Flying Pig Saloon

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Transcribed from undated notes, probably early-to-mid June 2009.

The squat, white stucco building seemed incongruous as compared to its neighbors as I walked up East King Street having just disembarked from SEPTA Regional (R5) at the nearby station. It looked to me like a southwestern structure more than something that I would expect on the Main Line. Entering, a coat rack, two white leather sofas and a chair sat to the immediate right in the corner by a couple of windows. The "U"-shaped, hammered-copper-topped bar was in the back right corner, directly aft of the doorway. The lavs were to the left end of the bar, followed by the entrance to the kitchen. To the left of the doorway were a series of high tables and chairs followed by a mini-sea of standard tables and chairs.

This was not a huge venue and my first server, Deena, told me that it can get packed at times. My other server, Suzanne, laid the history of the place on me: it used to be a biker bar (I can totally dig that) and the current owner put a much-coveted pig weather vane on the roof as a good luck charm. That led to the place's name as well as all of its porcine inhabitants. People donate pigs all of the time so that the place is puerco-central. Fortunately, no local pork came to disrupt my afternoon. I am allergic to pigs in cruisers, dig? It was a friendly, welcoming atmosphere to which I would return in a heartbeat.

Food: I had a groovy egg sammich as a late-breakfast/early- lunch gig. There seems to be a myth that I do not eat and I'd like to lay that to rest. I love to eat! Sometimes, I do so two or three times a day. This was one of them.

Beer: Nine AmeriCAN CO2 taps, three Belgian taps, and one rotating cask. Twenty-four bottles. Best of all, they will fill a growler with ANY of their drafts! Yow!

08-18-2010 20:47:08 | More by woodychandler

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4

The Flying Pig is a cute little bar tucked away just across the bridge atop the big hill in Malvern. There's a tiny parking lot in back but it's full even at the slowest times. Still, you should be able to find a spot somewhere on the street. Once inside you'll notice that it's covered in unfinished wood. Floors and walls. It's almost like a hunting shack in Maine! There's somewhat of a dining room to the left with some nice tables and chairs; and the square, peninsula bar is straight ahead but slightly to the right. Some cocktail tables separate the bar from the "dining room" and there are a couple of sofas and a coffee table just as you walk in on your right. Very cozy! Step up to the copper top bar and order yourself a pint from one of their 19 taps! They're always rotating with the exception of their Bud, Coor's Light, Bass, Guinness, Harp, Yuengling and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Local beers from Heavyweight, Lancaster, and Victory get a pretty heavy rotation and there are always a few 'far off' micros available such as Weeping Radish, De Groen's and Brewer's Art. The bottle selection also roatates with a heavy emphasis on seaasonals, and surpasses their draft selection by quite a bit. Some memorable selections include Coniston Old Man Ale, Avery Czar Russian Imperial Stout, Ommegang Three Philosophers, and rotating beers from Anderson Valley, Hitachino Nest, De Dolle and Bell's. It's not an overly large selection, but it is impressive. The food is also quite good, although it's just bar food. There's a wide range of appetizers that include pepperoni bread ($5.25), onion rings ($4.50), and homemade shrimp jammers (shrimp wrapped in jalapeno cheese and deep fried). A simple garden salad is $2.50 and soup or chili is $1.95 cup/ 3.25 bowl. Sandwiches are popular and they offer hoagies at $5.75, burgers at $5.50 (6.25 (for the bacon cheeseburger), meatball sandwiches at $5.50, and a tuna melt at $5.50. Some more engaging food includes ribs ($8.50 half/13.95 full), crabcakes for $8.50 (!!!), Chicken & Dumplings ($10.95) and a NY Strip at $12.50. It's some of the best bar food I've ever had, and at some of the best prices I've ever had! If I lived near here, I might actually go there to eat for dinner some nights. They offer live music on Wednesdaay, Friday, and Saturday; and the regular crowd is very welcoming. This is really a great place that's worth a visit!

01-20-2004 05:10:46 | More by NeroFiddled

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -10.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

A very good corner bar that will be even better once the PA smoking ban takes effect. Few places in the area are smokier. Otherwise the Pig has a nice corner bar vibe.

Food has typically been very good for basic pub grub over the years. At times the food has slipped, but it's been better recently. The tap selection (15 or so) always has some good stuff, as does the bottle list. All drafts I have ever had there have been served in pint glasses, regardless of ABV so look out. Recently, they have started to post ABV on the chalkboard if it's over 8%.

My only complaint is that service can be hit or miss. They seem to understaff a bit to make sure the servers can make some money. I think that's fine, except when the server is too busy flirting with the guy at the next table to get you a beer for 20 minutes. Or unable to find a higher gear when she is weeded.

This is a great place to hang out in on an NFL Sunday as they have DirecTV and a dozen or so TVs. The owner is a nice guy too.

HV

06-20-2008 19:48:34 | More by sholland119

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4

I hung out at the infamous Flying Pig after the 6th annual Main Line, PA beerfest for the first time. The fest emptied out like an underage party that kicked the keg at the same time a cop-car showed up out front.

Pretty much concur with other BA reviews here, which have graced this site before me. The old exposed stressed wood motif was warm and welcoming; a dim ambience that was dimly lit with candles as the sun went down. Oh, how I wish I lived closer to this place. I can't rave about the service, but in their defense, the place was packed for 4pm on a Sat. Even though the FP did not have a million beers on tap, I can say that the selection is a generous 4.5 because they had great quality brews for the balance of their taps, after the typical prerequisite macros that I'm sure you can well imagine. I read that they have something like 20 taps. I had a phenomenal Old Dominion Whiskey Keg Stoudt, a big ole Three Philosophers bottle and a Victory Old Ho' that was shelved in a full pint! Woo-hoo! By that time I forget the price, but I do remember it was reasonable.

Here is a plus about this place: Their beer menu is a prominent feature with big chalkboards up on the back wall that clearly let ya know this is a serious beer-bar. How cool! Could ya bring your Mom here? Yes, you could. Invite her soon, too. It's worth it.

Last swigs: A dimly lit, welcoming, rustic wood ambiance with great beer selection. A+ in my BA book.

*** second visit last week *** Staff was confused over basic beer items. Overly Octoberfest selection. Sam Adams O'Fest was the best one? Hmmm! Worth a drive if you are in the area of say a 15 minute drive. Don't speed on Rte 30 late at night.

03-07-2004 18:12:44 | More by blitheringidiot

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

I had the pleasure of visiting the Flying Pig w/ BitterBeerFace and mughugger along w/ gottajiboo2, Phatz and friends after the Baltic Thunder release at the Drafting Room.

The atmosphere is great first off, with so many flying pigs everywhere and lava lamps along with leather couches and a nice wooden bar. There are plenty of flat screens to watch the game if you choose to. Our service was very friendly and prompt, although we sat near the bar, an area that can sometimes get neglected.

The selection was outstanding w/ many east coast favorites like Storm King and Smuttynose winter. They have rare stuff and cask ales too, but the cooler selection (bottles) and drafts are all well adverstised on chalk boards around the bar.

I found the quality to top notch and the ale I tasted was fresh. I haven't tried the food, but I hope to return another time to spend more time there. I found the value to be very reasonable, the atmosphere was very homey and I didn't want to leave - A great place to share a beer no matter what your taste.

01-07-2008 17:53:11 | More by Slatetank

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

The Flying Pig is a great little corner bar in Malvern, PA which is nice for me because it is literally 2 miles from my house. I found out about this place about 2 months after moving into the area and we have been going here about once a month since then.

The atmosphere here is really cool with all the wood and pigs hanging on the walls. The crowd is usually pleasant and the service is pretty good as well.

If they only served food they would get a good rating as they have a nice menu of sandwiches and appetizers for everyone but their beer selection is very nice as well. They usually have about 10 or so really good drafts that rotate regularly. These drafts usually include something Belgian or a few something Belgians as well as maybe a German beer and of course some great local beers from Heavyweight or Victory or Dogfish or many others. They also have a good standard bottle selection that includes some local favorites and some Belgian's like Chimay and Duvel.

11-24-2005 17:02:09 | More by ggaughan

Phatz

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

I used to live and I work in the Paoli area. I had a co-worker who lived close to the Flying Pig Saloon. I stopped in a few times back then to get a Yuengling Lager (before Beer Advocate, before I knew any different). They gave me a hard time about my drivers license picture the first time I went in (not looking like me or some crap), so I didn't think much of the place; other than, it is a local bar on the corner. The parking seemed a bit limited but overall it is a decent bar.

Recently I stopped in again to check it out, after seeing it is listed here on BA. Unfortunately I was on business so I couldn't drink but I did check out there selection and I was impressed. For 'The Bar on the corner', they had a very nice selection. I remember Victory, Serria Nevada, Appalation, Magic Hat and Dog Fish Head were all available at what seems the least likely place. It was good food but I probably won't make a special trip from Lancaster, just to go drinking at the Flying Pig Saloon.

[EDIT My opinion has changed. The service is good and the selection is continually growing. Founders and Bell, and Belgians, well done]

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

03-06-2006 07:11:56 | More by Phatz

roan22

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

My Mom has lived in the borough of Malvern for years, yet I'd never been to this place, until last Wednesday.

I was pleasantly surprised by what the Flying Pig had to offer. I had a Left Hand XXX-mas Ale that tasted great, extremely fresh. The micro beer selection here is top notch. Almost as good as Tenstone or Tria in the city.

As for the food, I tried the chicken skewers with peanut dipping sauce and was relieved that it was quite tasty, satisfying even.

The barman was attentive, and even though he wasn't the most charming or friendliest-looking, he was efficient and attitude-free at least.

The only annoying thing was a forty-yr-old guy in a T-shirt performing typical, acoustic singer/songwriter-type songs. That kind of live music belongs in a coffee shop, not in a beer bar, at least to me.

12-19-2005 18:32:38 | More by roan22

ark57

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This is a great place to hang out. It has a great selection of beer on tap and in bottles. Some of the locals I have seen available include Victory, Stoudts, and McKenzies and then they also have had Bell's and Stone too. On top of the great micros there is always some great imports. I usually hit up the draft selections, but the bottle list is very good. The place is clean and relatively small compared to some of the other more popular hangouts in the area. The service has varied, but is generally good, though the servers tend to not know much about the beer. This isn't something that bothers me because I usually know enough about them, but in the instance I want to know something about a specific brew, there may not be some one around to help. Anyway, this is a great relaxed place to come for some great beer.

05-25-2005 15:00:45 | More by ark57

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

The pig is a great local corner bar in the heart of Malvern. The atmosphere is a low lit with old wooden floors and a small, 3 sided square bar that sits about 15. There are also couches near the jukebox and several tables.
The quality of both the beer and food is excellent. I especially like the rotating selections of beer(mostly sixtalls). They've gone through Old Dominion, Heavyweight, Magic Hat, Wild Goose, Appalachian, McKenzie's, Anchor...the list goes on and on. Not to mention, they have a medium sized bottle selection if the great draft list doesn't tickle your fancy. I especially enjoy the pork sandwiches, hot wings, and open faced turkey sandwiches. The service is usually friendly and attentive and if they're unsure of what a beer is like, they will usually offer a sample. Another cool aspect is the growler to go from the pig. It's not a bad deal. You basically get a few bucks off for getting a growler full of beer.

05-27-2005 22:20:50 | More by weeare138