Brass Pig Smoke & Alehouse — Restaurant in Bloomington

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Brass Pig in Bloomington, Illinois, and it was an experience worth sharing! From the moment we walked in, the warm, rustic ambiance and tantalizing aroma of smoked meats set the stage for an unforgettable evening. But what truly made our visit exceptional was the impeccable service provided by our waitress, Kylie.

Kylie greeted us with a friendly smile and an enthusiastic welcome that immediately made us feel at home. Her extensive knowledge of the menu and her genuine passion for the food they serve was evident from the start. She patiently walked us through the various options, highlighting her personal favorites and making thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences.

We started with the smoked wings, a dish Kylie highly recommended, and they did not disappoint. Perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the wings were packed with flavor. Kylie suggested pairing them with their house-made barbecue sauce, which was a delightful complement to the smoky goodness.

For our main course, we opted for the brisket and pulled pork platter, again following Kylie’s advice. The meats were cooked to perfection—juicy, tender, and bursting with rich, smoky flavors. Kylie’s suggestion of the mac and cheese and collard greens as sides was spot on, providing a wonderful balance to the hearty meats. Her attention to detail and keen sense of our tastes truly enhanced our dining experience.

Throughout our meal, Kylie’s service was impeccable. She was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring our drinks were always filled and that we had everything we needed. Her friendly demeanor and genuine interest in making our meal enjoyable were evident in every interaction. She went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic time, even offering insightful information about the restaurant’s history and their dedication to quality ingredients.

In a world where exceptional service can sometimes be hard to find, Kylie stands out as a shining example of what great hospitality looks like. Her professionalism, enthusiasm, and genuine care for her customers transformed our meal into a memorable dining experience. If you’re looking for delicious barbecue in Bloomington, The Brass Pig is a must-visit, and if you’re lucky enough to have Kylie as your waitress, you’re in for a treat!

Thank you, Kylie, and the entire team at The Brass Pig, for a wonderful evening. We’ll...

Summary first... It's pretty tough to get 5 stars from reviewers on here, it's just really hard to hit everything perfectly. The Brass Pig, however, did just that. Wow! Ok, so my wife and I were born and raised in Central Illinois and we used to love Longhorn (was sad to hear it closed), but we've been in Texas for the last 6 years before moving back home to Bloomington very recently. A very good friend of mine took me to "The Pig" last night and I had high hopes, but leveled expectations. I mean, we've been around Texas BBQ for years now and it's the real deal. Our waitress was Katy and I don't think I've ever had such incredible service before. She was very impressive! We never wanted or waited for anything and our drinks never ran dry. And it wasn't just that she provided incredible service, she did it in a personable way that made you feel like family. You just don't get that level of service very often anymore. I had high hopes for the food, but after getting spoiled by amazing Texas BBQ, I had modest doubts. But, after all, this is Central Illinois, not Texas. I ordered the combo platter with brisket, pulled pork, and turkey and got a side of baked beans (holy cow, we'll come back to this in a bit) and cole slaw. The meal also came with a slice of cornbread. The brisket had good bark, was moist, and had a really good flavor. Best brisket I've had in Illinois by far. The turkey and pork were very moist and tasty as well. And the slaw and cornbread were good too. But, the baked beans... my goodness. These things beat out quite a few famous BBQ restaurants down south. Amazing!! Definitely two thumbs up on the food!! Later in the evening, we actually got to meet John (one of the owners). He is one of the friendliest and most genuine human beings I think I've ever met. He stopped by our table to chat about BBQ, soccer, the upcoming World Cup, and much more and once again, we felt like family. You usually find restaurants that have good food, but so-so service or have great service and so-so food. The Pig has both and on top of that, they have a great beer selection as well to wash it all done. If you're still reading at this point, all I can say is that it's definitely worth stopping in to try it. My family and I will most definitely be back many times. Many thanks to John and Katy for a creating such an amazing evening for...

This is based on two experiences now that have wow'd my family and I...

The items we've tried are: Smoked Beef Ribs Turkey Club Notorious P.I.G. Brisket Point Burger Smoked Sausage BP Cuban Chicken Tenders Coleslaw Fried Corn on the Cob BBQ Mac n Cheese Gi Gi's Cucumber & Onion AD's Smoked Pork Tater Salad

I could write a lot about each of these items but to save room, in short, you'll be glad you tried this place no matter what you get. I'm looking forward to trying the Smoke Wings!

We've tried all but a couple types of sauces and, in short, they're just pure magic. They are very original and memorable sauces that have their own style and signature. I especially love the Spicy Mustard sauce for the fact that it isn't spicy due to a vinegar taste, it's more of a BBQ Mustard with a smokiness to it and just the right level of spice that doesn't overpower the complex flavors (and it ties all the flavors together very well on the Turkey Club especially!)

Experiences:

06/03/2020 Ordered a casual lunch for my wife and I and were totally blown away by the Turkey Club w. Coleslaw and the Notorious P.I.G. w. Fried Corn Cob we tried, as well as a side of beans. We received a personal phone call after our meal to see how it was, and we absolutely loved that personal touch and attention to feedback by the owners. Great customer service!

06/06/2020 After having a great lunch earlier in the week, we decided to order out for our small family gathering of 10 or less, and ordered up a smorgasbord of all different options from a new local favorite. Everything was delicious and blew us away. We all talked about our different favorite items and what I found interesting was there were many of us with different favorites – A great sign of a well-designed menu.

There were a few sides missing at first from our pickup when we got home, but I was thoroughly impressed by the customer service from the owner who took charge of the situation right away after a quick call and brought the missing items right to my house even though they don't have delivery! I tried to give him a tip but he respectfully declined and wished us a great dinner. Even threw in a couple extra items for us! I couldn't believe it. It really brightened up our night even more! Thank...