The Barking Pig

The Barking Pig has a really cool, slightly industrial atmosphere that works for plenty of age groups. I went on a cold night, so I have no comment on the patio. Although I can’t wait to check it out in warmer weather. We had plenty of friendly servers offering to take our order.
Since we were waiting for folks, we stood at the bar to peruse the menu. $ 7.00 for popcorn? Yes I paid it, and I will do it again. Truffle oil popcorn topped with fresh, shaved parmesan = ridiculously good. We also had a couple of their pizzas which everyone enjoyed. Their beer and drink selection appealed to everyone in my crowd.
Maybe I was lucky with the service, but I cannot wait to return, bring the dogs and sit on the patio.

What a great bar and service was great !!! Thomas was a great bartender. Had the Brussel sprouts which were great and then ordered a pizza that was so yummy. Great happy hour prices on wine. Love the outdoor area with lots of seating. Restrooms were clean. Too top it off one waitress gave us some warm chocolate cookies. Will be going back to try the burger and beer on Tuesdays and steak on Thursday.

I don’t even know where to begin…

Happy to have in the neighborhood but not a culinary nor bar superstar — good location and patio. Staff is hit or miss. The good is really good but the others are average/​below average. Food is marginal, at best, except for the Into the Forrest pizza which people seem to enjoy. The menu has recently changed and doesn’t seem to be an improvement.
Go to hang out in the neighborhood, meet friends, enjoy the outdoors, and sip on a beverage — but don’t go to enjoy a meal.

I came here for a late lunch on Saturday with one other girlfriend. It was such a beautiful day outside, so we sat on the patio which was very nice!
Our waitress was so sweet, but not very knowledgeable.
The menu had a good variety, but My friend can only eat gluten free, and nothing was marked on the menu so we decided to share the order of brussel sprouts and the spinach artichoke dip that came with corn chips.
The brussel sprouts came or first and looked delicious, but the order was soooo small and it costs $ 10. The spinach artichoke came out next and was not may favorite, but not terrible.
Although the waitress was super sweet, she didn’t do a great job of checking in. The water glasses were super small and she never came back to refill them. We probably say without water for a good 20 minutes and we finally asked for some the next time she came by.
All in all it was a cute place with decent food, but a little overpriced and service can improve.

Let me start by saying I had high hopes for this place. However, there are too many good restaurants in Houston to bother with this one.
Our waitress was the only waitress and it was her second or third day on the job, so the service was not very good. She couldn’t even keep the water glasses full.
We ordered and about 15 min later my husband and mother in law got their food. My father in law and I just sat there. We had to call the waitress over to our table because there was paper (the kind that separates pieces of cheese) in my husband’s
sandwich. At this point we asked where the other food was. 5 min later my father in law gets his, but it’s not hot. My husband is done by this point. Just as my mother in law takes the last bite of her meal and my father in law is half done with his, mine came out. Mind you other people who came in later than us have received their food. We asked to see a manager and 5 min later were told that there wasn’t one one duty. Seriously???

Really torn about giving this place three stars because the food was great, but the service needs work.
When you walk into this place, you ahve to start a tab at the bar and get your drinks and then go find your seat. Your food is brought to you, similar to Cedar Creek in the Heights.
We ordered a burger and fries and the Into the Forest pizza. Both very good. They had a nice looking cocktail list but I didn’t get to try it. We were given plates so we could share the pizza, but my plate had something on it. The server was happy to go replace it. I ordered a second glass of wine, but it never came, and the server didnt come by for a long time so when he did come to our table to ask if we wanted any more drinks, I told him I’d ordered a glass of wine that never arrived and I wanted to just forget it and get the check. I was brought someone else’s bill. The food was very good and this place had very good atmosphere. I would try it again but maybe just sit at the bar so I can let the bartender know if I need something (?)

New place near my office. The food is good and the sangria is awesome! I have told most of my coworkers about it already. They are a bit disorganized and I found out on my return visit that they don’t always make the sangria… just a tip… it is awesome and I have already told everyone about it!!! Also, the hours are weird. We do lunch out often and they don’t open until 2pm or later so we can never come here unless we plan something. I realize it may be hard to be open for lunch, but if you do we will be there!

Cool atmosphere, great menu, food was excellent. Coming back for the happy hour tomorrow!

We’ve gone several times. It’s a place you want to like. I don’t know how to express it but we are almost made to feel unwelcome. Maybe we are not as cool as the rest of the clientele. Except we are usually the only people there.
Food is ok. Beer menu ok. Layout is nice. They just seem apathetic.

Website reiterates that it’s dog friendly but should also mention it’s not kid friendly. Not a single high chair. Walked in and walked right out after we were told it’s more of a bar establishment. Wasn’t expecting Chuky Cheese but come on.

So it’s right across from a gas station and the Mexican restaurant Tony’s. I unfortunately didn’t take pictures this time but I’d say it’s an alright place. The female bartender seemed to be unhappy which reflected on her service. Wasn’t a favorite. The male bartender was at least putting the effort to assist. We went on a Wednesday so it was the seafood specials day. Scallops were not bad at all, fish and chips were popular on the table, Brussel spouts were ok and pizza was good and generous .
It’s self serve pretty much but a neat spot. Staff needs to be friendlier and more engaging .
I’d go back and try it out again.

First, this is a neighborhood bar, not a restaurant. Just want to make it clear that you will be ordering at the bar. That said, the drinks were good (slightly expensive for a neighborhood bar in Shady Acres). The food was very good for bar food. The menu needs updating (like the mozzarella was ON the meatballs, not IN them) but everything we had was good. Mostly tasting plates, burgers, and pizza. We didn’t try the pizza, but the salad, fish, meatballs, and tacos were delicious (if a little spicy). The taco plates are sharing plates, by the way. They are small and a little plain. Not a full meal by any means.
A great place for a quick bite and a few drinks.

Tasty food bar food; decent portions. Small. Four friends maximum. Downside, bar staff only.
Note: it was there first week open. I will return.

The only redeeming factor of our visit was that the food was good. I really want this place to succeed, but service needs to improve or else it’s going to flop!
Bartenders need to be more observant when customers are waiting to order, and they could stand to speed things up quite a bit.
Hopefully some of the kinks have been worked out. I’m willing to give it another try since it’s right by my house.

I have been a handful of times now, and the service has been exponentially better each visit. While service was never «bad,» while saying that you should know I prefer counter service to anything else. Which is what they have here. At first some of the bartenders did not know all the specials, or the tap list, or whatever. All of that is very minor to me, and has improved greatly with each visit. Every time I have been here food comes out quickly and piping hot. The rest is getting a new staff up to speed. Which, as far as I am concerned, they are.
Anyway, The L shaped bar has ben moved from its previous spot at both El Gran Malo and Lillo & Ella to what was more of the main dinning area. So inside is basically all bar some TV’s, with a few high top tables, and a great outdoor seating area. A really relaxed atmosphere.
First time here, I ordered the stuffed meatballs. Which came out before I knew it. They are hand made everyday, but simmer in a crockpot, so it is not a surprise they come out that fast. Which in no different than, say, how Underbelly or any other spot does meatballs, just saying. Also, just saying, the tomato sauce here is so much better IMO. With a piping hot gooey mozzarella center. They do street tacos, $ 7 for three. Which is a great deal. These are not your Torchies or Velvet Taco variants. Just simple tortillas and filling. The Bah Mi is particularly good with pork, cilantro, vinegar, and various root veggies. The burger is spot on as well. House made bun and patty. Cooked to my liking, a juicy medium. The house made chips are great, and while basically the same fried potato, a good substitute for the ubiquitous french fry. There is even more, like pizzas and bigger entrees. The menu is pretty extensive.
A handful of taps, ranging from Lone Pint 667 to Golden Drauk (a really good Belgian Strong Dark Ale). To an extensive cocktail list. Some work, some don’t, but enough variation for anybody to try and see what they like. An Old Fashion for $ 7 is spot on. As well as happy hour every weekday.
Looking at some of the reviews, it does seem like they have not had the smoothest opening. Though all of my visits have been really relaxing and enjoyable. With very good food. The burger is top notch, and they have a $ 10 burger and beer night on Tuesday. Though that is just PBR or Lone Star bottles. Which disappointed me a bit. Still the burger is good enough that I would pay full price with one of the better draughts. I am glad to see the former owner of Simone on Sunset doing well, and another place in the Heights I really enjoy.

My dog and I went last night for steak night and Thursday night football out on the patio. Had a phenomenal time to say the least.
The 16 oz ribeye was cooked to perfection and was accompanied by buttery mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, zucchini, egg plant and bell pepper. The food was on point and the service at the bar was top notch.
With that said, I seldom write reviews on Unilocal,but I felt compelled after reading some of these terrible reviews. If you’re thinking of going, but you’re hesitant because someone didn’t realize it was counter service or whatever, do yourself a favor and go. Just do it. Good spot, good people, good food.

Oh good lord!!! People! Yes, a new place will suffer some opening pains… but don’t blast them and write them off.
Had a really nice time, enjoyed the food and drinks, will come back as they address some of their issues.

If I could leave 0 stars, I would.
Cons
Service slow
Waited an hour plus to get food and asked the bartenders where our food was. One Bartender blamed the other Bartender. She said they were wondering if we had eaten yet… FYI, Yes, we sat in the bar area and yes we knew we had to order at the bar!
If they truly cared about us, they would have come to our table and asked us if we received our food. Later, They apologized, compensated our meal, then brought the wrong order for our food. We didn’t complain. We were finishing our drink and the bartender brought our tab for us to pay. Wtf!!!
Only $ 16 was removed. Even if the food portion was removed, it would have been more than that.
Worst experience ever. I will never go back to this place and I advise you not to waste your time. Better places in the neighborhood than here and definitely better service.
Get it together, barking pig!

A true neighborhood restaurant and bar, I’m so lucky that it’s in MY neighborhood! I’ve been enjoying the fantastic patio ever since this place was El Gran Malo and the recently departed Lillo & Ella. It’s a great space for perfect autumn afternoon happy hours or hot summer nights (just keep the drinks coming!).
The atmosphere outside is fantastic with lots of plants, a great new wooden pergola, and strings of antique bulbs for when the sun goes down. The food mirrors the design, comfortable and inviting. The dishes we ate, baked Brie and meatballs with crostini, were all a few steps up in quality from the standard greasy bar menu options.
The menu focus on ingredients is apparent including portobello burgers, duck as a pizza topping, and seasonal roasted squash. Similarly, the house cocktails also include an eye for fresh tastes using lots of fruit, cucumber, and herbs.
What already has me planning return visits is the selection and affordability of the wine list.