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Congregation Ale House
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Gastropubs Pubs, Gastropubs [Edit]
201 E Broadway AveLong Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-2337
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 1 am
Fri 11:30 am - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
493 reviews for Congregation Ale House
Review Highlights
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"The Duck Bacon sausage sandwhich was amazing." In 20 reviews -
"Their beer selection alone is unmatched anywhere." In 89 reviews -
"well others, but curry ketchup is all you need to know." In 44 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
493 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan S.
Long Beach, CA
5/5/2012
It's places like this that make me want to cheat on my diet! Luckily they offer some killer cider in addition to the plethora of unique beer, and I am satisfied with the twelve different dipping sauces and belgian fries. If you do eat wheat, I highly recommend the Monk beer with the Apple-Sage sausage. And please, please, bring your conservative family members so they can be offended by drinking "holy water" at "mass".
I also recommend going when it isn't packed. The experience is somewhat better when it is more mellow or just starting to build. -
Review from Lexy D.
Long Beach, CA
5/16/2012
So I think it's about time I write a review for this place. This is for the Long Beach chapter (which I've been going to since the second week), and I'll save the Azusa review for another time.
My buddy and I usually drop in about once a week to check out the beer and weekly cocktail specials. We like to sit at the bar (with the awesome chill disks) and kickback with the bartenders. Speaking of, with the in and out rotations of aficionados behind the bar, we've managed to hold on to a few originals and gain new favorites. The beer listings themselves change so often I always feel like I'm going to miss something. But I gained so much knowledge and tasted so many amazing beers, I can't be upset. A killer martini spot too if the right person makes mine.
And I'd be remiss to forget about the food. It's definitely not your average bar food, in the best way. Sausages, burgers, chips, all legit. I've tried most of the menu at this point and my pick is the pork and goat cheese sausage or the portobello flatbread, hands down.
I'll probably be by tomorrow for my weekly trip. -
Review from J. G.
Norwalk, CA
4/30/2012
TRY A FEW
This place has a good atmoshpere and a great selecttion to try more traditional microbrews in a local setting.
the food:
Great choice of beer food with unique dipping sauces makes it ideal for not having to leave too drunk.
the beer:
great variety from sour ales to dark hefs
Price:
a little pricy to be a regular place
overall i'd say that i wouldn't come here evey day, but would be valuable when looking for a place to go -
Review from Marc E.
Los Angeles, CA
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Its OK. They have excellent beer here. The vibe seems a bit pretentious when you visit. Overall its good place to have a beer and an appetizer but its not going to change your life.
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Review from Valerie D.
Manhattan Beach, CA
4/26/2012
I'm not exactly sure if I was to give this place five stars or Boston who recommended this place ... Perhaps both!
Had their rib eye burger and a glass of Riesling ... Wow! I might have died somewhere in between my drive here from home because I felt like I was in heaven ...
Burger heaven ...
This is the only other joint that might actually measure up against Umami burger ... Wow! I'm at loss for words ... This is news to me! I'm usually the blahblahblah when it comes to grub but right now I am at a STFU mode ... Well I'll be darned! -
Review from Nat S.
Long Beach, CA
5/18/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Can't get enough of the rib eye burger! I keep wanting to try something new but can't pry myself away from the burger. The pretzel is amazing too!
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Review from Felicia L.
Long Beach, CA
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Happy hour! I went here with co-workers for happy hour (M-F from 3pm-7pm)! They have a good menu for it.... $6 burgers and sausages, appetizers that range from $2-$5 (fries, pretzels, etc.), $3 well drinks, $1 OFF drafts, and $3 beer special (looks like they choose the beer of the day for that special).
The location of Congregation Ale House is in the hustle and bustle of Downtown Long Beach and 2 blocks from the beach/port. The overall atmosphere and vibe can be described as religious hipster, lol. They have the feel of a cool gastropub, with decorations based on gothic religion ish. Cool and unique concept to me.
I got the Hot Atomic sausage which was served on flatbread with grilled green peppers, grilled onions, and chipotle mayo. A little small... but it was very very good. The flatbread was warm and fulffy, the green pepper and onions were grilled very nicely, and the combo of the sausage and chipotle mayo was very good together. In addition, I sampled the sweet potato fries with 4 dipping sauces: curry ketchup, chipotle mayo, sriacha mayo, and some sweet and sour sauce with ranch (?). Pretty true to their names, all sauces were very good with the fries.
As for drinks, I just got a iced tea since I was driving, lol.
But the drink menu is very extensive... a little expensive, actually the entire menu is wth a high moderate pricing... somewhat borderline expensive. I guess happy hour is really the best time to go.
Parking is omg.... I was a noob and got parking at a nearby lot for a flat rate of $5. I am still new to LB, so I'm gonna have to find better parking elsewhere... any suggestions? Would be much appreciated.
Overall, it is a cool and unique place for a bar with good food in DTLB. -
Review from Sarah S.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
5/23/2012
This place wasn't even a part of our plan for the evening, but we were early for dinner reservations and stopped here to grab a drink beforehand. I was impressed. There was a decent crown on Friday evening and it was growing pretty rapidly in the short time we were there. Definitely a great place to grab a drink after work, and maybe stay a few hours. They have a lot of interesting brews and we'll definitely be going back soon.
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Review from Nicole Y.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
OHM NOM NOM!
One of my favorite gastropubs in LA...it's just too bad it lives all the way down in Long Beach. I could probably just go here and eat a stack of soft pretzels and sample every single dipping sauce they offer until I reach a mind-altering state of fullness and slip into a carb-induced coma. Sounds awesome, right?! (it would be, trust me)
Anywaaayy, this place is fabulous. It's a fun environment and is almost always packed. Typically you go up to the register and order your food/beer and get a number to take back to your table. Community-style seating. There are servers wandering around but that doesn't really guarantee placing your order from the table. I think they are there mostly to cater to people needing a beer refill.
Their sausages are extremely tasty and I always order the artichoke appetizer. I don't know many places that offer artichokes, but they should. And they should model it after this place. The flatbreads are also exceptional. Honestly? Now that I'm writing this, I realize that I have yet to be disappointed by anything they offer. EAT ALL THE FOODZ!
Also the people working here all seem very knowledgeable of the beer menu and will make selections if you want. I'm a dark beer girl myself, but opted to venture into lighter ale world this past weekend and the girl working at the cash register was helpful in choosing a nice Belgian ale that would compliment my meal. -
Review from Chelsea L.
Crystal Lake, IL
4/10/2012
Fantastic food!!! The sausages are so good, you'll want several. Also, they have a FANTASTIC selection of dipping sauces.
The table service was a little spotty, but it was just a couple guys covering the whole joint, and it was busy. The staff obviously knew A LOT about the beer and there's great variety on the menu. -
Review from Esther J.
Long Beach, CA
4/19/2012
One of the first craft beer bars in Long Beach. Cool atmosphere and ambiance. Great beer selection- draft and bottle. The food is good for pub food. I love the grilled artichoke and pretzel. Monday all day mass (happy hour all day) is worth it! Their burgers are petite and just right.
Love it.
Bartenders are cool too! -
Review from D A P.
Long Beach, CA
4/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
So many great beers and micro beers to choose from here! And there are always new beers to try. Nice open space meant to look like a renovated church. There is also a small patio on the promenade.
Small menu of sausages and fries, but it works. There's even a very delicious veggie sausage. I think the food is slightly overpriced for sausages and fries. And that's why I'm only giving 4 stars.
Super packed and loud in the evenings, so I recommend riding your bike over in the afternoon. Plus it's all windows so it gets great afternoon light. There is a big bike rack right out front, but I think they need another one. It's always full of bikes! -
Review from kent c.
San Jose, CA
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stepping in Congregation Ale House, it just makes you wanna have a beer!!
Super chill place with good vibe. Good beers. Gourmet Sausages. And Sweet potato fries along with tasty dipping sauces.
They probably have 20-25 beers on tap ranging from IPA's, stouts, to foreign brews (Belgians). The Ale house is a cool place just to hang out and try new beers they have on tap.
There are a number of this franchise around So. Cal. Stumble in have a beer or two and stumble out with a buzz.. =) -
Review from Mukta M.
Long Beach, CA
4/13/2012
What a great happy hour!
The seating is hard to come by, so hover and grab a table as soon as one is vacated. The staff may come by to take your order, but it is much faster to go to the register to place your order.
The food was delicious. I had the chicken parmesan sausage and I am still dreaming about it. The mushroom pesto flatbread was also very tasty.
The sweet potato fries have many fun choices for their dipping sauces. I look forward to trying them all.
They have a ton of beers available and the prices for everything were very reasonable. Dinner for 2 people with 4 beers was $40. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Lakewood, CA
3/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I LOVE this place! Maybe because it has so many different beer selections written on their board, but it's a nice place to get together on a weeknight with a bunch of friends and just have a drink or two and eat massive amounts of fries with their kajillion delicious dipping sauces! (Sriracha ketchup and the garlic sauce is my fave.)
Ambience is nice, especially if you're sitting outside on the patio underneath the heat lamps. Can't go wrong with good food and good atmostphere =] -
Review from edith g.
Long Beach, CA
Updated - 5/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I'm sad. Last 2 times we went were disappointing. Still can't go wrong with happy hour prices, but the food was sorely lacking. Burger has gotten way smaller, and not as tasty. Flatbread was so crunchy, dry and burnt! I guess I will just stick to beer, fries and sauce.
Listed in: Happy Appies
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/3/2011
YAY! Happy hour in LB that goes til 7! Cheap food that is pretty delish. The burger is AMAZING!… Read more »
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Review from Steven C.
Long Beach, CA
3/13/2012
Let me start with, I LOVE Congregation! Its a great place for lunch and a beer, a fun weekend night bar, and a late night food spot.
They have a giant chalkboard wall that lists a ton of micro brews and imports that they carry. The list changes, but I am not sure how often. They serve sandwiches and a variety of fries and bar foods. But by far, my favorite thing is there sausage sandwiches. I love the duck and bacon sausage. For your fries they have something like 8-10 amazing dipping sauces. Try the sweet Thai chili and sour cream (this stuff will blow your mind).
Great place to get that last beer right before last call for the night, along with your munchy. I usually get the sweet potato fries for this occasion.
Cool vibe when inside this place. Very clean with some cool Euro theming. The staff are all dressed in outfits. Kinda like school uniforms, girls with plaid skirts and such. They have some flat screens too showing sports highlights mainly.
The place can get packed and can be a little cramped at times. But a very cool place! -
Review from Nicolestorm Q.
Long Beach, CA
5/6/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Never disappoints...
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Review from Trishia P.
Fairfield, CA
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cool little place in DTLB.
Unfortunately due to illness I was not able to partake in any alcohol here.
But my friends all seemed to enjoy their wine and beer here! I loved my tall soda, and the flatbread I was able to share with a friend. The crust wasn't too thick and it came with about 6 slices on a wooden plank.
Service was quick and plentiful. Super chill bar with indoor and outdoor seating...good thing there was heat lamps! -
Review from Vicky W.
Aptos, CA
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great brew pub. Walk up service. Amazing beers on the rotating taps. Pretty extensive bottle list. Nice staff. I say much better than The Yard House
Listed in: Beerfest, Places in LA LA Land
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Review from Sandy H.
Long Beach, CA
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here around 10 pm on a Saturday night & was worried it was going to be packed with no seats available but we were in luck! Nice, casual atmosphere with a lot of beers to select from. I ordered the apple cider, which was pretty good. I tried their fries with a couple sauces that were interesting, but good! Flatbread was also delish! There's a parking structure on 4th street (i think?) that has free parking for 2 hours with no validation needed. Would definitely come back again!
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Review from Ken K.
3/18/2012
My buddy had this place scoped out for a while, so a few of us hopped over on a Sunday night to check it out.
None of us had this joint pegged as a family-friendly environment, but there were multiple families with little children throughout the restaurant. I'm not saying this was a bad thing... it was just not what we expected. Moving along...
As soon as I saw the Grilled Rib Eye burger on the menu, I knew I had to have it. I ordered it medium-rare and with a side of Belgian fries. The fries come with your choice of two sides, so I opted for the Sweet Chili Sour Cream and the Rosemary Garlic Mayo.
The hardest part of the dining experience here is finding a table. You have to grab your own, and when the restaurant is full, you basically have to hover around parties who look like they're in the final phases of their meal.
Anyhow, the rib eye burger turned out to be quite a disappointment. I love burgers; I can seriously eat them multiple times a week. But this one had very minimal flavors and the meat was too dry (even though it was medium-rare). Rib eye is obviously an excellent cut of meat, but one of the reasons it's so great is because of the fat that comes with it; to my knowledge, this burger had none of that. Maybe if they incorporated more fat into the patty? None of the toppings made a difference in the overall flavor either. And to make matters worse, the burger itself was just tiny. This would definitely not make my top ten list for burgers.
I split the Duck and Bacon sausage with a friend, and we were pretty disappointed with that as well. Is it just me or do most of the items here lack flavor? The Belgian and Sweet potato fries were both good though. And the sauces were pretty great. But other than that, I think we were in and out of here within 20 minutes (minus the wait-for-a-table time).
BTW, I don't drink beer, but my friends were recommended one by a cashier and neither of them liked it at all. The friend who had wanted to try this place said he'd probably return to try other beers, but as for me... I have no desire to return. Sorry. -
Review from Nathan W.
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Any place that introduces me to The Black Racer is alright by me! Had a few tasty savory options from the food menu as well. Highly recommend the flatbreads, the sausage platter, the grilled artichoke was awesome!, and the pub pretzel. It came with a side of Chimay cheese dipping sauce. The cheese platter was alright but I would recommend saving room for another flatbread .
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Review from Jessica Y.
Glendale, CA
Let us pray
Beer at a congregation. If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Haha.... They have a solid selection of beers and if you have a hard time agreeing upon their suggestions, they come with samples and smiles.
$7 lunch specials - your pick of a burger+fries combo or a sausage (in between flatbread)+fries. Add a beer and you have a very filling combo for a little over $10.
And the food is juicy and flavorful.
I ordered the duck + bacon sausage. The sausage was juicy and hefty, folded in between flatbread and topped with caramelized onions. They have a couple sauces you can chose from, where I chose curry ketchup (standard-good).
I also tried the rib-eye burger with white cheddar - again, hefty and juicy, almost untamable.
If you like grilled artichoke, Congregation makes an amazing version. It's seasoned well, so sauce-dousing isn't completely necessary. Although, the chipotle mayo is delish.
Beers I had:
Alesmith Old Numbskull (amber dark ales, I like!)
Koko Brown Coconut ale - bartender dude suggested this because it had hints of coconut, yum
For those who reside in the LA area. They now have a location in Pasadena!
Amen?Listed in: Beer Me, The Winning Weiner
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Review from Logan M.
Long Beach, CA
3/21/2012
As the other reviews state, this place is truly awesome. Yes there is a ton of beer that you have never had before and will never have again due to the rotating selection. All beer is craft beer. The closest thing they have to a well drink is Guinness.
The reason I come here though is the burger. Just a truly phenomenal burger. The other food is meh so get yourself the burger. Don't wuss out and get the turkey burger, get the rib eye burger with white cheddar. It's amazing.
I strongly recommend going during happy hour as it can be pretty brutal on your wallet at other times. Though its more of a "This place is awesome! I wanna try something else!" brutal. The turn of the century church decor is awesome too. Would be 5 stars if the staff was dressed like priests and nuns. -
Review from Reesa T.
Long Beach, CA
3/18/2012
I don't want to say I go here regularly- I'm not a permanent fixture a al Norm/Cheers. I do religiously go here once a week though- without fail this is the watering hole of choice. Gotta attend services right.
So I really like Congregation- clearly. Their happy hour makes me happy- enough to when I am not going to tell you when it is so that I can still get a table. Their tap list is usually pretty fair. They get great beers from great breweries (local and worldwide). I would complain though that they're obsession with stouts and porters is a little much. They have the poking-fun at church theme and I have to love that. School-girls, happy hour is mass, stained glass... if they they place the greatest hits of some monks chanting it'd not be amiss. (They should.) Patio heaters are also a plus of course.
They get obnoxiously busy on weekends- friday/saturday nights I will not go here. Other evenings/nights I am all about it.
I don't generally eat here- but I can say their sweet potato fries are good stuff, the dipping sauces are all good and everyone else I have seen get food here seems to enjoy it.
Last note- you can smoke on the patio, something that may please or displease you so I figured I would note it. -
Review from Chrystal F.
Long Beach, CA
3/13/2012
My kinda mass comes with beer & a pretzel! This place is pretty good if you're looking for urban fun in the Long Beach area. They've got quite a few beers on tap, good burgers, and even a yummy pub pretzel! What sells me on this joint is the atmosphere. I love that German hofbrauhaus feel...you can sit @ the bar, in the back by yourself, on the outdoor patio, or join someone else's table for a more communal experience. I also like the tongue n' cheek references to all things Catholic - join them for "midnight mass" so to speak...it's my kind of religious experience ;-) So what keeps me from giving this place four or five stars? (1) having to wait in line to order my food & drink ...come to me I say! (2) Burger is not the best..good, but I gotta say that burger @ Tavern on 2 is better.
Special tip: Provide your email & get on the e-newsletter & you'll get $20 worth of fare for $12 during your birthday month. SUCH A STEAL! My friend and I split a burger, pretzel, sweet potato fries & ordered two beers...all for $12. Now that's awesome! -
Review from Christine T.
Encino, CA
3/1/2012
I'm a huge fan of Framboise and Congregation has it! I love the taste of raspberries so when it's mixed with beer I am an instant fan.
Last time here I ordered the sweet potato fries & Portebello Mushroom & peppers flatbread pizza. Both dishes were delicious!
Congregation gets really crowded during the night time but there are plenty of seats and an outdoor patio.
Service here is a bit difficult after you sit down since you order from the counter. The waitress sometimes takes forever to come around. -
Review from Allie M.
Long Beach, CA
5/4/2012
When I first moved to Long Beach I wanted to try all of the great restaurants near by, and Congregation has now become a staple. I went again last night for the 8th or 9th time in three months. First of all the decor is great, it is just like a Catholic Church, and yes it may offend some, but I think it is fun. Then there is the food, I have tried a few of the sausages, the burger and the sides and I have not been disappointed yet. The sweet potato fries are to die for, the roasted artichoke is amazing. And don't get me started on the burger, WOW! Also, great selection of beer and the staff is friendly and attentive. This is definitely one of my favorites!
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Review from Kayt C.
Lawndale, CA
2/11/2012 20 Check-ins Here
These are the complaints I've heard from my friends about Congregation:
"It's like Disneyland made a gastro-pub"
"It's too loud"
"It's too crowded"
"The waitresses wear stupid costumes"
"The food never changes"
Here are my responses:
1. I don't get that. It's planned and "designed" inside, but... so? I like the way it looks.
2. It was too loud when it first opened, but in the last year I haven't even noticed the jukebox being too loud.
3. Good! That means it's good!
4. It appears to be a choice - there are waitresses in all black.
5. Good! That means it's good! Also - not true. They have specials. Also, why come to a gastropub and expect a crazy menu?
So, the comment about it looking like a chain store - I've gotten it a lot and I sincerely don't care. If something is good, why not share? Who cares that they opened up two more after the LB one? No one says that about Father's Office, yet there are two of them. I guess it's the Catholic school girl weird thing with the waitress uniforms, but I ignore since the food is so tasty. I've always had great service, so who gives a fuck.
Food: The sausages are all delish, and if you want to go carb-free, just order it without the bun. Just as tasty! My veggie boyfriend orders the portbello burger and never complains.
The only reason it gets 4 and not 5 stars is a pret-ty annoying thing with the burgers. They always ask, "How would you like that cooked?" and it never seems to matter what I say. It comes whatever way they felt like cooking it, and it's really just a crap shoot. When I've gotten charred bricks of well-done gray meat, I send it back and get my tasty, bloody, medium-rare. I just wish I didn't have to waste dead animals to get what I want. -
Review from Perry H.
2/22/2012
I was in Long Beach and did a quick search for food and came up with this spot. I saw it was rated as one of the top 100 beer bars in America by Draft magazine and knew it was right up my ally. I arrived and was immediately thrown off by their ordering system. I think from the second I walked in I became ambivalent towards the entire experience. I was reading the beer wall, trying to make decision, but was being rushed to stay in line and order. Finally I just had to start letting people pass me. I'm at this place to have an amazing beer and I want to spend some time making a decision, looking at the options, etc. I felt so much pressure that the stress of ordering alone ruined the experience.
I finally made a decision and decided we couldn't wait any longer. My friend decided upon something and, of course, they were out of it. So now we're in the middle of our order and the beer it took us five minutes to decide on is out and we're on the clock. At that point he ended up ordering something recommended only to find out it was an $18 bottle. Just a poor set-up in my opinion. Maybe if I went there once a week it would be different but....I don't....and won't.
The food was good, we had the ribeye burger and fries. I like the selection of fry sauces and while the burger was good, I'd definitely sample something else if I returned. That said, a good deal at lunch to get a burger and fries (with one dipping sauce) for $7. -
Review from Pitie S.
Wilmington, CA
4/29/2012
Monday night 3 dollars rotating tap yum! The services was great no over crowding. Nice smoking area. Meet some nice people had some cheap delicious drinks.
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Review from Lynn N.
Santa Clara, CA
4/17/2012
Fiance wanted to visit this place after Grand Prix so we went, too bad we ate at Islands already because when we arrived we saw that they had sausages! My fave! oh well, girl at the counter was helpful but place was packed and there isn't much seating so we got our beers and stood in a corner. Cool place, would like to revisit some time when we go back and enjoy a meal and a beer.
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Review from Aaron F.
2/27/2012
A buddy of mine lives less than a few miles away from this place and we never get a chance to go here. Last week, that changed.
We went on a Wednesday night and parking around downtown long beach sucks. I ended up paying 5 bucks a to park in a lot a few blocks away.
Once we walked in we had to figure out a place to sit down. It was kind of crowded for 6pm but fortunately found a seat near the back. I didn't know this but apparently you are supposed to go to the counter to pay. However, they have cute looking women with some touch screen that will take your order.
I ordered a grilled rib eye and white cheddar burger along with a pub pretzel. My buddy just ordered a side of fries. My burger was quite delicious but a tad small for me. It was between a slider and typical size burger. The pub pretzel might have been my favorite part of my meal. It was salty goodness and came straight out of the oven.
In terms of beer, I had some coffee flavored beer. I can't remember the name but it was one of the better coffee type beer I have had. I am one of those suckers that likes drinks that have some added flavor like Pumpkin, chocolate, etc. Nevertheless, it was really good and strong flavored. I really can't wait to come back and try more of the dozens of beers they offer.
Service was friendly and the atmosphere is pretty laid back but it does get loud. -
Review from Heather T.
Long Beach, CA
Updated - 2/22/2012
After visiting Congregation several times, I've come to the conclusion that their ordering system isn't innovative or different or special. It's just annoying. It bugged me on my first visit, but over time, the annoyance of it has overshadowed anything I do like about the place.
Like the time my husband and I wanted to sit on the patio for lunch one day. It was chillier than usual and the patio was deserted, so I went inside to check that we could get served out there. "Is there service on the patio today?" I asked the cashier.
"Well, our system here is a little bit different..."
Yes, yes. Stop congratulating yourselves, Congregation. I'm well aware of your system. You tell me allllll about every time I visit. I mean, you're so eager to tell me about it that you tell me about it as though my question were about it and not about something else entirely unrelated (oh, and the patio was open that day).
I wouldn't be so bugged by Congregation's "system" if it weren't so annoying and inefficient. The time they spend explaining the system could be spent, I don't know, swinging by my table, taking my order and taking my card to start the tab.
The food is tasty. I like the sausages, especially. And gimme summa those sweet potato fries with curry ketchup. The beer selection is good, if overpriced. The patio is dog friendly. We can walk there.
But - apologies to Dan Savage - DTMFSA (dump that motherf***ing system already).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/15/2011
After weeks of riding by on our bikes and smelling the burgers at Congregation, my husband and I… Read more »
Comment from Travis E. of Congregation Ale House 2/23/2012
Hi Heather My name is tRav and I own Congregation Ale… More » -
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Review from J A.
Sunset Beach, CA
3/19/2012
If Chipotle and Starbucks had an alcoholic child, it would be called Congregation Ale House. It definitely feels more like a coffee shop than a bar, and everything is ordered at a cash register in the middle of the room.
That being said, I had their fish and chips with sweet potato fries and it was quite tasty. I didn't enjoy eating fried fish with my fingers though. I had to go wash my hands immediately following my meal. I tried some sorta craft beer that was suggested by the girl at the register. It was tasty as well. It goes down smooth but that strong beer can catch you by surprise.
I thought the place was alright. I have no real complaints, but I probably wouldn't return next time out in Long Beach just because of the cafe/cafeteria feel I got. -
Review from Angela Y.
1/30/2012
Liquor, beer, fries and religious pun intended? I'm in.
Pros: Location is key, if/when you finally get a server's attention the service is decent, the drinks are strong and the fries (more specifically the flavored ketchup [chipotle & curry]) are aaaaamazing!
Cons: Parking (like the rest of DTLB) is difficult and annoying, on most nights this place is packed with drunks and sloshes, outdoor gated patio (but goodluck trying to get a foot in there).
Overall: I've always enjoyed my nights here, always a good time but I suggest only going with a small group of friends. And seriously, get the fries here, the sauces are to die for. -
Review from Cathy N.
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm REALLY excited to come back to this place. After a couple years of driving by on Broadway (always gazing at the happy hour crowd), I finally decided to pay a visit.
WOOH! Their sausages with the flat bread are yuh-hum-mee. I love the sweet potato and regular fries, which come with different quirky dipping sauces that you can choose from (ex: siracha ketchup, rosemary mayo, garlic mayo, etc.). The bit of froo-froo foody in me craves that kinda stuff!
Their brew selection is quite broad, and prices are decent during their happy hour "mass".. hahha. Hilarious, btw.
Those of you who haven't been to church in a while - here's your chance to enjoy "mass" once again! -
Review from Morgan B.
Denver, CO
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
From the moment I walked into Congregation I was in love.
I love the dark church decor, I love the tables, I love the always changing board with the beer selection.
I could spend hours here just trying the beer selections. -
Review from Emmalyn M.
Long Beach, CA
3/1/2012
I came here last week, Thursday night, after my cousin's fashion show at Sevilla's! I was a bit hesitant to come because I'm not a big beer drinker but I'm sure glad that I did!!! They have an endless selection of beers. Name it, they have it. I was surprised that they had a chocolate beer...I'm definitely going to have to try that next time!
My hunny had the Grilled Rib Eye & Cheddar Burger, which he claims is the best burger he's ever had...they even cook it to your liking. My sister, her bf and I ordered their Grilled Chicken Breast sandwich which was BEYOND AMAZING!!! The chicken was so juicy and moist; veggies were fresh and not soggy and their buns were toasted to perfection! (This was at 1am too, I could only imagine how much more amazing my sandwich would have been during the day time!) Move over Chick-Fil-A, I have a new favorite chicken sandwich!!!
We also ordered their Belgian-Style fries and Sweet Potato fries! The sauces we had with the fries were the Sweet Chili Sour Cream, Sriracha Ketchup (simple, but one of my favorites), Rosemary Garlic Mayo (delicious, my favorite), & their Beer Mustard (Yuck, I'm not a fan! It tasted like nail polish).
I will definitely be returning some time soon! :)
