Good News Brewing Defiance — Restaurant in Defiance

After having such a lovely experience at their O'Fallon location years ago (posted a glowing review here 5yrs ago & went a back a few more times before Covid + kiddo), we had been wanting to visit this location, as we have long loved coming to Defiance anyway.

Finally made it on Saturday, 2024/06/29 (writing this 7/18. Still upset). We arrived at 3pm. There was a couple who just arrived and about 5 other tables seated. The couple were placing their order at the bar on the covered patio area. A server at the other end of the bar said if we knew what we wanted to order, she could take our order. We each got a flight (4 - 4oz pours) of beer and we got 2 pizzas, as we were all quite hungry (and we're never certain if our kiddo with actually eat with us while we're out!) We got the meat pizza & the vampire death wish "with chicken" (paid for, but not on pizza, unless it was only on my child's 1 slice).

Now, let me say, I have had wood fired pizza many times (see another 1 of my glowing reviews for a great 1 in Chesterfield with way bigger serving sizes & nicer staff!). I have even had this company's pizza before. What I have never experienced is such tiny pizzas at such inflated prices with so much charred blackness on them. Were our pizzas forgotten in the oven for extra time?? It was definitely sub-par.

Back to the ordering phase: I hand over my card to pay (1 of the standard big 3, nothing odd AND I had just used it to buy gas 20 minutes prior), and it's declined. Okay, she runs it thru again. It doesn't go. Hmmm. Okay, she runs it again. Now, I get to the sign here screen. I sign AND my phone buzzes that the card has been charged. She tells me it didn't go through. I'm weirded out, but she says, don't worry. That's just a hold on your card, only the real charge will go through. That happens all the time with this machine. Then she takes me to the other end of the bar, runs my card through AGAIN & has me sign. That time it took. But, in the meantime, with tip, this was an $80 bill, and it showed for several days as x3 on my card. I had to stress out over it for 5 days before I could confirm that 1 charge went through and only 1! IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A POINT OF SALE MACHINE THAT REGULARLY ERRORS OUT, WHY IS IT STILL IN USE?! Why would you put so much undue stress on your customers?

She wasn't at all apologetic. Totally blasé about the whole thing. There was 1 nice man working there that helped counterbalance my experience a bit (I didn't see anyone's names, and I did try, in case I needed to call them to fight extra charges) who said he had retired from a previous career and then began working there. We both also enjoyed our beers. We have different tastes, but each liked our own.

Lastly, 1 smaller note, compared to the above, my kiddo had to use the restroom & although the women's bathroom seemed clean, it was in an unoccupied indoor bar area with a kitchen-style order-up window (again unoccupied area) that smelled more like a port-a-potty than a bar area, even an unused 1, should.

This experience was so unpleasant on so many levels that it completely soured my feelings on the all of these Good News Brews spots. I certainly won't spend our money and time visiting...

This place has potential. Nice looking establishment. Had live music. No service, except a line at the bar, then disappointed to hear the wait for food was 1-hour! To the owner, hire someone to properly manage your food business or all the brewing equipment you invested in is destined to being a failed attempt. Good luck in your future.

Response- Hey owner, sounds like a nerve was struck here. Customers waiting because of poorly planned restaurant operations isn't a sign of success, but it is a sign of lost customers. Being aware of what customers want and delivering that is called hospitality. Delivering only what you believe customers want and defending your actions is a recipe for failure. If people have food they stay and drink more beer and revenue increases, ask iTap. Taking a brewing hobby and building it into a business is an admirable adventure. Having the humility to recognize lost potential as the business grows is what differentiates long term successful restaurants versus the typical closures.

And here is what I expected from my experience, coming off the trail, nice looking place, live music all starting out well. Then a lady posting last call signs around for a private party....starting to feel less welcome. Walk in, everyone entering is unsure where to go, is there food? No table service but a bus boy? Wait in line at the bar to find out that very limited food would take 1 hour and 15 minutes. The restaurant wasn't half full. Ordered beverages and the bartender asked the tip amount! All I saw was lots and lots of lost revenue. A person welcoming customers, a few table servers and a menu understanding that families (with children go figure) come off of the trail and the revenue would easily quadruple. This is truly genuine advice, not baseless criticism. Again, good luck with...

Let me preface this by saying: this place was not in the plans.

We were supposed to be 30 min away in St Peters, but when we arrived to our RV campgrounds, we were greeted by a road closure sign and flooding. In a scurry, we found the next place with vacancy, in the middle of what felt like the mouth of he'll opening up and swallowing us in a flood.

The campground with vacancy is in Definace,MO (Beyond the Trail RV Park), a breath away from an incredible ride on the Katy Trail, and at the mouth of the entrance? THIS AMAZING BREWERY.

So just picture this: we are flooded at campground #1, desperate in a torrential downpour, Beyond The Trail RV park accepts us, and after 4 hours of driving and some unexpected twists, you arrive at the best kept secret in the area. Ambiance: spot on. Allows and welcomes pups: check! Amazing IPAs, but also CIDER: DOUBLE CHECK! Annnnnnd FOOD! Pizza made from a super nifty guy in the back, tossing mini pizza dough like a pro,and adding toppings you request. Also? An adorable cheese, fruit, veggie tray with peanut butter, hummus, and chocolate raisens. I mean, what?! And how do you level ALL THAT up? You name the brewery "GOOD NEWS"!

So when we landed in the flood plain, and we were wondering whether evacuations would have relocating again, there was at least some Good News to be had ❤️ And luckily, we had it.

Absolutely pin to your maps and enjoy some Good...