4. Restaurants

The Blind Pig

31431 Santa Margarita Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688
  • (949) 888-0072
  • Store is closed

The Blind Pig Menu

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KFC ( 29840 Santa Margarita )

Visit below restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita for healthy meals suggestion.

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  • Allison C.

    This is one of my favorite places. The staff and drinks are amazing!! The food is delicious. Keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Norma A.

    Came back here for late dinner on 4th of July. I soooo love the food and service here. All the servers are friendly and attentive. It was the 4th of July so the acoustic performer was off :-( Anyhow, these 2 small plates are what I had for dinner and it was PHe-No-Me-Nal! Hawaiian Burrata and Mushroom Poke. Talk about innovative and awesome tasting. I've been to restaurants where it is creative and innovative but it lacks flavor. That is definitely not the case here. Thanks Chef Joshua! One request though, please bring back the Guava Creme Brûlée.

    (5)

  • Nima K.

    This place is too good for its own sake. Food is overpriced for its quality, the guy singing live is super loud and annoying. Ok to grab a drink but don't bother if you want good food. One gets the impression that the staff thinks they are too cool to even be here.

    (2)

  • Alison G.

    Always get great service here. The one time that our burger took too long the manager quickly took it off our bill. We hadn't even complained!! Aaron and Vinnie are awesome and attentive. Food is great, and they have great entertainment. Love it when Troy plays. So glad this place opened in RSM!

    (5)

  • Kathleen S.

    Love that they allow dogs on their patio!! Great view of the lake. Yummy sounding menu, but felt the taste was just ok. Great happy hour pricing though.

    (3)

  • Robert M.

    A very much needed space in sleepy Rancho Santa Margarita. Fantastic service, unique drinks (and beers), and delicious food. I tried a couple of things on the menu and was not disappointed. The location, facing the lake, was great also, and they are open late, even after many chain restaurants in the area have closed. Happy as a blind pig to find this place.

    (5)

  • Kimberly K.

    Wonderful mixed cocktails, great service , beautiful location on the lake... Have the food as well! Delicious!

    (5)

  • Taryn C.

    I like the atmosphere and the severs are always nice but their happy hour is SO boring. Not worth it unless you're just going to get a regular sized and priced meal.

    (3)

  • Cassandra P.

    Could be pricey... But food is amazing! Great trendy environment, and OMG, the bartenders are HOTT!!! LOVE this place!

    (5)

  • Cee P.

    Cute little place! Super chill, and although I only had the kale salad so far (which was the most legit kale salad ever, lol) I'd totally come back and try other items from the menu.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    Some of the food is good, but it just was'nt for us. Alot of special items here and the chef's gourmet touch is really good, but you know what they say....different stokes, for different folks. If you're into just kicking back and having a nice drink, along with a beautiful veiw.....you'll be right at home here.

    (3)

  • Jamie W.

    I've been occasionally monitoring the reviews of the Blind Pig since it opened. In fairness to them, I wanted to given them time to work out the kinks (service, food, etc) before I tried it. It seems that everyone with a less than 4 star review has the same complaints: bad service, strange food, high prices and small portions. Finally, we tried it this past week. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess. Our waitress arrived at our table almost immediately and took our drink order. She was personable and welcoming. Drinks came in about 5 minutes. We were off to a good start! We started with the Humboldt Fog macaroni. I liked how the nectarine and pecan broke up the rich flavor of the cheese. This was a 5 star appetizer. We also tried a tempura prawn appetizer. The prawns themselves were okay (though not crispy) but the vinaigrette/sauce it came with tasted exactly like liquid smoke. I think it was supposed to taste like bacon. I couldn't really see what I was eating but knew that this dish was overly complicated and perhaps someone in the kitchen was trying way too hard to be interesting. We shared the fried chicken for the entree. The chicken breast portion was cooked perfectly but whatever the second piece was (once again, I couldn't see it) was chewy and possibly undercooked. The asparagus it came with were different though tasty, but the underlying sauce didn't compliment the entire dish. Since it was date night, we finished up with the brownie desert. No complaints here, it was very good. What this place has working for them: - nice patio space, trendy but not a hipster clientele, amazing drinks and a menu that is different from anything you'll find in the area. Maybe they have tweaked things slightly but I don't think they have small portions and the prices aren't bad. Remember people, this isn't Claim Jumper. What this place has working against them: - a patio that is far too dark. Even with perfect eyesight, I couldn't distinguish a lot of the things on my plate. - a menu, that based on the four things we ordered was sort of hit or miss. - uneven service: started out fantastic but started to go a little south. Longer waits for the waitress to come back despite not being busy, and a busboy that took away our dishes before we has finished what was on them (and so quickly we couldn't stop him). - one person his and hers bathrooms: the woman in the line in front of me took so long (at least 10 minutes) I decided to hold it till I got home. A) because hello! 10 minutes away from my date is not acceptable and B) I was afraid to go in after her. So in the end, my vote for the Blind Pig somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I think it has a lot of potential and might give it another shot in the future - maybe even just for afternoon cocktails.

    (3)

  • Mark F.

    Walked In blind and luckily butted heads with the dapperly individual by the name of randy. the service, music, overall vibe of this establishments was great and to sum this rant up....if Randy is working, show up.

    (5)

  • Kassy V.

    Amazing food and good beer! Some of the beers they have on their menu I've never heard of before so it's nice to try something new for a change. Their menu changes every week so it stays interesting. Their burgers are amazing

    (5)

  • Christina P.

    I love Blind! You guys have so much passion and talent for what you do. In love with the new menu! AND the cocktails! Try anything the bartender can surprise you with. Must try the pear and Brandy cocktail too. Food... Everything! That doesn't help but everything from the fries to the sisig to the desserts... Your desserts are always on point. That banana bread! Ps: Portions are great! Generous and Fair!

    (5)

  • Stacey E.

    Great music combined with a great vibe. They have a unique cocktail list, and the bartenders really know how to make an outstanding Old Fashion. Had a great time sitting around the fireplace on the outside patio last night. The view of the lake was super calming after a hard day of work

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Ate at the Blind Pig recently with my wife and overall we enjoyed the meal but we were not blown away. Servers were very friendly, though consistently referred to me as 'boss', I can't stand that. :) Drinks were served quickly but food was slow, taking over 30 minutes to receive an appetizer. Our meals were good but both of us walked away lining the atmosphere but not sold overall on the food.

    (3)

  • Megan V.

    If the rating was for ambiance it would be 5 stars. Almost everyone who helped us was awesome...but our server was the weak link in this equation. Food was above average... the Brussels sprouts were really good as were the pork croquettes (they're fried so what's not to like?!?). They deliver the food as it comes out of the kitchen...which is a little different, but would've been okay, aside from the fact that we kept telling them we were missing a meal (my husband's) when they counted off what was still to come and nobody seemed too concerned until our server finally made it back around to check on us and realized she hadn't entered his order. Unfortunately, everyone was done by the time his meal came. He and several others in our party had the bison burger and although he said the bun was stale - his poor experience may have tainted his judgement cuz the others liked theirs. In all fairness, they did comp his meal...but we were out with friends for a nice time...not a free burger - but...at least they acknowledged the slip up and did something nice...they do get credit for that. We will give it another shot as everyone has a bad day once in awhile...

    (3)

  • Michael W.

    This place is our newest favorite!!! My recommendation - don't bring your kids, and try to get a seat at the bar. These are the best hand made craft cocktails that I've ever had. And the bartenders are awesome. One of my favorite things to do it just specify the type of liquor and ask for the "dealer's choice" from the bartender. For example, I was in the mood for gin one night and asked for dealers choice, and was awarded with something called an Aviation. So my recommendation is this. If you're looking for an intimate dining experience with drinks as the second runner up, this place probably isn't for you. And if you have a brood of children that you need to feed, go somewhere else. This place is called a speakeasy for a reason. The drinks are killer! Go for the drinks - try and get a seat at the bar - and the food is also very good! I haven't had a better burger than what they serve there.

    (5)

  • Ivan S.

    This review has been long overdue. TLDR: Love this place, love the people that work there more I have come to the blind pig on a few occasions and have really enjoyed the energy/menu/drinks as well as their wonderful atmosphere and view. I believe the prices to be fair, however I am here mostly to talk about the service. Nov 16 2014 was my wedding day. I was getting married at 3 pm and needed lunch before the wonderful occasion. I was beyond nervous and could barely eat anything and new that I needed to as well as my groomsmen, farther in law and father. I called the Blind Pig, told them the situation and asked if they could organize something. The level of service that we received was amazing!! The staff helped make a special meal for me (the princess) because I couldn't see myself eating a burger/sandwich or anything of the likes. They took care of us the way family does. So I just wanted to say thank you and that I really appreciate it.

    (5)

  • Susan G.

    Recently moved into town so hubby and I were looking for a place to eat. We decided to dine here since it has a lake view. The view is excellent, but the food could be better. Portions are small for the price you're paying. The server wasn't too attentive, he was busy hanging out and talking to a few of his friends which is fine but make sure your guests are being accommodated. Might be back for their cocktails but now know what to expect

    (3)

  • Brandon B.

    I want to love this place, but the staff won't let me. Great albeit overpriced beer and food, but the service is absolutely god-awful. 3 times in a row it took over over 15 minutes just to be acknowledged and another 20 to get drinks and food. As much as I'd love to keep supporting this place, I can't get past the awful service. Improve the service and maybe I'll try again someday. Until then, avoid.

    (2)

  • Susann T.

    Second visit. This time out on the patio on a gorgeous night. Our waiter Vinnie was so pleasant, great service! LOVE the Brussel sprouts, Burger and Moscow Mule. Very pleasant evening and great food, service and atmosphere! Really appreciative and nice spirit was the hostess and staff. Definitely recommend and coming back.

    (5)

  • Eileen L.

    The hubby and I went here for dinner last night. The people were friendly and the atmosphere was nice. We sat outside which has a nice view of the lake. I was a little cold and they offered me a blanket for my legs which was comfy and they also turned on the outside heater lamp. I had the ravioli a and fries. The fries were good. The raviolis were interesting and good. They had some kind of honey sauce on them. You got three or four raviolis and it was considered a small plate. It was enough to fill me up (with the fries of course). The wait or recommended the hamburger to the hubby. He also said their other really good dish was the lamb chops but the hubby went for the burger and a side salad. He said the salad was good and the burger was good/okay. We didn't feel like it was too expensive but I only did get a side and a small plate. It was a nice, casual place but the menu is small and the vegetarian options are few which is fine. Overall, would recommend to the omnivores of RSM.

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    Very cool vibe. Great people. Great food. Great service. And live music from a contestant on "the voice." This is definitely worth checking out and then coming back to. My wife and I were able to sit at the bar right away and still got full service. Well done guys!!

    (5)

  • Ben B.

    This place is absolutely fantastic! Great vibe, fun and attentive bartenders, reasonably priced drinks, outstanding atmosphere...literally couldn't ask for a better bar!

    (5)

  • Amber L.

    We really like it here! Very cool, fresh, modern pub atmosphere, live music, creative food and cocktails and always excellent service - especially up at the bar! These guys know their craft and I love watching them and hearing about what they are doing. We have been here at least 10 times, different days and times, even with our kids (high school and Elementry age). The kids feel it's an adult place (we don't mind!) based on the menu, but they like the couches and fire pits outside, right on the lake! Also awesome they have started weekend bloody and mimosa specials and expanded their daytime hours so we can stop in earlier! There have been a few items on the menu I wasn't wild about, but the rest has been exciting and delicious eating! I do wish they had soup every now and then in the winter though. :-) The absolute best thing about this establishment is the passion and dedication the owners AND employees put into it! The attention to detail, personable service, quality ingredients in drinks and food never waivers!

    (4)

  • Stephanie G.

    Love love love the bling pig! Great atmosphere and view on the lake for a quick appetizers and drinks. I come here with my girlfriends all the time for drinks cause they make them nice and strong. Food is amazing, although I'm bummed their grilled cheese and tomato soup isn't on the menu anymore. But they switch it up which is always a nice change. Definitely recommend for anyone that wants a great customer service. And Sunday's are great days for their endless mimosas!!

    (5)

  • Alma P.

    I'm a little torn here as I know they just opened last week but I have to say, I think the BG has SO much potential as you can tell by the creativity displayed in most of their dishes. However, it does seem there still some growing pains on the menu here that need to be worked out -- which is typical of a new place. I think given a little more time and some trial and error with the dishes, and the menu here could be amazing. As for the service, it was fabulous... from the hostess who was super friendly to our really attentive waitress. We sat on the patio and it was a gorgeous warm Tuesday night. Here's the low down on our dinner -- (there were 3 of us and we shared everything) Bone marrow...this is some of the BEST I've ever had, and I get it everywhere I go so I'm not new to the bone marrow rodeo. ;) Seriously though, this was top notch, and the figs n carmelized onions were spot on with the fattiness of the marrow. Celery mac n cheese -- not so much. The mac n cheese itself was very good.. creamy and well cooked but the celery taste almost overpowered the dish. I took a few bites and that was enough for me. My friends felt the same. Pork Belly french toast.. flavor combination was perfect but the pork belly was a bit chewy. Needed to be crisped up a bit more. I'd order again and ask for them to extra crisp the pork belly then it'd be a pretty perfect dish. Chorizo ravioli was good but the pesto sauce (which was divine) was a big glop on one side of dish, which one of my friends put all of on her dish when she grabbed a serving. It'd be preferable to spread it around a bit or even on top would be okay. Basically, the presentation was lacking and if not careful one person could grab all of it which would be sad cuz it's one of the best components of the dish. NY Strip steak was divine. One of the best things we had...a great compliment to the perfectly poached egg and diced potatoes. Beet salad was okay.. liked the beets but cheddar cheese really added nothing to the flavor profile on this dish. A creamier cheese would be a better fit. Almost seemed like two distinct dishes on the plate. . Good Thyme drink..was good but not stellar, needed a smide more sugar as a bit too tart but admittedly perhaps that's just my taste. All in all I'd definitely go back and plan to once they get some of the kinks out of the dishes. It sounds like they are already making changes as they no longer serve the bacon cherries. This place has some definite potential and is a great addition to the area!

    (3)

  • Katrina I.

    We had the bison burger and the beet salad. Both items were delicious! The aioli that came with the fries was astonishingly good and, who woulda though that pink grapefruit would be yummy in a beet salad? Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Rachel J.

    Ugh yelp, why isn't the blind pig 5 stars? Can't count on RSM to know what it has going for it. Anyway! Best cocktails you will have anywhere in south OC, hands down. The food is always changing and very creative. I swear by the coriander fries while drinking at the bar. Do yourself a favor and order the cocktail of the week, they really know how to craft a drink.. so put your trust in their hands. They're always super nice and attentive. Just come here already.

    (5)

  • Tara W.

    My family and I went here last night for my birthday. Maybe the waiter was new..but he was terrible! When we told him it was my birthday, he responded with a simple "Oh." Not personable at all. They had the door to the patio open, so flies were all over our food and drinks. Incredibly gross in my opinion. A bus boy took my sister's drink away prematurely while she was outside and when we told the waiter, he said that he would try to get the bartender to make her a new "half" drink, which the bartender refused to do. Besides the poor service, the food was mediocre. They have a limited menu and the plates are very small. The wings were so tough that I could hardly get the meat off of the bone. Pretty put off by the entire experience.

    (2)

  • Jimbo T.

    This place is awesome. It's great to have more of these quality food and cocktail places with late hours in the south county area. The Old Fashions are out of this world and they have a nice beer selection as well. Their food is good, but not overly impressed yet. The cocktails have sold me on this place and I look forward to continuing to explore their menu.

    (5)

  • Brett A.

    Nice location with a big patio. Citrus and prawn salad is.....a tangerine with a prawn on top. The only greens here are the $15 you pay for it with. Goat cheese mac n cheese is pretty good, especially if you're on a skip nutrition day. They have perfected 'average' with the cobb salad. I hear their burger was really good, small, but good. I got extreme envy while i was picking away at my tangerine. Obscure beer list is fun. Vinny the server was really cool, seemed like he enjoyed serving me my tangerine. About $70 for two people to eat and drink. You don't leave full. I'm not really sure what Blind Pig is good at. I wouldn't think to come here for the drinks, or the food; it is just a nicer patio place that you end up at once in a while.

    (3)

  • Mommy H.

    It was good. Service was great. Food was good. I had a cobb salad. It was OK. Not bad. Blue cheese was quite pungent. Hubby had fried chicken with a fishy flavor. Don't know how that happened. It was still decent. The best part was the lake view. It was very nice to sit there and have dinner looking out on the lake.

    (4)

  • Ashley K.

    Newly opened and it seems like they are doing pretty well so far! Location is kind of odd, it's in a medium-sized shopping center kind of tucked away on the lakeside...the restaurant itself is small, but they make very good use of the space. I think it's actually a good thing they have an inconspicuous location, makes it more of a hidden treasure in such a quiet area. Interior is very much like Chapter One, The Playground, etc but with the added bonus of having a classic dining room and better lighting. I loved the decor and the bar is beautiful, there's a slight speakeasy vibe with prohibition art on the walls and very simple but tasteful furniture (our table was super wobbly though). There was a solo musicians playing covers and when we went (8ish on a Thursday) it was a full restaurant, but no wait and not instrusively crowded. Our waitress was really sweet and offered her suggestions and favorites. I started with The Vinnie (cocktail) which I didn't love but that's because I'm super picky...I still drank the whole thing happily, it just wasn't my favorite flavor profile...was supposed to be cranberry which I'm sure it was, but it kept tasting like black licorice to me for some reason. The menu is set up as I, II and III (appetizers, entrees and desserts) and changes monthly. I didn't look at the menu and see anything I just HAD to have, so I just went with the waitress' suggestion of the chicken served on arugula salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries and pistachios. The chicken was delicious with a nice crispy skin, but overall YAWN. This is something I would and have made at home and it's on literally every menu at any sit-down restaurant you go to. My dude ordered the tomato bisque and grilled cheese, yawn again and the burger and fries...the burger was amazing and so were the fries and thank FUCK they have normal ketchup here. I understand trying to doll everything up and make it hip and new age, but don't fuck with ketchup by trying to make your own (ahem Chapter One your ketchup tastes like off-brand tomato paste you dicks). Anyway, overall the experience was good and maybe I just ordered the most boring thing on the menu, but I will certainly be back to try next months offerings. The service was wonderful and the ambiance was just perfect.

    (4)

  • Tina S.

    I visited there last night for the first time after two friends recommended it to me. I think the best part is the location. We sat outside on a cool (but not cold night) on a couch with a personal fire pit table. The staff even gave us a comfy blanket to snuggle up with! Great location right on the lake in RSM.... it was cozy and beautiful with great friends, so I didn't want to leave. :) We got fries and the cheese tray for an appetizer and both were really good. The selection for the main meal wasn't extensive and my meal (salmon) was good but not great (sides were lacking, but the fish was great). The cocktail menu was a bit limited and one of my friend's requested a few drinks they couldn't make. So the bar isn't the best... unless you like beer. The beer selection looked pretty good.

    (4)

  • Kevin E.

    I love the Pig. Location perfect. Music delightful. Service attentive and sincere. Food unique and very fresh, I don't think they own a freezer. When folks complain about the portions, dude, go to Claim Jumper. I prefer the smaller portions with smaller prices so I can graze on a variety of tastes. Maybe it won't fill you up like a burger with bread, but it'll treat your palette to some wonderful flavors. When I have guests in from out-of-town I always bring them here. Sure it's not for everyone, thank goodness, because I don't need another place that's created for the norm. Please don't change little piggy, we dig ya. PS. I forgot to mention the cocktails, very tasty and creative. And the beer......

    (5)

  • M B.

    The bartenders need to learn how to make drinks that people want. When you ask for a Mai tai, it's means rum, dark rum, OJ with splash off cherry. Not this is what I think a Mai tai is and look at u like your on crack when send it back. Food was great, service was good, but won't be back.

    (2)

  • Coco L.

    Everything we tasted was super fresh and really good. Hubby and I shared wings, a burger, and fries. I really enjoyed sitting by the fire outside with my friends and sipping my moscow mule. Yum!

    (5)

  • Diane M.

    I love this local spot. Wish they would consider opening on Mondays! Best beer selection in town and the setting on the lake is perfect.

    (4)

  • Gia L.

    We've been to the B.P. on several occasions and we have enjoyed it on some of them without incident so that's why I gave it the 2 stars...However, this last visit was a deal breaker because it was so horrible. We went rather late just to grab a drink and relax and the place was still lively and as always the atmosphere was inviting. It turned out to be just a lovely mirage. We let them know repeatedly that we would like service & they never came over even though they said they would & we gave them time to do so. Meanwhile, we witnessed them cutting up w/ friends, dancing and briefly checking on other existing customers. I use the word existing on purpose because to them we appeared not to exist! My mate complained to the manager before we left and from what he said received more of the same rude and unsatisfying behavior. It's a shame they lost our business. We go to The Trough their other business and we love it and they are always great to us, so I guess all is not lost...

    (2)

  • Vincent P.

    Where do I start. First off I would like to say that please avert your eyes from any review that gives low stars purely because of service and/or how the food arrives to the table. I passed The Blind Pig on a Monday when they were closed and was instantly drawn to it because the name is similar to my favorite Chicago restaurant, The Purple Pig. I went back the very next day to get a menu and a few days later finally got to try it (today). We went on a busy Friday night and we were lucky enough to get the last available table. They had a live band, and the place was packed (which is always a good sign). We arrived to our table, and were given waters almost instantly. A few moments later our server, Candice (who made our experience so enjoyable) showed up with some menus and, since it was our first time, explained to us a little bit about the restaurant. You see, The Blind Pig serves food as it's ready. After hearing this, we ordered our appetizers and decided to wait to order our meals. They arrived in a decent time and when we had finished them, Candice was there to take our meal order. We ordered those and, again, received them in a decent time. We finally ordered dessert and, you guessed it, they arrived in a decent time. As far as food goes, we ordered: Appetizers: Fries: heavier fries, with good flavor and an array of seasoning Bone Marrow: not too oily, fantastic flavor that paired well with the light toppings and crostinis, and great portion size Meals: Tomato bisque and grilled cheese: the soup tasted better than most tomato bisques I have had. It had a light spice and tons of flavor. And you can't go wrong when pairing it with grilled cheese. Ribeye Steak: cooked perfectly, seasoned well, huge portion, and delicious sauce; however, the best part of this entree was the asparagus and potatoes that come with it. The asparagus was not too hard, and not too crunchy, and the potatoes (basically a gratin) was layers with herbs and cheese galore. Dessert: Brie panna cotta: when I tried the panna cotta alone I thought it tasted too much like brie, but when you try it with everything thats on the place (the blackberries, brittle and more) it creates the most unique flavor that dances across your palate. My experience at The Blind Pig was absolutely perfect. I am always on the hunt for new restaurants and I am usually disappointed. They have found themselves two new regulars and I will definitely be back with all my friends.

    (5)

  • Whitney W.

    We just love this place. The vibe is so nice. Sits on the lake. We love the fireput seating on the patio. Our servers are always incredibly nice. The cocktails are super yummy as is the food! We love that they switch up the menu to create a new experience each time!

    (5)

  • Nina V.

    I had high hopes for this place but it was just okay. The beer and service was good, however the food and the dessert were lackluster. Glad I found out however I'll never be coming back. Carmelita's right across is where it's at. That explains why their wait time was much longer. Sorry, fellas.

    (3)

  • David T.

    I had high hopes... alas it was disappointing. I'll start by saying the quality of the food is very good. However, you should expect to pay a lot and get very little. Date night started with waiting about 10 minutes for a waiter. We ordered stuffed calamari as an appetizer which was comprised of two pieces about the size of a large olive for $12. Though very tasty, I can't say they were worth $12. For the dinner I ordered the hangar steak tacos for $22. Same as the appetizer; tasty, tiny portion, and extremely priced. My wife had the beef pie which was the only food item to disappoint. It was cold and bland, and I would have returned it but our waiter never came to check on us. So food for the most part is very good but ridiculously overpriced. Service was mediocre at best. Perhaps it was an off night for the place. Given the other reviews I had high hopes. In summary, I would go back for drinks as the ambiance is great, but will not eat there again.

    (2)

  • Britney I.

    I will admit that it's been awhile since I dined at the blind pig so I'll go easy. The drinks were very good! I got the African Flower which was perfect The food was way overpriced and came out completely different than described on the menu. I get what they're trying to do with the vibe but I am not a fan of sitting on a patio that wreaks of cigarette smoke along with subpar food. I will not be returning.

    (3)

  • Lauren M.

    I would go more frequently if I lived closer. The location is ideal with lake views throughout the inside as well as patio seating on the lake. The outside area is more accommodating for adults (as it should be) and the indoors is more appropriate if you have children. The restaurant is beautiful and very contemporary. The staff were very kind and welcoming. They had a lot of knowledge of what was on tap and gave great recommendations. The night we went, they offered a lot of unique sour beers. The food was good, we all left satisfied. I had the mexican stew that had pieces of pork and mixed veggies and lots of spices. It tasted very good. My only complaint was all the dishes could have been a little big of a larger serving. As a female, this did not bother me too much because I do not like being overly full. I left pretty satisfied and not overly stuffed. We also went for my birthday and they gave us a delicious banana bread with carmel sauce and ice cream on top and did not embarrass me with a birthday song.

    (4)

  • Leah W.

    Delicious eats, beer, and the absolutely best Moscow Mule I've ever had. So gingery! I had the Beer Battered Sea Bass appetizer which is basically a couple of deconstructed fish tacos on corn pancake (like a fat tortilla) great to share with a friend. Enjoyed the Saint Archer White Ale on tap, and the aforementioned bad-ass Moscow Mule. Friendly staff and happy patrons. Definitely will return again to this lovely spot on the lake. Smallish place, but also has a large outdoor patio.

    (5)

  • E B.

    Tried it for the first time on a Sunday for lunch. Got Macaroni/chz, Bison burger w/ fries & scallop tostada. Mac/chz was really delicious, rich and creamy-good portion size for the price. Bison burger was grilled perfectly medium well, tasted great and fries came with yummy, slightly sweet/spicy dipping sauce. Super clean with a blues-y, laid back vibe and excellent service. Everything was priced competitively & fair for its niche market. Will come back.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    The food is good and they have a great selection of drinks and cocktails. Try the bone marrow, it's excellent! One problem is that this place is pricey and portions are so small. You could order food as an appetizer and go somewhere else for dinner, but its kind of expensive for just appetizers. And the portions aren't big enough to be considered a whole entree. Another downside is that the menu is kind of small, but oh well. The atmosphere is great and the patio is a great place to sit in the summer. Great place to go for drinks and small bites. Might be nice if they started serving regular entree size portions, so you feel as though you're getting more for your money. Overall, its a fun place and it's nice to have a place that serves interesting and different food here is RSM. Def. want to try and come for the live music they have.

    (4)

  • Ash H.

    Coriander fries, carnitas sliders, and cheese/honey plate is at the top of food I've eaten ever!!! Amazing service, everyone who came to the table knew what they serving/drinking. Service was down to earth and friendly. My kids devoured the sliders- don't go expecting frozen chicken tenders for your littles- if your kids eat real food and have open palates you'll be fine;) Love love love this place! Thought prices were fantastic for the quality of ingredients and variety they offer. The menu is eclectic yet simple. They are creating awesome dishes and ingredients are not reused just for menu length. Food and drink done well Blind Pig!!!

    (5)

  • J B.

    Good and interesting food. Good drinks, sometimes. They have very interesting drink ideas but depending on who mixes it you will know what you will be getting. Some of them taste really watered down which sucks because they are expensive. If you are going to charge a lot for drinks, then they better be strong every time. The location couldn't be better, the ambiance is awesome, although it can be very loud inside if you are trying to talk. The problem with this place is the service. It is usually horrible. They just don't seem to get it. We have been there numerous times. We will occasionally have a really good waiter or waitress, however, maybe every other time that we go the service will be horrible. They can't seem to figure out timely service, additional drink orders and most have very little insight into their drink or menu items. If they could actually get some good wait staff this place would be a winner.

    (2)

  • Chela M.

    Excellent craft cocktails. I would recommend to anyone especially of you are a fan of muddled fruit in your drinks. They were well balanced and the ambiance is perfect for a romantic evening or night out with friends. Only downside is time is limited since spot is small and the drinks r $12 each but they have a nice kick. After two I was definitely feeling it.

    (5)

  • Heather F.

    Awesome view and location. Absolutely the worst service....Won't be going back! Tried a couple times and each time seems to just get worse.

    (1)

  • Stephanie S.

    I've only been once, but will definitely come back because the menu is quite interesting and many of the dishes were really good. We sat outside, but could still enjoy the live music inside. Service was very good although our server was a bit distracted. The hardest thing about this place right now is that the menu is on the heavier side with a lot of sweet elements so it makes It hard to figure out how to pair things. Also, a few of the dishes that sounded really good were all served with risotto and how many risottos are you going to order. So it would be nice to see them switch that up. All in all, I look forward to my next visit to see what they do next.

    (4)

  • John A.

    This was our first time at The Blind Pig. We had a great time with good food and service. Our server, Aaron, was friendly, and attentive the entire night. He suggested the fries and brussel sprouts to start, and we're glad that we took his advice. They were both excellent. We had the tacos and burger. Best burger I've had in a long time. Very tasty! Atmosphere was great. We ate at a table then moved to the couches and fire pit for after dinner drinks. Very nice. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    The bar/drinks are great, but not a huge fan of the food. I am still very happy it's here and look forward to many more happy hours in the near future.

    (4)

  • Robert H.

    I've only been here for drinks a couple times. I've enjoyed the variety and service each time.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth P.

    Way to go Rancho, we needed liveliness here in our city. They have an amazing ambiance, wonderful drinks and fantastic food!! My husband and I are so happy with this place. Highly recommend it for a good time.

    (5)

  • Andy L.

    I live in SF, and whenever I'm home I hit the blind pig to catch some brews with my friends. The only place I know where you can get a great sour beer. There's always someone friendly at the door. I always start with the fries which is served with an aoli. My friends usually get the burger or fish. Both of which are extremely fresh and not too overpowering. RSM has needed a place just like this.

    (5)

  • mo m.

    It was lunch time. There were numerous flies inside the restaurant. The service was really bad. I ordered carnitas flatbread. It was a pre baked piece of dried out bread with dried out carnitas on it. It was supposed to have escabeche on it, and all it had were some pickled radishes that were thoroughly pink. It was very expensive for what I received. Another guest ordered the brussel sprouts. She said they were okay, but did take them home, Still $12 for a small bowl of brussel sprouts seems a bit much. There was one other table when we were there. They did not look happy either. The waiter mentioned he never saw it this busy usually. There were what appeared to be regulars at the bar drinking beer, but not ordering any food. I was nauseous after eating. I don't write many review, but this was so horrible, i had to write one. Too bad Carmelita's was closed. The decor is beautiful, the place is really lovely, too bad the food was so terrible.

    (1)

  • Matt G.

    Some of the rudest service I have ever experienced. We arrived and the waitress seated us inside, as the beautiful patio was full of 30 somethings and old Cougars sipping mimosas, and there was no seating available out there. She told us as soon as something opened up out there we could move. Well it did open up, and she proceeded to seat another party there instead, because they had reservations! Seriously? We were only a party of 3 by the way. She had this bitchy attitude about her, and we also got the vibe that we were unwelcome because we did not fit their typical stuck up crowd. The entire staff had this attitude that if you weren't friends with the owner or weren't dressed a certain way or what not, that you shouldn't be treated as a guest. The food looked good, but due to the poor service, we got up and left before giving them the chance. Stay away!

    (1)

  • Kelsey L.

    So I came here for a drink and was super excited because the ingredients are fancy and creative... But little did I know ordering the "Mexican Bee Sting" it would come with a glacier.... Literally a huge ass block of ice that barely fit into the 8oz glass. So I pulled the glacier out to see how much "drink" I actually had, it was no joke 2oz. Let me remind you all I ordered a drink, not a shot. And on top of that it was $11. Way overpriced for a fancy shot. I brought it to my servers attention and when he brought the manager over, he told me that all of there drinks are only 2 oz. So, Note to anyone who goes here- don't order cocktails- order beer or wine! Ha! Don't think I could go back the manager did nothing but defend his bartender-ness and basically I said take it of the bill. Carmelita's next door has amazing margaritas and drinks! Just sayin!

    (1)

  • Tim M.

    Kudos for the location, but food is sub par, mediocre at best. Not a good value. I had the Bison Burger, was expecting a quality burger, uh no. Better burgers at 5 guys and way cheaper. This is a good place to drink some beers and chill on the patio overlooking the lake.

    (2)

  • Claudio B.

    Best experience in South OC I've ever had. The scenery and staff is amazing. Try everything on the menu and you will be satisfied. Go with a date or friends. The Music, scenery, people, experience is off the hook. Order this octopus !!!! VINCE, BLAKE OR JEFF are AWESOME! Thank You!

    (5)

  • Janet R.

    Came in on a Wednesday night for some cocktails and small bites. I must say, I am always in the area but just haven't been able to come into Blind Pig until now. Boy have I been missing out! Such a spectacular modern and eclectic vibe and awesome decor. You get that LA feel but in Rsm haha. Cool lounge/bar area inside or you can opt for the patio with an awesome view. Can't go wrong either way! They have a great selection of cocktails and by observing the bartenders, they really know what they are doing. The service was great and our server was knowledgeable on the menu and suggested some great items. We ordered a few cocktails and shared the Bison Burger and fries. Burger was delicious! I didn't want to share after the first bite hehe Overall "The Best" local spot for awesome crafted cocktails and delicious quality food and you get an awesome lounge feel. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Renee S.

    Great atmosphere but worst menu ever. They try way to hard to be hipster. Could be such a great place to hang out at on the lake but the menu ruins the whole feeling. Octopus and fried okra?! I just want a burger and fries to enjoy my beer and a sports game!! Not a bison burger a regular burger would be nice.

    (2)

  • Jessa R.

    Sadly, I think the word that would best suit my visit to The Blind Pig is: UNDERWHELMED. Nothing was bad, by any means, but I won't return. The pricing is absurd for what you get. I ordered the coque Monsieur, which sounded amazing, but didn't deliver. What appeared to be a fancy grilled cheese with Texas toast style bread and basic deli sliced ham was good enough, but with no sides, for $13.00? I don't feel like the meal could carry the price tag. I had such high hopes for this dish, but was ultimately disappointed. The Brussels sprouts were good, but again, priced a bit high. Note: Our server was also the bartender today, and he did a great job. Not sure what his name was, but this review is in NO way a reflection on him. I'm a huge fan of craft beer and food, gastro pubs and the whole craft movement of late... I wanted to love The Blind Pig, but the location was the only redeeming factor.

    (3)

  • Ms B.

    This is me and my finances favorite place! Foods great but service is the seller!! They are an amazing staff who are easy going and fun!!! Oh and their breakfast shop right across called "the trough" has the best breakfast burrito in town/south oc!!!

    (5)

  • John P.

    My first time at The Blind Pig. A group of us met there on a Friday night for drinks. Randy the bartender simply kills it with the craft specialty drinks. He is definitely a mixology master. I particularly love the Boston Sour drinks served that night. The menu changes depending on what's fresh for that day. I found the service to be attentive and friendly. I highly recommend The Blind Pig for dinner and drinks!

    (4)

  • Debra D.

    The location, and atmosphere are wonderful. I wanted to love this spot after hearing raves. However. .. My husband and I both ordered Moscow Mules.. they were undrinkable. We asked for replacements, our server said that "not everyone can handle the fresh ginger " okay maybe dial back the ginger. ...2nd round. ..egually undrinkable. ..If it was just me I would have sucked it up..but they were so harsh and at $10+....it should be drinkable. Server gave us attitude, but sent them back and we had water. Next the Brussel Sprout appetizer. ..Meh, not great... Hubby had the bison burger - he said it was okay, fries were fine. I had hangar steak tacos. .. way rare, but I didn't want to send them back because we were already on ignore from our server. Our dining companion had the beet salad. She thought the beets might be canned. And the Croque Monsiour , she was underwhelmed as well. She works for a 5star catering company abd had heard great things about Blind Pig, and she too was very disappointed in the service and the food. We will not be back.

    (1)

  • Green G.

    He shoots, he...misses. On the plus side they have a full bar and great beers on tap. But if you were hoping to enjoy a good meal, then I wish you the best of luck. Under the guise of culinary artistic license, the menu makes for an interesting read but a failed result. It had hoped to be inspired and unique, but ended up just being...weird. Tons of potential at a great location. But the chef just needs to work out the creative kinks. Bloody Marys could use some help too. A-1, Worcester, and blue cheese olives need to be on hand in any modern restaurant

    (3)

  • Mitch A.

    Went here on a Wednesday Night. Great deal on Bottles of wine for wine Wednesday (Half Price Bottles) . Ranging from $15-$40 for a bottle after the discount, $3 off glasses of Wine. The Bison burger ($15) and fries ($7) were great. The Cesar Kale ($10) was ok, the dressing was a little too fishy. The service was good even though they looked understaffed. I would definitely come back, maybe try the happy hour.

    (4)

  • Morgan M.

    I went here for the first time with my family on the fourth of July. We had originally planned on going to Carmelita's, but they had closed early for the day. I was a little dissapointed to come here at first, because I was looking forward to Mexican food, and I was under the impression that The Blind Pig only served appetizers. But overall, I had heard good things, so I was excited to finally try it. My parents had found a table on the patio, which was covered well enough to block the afternoon sun, but didn't block the gorgeous view of the lake. The patio also has some couches and a fire pit. Inside is a full bar with some table seating and booth seating. The Blind Pig offers live music on multiple days of the week, as well. We ended up chatting with a lot of the staff, and there was not a single person there that didn't seem happy to be there. The staff was engaging not only to our table, but with every person on the almost-full patio and every person inside as well. They all had smiles on their faces, and managed to joke with both the customers and each other, leaving a really comfortable atmosphere. I was torn between a lot of different things on the menu, and felt a little overwhelmed since I had no clue what to order! When the waitress took my order, I ended up ordering the bison burger on a whim, simply because I panicked and looked down and decided, sure, why not. I also ordered a side of guacamole because I put avocado on everything. While waiting for our order, I ordered a drink, but I forget the name. Buzz the Shrub? Shrew the Bush? Something like that. It involved strawberries and tequila, and a hint of brandy. it was delicious! I ended up ordering a second, and my mom ordered one for herself. We also ordered fries, which were pretty good. They came with ketchup, and some sort of sweet and spicy sauce. I can't place what the sauce is, but it was delicious. I would have gladly smuggled some out of the place in my purse if we hadn't eaten all of it. Our food came out in a good amount of time. Any faster and I would have been concerned with how it was made, and any longer I may have complained. My mom had also ordered the bison burger, both of my brothers ordered their steak tacos with handmade tortillas, and my dad ordered their fish of the day. I tried one of my brother's steak tacos and it was delicious. Their homemade tortillas were amazing as well! They loved them. I attempted to try my dad's fish, but he had inhaled it before I had a change, so I'm assuming it was good. When I finally bit into my bison burger, I was in heaven. I can tell a lot of thought went into the preparation of these dishes. The bison was cooked to a perfect medium-well; I don't like a lot of pink, personally, and while this burger had some pink, it was cooked in a way that gave it so much flavor. The bun is rich and sweet and delicious, and the arugula on the burger complemented it perfectly. They threw on some cheese and caramelize onions, as well. I added my guacamole and was in heaven. Normally I eat pretty quickly, but I savored each and every bite while my brothers attempted to snag a bite as well. Towards the end of the meal, I ordered another drink that is supposed to be a twist on the classic pina colada called "Caught in the Rain" (get it???). It wasn't my cup of tea. I passed it around to my brothers and parents, and they weren't fans either. The waitress we had quickly came up and offered me a new one, but I declined since we were leaving. While I wasn't a fan, I'm glad I tried something new. All of their drinks were very artisan, and not your typical bar drinks. I definitely plan on coming back and trying the rest of their menu! The only thing I could possibly think of changing, is to provide take out. I have been dreaming of that beautiful bison burger for weeks, and it would probably seem less weird to order a week's work of them and take than home than to order a week's worth and attempt to eat them right then and there. ;) All in all, I loved it here! Thanks for the wonderful service, Blind Pig! :)

    (5)

  • Jason R.

    We've been meaning to check this place out for a while and I'm glad we finally did! The food and drinks were amazing and the staff was great - big props to Randy the bartender who was both entertaining as well as very informative about the ingredients used in his craft cocktails. We sampled the scallop po boy and the burger and both were delicious! We'll definitely be coming back!

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    The place is really cute. I had very high expectations after looking at the pictures on yelp... But the place fell short on the food. My boyfriend and I went here for dinner. They had good selection of beers as well as craft cocktails. He menu looked very promising, but I also noticed that they had a very small selection of appetizers and none really seemed to pop. I ordered the fried chicken. It came with potatoes topped with some type of basil purée. There was a strawberry gastrquire ( I know this is spelled wrong) that was served on the bottom of the chicken. I've had way better fried chicken, it was dry and tasteless. The strawberry stuff made it better. The portion size was small & that's to be expected from a place like this. Our server who was really sweet, said it was smaller than normal & brought us another piece without even us saying anything. My boyfriend had the fundi? It was chicken, cheese, & chili? It was served with toast points. It was terrible. Positives... They change the menu regularly so maybe we ordered the wrong thing or it was a bad week. They also have a large outdoor area that over looks the lake. The drinks are strong and flavorful & you can sip them to live music. I would still come back because I really think this place has something to offer. They have a creative menu, great service & cocktails. I'll give it another chance soon.

    (3)

  • Michelle M.

    Small menu but excellent variety of choices. I had the Kale Cesar Salad to start and the Croque Monsieur. My mother had the grilled octopus with fried chickpeas and paprika mole- all three selections were incredible! Though the plates were small, the fun environment and great service make up for it.

    (5)

  • Shaun B.

    Consistently arrogant rude service. The food is average, but they expect everyone to grovel. Save your time. Hannas and wood ranch have WAY BETTER food. The beer list is 5th best in rsm, so there is no real reason to go there. There is a bunch of the owners friends there and they appear to be the only customers they care about. Also saw them at a taste of rsm event and they were rude to families, while trying to cater to a " higher level" of clientele. Get these people out of rsm!

    (1)

  • Moe A.

    This place is one of the best in rsm, randy was such a fun sarcastic guy that made my happy hour nightluv this place!!

    (5)

  • Tamara M.

    Cool ambiance inside, but food is a bit overpriced for what you get. I thought the bison burger was good flavor, but really overly oily. Not a fan of the fries. They do have some interesting drinks on the cocktail menu and I think I would return for a drink sometime, but don't really think I would go back for food.

    (3)

  • Jade R.

    I've been patiently waiting to try The Blind Pig as I've watched their Yelp reviews and followed their Instagram since their opening. I finally tried this place earlier this week, and my review is for the Happy Hour as we did not eat off the regular menu. We arrived around 4pm, and based on previous reviews of the patio being too hot, or too dark, we chose to stick with the inside. To our luck, it was pretty dead, which meant that we got the choice of the house as to where to sit. If you get the chance, definitely go for the dangerously comfy couch/pillow corner that's straight ahead and when you walk into the restaurant. We were absolutely smitten when we sat down and realized how comfortable it was. We loved our waitress, she was super cute, friendly, and had amazing service. The only pitfall of it all is that she wasn't too familiar with their draft choices for the day, and for a place that touts their draft beer selection, I felt the servers should be more knowledgeable. We picked a few beers to sample, and we ended up choosing a rich, earthy brown ale. Kudos, that beer was phenomenal. Our food picks: Cheese & Honey, Pigs in a Blanket, Mini Flat Bread, Corriander Fries, BBQ Chicken Wings and Yellow Fin Tuna. Cheese & Honey- it comes with about 3 slices of toast, and it was pretty tasty. It was a beautiful presentation, and I loved that they used actual lavender flowers on the dish. The touch of sweetness (honey) pairs perfectly with the savory flavors of the blue cheese. Pigs in a Blanket- SUPER fun play on the original pigs in a blanket. We loved them and they were served piping hot. Mini Flat Bread- One of the girls mentioned that it reminded them of the Celeste frozen pizzas, but to our awe it was built with quality ingredients that you could taste. It paired really well for a group of girls drinking some craft beers. Corriander Fries- I don't know what we were expecting, but we will pass on these next time. They were good, but this restaurant has better offerrings. BBQ Chicken Wings- We hated them. They tasted under cooked, and it didn't have the crispy skin that you expect in wings. The coleslaw was fresh, and had a good balance of flavors, but we'd pass on these next time. Yellow Fin Tuna- The portion was very small for the tuna (maybe 1-2 pieces), but the presentation was absolutely gorgeous. The fish was fresh, and the flavors had a melodic marriage of taste. We'll definitely be back, but next time for dinner

    (4)

  • Mark N.

    I went to the Blind Pig for the first time for an evening of small plates near the lake. The cheese plate, in particular was very good. Be advised that the menu is seasonable and is not stagnant. I most recently went for a burger prior to the Big Game. It was big, juicy and flavorful. The accompanying fries were good but had a bit too much salt. Overall, I recommend the Blind Pig and it is one of the better places to go for food and drinks in RSM, especially on Wednesday and Saturday nights when they have live music.

    (4)

  • Lynn L.

    Last Sunday morning my kids are away and my nephew and I decide to stroll the lake. We stroll directly to here. I thought it was like a pub or hangout for the guys to watch the games. Wrong - well it is that too..but better in a way! .My nephew likes a nice drink now and then so he wanted to check it out too. Great clean place. I can imagine having a couples get together here or group meets ups for the locals... Not crazy wild atmosphere. Calm ..cool and collected place. We sat outside to overlook the lake. Very beautiful! Walk in nice greeter. She walks us outside to our choice of seats. Very sweet gal! The cute couple next to us were a bit bothered by the sun so they were brought out an extra umbrella to be fully covered- nice manager ((= my nephew and I were ok..I needed some extra vitamin D lol... Because I'm not a big eater, I wanted to share a plate with my nephew. We ordered the waffle and chicken to share...for appetizers we did the scalloped tostado...something told me to get 2. I'm glad it was soooooo yummy! Wow just wish they had like 2 per plate per order...it was 5$ each..but soooooo yunny! Maybe like 2 on a plate for 8$ would be more appetizing for me...but hey I'm sold I'll just order 2 next time. Nephew loved it too. My nephew knows how to drink...it a light drinker- blame my over protected childhood! My father went to military school and my mom was a Mid-*wife...the only time I saw beer was when they made beer chicken lol! So the waffle n chicken! Oooh man! Waffle so crisp then it melts in your mouth! Chicken tender and juicy..the sauce/gravy - to die for! I regretted offering to share my plate. My nephew inhaled everything on his side..I felt bad and let him have most of my side of the chicken...I loved the waffle! So I'm back again- food super yummy! Service - excellent! I'm just not a drinker and the waitress will come and ask if you want a drink- obviously alcoholic beverage. You know the cute Vegas style cocktail way lol...and then come and give you drink menus...I just felt little odd bcs I didn't order a drink and I'm sure that's what most people do. But I'm not a drinker and I felt like in order to really be appreciated as a customer, buying a drink will make it all better. I didn't bcs I just don't crave alcohol like I crave the waffles and chicken or tostado...so I hope they somehow get used to me as a regular who doesn't drink. Sorry- but I just come for the food /= Overall- this is for the food part and service and scenery. If you like to enjoy a nice drink..the menu is long and the bar looks cool...but not sure how the taste will go. When I try a drink I can update my review ! ((=

    (5)

  • Frank L.

    Jeff the manager made our Mother's Day very unique and special. Service was fantastic, food was very good and unique I would recommend this place to anyone. The patio has a very nice view of the lake which adds to the uniqueness of this place

    (4)

  • Gabe P.

    Love the location, stayed outside on tae patio facing the lake. This gets me in an ecstatic state already, and it only goes up from here. Get the Pork Belly, it's probably the best I've seen. The other small bites are great too, a nicer version of you find somewhere else (except for the fries, those were just fries). They have a short list of mostly local beers and it doesn't get more local than Cismontagne in RSM. The service was absolutely great, one of the best experiences ever. Nice bar area inside, it seems more entertaining and appropriate if you are solo, but it's hard to beat the view on the patio.

    (4)

  • Keycee D.

    My friends and I decided to come here the other night for dinner and drinks. There wasn't really a wait to get seated, I guess we were in time for one party that just finished. We got lucky and got seated in the patio with the awesome view of lake Santa Margarita. So here's what we got: The Bone Marrow ($16): I was skeptical to try it, but it was actually yummy. It consists of pico de gallo, avocado, queso fresco and citrus salt Truffled Fried Chicken ($15): It came with 3 or 4 pieces of chicken, some white asparagus & radish. Chicken was perfectly cooked and the aroma was just amazing! The only disappointment for me was that it was a bit salty for me. Pork Belly ($16): It came with 3 slices of pork belly, some kimchi, 3 tofu, and one egg yolk. This was my favorite from the 3 that we tried. Pork belly was perfectly cooked, kimchi was so yummy, everything in it just went well together. I'm glad I decided to order this one and would probably order it again. :) Their portions, or at least the two we ordered from the large plates menu were small. I suggest coming here ordering a variety with friends and share. As for drinks, I got the honeysuckle 2.0, my friend got the Vinny and my other friend got something else which I don't remember the name of it, but it was a mouth full to say. haha!! Our drinks were okay, very different from what I've tried in the past. I'm used to fruity cocktails, I'm sure that's why I wasn't a fan of our drinks. As for service, our waitress checked up on us a few times; however, my friend had to ask for a refill for her water and the waitress forgot. The other waiters were also polite checked up on us/told us our food were coming right up. I'd say, the kitchen and bar was super slow. It took forever to get our food and our drinks. As for the hostess, she was nice but unprofessional. She didn't ask if we wanted to sit inside or outside. She also made a comment to us about her coworkers giving her more work if she walked us inside, so she took us straight to the back door. Overall, I'd come back here again maybe when the sun is setting for an awesome view looking over lake Santa Margarita.

    (3)

  • Arun A.

    We sat down and got asked what we wanted then the waiter never came back after 20 minutes and forgot our waters. We walked out and he asked us if everything was ok and we're like really? The waiters walked by us multiple times and didn't say a word as if we were invisible. The service was a joke much better when we got to Carmelita's next door.

    (1)

  • ron w.

    Even a blind pig may find a truffle now and then. This Blind Pig is still looking for his. Perhaps this Blind Pig needs a seeing eye dog to find it's way. True, Rancho Santa Margarita is not exactly known as a foodie destination, although gold is where you find it. The location is lovely. There is an outdoor heated patio with a view to the local fake lake. Inside, it is rustic chic. Comfortable booths and tables well spaced apart, although you couldn't eve's drop if you wanted to due to the cacophonous environment. Follow the rock loop from the parking and it will lead you to the entrance where thudding, throbbing music greets you. It is so loud I thought the place should be called The Deaf Pig. Eventually, the taped music gives way to live music which can be even louder when seated inside. There is also a bank of TV's lining the walls tuned to the Orioles v Diamondbacks, re-runs of Sit-Coms, and obscure movies, all about as interesting as who the youngest Kardashian is dating. The bottom line is that music cranked up until your ears bleed and mindless TV doesn't add to the dining experience. No big deal, mind you. Who knows there might be a sports event worth watching with a crowd someday. Somewhere between dining in a mausoleum and a saw mill is the happy mix. I appreciate energy and buzz, it's just a matter of finding the balance and I suppose that is as subjective as who makes the best chile. So, a nice cocktail was a matter of medicinal necessity at that point, and the bar here certainly can do the trick. Have a Cole Valley Crush. Bourbon, Amaro Lucano, Lemon Simple (whatever that is), and Soda. The description adds blackberry (not Mure Liguer) just a black berry wrapped inside an orange peel, described as orange oils. Whatever, the damn thing was spot on and refreshingly delish. Have two. Next came a composed salad beet salad with, well...beets. Plus bits of candied pecans, beet greens still warm from a turn in the saute pan, whupped goat cheese. Very pleasant it was, albeit nothing phenomenal. The pork croquettes followed and should have kept going. Little furry tennis balls cut in half and laying in "pork fat aioli". Nice try. This little piggy gave up it's croquettes for nothing although the three forkfuls of slaw helped, but this one was a pass. The Fundido was Fun Doo Doo. Instead of of an expected cheesy gooey mess topped with marinated chicken and heirloom tomatoes, it was a non-too cheesy soupy gloppy mess. A little cheese floating on non-descript tomato based broth. The two Thai Birds lurking underneath the sprinkle of cheese were enough to make your hair sweat. In all fairness the menu says they are there, and the alternate server pointed them out and said, "Beware of Birds". The grilled bread was as soft as an accountant's tummy. The bread had been grilled, just long before it was served. It was cold and had the same toothsome bite as a slice of Wonder Bread. Certainly not a great compliment to the Fundido even if it had been on the money. Pass on that too. The Bison Burger was actually pretty damn good. Nice and lean and cooked just right. Bison is leaner than beef and to get it to come out juicy deserves some accolades. So, here it is, an accolade. The accompanying French Fries as an add -on, is another story. Limp as the guy on the Cialis commercial. Subtract one accolade. The wait staff: Over exuberant and eager. It was like being served by a litter of lab puppies. Every five minutes someone stopped by to ask if every thing tasted great? One servette asked if she could clear the plates while all the plate were full and everyone eating from them. Okay, anticipatory service is different, and I suppose she was well intentioned. The assigned server recommended dishes before anyone read the menu. Okay, so what? Not really a deal breaker if the food he touted was over the top terrific and really as "awesome, amazing and unbelievable" as he offered. All expletives that should be reserved for a wild weekend of monkey love at the Post Ranch Inn with the new receptionist, but not necessarily for the food here. I suggest you stop by if you happen to be in RSM and endure the hyper-buzz and enjoy a top quality cocktail. After you've drained something fun and tasty, wobble across the courtyard and have dinner at Pizza e Vino.

    (3)

  • Nitza B.

    Just get the fried chicken, fries and the Mexican Bee Sting/the real Vinnie and you might be happy. The atmosphere is good and Vinnie is awesome. Just don't get the pork croquettes they are probably the worst I have ever had.

    (3)

  • Anthony A.

    Anytime anything opens in RSM, it's big news. We don't have much to excite in this sleep suburb. When this spot opened up I'd heard comments that ran the gamut; that's it's an awesome spot with great drinks and incredible little plates of food, or that it's an overpriced hipster paradise with small portions and enough staff sporting facial hair and flannel to start a lumberjacks unions. It's kinda both. I came here with my parents for "happy hour". Why the quotes? Well, you see their happy hour means they hand you a smaller menu with some food items that aren't printed on the bigger menu. Drinks enjoy a decent discount, but food is the exact same price. How is that a happy hour again? Oh, because now I can enjoy edamame with my whiskey. Wonderful. Anyway, I ordered an old fashioned, which was done perfectly. I love the sphere ice they use; classy touch. We ordered a lot of food, all of which our waiter described as "amazing", something my dad soon told him devalues the food if everything is described with the same adjective. The fries are ridiculously good. Easily the best fries in town, maybe even some of the best I've ever had period. You don't even need ketchup; they're perfectly seasoned and expertly fried. Unfortunately, they were the highlight of the meal. My mom got the brussels sprouts, which actually had some great flavors and ingredients going on in there with macadamia nut, goat cheese and pomegranate. The problem was they were overcooked and a bit mushy. My dad got the chicken karrage, but they brought out chicken quarters instead. The wait for the corrected order was lengthy. As a consolation, our waiter gave us... more fries. Thanks for more of the thing we just ate a big basket of? That's another thing, the service here was curiously slow. We came in on a Thursday night and it was DEAD, yet even getting our order in seemed to take a while. And the chefs took a longer time than it should have to get the food out, none of which arrived at the same time, either. I went full fat ass and got both the bone marrow and the Manhattan steak, medium rare. The waiter assured me both were an excellent choice. I've never had marrow before, and I can't say I'll get it again. The best way I could describe it would be what I told the waiter when he asked how it was - like runny snot mixed with meat. My mom thought it was akin to eating the fat off a pot roast. And it was $20. I eat a lot of weird crap whenever I get the chance, but this is something that just isn't worth it because there's so little on the bone and the flavor isn't mind-blowingly awesome or anything. My poor steak. For $30, I got four chunks of meat, cooked medium WELL. Who the fuck charges $30 for a steak and cuts it ahead of time into cubes fit for a dog? Cutting meat before serving it releases the juices and starts to cool it, not that it mattered much here since all my tasty juices were cooked right out of it. And it came with, like, two baby carrots and an onion-y thing. Kinda pathetic. Hey, our chicken thing arrived! My dad and I cut one open each and they look raw. We call over the waiter and he said it's cooked sous-vide... so that's why they look so red and feel like uncooked chicken? Yea, sure, I'll definitely chance that. He took it off the bill. Maybe I'd come back for drinks, but a meal? Doubt it. I don't have a problem with the prices; I have a problem with a place that charges those prices and has chefs who can't delivery on quality. That steak was a friggin' joke at $30, and almost everything else was mediocre. If I do stop in again, it'll be for some fries and a whiskey.

    (3)

  • Joyce H.

    I've been wanting to try this place for awhile. I stopped in for a late lunch, things were really slow. You can't order off of the dinner menu for lunch, The server was cheerful and helpful. I ended up ordering the burger because I was so hungry, it was OK, but if you charge $15. for a burger, fries are additional, I expect it to be fantastic. I've had $10. burgers that were pretty good. I had asked for medium and it was well done, not much arugula or caramelized onions. The burger wasn't hot, just warm. Sorry, when you charge higher prices, you set up the expectation for higher quality food and service. Over $20. counting tip for a burger, it should be really delicious and hot.

    (2)

  • Dan H.

    3 stars or 4? With the service we received I am bumping it up with out hesitation. And since I did not eat much of their food, that and the drinks and the ambience are all I can base my first impression on. Service: couldn't have been any better, or more gorgeous. I have seen many new restaurants initially hire for the looks of the staff, only to find they were inexperienced, and or lousy at their job. Not our two waitresses. As attentive, and efficient, as they were beautiful. They even laughed at my humor. You know they must be pros if they can pull that off with sincerity. Ambience: really cool looking interior with some fun prohibition era posters. Loved the one depicting the protesters with the "We Want Beer" signs. They looked very thirsty. Of course it has that gastro pub clubby look, but this one has a warmer and more open feel to it. It helps that it opens out to a decent size patio overlooking some fake lake. Yep, I must be in SOC. But lord have mercy did they have the tunes blasting, and on a Sunday at 5:30..?? Hey, I like my music loud, but jeesh hold off till later in the eve for c'ris sakes. Food: we were really looking forward to trying their bone marrow as an appetizer before we moved on to Pizza e Vino for dinner. But sadly we were informed by Ms. Lovely Waitress that its not offered on Sundays. The reason given after we pressed her, was that Sundays are more of a brunch day. Say what? Whatever, she was too gorgeous to call her out. I did sample some of Chris' duck sausage sandwich that was loaded with a delish horse radish sauce, and we both loved it. Just from this sandwich alone I will make an effort for a return trip. BTW, it's not on the menu at this writing, apparently a special on this particular Sunday. Lucky us! Drinks: stuck with my usual vino, reasonably priced and a great pour. Lucy loves her creative cocktails and ordered "The Vinnie." For some reason this concoction took 15 minutes to be delivered. When pressed, Ms. Lovely Waitress said that all of their cocktails are with handmade ingredients, and this particular one takes a while. Again, she was too gorgeous to complain to. Chris ordered an "Africa Flower" that was bourbon based and unbelievably delicious, and had a hell of a wallop. The frilly name definitely fools you. I took one good pull and could feel the alcohol rush immediately. That's why I stick to my vino, but for you craft cocktail aficionados this is one you must try. A great addition to SOC, as the offerings keep getting better down here in these parts.

    (4)

  • Katelyn S.

    Love the drink selection. Good beer line up. Burger is okay. The quartered chicken was really good. The tacos were great though the portions for tacos were really small. Excited to check out next seasons menu and the ravioli one of the bartenders recommended for next time.

    (4)

  • Kelly J.

    Went here for lunch. Food was good but service was extremely slow - and we were the only people in the restaurant! It would be a much better dining experience without all those TVs.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    The service was decent. The only issue we had was that they do not pack to-go meals. The reason is that the chef does not want to compromise the presentation of the meal. Not sure if the presentation is meaningful enough to stop customers from buying food. Anyways, overall nice place.

    (4)

  • Lida K.

    How can you say you are purveyor the fine meat swine and you can't even manage to make some crispy pork belly?! I held off on reviewing this place because the first time, I have to admit, I was having a shitastic day. The second time I came here it was just as monstrous. I understand trying to be "hip" and a "gastropub" style food fare, but what that doesn't mean is that you make a flavor profile more complex by adding sweet. Almost every dish had a sweet element that completely overpowered the root flavors. Example -- pork belly. Pork belly is amazing when it's crisped up a bit and even with a sweet component that's just a component and not overpowering the main protein can be lovely. I thought I was licking a popsicle and the pork was sad and limp. The bone marrow was under cooked and it was a battle with the server to get that heated up. It's not supposed to be soup, but it shouldn't have the consistency as cold headcheese. yuckkkk Also the pretentious names drove me crazy. Just cause you add citrus juice to something doesn't mean it's a ceviche. It means you added citrus juice. Ironically enough this was the only thing I really enjoyed (mushroom ceviche) because it wasn't slathered with sweet. I really wanted to love this place, but the prices are WAY too high with no happy hour to speak of with rather disappointing food. The drink selection was pretty good so there's that plus. But meh -- this one is filed as another RSM bougie joint that foodie newbs would love.

    (1)

  • Lauren W.

    Came here with my best friend on a Thursday night . Couldn't decide on which beer so they let me sample which is always nice we ordered the Brussel sprout appetizer .. It was amazing highly recommend it. We will be coming back for more and to try dinner . Very cool atmosphere comfy but chic

    (4)

  • Amber T.

    I am not a big fan of "unique" dishes but the drinks, service, and ambiance are amazing!!!! Especially the drinks!!!

    (4)

  • Hart R.

    My wife and I had a bad first experience, but we chose to give them another chance. Service was slow, even though there were only three customers present. And no, they were not understaffed...I counted four servers and one bus boy. We ordered 4 dishes and the food was terrible! No flavor...and VERY overpriced for what you get. NEVER going back!!!

    (1)

  • Erich R.

    Terrible service. I sat at table in bar area for 10-15 minutes. No one helped me. It looks like a nice, foodie-wanna-be place with good craft beer selection. It probably is, but service was terrible. Sorry Blind-pigs, I Gave my biz to mexican place across the way (served right away - and drinking local IPA as I type)

    (1)

  • Brian W.

    Don't think I come back here again only good bartender is blake waited 5 minutes for a drink and it was empty only 2 customers.Blake is super fast at serving your drinks.

    (1)

  • James N.

    Small place but great atmosphere. Respectable draft beer list. Amazing cocktails! Went on a Sat night around 8. Not crowded at all. Had live blues band. Would definitely return.

    (5)

  • Brett C.

    My wife and I went last night for the opening. I let everything sink in overnight and now i am ready to discuss the experience. First of all i am keeping things in perspective and this is a true review because i do not know anyone that works at this restaurant. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. With that said... it was night ONE of being open, which leaves room for some negatives, that can turn into positives. We learn from our mistakes correct???? This is a true small plates type of restaurant, which i like. You can easily order 4-6 plates before you're full, as the portions are pretty small. So here we go: Service: The service was a tad slow, however the poor waitress was working the patio by herself, so that is an easy fix and i don't hold it against them. The waitress truthfully was absolutely amazing for what she was up against. She was extremely knowledgeable and made great recommendations. I even witnessed a few of the other employees accommodating customers requests which is great to see. Food: Mushroom Ceviche- This dish was unique. It had some cherry tomatoes and sour grapes in it with an olive oil type sauce. It was served with Taro chips which were pretty tasty. This dish was a little sour for our liking, but still not bad. Tuna Tartare- Nice tender pieces of tuna, with great flavor, panna cotta and puffed rice. I am missing something else, but don't have a menu to remember everything, so it's by memory. This was one of my favorite dishes. Very fresh, very delicious. Recommended. Pork Belly- I think it goes without saying this was delicious. I rarely, if ever have met a pork belly i did not like. This came with a really good sauce. I am drawing a blank on the ingredients with this one, but it was superb and highly recommended. Bone Marrow- I believe this is one of Executive Chef Josh Han's specialties and boy does he nail it! Easily this dish topped them all and stole our hearts. It was accompanied by shallot marmalade, pickled figs and maytag bleu cheese. Everything about this dish hit all of the senses and knocked our shoes off. It is served with small bread slices. A must have! Fried Spot Prawns- They gave you two large prawns. They were fried nicely with no grease. These were quite delicious and are recommended. Brie Cheesecake with Parsley Ice Cream- This to me is using your TRUE imagination. The parsley ice cream to me was good, to my wife not so much. I am curious to see how this fly's with others. The cheesecake was not traditional it was served more like a custard. I thought it was good, but i'd like to try other options on future visits. Drinks: Tramp Stamp IPA, which was absolutely delicious. It is brewed by Clown Shoes Brewery. Thyme Cocktail- Had a nice balance of sweet and herbs. Delicious. All in all we are excited to have a place like this in the neighborhood. I truly feel after night one that Tony and company are doing some nice things and i believe it can only get better as time goes on. I am excited to return for plenty of future visits. Staff, keep up the great work! ***** (5 Stars)- Amazing, zero flaws, a must go! (Not given often) **** (4 Stars)- Memorable, strongly feel you should visit *** (3 Stars)- Above average, worth a visit ** (2 Stars)- Average, some pro's and some con's * (1 Star)- Opinion is do not go, below average

    (4)

  • Meredith C.

    Kinda bummed about this place, it seemed very cool. Had lunch with my husband and kids, all of our orders came out 5-10 mins separately. Definitely not a place to bring the kiddos, essentially no child friendly menu. maybe for a date night or something. But we won't be back.

    (2)

  • Eden O.

    Was going to an event out in Silverado and came here afterwards to hopefully grab a bite and a brew. Unfortunately we just missed the kitchen closing at 10p. We did however still grab a seat out on their patio which overlooks the pretty little pond. Inside décor was fresh and modern with a couple guys playing live music. Outside includes about 10 tall tables and then also couch seating around a fire pit. Drink menu was impressive with solid cocktail options (including house made ginger beer) as well as a beer left boasting lots of local brews. The servers were friendly and brought drinks out quickly, refilling our waters as needed. We were informed this restaurant was opened by a local 25 year old; felt great to support it and hope I can make it back to try out the food dishes. You can tell there is an overall young vibe here from the décor to the crowd.

    (4)

  • Adrian K.

    They have a good concept going here, but the execution is lacking. Service is horrendous. A bunch of kids learning their first job that aren't being trained properly. The food is good, but definitely overpriced for what you get. The main thing they have going for them here is the drinks. They're delicious, however they would be even better if they arrived in a timely manner...(again. Service) They've been open for a while, so I don't see how they haven't learned that the service is the most important aspect of a business, but then again, they don't seem to take well to constructive criticism based on their mocking "yelp review wall." Oh well.

    (3)

  • Lauren M.

    Much needed addition to the RSM food scene! Creative and innovative dishes with attention to organic & fresh produce and quality meats and seafood! The mushroom Ceviche is a lovely vegan and gluten free rendition of the classic. There are so many depths to the flavor profile that you'll be guessing while you can't stop eating! I want a bag of the taro chips to go! So light and crisp! The Bacon Cherries are a sigh of relief to the overdone Bacon Wrapped Dates. Lighter and fresher but packed with flavor in each bite! And these are no normal cherries...they're huge! The Bone Marrow is one of the best I've had. The usually way to rich dish is lightened up with marinated figs and although each bone is on the freakishly enormous side it's not "too much." For those of you who have never had bone marrow...this is the place to try it! The cocktails...plentiful and all unique in their own and beautifully presented. Don't let the refreshing flavor fool you though! They pack a punch! But hey, a few cocktails on their outside patio overlooking the lake is what the good life is about! I look forward to seeing how the restaurant evolves but as is I would definitely recommend a visit!

    (4)

  • Gabriel T.

    The food is served in very small portions but quality and tasty. It took a while to get a waiter, they were busy, but for the price they charge, they could hire an extra waiter.

    (3)

  • Ann D.

    Don't think I'll be coming back. The food was 4 stars. I ordered the salmon with quinoa and it was delicious. However the wait time for my dish took awhile. My girlfriends had their meals served to them a good 10 minutes before I got mine. Later, my girlfriend ordered a king mushroom dish. That took awhile as well and it tasted so so. :-( My drink was 0 stars. I simply ordered an iced tea and it was $4.50!! That wasn't even for a tall glass. THEN to order a refill was another $4.50. That's insane!! $9 for not even 16 oz because the glass was small and full of ice. Very disappointing... I really wanted to like this place. The view of the lake is gorgeous, but based on the long wait time for food and the over-priced iced tea with NO refill, I can't recommend this to my friends.

    (2)

  • Janessa S.

    Great atmosphere! Great service! Great food! Great drinks! We will be definitely going back!!!

    (5)

  • Aprile P.

    Stopped in with a friend for good food and time together when things went south. Our waitress was so not friendly. Strike 1. We ordered cocktails and waited, and waited and finally asked the waitress if there was a problem. No she said - mixology takes a lot longer then regular drinks. Whatever. Ordered the food and for some reason the waitress just stared at us. (Move along - get the food) Food came and she plopped now the dish turned around a left. No words, no napkins, no sign of life. We had to track down a busboy to get us napkins. (Very helpful man - he should me the waiter) There was another couple sitting outside by the fire and said "we had to go in and get our own" and laughed. Said it was their first time and was not coming back. Us too, but the food was good. A new business needs be a little more accommodating to their customers. We're just getting to know each other and I don't need attitude.

    (2)

  • David H.

    Love the fact they are so dog friendly. Owners are great and we always have a great time at this beautiful place. Great beer selection.

    (5)

  • Beth P.

    My husband and I come here at least twice a month. I love the ever changing menu, the fun drinks, and the staff is friendly and attentive. In all the times we've been here, we have not left disappointed. RSM needs more places like this.

    (4)

  • Kyle M.

    Good food, awesome atmosphere, and location for a patio dinner with a date . Service was slow but it was a busy night. Satisfied..EDIT: it didn't add my emoji faces so it was bone-a-petite!! Haha

    (4)

  • Cristela P.

    The Blind Pig is a nice restaurant and bar overlooking Rancho Santa Margarita Lake. I first went there for OC Restaurant Week with a friend. I like the chef's creative combinations of ingredients that together produce interesting and unique dishes. My favorite is the pork belly with french toast. Very flavorful! My husband and I also like the donut with ground pistachios and strawberry ice cream. The menu is a little bit pricey, but the food and venue make for an enjoyable dining experience.

    (4)

  • Miss Fancypants F.

    Came for brunch. Honestly, I was intending to go to a restaurant next door but was forced to go here instead because the wait there was 1-1/2 hours. I walked in, and the place was near empty. This had me worried. Was ushered to my table where a menu was presented, the likes of which I can only describe as, well, short. Hmph, I thought, not at all what I was expecting. Tried to keep a positive attitude, though I was thinking the chances of being wowed were now nill to none. I decided on the mortadella fried egg hash and resigned myself to a Sunday brunch of culinary disaster. Then the dish arrived. Hmm..it sure was small and not at all what I was expecting. It was a single fried egg atop a medley of diced hash browns, green and red bell peppers and parsley, accompanied by two small wedge-cut pieces of bread. I might be missing a few more ingredients here and, of course, seasoning. I was still worried... ...that is, until that first bite hit my mouth. It was as if a symphony of flavors from another world had descended into my pallet. It was simply divine. I thought about the restaurant next door, the mountain of endless food I had originally planned on having, and then the thought came to me: Now I understand the restaurant's name, The Blind Pig. I once was blind, but now I see. Well done, Blind Pig. I will be back.

    (5)

  • September R.

    Delicious! And dog-friendly! They offer nice thick blankets if u sit out on the patio and good heaters. Been here twice now and everything has been excellent. Every dish is really interesting and always satisfying. Brussel sprouts- SO good. Well browned and the balsamic reduction with the goat cheese. Yum! The tacos were perfect- moist chicken with a yogurt sauce, orange segment, mini potato slices, sprouts and something candied. Hit all the spots. The pork belly and French toast- SO delicious! Sweet of course, but really good. The chicken dish changes but is really good every time. Friendly staff. Good service. You have to try this place!

    (5)

  • Vince D.

    Mind blown. One of the best hamburgers I've ever had. Only trouble now is rearranging the top 5 list, may even rival the FO burger in Santa Monica. Fries are killer too with a Cajun style seasoning and Russian dressing dip. Definitely will be back in next time I make a stop in OC

    (5)

  • Lupita M.

    Great location, intimate, good food, kinda pricy, and sadly service is lousy. I understand they are a new location but waiting over 20 minutes for drinks and 50 for food is not good! We were just about to walk out, but food finally showed. Good atmosphere, but the waitresses look lost. Not sure if thy are experienced... Hope your experience is better than ours!

    (2)

  • Leslye H.

    We had reservations on 4th of July night. Our table was ready when we got there & the place was packed. Our server was Candice was amazing! The bacon cheese burger was delicious & the fries as well. Sitting on the patio called for a perfect night!

    (5)

  • T S.

    This place sucks!! I had high hopes and I'm very disappointed!! The food was horrible and the service was not that great either . No second time for me !!!

    (1)

  • Heidi s.

    Great location, strong drinks, great service and a nice happy hour! We tried a few different cocktails - the bartender was super nice and offered up some suggestions, some were his own recipe. We ordered off the happy hour menu - pigs in a blanket (awesome), fries, wings (a little too sweet for the guys in the group) chicken sliders (so yummy!) and we couldn't pass up the grilled cheese/soup combo. One of us ordered dessert - the vanilla curd with brownies and candied orange peel - the best dessert I have had at a restaurant in a very long time. I've considered going back 2 times in the last week just for the dessert! We will return.

    (4)

  • Tina M.

    I'm a dissapointed in this place. The food portions were tiny and the prices were outragous for what you were receiving. I left still hungry after spending 40$ only on food.

    (1)

  • Lisa S.

    We sat at the bar for Happy Hour. Loved the decor, that's why the 2 stars. They did not have the premium brand alcohol; Tangurey Gin, Kettle One Orange, like most restaurants do. Even though the bartender, who was very nice, said my margarita was made with the standard "skinny girl" ingredients that most margaritas are these days, it still tasted like sweet & sour. I saw no lime squeezing going on. I did not drink it. My husbands "dry" martini had way to much vermouth, he did not drink it. The lamb meatballs that came so highly recommended were way overdone to the point of being hard. The sauce tasted like brown gravy. I'm so disappointed as we need a new little place like this in town but unless they try tasting their own food and libations, this will not be it for us.

    (2)

  • Brian C.

    Food, service, drinks and view was all outstanding. Bone marrow, pork belly and French toast, fried chicken all very tasty. Ginger beer cocktail....great! I truly enjoy inventive food. The OC is so full of chain restaurant crap....glad to see a place get outside the box. If your idea of dinner is Macaroni Grill avoid this place...its too good for you.

    (5)

  • Carole P.

    Lovely setting for lunch, excellent service. Staff was welcoming and friendly, good music playing. Looks like a great place for an evening cocktail with a fire pit on the patio and lakeside dining. Frites were delicious, edamame ok, unfortunately the chicken bowl with vegetables not so good. Veggies were good, especially the brussel sprouts and rice was tasty, but the chicken had several large pieces of gristle which hadn't been removed, not appetizing and not expected. Good beer selection.

    (3)

  • Hayley G.

    The food is incredible here! I had the sea bass and it was soooo yummy!! Asian inspired, almost like pho Vietnamese soup. Tried the French fries and they were hot and crispy! Everyone at the table loved their food. The drinks were very complicated with lots of fancy bitters, but they were just ok. Service was fine. Atmosphere was just ok.

    (3)

  • Kaitlin V.

    I love the decor, bartneders are great, live music is great, food is amazing!!! Try the Burrata spread...omg yum! Only cons is that the crowd is a little young 21 on fridays, it is in RSM so I guess I'll take it! Great Date please, great sunday loung spot!

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    We went here on a Sunday so the menu was reduced but everyone ordered varying dishes and they were all very good. I had a pork french dip and it was really very tasty. Vinnie was our waiter and he was fun and on top of things. I am surprised by the reviews over bad service because the place is truly great. Maybe the owners are seeing these reviews and working to improve service because we have been twice and they could not have provided better service. The ambiance is really nice inside and you can't beat an outdoor patio on the lake with our fabulous weather. It's a tad pricey but everything was worth it and we had a group of seven... all happy.

    (4)

  • Booboo K.

    i love this place!

    (5)

  • Courtney B.

    I randomly stumbled upon The Blind Pig on yelp because I was looking for a place to meet a friend in this area and what a little hidden gem I found! The initial yelp rating made me hesitant, but as I read through them all I could see that the higher prices turned a lot of customers off. I also saw that a repetitive complaint was about the service. My appologies, but I'm going to have to rant about this... 2 things for those who aren't familiar with the restaurant business or have never worked in it: -any new restaurant/bar is going to have customer service growing pains until the dust settles and the staff creates synergy (but the staff was good when I went. Not out of the park fantastic, but definitely nothing to complain about) -higher menu prices are almost always directly related to the quality of the food (if you don't like the prices, don't eat there and then complain about it) With that said, I would definitely consider this place to be a "gastropub" and by definition that is a bar that serves good food and high-quality alcoholic beverages. Gastropubs usually have smaller and more eccentric menus because they would rather specialize in a handful of things instead of half assing 50+ dishes like claim jumper. My conclusion: The Bling Pig does it right. I tried the Pan roasted halibut which was perfectly cooked and over a bed of spaghetti squash that was in a broth was that mind-blowingly awesome. This dish was light and flavorful just like a light white fish dish should be. I also tried their pan seared scallops (again cooked to perfection) and the corn fritter was delicious and complimented the scallops. The drink selection was awesome. Our waitress let us try about 6 beers on tap before we decided. I was bummed that they were out of Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (because it's currently my favorite) but she made sure I found one I was happy with. Why we drank beer that night, I don't know... because they have a pretty good "Wine Wednesday." I guess I'm going to have to go back and indulge in that!

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    Had lunch here today for the first time and sat at the bar. Jeff was very accommodating and made us tasty and refreshing drinks until we could order and eat. The food was not disappointing at all and I found it very balanced in flavor and portion size. We had a Bloody Mary, Vinny and Hemingway to start. Then ate their Sesame Fries (to die for), wings and salmon sandwich. Would definitely come back to try dinner!

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    We decided to try out their dinner menu on our rare occasion that we get to go out. We were amazed by not only the food but the service. They never rushed us once. They allowed us to sit and enjoy every bite without interruption but also without being ignored. The food was very different for my wife but she absolutely loved it. She had to get out of my comfort zone and let me tell you She was so happy She did. Delicious!! Please do yourself a favor and take your loved one out on a date and enjoy every min of your night!!

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    So dark on the patio. Plates looked beautiful, they deserve some light!

    (2)

  • Gary H.

    I went here a few months ago, and the food was okay. Nothing spectacular, but not bad. Particularly unmemorable. I remember the bone marrow dish was very rich, but it was missing something to go with it. I cant even remember what anybody at my table of 4 had, and I know we all tried each others dishes. It was that unmemorable. I do remember the server not being the greatest. She wasnt "all there", if you know what I mean. One guest in my party ordered a specific white wine. The server came out after 10 minutes with the drinks, but brought her a different wine. She said, "We were out of the XXX wine, so I brought you YYY wine instead." Period. It would have been nice if she had done that and then said, try this one and tell me if you like it. If not, I will get you whatever other wine you want. Nope. Just got you a different wine and left. I am not trying to bash this place, and I have heard that they have improved recently, but per my one time, I would rate it middle of the road, especially for the price. MOre of a 2.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Enrique B.

    The Blind Pig is outrageously expensive for the value. Went there for Happy Hour and spent $50 for 3 small tacos, fries and chicken wings and the cheapest wine Ii could find. Service was ok but the bill was a shocker for so little food. Much better deals elsewhere

    (2)

  • Kevin F.

    Had an unscheduled Date night with the wife so we decided to try this place out. After reading several of the reviews I wasn't sure what to expect... We had reservations, which helps since it was pretty crowded at 6:30 on a Saturday night. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was upbeat with a band inside. Outside (enclosed patio w/ heaters) was very comfortable and will be very popular in warmer weather... The drink menu was quite extensive. There are lots of draft and bottled beer choices as well as a large choice of wine and mixed drinks... We decided to try several small plate items since it was a first visit. Everything tasted great. The Fries (recommended in several reviews) were very tasty, The Sisig ( pork, citrus sabayon, pickled red fresno under a hollandaise) was good, but could have ben warmer, Pan Roasted Broccoli (bacon, almond, sultana, parmesan, hollandaise) was also very nice... The Ravioli (goat cheese, brown butter honey, walnut, yolk shaving) was amazing, by far our favorite... My one issue was with price vs. quantity. While the small plate (appetizer) prices are about average, and the quality was above average, the serving size was pretty small. I had heard this was one draw-back, and will have to see if it goes for the Large plate items as well on our next visit... The Yelp page shows $$ for The Blind Pig, it is more realistically $$$ considering drinks and the serving sizes. This aside, the Blind Pig is a welcome addition to the RSM area...

    (3)

  • Cody E.

    The food and drinks here are good. The sharing plates are barely enough for four people though. The service was terrible. It became impossible to flag our waitress down for more food and drinks and our bill. We had to grab one of the bus boys every time. He even brought us our bill. We are a bit bummed. We have tried several times here and it's been the same scenario.

    (3)

  • Laura P.

    Been here several times now. Love the atmosphere, laid back/casual but very nice at the same time. I've always chosen to sit on the back patio next to one of the fire pits, very relaxing. Good wine, great tasting food, good service. My only criticism would be that it can be quite expensive if you don't go during happy hour (or late night menu time) but worse than that, all the menu items are only there for a couple months I believe, and then they get rid of stuff and change everything. So that's disappointing. Not that new things don't taste great as well but no chance of coming back and getting an old favorite. Please bring back popular items and keep them!

    (4)

  • Sam G.

    just average..in my opinion

    (3)

  • Maria P.

    Came here for a friends birthday and we all ordered drinks and kept them coming..first..one of our drinks never came so we ordered it again from someone who asked if we needed anything..so we got it then..after that we ordered our food..again same person didn't get what he ordered..by the time we all finished he finally got his food..some of the food were good portions but didn't taste so good..others were very small portions tasted good but still overpriced..then we kept drinking..so at the end of the night the waitress went around asking us what we ordered?! She said she didn't or couldn't keep track..what?! So by the end of the night we ended up paying and then she had 2 extra beers on "her list" where did this list come from since she didn't keep track? I believe those were the ones we ordered and never got! We paid them..just cause we wanted to get out of there! Horrible service..

    (1)

  • Richard S.

    Great food, service, and drinks. The people that work there truly enjoy what they do and it shows. The drinks of the week are fun and are quite tasty. Wish I could give it more stars than just five. A+.

    (5)

  • Lyndsay B.

    This place always provides a different experience for me. Sadly, none of them good. Why do I go back? It's like an abusive relationship like that.... I hope things will get better. This last visit truly put the nail in the coffin. Without a doubt the service was atrocious! I had asked the waiter questions regarding the cocktails and all I got in return was a shocked looked followed by incoherent mutterings about him not being able to drink so he couldn't provide an objective opinion. I think this must have offended him because without warning or a "may I get you anything else?" we were presented with our check at 1158; bar doesn't close til 0200. Another waiter hurriedly came by and asked if he could take the check. Is the zombie apocalypse coming? Why are we being rushed out? Finally a waiter picks the check up at 1258. The other tables are all closed out as well and the staff is enjoying drinks at their own table. I see now. We're being rushed so they can drink! That's customer service for you. Obviously this place has no priorities. My advice: save your time, money and frustration and head over to Carmelita's! Their food is delicious, they can actually make incredible drinks (Blind Pig maybe you can learn something) and their customer service is stellar!! Thank you Carmelita's for actually putting the customer first!

    (1)

  • Biggest Critique X.

    this place has a lot of potential but needs lower prices and more food selection that is fulfilling.. $5 Bloody Mary on Sunday's are just "OK" nothing to brag to your mom in law about. Ambience is good, and view of the lake is great. Sit outside on a good weather day. Food is tasty.

    (3)

  • Tracy R.

    Went to the Blind Pig for a birthday celebration. Our waiter, Aaron, was great. Fun personality, attentive, but not obtrusive. We asked the bartender to "surprise us" with his drink selection and he did not dissapoint!! We shared several small plates, stuffed Calamari, Sisig and fries were all delicious. Our favorite from the large plates, was the hanger steak tacos. Banana bread for dessert is a must-try! Yum!! There was live music which was fun with a great mix of older and newer hits. This will be our new "fun" place for a night out!!

    (4)

  • Shane B.

    I came here with a group of friends. The drink selection is good and the atmosphere and decor are very nice. I read the reviews before I went and it seems like people either loved or hated this place so I went with an open mind. The menu is small, and there wasn't much to choose from. We started with a few cheese trays and several orders of the bone marrow. The cheese trays were nice with a good selection of cheeses to choose from. The bone marrow is just like it is described. It is a bone cut in half with the cooked marrow inside. I'll try anything once, so I gave it a whirl. The marrow itself was semi-firm, like cottage cheese. It's served with toasted bread, so I put some on the bread and went for it. For me, it was sort of flavorless. Not bad, but not good either. I had one serving. My buddy couldn't get enough of it and wolfed a bunch of it down. Like I said, the menu is small and all of the plates come with a little twist added somehow or another. They did have a teriyaki burger so I ordered that. Burger was ok, but was on the small side. Don't think I will be going back to eat. Good place to have some drinks though.

    (3)

  • H A.

    Been here 3 times... It's okay at best. Food leaves alot to be desired. To much focus on presentation rather than flavor or portion. Drinks are good. Entertainment is solid... But I usually have to go to taco bell after a night out... Because I'm still hungry...

    (3)

  • Jeff O.

    Over priced food & drinks. Bartenders were very rude, with no personalities. They would rather put their attention into making weird drinks, then making their customers happy. Wouldn't recommend this place, and won't be going back. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

    (1)

  • J B.

    One star for the food... Was really looking forward to a new eatery in Rancho and some place that could really take advantage of a great location by the lake. Disappointing is an understatement. This is how things started with the lovely hostess: Us: Party of four please. Hostess: Do you have a reservation? Us: No, we called and you said you don't take them. Hostess: We only take reservations for parties of 8 or more. [stares at us] Us: [looking at each other - WTF?] Okaaaaayyy. We have a party of four. Hostess: We don't have anything on the patio. [stares continue - there's a wide open table for four inside that we can plainly see. An uncomfortable several seconds pass] Us: Can we take that table? Hostess: [thinks about it] Walk this way.... Seriously? Like she was wanting us to leave. ??? So we sit down and get water right away. A few minutes later, hostess drops off menus. Several minutes later our waitress decides to pop over. We'd like to order drinks but no drink menu. She grabs us 2 and proceeds to stand there for a few seconds and then states "Do you need some time?". Uh ya... Good selection of beers ($5) and other drinks. We all order a beer and our food selections since it would probably be another 1/2 hour before our waitress decides to stop by. I get the Clown [something] IPA (really good btw). So after 10-15 minutes our drinks arrive. Other 3 beers come in semi-normal glasses (doubt a pint though) and mine comes in smaller size snifter type glass. Have no problem with that except state glass size on the menu - even Selma's does that. So after another 15 minutes, the food arrives... well, some of it. One of the two cheese plates comes and the chicken/kale entree. A few minutes later the bone marrow plate arrives. So I wait for my cheese plate... and wait and wait and wait. Wanted others to eat so they can enjoy. They were 1/2 done when mine finally arrived. Odd - when you get an order for a table and two order the same thing (cheese plate), don't you prepare those at the same time? About the time my food finally arrived, one of the other waitresses brings another chicken/kale plate for our table - huh? During the meal one of my friends orders another beer - the stout. 15 minutes later, he sees the same waitress that brought over the second chicken plate holding his stout. She looks around, seems confused and then, wait for it... dumps it out! He gets attention of our waitress and asks about his beer. 10 minutes later it arrives - with a 2 inch+ head on it. Not only is this not how you serve a stout, it's also not a full pour. So friend inquires and waitress says [sit down please], "It foams more because of the alcohol content". So there you go....Wha?!??! We're enjoying the comedy at this point. During all of this, the music is up so loud we have to practically yell at our waitress (and vice-versa). Then about 15 minutes before we left they started karaoke.... only it wasn't karaoke but some poor soul who's family told her she can sing. My cat sounds better. The Pig has been open for a while now, so this can't be new staff getting used to stuff. Just plain rude and obnoxious. Memo to owners - the Coto crowd (no offense) will not sustain your business. Plus I liked the menu although it's not for everyone. Cheese plate was good. Beers were good Minus Rude, pretentious staff (x10) Chicken/Kale plate - kale salad good, chicken was bland and rubbery Bone marrow plate was good but very small portion Noise level A bartender who apparently has no idea how to pour a beer

    (1)

  • Carmen G.

    Don't let the Yelp reviews be a deterrent... I drove down from LA on Saturday to give this place a shot. Not only is the decor inside stunning, but there is an outside patio nestled on a little lake. How freaking cute is that?! (and romantic, perfect date spot!) Now- if you want a cheeseburger, I think there is an "in-n-out" just down the street... but if you are like me, and want to shock your palate with something you never thought you would like, this is definitely the right place. They have AMAZING cocktails... (my favorite is new on their menu, its made with pears & egg whites, absolutely mouth watering. I will also add that I am a HUGE cocktail snob.. and I was blown away) Great beer & wine selection. Food- I thought I hated duck, but I decided to try theirs.... HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! So good in fact, I briefly considered licking the plate (Now.. I am a lady... so I unfortunately had to act like one in public) It comes with brown butter gnocchi... So so good... So comforting... Oh my gosh, I want some right now.... Their cheese plate was delicious. (Duh- cheese is awesome) I also tried the seared Ahi, Cauliflower, & Trumpet Mushrooms... All were exceptional. I especially liked the Cauliflower (I am addicted.) So- I would highly recommend... And the Duck is a MUST HAVE!!!!!! I cant wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Brianna K.

    Amazing. The food was great. Got the burger and it was the best tasting burger I've ever had. A bit pricey, but worth every penny. The fries are really good too. Had a great waitress who made me laugh the entire time and took great care of us, so a great place to spend your time and money!!

    (5)

  • Remington S.

    It's just okay. The food is meh and overpriced. The drinks are good but 50 bucks only got me 3 drinks and I didn't even get buzzed.. There are some positives though. The service is good and I like the atmosphere. I prefer to go to Carmelita's right next door for the same price.

    (3)

  • Kendra C.

    This place is so awesome I may have to sign up on Match.com so I can have some dates bring me here!!! Seriously though...I finally made it in here last Friday evening for dinner and cocktails. One of my favorite bartenders from another local spot came to work here and it was so fun to see him shaking up all the cool handmade cocktails behind the bar. The decor is very cool, super chill atmosphere. There were two guys playing acoustic guitar with a harmonica, singing a good variety of classic rock (think Eagles and Tom Petty) and some newer stuff (think John Mayer and Dave Mathews). They were really good. We arrived about 8pm, and luckily found two seats at the bar, the dining room was pretty full, I thought is was cool that they had a community table where you share the table with people you don't know...and they have a great patio that overlooks the lake. Food and drinks were fantastic. I don't know what my drink was called but it had pears and egg-whites I am certain, but it was light and frothy and delicious! My friend and I shared the pan roasted chicken breast that came on a bed of kale. It was crispy on the outside and so tender. We also had the hangar steak with blue cheese potatoes dauphinoise and asparagus. Also delicious! If you are looking for a dive bar with cheap bar food...this is not what you are looking for...but if you want something a little upscale, a little out of the suburban ordinary...this is the place for you! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Rob H.

    Tried this place for the first time last night. The patio setting was fantastic. Got greeted promptly and sat within 1 minute of walking in the door. Our waitress approached us on our way to our table to inform us of a special that they had 1 order left. We ordered it and sat down. So far so good, then we ordered drinks and waited and waited over 20 minutes to get a vodka tonic and draft beer. We then ordered more small and large plates. The food was very good, but the delays in between service was not good. They told me that they bring the plates as they are ready which makes the slow service even worse. Our waitress was very good and tried her best to keep the food and drinks coming but it just took to long. We ordered 3 small plates and 2 large plates plus 2 drinks each and the bill was $100 without tip. Not my favorite but worth a try.

    (3)

  • Harvey T.

    This restaurant has a really great view of the lake, especially if you're sitting outside. The food was not good in my opinion though. The drinks and service were ok. I probably would try it once more, but I'm not sure I can recommend it.

    (2)

  • Jody B.

    Being a self-professed "foodie" I expect a lot from a restaurant, in terms of the quality of food. Unfortunately, the Blind Pig is nowhere near my standards. I just got back from my second trip to Paris where I ate my way through most of the neighborhoods there, and had some of the most amazing food in my life. When I saw the Blind Pig's tapas menu, I was so hoping for at least a bit of some of the great flavors I remember from Europe. Unfortunately, the dishes were substandard and some were just plain bad. We started with the beet plate. I absolutely love beets but this dish was just weird! They added chunks of some orange cheese and I think granola. The orange cheese (cheddar??) did not mesh with the beets and on top of everything the dish was tiny for the cost. Next was the bone marrow. I happen to love bone marrow and had some superb bone marrow in Paris, but the Blind Pig's was horrid. In fact I did not eat it. It was thick, gelatinous, and was topped with strange onions and I think berries. Next my husband and I shared the fried shrimp over quinoa. The fried shrimp were large, but overcooked and bland flavor. The quinoa was a spanish flavor and was just o.k., but didn't seem to go with the shrimp. Again, flavors did not mesh, and of course shrimp was just not cooked properly. Finally we had the french toast and pork belly. This actually tasted pretty good, although the toast was nothing special and tasted a bit stale. But to be fair, the flavors were good, more like a dessert. But this dish alone is not something that would bring me back. To end this review, we saw, who I think was the owner or manager. A young guy in a "Blind Pig" shirt with lots of tattoos. He seemed to know the ladies sitting next to us. He came over to them, plopped down on the couch, and proceeded to throw his legs up casually on a chair. I know this is a bar restaurant, but to me, this was really inappropriate in front of customers. If I were a new restaurant owner/manager, I would certainly be walking around the establishment, talking to customers, asking how everything was, getting feed back, etc. My one star is for the service, which was friendly, and the ambiance, which was nice, but unless I miraculously hear about some major changes, I will not be going back. Just sad, for a city like RSM, which so desperately needs some good places to eat!

    (1)

  • Shelby H.

    I would love to give The Blind Pig 5 stars but the quality of service negates the possibility of doing so. Before I discuss service I'd like to highlight what they do well since it is a newer (not new anymore) restaurant. The drinks are AMAZING, probably some of the best craft cocktails I have ever had. Some reviewers mention that they are pricey, I believe they are well worth the price. I love The Vinnie and Senses Working Overtime! The food is great! It's definitely different and something you wouldn't see on a typical menu, but it is nonetheless good. Now the service, was awful. The handful of times I have been here I have noticed lack of friendliness in the waitstaff. Our server last night didn't smile and pretty much stood there awkwardly while we asked a couple of questions regarding the menu and only came back once before she gave us the bill. We also asked several different employees for water and napkins and after being there 40 minutes we still did not have water or napkins. Honestly asking for napkins and water is pretty routine and standard for a restaurant, however the handful of times I have gone we have encountered the same problems. Overall the atmosphere is perfect, a little loud but it's fun, the food is good and the drinks are amazing. The service is probably the worst I've ever encountered outside of a fast food restaurant. Due to the poor service and lack of friendliness in the waitstaff the price of both the food and drinks cannot be justified.

    (3)

  • Jessica G.

    The food here is terrible, I wouldn't eat here if it was the last restaurant in town and I was starving! Not only are the items on the menu I edible, it seems like the chef tries very hard to be different but doesn't really succeed. The food is a similar style to other dishes but different things are changed to be different. For example, the beets dish has cheddar cheese (a very strong flavor) granola, and greens that don't necessarily work. All the other items on the menu are of the same sort and also extremely overpriced. From the other reviews I've read, it seems many people feel the same way. The owners seem nice, but that's as far as the good things go. I've also heard extremely bad things about the kitchen crew as well. Most of them have a glassy eyed appearance that appears they are not only eating the food and smoking cigarettes if you know what I mean. I'd give this place 6 months tops before it goes under.

    (1)

  • Joe C.

    I will definitely be back for a special occasion. I came here to celebrate my wife's birthday with some friends. The lake view was very nice and the food and drinks were great. Our server Vinny was very knowledgeable about the menu and was pleasant to deal with. I feel the pricing is a bit steep for what you get. Small plates of good food.

    (4)

  • Jay D.

    Since my negative experience here, and my review on Yelp, this establishment has taken it upon itself to sarcastically display a portion of my review in their restaurant. So not only do I have the disappointed visit, I get to be made fun of on the internet. It's only an opinion fellas, get a freaking grip.

    (1)

  • Hayley P.

    I really want to love The Blind Pig, but so far I am not too impressed. I am cutting them a little bit of slack considering they are a new restaurant and still have kinks to work out. Food: We started with the beets, which were just OK. Wouldn't order again. Next we had the bone marrow which I thought was delicious. We would have kept ordering but service was incredibly slow and prices were high so we headed over to Carmelita's for dinner. Service: Let me start by saying it took over 25 minutes for me to get the Sangria I ordered. Our food came before my cocktail which is unacceptable. We repeatedly asked our server if our cocktails were coming and she said "Our cocktails are hand crafted so they take extra time." I don't blame our server at all for slow drink service but please don't give out a lame excuse for a drink taking 25 minutes to get to the table. In addition, I think the entire service staff needs to brush up on their table and seat numbers. We had food and drinks brought to us at LEAST five times that were not ours. The couple seated next to us said that every 2 minutes somebody tried to bring them someone else's order. Learning table/seat numbers is a basic step of service that I expect from all restaurants, especially one with such high price tags. Drinks: Sangria: Not terrible, but not at all what I wanted from a sangria. Honeysuckle: Good, very tart. Moscow Mule: Don't waste your money. Tiniest copper mug I've ever seen a moscow mule served in, filled to the top with ice cubes. Tasted extremely watered down and lacked the fizz that ginger beer should have. Couldn't taste any vodka whatsoever. Beer: $5 for every beer, size changes depending on which beer you choose. Overall a good value and they carry some interesting beers. I am going to give The Blind Pig a few months before I come back and hopefully they will work out some of the issues.

    (3)

  • Natalie H.

    Asked to leave twice and kicked out for a reservation!!!Thought about trying a new place with a friend for Happy Hour and had heard good things about this place. Well that was not the case at all! Never in my life have I been asked twice to vacate a table. When we walked in about 3:30 pm on a Friday afternoon the sign said "Seat Your Self" and a server made the same comment. So being a beautiful Friday afternoon on the lake we opted to sit on the patio to enjoy the view. After enjoying a glass of wine and appetizers we were enjoying our afternoon, when the hostess/server came over to let us know that our table was needed for a reservation and we were going to need to leave shortly. About 20 minutes later the same person came back to advise that we needed to leave as the reservation was there and the table was theirs! Needless to say this was the worst treatment a patron could expect and we will never be back again!!!! I even asked the lady if we were being kicked out, as no other table was offered to relocate us to and she said yes!

    (1)

  • John E.

    I stopped by on opening night as Wings used to be one of my and my kids favorite places to walk to after a lake loop and have a nice casual dinner. I was excited for their opening and hopeful they'd have great beers (I'm a hop-headed beer snob) and great food (I consider myself a mid-level foodie and love places like Haven, Crow Bar, etc). We managed to find two spots at the communal bar table because there were no tables available. The beer list was OK but somewhat of a let-down for me. The most interesting I could see was an already-tried Noble Big Whig IPA. They also had an Alesmith IPA, Cismontane Coulter and a Clownshoes belgian IPA. Unfortunately for a hop-head like me, the beer was better before with Wings who I guess had longer-standing beverage distribution contracts and therefore could get the better stuff. I wonder if the new owners missed a bet in buying out those old contracts so they could have Ballast Point, Port Brewing, Bear Republic, etc. The beer was OK and was $5 served in goblet not a pint glass. BP follows the $5 a beer for tap beers like The Playground in Santa Ana does. It's always $5 and if the keg costs more then you get a smaller pour. Buy a cheaper beer (per keg) and you get a bigger pour. Bottled were $9 and up. After waiting 15 minutes for our beers to arrive we perused the short menu. It's all small plates and pretty pricey. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind dropping coin if it sounds good and I will get pretty full. But I estimated Id have to spend about $50 at least for myself to get close to full. All plates seemed a bit pricey. I definitely like modern fusion cuisine such as Haven, Playground, Brü, etc but I thought most of these dishes were just too weird. I mean who wants bacon-dusted cherries ? And I'm just not into bone marrow. The mac n cheese sounded OK but I wished it was a bacon mac n' cheese instead of a celery mac n cheese. Honestly, nothing sounded appealing or filling so my friend and I, still with no beers contemplated getting up and just leaving. I won't dog their service since it was the first night. Our beers arrived as we were getting up to leave so we asked for our bill. We quaffed our beers and went to Selma's for better beer and more familiar comfort food. I am so disappointed. I was so looking forward to having this place be a new super-cool place to hang out that I could also bring my kids. Unfortunately, I'll never be able to bring my kids ( 11 and 13) here as their is NOTHING for them on the menu. Unfortunately if they stay this course in RSM, I think they will be gone in less than a year. IMHO they will lose alot of the former Wings family business which is key business in family-rich RSM because of their limited menu. If this place was in West Hollywood it would probably do just awesome! I suggest they re-tool their menu and add some more familiar items such as a sandwich, wings, or something with some substance instead of what my friend calls "bird food." I spoke to one of the owners and said they will have TV and be open for lunch by opening day of football season. This will be a clash IMHO. The Blind Pig has really nice decor (kind of like a mini Brü) and I believe they will have an identity crisis with TV-watching football types in a progressive gastronomy style restaurant. And I don't know many football fans who will be OK eating chicken breast with kale and appetizers like bone marrow and bacon-dusted cherries. That said, I wish Blind Pig all the best and hope they can adapt and thrive.

    (3)

  • Lauren G.

    I'm so excited for the Blind Pig to finally be open!! First of all, view is amazing. They have a corner spot on the lake. I always like some water to look at when i'm out to drink or dine. The only thing that sucks is that this place IS tucked away in a corner. If you're not a local or don't hear about it from a friend with exact directions, it may be difficult to find. That just means the Blind Pig really has to cater to locals. This may not be too hard though, since both owners are young locals who want to expand the culinary and craft horizons of their patrons. The decor was refreshing, i'd say eclectic/organic glam. The layout is super open, kind of loungy with a community table inside and tables outside, overlooking the water. There was live music, which was awesome but I thought just a bit too loud. My friend and I came on a Friday night and it was PACKED! We sat at a 4 person table even though there was only two of us because there was no where else to sit. I kinda felt bad for taking up such a huge table that could have easily sat six people but I decided not to care and started looking over my drink menu. Our server was not inattentive, just busy. She was actually very informative about both the drink and food menu and was able to steer me in the right direction on both matters. My friend and I both had different beers and I ordered the "orange" tomatoes lo main and he ordered the braised pork belly on french toast. The beers were perfect (only $5!!) and the food was so amazing. We each had another beer and I tried "The Vinnie". This was a perfect craft cocktail. Amazingly balanced, tart with a tiny bit of sweet. I think craft bar tending is an art and I have so much respect for the people who are bringing it back. There is only one bathroom for men and one for women so that line wasn't fun but what can ya do? Make new friends in line! Well, thats what I do anyway :) I had a great experience here and I cannot wait to bring my sisters and friends back with me! ALSO: I think it's really refreshing to see some yelpers offering constructive criticism. Too often I see peoples hopes and dreams getting crushed on yelp. The owners of this place are young guys with a vision. TO ALL THE EVIL YELPERS: Let's help encourage growth in our community instead of bashing something that could be amazing for everyone given a little time and trial and error!! NO ONE EVER PROMISED YOU DINNER. Take your fat asses to Carls Jr. and don't forget to bring some vodka in a water bottle because you all obviously cannot appreciate the concept of a craft bar.

    (5)

  • Kyle D.

    My favorite restaurant in rancho for craft cocktails. The bar staff is knowledgeable and the drinks are poured heavy. The menu is adventurous and you're sure to have an experience if you like trying new foods. Prices are reasonable, and you can walk/bike here from anywhere in Rancho. I highly recommend trying this restaurant if you're thirsty, like trying different foods and are looking to an alternative to Hanna's and Carmelita's.

    (5)

  • Liz W.

    I was eagerly awaiting the opening of this place and was super disappointed. The atmosphere is nice, but the food left much to be desired. The bone marrow was good, but everything else was bland, greasy or, in the case of our noodles, under cooked. I will never be back here for food, but they have live music and good ambiance, so it is worth stopping in for drinks.

    (2)

  • Ema A.

    The food here is so tasty! Its important to know however that it is on the pricier side and the dishes are not meant to make u full and roll out of the joint but definitely satisfy ur palate with good flavors. The service is excellent. The drinks are unique. We lounged on the patio with the comfortable lounge chairs, blankets, and propane fire pit. Everyone was very happy with their order. Young adults seem to flock here after 8 pm. So just go and check it out!

    (5)

  • Alex B.

    I'm over the initial 12oz pour fixation. Enjoying 14oz AleSmith IPA and Pork Belly on French Toast. Both are very good! Service is friendly and efficient. No negative vibes from anyone here. Notched my rating up a star :-)

    (4)

  • Tom T.

    Great bartenders! They sure know how to make a real cocktail! The food was good, but the selection could be just a bit broader. Sure can't say enough about the drinks though. Have the pisco sour. Awesome!

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    I love this place! The menu is excellent and everyone is attentive, friendly and service oriented. Great place to unwind!!

    (5)

  • Andy Z.

    This review is for the bar only as I have yet to have a meal here. The bar services, drinks, and atmosphere are fantastic. This place is a nice change of pace for the area. The bar tenders make great drinks and are very personable which makes you want to go back time and time again. Just ask for Randy, he makes a mean cocktail.

    (5)

  • David E.

    Yay they have found their way!!! Vibe is awesome. Cocktails best in business. And the menu has been altered to deliver delicious bites. If you haven't been here in awhile, give them another chance. They have innovative sliders, great coriander fries, sausages .... Go Blind Pig Go!

    (4)

  • Colby L.

    I've been into Blind Pig about 2 or 3 times on a Saturday night and it is so great to see something happening in RSM! FINALLY!!!! It's a great location with a decently sized patio overlooking the RSM lake. They have just added heaters...perfect timing before it really starts to cool down. The craft cocktails are delicious, refreshing and unique. I've enjoyed the Vinnie, the Patio Sipper and my mom loves the Dark and Stormy. Great beer selection as well. The menu features small plates meant for sharing. The ceviche, seared tuna and chorizo ravioli were delicious as well as the chicken salad. I'm really excited to see where this restaurant goes and plan on supporting a new business in RSM! It's too bad that other people don't feel like giving these guys a shot.

    (4)

  • Stephen C.

    I'm impressed and that's difficult to do. The service was slow at first - we came in at a late night rush and the server, justin, apologized and told us the situation (servers being sent home and not enough people to cover the rush). We ordered lamb meatballs and salt and vinegar wings. Both were GREAT, but the 5 stars is mostly because of the drinks: I ordered a Ferlux 12, a Moscow mule, and a little canary. The Ferlux was one of the best drinks I've ever had. I'm not sure what else to say about it. It was aromatic, herby, flavorful, and not overly sweet. The Moscow mule was absolutely incredible, probably because they home brew their own ginger beer, and the little canary, though not my favorite drink of the three, was incredible. I am extremely happy with this visit and can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Samantha F.

    I finally got to visit The Blind Pig last friday after work and it was a great experience! I loved both my cocktails (Brandy Crusta and the Patio Sipper) and the bartender was great. I hope this place does well, RSM needed a hip fun bar like this. I will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Jennifer G.

    Great drinks and good appetizers. However, we came here with a group of 8 which is where we went wrong. They said all the entrees are meant to be shared. But they are not any different than a typical entree. Of course you can share any entree by passing the plate around. But I was very confused about why they would create a shareable plates, one of which was a chicken breast and kale salad. It was tasty, but not a shareable dish. Very confusing. And expensive too! In the future we'll come for the bar and then have dinner at one of the restaurants next door.

    (2)

  • Lorena C.

    Handsome took me here for my birthday this year and wow I could not believe the transformation of this place! If you had been when it was Wings you wouldn't even believe it was the same place. Love the decor. So romantic and classy. Beautiful place. They had a guy playing guitar which was a nice touch as well. We ordered drinks I remember handsome's drink was the Rusty Nail but I can't remember mine? It was a cocktail with grapefruit. Delicious. Just fabulous. We ordered a few different things we got the trumpet mushrooms, the scallops and the NY block. Now they had told us all the food comes out when it's ready not all together so we were ok with that. We were waiting a long time though and they brought us out the prawn salad on the house while we waited. Great service! This was a great choice for my birthday dinner. The food was delicious and cooked to perfection!

    (5)

  • Jeremy Y.

    Love it here! The service is awesome. Blake and Vince are the best! Try the Bloody Mary or one of the FIne CRAFT beers! The price is reasonable and the food is great.....

    (5)

  • Amy W.

    Love this place! The decor is classy and beautiful, the drinks are great, and the menu is refreshing and innovative.

    (5)

  • Diane M.

    Came here for a date night amd was pleasantly surprised for RSM suburbia. Food was awesome and love the cocktails. Will definitely come back with a crowd!

    (4)

  • Ralph S.

    Real time review... our waitress is great, personable, and seriously hampered by everything else about this place. Right off, they announced that they "don't believe in heat lamps", which translates to "our cooks cant stagger an order". Next up, after our order.... 2 of the items were not available. So, re-order. Chicken breast looked good on the menu.... as served, it's just a chicken breast dropped on a bowl of kale. This, mind you, is all against a background of "music" by a Dave Matthews wannabe who is over amplified for the space. The clientele is largely what is technically called "douchey", the kind of guys who think Jameson is the finest whiskey available. Oh yes, they mentioned that a couple of the specialty drinks weren't available, so we all ordered others. Surprise, 2 of those weren't available... another re-order. Here's a bonus... at 9:15, while our food was arriving, we were told that it was "last call" for food. One companion says the bone marrow was very good, except for the chunk of plastic wrap he found in it. All in all, lousy. The locals might like it, but they also might like dental surgery. I gave 2 stars for the overall experience, meaning the wait staff. Otherwise, 0. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Ken S.

    Went to the pig to watch some Sunday football. Started out with a whiskey sour which was good and finished with some bloody Mary's which were by far the best I've had! I also had the chorizo,egg and biscuit dish which was delicious. Great place! Update 2/2/14: great chicken sliders and there old fashioned whiskey drink is delicious!

    (5)

  • Lisa P.

    I live near the Blind Pig and have been there five times. Each time, the music is getting louder and louder. The last two times, I had to ask if they can tune it down since we had to virtually scream our order to the waiter and waitress both times, who also were frustrated. My date said he won't go back even though he enjoyed sitting on the lake. I doubt I'll go back as well. Next time, it's Carmelita's even through I'm not big on the food, at least I can hear myself think. On a good note, I do like the wine even though it's pricy and the view is great.

    (1)

  • Jennifer B.

    Last night, my sister and I decided to try this place. It was amazing. The French fries, are hands down, the best fries I've ever eaten. The kale salad is also to die for. The service is amazing. I told my sister it's my new favorite place. We usually always go to Mastro's but I told her let's venture out. This restaurant is really good. The ambience is awesome too. I highly recommend it. The best part was I loved their pen and I asked the waitress if I could have it and she said yes. Love it! Thank you!

    (5)

  • Bill N.

    This place is not for kids. I took my wife and kids there yesterday (9/12/13) and was a little disappointed that there was no kids menu. Not even really drinks for kids. They do have highchairs, but this place is geared for couples / friends / after work. I decided to stay because I wanted to try something new. I am so glad I did. We have found another great 'Date Night' spot and this one is close to home in RSM. Because the menu is small, but has mostly unfamiliar selections, we ordered several items. Seared Ahi, Chorizo Ravioli, Celery Mac'N'Cheese, Pork Belly French Toast, Gold beets, Orange Tomatoes on lo mein,, Brie Cheesecake, and Nutmeg Float. The portion sizes are spot on. Some may say they are appetizer sized, but I thought they were perfect for anyone that doesn't want to gorge themselves. More food = more you! Overall, the food was delicious. We had our favorites and our least favorites. Next time we'd probably pass on the desserts and the Orange Tomatoes on lo mein. The cheesecake is more of a custard and lacked the 'tang' you'd expect from a cheesecake. The parsley ice cream is an awkward pairing. The nutmeg float reminded me of egg nog. The lo mein was a bit shy of al dente, so it was a bit starchy. So why the four stars? There is a lot of good, creative, food here with reasonable prices and portion size. Above that, the service here is amazing. This is a young, energetic staff that gets it. Their hunger to make this new restaurant work is evident by the story I am about to share. My second child is all of 17 months old. On the way from Daycare to the Blind Pig, he finished 8 ounces of goats milk (lactose intolerant...or something). When we arrived, I waited on ordering food because my wife wasn't going to get there for another 10-15 minutes. He drank half a glass of pomegranate juice and half a glass of water before she got there. See where this is going yet? This ones an eater and often does what I like to affectionately call "the crab". One hand is putting food in his mouth while the other is grabbing another handful..to shove in his mouth. He loved the Golden Beets and the Celery Mac'N'Cheese so much that he was in full "the crab" swing....until :( In case I need to paint the picture: To our embarrassment, he vomited...a lot. Everything. Despite our repeated objections, one of the staff graciously helped clean up. He seemed, almost, happy to do it. Not at all bothered. While my wife went to 'freshen up' afterwords, to my 17 month old's terror, another staff member came to my rescue by getting him to stop crying by talking to / distracting him. 2 other staff members, including our waitress...who was already doing a great job...came to make sure we were OK. Whoa! My kid just vomited all over your new restaurant and 4 staff are more concerned about my experience than anything else. SOLD! We will be back! (without the upchucker :P)

    (4)

  • Scott I.

    Let me start off by saying biggest let down after looking forward eating at this location. Let's start with the good parts of my "experience" - good selection of craft beers; they should update their website daily as my party went here for a beer on their tap list but was gone - good atmosphere Now the bad... - food came out late and was served COLD and was the pork! C'mon man The Blind Pig and serving bad pork... - the service was as a review stated previously, horrible. If you are local to this area might be a great option. However, if you have to drive into this place stay away! Not worth the trek into RSM and if you took tolls they should pay you for the $6 wasted coming

    (2)

  • John A.

    Second time here and I'm sooooo disappointed! I could swear they must have gotten a new chef, but they said no. The bone marrow last time had a different presentation and this time it tasted funky...not the buttery, nutty, appetizer I remember. Oh did I say appetizer? It actually came out after our entrees. Again not consistent with my experience last time. The pan roasted chicken breast was okay. Actually had to be sent back for being over cooked. Also it is a salad but that wasn't clear on the menu description. It's a good dish but wasn't what I expected. The place is dead --- not busy at all and we had to wait a long time to get drinks. Good thing this wasn't my first time or I would NEVER come back. Not sure I'll make it here a 3rd time. Bummer!

    (2)

  • Sweetcherry D.

    I would say the service has gotten a lot better. When I first came here the waitress forgot our food order. I'm glad to see that the staff is not drinking anymore. It's unprofessional to drink on the job. After a lot of improvement with the service I would come back again. The only tip I would give out is to have better music. It's a younger crowd and the musician who keeps coming in plays music for an older crowd.

    (4)

  • James H.

    The Blind Pig is a cool new place in RSM - very much needed for the RIGHT audience. It is not for families, there are plenty of family oriented restaurants in RSM. It's a great spot for couples or singles, who want to escape to a great atmosphere, good food, and nice views. It sits on the lake next to Carmelitas and offers a beautiful view at sunset and good seating that includes loungy chairs to relax with your lady. They have plenty of LED tvs to take in a game. We were there last night and they had cool live music which just added to a wonderful evening. If you like Kya or what we call rooftop in Laguna Beach, it's very similar to that. Like Kya, the food is primarily heavy appetizers. So, don't expect a big heavy dinner. However, take your girl to this place, enjoy some great, unique plates and drinks without feeling engorged when you leave. Who wants to feel like that when you're on date anyway? The owner came over and chatted with us, super cool guy. You'll know he's the owner as he tattooed the name of the restaurant "The Blind Pig" down his arm. How about that for commitment? Shows a level of confidence needed to succeed in business. They also have good bar scene which was crowded with lively people enjoying the live music and taking in the Thursday night FB game. We found the service to be excellent - staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. We are looking forward to returning and sneaking away for date nights and will encourage our friends to do the same.

    (5)

  • J M.

    this place is NOISY! We would've preferred to sit outdoors but it was too cold. The food was good enough but no way could the 4 of us dining together carry on any sort of conversation with the high noise level. Oh well, maybe they'll install some acoustic panels to cut down on the horrid noise - it's a great location and they seem to be trying hard enough otherwise

    (2)

  • Anthony T.

    Best customer service, best drinks and delicious food so glad that something like this has finally opened in rancho santa margarita.

    (5)

  • Cari B.

    Well after wanting to try this place for a while, I finally got the chance this weekend. I went in and sat at the bar to eat. They had live music, and while the musician was great, it was pretty loud. The cocktails were crafty, but the food was another story. I was deciding between the bone marrow or short rib tacos. The bartender talked me into the short rib tacos. My previous experience with short rib meat, is fall off the bone melty goodness. This is not what I was served. First of all they were hard shell tacos. Not really my cup of tea. I always get poked in the roof of my mouth by hard shell tacos.They did not look unlike the tacos you might get at Taco Bell. Chopped tomatoes shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce. The meat was very chewy and had a sort of stale taste. Certainly not what I was expecting. I kind of muddled my way through the tacos to find a pool of orange grease at the bottom of the clever metal taco holder contraption. I was kind of over the loudness at that point and paid my bill and skeddadled. The service was okay, but later the tacos were not so kind to my belly. I needed some serious ginger that night to settle things down. Pretty sure I am never going back.

    (2)

  • Mina M.

    The best place in RSM, Very classy and unique food and drinks. We don't have to drive to Newport Beach or Laguna Beach to have appetizer and drinks and a nice view.

    (5)

  • Vince N.

    This is the Sunday spot people, I had the celery Mac and cheese, with aged balsamic. The price to quality ratio is unbeatable. I highly recommend the $5 beer list, I enjoyed the Petrus Aged Ale, very nice. Great environment, people, music, and experience. Bottoms up

    (5)

  • Jay L.

    First timers as of last night- very impressed. BP is off to a good start! Drinks and eats were great - out of the ordinary and excellent quality. Loved the small plates concept and left feeling just right! Service was very good and the patio area was perfect like the weather last night. A nice addition to our area restaurants - we shall return!

    (4)

  • Tom R.

    Bad bad bad! We walked in 2 hours before closing and were told they were closed. Meanwhile the doors were open and others walked in after us and were served. We were sober and walked in like normal paying customers. Could not believe we were treated this way. Horrible!!!

    (1)

  • Brian S.

    Would never return. Grilled cheese is all bread and barely can tell it has cheese. Service slow. Menu is very limited. Would not suggest to anyone. Would go to any other Resturant next time. Servers were nice but extremely slow and did not attend to the table.

    (1)

  • Erin F.

    Obsessed with the grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup!! It's a must get whenever it's on the menu. I've tired a lot of their foods throughout the year and never had something that I didn't like. Their cocktail menu is one of the best around and I love the atmosphere of the place! Always one of my favorite place to go when I have some time off

    (5)

  • Kylie H.

    Me & my bestie love this place. So delicious, staff is super friendly and a great environment to be in. Definitely will be coming again!

    (5)

  • evan h.

    I went in really wanting to love this place. No seriously I really did. It seemed as though there had been an anomaly in RSM that had figured out that food doesn't just come in a box off the back of a sysco truck and that there are cocktails other than just ten thousand different variations of the martini or margarita....That there are whiskeys other than jack daniels, gins other than beef eater and THE SPIRITS LIST OH MY GOD THE SPIRITS LIST! I WAS IN LOVE. Lets start with the menu. I could preface and/or try to justify this with some passage about how I am a "blah blah blah" and ive eaten "blah blah blah" but its irrelevant, I hate when other people do it, and isn't going to make me sound like any less of an asshole so im just not going to bother with it. Anyway, the menu: While I have respect for the fact that the chef and perhaps owner are trying to bring something different to the RSM food scene...But these dishes just don't sound good. Bone marrow and blue cheese? Celery mac and cheese (what does that even mean?), beets and cheddar? What? Whether you like it or not your primary clientele is rich ditsy housewives and douche bag golfers in their late forties and early fifties.They are absolutely clueless with regards to food, I mean they will tell you they have eaten in Italy, Paris, and New York, but when asked, they list restaurants like Ruth Chris, Cheesecake Factory, and PF Changs as their favorites. As for me, I love all things offal. Face, kidney, liver, tripe. I love it. I was thrilled when I saw chicken liver moose and bone marrow on the menu so I ordered one of each. The bone marrow was overcooked (rendered to almost nothing) lacked any sort of seasoning what so ever and was smothered with a ton of shit. Blue cheese, caramelized onions, and figs that the bar tender told me had undergone some sort of prep that I can't remember..but they just tasted like shitty mushy figs to me. The chicken liver mousse was runny, not like maybe a little loose...but runny, it had the consistency of diarrhea. It was smeared on what was being called a biscuit but I don't know who decided to call it that because it was more of a spongy dough disc that lacked any sort of flavor. The liver itself tasted of almost nothing and it liquefied once it hit your mouth. Lack of seasoning was a problem on both of the things I ate....but man did the cooks and chef look cool in those mechanic shirts with the little patch that says blind pig! Wow! I don't understand why you guys don't have a burger, no seriously...why not? It doesn't make any sense. Don't make a "kobe" burger stuffed with maytag blue and black truffles, how about just a simple decent burger? Whats wrong with that? That would be great. Now...the bar. Whoever designed the bar at the blind pig fucking killed it. It is by far the nicest most well equipped bar I have ever seen in OC. Same goes for the spirit list (at least with regards to the whiskey and rye selection, how about a mescal or two!? Vida?!?) and bitters! You have lots of bitters!!! I can see what you guys are going for and the bar is absolutely fantastic. The cocktails however.... I don't understand how a bar offering such a great selection of spirits can't make a decent manhattan, it doesn't make any sense. The one I got was sweet and didn't even taste of booze, it was so sad =(. You could argue that its not one of your signature cocktails or that its not on the menu but, come on now, we all know those are bullshit excuses. I came back another time and ordered some spirits (fernet branca and buffalo trace neat) and they were $10 a piece!? Im not one to complain about prices but come on now....$10 for a fernet branca? Really? Now I know The Bling Pig is in its infancy and you have a lot of stuff to figure out but the future is not looking too bright. Put this up on your chalkboard. EDIT: Im well aware that my review is filled with miss spellings and grammatical errors. I'm not going to fix them because it just wouldn't be a yelp review if it wasn't.

    (1)

  • Dave N.

    Place was okay, a little tight when it's busy. Good selection of Scotch, but a little on the pricey side. Nothing wrong, nothing special.

    (3)

  • Trieu H.

    Recommended by a fellow Yelper for New America cuisine and absolutely loved it! Not your cookie cutter style Gastro Pub faire, but more thoughtful menu items. I was impressed and will be back soon!

    (4)

  • Phillip M.

    I read a review on this place in the OC Weekly and I was excited to try the food which was highly recommended, we came here on a Tuesday just as they opened at 3pm I was really hungry and sat down to read the menu the waitress who was just ok brought us our drinks and then decides to tell us the kitchen does not open till 5pm WTF thanks for telling us at least she scored some drinks out of us, the place is beautiful and a really nice atmosphere next to the lake. I might try it again but what happened today was pretty shitty to tell you the truth.

    (2)

  • Kimberly W.

    Took husband here for his birthday tonight. Good food, great service, live music, a good crowd, and to top it off they gave us a nice bottle of wine on the house for his birthday. We'll be back.

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Yikes...pretty spendy. Still hungry after the cheese plate and flat iron. Good food but very small portion for the $$$. Had to cut and run after 1 round. Decor is fantastic. Not my thing overall. I do wish them luck but skeptical this model will last long.

    (1)

  • Alyson G.

    My husband and I came in last night for happy hour. This was our first time coming in and they have our return business. The decor is nice, We sat on the enclosed patio overlooking the lake, very lovely. The happy hour prices on drinks are good and they have a large selection. We had the chicken sliders, which sounds simple but the flavor was amazing. I woke up thinking about those. Seriously. The service was good and laid back not fake and overpowering which I can appreciate as a server myself. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the prices on the regular menu are a bit to much for me but I do notice this is a very 'foody' place and the ingredients are fresh so you're getting what you pay for! Can't wait to try it again.

    (4)

  • Kurt N.

    Great food...very original creations. And...awesome rotating selection of draft beers.

    (5)

  • George H.

    Great beer selection, lost of craft beer selections. Food is hit or miss, but the burger is solid. Live music is acoustic and entertaining.

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    We came here after a long hike one Sunday afternoon with ravenous appetites. Unfortunately, the service was slow and the portions were tiny. The food was good, but tremendously overpriced for the portion sizes. The menu is also rather skimpy (on weekends, at least) and you have to pay for side items that are normally included. That said, the seaweed fries here were quite enjoyable!

    (3)

  • Brian W.

    So I was at the blind pig and I have to say everything was a little pricey. Customer service was good but I give this place a 6 months before they go out of business

    (1)

  • David J.

    I just starred at the menu, honestly nothing looked good and it was all overpriced. Tried the ahi, it sucked, had a martini it was ok then headed over to pizza y vino for a great pizza and some wine. Will not be back.

    (1)

  • Steve J.

    I like this bar...a lot. Think of it as a great bar, not a restaurant, and I think you'll like it, too. Have been here several times now and think I have figured it out. First time we stopped in, service was slow, menu was confusing, drinks appeared small. Ended up just having one drink each, splitting the tuna tartare appetizer, and calling Hanna's from the bar to see if they could squeeze us in for dinner (they did, whew!). Thought the Blind Pig had a cool vibe, but wasn't sure it was going to make it. Second time we came there was after dinner. It was about 10pm on a Saturday night and we came in hot (as in already fairly loaded from drinks and wine with dinner). Great energy, beautiful night on the patio overlooking the lake, and we were already so relaxed from earlier drinks that we didn't care how long it took (probably needed the break anyway). Drinks were creative, cold, and absolutely delicious. Stayed on the patio for a several hours enjoying the environment and good live music. Third visit was when the light came on for me. Stop trying to convince yourself this is a restaurant...it is just an absolutely fantastic BAR! Don't bring guests and hear them complain about the menu...that's what the RESTAURANT you're going to will take of. Just come in before-hand for a pre-dinner drink, afterwards for an aperitif because you don't want to waste a good buzz by going home too early just because your friends were too cheap to spring for a sitter past 10pm, or even both (I will never admit that my gal and I have done this, though). Yes, drinks are expensive and somewhat small. If you want big cheap drinks go to Daily's or Tapas...BTW, you will also get decor that consists of vinyl booths and indoor-outdoor carpet with a few neon beer signs.... But Blind Pig brings RSM much higher quality, a little more style and a much needed cooler vibe. We need this place to work and I am very happy they took the plunge. We will be back frequently!

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Let me begin by saying that I really want this place to be successful. It has so much potential. The location is fantastic and the inside is classy and comfortable, if not a bit loud when the place is full. For those that do not know, "Blind Pig" is another term for a speakeasy. I like the name, but this is definitely NOT a speakeasy. My evening began on a Friday after a fairly long week. My girlfriend and I decided to walk to the restaurants on the other end of the RSM lake to get some sushi. On our way we decided to see if The Blind Pig was open. Surprisingly, it was. We discovered they had opened two days prior so we gave the staff a lot of leeway. As I mentioned earlier, we really wanted to have an amazing evening. We were seated outside on a couch next to two other couples who were both very friendly. The place was packed with patrons which I took as a good sign. It took a while to get service, but I did not rate them negatively for this because they were so busy. The drink menu is interesting. The have a large selection of beer on tap and an interesting selection of mixed drinks. We had a couple of questions, but our server had not been fully trained on the drink menu so we had to make some guesses. None of the mixed drinks really appealed to me so I had a beer. My girlfriend had a sangria which was very tart and seemed very watered down. Her comment was that it was interesting, but it wasn't really sangria. Once we had our drinks, we sat around and chatted a bit with the other two couples. One of the couples ordered the fries and the bone marrow. The presentation was quite nice, but the consensus was they were not appealing. The fries were apparently very heavy (like duck fat fries) and I think bone marrow is something you either like or dislike. They ate very little of the food and I don't believe either couple will be returning. For reference, all of the menu items are tapas style and served as small portions. I was easily prepared to spend $100 on food and drink, but after reviewing the menu items and finishing our first round of drinks, we decided to close out our tab and go have sushi. While having dinner, we discussed at length why we did not want to try anything on the menu. We concluded that nothing was really relatable. All of the menu items were kind of a stretch and did not seem appealing. A simple cheese plate would have been great, but all of the menu items were complex. In fact, I had a hard time distinguishing ingredients from the main dish. For example, there was a menu item named "Celery 'Mac & Cheese' infused celery." We had to ask for an explanation because we couldn't figure out if it was celery or Mac and Cheese. I have a few suggestions for the owners and chef: 1) During the next few weeks, provide small complementary samples of the food to patrons and ask for feedback. I would go as far as providing rating cards. The menu items are complex and expensive. Most people do not want to spend $15 on a menu item that is unfamiliar. 2) I suggest looking at the menu items and perhaps simplifying them a bit. Those of us who are local are desperate for a new hangout, but perhaps we are not as progressive as The Blind Pig would like us to be. 3) Train the staff. Our server was not familiar enough with the drink menu. I see some growing pains ahead for The Blind Pig. I really wish them well, and I do plan to return in a month or two to see how things have progressed. There is so much I want to like about this place, but I feel like I am putting in too much effort. Hopefully the comments on Yelp will help the owners and chef shape the bar and kitchen.

    (2)

  • Ron D.

    First, some positives. I want to give kudos to a couple of young guys who have reached out and opened a business - not everyone has the guts to do that. I'm also very forgiving of anything having to do with service in the opening week. Last, great location and décor, and kudos to the chef who is a master at presentation and flavor. Having said that, let me state what I feel this place is. It's an upscale bar - a unique place for drinks and appetizers, but at a very high price. All of the items on the menu are essentially garnished appetizers (without sides). Do not plan on going there for anything resembling a "dinner", unless you plan on combining many appetizers and have a very fat wallet. I ordered the chicken breast with kale while my wife had the jumbo prawns, and both were excellent. The cost though was around $12 for a small piece of chicken and $16 for two prawns Also, two cocktails for $11 each (forgive me if I've slipped on the exact prices). We left hungry and stopped at Ralphs market to pick up something else for dinner! Would I go there again? Perhaps down the road for a special occasion - drinks and an appetizer before going somewhere else. If this place was in Newport Beach or maybe Hollywood, it might be a hit, but I think in the end, this place is a stretch for RSM - the novelty of the place will wear off quickly.

    (2)

  • Emma S.

    Closed? Drove by and saw the sign off of RSM Parkway so parked for a drink... They were closed on Labor day weekend of all times? Guess they don't need the business not sure I want to try back.

    (1)

  • Rick R.

    Can't believe this is in RSM. Thought we were dining in SF. Incredible seasonal food-great drinks Casual,bar, TVs, outdoor dining on the lake Go now don't wait

    (5)

  • Sharon H.

    Beautiful new restaurant but the food was horrible. This was our first time visiting and will return for drinks, but never for food. I had the chicken kale salad and literally took less than minute after ordering for this to come out. Could tell it was microwaved cooked, very rubbery and extremely salty. My husband and daughter ordered the NY strip. So much fat on the meat my daughter could not chew it up. Very disappointed with food and waitress. Our waitress knew nothing about the menu and could not offer any input about the drinks or food. What a waste for a dinner out with the family, we all left hungry and said we would not be back. Wrong kind of food for RSM.

    (1)

  • Suzie M.

    First time at the Blind Pig--the atmosphere was nice and staff were all very friendly. The views are very nice and it is cozy. The food was good, but just felt a bit overpriced. Overall, a nice place and location!

    (3)

  • Jennie D.

    Let's start with what is done well, and that is the food. The chef does an excellent job executing the small plates concept. The menu is creative and the food is consistently good. However, both times I have been here the service has been sub-par. Our waiter got the cocktail order wrong, forgot the water and utensils, and our request for a lemon twist in our drink was ignored. When the waiter brought it that way he acknowledged it, said he didn't know what that meant, laughed, and walked away. The owner was on the premises, but seemed more intent on making this restaurant his personal party than attending to the needs of his guests. He had an entourage and a date and sat in the corner entertaining. Perhaps a few years of maturation will help or the assistance of an experienced restaurateur/mentor. With all that said, we will return as the setting on the lake is nice for the sunset hour and as stated we do enjoy the food. We will hope for the best in the service arena and give it another try. Time will tell

    (2)

  • Alyssa L.

    Spent the day here for 4th of July and had the best time. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. They did a special menu for the holiday and everything we ordered was so delicious! The drinks were spot on, so refreshing on a hot summer day. I'm definatly coming back to hang out, these people are all awesome!!! Disregard any of the bad posts, they don't know what they're talking about!

    (5)

  • Simon M.

    At The Blind Pig again. OMG this place is good. Started with a Flying Dog Raging Bitch IPA, then a Cismontane Mesa, and for dessert a Speakeasy Payback Porter. Oh, and the food was good too. One of the best pieces of Halibut I've ever eaten and Susan had Scallops that were to die for. Our waitress was awesome, I kept asking her for beer recommendations and each one was better than the last. My wife and I shared the chocolate pound cake for desert. What a misnomer. This should be called a little morsel of chocolate ecstasy.

    (5)

  • Harry G.

    Really liked the place. Not a bad dish. I love marrow bones and blind pigs were great.

    (5)

  • Sean N.

    This is one of the best bars I've been to in my life. Not only was the server extra helpful at suggesting drinks and advising me about the menu but he helped me discover mixes that aren't even listed on the menu. The outdoor patio is very relaxing with a fire pit setting against the lake. I highly recommend the bone marrow it was so delicious and paired well with the sopas. I definitely will be back and it's definitely worth the price.

    (5)

  • Whitney W.

    My girlfriends and I went to this establishment the opening night. I have to say, RSM NEEDED A PLACE LIKE THIS! Great food, great drinks, great staff, and great decor. My friends and I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Jacki D.

    Overall, pretty good. The menu is constantly changing, and my old favorite is not on there anymore (Bring back the orange tomatoes!). Food is pretty flavorful, and unique. It can take a while to get your food.

    (4)

  • Varant H.

    Cool place. Don't mind paying an arm and a leg for good food and service. The bartender and waitress were awesome but I got served up some burnt French toast that never should have made it to my table. Let's see if my review makes it up on their wall.

    (3)

  • Joanne F.

    Finally some groove in RSM! I loved it. Cute bartender, GREAT drinks and delicious food that is creative and moderately priced. I forgot I was in RSM for a couple hours. Great job. Keep it up. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Jo Ann D.

    My girlfriends and I went back this week tried the New York and had the bone marrow again they all loved the drinks and the food was wonderful

    (5)

  • Parker M.

    I've been a few times now to The Blind Pig and have yet to be disappointed. The Orange Tomatoes and Ramen are a great spin on classic asian cuisine and the Pork Belly French Toast is out of this world delicious. The craft beer selection is top notch (they serve Clown Shoes!) and the well drinks are pretty strong. Good service and good atmosphere if you don't mind it being loud all the time. Would recommend to anyone looking to try something new in RSM/Trabuco Canyon area.

    (5)

  • Steph P.

    Ordered the sesame oil fries, beet salad, and pork belly on french toast, and watched the sun set over RSM lake - beautiful. The fries had an awesome flavor and texture. For me, a vinegar for dipping, wasabi aiolii or even a sriracha ketchup (or even regular ketchup, which they don't yet have) would have been a big improvement. But that's just me, and others may like the fruity green sauce or mayo sauce provided more than I did. The beet salad I would definitely not order again. The cheddar and beets don't blend as well as I would have hoped, and the granola didn't add anything for me besides a conflicting dry texture. I love beet salads, but not so much with this one. The pork belly and french toast was awesome. Interesting and delicious and I'd for sure recommend. People will complain (and really that statement stands on its own) about portions here. They're not charging $12 for 3 people's worth of boring food. The fries and pork belly were new combos of flavors and delicious and perfectly portioned for the price. I'm looking forward to trying other dishes, and I'm thankful to find a restaurant using more than just salt to flavor its food.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    We visited there just last Friday (Sept 6). Was waiting at Carmelita's (just across from it) and noticed the Blind Pig. Having a modern and maybe even hip place in RSM would be great. Place was crowded, which is fine with us. Drinks were fine. After ordering just one small plate and waiting 40 minutes, the waitress told us she forgot to put the order in. She did give us a free round, so ok, let's reset. After another 30 minutes and a quick talk with the manager, we finally got our food....very cold. I think it is just the usual growing pains, training, good management, etc. We will give them another chance for sure. It is a good location and has potential.

    (2)

  • Mike E.

    I've worked in RSM for over 10 years. During this time, the restaurant choices in the city have expanded considerably, but being that it's still ultra suburban Orange County, your choices are limited after those extremely late nights at the office. Actually, by "limited," I mean your choices are BJs and I can only take BJs for so long. Imagine my excitement to hear about The Blind Pig--great location, real craft cocktails, small plates, and best of all, hours late enough to make the surrounding community fear that they may be becoming too hip. Some colleagues and I went in around 8pm on the restaurant's first Friday. I came in with expectations of opening glitches and they had their share--service was a little slow and they were out of several popular dishes (already made famous on Yelp). This isn't reflected in my rating, especially since the place was absolutely mobbed with people. We had the mac and cheese, tuna tartare, chicken breast, and pork belly. All dishes were bursting with flavor, but the pork belly was the star of the night--it's exceptional. For cocktails, I had the RSM Sour (finally, a REAL whiskey sour with egg whites) and the Whiskey Buck, both delicious. Now, a word on portions: RSM is filled with make-you-feel-guilty, can-you-box-this-up, mid-level restaurants. I'll eat an entire cow at nearby Wood Ranch. I've never not had enough gas of my own to fuel my drive back home to Irvine after a meal at neighboring Mi Casa. The Blind Pig is not this kind of place at all. It seems that tapas are still a new concept in RSM and my suspicion is that this place would rank much higher based on initial reviews had it been located in Los Angeles or even coastal Orange County. Come with the expectation of sampling all sorts of flavors and spending a little more than usual. Or just grabbing a drink with friends accompanied by fantastic drunk munchies. Frankly, it was refreshing to step out of a restaurant satisfied, but not in pain. My only substantial gripe--and it has to do with the reason I was excited by this restaurant in the first place--is that we were informed that the kitchen closed shortly after 10pm when trying to order dessert. They state that they're open until 1am on weekends, midnight on weekdays. I sincerely hope this was a one-time, opening jitters thing, or else this place will be exclusively a cocktails-only spot with my work hours.

    (4)

  • Lori W.

    My boyfriend and I love this place! The food is unique, the wine is fabulous and the owners treat everyone like family! RSM was so ready for a restaurant like this! We recommend everyone try the Blind Pig......they did a beautiful job on the decor and the ambiance.....Cheers to Jared and Tony!!

    (5)

  • Joy L.

    We went here tonight for the first time (a Tuesday night). Got a great seat out on the patio and ordered a drink. The first drink I tried was the Honeysuckle. Delicious and fresh flavors. This is not your 'average' bar. The drinks are handcrafted, and taste like they are. For food, we shared the tuna tartare, seared ahi, chorizo ravioli, and chicken. All were phenomenal! My favorite was the tuna tartare, but I should mention that the chicken was exceptional. A typical chicken dish elsewhere could be bland, but this one and the accompanying greens was moist, flavorful, and ever so tasty. The second drink I ordered was the Dark & Stormy, one of my all-time favorite cocktails. The one served here was so pungent with ginger and bright with other flavors. I will definitely recommend this. They also have other cocktails mixed with their 'on tap' ginger beer. If you like ginger beer, try one! RSM really needed a place like the Blind Pig where you can just go for a cocktail, grab a small plate of high-quality, delicious food, with a vibe unlike anywhere else nearby. If you're trying it for the first time, try a week night as weekends are nuts there. The service was very good. The only thing that I think would improve our experience would be heaters out on the patio.

    (5)

  • Kristina H.

    I want to like this place. The setting is great on the lake, the decor is spot on, and the list of amari, whiskey, and beer is by far the best in the area. But, I'm disappointed every time. My first issue is with out of stock items. The first time I came here they were out of the first three beers we tried to order as a group. It happens. You run out of things. But, the server was unaware each time those options weren't available. That's disappointing. Twice since I've been back and each time they were out of something I ordered. Second, the food. I'll be honest and say we've only tried the food once. But, the flatbread was so bad no one in our group ate it. The server didn't even flinch at taking away an un-eaten plate (always a bad sign if that kind of thing seems normal) and didn't ask us if everything tasted ok. Bummer again. Third, are the hours. I work at a local restaurant and was so excited to have a place open late to come to after work. But, last time I tried to come in the bartender told me he already called last call a full two hours before the online posted closing time and the hours posted on the door. Slow night? I can understand closing 30 minutes early. But, 2 hours early! That's a little extreme. Just don't post a specific closing time if you want that much leeway. I want to like this place. I really do. I think the concept is great. But, I don't think I'm up for a fourth time of being let down here. :(

    (1)

  • Larry L.

    First off, I've only sat at the bar and enjoyed Manhattans. I have not had the food or experienced the wait staff, so this review may be skewed. The care and expertise that they put into their cocktails though needs to be commended. I have found the bartenders to be very personable and very knowledgable, and take great pride in giving you a quality drink. Sometimes expectations play a great part in a person's experience and hence, their review. I'm not sure that anyone, including the owners, are quite sure what the Blind Pig is suppose to be yet, so the reviews are quite mixed. Give it some time, think if it as an upscale neighborhood tapas type bar with a hint of grunge hipster, give the sometimes "too cool for school" young employees time to figure things out, and enjoy the ride. Either they will pull it off or go the way of Friends, Wings, and Saratoga Grill.

    (4)

  • wendy c.

    This place is amazing! Excellent service, imaginative food! I went here with two friends..I loved the location, the décor, but more importantly, the food, the wine, the beer on tap! Wow! The curation of their wine and beer was done by an expert. The food is creative and satisfying! The cheese plate is delicious (I love blue cheese!) plus the happy hour specials were yummy! Heather was our server and she was prompt and friendly.

    (5)

  • H H.

    Not expensive, but snooty staff and mediocre food. I don't like the fact that they flaunted a negative yelp review on their chalkboard. Shows how immature the ownership is. I'd rather hit a legit restaurant or dive bar (depending on the mood) than compromise with this place.

    (2)

  • Kirsten W.

    So dissapointed. I read a lot of the reviews and they said it was worth trying... Unfortunately the only thing this place has going for them is the view. Went on a Sunday for lunch with a friend - 1pm. The place was half full inside and out. Walked in and no one greeted me at all... so I assumed it was just a seat yourself (although nothing said it actually was). Went outside and sat down. A server dropped menu's pretty quick, but disappeared just as quickly, without asking for drink orders. When we finally did order our drinks and food, the server was very curt and not friendly at all. I ordered the 'bottomless mimosa'. Friend ordered a bloody mary Drinks took almost 10 minutes to arrive. Said the bar was 'slammed'...so why only have 1 bartender on Sunday?? She only offered to refill my mimosa once, which isn't good. We both had the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Food was good - not great - price was reasonable. But the service (epically slow) and drinks (meh) killed it. Really, you're better off going to Carmelita's next door. Same view, WAY better food/drinks/service.

    (2)

  • Zachary S.

    Restaurant was relatively new when we went, seemed to still be sorting out the menu, kitchen was backed up, and the service was friendly but a little overwhelmed (new place in town and absolutely packed). Wine list was somewhat limited, no real surprises, or earth shattering revelations. Food was okay, good enough for us to go back and give them a second try after the break in period.

    (3)

  • Darlene H.

    Best cocktails ever ... which more than makes up for the mediocre food.

    (4)

  • David S.

    TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! My wife and I live in RSM and were excited to go to The Blind Pig for the first time. We were met by a waitress/hostess? not greeted, then seated with two menus. The menus were different and there were some exact items on each menu, but different prices, depending on which menu you received. We waited for at least 10 minutes, no one approached our table, not even to offer water. Meanwhile, I counted 6 employees standing around talking at the bar, often looking at us, since we were the only two people seated in that entire side of the Blind Pig, and not one came over to find out if we wanted anything to eat or drink. We got up to leave, and the waitress/hostess who originally seated us, looked at us, but never attempted to find out why were leaving or attempt to keep our business. They really are "BLIND PIGS"

    (1)

  • Stevens J.

    Took my wife there and had a great time. We tried four plates and they were awesome. The service was spot on. The drinks were fun and interesting. No this is not a corporate store or a franchise serving the same thing as everyone else. It's fun and unique. Looking forward to going again.

    (5)

  • Marci D.

    So excited to have a new restaurant in RSM but so disappointed. Way overpriced drinks, waitress clueless when we asked for tips on what to order -actually said things were bad, and left hungry as the menu is very limited and they had run out of few things. Too bad as it is a great location but probably won't make it.

    (1)

  • Michele R.

    This was a very uneventful experience. Our group had been looking forward to the opening for some time now and were excited to finally check everything out. The atmosphere and redesign were amazing, but the sevice and food stopped short. Our waitress was not friendly and was very impatient as we were looking at the menu. We were very dissapointed to not see specialty drinks and shareable appetizers on the menu. Living within walking distance, I would not anticipate returning again without some revamping of their service and menu. Very Sad.

    (2)

  • Shelby W.

    Went to try it out mainly because of the awesome location. I will say I went within a week of the opening, so there will be learning aches and pains, I understand that. The menu was very limited and left nothing to the imagination. There was nothing simple and nothing seemed even semi kid or picky eater friendly. Pretty much everything on the menu was described and was as described, no imagination required. VERY small portions at high prices to go with those small portions. If you're looking for $15 for 2 shrimps, you found it. We not only ordered things that never came (yes, they removed them from the bill) but we also ordered drinks that came watered down. I'd go for the view, but that's about it. Also, one bathroom stall for men and one for women. I probably waited about 15 minutes for someone to come out. I think they were doing their make-up. Not sure. I sure hope the employees have their own in the back.

    (2)

  • Jan B.

    LOVE IT! I decided to give "something new and different" in RSM (of all places!) a chance, regardless of mixed reviews....So glad I did! Yes, the food is eclectic and unique. We need something cool in Rancho! The patio is super relaxing, the service (been there 3 times so far!) has been awesome, and the cocktails were amazing. Try their Moscow Mule! The only thing I would change is to maybe add a few traditional small plate items to the menu.....Anyway, I hope The Blind Pig sticks around long enough for people out here to be open minded and give it a go!

    (4)

  • Jim L.

    What a great new restaurant! And what's it doing in RSM? The service was fast and attentive, the food was amazing. From the meat plate appetizer to the salmon to the chicken breast on kale--they were all just so well put together and well plated. We are very eager to go back again and again. We're very, very pleased.

    (4)

  • Larry M.

    You'll love this place. The menu is exciting, different than anything else around here. The duck last night was about the best I've had anywhere in the world, seriously. The braised pork belly and French toast was terrific. The craft cocktails are really unique, fun and tasty. Reminds me of Bestia, top new restaurant in LA. There is serious talent and artistry here, will only get better. Enjoy this place while it's here, I have a feeling he'll be moving up to bigger and better before long.

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    Yummers. Stumbled in last weekend because the wait for brunch at Carmelitas was insane, and happy we did. You can tell the attention to detail in every item, from the oversized ice cubes (thank you for not watering down my cocktail) and fresh squeezed OJ for my mimosa (why yes, I would love a bottomless for $12) to just delicious food. I had the oxtail arinchini and the hubby had steak and eggs. Simple enough for him, bougey enough for me. And cheap, given the quality. If you want a $6 burger, Carl's is across the parking lot.

    (4)

  • Richard R.

    Everything about this place was great! We're going to make it one of our regulars. Great service, food, and beer/cocktail selection.

    (5)

  • Julie G.

    I was very excited to try this new restaurant in RSM. However, I doubt that I will be returning anytime soon. There is a very limited menu with only small (expensive) plates to choose from. We came in hoping for something more substantial. It is a nice place for cocktails but that's about it. Even then the drinks were overpriced. Unfortunately I don't see this place lasting very long.

    (2)

  • Theresa P.

    Went there Friday evening & had a greet experience , two weeks ago not so much ! Better customer service . Had the Chicken over greens, so good !

    (4)

  • Mz T.

    Holy Blind Pig! this is by far the best place in RSM. Its hip, fun and the food is over the moon. THE BEST bone marrow, with fresh figs! pork belly french toast for dinner? We had 2 orders! The carmelized tomatoes in the lo mein were magical. wine is great! LOVE LOVE LOVE. we will definately be coming back!

    (5)

  • Chris M.

    A welcomed new and different and exciting experience for RSM! Finally, a place that matches up with the quality of the prime location by RSM Lake. The food was exquisite. Service par excellence. Drinks, exhilarating. Try the heavenly "The Vinnie." Amazing! The NY steak was fabulous too!

    (5)

  • Ron H.

    My wife and I have already enjoyed a couple of times this new entry in the local area. If you love the experience of different food tastes, craft beers and drinks, small plates that you will talk about for days, then this is the place. When word gets, people will be coming from Newport Beach for the experience, discovering this little community of Rancho Santa Margarita. Reasonable local prices too! The location being on the lake and interior design are wonderful bonus to our experience.

    (5)

  • Petra L.

    Great service, delicious food, tasty drinks, nice atmosphere... Amazing Job at creating a new venue for all us locals to hang out at!!

    (5)

  • Kimberly N.

    Greatest place ever. Me and my girlfriends love it. Such great food. Great prices. Killer atmosphere. Amazing cocktails.

    (5)

  • Rebecca A.

    New and very different! I like being surprised with each dish. I will be happy to enjoy this experience again and the atmosphere is fun.

    (4)

  • John H.

    I personally love the place.....the owners and staff are freaking awesome! Clown Shoes beer is the best and so is the bone marrow appetizer. I hope The Blind Pig is here to stay. Good times and it's a great place to hangout and people watch.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dessert
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Live
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

The Blind Pig

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