The Blind Pig

I was in need of a late dinner and surprisingly could not find many decent options in the Southside. I always thought they were known for their late-night options, but that might just be on the weekends and when school is in session. Plus, I didn't want "drunk food"; it just happened to be very late but I still wanted a decent meal.

I had the Turkey Ranch Sandwich with a side of fries at the Blind Pig. While this was definitely not healthy, it was delicious and it did the job. The fries were a thicker cut and not overly salted, and the bread on the sandwich tasted like it had been baked that same day. All in all, the place is a dive but I was quite happy with the food and will be back next time I'm in need of a late dinner.

I stopped by the Blind Pig one Thursday night after having dinner on the southside. From the reviews, I thought this place was going to be great. I was a little disappointed. Although we already had dnner, we did ordered a few appetizers to munch on- a cheese pizza and the BBQ pork nachos. The pizza was very plain. Even a little garlic powder and oregano would have made this bland pizza shine a little more. The nachos were a little disappointing as the BBQ sauce was not actually on the pork. It looked like they squirted BBQ sauce from a bottle on top of the nachos. I've had better bar food in many places. On the other hand, I felt that the drinks were good and reasonably priced. They had festivus beer on tap. I'm not sure which I love more, the beer or the holiday. When we first arrived, the bar was very quiet with only a few other people. However, it did start to fill up as the night went on when, which I'm guessing was due to "Yinz call it." All in all, not a bad place to stop on the southside for casual drinks but, I wouldn't suggest the food.

I was recently honored by the bar manager with the much sought after status of 'regular' - I won't put his name here in case he's not cool with that. At The Blind Pig they do this in an official way; you get a bar napkin with your name printed on it in a Sharpie and they store it in an accordion folder behind the bar. It seems silly but when you get one you feel like celebrating. Took me about 3 months to earn mine, and I am told that is a new record. Maybe I should be frightened instead of honored, but oh well.

Since 'the Pig has done me an honor this weekend, I thought I'd return the favor with a review.

Well as you have read in other posts, its a great bar with awesome bar food - almost everyone I have introduced to the place loves the pizzas - and the bartenders are incredibly friendly nice folks. Not only the bartenders, of which there are really only two, but the cooks in the kitchen and the weekend door guy, at one point or another I've chatted with all of them - which is not something that happens everywhere you go, and what keeps me coming back as I feel like these folks aren't just people who work at a bar, but new friends.

It's the crew of 'the Pig that earns the place 5 stars, the bar space itself is actually nothing special - no gimmicks, just a bar ... but with a really cool paint scheme on the walls using the text from the 18th Amendment to the Constitution - the prohibition one. (Please correct me if I've got the amendment # wrong)

You may read in other posts about it being too loud, or food taking some time to come out. My only guess is that these reviewers came on a night where 'the Pig had a rush - there is just one guy in the kitchens, so give him a break eh? :-)  

And that is how it is there - boom or bust - as far as the size and noise level of the crowd. I've been there on a Saturday night where it is me, the bartender and one other guy chatting about football or something - you know, kind of dead but not completely boring - then the next Saturday for no apparent reason, you can barely get through the door ... slammed with a crowd of college aged drinkers who come in for the cheap beer specials or $3 bombs from 10  to midnight on the weekend. (at the time of this writing anyway)

Anyway folks, check it our next time your doing a little bar stumble down Carson, and tell em Don sent ya ;-) Bet they offer you some kind of special just for saying that hehe

Good luck!!