- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Spotted Pig
Categories: Restaurants British Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Gastropubs British, Burgers, Gastropubs [Edit]
314 W 11th St(between Hudson St & Greenwich St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighbourhood: West Village
(212) 620-0393
- Nearest Transit:
-
Christopher St - Sheridan Sq (1, 2)
8 Av (L)
14 St (1, 2, 3)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
1059 reviews for The Spotted Pig
Review Highlights
-
"Shared the chicken liver toast which was unreal." In 150 reviews -
"The amazing deviled eggs make it worth it." In 140 reviews -
"The roquefort cheese spread is delicious." In 125 reviews
Loading...
1058 reviews in English
-
Review from Jiahui L.
Manhattan, NY
Get:
~burger (5.5 stars): seriously the best burger I've had in my life. EVER. Once you bite into the perfectly toasted brioche bun, with a bit of melty roquefort, and the perfectly medium rare meat, you will never turn back. I rarely eat an entire entree by itself, but I think I would not make the mistake of sharing this next time! You would be doing yourself a disservice if you never eat this burger, but I suppose you are doing a disservice to all the other burgers out there because you will never want to eat another burger for the rest of your life. Shoestring fries are also amazing. Just can't stop eating them. $20
~chicken liver toast (5 stars): this was so good I got this 2 times in the span of a week. Toasted but still soft bread, on top of which is a not-too-livery, savory, sweet concoction that will blow your mind away. All for only $6
~soft shell crab sandwich (5 stars): lunch special. Fried just right, with an amazing aioli that just keeps you coming back for more. $18
~seasonal tart (5 stars): with rhubarb. I normally don't like rhubarb, but they did an excellent job balancing the tart with the sweet, with an exceptional crust. $8
Skip (well, these were still good, but just not as good as the above):
~gnudi (4 stars): dense but creamily delicious "gnocchi." It was a little too salty for my liking, but the fried sage was a wonderful touch. $16
~pork belly (3.5 stars): also too salty for my taste, and it wasn't quite as fatty as I like my pork belly. Not the star of the show for sure. $32
Wait:
~1 hr for 3 at 6:30pm Friday (quoted 1 hr 45); 10 min for 2 at 2pm Friday (quoted 30 min)
~staff was friendly, and even though you could tell that the place was super busy, they didn't let it show when they were taking your order and refilling water.
Go for lunch! Unless you'd like to wait in line for 1.5 hrs. If you don't get anything else, get the burger and chicken liver toast, but then again, the 1000 reviewers preceding me already said that. April Bloomfield, keep it up! -
Review from Lilian P.
Brooklyn, NY
spotted pig makes a pretty solid burger nice and meaty, . Last time I was there i had char something burger with roquefort cheese and shoestring potatoes , lets just say it didn't last for over 5 minutes .
killer selection of beers , we all got pretty messed up ha ha !! -
Review from Roger B.
Garfield, NJ
The spotted pig how I love you so.
For those of you who have never heard of the spotted pig; it is one of the original and best gastropubs in NYC.
Co owned and run by Chef Genius April Bloomfield. With the likes of Mario Batali and Jay Z as her investor partners.
Anthony Bourdain is also involved by helping April with her menu.
With ppl like Batali and Bourdain involved one begins to think who is April Bloomfield and is her food really that good??!!
Well I ve never met April nor have even seen her picture but if her food is reflection of April and her inner creativity then I can only imagine how awesome a person April is.
But enough about our beloved chef and on to her highly acclaimed food.
The spotted pig is well known in burger circles as "thee burger"
So of course my inner cynic laid doubt to the claim which tends to get tossed around like a cheap slut now a days.
All to often do I hear a blogger critic acclaim one burger to be the holy grail of all, with the masses flocking like the sheep to just stand about for hours in lines which wrap around parks like anacondas around the next dubious victim. Lines that last no less then an hour and that's if your lucky.
But I am not here to speak of shacks I am here to speak of a burger which in deed blew me away. You can not compare it to places like shake shack or 5 guys.
This is a masterpiece which does not need ketchup or mustard or even the one cheese you are elected to choose.
A masterpiece largely in part to a butcher named pat lafrieda based in north Bergen, nj.
Lafrieda is a true master at his craft and a genius in crafting burger blends. Blends which he will not make for any other eatery.
The blend that he has created for the spotted pig is truly outrageous.
A mix which I have heard is chuck, short rib and brisket. It has a unique flavor one of upmost taste. A truly perfect blend and is cooked right on. A nice char with an amazing juiciness.
The burger is laid between a grill toasted brioche which is the perfect vehicle to house the burger to is next destination - your mouth.
The bun Is not overly thick or hides the burger. It has the right bun to buger ratio. Which is sooooo important but sometimes forgotten.
The order comes with Magnificent crisp shoe string fries with crispy tossed garlic chips.
To top it off. Thy have some excellent choices on tap. Last time they had old specked hen, which is one of the best British beers out on the market today.
All in all if you enjoy great food or an amazing burger, the spotted pig is def worth checking out.Listed in: All Craft Beer no Bud Here, Top Restaurants
-
Review from E M.
Waterbury, CT
Okay. This place is always crazy crowded and pretty pricey ($20 for burger and fries). Do not expect to come for dinner and not have a wait. In fact, on a weekend, expect that wait to be upwards of two hours. And once you get seated, you will probably be cramped at a small table.
However, a line around the block says something about the restaurant. If you come here you HAVE to get the gnudi. Trust me, you will be in heaven. Roquefort burger and rosemary garlic shoestring fries are also amazing. I will be back when I can figure out what time is easiest to get a table. -
Review from Mark B.
Windermere, FL
Just go! You cannot go wrong, wait in the line...it's worth it!
-
Review from Jess C.
The famous burger lived up to the hype, but I would have preferred it with less (or no) blue cheese. Thinly sliced fries were also amazing. Everything else was portioned extremely small, expensive, and underwhelming.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were way too sweet (only 1 pancake!), Chorizo Poached Egg was interesting but tiny, Duck Egg Toast was also interesting but not worth getting. My bloody mary was chock full of horseradish, albeit the horseradish was very fresh. Line was 45 minutes at 11:15am.
Next time, I'll head to The Breslin for their lamb burger, I hear it is amazing. -
Review from Pam Z.
WE FINALLY CAME HERE!!
Even though they don't take reservations, you can put your name down and they will call you when your table is ready. There is a lot to do in the WV and the lovely Hudson riverwalk is mere blocks a way so there is no excuse for not waiting.
Anyway, the food was brilliant. So rich and delicious that I felt like I was eating something very, very naughty. Apparently (according to our server) the Spotted Pig is known for its gnudi so we started with that. It was THE BEST EVER. So creamy and flavorful. I ordered the sea bass and my fiance ordered the pork belly. We both loved our dishes. The sea bass was really great. The skin was very crispy and the meat was super tender and juicy. From the taste of it, the pork belly was great, too. I kind of wish I had tried the burger, because I saw a lot of people ordering it and it looked massive and pretty delicious. Maybe next time...
For dessert we got the season special, the rhubarb tart, which was nice. I did sort of wish it didn't have nuts in it, but to each his own.
The service was great and the atmosphere was perfect. Super cozy and romantic, but also a fun place for friends. -
Review from Kathy V.
The burger hunt in NYC.... LOL
The Spotted Pig is well known for their burgers, so you know I had to come pay a visit. With all the reviews I've read from previous yelpers, the most complaint was the line to get inside. Obviously I did not want to wait, so what did I do? make a call in and order my burger to go!
The location of Spotted Pig is in West Village. A gastropub next door to many local residents. Since I didn't dine inside, I did not get a chance to experience the atmosphere only the burger. Roquefort Burger description- Medium rare burger, the texture was springy and moist. This was a very smooth tasting burger. However, this was only determined by eating parts of the burger not covered in the Roquefort cheese. The cheese overpowered the mild beef. The seasoning was appropriate to the mild flavors of the beef. The savory blend was applied as the patty cooked, and and it served to round out the mild flavors of the carefully constructed burger.
Need I say more? "Satisfied" Will I be back? YES!!! -
Review from Ron T.
Forest Hills, NY
What should be said, still one of my favorites in NYC.
The food is always excellent. Oysters and Fried Asparagus were my faves this visit. The staff is always accommodating. The wine list has become even more affordable. Come early or late, if you come during primetime you are going to eat late anyway.
The only disappointing thing Ever was Bannoffee was not part of the dessert menu on my last visit.
FERGUS STOCK!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/31/2010
The Spotted Pig lives up to the hype!
The food is delicious. Hamburgers, FergusStock, Veggie Sides… Read more »
-
5/31/2010
-
Review from brendan t.
LAWRENCE TWP, NJ
Fantastic scene, great people. One of my favorite places in the city. The burger is on par with the Black Label and at least as good as Corner Bistro.
Great wine selection. -
Review from Lucia G.
Brooklyn, NY
Everything I tried was salty, the bread, the egg, the salads, almonds, olives, I could literally taste the salt rocks in my mouth.
Additionally, I know it is the west village, but the drinks were extremely steep. $7 for a can of abita? All the wine was too sweet and definitely 4x the actual price. The area I was sitting in smelled like cat litter. -
Review from Bill F.
One of my favorite places in NY! It's so good it doesn't even need a sign...just a ceramic spotted pig hanging from the building. The Spotted Pig speaks to my soul...gourmet pub fare and terrific beers on tap! I got the burger with shoe string fries. The only thing that didn't live up to my expectations was the fries...they were more like chips. Everything else exceeded my expectations! The chicken liver toast is one of the best appetizers I've ever had and the burger is one of a kind. I could say a lot more but what's the point...just go already! This place is one of NYC's best!
-
Review from Lindsay J.
Elgin, IL
Order every app...Or at least the deviled eggs and give the roll mops a try.
The Gnudi is a must, it's definitely not lo-cal, but who cares?!?!?! It is the absolute most enjoyable plate of food you'll ever have.
Chef Bloomfield also has a way with the veggie sides, anything I've ever tried has been top notch.
I love the Spotted Pig. -
Review from Enoch H.
New York, NY
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the wait at The Spotted Pig was about an hour for a party of 5. This was expected as they don't take reservations. Inside, we were greeted with a bustling but warm and casual atmosphere. The entire restaurant has a nice West Village/English pub vibe with its modest wooden decor. All sorts of pig-themed pictures and paintings are strewn across the walls just in case you've forgotten where you've wandered into.
We started out with two orders of the chicken liver toast. I'll note that it's almost become a ritual for me to start out my meals here with this dish. The bread is toasted ever so slightly that the outside crust is crunchy, yet the inside is still a bit chewy. Then a heaping pile of rich and creamy chicken liver is spread on top. Visible chunks of liver also add another layer of bursting flavor to the dish. Absolutely delicious.
I've been loyal to the burger the last four times at The Spotted Pig. And being one of my favorite burgers in the city, it was quite the predicament to go with something else, but I felt like I needed to venture out and try the rest of the menu. The deep fried poached eggs with chorizo stew caught my eye as an interesting dish when I looked over the menu for alternatives. A colorful plate of expertly fried (and) poached eggs sat on top of a chorizo stew made my Saturday afternoon even brighter. Sunny yellow yolk poured out of the eggs as I cut into them, adding even more color to the dish. The eggs complimented the salty, sugary, and vinegary stew well while the savory chorizo provided that extra hint of spiciness to bring all the flavors of the dish together.
Almost every table around us ordered at least one burger and ours was no exception. Each juicy patty was cooked perfectly to requested temperature and came with a gigantic pile of salted shoestring fries on the side. The roquefort cheese added an entirely new twist to the typical burger flavor, in a good way. Combined with a perfectly toasted brioche bun, everything worked together so well that almost no words were uttered during the consumption of the burgers. Only the sound of chewing and the occasional gulp broke the happy silence. If that weren't enough, I'm pretty sure their shoestring fries were fried with fresh rosemary and garlic to give them such addicting flavor and aroma.
The Spotted Pig is not only a solid choice for dinner, but also for brunch. Great food and great ambiance easily make this a favorite spot for any occasion. I highly recommend the burger and will be back soon to fill the void that was created in my stomach by not getting it this time around. Cheers!
http://knockrz.wordpre... -
Review from Amy Y.
White Plains, NY
I got a perfectly cooked medium rare burger, but I thought the roquefort was too overpowering. Instead of enjoying the juiceness and softness of the burger, I found myself thinking that the flavor of the cheese was too much. The bread, though, was exquisite - rarely do you get burgers with bread that are this well grilled and hold up to a thick juicy patty like this one. The shoestring fries were delicious, filled with rosemary and garlic chips. Yummy! You also get a big mountain of them. The drinks were A-OK, although the waiter was not too helpful when I asked how ginger-y one of the drinks was (all he could say was that there was more hibiscus in the mix of the punch than ginger... which is not very helpful because ginger can pack a punch).
A little overhyped in my opinion (also didn't like that we couldn't order oysters by the piece...)... I would hit up some other places before this. -
Review from Tiffany Y.
San Diego, CA
Love the theme and lively atmosphere of this place! It was interesting to see so many little pig-related decor items! I'm a bit easily amused so excuse me for that, hah.
Since I was recommended by my cousin to try this place and yelped it ahead of time, I already learned a few things. If you're here getting brunch, GET HERE EARLY! Don't let the wait get to you if you are hungry like me. Luckily, I arrived about fifteen minutes before opening, and right before the line started getting long.
Ordered the top favs (according to yelp!)
-Chargrilled Burger with Roquefort Cheese and Shoestring fries
-Chicken Liver Toast
-Deviled Eggs
Burger is juicy and tender! But I really loved the fries.... these would make the perfect snacks! Chicken Liver Toast was pretty good, and I'm not a big fan of liver! Deviled eggs were pretty good, but probably won't recommend it unless you were a big egg lover or something, haha.
Service is nice and attentive. Love the menu. Love this neighborhood. I'd definitely try other things on the menu, but sadly I'm no longer in New York :( -
Review from todd S.
Minneapolis, MN
Ehhhhh this place is kind've bullshit.. Maybe I made an erroneous order or came at the wrong time, but I thought the food was pretty overrated and way overpriced.
I can think of 50 other places I'd rather buy an $16 trout salad that's smaller than a dinner salad, and that's mostly because I'm lying and I don't wanna ever pay $16 for a bullshit tiny side salad with trout that could've passed for cat-food.
I saw some other plates that looked pretty good, so again, I may have terribly mis-ordered, but still, with the long wait and the over-priced food, I can't imagine why anyone would here here instead of walking a few extra blocks and getting a delicious falafel at Taim.
Unless they were allergic to falafels, in which they've got bigger problems to deal than reading my dumb yelp review... -
Review from Geoffroy D.
New York, NY
OK the wait in beyond reasonable but actually you are in the west village so... put you name down and go get a pre-dinner drink somewhere.
I loved the place, I had the pig's ear... delicious, I had not had any in years... last time was in Avignon in France. I also had the burger is was delicious...
Decor is really cool, staff is nice but I have seen nicer.
I definitely recommend it. -
Review from Bekah S.
I've heard incredible things about Spotted Pig's burger since I first moved to the city, and finally had the pleasure of partaking in one yesterday. It looks as incredible in person as it does in photos- the bun has perfect chargrill lines, the patty is a perfect disc. It's extremely simple- no lettuce, tomato, or onion- but it really doesn't need any other fixings besides the roquefort cheese. Add some of the shoestring fries (which are delicious and crispy and garlic-y), and you will seriously consider going for a second round.
My only qualm is the price- $20? Seriously? It's delicious, but it doesn't even come with a mesclun salad or something- just a ginormous heap of the shoestring fries. Even if the ingredients are costly, $20 is a bit much for a burger, even if it is one of the best in the city. Burger fiends should certainly try it at least once, but there are comparable ones out there for less.
Also, the deviled eggs are delicious- since there's only two, I would suggest saving your server a trip to the kitchen and just ordering your own instead of attempting to split a plate because you're probably going to consider ordering more. -
Review from Kristin U.
New Milford, NJ
Went to The Spotted Pig last night to celebrate the bf's new job. We had to wait about an hour for a table (got seated around 8:30 on a Tuesday night), but they took our number and called us when the table was ready so we could go have a drink around the corner.
The downstairs is a bit crowded, as in, you'd better pee before you're seated or else you're going to have to move your table to get up crowded, but it's dark and just loud enough to have a buzz in the air without prohibiting conversation. Upstairs, where I went to the bathroom because I didn't realize there was one downstairs, was a little roomier and a little brighter.
We shared the buffalo burrata as an app, and while it might have been one of the smallest things I've eaten for $17, it was AMAZING. Creamy, salty cheese, sweet roasted peppers, and some salty, buttery toast. One of the best cheeses I've ever had. I had the gnudi as my meal, and it was a good size for me, though I am not one for huge portions. It was SO DELICIOUS. I love brown butter sauce, and this did not disappoint. The gnudi were salty and creamy and unique. There might've been six or seven of them, and though I wasn't stuffed when I was done, having shared an app I was satisfied, and I definitely wouldn't have wanted more of them, as they were very rich.
My bf had the deviled eggs, which he loved and said were a steal for $4. He got the burger, which he said was outstanding, and I shared some of his shoestring fries (thyme and chips of toasted garlic mixed into the crispy, salty fries...mmm). The only thing he didn't like was the cheese on the burger. I don't know if he didn't see that Roquefort was listed on the menu, or if he didn't know what kind of cheese it was, but it was pretty gross (not the restaurant's fault, of course). So, if you've never had it, it is very much akin to gorgonzola, which I think tastes like dirty feet smell. If you do like that kind of cheese, though, and I know there are people who do, it will probably add to the burger. Otherwise, ask for no cheese (or maybe substitute something else) because it was hard to scrape off, and it did keep him from eating a few bites where he couldn't get it out of the meat. He said the meat was seasoned exceptionally well and it was one of the top 5 burgers he's ever had. *It can take really long if you order the burger medium well or well (as I learned by observing my neighbors), so if you like your meat cooked longer, order it as soon as you can and make sure to get an app or two.
The desserts by themselves were nothing super special, but by combining the two of ours, we made something awesome. He got the flourless chocolate cake (kind of like a very dense, room temp mousse) and I got the hazelnut ice cream. Putting a bit of each on one spoon created a flavor akin to those little Belgian seashell-shaped chocolates - heavenly!
Attentive service, good, reasonable beer selection...if you don't mind a wait, definitely check it out!Listed in: Here and There
-
Review from andy d.
New York, NY
Bar none the coolest restaurant in the city that gave my friends and me explosive diarrhea.
So cool and delicious that I can't wait to go back. -
Review from D Mike K.
Chicago, IL
Start to finish, just a fabulous dining experience!
Loved the bar and atmosphere, great seating areas. Great place for a date, as we got to sit next to each other in a cozy corner upstairs. It makes for a fun dining experience when you are sharing the delicious plates here.
Service was spot on and friendly. Our server Amanda, really brings a great personality that fits in well with the vibe. She helped guide us through the menu, and was super friendly.
So, thanks to Yelp...we knew to get the Devils On Horseback! Wow, we were fighting over them and may officially declare them one of the best things I have eaten...ever. It might be better not to know what they are, but we asked. They are some sort of prune/pear/almond thing, covered in bacon! What? Anyway, enjoy!
The feast continued with Oysters, and the Fried Duck Egg. Oysters were great. Fried Duck Egg was highlighted by some delicious ramps. Oh, and we even got the Ricotta Gnudi, which were like cheese dumplings. Cari loved them, I am not as big of a "cheese" person. But they tasted great with my wine.
So anyway at this point, our entrees arrived. Cari got the Black Bass and loved it. I got the Pork Cheeks. I was honestly so full from all of our plates! I had them the next day, and The Spotted Pig made me happy again!
I should mention that we each started with a cocktail. I ordered the Sorrel Punch with Rum, and Cari got the Seventh Heaven. I "won." Definitely start with one of these puppies.
As we went on a long walk afterwards we decided it was one of the best dining experiences we have had in NYC, and definitely worth 5 Stars. Wanted to make sure I got the review in! -
Review from Jen C.
On an unassuming corner in the West Village covered in ivy and greenery, there lies the Spotted Pig. Like so many other New York restaurants, you might miss it walking by, but a give away is the people waiting outside or crowded foyer. The wait was about an hour so we went to a nearby neighborhood bar to have a few drinks, then made our way back. I started with the Sorrel Punch, which was exactly what I wanted -- something light, easy to drink, refreshing. Then we tried 2 deviled eggs which were so smooth and so creamy. We also tried the pork cheeks on toast, which were tender, filled with flavor, but that's about all I remember. The burger, on the other hand, I do remember...take a look around and everyone else is ordering it too...it is that good. The bun has perfect chargrill lines, and the roquefort cheese is really powerful. You can tell the beef is quality (got mine medium as recommended per the waitress) -- it is so soft and tender you might not know it was beef except for the flavor! The waitress recommended the Dogfish Head IPA to go with it, and yeah the combo went together really well. The fries were out of this world as well...couldn't stop eating them as they're sprinkled with rosemary and garlic...ahhh to die for! Shoestring style too which makes it all the better. Don't miss this hidden (or not so hidden, depending on who you talk to) gem in the West Village.
-
Review from Julie M.
This place is extremely overrated. I was quite excited to try the burger and was completely underwhelmed. The deviled eggs are good. The fries are ok.
Also, the waits here are horrible. We got here a little after 5 on a Saturday and still had to wait over an hour. On top of this, the waitstaff was pretty rude. The cocktails were mediocre. Never again.
I'd rather go to the Breslin. -
Review from Mickey H.
Newark, NJ
Awesome place, great atmosphere, loved it!
-
Review from Angel S.
Long Island, NY
I admit, I've been on a bad yelp rut lately. But my visit to one of the most celebrated gastro pubs in NYC should restore some of the lost mojo. Spotted Pig boasts a terrific English-Italian style menu in a super casual setting. Wait can be upwards of two hours, during peak dinner hours.
The grilled burger with Roquefort cheese was very satisfying. The Pig is one of the few spots that makes medium rare perfectly. The meat itself was a bit bland and was overpowered by the cheese. But that's nitpicking. Overall, this place is well above average. Don't forget the deviled eggs too, that really sums up the Pig's rich and salty food theme. Service was excellent as well. As James Cromwell said in one of my favorite movies, "That will do, Pig, that will do."Listed in: RANKED NYC BUCKET LIST
-
Review from Valerie G.
New York, NY
Loooooooong wait on weekends, but just HAD to try the famed Spotted Pig burger. I believe the wait was somewhere between 1.5-2hrs before we were led into the gastropub-like resto and sat down a a small table near the kitchen.
We started off with a round of drinks which were nice and strong, despite their small size. For dinner we split the chicken liver & the spotted pig burger. Unfortunately, we definitely should have asked for the cheese on the side because it is CHEESAYYYY! The burger itself was cooked medium rare and was quite good! Too bad the cheese overpowered it for me ):
All in all, definitely glad I tried The Spotted Pig but probably would not return. -
Review from Joey S.
A little bit of a letdown here. I guess I was expecting something amazing, but all I got was good. First off, I didn't expect The Spotted Pig to be as TINY as it is. I am a small guy and I was pretty uncomfortable in the little corner nook I shared with my brother. The service was also up and down. The first waitress we had was slow and kind of mean. However, at some point after we ordered drinks, a new waitress started to serve us that was much more competent and friendly.
The only saving grace here was the food. We started off with some AWESOME chicken liver toast. It sounded super strange, but tasted oddly like a delicious pork bun. We also ordered some deviled eggs, which people rave about, but sadly these let me down too. I LOVE deviled eggs, but these were way too vinegary. Also I get it, this is a nice place, but 4 dollars for one deviled egg is a joke. The burger was also a bit of a letdown. It was good, but I have had better burgers for far less dough than the burger at The Spotted Pig. Also, not crazy about the shoe-string fries.
At the end of the day, it wasn't the worst dining experience, in fact it was pretty good, but it didn't live up to the hype for me, and I don't think it deserves 4 stars. -
Review from S D.
Manhattan, NY
Um, I have zero respect for a restaurant that serves burgers but does not carry mayonnaise or cheddar cheese. REALLY.
They are too good for mayo. They tried to explain it's because they have such high standards and proceeded to ask me if I'd like to make 500 gallons of mayo by hand. Huh? Sorry but I've had burgers all across America and Europe and never come across a restaurant with no mayo. Or a restaurant in America that is too good for cheddar cheese. -
Review from Justin M.
Brooklyn, NY
definitely a dining experience you shouldn't pass up. My girlfriend and I stumbled in here at 1AM after seeing a band play nearby.
The cheeseburger was one of a kind. Not the kinda burger I'd crave all the time but I will definitely never forget the taste of it. I'm not a huge fan of Roquefort cheese but the chef certainly proved to me that I could like it in the right scenario, and in my opinion that's what makes a great chef. Someone who tempts me to try something I don't usually like and then blows me away with how much I enjoy it. -
Review from Ivanka B.
Reading all the other reviews, I'm starting to think there is something wrong with me.
I wasn't such a fan of this spot.
I despise bleu cheese so didn't choose the burger that seems to be a fave amongst all the eager beavers.
The deviled eggs were disappointing b/c they were super vinegar-y
My fish & chips were over-fried :-(
The Pisco Sour I had was delightful but that's the extent of my satisfaction with this highly touted spot.
My friend's shoestring fries were very nice as well -
Review from Chris D.
This is one of the best burgers. The burger itself was soft and succulent. The meat was cooked to medium rare perfectoin and the estetically pleasing grill marks on the bun really did the trick.
You know you are eating a good burger when you don't even feel the need to reach for the ketchup. Mainly because you don't want to dilute the wonderful taste of the cheese that just makes the burger melt in your mouth.
They serve a house beer which is a cask beer and compliments this burger very well. The shoe string fries tower over the burger to make the plate that much more aesthetically pleasing to my starving stomach. Although a little cumbersome to tackle the fries at first they will soon disappear all together.
Note: It was very dimly lit at night. and seating proximity was a little to close for comfort. -
Review from Kajsa W.
Brooklyn, NY
over priced and over seasoned food that took for ever to get delivered by unfriendly staff.
We were sat on the top floor and the lady who waited on us was almost humorously unfriendly.
Crowd was mainly tourists. -
Review from Tim O.
Manhattan, NY
This has been my favorite 2-4am bar for a while now (it's the only time I can usually find a seat), and I'm ready to rate it now that I've had dinner.
So....the menu is pretty "out there". very interesting stuff put together, not all of which I fully understood. as far as their small plates go, I only had the lentil salad, and it was amazing. very weird, never tasted anything like it in my life, but delicious. I sat upstairs next to the bar and watched the chef VERY carefully and slowly making every small plate that came out -- made me pissed I was so scared of the descriptions on the menu because everything she put on the bar looked spectacular.
Following my nervous pattern, I opted for the burger and fries. Now, they use Roquefort cheese which is pretty much a very strong blue cheese, so I opted out. thank god i did because I tasted it later and it would have ruined my burger.
The burger was perfectly, and i mean PERFECTLY cooked (medium). my mom got hers well-done despite my upturned nose and telling her that was like putting A1 on a dry aged steak.. to my surprise, her burger was just as juicy as mine - she was sold immediately.
It was a perfect taste of char, and truly melted in your mouth. It came with a MASSIVE side of shoestring fries that were mixed with a generous portion of deep fried, finely sliced, fresh garlic.....helluva touch.
Great burger, great fries, and I'm certain no matter what i would've ordered would have been amazing. Next time I go, I'll make sure to be more adventurous. -
Review from Krystle S.
San Francisco, CA
It really deserves 3.5 stars, but our waitress was lackluster so I'm rounding down. Friends and I put our name down around 9pm on a Thursday night and were seated around 11:30 or so. The space is charming, the prices are standard, and the food was...fine. My three friends and I shared the Pan Roasted Skate with Wild Mushrooms ($28), Grilled Skirt Steak with Roasted Beets & Horseradish Cream ($28), two burgers ($17 each), and a side of beets and greens ($8).
Unfortunately our skate came bone-in which made for a confusing and less than pleasurable experience. It tasted fine, but not mind blowing. The skirt steak was my favorite dish of the evening and though spicy, I found the beets and greens to be quite intriguing (read: I just kept eating them). As for the burgers, I love blue cheese, so the Roquefort was welcomed, and it was cooked medium rare to my liking but it lacked the pizzaz I was hoping for after trying a few "city's best" burgers out in SF. The fries had some character with the thyme and garlic chips, but their shoestringyness made them difficult to eat so I gave up after a bite or two.
Overall, I wouldn't be opposed to going back but it's not high on my list. I'd imagine it is a total gem for after-midnight meals though. -
Review from Nancy W.
Palo Alto, CA
Took 45 minutes for a single biscuit to emerge from the kitchen -- and it was seriously under baked. Another 30 for a salad, which at least tasted all right. Iced tea was never refilled. Very pleasant waiter -- but what the heck was going on in the kitchen?
Maybe this is why they don't take reservations?
Stopping by the restroom on the way out, it was apparent that someone had thrown up in one of the toilets. I mentioned this to a waitress, who immediately went in to investigate. -
Review from Brian S.
Rocklin, CA
Cool bar with good food. Minimal lighting like a bar should have. Good burgers and fries. Its a cool spot to kick it with a brew and a burger fo sho! Deviled eggs were delicious too.
-
Review from Meredith M.
San Francisco, CA
I was verging on 4 stars JUST because they pack you in like sardines, but this place is worth the 5. Not crazy expensive, which is amazing because the food is so, so good.
We had a deviled egg to start, which may sound basic ($4) but they dressed it with chives and vinegar. Yum! I had the Duck, which was on special, but if it's your first time here go for the Burger. Not only is it the most affordable thing on the menu ($17), but they sure make sure you get your moneys worth. The burger is perfect, and the Roquefort cheese makes it so...and the overloaded frites tossed with rosemary are unforgettable. My favorite fries in the city so far.
Great selection of beers, wine and specialty cocktails. I love how they serve SF 21st Amendment beer, so cool. The menu is as eclectic as the decor, which I feel ties into the theme of everything nicely. The decor feels very hipster yet old New York. A huge amount of taxidermy, dark prohibition feel to the entire place. Loved it.
I think this place is owned by the same people who opened Breslin? Not sure. OH and GREAT date place, super romantic and intimate. They do NOT accept reservations so arrive before 7pm.Listed in: Unique Date Ideas, Hipster Hangouts
-
Review from Melissa L.
San Francisco, CA
The Spotted Pig has some crazy long waits (2 hours, really?) but after dining there, I now understand why. The food is good, really good.
We put our name down, was told it was going to be a 90 minute wait and thus went to run some errands in Soho. We came back one hour later and 30 minutes after that our table was ready. We were led upstairs to a table near the bar with a great view of all the action.
My friends and I split orders of the Devils on Horeseback, deviled eggs,a pot o' pickles and the crispy pig's ear salad to start. The Devils on Horseback are bacon-wrapped dates, a great mix of salty and sweet (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The eggs were creamy and light. The pickled vegetables were great, especially with our entree (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The pig's ear was tender with a nice, crispy coating that remained crunchy even though the salad was dressed (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). It paired well with the salad of arugula and parsley. Of all our starters, this was definitely my favorite.
For our entrees we all chose the burger with Roquefort cheese and shoestring fries (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Over half the plate was filled with those ultra thin and super crispy fries sprinkled throughout with rosemary. The fries were good, but oversalted. The burger was outstanding. It is served plain, with no vegetables, garnishes or condiments, as it didn't need any. I saw that there were only bottles of ketchup at the service station, presumably for the fries. The burger was thick and juicy and a perfect medium rare. The bun was firm enough to hold up until the last bite without breaking apart or becoming a soggy mess. The cheese, melted on top of the patty, had just enough tangy flavor to wave hello without taking over the lively convesation going on within the bun; the beef was clearly the star. This was truly one of the best hamburgers I've ever had, and I don't make that statement lightly. The pickled vegetables served as a nice break from the richness of the meat. A pint of the local Bronx Brewery pale ale was the perfect beverage to round out this meal.
All of the seats are stools. I think this discourages people from hanging around too long, which is fine by me and all the other people waiting patiently for one of their coveted tables. Heh. They don't take reservations so if you want to avoid a long wait come really early or really late. It's really dark inside and the noise level is really high, but not in a bad way. The vibe is pretty mellow and seems like the perfect spot for meeting up with friends and having a great time over a pint or two. I love the pig-themed decor throughout.
The Spotted Pig clearly respects the pig (and the cow) and allows their very fresh ingredients to shine.Listed in: N.Y.C., Baby!
-
Review from Mel P.
New York, NY
I definitely think this place is way over-rated. We made sure to get here early on a Friday evening (7:30 pm), and the host said it would be 2 1/2 hours for 3 people. We decided to stay and have drinks in the bar, and alas, the wait ended up being only an hour.
The bartenders were nice and actually put alcohol in the drinks - that was the highlight of my dining experience here. As for the meal, we split the:
- Deviled Eggs
- Prunes Wrapped in Bacon
- Burger and Fries
-Skate (think it was a special?)
Overall, the food was meh. We asked for the burger med-rare, but it came out beyond rare. The bf still ate it, but I was completely repulsed. Having been my first dining experience here after lots of rave reviews, I'm not sure that I'll be returning.
