The Muddy Pig

The Muddy Pig, heretofore ‘The Pig’, is a FANTASTIC neighborhood pub, with a great, comprehensive, and frequently changing selection of beers, as well as a whisky and scotch menu that rivals (and often surpasses) the offerings at ‘swankier’ spots – I’m talking about you Commodore and St. Paul Grill.
The Pig may be one of the best I’ve been in and I’ve been in a lot in a lot of different cities and countries.
The atmosphere is classic old world pub (Dutch Brown Bar — Irish Village Pub — Bavarian Ale House). The Pig is what the Happy Gnome aspires to but falls short.
So, you’re asking yourself, «WTF!» why the two star rating? It’s not because I’m a dick or buzz kill – the rating is it’s because they’re not just a pub.
If you are there for a pint (or three) – not sitting at the bar – and don’t mind a nice long time between your drinks, it’s very good. That said, the service (unless you’re sitting at the bar in front of the bar tender) is south of terrible with orders forgotten, gotten wrong, and always slow.
The menu leaves a lot to be desired, not so much because there isn’t enough to order, but because much of it just isn’t good. And, did I mention that they’re slow. There slow.
There Appetizers are REALLY good (especially the sausages) but expect 30 minutes at minimum for them to come out. Did I mention that they’re slow. There slow.
Muddy Pig, you’re awesome, but be what you are; Pints and Small Bites are where you live. Also get a good server. Someone not slow.
P.S.
I would love nothing more that to update this review for my personal favorite pub and give you the five stars you deserve but you’ve got big problems.

A really relaxed neighborhood bar that I frequent far more often than I should. The kind of place where you can feel comfortable just grabbing a beer by yourself on a lazy weekend afternoon. The vast beer selection is the main draw, but the food is a cut above typical bar standard from what I’ve tried (the wings are surprisingly tasty). While it’s often described as a «dive» (it’s not), I think «well-​worn» better captures the feel of the place. My only gripe is that with the local beer industry booming, there typically aren’t enough good foreign taps anymore (not enough Belgian, to be specific), but this is a problem that’s starting to plague virtually all of the better watering holes around town. I’m all for supporting local breweries, but there’s a point at which you have to accept that a lot of their output is crap and move on (unless you don’t have any taste, a problem for which there’s no easy solution). That said, there’s something on tap for everyone, and the taps rotate frequently enough that one can usually dig through the beer list and find a nice surprise.

The Muddy Pig is a cross between an English pub and a neighborhood dive. The food is pork-​centric (hence the name), and I like how they keep to the theme. Their cuban sandwich is easily one of the finest that I have ever had, and is a must-​try on their menu. Don’t expect to have food served on a silver platter; the staff’s service is very casual and the plates, utensils, and glasses are simple and non-​flashy. My final verdict is 4 stars for the food, and 3 stars for the service. If you’re in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul, definitely pay Muddy Pig a visit.

I love this bar! it is off the main selby-​dale strip a bit so parking is easier. The food is ACTUAL food (not just a greasy bar mess), and the beers are exciting! They also have plenty of sitting (and standing if necessary) room which gives it an edge over the most similar bar to it in the area (happy gnome). The only downfall that sometimes keeps me away is it’s always a touch cold in this bar, a welcome change during the summer but maybe they could run the heater a bit more in the winter. Bring a jacket and it’ll be worth the trip.

Ok, I’ve been to The Pig… More than 20 times, yet I’ve never reviewed? Whaaaa?
Let’s review the 2 reasons to go: AMAZING beer selection, and UNIQUE food! Yes, the tap beer changes regularly, the bartenders are great about tasters, and there’s a selection for everybody (even the cider drinkers).
Now — the food. NOT bar food! No deep fryer (thus no fries, chicken fingers, or other greezy hot crap), No freezer (so no mystery items). So, you get really good food that’s fresh and tasty! My standard order: The mussels — delicious sauce, get extra bread to soak up that goodness. The olive tapenade — with goat cheese. Again, comes with a loaf of bread. The nachos — go for it, add meat, they are delicious!
Why only 4 stars? The service is spotty. Some nights fabulous, last night… wellllllll.

i liked that i could choose from lots of beer choices, the muddy big is so cool place to hang out with friends with too much delicious food also

Overall, a pretty good experience.
I had the quesadilla with chicken and a tequila sunrise. Food and drink were delicious.
Only reason I can’t give 5 stars was due to our waiter. He was extremely rude right off the bat. I had never been to the Muddy Pig and was curious if there would be a late night happy hour. When I asked our waiter if there was a happy hour and what time it started, he replied with a snappy «We’ve NEVER had happy hour.» As the night went on, he seemed to be put off by the simplest things such as asking for a glass of water.
I’ll go back in hopes we don’t get the same waiter/​service that we received this night.

It was Vday and my boyfriend and I were in the mood for a burger and beer. The Muddy Pig satisfied our craving. We both ordered the Cuban Burger which has pulled pork, ham and sweet pickles on top of a juicy burger. My boyfriend raved about the burger being amazing. I thought it was a pretty damn good burger as well. I really liked the touch of the sweet pickles (which they loaded on) and shredded pork. They had a large beer selection, but not very many options if you prefer light beer. The one reason I wasn’t 100% satisfied is because I asked to swap my kettle chips for fries, and I was told they didn’t have a deep fryer. So no French fries. Overall, I’d go back.

We were told about the beer selection and good food at the Muddy Pig so we thought we’d check it out. It is true they have a large selection for beer. The problem is in the service and food, both of which were dreadfully average. We got a build your own burger and pulled pork sandwich. When our food was ready, the chef placed it on the counter, wich just so happened to be about five feet from our table so we saw it right away. Our waitress was busy somewhere, which is normal, but five minutes later we see here come close to our food only to start talking to one of the bartenders. This proceeded for another three minutes until the chef finally told her that our food was ready despite it being a few feet away from her. She then had to double check the tables and food items until she finally came to us asking if it was ours. We watched our food sit there for eight minutes just getting cold, wich it was. I’m glad for the cook or else it probably would have sat there much longer. Finally, a lot of the flavors were bland and considering most things on the menu are at least ten dollars and the default side is chips for most things, it’s absolutely not worth it. Come here to drink or if you want a burger with good bacon that is actually well priced at fifty cents. Other than that, it was disappointing. We came for supper on a Monday.

Came on a Tuesday night. Was told to seat ourselves anywhere and 45 mins later had not even been greeted or put a drink order in. Horrendous service, other folks had been there for 1+ hour without even getting water. Will never go back and would recommend to everyone I know to stay away.

Based on a staff member’s recommendation, had the Cuban sandwich. Glad I did! Perfectly toasted with very moist and flavorful carnitas inside. I’m told that the carnitas recipe is held close and thoughtfully prepared by a gifted team who all hail from a small town in Mexico. Fun fact: with 48 beers on tap, Steeltoe Size 7 is their most popular. Patrons know a good IPA!

Super cool and casual place – fun to sit at the bar and sample different types of beers (which the bartenders are GREAT about doing). Fun music, ambience, and fun to see the food being prepared! The food is consistently good with cool twists on your average fair (Like the wings – they’re baked not fried and HUGE). Decent prices, especially considering the area. Will keep coming back!

With so many great spots to pick from in this neighborhood, The Muddy Pig has definitely become one of my favorites and should be yours too. I have visited many times, most recently with a group of 9 buddies on a Saturday. It was tough to find a large table for our group, but we made it work and the staff was super accommodating. As per usual, the beer selection is amazing and everyone tried something different or found a favorite. I also must rave about the sausage appetizer… yeah I could have that for every meal. No designated parking lot is my only complaint, though parking on the side streets really isn’t that difficult, so I’ll shh.

Food is amazing — I had the quesedilla with carnitas. Loved how they put beans in it.
My father was very impressed by the pulled pork sandwich — he said it was the best he EVER had. And he gets pulled pork everywhere it’s on the menu when we eat out.
Beer selection was quite good but I was disappointed in the lack of pale ales — mostly ipas on the menu. They could branch out a bit more, but overall it is well worth the 5 stars.
Sitting in the back room is nice and much quieter than the bar area, so I would recommend sitting there.

I went here with a couple of friends for dinner and drinks on a weeknight. Thursday, maybe? Anyway, the place was busy, and I had to park on the street about a block away. Not a big deal. We were seated promptly.
I ordered the almond-​crusted walleye and a gluten-​free beer from a local micro brewery. Both were good. The walleye was, well, walleye, and the mashed potatoes were tasty.
The waiter gave me a bit of attitude when I asked if there is any wheat, etc. in the almond crust, and the service was slow. I suspect this was an example of what Jerry Seinfeld has called «hipster service.» The prices were reasonable. I would return, but it isn’t a particular favorite.

Okay –I am smitten. I love a bar that has a casual vibe, tasty food and bartenders who are passionate about their craft. I enjoy sitting at the bar and appreciate learning what the barkeeps recommend. Today was rainy and shitty and the holidays are looming. An Old Fashioned seemed to be just the thing to boost my *spirits*. I ordered one with Makers Mark and was impressed. It was not the usual cloying, over sweet, (0ver-​sentimental?) drink I concocted at home. It was crisp. It was passionate. Don Draper would approve. For my next I wisely allowed the bartender to make the call on the bourbon. Instantly he chose Basil Hayden’s which a) I had never heard of and b) was absolutely divine. The food is awesome too. I’ll be back, in spades!

I figured I would give a neighborhood joint a try after hearing good reviews. I figured you can’t go wrong with some food either, but that was clearly a mistake. $ 7.00 for frozen guacamole that looked like it came out of a squeeze package served with stale unsalted chips, and Cajun pasta that was basically a bowl of grease. they could’ve easily drained some of it off before adding the meat. Our server also forgot a few things from our order when we were one of 3 other people in the bar, and was expressionless, I don’t want to know how miserable you really are at work, a smile is always nice! long story short, stick to booze here.

Great selection of draft beers. Food is primarily sandwiches; there are also some nice entrée selections. Fun atmosphere.

Huge beer list, good atmosphere, tasty snacks. I’ve eaten dinner here too and always been happy with my food. And although it can be expensive, I can usually find my favorite type of beer, the cask aged sour Belgian. Definitely one of my go-​to bars.

I love the beer selection, but I’m still a local beer guy. Summit!
The food was good. I had a custom burger made with onions, bacon, BBQ Sauce and shrooms, Oh yeah that was great!
The service was average. I did have to flag down the server to get a second beer. Nothing much else to report from here.

My man, Muddy Pig. I live a few blocks away from this chill bar. It is a great place to hit up for a late night beer on one of those beautiful spring nights when you just need to get out of the house.
Their tap list is pretty impressive. They also have quite the list of whiskey. I also remember them making a mean bacon bloody mary at some point that I loved. I’m positive that everyone will find something they like in the alcohol selection.
The food is good. It’s not spectacular and it is odd that they are a fully functional bar without a deep fryer. In my more drunken times at Muddy Pig, I definitely miss the presence of fried potatoes. My favorite dish is the sausage platter with fresh bread and mustard. Lordy. It is too good.
The main reason I’m giving this bar 3 stars instead of 4 is the parking situation and the service. Parking isn’t terrible but can be annoying to navigate on a busy night. And the service is pretty consistently slow. They are always pleasant, just expect to hang around for a bit.

YUM! Good beer selection and I had a great salad. Fun, quirky atmosphere. Not a lot of parking so bike/​walk or park in the lot across the street.

Always my first stop when I come back to Minnesota — and always order the Bloody Mary and beer. Been coming here since 2003. Food is consistent and really quite good bar food. Again, the Bloody Mary’s are the best I’ve ever had. Service is friendly and prompt. Outdoor seating (in the summer) is not sprawling but a quaint little alcove to drown in the amazing beer choices. I can’t speak highly enough about this gem of a bar… well, I could but I’m already 2 bloodies and 2 beers in and I’m working with the faculties I have left. Cut me some slack, and give this place a chance to become your favorite!

Ain’t no happy hour
But I like it anyways
Killer beer choices
Lots of the reviews on Muddy Pig describe it as divey. I would say cozy. I’ve been in some dives in my day, and this place does not come close to some of the Twin Cities diviest dives. Muddy Pig is nothing in the way of dive when compared to say Tony Jaros’, Vegas Lounge or Skinner’s…and the beer selection puts the dives to shame. It is also way too pricey to be considered a dive. Two beers and one turkey burger came in at 28 bucks this evening. Not complaining… money well spent.
48 draft beers that rotate. Hard to find craft stuff. This evening, I had one Evil Twin Yin (Imperial Stout) and one Stone Enjoy By 04.20.15 IPA. I had never seen either of these beers anywhere else in my life. Both have high ABV’s. The Yin came in a ten ounce glass and the 04.20.15 in a 12 ounce glass. They were each 7 bucks a piece and I was there at what would be considered happy hour time at most places.
I think the food here is nearly is good as the beer. Had the Turkey Burger tonight. Dang — pretty spicy and I have a pretty high threshold. For an appetizer, I highly recommend he Sausage & Kraut Bake. The Cubano sandwich is their signature item, I believe, and it does not disappoint at all. If they put in a happy hour, I would give Muddy Pig my five star seal of approval fo’ sho.

Great service, knowledgeable staff, really good food, great beer selection all in an unpretentious surrounding. What more could you want?

Came for the beer and must say I can’t wait to go back and try more. Very large list. Vibe is cool, somewhat divey & service was great. Parking can be a challenge so leave your truck at home.

If you don’t read the rest of this review, fine. Just remember to order the apricot bread pudding.
I love that this has a typical old school bar atmosphere, with run down booths, bordering on slightly divey. The servers have an «I don’t care, I’m too cool» attitude, but they’re still very pleasant and helpful.
Best thing about this bar is that they always have a great beer selection! They’re currently featuring Belgium beers, over 40 choices! Of course I went with the beer flight option, a few times, and then I was suddenly highly buzzzzed. So then I had to eat.
I ordered the El Cubano, house favorite. Sooo f’ing good! Moist roasted pork, topped with ham, Swiss cheese, slices of pickles, between an airy crusty Italian bread. It’s huge! Comes with a side of chips.
Okay, the apricot bread pudding. I’ve never had bread pudding. A pile of sticky sweet bread never appealed to me. I have been missing out my entire life. This bread pudding at Muddy Pig is up there as one of the best damn desserts I’ve ever had. It came out hot, the bread takes on a creamy texture, it’s not too sweet, and the sauce just puts it over the top. I’d come back for this thing everyday, but then I’d be 500 lbs. Order this!
Oh yeah. If you’re coming here in the winter then dress warm, layers. It’s cold in here and there seems to always be a draft. They have a little space heater in the women’s restroom and it’s the warmest spot in the bar. Too bad it’d be weird and very gross for me to drink my beer in there.

The name itself is what lured me in.
Once inside you get the old bar feel with that old wood smell.
Wood benches and vinyl booths with tears and cracks assures you this place has been around for a while.
Of course, you can assume places like this sell some bomb a$$ bar food. but after I saw the menu and noticed they serve a BURRITO I was SOLD!
Their beer list is never ending. I’m usually a light beer gal, but I wanted to try something new. I ended up getting some beer made with cherries. WOOF! NEVER AGAIN. It tasted like dollar store perfume! I couldn’t even drink it!
As for the burrito, it was alright. Although I finished it with no problem, it just seemed like it was missing something inside. Not to mention, the lettuce inside was soggy as heck.
I’ll be back. I’ll definitely try something else, there just won’t be a rush.