The Copper Pig — Restaurant in Bisbee

We have been waiting for over a year to try this exquisite gem of a restaurant in the Bisbee hamlet of Warren. Either it was closed, or our schedules didn't work. It was worth the wait, and our only regret is that we hadn't prioritized trying it sooner. Everything was magical, from the laid-back, hippie atmosphere of the street it resides on to the experience once inside the establishment.

What makes this even more notable, and further enhances the experience, is the lack of similar dining establishments in deep southern Arizona. One can find fine dining in Tucson, over an hour away and far too far for a simple evening out. That's not to say there aren't decent or good restaurants in Cochise County. However, none excel in all aspects of an evening out experience, from greeting to service to the quality of the meal.

We had a reservation and were seated immediately at the only table open in the restaurant. That is a plus for their table management. Within two minutes, our waiter appeared with water and bread. Expressing our joy at this proper start to the meal is impossible. In eight years of living in southern Arizona, we have often observed management and wait staff at other establishments taking five minutes or more to arrive at the table. That delay typically foreshadows a lack of basic service that follows.

The bread basket featured freshly baked country bread, accompanied by a small plastic ramekin of butter. We would have enjoyed the butter served more elegantly, but that is a minor matter. The bread was excellent.

We had heard that the restaurant's appetizers are a highlight and decided to try three: a fresh bacon, apple, arugula, and beet salad, Mussels Meuniere (which were specials), and Arancini. The salad was beautifully composed with just the right amount of dressing to highlight the flavors of the ingredients. The Arancini may have been the best I have ever had. Perfectly fried balls of tender risotto set in a delicious tomato sauce were an unexpected treat. The mussels, unfortunately, were the low point of the meal. Overcooked and rubbery mussels in a tepid sauce that lacked depth and flavor were a major disappointment. Still, that was the only disappointment of the evening and didn't detract from the rest of the meal.

We chose two specials for our main course. My wife selected the Salmon topped with a deconstructed Clams Casino. I opted for chicken cutlets topped with eggplant and a dollop of pesto, served in a rich Roman mushroom tomato sauce. The Salmon was incredible. Perfectly cooked and nestled on a plate expertly nappeed with a sublime sauce, it alone excited the palate. But when topped with a well-made clam casino mixture, the dish became an epicurean delight. The chicken was masterfully prepared and was highlighted by the silky-textured eggplant that topped it. The Roman mushroom tomato sauce was well made, my only minor comment being that a different choice of mushrooms might have taken the dish to another level. That said, I would order it again, and probably will if it's on the menu when we return.

The dessert selection had me wishing for a larger stomach. Every item on the menu and the specials board looked enticing. We settled on a Basque Cheese cake with blackberries and bananas. We could not have asked for a finer way to end the evening. Perfectly cooked, silky cheesecake in a subtle white sauce and topped with dollops of fresh whipped cream provided just the right amount of sweet and tart to end the meal.

The Copper Pig Service: 5 Food: 4.9 Decor: 5 Cleanliness: 5 Price:...

The Copper Pig is an upscale, yet down to to earth reastaurant. You are met with a nice and super cozy atmosphere where the lights are low, but not too low, just enough to set the mood. Everyone is friendly and wonderful and the specials of the day are helpfully listed on the back wall.

The chef's fresh baked English bread with handmade butter was delightful, with a nice chew and saltiness.

We started off with the arancini and chicken liver paté (a special). The arancini was piping hot and bursting with flavor, accented by the cheese, olive oil, and tomato sauce. The crunch of the breading and the creaminess of the risotto made for a very pleasant texture. The chicken liver paté was excellent, served with tastefully charred slices of bread, onion, egg crumbles, and a bold mustard. Anything chicken liver has my heart, but this was good.

I had the Copper Pig Trio (pork rib, garlic sausage, and a mini schnitzel) while my wife had the Jaegerschnitzel. The schnitzel is out of this world, masterfully bathed in a succulent mushroom gravy while retaining it's crisp nature. The pork rib was tender and smoky and the garlic sausage was great. Both entrees were served with expertly executed potatoes au gratin and a nicely cooked fresh vegetable medley. The sweet potato shined and was the true star of the medley.

Dessert was absolutely decadent, with my wife and I sharing a slice of the chocolate sin cake a la mode and a slice of the Almond Joy cake (a special) along with freshly brewed Bisbee Roasters coffee. The chocolate sin cake was smoooooth with a rich dark chocolate taste and the Almond Joy cake was impeccable, featuring chocolate cake sandwiching an incredible coconut layer, topped by a chocolate shell. The coffee is a delight, especially if you like coffee with dessert.

Amazing food and value with great service. Hands down the best place to enjoy dinner in Bisbee. We'll be back,...

While vacationing in Arizona and visiting Bisbee overnight, we were lucky to stumble upon this gem for dinner on September 26th. It was only while searching Google for dinner did we find it and what luck. It's located in an unassuming little building with drapes covering the windows so you cannot see inside. There are only 9 tables and reservations are a must. We were waited on by one of the owners, Heather, and she was terrific. To say the food was great, is an understatement. Of our party of 5, and for main courses, three of us had chicken scallopini with jagerschinitzel sauce, blacked tilapia filet with shrimp and jagerschinitzel pork. For appetizers we had fried feta with peach jam and tomato confit, coffee rubbed pork and arancini. It was agreed that this dinner was the best we ever had anywhere and we could only talk over and over about how delicious it was. The Chef who happens to be Heather's husband, is a genius! The fried feta appetizer is one I will dream about for the rest of my life. It was incredibly good. When we received the bill for dinner, we told Heather she is not charging enough, as we would have gladly paid more. She informed us that they keep the prices low so that all people in the area will have an opportunity to eat there. That is just remarkable. If you happen to be visiting Bisbee, you must go to The Copper Pig and have a dining experience you won't...