try out the place for a beer?

The inside is extrememly plush and looks like it was opened ten days ago instead of ten years ago. The bar sits in the middle of the restaurant with televisions dominating one side of a wall. It was very quiet inside, not surprising given it was 3pm on a Monday, with blues playing from the ceiling and contributing to the atmosphere. I stepped to the bar and peaked at their drafts. Five beers were printned on the menu (blonde ale, IPA, hefeweizen, amber, and extra stout). My got my hefeweizen and was refreshed.

But I was heartbroken over a few issues. First, I was dissapointed to learn there was NO HAPPY HOUR. Most brewpubs I've been to have a happy hour, but this was did not. Another issue I had was the price of drafts. Pints went for $5.50 while most other brewpubs take out a dollar or more. Going with the surroundings, it's going to take a little more from your wallet should you decide to come here, for both food and beer. Speaking of food, I didn't try any, but there were a few at the bar who had were eating some tasty-looking entrees.

JT's is a fresh, modern looking restaurant. The brewpub part seems to be a sideshow where steaks and wood-fired pizzas take the spotlight. Give it a try if you happen to be in the area, but it's not the end of the world if you don't.

08-21-2007 22:15:22 | More by DoubleJ

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4

Managed to check this place out while visiting Anaheim and it is not a bad brewpub. We went during lunch so there were not too many people there. Same goes for parking.

Inside it is very open with a lot of wood and a nice view of the brew works. There is a lot of seating and the bar area is in the center of it all.

They offer a sampler of all the beers available for $8.00. Their beers are above average but nothing really stood out as spectacular. The Stout was pretty good, as was the IPA.

The service was good (again it was not busy) and the server was somewhat knowledgeable about the beers.

I would recommend this brewpub if you are in the Convention Center/Disney hotels area as it is a cheap cab ride. The food was pretty decent too.

01-10-2003 15:16:11 | More by Dogbrick

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.59/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5

A fairly cavernous interior is hidden from the street. Lots of wood is used to give a warmer sense to the glass and metal superstructure, along with some really great looking leaded crystal glass in use in some of the doors. Limited off-street paking and some unappealing outdoor seating. This is in the epicenter of the Anaheim experience.

The servers here seemed much more interested in the big screen football display than they were in the patrons. Nonetheless I didn't really wait long for anything. Short selection of beer with average to above average quality. Food looked appealing but I wasn't ready to try it.

11-02-2003 16:02:15 | More by AtLagerHeads

Redrover

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5

I was in Anaheim for work and managed to drag about 8 co-workers out for dinner here.

It is a very large brew pub but it was fairly empty the Monday evening we were there. It has a nice bar area and a couple of levels of dining areas. The brewing equipment is prominently displayed behind glass walls. Lots of televisions for sports watching. I bet this place rocks pre and post games. The evening was a bit cool, so their nice looking patio was not in use.

The service was friendly if a bit slow, but once they got started, they kept the refills coming. The food received mixed reviews. While they had a nice take on Ahi tuna appetizers & good burgers and salads, the steaks and ribs did not seem to fare as well.

I thought their beer was good, but not very adventuress. They had 7 or 8 beers on tap, so I would say the selection is adequate. I liked their Honey Ale, but I thought their IPA was a bit lacking (to be honest, I was hoping for a west coast hop monster).

I thought this place was well worth a stop and I would have no problem going back.

04-06-2005 18:06:52 | More by Redrover

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$$

*** Stop in if you are going to an Angels or Ducks game across the street. Otherwise, don't bother ***
Life is full of ironies, eh? I woke up to read an article about improving the area around the baseball stadium and one mention of JT's Brewery was in the article so I considerd checking it out. Later that day I get a free ticket to the Angels game and lo and behold we hit JT Schmid's. It's a modern clean wood and metal interior restaurant first and a brewpub second. Swag and merch is hocked the minute you walk in. Go capitalists! We passed on the food and went right for the homerun flavor: IPA.

The IPA rocked! Killer IPA. We even went back for another after the game.

Selection is average. A stout, lager, IPA, red and another yawn inducer. No artisianal beers but oh, that IPA!

Staff was running ragged swinging suds for the crowd that no doubt is a result of the game. Kinda tunafied when I paid that tab so I forget exactly how much but it was pricey. They DON'T FILL GROWLERS.

Could you bring your Mother here? Yes. Mom could cop a squat with ease.

Last call: The bathrooms look like your high school principal's office. Only had the IPA 'cos the selection bah-lows! Go IPA suckah! Now growler it, bitches!

08-21-2006 05:20:52 | More by blitheringidiot

rowew

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +11%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5

Located right across the street from the Pond in Anaheim. We were there when nothing was going on, so parking was plentiful. Very nice patio outside with fire rings. Nice large bar inside, with the brewing equipment behind glass. Beer was all good - above average compared to many brewpubs. Tried a sampler and an order of wings. The wings were decent. The rest of the menu looked tasty, but somewhat pricey. All in all a nice place to grab a drink if you're in the area for a game or concert. Cigar friendly on the patio, so that might get me back again.

01-29-2005 07:23:33 | More by rowew

t0rin0

California

2.26/5  rDev -36.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2 | service: 2 | selection: 2.5 | $$

Visited in 2009 to tick their beers and again in 2010 to try the Roggenbier. Both times I stopped in were during the day.

The place is pretty and clean. Really nice counter tops, and tables. Parking is a bitch. There are all of about 3 parking spots out front and everyone else gets to park in the dirt parking lot out back.

Servers are sparse and they dont know much about the beer, which isn't all that bad so long as the info is on the menu. But even when the servers do talk they dont say much, just "what can I get you?" and "that'll be $6."

Haven't tried the food yet, maybe some day I will. I'm imagine that this place fills up on game days as it's across from the Pond and down the street from the Angel's stadium.

Reviewed on: 01-30-2011 06:53:33

01-30-2011 06:54:58 | More by t0rin0

charlzm

California

3.55/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

Visited on a Friday afternoon just before 1:00pm. Note that JT Schmid's is literally across the street from Honda Stadium (aka Pond of Anaheim). Plan accordingly: avoid the area if there's a game or concert.

Parking was a moderate hassle; all paved spots were taken in the smallish strip mall, so we parked in a dirt lot around the corner.

We were seated on the breezy, shaded outdoor patio with its own bar (closed during our visit). There were a couple of other parties on the patio: one large, one small. The interior decor was the boringly familiar dark room decorated in brass and dark wood with the requisite flat screens beaming sports at everyone's eyeballs. It was, however, a good sized room that was almost full for Friday lunch.

The beers were a notch above average, as was the food. We ordered the nachos. Even though it's on the appetizer menu, there was enough on this one plate to feed two hungry men. They did get a little soggy by the end, but they were very tasty and sported what seemed like site-made chips.

Worth a visit if in the area, but not really a destination.

03-13-2008 03:13:01 | More by charlzm

Rumrunner

California

3.83/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$$

A group of us stopped in here for drinks and food before seeing the Jimmy Buffett concert this past weekend. Excellent show!!

JT Schmid's is located across the street from the Anaheim Pond. This is where the Mighty Ducks hockey team plays and they have plenty of concerts and other shows throughout the year. If you do not mind paying extra for parking you can leave your car there and walk to the pond. This was convienent for us after the show as we were able to turn on to the street away from the mess of traffic and find an alternate route to the freeway. JT Schmid's is also close to Edison field where the Angel's play.

A very large open main room flanked by two other dining rooms. The main room has a large bar in the middle. Booths and tables surround the bar. Plenty of tv's as this place has a very sporty bar atmosphere to it. The brewery equipment is behind large glass windows in the back of the main room. Nothing overly special or interesting about the decor. Very clean and well attended. The outdoor patio area is very nice and decent size. It has a fire pit and heat lamps for chilly nights. A great place for a pint when the weather is warm.

Our server was very attentive. She did her rounds in a timely fashion and was prompt with the drink orders. A cheery lass which always makes a visit more enjoyable.

The food was very good. The menu is a good mix of pub grub and American cuisine. Prices range from cheap to fair. Nothing too expensive. Everyone in the group liked their food. There is a full bar for the non beer drinker.

The beers. Hmmm... Where to start? The IPA is serviceable. It is good but nothing too creative comes to mind. I wish they would give it a push. My girlfriend thought the Honey Ale was too metallic and not a very good beer at all. The amber was pretty good. None of the beers we had were spectacular. They were all in all 'okay.' Macros were in bottles.

Overall a good place to have a couple of drinks before a game or a show. I would not make a special trip out here just for the beers.

01-29-2004 06:45:23 | More by Rumrunner