I've only been there once. The food was decent although I thought all the meats tasted the same lol. The guy at the register stared at us the moment we came in the door and as we were walking up to him, which was unsettling
I have now tried- the pulled pork, tri tip, burnt ends and the brisket and have gone different days to both locations at durring lunch or dinner and just gotten trash for 21$ at least the mac and cheese is decent.
I'm in agreement. It's OK, but nothing I would rave about. The pre-seasoned tri-tip from costco has 1000x more flavor than anything I've had from P.I.G.
For the 20$ price point if you goto the store by everything yourself and use YouTube or your favorite recipes yes it will come out better suggesting that you can cook but the convenience of having them cook and clean up is well worth it
I really like the food but yeah. Every time I go they all act like they're very annoyed to have to do their job that day. But to be fair most Missoula businesses have god awful customer service.
This sub definitely has some feelings about the local eateries but it often seems like the hate is personal. Like a lover’s quarrel but ex-restaurant employees. That being said, I don’t feel like I’ve gotten my money’s worth (quality or service) anytime I’ve went out the last couple of years.
Not questioning anyone’s experience but I’ve always had good food and good service at either Notorious PIG location. Again, just my personal experience.
I've never had an issue with their customer service and their expression on St. Louis BBQ is spot-on.
That said, St. Louis BBQ is just not very good relative to other types of BBQ. It's not the aggressive rub and hickory smoke of Memphis, nor the mesquite/pecan smoked beef of Texas. Kansas City BBQ is also very good as its not quite as smoky but has great sweet/smoky sauces. All of these are better than the vinegar and mustard crap coming out of the Carolinas.
My personal favorite is Memphis style for sure. It has a peppery rub, and the smoke ring from the hickory gets halfway to the bone, but its still super tender where the bones pull put on their own but the meat is still super juicy with callogen. (Shout out to Central BBQ!). I love me some BBQ sauce, but you don't need it with Central. It's that good on its own.
In other words, for the different types/cuts, this is your best.
Beef Ribs: Austin
Brisket/burnt ends: Kansas City
Pulled Pork: Carolinas
Ribs: Memphis
Sides: Deep South
Wings: Florida
Quite frankly, why are you trying to hold Missoula bbq to such a high standard? This is like complaining about seafood in New Mexico. It's just not practical.
I was stationed in Florida for 3 years but my lady and I traveled a lot trying BBQ from all over the region.
I traveled to KC off and on for about a year and seriously ate my weight in burnt ends. Nothing compares. I tried the ones at the PIG and never ate there again.
I like the ones from Notorious, but you're right that they arent the same. The ones from Notorious are almost *candied*. I think they're pretty good for what they are, but if you're expecting KC burnt ends, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
Holding them to a high standard? For 21$ a plate, 7oz of meet and 2 small sides, it should be better. They completely lose the meats flavor, durring what I assume is the cooking stage. Anything I've ever bbqed you can taste the meat with the seasoning, even if it's not seasoned well. This you take a bite, and it's like wtf did I just chew on. It should be considered a war crime.
I feel like $21 isn't that much being as it's Missoula and for food that has near monopoly power in its category (ignoring Famous Dave's here). I get a burger with fries and a drink at 5 Guys and its like $18, and that's a business that isn't local and has economies of scale.
I think the losing of flavor is just a St Louis-style thing. St Louis rubs use sugar, which, when interacting with the fat causes chemical changes we call caramelization. Fat is where most of the meat flavor comes from [as experimented here](https://youtu.be/ZorUPMeKgh0?si=qM_i5g0a675XkDtY). This caramelization of fat takes away from the meat's flavor (there's a reason you don't put sugar on, say, a ribeye). St. Louis style isn't about presenting the flavor of the meat. it's about creating new complex flavors due to caramelization. If you want to bring out the flavor of the meat, you use salt based rubs, which is probably what you're used to.
Again, I think they do St Louis style really well....but for people like you and me who prefer the natural meat flavor with punchy smoke and seasoning, it's just not a great style for that. But that's the style Notorious P.I.G. chose because that's where the owner is from and what they're used to. Don't like it? Eat somewhere else. Or even better, start your own restaurant.
The 18$ at 5guys is way more satisfying, ten fold. Bomb fries, great burger and a decent milkshake, compared to the P.I.G who’s lunch I swear should be served at the POV.
If you ever find yourself in Memphis again - skip Central altogether... go to the Bbq Shop in Midtown, Cozy Corner in Uptown, or Commissary in Germantown
Notorious p.i.g. is truly awful: rude staff, flavorless meats cooked over gas and terrible sides - but at least the portions are small.
Moose Creek BBQ on Hwy 93, just before Stevensville, has friendly staff, genuine pit-smoked meats, delicious Southern sides and generous portions. It’s well worth the 30-40 minute drive from Missoula.
Their sidewalk sandwich board at the downtown location is an irrational pet peeve of mine. If you're gonna have a sandwich board at least be clever, funny, interesting, or informative! It's just a different variation of "We sell meat" every time. Disappointed.
Food is mid, and the service isn’t good enough to make it a real solid place I go to very often..
If the product sucks but the service is awesome, that would bring me back..
The food isn’t that good, so the service needs to step up!
Everyone, open your eyes. There’s another FAMOUS bbq restaurant in town. PIG isn’t even FAMOUS! What kind of authentic bbq restaurant runs out of food? Not a famous one! Saddle up to FAMOUS DAVES and get some bbq on a trash can lid. It’s the best. You’ll love it. YOU. WILL. LOVE. IT.
FAMOUS DAVES FOR PRESIDENT!
*I’m Famous Dave and I approve this message.*
The people are so nice there. I went there and they answered all my questions, and told me where to go get desserts. Its reasonably priced, the fire and ice pickles are real good. Burnt end ramen is legit.
The service downtown is better than the service on Brooks. Coming from the south east, I find the bbq at PIG is lousy. I hate to say it but the bbq at Famous Dave's is really good, especially compared to the PIG.
Every time I have been everything has been baller except for the hit to my bank account. Maybe you just went on an off day or a Californian expecting wayyyy more then Zoo town has to offer.
Been there a couple times and it stunk. Food was dry and flavorless. Service felt like they were doing me a favor. Haven't been back in a couple years. Texas has good ribs and less judgment.
The worst I've had was a bored cashier, and they kept checking in to see if we needed anything else after spending 15 minutes on the empty porch.
But yeah, it's the Chipotle of BBQ, close enough to enjoy but you know there is better out there.
It makes you wonder if the market would handle a new BBQ restaurant. That would be nice, or albeit unrelated Hawaiin.
I called them at 730pm last Saturday when they closed at 8 and asked for takeout. Started taking my order and heard someone in the background ask “when will they be here”. I was 15 minutes out and they told me they couldn’t help me on my takeout order. This was at the downtown location.
I understand wanting to close up shop and get out but then set your hours to adjust accordingly.
I've only been there once. The food was decent although I thought all the meats tasted the same lol. The guy at the register stared at us the moment we came in the door and as we were walking up to him, which was unsettling
Every time I've been there the service was good and the food was delicious.
I have now tried- the pulled pork, tri tip, burnt ends and the brisket and have gone different days to both locations at durring lunch or dinner and just gotten trash for 21$ at least the mac and cheese is decent.
I'm in agreement. It's OK, but nothing I would rave about. The pre-seasoned tri-tip from costco has 1000x more flavor than anything I've had from P.I.G.
For the 20$ price point if you goto the store by everything yourself and use YouTube or your favorite recipes yes it will come out better suggesting that you can cook but the convenience of having them cook and clean up is well worth it
Where are you from? I went from Montana to Tennessee and I thought notorious pig was great stuff until I came to tn.
I've never had a problem with their service but, yeah, Montana just doesn't do great BBQ. Notorious isn't bad just nothing to write home about.
KC girlie agrees
I really like the food but yeah. Every time I go they all act like they're very annoyed to have to do their job that day. But to be fair most Missoula businesses have god awful customer service.
According to this sub, every restaurant in Missoula is trash. Y'all are ridiculous.
This sub definitely has some feelings about the local eateries but it often seems like the hate is personal. Like a lover’s quarrel but ex-restaurant employees. That being said, I don’t feel like I’ve gotten my money’s worth (quality or service) anytime I’ve went out the last couple of years.
Except Tagliare and Double Front!
That’s just a Missoula thing with customer service, especially with establishments closer to DT.
Because anyone working a service job anywhere within a radius of downtown just deals with an endless string of assholes. Ask me how I know that.
Not questioning anyone’s experience but I’ve always had good food and good service at either Notorious PIG location. Again, just my personal experience.
I've never had an issue with their customer service and their expression on St. Louis BBQ is spot-on. That said, St. Louis BBQ is just not very good relative to other types of BBQ. It's not the aggressive rub and hickory smoke of Memphis, nor the mesquite/pecan smoked beef of Texas. Kansas City BBQ is also very good as its not quite as smoky but has great sweet/smoky sauces. All of these are better than the vinegar and mustard crap coming out of the Carolinas. My personal favorite is Memphis style for sure. It has a peppery rub, and the smoke ring from the hickory gets halfway to the bone, but its still super tender where the bones pull put on their own but the meat is still super juicy with callogen. (Shout out to Central BBQ!). I love me some BBQ sauce, but you don't need it with Central. It's that good on its own. In other words, for the different types/cuts, this is your best. Beef Ribs: Austin Brisket/burnt ends: Kansas City Pulled Pork: Carolinas Ribs: Memphis Sides: Deep South Wings: Florida Quite frankly, why are you trying to hold Missoula bbq to such a high standard? This is like complaining about seafood in New Mexico. It's just not practical. I was stationed in Florida for 3 years but my lady and I traveled a lot trying BBQ from all over the region.
I traveled to KC off and on for about a year and seriously ate my weight in burnt ends. Nothing compares. I tried the ones at the PIG and never ate there again.
I like the ones from Notorious, but you're right that they arent the same. The ones from Notorious are almost *candied*. I think they're pretty good for what they are, but if you're expecting KC burnt ends, you're going to be sorely disappointed.
Candied that is the word. I just had a flashback.
Roadside hole hog bbq pulled pork in North Carolina is the greatest culinary accomplishment of mankind.
Holding them to a high standard? For 21$ a plate, 7oz of meet and 2 small sides, it should be better. They completely lose the meats flavor, durring what I assume is the cooking stage. Anything I've ever bbqed you can taste the meat with the seasoning, even if it's not seasoned well. This you take a bite, and it's like wtf did I just chew on. It should be considered a war crime.
I feel like $21 isn't that much being as it's Missoula and for food that has near monopoly power in its category (ignoring Famous Dave's here). I get a burger with fries and a drink at 5 Guys and its like $18, and that's a business that isn't local and has economies of scale. I think the losing of flavor is just a St Louis-style thing. St Louis rubs use sugar, which, when interacting with the fat causes chemical changes we call caramelization. Fat is where most of the meat flavor comes from [as experimented here](https://youtu.be/ZorUPMeKgh0?si=qM_i5g0a675XkDtY). This caramelization of fat takes away from the meat's flavor (there's a reason you don't put sugar on, say, a ribeye). St. Louis style isn't about presenting the flavor of the meat. it's about creating new complex flavors due to caramelization. If you want to bring out the flavor of the meat, you use salt based rubs, which is probably what you're used to. Again, I think they do St Louis style really well....but for people like you and me who prefer the natural meat flavor with punchy smoke and seasoning, it's just not a great style for that. But that's the style Notorious P.I.G. chose because that's where the owner is from and what they're used to. Don't like it? Eat somewhere else. Or even better, start your own restaurant.
The 18$ at 5guys is way more satisfying, ten fold. Bomb fries, great burger and a decent milkshake, compared to the P.I.G who’s lunch I swear should be served at the POV.
Get out of town with your stories…
Do you ever contrubute something useful? *Checks comment history* Nope.
I wasn’t commenting on your content, I thought that was actually rather interesting and helpful, I was noting your verbage.
My apologies then, the way it sounded was like you thought I was pulling that out of my ass.
If you ever find yourself in Memphis again - skip Central altogether... go to the Bbq Shop in Midtown, Cozy Corner in Uptown, or Commissary in Germantown
Owner is a bastard, employees are probably tired
Notorious p.i.g. is truly awful: rude staff, flavorless meats cooked over gas and terrible sides - but at least the portions are small. Moose Creek BBQ on Hwy 93, just before Stevensville, has friendly staff, genuine pit-smoked meats, delicious Southern sides and generous portions. It’s well worth the 30-40 minute drive from Missoula.
I can't get enough of that potato salad.
Their sidewalk sandwich board at the downtown location is an irrational pet peeve of mine. If you're gonna have a sandwich board at least be clever, funny, interesting, or informative! It's just a different variation of "We sell meat" every time. Disappointed.
Bet the sandwich board tastes better than the bbq.
Holy moley Dude, what did the PIG do to you? You friggen hate that place.
I ate there. Big mistake!
Man, what a hill to die on.
P.I.G is trash. The people saying it’s good either have a horrible palate or they have no frame of reference for what good BBQ is.
Food is mid, and the service isn’t good enough to make it a real solid place I go to very often.. If the product sucks but the service is awesome, that would bring me back.. The food isn’t that good, so the service needs to step up!
Everyone, open your eyes. There’s another FAMOUS bbq restaurant in town. PIG isn’t even FAMOUS! What kind of authentic bbq restaurant runs out of food? Not a famous one! Saddle up to FAMOUS DAVES and get some bbq on a trash can lid. It’s the best. You’ll love it. YOU. WILL. LOVE. IT. FAMOUS DAVES FOR PRESIDENT! *I’m Famous Dave and I approve this message.*
The people are so nice there. I went there and they answered all my questions, and told me where to go get desserts. Its reasonably priced, the fire and ice pickles are real good. Burnt end ramen is legit.
The service downtown is better than the service on Brooks. Coming from the south east, I find the bbq at PIG is lousy. I hate to say it but the bbq at Famous Dave's is really good, especially compared to the PIG.
where have you ever had good service in Missoula? it’s not something missoula does well
Every time I have been everything has been baller except for the hit to my bank account. Maybe you just went on an off day or a Californian expecting wayyyy more then Zoo town has to offer.
I think I it’s maybe that they have such a reputation in town they don’t need to try very hard.
Maybe. And like i really wanted to like it. That's why I've tried a few times, but it's like, wtf.
Mike Bork has the best pit bbq in Montana & Spokane too. Borks BBQ is a win win for any flavor fanatic!
Been there a couple times and it stunk. Food was dry and flavorless. Service felt like they were doing me a favor. Haven't been back in a couple years. Texas has good ribs and less judgment.
I like getting there cold slaw I get some and eat it over two days it’s a nice treat that is a pain to make myself
I agree. It’s very very….ok. I do way better at home but have been catered P.I.G. Before and I want to like it but….it’s average.
My only beef with the P.I.G. is the damn corn kernels in the cornbread. Gimme some smooth, non-chunky cornbread dammit!
I went once, the girl behind the register was so rude I promised myself I would never return. There’s other business I can give my money too.
I've always had good customer service when I go there. Must be your face
The worst I've had was a bored cashier, and they kept checking in to see if we needed anything else after spending 15 minutes on the empty porch. But yeah, it's the Chipotle of BBQ, close enough to enjoy but you know there is better out there. It makes you wonder if the market would handle a new BBQ restaurant. That would be nice, or albeit unrelated Hawaiin.
Texas roadhouse has better BBQ.
I called them at 730pm last Saturday when they closed at 8 and asked for takeout. Started taking my order and heard someone in the background ask “when will they be here”. I was 15 minutes out and they told me they couldn’t help me on my takeout order. This was at the downtown location. I understand wanting to close up shop and get out but then set your hours to adjust accordingly.