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The Squealing Pig
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Irish Pubs, Breakfast & Brunch, Irish [Edit]
134 Smith St(between Huntington Ave & Wigglesworth St)
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
Neighborhood: Mission Hill
(617) 566-6651
- Nearest Transit:
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Huntington Ave @ Wigglesworth St (192, 39)
677 Huntington Ave (192, 35, 39)
Tremont St @ Worthington St (66)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
210 reviews for The Squealing Pig
Review Highlights
"The food is awesome and the beer selection is superb."
(in 60 reviews)
"By far the best bar in Mission Hill."
(in 23 reviews)
"...the crazy night -- live music with Mike Barrett is amazing."
(in 6 reviews)
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210 reviews in English
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Review from Sushmita m.
Somerville, MA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is in the running to be my favorite bar in Boston. So much so that it's worth taking the--shudder--green line and crossing the Charles River in the cold February wind. I suppose my only complaint might be the limited amount of tables--but this hasn't been a problem yet (sneak inside in time for happy hour!) and certainly adds to the charm.
The Tuscan truffle fries are the perfect accompaniment for a pint of one of the many excellent Belgian (and fancy! Chimay, LaChouffe, Delirium Tremens) beers or local brews offered on tap. And the fig, prosciutto, gorgonzola toastie was incredible. Must come back for the mars bar toastie. -
Review from christine t.
Somerville, MA
1/7/2012
I guess I have to come in after 5pm and try the pizza. They have goodt burgers. I loved the tomato garlic soup thing, The toasties are alright, I'd prefer the whole sammich be warm and not just the toasted bread on the outside. The fancy french fries are meh... the tuscans and the curries, little bland without the whoa you're anticipating when you read the menu description. The fish and chips look awesome but I don't like fish. Good coffee, good irish tea, good service.
That mar's bar toastie thing on waffles, totally worth it. FYI you have to get a good bite of waffle, banana, mars bar, whip cream and strawberry into your mouth for real enjoyment.
They renovated over the Christmas break so check it out it's all spiffy inside with the new bar.
They have a another joint down in Provincetown, and the owners are related to the owners of Tavern at the End of the World. -
Review from Lauren v.
12/21/2011 6 Check-ins Here
What in the hell is going on with the thermostat in this place? Depending on where you are sitting you will be subjected to intermittent blasts of arctic air followed by nostril-cracking heat. I don't get it.
Regardless, it's a (sometimes excessively) cozy spot to grab a beer and some food. Now, everyone knows the Mars Bar toastie, I mean, it has it's own spot on the wall for chrissakes. But don't overlook the other sandwiches as well. Perhaps a step up over typical pub grub. Personally, I'm a sucker for the potato and salt mix memorialized in french fry form. Even with the best intentions, I usually find myself faced with a plate of curry fries and just a smidgeon of guilt. (I'll work it off at the gym I don't belong to!)
The service is not really friendly. In fact, the few times I have asked to sit at a certain table (to avoid the aforementioned -70 degree wind chill), my polite requests have been met with flustered or annoyed acquiescence. Weird. Regardless, I always have fun at the Pig and so I will continue to return. See you there. I'll be the girl dressed in layers regardless of the season. -
Review from Alice S.
Boston, MA
12/7/2011
I liked this place, but I'm not sure I loved it.
First, a disclaimer: this isn't the kind of place I normally get excited about. Don't get me wrong - I will go anywhere for good food, regardless of ambiance (that kind of attitude is practically a prerequisite for anyone with a love of authentic Asian food). However, if I can have great food in a comfortable yet hip atmosphere, all the better.
The Squealing Pig looks like your typical Boston pub with rustic wood tables and unassuming decor. However, this place beats most pubs of a similar nature due to the variety and quality of food offered. The menu is extensive and includes interesting combinations of ingredients not normally found in this type of setting (e.g., mussels steamed in chardonnay; prosciutto, fig jam, and gorgonzola toastie; spiced vegetable curry with basmati and papadum). My friend and I were not in particularly adventurous moods the night we visited The Squealing Pig, and thus ordered pretty typical pub fare: burger, chili fries, and shepherd's pie.
I didn't taste my friend's burger, but I can say that the chili fries and the shepherd's pie were both great. The shepherd's pie, in particular, was warm and hearty in exactly the way you expect a shepherd's pie to be (however, if you want a more upscale version of a shepherd's pie, you must go to Stephanie's on Newbury which serves my favorite version of this dish). The shepherd's pie was presented as an enormous bowl of tender lamb stew with root vegetables, completed with creamy, delicious mashed potatoes. Perfect for a cold winter day.
I'm not much of a beer drinker, so I can't properly comment on the pub's drink selection, but my friend was more than pleased with the variety of beers on the menu. My glass of white wine was typical of what you'd expect in a pub that doesn't have a wine menu.
In summary - good, hearty food that is better than you'd expect from the decor. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of the more unusual menu items, particularly the pizzas my friend speaks so fondly of.
What to order:
- chili fries
- shepherd's pie -
Review from Basile B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place is awesome. Good beer selection, great music on Thursdays. This place rocks and I go every time I'm in Boston. Oh, the food is good too. Try the waffle creation thing. It's the tits.
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Review from Les P.
Boston, MA
1/13/2012
Food great, service horrible.
Bouncer was very rude as well and did not look like he wanted to be there.
Pretty sad we were treated so rudely when voiced we were unhappy about an item we were argued with...very strange for a customer service atmosphere! -
Review from S T.
Boston, MA
1/26/2012
Really good food and a good selection of beer. I love coming here but they charge extra for everything, from extra curry to a swap in sides. Also, no free refills. As long as you;re aware of all these extra costs, it's a great experience.
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Review from K. Brooke Z.
Boston, MA
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great brew and good fries. This is somewhere I would take my friends to hang out and enjoy a beer. Tables are a bit sticky though!
What I like about the Squealing Pig is that its definitely a bar, but manages not to blow out your eardrums.
Friendly staff too! -
Review from Dan C.
8/19/2011
Eeeeek. Some reviews you feel bad writing, but with great disappointment, comes great responsibility...
I've been here more than a few times to confirm this suspicion, but the Pig is the weakest link of the Longwood bar/grill scene. I recently went here with two coworkers and ALL THREE of our dishes were mildly disappointing. Buffalo wings/sauce were watery and weak, Seafood chowder was essentially salty potato soup, and a club sandwich ended up having less than a half of a strip of bacon in it.
WTF?!
I'd pass all this off on a horrible day where the cook's wives all left them at the same time, but this seems to happen EVERY time I go here. In 3-4 visits, I've never left feeling GOOD about a meal.
Food aside, this place seems to subscribe to the single waitress philosophy of service. On a busy lunch or even dinner shift it seems like one waitress and one bartender cover an entire restaurant.
Again, WTF?!
Its not uncommon to wait 20 minutes to order and an additional 40 for your meal to actually arrive. In high end up-scale restaurants I'm often annoyed by this phenomenon, but here? That's inexcusable. These aren't gourmet entrees that are being prepared. A soup requires a ladle, an opposable thumb, one arm, and a bowl. Waiting the better part of an hour for those items to connect is just plain disappointing.
All of these factors considered, I can't really credit the Pig for doing anything particularly well. They have the largest collection of porcelain pigs as decorations. If that is a key seller to your patronage, maybe this is the restaurant for you. If not, keep walking. -
Review from Sidney L.
Boston, MA
8/21/2011
The Squealing Pig is the favorite watering hole of the Longwood Medical crowd. Pharmacists, doctors, researchers...we often find ourselves here after a long day of work. I've been here so many times, I can't even remember.
Good:
- The Pig Burger was well cooked and sumptuous.
- You can get truffle fries instead of regular fries with your burger for $1.50 more. I don't taste much truffle, but I like the parmesan with fries.
- The fig, gorgonzola, and prosciutto toastie was delicious. It was an incredible combination of sweet (fig), sharp (gorgonzola), and salty (prosciutto).
- Good selection of beers, both on tap and by the bottle.
Bad:
- It can get a little loud and hard to hear across the table.
- The beers are a little bit expensive, maybe $1 or $2 more than you would pay for them at another beer hall.
Every Thursday, they host this hilarious (and hilariously inappropriate) Irish folk singer named Mike Barrett. He plays a bunch of classic Irish songs, along with some originals. Everyone seems to know all the lyrics, so the entire bar will be singing along. It's a tremendously grand time, and I highly recommend it. -
Review from Bill K.
Boston, MA
12/10/2011
I'll start by saying that when we first walked in we couldn't find a seat and we Longwood medical student crowd are really annoying dbags and no fun to drink with and we almost walked out. So, why am I giving it 5 stars? But then we found a table. Aaaaand discovered the beer selection is phenomenal. I've never seen my favorite high-end beers at prices so low. And there were new ones I wanted to try so I know I'm going back. Burger I had was phenomenal, although I don't see what the fuss was about for the Tuscan fries. Service was fantastic as well.
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Review from Karina L.
8/13/2011
Great place to hang out. The Squealing Pig strikes the perfect balance between intimate and noisy bar.
I ended up enjoying the food more-so than the beer. This is not to say that their food is amazing, or that their beer stinks. I just don't really like beer. I came with a friend who did and we were both wow'd by the amazing selection of peer. I'm talking double-sided menu of 10pt font listings of beer. The descriptions are super helpful for a beer newbie (like me) and the wait staff was super patient for those completely overwhelmed by the selection (me).
Some things about the food-
1- They are complete liars when they said the pizza is for "one person". It's a little smaller than a pie. My friend and I ordered the pizza AND the sandwich and we had to baggy most of the food hope. We got the sausage and pineapple pizza...and ended up taking the pineapple off. So sour! Ick.
2- Fig and prosciutto sandwich was a-maazing. It was such a wonderful balance of flavors and it's as fancy as bar food can get. Fries that came with it were pretty good.
3- Mars bars waffle was delicious. But then we realized we were paying 8 dollars to eat a frozen waffle with a chocolate bar shoved in between it. Awesome concept, but I suggest making it at home. -
Review from Rebecca V.
Boston, MA
9/19/2011
I wouldn't know about this place unless I was brought here by a regular. It was late at night and I felt like I was walking a maze through the streets of Mission Hill to get here.
Man, was the confusion worth it! I had the best burger of my life here! It was absolutely deliciously seasoned, perfectly cooked, and the fries were great, too.
I was talking to a friend about this place and I couldn't remember the name. Upon Yelping, I found it ... he was bothered by the vision given by a squealing pig at an eating establishment. I say ... hey ... whatever ... the food was amazing and there was an excellent beer selection.
Also, the bar staff was extremely friendly and I felt at home right away. -
Review from Wang Treecy E.
Dracut, MA
8/12/2011
I am reviewing for the atmosphere at night. This place is a great chill spot, they play a different type of music, music that I don't usually listen to. More like hippie, house, old days style? They have great choices of beer which is a plus.
I will come again but next time for lunch and will rereview! -
Review from Tom K.
4/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have to say, this place didn't meet my expectations. But don't fret. I'm one of those people that walked into this place with unimaginably high expectations. Luckily, I still walked out of here loving the place!
The ugly:
[intentionally omitted]
The bad:
Its loud. Really loud. Our group of 6 had a hard time hearing each other across the table.
Parking. Parking can be tough. Half our group had to circle a bit to find a spot.
The mediocre:
The service. It was quick, but so quick I sometimes missed my opportunity to order a beer when my friends did. As soon as she took their order, she was g o n e.
The potato salad. I didn't care for it personally. The table was split between liking it and not. Oh well.
The good:
The fries. We came here for the fries and while they weren't worth the trip when taken alone, they were still good.
The sandwiches. People seemed to love their burgers. My prosciutto, fig, and gorgonzola sandwich was great.
The great:
The beers. The had a solid selection of beers that aren't typically found in this part of town. I was a bit surprised at the number of taps and the beers they had. Winners all around.
The ambiance. Its a pub, that's for sure, but its warm and very inviting. Doesn't come off as pretentious at all, which wouldn't be hard given whats on the menu and on tap. But it doesn't. Big plus.
All in all, I'd come back. They do the most important things right, the beer, the food, and the ambiance, and the rest can be forgiven. I'm sold.Listed in: Come for the beer, stay for…
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Review from Jeannie H.
Boston, MA
6/12/2011
ATMOSPHERE - Noisy but a very relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. It's not the best smelling place but no bar ever is.
SERVICE - Fair but as expected for a pub.
FOOD - They have a great selection of beers on tap including Chimay white. We ordered Tuscan fries and what arrived were Curry fries. They were crispy. The calamari was overly battered and frankly rubbery. I ordered a Grass Fed Burger medium and it arrived more than well done but it was still decently moist. My major gripe was that everything needed salt but I suppose I'd rather have my food arrive under than over salted.
Great beer selection and decent food for a pub so I'll be back. -
Review from Kelsey F.
4/12/2011
This review is based on coming here once on a recent Thursday night for some beers and the Irish Singer guy who I think is Mike Barret?
Well I wasn't sure what to expect but I will say that I am very happy someone introduced me to The Squealing Pig. It has a cozy, intimate, and irish pub like atmosphere. As soon as you walk in you feel as though everyone knows eachother. They have a great beer selection - and I may just be addicted to Wachusett Blueberry after my visit here.
Now apparently every Thursday this guy Mike Barret sings here. He is awesome. He does some cover songs but then also has his own songs including what seemed to be his biggest hit - Boston Cab Driver. Everyone in the bar knows the words, sings along, bangs on the tables - it made me feel like I was back in Dublin!
I will definitley be back to The Squealing Pig on a Thursday. It seems like it's a good kept secret but sorry I may have to just tell some people (or everyone) about it! -
Review from James L.
Barrington, RI
8/25/2011
I love to squeal. I'll sqeal any night of the week. Solo, with friends, doesn't matter. As long as I get my squeal on, I'm content.
The lobster roll is huge (biggest in boston area) and the beers are cheap. Between 4-7 dollars for big/fun beers on tap. Fish & chips is also very good.
Great atmosphere on the weekends, highly reccomended. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Boston, MA
6/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Drinks after work with some co-workers turned into trying whatever the server recommended and ordering a massive amount of apps to munch on.
We actually tried to go to The Mission first but it was packed and the wait was going to be 30 mins. So we put our name in and walked down to The Squealing Pig to see if we could sit down faster. We were seated in a corner booth right away.
The service was excellent and the selection of beers was fantastic plus the food we inhaled was pretty tastey as well. This is a nice little spot for a bite and a beer (or two).
It did get a little loud as the sun went down but any bar will.
I will definitely return since its so close to work. -
Review from Maggie S.
Waltham, MA
5/2/2011
My husband and I are always looking for restaurants that support local farmers and provide responsible food. We were at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston a few weeks ago for an appointment and when we were through needed to grab a late lunch. We stumbled across The Squealing Pig on yelp and found out that they had Bell & Evans chicken on their menu and grass fed local beef as well.
I loved the decor and layout of the restaurant and enjoyed the poster art work done by local artists inside. They had a pretty good beer selection as well. I always enjoy a nice hoppy IPA and they had plenty of options for me. The service was friendly and solid. The food was delicious and responsible. We will definitely come back to enjoy a good time, great food and good beers! -
Review from Mick T.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/13/2011 2 photos
The Irish Breakfast is still top notch; huge, filling, tasty, with good quality meats; comes with scrambled eggs, 3 jumbo Irish Sausages, slices of B&W pudding, 2 rashers (Irish bacon), fried tatties. Last time I had the Fish'n'Chips I would rank it 2nd only to The Druid's, the salads are decent too, fresh and substantial.
Beer selection is quite large with a variety of regular and fancy local and imported brews, prices are very reasonable.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2008
Good salad, great, maybe the best Irish breakfast near downtown, and a good pint of Guinness.
I have… Read more »
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Review from Jim B.
Somerville, MA
10/16/2011
This "tavern" is amazing, and, I'll tell you why... natural light to amplify the greatness! Most area "pubs" run deep from the main doors and windows and rely on fancy lighting, (or darkness,) hide the rough edges and set the mood. This place is lucky enough to be aligned with some natural plane that makes windows and ambient sky vicious lovers. Go there. Enjoy the food, drink and ambience. Walk away. Try to forget it. Then, return.
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Review from Josh N.
Boston, MA
9/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great atmosphere, fries and an Irish fry-up for brunch gets this place four stars. It's a fun place to hang out and just enjoy the atmosphere. The owners are from Ireland, and it definitely has that feel. One of the better pubs in the area.
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Review from Kelsey M.
Boston, MA
10/1/2011
Nice little tucked-away bar on Smith street. All three times we have been there the waiter service was fair. The food is OK, nothing to write home about. There are many beers on tap at around $5.25 each. This place gets ridiculously loud when it is full.
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Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
11/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
They live up to all the hype.
I'm probably a bad Husky because I never went here during my foray at Northeastern University. I'll make it up, I promise!!!
The beer selection is great! They have Fransikaner on draught and it was only like $5!!! And They have Scheider Adventinus in bottle AGAIN only $5 (This is easily $11 or so in other places).
The curry fries, AMAZING!
I had the fig, procuitto and gorgonzola pressed sandwich with potato salad and it was very very tasty. Hubby's fish and chips were also crispy and didn't have too much batter, which is always nice.
I am planning on coming back to try their pizza (They have a pizza with Portuguese linguica and mashed potatoes. UM AMAZING!?!?!) as well as to try the dessert toastie. If we weren't so full from all the curry fries we would have gotten the dessert.
Good excuse to come back! -
Review from Steph K.
Boston, MA
10/5/2011
Only went here once but the food was AMAZING. Highly recommend the veggie quesadilla and the french fries with parmesan. Good beer selection. We went at an odd time (around 3:30pm) so the service wasn't anything to write home about.
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Review from Stephen P.
Boston, MA
1/3/2011 1 photo
The Pig is tucked into a side street just East of Brigham Circle. The Pig will get your order wrong. They will swap your check with another member of your party. They will forget an entree and deny all claims of its request. Though plied with promises of handsome tippage they will take twenty minutes to bring drinks to an impromptu toast. They will be absolutely dead and ignore you or be madly packed and hover over you. They will, in short, be at odds with you.
I haven't had a good experience here and I've only ever left mildly annoyed.
That being said, the food is tolerable and the taps that aren't dry are decent. The waitstaff are not terribly helpful but they are well-meaning and the Squealing Pig is usually a sight cozier than the Mission down the street. -
Review from Doug W.
Jamaica Plain, MA
9/25/2010
I generally don't like to write reviews based on the experience of one visit. While first impressions are important, I much prefer to get a real sense of a place before sharing my opinion with others, and, as I'm sure you can imagine, multiple visits are generally required for this. But since my first experience at the Pig was bad enough to ensure I never go back, I'm limited to my small sample size for this review. Since I imagine the place might be better under different circumstances (I've heard good things about their brunch), I'll allow them the benefit of the doubt and give them two stars instead of the one star I'd like to give them.
It was a warm summer Friday night, and some friends and I had just left a film screening at the MFA and weren't quite ready for the evening to end. And so, quite by accident, we happened upon the Squealing Pig. It wasn't crowded, it looked cozy, and seemed to have a good beer menu. We were happy.
The music was great, too. It started with some old school hot jazz with Louie Armstrong well-represented in the mix, and I remember someone commenting on how well the music complemented the decor or something ridiculous like that. But as our conversation continued on, we noticed we were gradually talking louder and louder. There were four of us at our table, and we were soon leaning in and shouting across the table to be heard. We flagged down our waitress and asked if the music could be lowered a bit. She went to the bar where the DJ was sitting with his laptop ("DJ JD," I believe), and the music quickly returned to pre-ear splitting levels. Our conversation likewise resumed at a normal, human volume.
But no sooner had we settled back in our chairs did the music slowly return to its previous jet engine volume. Three songs later we were again shouting across a tiny table, twisting our ears towards the speaker's mouth in a futile hope of catching the gist of what they were trying to say.
"This is crazy," I thought. "I'm not going to just sit idly by while this DJ ruins our evening!" Taking matters in my own hands, I approached the fellow behind the laptop and politely asked if he wouldn't mind turning the volume down a wee bit. "YOU SEE, MY FRIENDS AND I CAN BARELY HEAR EACH OTHER!" I yelled, gesturing toward my table, where one of my friends was clearly shouting into his girlfriend's ear, two inches away. "HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HERE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT?" the DJ asked. "UH, NO, I HAVEN'T, WHY?" "WELL, THIS IS KINDA WHAT WE DO HERE ON FRIDAY NIGHTS." He turned away. Conversation over. The message was clear: you're on my turf, so you're going to play by my rules.
I headed back to my seat, defeated, and thought of a good half dozen witty retorts I wish I had thrown back at him. "Yeah? Maybe THAT'S why it's dead in here." The Pig was definitely on the empty side, which was likely due in no small part to the absurdly loud music. After we left, we could still hear it down the street. It could have been an awesome night, but the jerk DJ with the out-sized ego ruined it for us. The crazy thing is we LIKED his music when we first walked in--it added a great ambiance--but we came to the Pig to hang out and drink some beers, not to listen to him string together an obvious and predictable chain of hit songs and then be treated rudely.
It sounds like this guy is a fixture there on Friday nights, so if you're looking for a good evening out at the end of the week, avoid the Squealing Pig. -
Review from Jess C.
Boston, MA
3/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has great beers. The pizza is delicious too and the Tuscan fries are also yumyumyum! This is a great place for groups to go also, not to mention the fireplace in the back is awesome in winter. Really good vibe, can get kind of crowded but I think in this place it's cozier that way!
p.s. Try the Zinfandel if you're in the mood for wine! -
Review from Rach K.
1/11/2011
Yum!
Came here with a friend (who went to college in Boston) for beers one night and lunch the next day. Can't say too much about the night time festivities because I was sleepy and drinking and I was there with boys so I never had to deal with the bartender myself. However, atmosphere was nice, though there was a weird DJ playing weird music.
For lunch the next day we went and got sandwiches. I got a sandwich with prosciutto and fig preserves, which was really good. My companion got a toned down version of a Cuban (ham, pickles, cheese but no pulled pork). Both of our sandwiches came with a potato salad which didn't have much mayo (which is good for me, as mayo makes me nauseated sometimes) but it did have a lot of whole grain mustard and parsley, which was so yummy.
Cute and casual place with nice ambiance (pig themed, obviously). -
Review from Bao Anh N.
Brookline, MA
9/14/2011
Food is good bar food, but nothing spectacular. But if you are frequenting this place, you've probably come not for a grand dining experience but for the casual atmosphere, beer, and trivia night. Fun place to unwind with friends. My friend and I split a plate of curry fries (the sauce was pretty good) and fish and chips. However, the place does get very loud.
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Review from Marcus D.
Updated - 7/15/2011
I still love the Squealing Pig. Great beer selection for all the beer snobs. I was in here the Friday before the Fourth of July and it wasn't yet crazy crowded and you could still hear the person across from you talking.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/24/2008
I've only been here once and it had a sort of commercial appeal. I think Donna Summers is from the… Read more »
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Review from M W.
7/11/2011
This place tends to be loud and crowded unless there late night. I love their calamari with roasted peppers and tomato, curry fries, and shephard's pie (when in season). The beer menu is impressive if you are into that sort of thing (I am not), but all the bartenders are capable of making a good Manhattan (they carry Knob Creek!) or a Perfect Martini with Ketel One....the easy stuff.
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Review from Amanda A.
8/16/2010
Yay! The Pig is my 100th review!
I figured it was about time- I used to frequent the place years ago, moved away, and now I've been back a few times- twice last week!
I think I like this place mostly because of the laid back pub atmosphere. I am a sucker for an Irish pub. I also appreciate that they serve the Mars Bar Toastie (a deep-fried Mars bar on a Belgian waffle with whipped cream, bananas and strawberries) , even though I may never order it.
I was kind of boring and ordered variations on the same thing in my two visits last week. For lunch, I got the Proscuitto, Fig jam, and Gorgonzola sandwich. Oh em gee...SO good. It could have used a wee bit more fig jam, but it was lovely. Just delicious. The greens I ordered (and paid $2 extra for) on the side was disappointing. I'm not a fan of pepper or arugula and this had both in spades (arugula being peppery, I know). I mentioned this to the waitress when she checked in on us and she said that it must be the dressing. So next time I know to get the dressing on the side and request less arugula if possible.
For dinner Friday night, I got the Proscuitto, Fig jam, and Gorgonzola pizza. Just as delicious, if not better, because they'd upped the jam content. My one and only complaint is that they should really shop up the proscuitto into more bite-sized pieces. The big pieces made it nearly impossible to eat gracefully.
The service is usually pretty good, although on my Friday evening visit, we noted that we didn't seem to have one waitress assigned to us- there was a team of them circling which made it difficult to place our order and get things followed up on like water refills (never happened). It was strange. Not preferred as a customer.
The Pig is a great hangout. The food is tasty (yes, I've had other menu items besides things that involve proscuitto, fig jam and gorgonzola), even if you want things to cost at least $1-2 less. Great place to drink, too. Pretty large beer selection and from what I could tell, whiskey and scotch, too (my weapon of choice).
Note: they are sensitive to you taking those bench seats by the windows in the front section. Although we were going to be a party of five, we were shuffled to the back room. Meh. -
Review from Josie G.
Boston, MA
7/17/2011
My friend and I had walked past the Squealing Pig hundreds of times back in college, and just recently thought about going in. While on the hunt for somewhere for lunch today, we decided to stop in. We ordered two Wachusett blueberries (delicious fresh berries on top), a bacon/avocado/tomato sandwich and a fig jam/prosciutto sandwich- both yummy. The truffle fries were good, but the parmesan cheese seemed directly from the shaker at the pizza joint on the corner. They could have been much better! I liked the feel of the place, and it didn't seem that it'd be chock full of Conor Larkin's patrons, so I know we'll be back!
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Review from Madison M.
Boston, MA
1/28/2011
Mmmmm tuscan fries! So delish!
Great casual vibe with some really creative and delicious dining options. Gets super crowded on trivia night so get there a half hour early to get a table or avoid if you're not interested. -
Review from M N.
Cambridge, MA
8/21/2011
Yeah, about that Longwood bar/grill scene...
I've been here a few times for after-work drinks and "special" lunches with coworkers. I'm sure I will return at some point but not for any other reason than fulfilling social obligations at work. I may sound a bit harsh here, but it's really the food that gets to me. Sitting around and drinking after work is actually perfectly pleasant, albeit noisy.
The truffle fries were disappointing- not sure where the truffle was in any of it, but they were limp, barely warm and sprinkled with what looked and tasted like Kraft shake-on parmesan cheese. Looking around the table at everyone's dishes at lunchtime was entirely unappetizing- giant burgers and 'toasties' with a heap of potato salad on the side. The other vegetarian in the group mistakenly chose the mixed green salad, which was a pile of romaine lettuce with some sad tomatoes on top.
Sigh. Maybe the dinnertime pizzas make up for it? -
Review from Nik B.
5/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was a really great spot to hang out on a Friday night. That is of course, until the disappointed group of Bruins fans plastered in glo-ware invaded the bar.
If you go later at night, you're limited to the bar menu, which is a limited set of sandwiches. I had the grilled salmon sandwich. The salmon was (surprise, surprise) overcooked, but the flavors tied with it were great. Thin sliced of cooked potatoes, spinach and dill yogurt. It all ties together pretty well.
For those looking for a liquor based drink, there is no cocktail menu, though they have a full bar, and are willing to make you drinks on request. I had a well made Makers' Whiskey sour ($8).
The Squealing Pig is a great neighborhood joint for anyone in the area.
bonus - ethic points for putting Niman Ranch dogs on the kids menu, props for starting kids off the right way! -
Review from Gerald R.
Cambridge, MA
5/8/2010
I have never left a place of business more annoyed than I did today at the Squealing Pig.
Today they charged me an extra dollar for a multi-grain roll and a refill of soda without letting me know those items were extra or refills were not free. They clearly say $1 extra for fries, cheese, or bacon on their menu but not for the other items. How would I known if they are not up front about this?
While I respect the right of the proprietor to charge for any extra items (s)he wants - they must make it clear to the customer that there is an extra charge for it - like they are doing with their other items. It is not good business practice to just add it on the bill.
When I asked the waitress about it she seemed shocked that I would even question it and told me they have a right to change the prices "at anytime." Needless to say, under normal circumstances, I would have refused to pay but I was out with a guest and didn't want to get him involved since I was treating.
Sorry to say - I will not eat there anymore. I will not pay $30 for two sandwiches, a coke, tip,and a few nefarious "gotcha" charges. -
Review from Martha V.
Boston, MA
8/16/2011
Everybody here may not remember your name but they sure as heck remember what you drink! Great ambiance and spirits. Food is also pretty good (the pizzas are similar to Penquin pizza - right up the road - they were connected at some point). They have a great beer selection. Perfect way to wind down after work!
