(photo from Our Food Adventure)
I recently met up with an old friend to have dinner at the Flying Pig in Gastown (which he constantly mis-calls the Flying Pork). It had been a place that both of us had on our "must-eat" lists. We arrived at around 6:30pm on a Friday night and were (surprisingly) promptly seated upstairs in a quaint corner. Tables for 2 were plentiful at this point in time, if you have a group of 3 or more, that's where the waiting begins. This "nouveau Canadian bistro" serves up delicious hearty dishes utilizing fresh local ingredients and takes it on their unique name to inspire for the impossibles to happen in their cozy dining room.
The restaurant was quite a bit larger than I had pictured in my mind. At the time of our arrival, it was already bustling with people inside with a short line-up outside (tip: they do not take reservations)! The first thought that popped into my mind about the Flying Pig was Kinfolk Magazine. The décor and ambiance of the place seemed like it came out of a page from Kinfolk. Our little table was situated between the ledge where we were able to overlook fellow diners downstairs and the windows that gave us a lovely view of the streets at night.
Their menu stumped us for a good 10-15 minutes. Being hungry and indecisive is one of the worst combinations for me (think: you want to order everything). After some thoughtful discussion, my friend ordered the roasted sirloin which came with fries, I ordered the signature pork rack which came with pulled pork poutine, and we added on a side of shortrib macaroni to share.
We were offered a complimentary breadbasket with an olive oil and balsamic dip - nothing too special, but it kept our tummies from wild grumbling. I'm not sure if our food came out quickly or if we were swallowed by conversation and didn't notice how much time had gone by, but we were pleasantly greeted by three scrumptious plates of comfort in no time.
Just before we began devouring our food, the restaurant suddenly dimmed its lights and then boom - strings of light on the trees out on the streets lit up! It was like Christmas morning! I can't recall exactly what time that occurred, but I am glad that we were there for it. It was enchanting and slightly magical (great for a first date as it adds a sprinkle of romance).
We ended up sharing all of our food and had to agree that the signature pork rack was out of this world! The tenderness of it and the way it was marinated was absolutely delicious (I'm drooling as I'm typing). If you've never visited The Flying Pig or if you have and have never tried the pork rack, GET IT! The pulled pork poutine complimented the pork rack like a cherry on top.
(Signature Pork Rack with Pulled Pork Poutine)
(Roasted Sirloin with Fries
My friend's sirloin was just ok (it's steak, what can you expect)! I did poke fun of him for ordering a sirloin at The Flying Pig (considering his myriad of choices). The fries that it came with were also mediocre. Our side of shortrib macaroni was hearty and tasty - though I have had better macaroni elsewhere. Service was efficient and pleasant. Our server was just the right amount of chatty. I did notice quite a number of tables ordering the beef short rib - something to consider for my next visit!
Overall, I would say this was a great experience and I definitely see myself coming back to The Flying Pig in the near future. I have colleagues who boast about their brunch menu and 'appy hour and am excited to try it out for myself soon!
Have you been to The Flying Pig?
xo
Lori
