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| - Check my pulse! Between the old-school playlist and equally old-school consoles, I may have just died and gone to Gen X heaven.
The Pig's Meow is a sort of 'barcade', where you play video games while you drink. I say "sort of" because unlike true barcades, the games aren't quite the main attraction. You can enjoy some stuff like Nintendo or Atari from your table, sit at the spacious bar and chat, or go to the game room in the back, with an additional Nintendo juxtaposed with very some surreal hands-on games and old (but clean) furniture. But like its predecessor The Whining Pig, having some suds and talking with friends and neighborhood regulars alike is the main attraction.
I can most accurately describe the beer selection is exclusive and high end, almost more so than any beer-heavy bar than I've been to. That's quite a few. Even when the breweries are more well-known (ex: Green Flash), the brews listed from them are new or rare releases (ex: Passion Fruit Kicker). They've even got a list of the extensive 750ml bottles, corked and seemingly all limited edition.
And like its sister bar, Pig's Meow has some cheap eats. Like *really* cheap eats. We're talking grilled cheese...or even ramen, of all things. When my date was totally starving, it was splendidly polite of your bartender to prepare some Maruchan even after your 'kitchen' was closed. Keep in mind the locally-made sweets as well, and it's a welcome diversion.
And while there is much to come here for, there's a bit to figure out. The game room, which has fewer video games than the room housing the bar, is truly kitsch, but at the same time oddly configured. There are board games, but a lack of flat surfaces on which to set them. I was rather dismayed by the thought of where a glass should be placed. I'd feel rather bad placing them on a vintage table game, but I would feel absolutely mortified setting it on the floor. Your layout encourages us to resort to this, and there are some exposed surge protectors about just begging to have beer spilled on them. Coincidentally, the smell of smoke and fear of electrical fire cut short our visit, leaving us to abandon the round we'd just paid for as firefighters marched in. I would hope these two problems are unrelated.
Additionally, consumers should beware of beer prices that are a bit steep. Even the more common selections are easily running a buck or two more than you'll find them for anywhere else. It is as close to being objectively overpriced as I can assert in a review. Your acceptance of these prices, however, will reflect your beer philosophy. If to you, beer is a more casual alternative to wine and liquor--something you will drink volumes of to get turnt--this will leave you frustrated as you fork over $8 a pint. I feel you, and will at some point toast you with one of their $3 PBRs. If you believe beer deserves every bit of prestige normally reserved for more boozy beverages, think less of people for drinking said PBRs, have ever used the word "terroir" without irony when talking about beer, and like me, have an Untappd archive in the triple digits, this is going to be awesome. You, my friend, will be in hoppy hipster heaven. Both crowds should feel free to take advantage of the generous Happy Hour. For two or three hours each day, you'll have no reason to complain about anything here.
Overall, this is a pretty good, premium beer and wine bar (yes! They have wine! I almost forgot!) everyone and anyone should be able to indulge in. With bars that are a bit far apart, and no light rail for miles, Arcadia has never really been a place to hit up when going crazy all night. But if/when that happens, this is a place I won't forget!
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