The Pig: Social Hour with a Curly Tail

Pigs dangle from the ceilings. Pigs hang on the walls. Pigs are tattooed on arms.

That is the culture of the Flying Pig Saloon, in a blanket. The backyard-style bar and restaurant prides itself on its social component, designed for watching sports, eating, drinking and having fun.

“It’s a fun, casual place — it’s a little loud sometimes,” said co-owner, Stephen Iacobucci. “If you want a quiet romantic evening with your date, I wouldn’t recommend the Pig.”

Colloquially known as “The Pig”, the restaurant's owners are Iacobucci and his fellow Archbishop Carroll alumnus and friend, Fred Connell. While Iacobucci is a Rosemont native, Connell is from Wayne, and both owners currently reside in Wayne. They opened the restaurant in 1999, and stumbled upon its quirky theme by accident.

“I just saw a weathervane with an outstretched pig on it. I was going to put it on the roof for direction so people could see it while driving down King Street and say ‘Oh, there’s the Pig,’” Iacobucci said. “It’s nothing crazy.”

Inside, the wood panelled walls— now embellished from table to ceiling —were originally bare, with the exception of a couple beer-related signs and a pig painting, handmade by Iacobucci’s father. The multitude of piggy knick knacks and frames were gifts from patrons, Iacobucci said.

“People bring them in once or twice a month,” he said. “It’s never ending.”

The owners have become so dedicated to the theme that Connell inked the pig logo on his arm, and Iacobucci has a pig mailbox at home.

But the saloon has more than just pigs. The bar maintains 25 draft lines, 175 bottled selections and cellar-aged beer, which Iacobucci compared to wine.

“A lot of places aren’t going to take the time to sit the beer in the basement for three to four years,” he said.

Iacobucci noted that most of their chosen beer distributors are located in downtown Philadelphia, including Penn Distributors. His favorite menu item also yearns to Philly roots: a pulled pork sandwich with roasted italian hot peppers and sharp provolone cheese served on a South Philly Italian roll.

From the outside, the Pig does not project a particularly modern appearance. But behind the front door, a Cheers-like familiarity emits from the laughter of patrons, who range from twentysomethings to ninety-somethings, the music, which varies from Frank Sinatra and the Black Keys, and the broken-in brown leather couches in the front lounge corner.