The Pigpen

We headed to the Witte to do a little exploring and then headed across the street to regain our energy. A very well rounded beer list and the food! We had the brisket nachos and AMAZING! They were exceptional. The margarita was not the best I have had but certainly drinkable. Great venue to just sit outside and relax. Lots of families with their children playing on the structures so they were busy but not at all distracting. Highly recommend for a chill night if you are in the area.

Ncelittle spot. Loved the brisket tacos and nachos. Had the old fashion and it wS do ious too. Would definitely come back…
One thing I did not like was the flys outside, but I guess you can expect flys outside.

Good BBQ, chill atmosphere, easy access and parking. We ordered the loaded nachos (fabulous), I had a burger, and my husband had tacos. Great drinks. Outdoor area for children and pets. indoor seating is community with large picnic style tables and live music.

I came here last week with my husband and 4 year old son. While the inside bar looks great, we b-​lined to the patio so the kid could enjoy the play area — which is great! There were citronella candles out and I think they had planted lemongrass to deter mosquitos? Great idea! And oh my god… order the brisket nachos. Just do it. Don’t ask questions. It was enough for 2, and the boy had a grilled cheese. Also super excited that they carry Saint Arnold root beer… you can’t find that stuff anywhere in San Antonio.
Maybe a few things? This was a Friday around 5−7ish and once tables were done with food, plates stayed piled up for way too long attracting bugs. Also, a more expansive beer wall with more local selections would be nice. I’m not sure what the aim is for your bar, cocktails or beer but that’s just my personal preference and me being picky quite honestly. Still, there were 6 – 8 nice choices on there… and miller light maybe. Could probably stand to lose that. Yeah, I’m that a-​hole.
Amazing food, wonderful patio area, great location… for sure coming back very very soon.

One of the things I love about San Antonio is how amazingly kid friendly this city is, quite likely the most kid friendly city in the country. Even the beer gardens have playgrounds. I’m sure that San Antonio being such a very Catholic city helps that process along. Pig Pen reflects this notion. The wonderful folks who own the Smoke Shack bought the bar behind them. They fixed it up and put a beer garden out back that has both a little play area for the kids but also a tiny trailer with a limited menu. But don’t let the limit fool you. Brisket nachos is one of the offerings. My son and I had already brought over barbecue from the Smoke Shack. They have an excellent array of local craft brews on tap. I stuck with an easy drinking pils. We stayed for a couple of hours and I let my boy get good and tired.
I look forward to going back! Those brisket nachos are calling to me!

I was pleasantly surprised that this place was laid back and not full of hipsters. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed it and felt like it was a cool little neighborhood bar. The food selection is not huge but really really good! The dip trio is good if you like queso, salsa, and guacamole. I also had grilled cheese and it was perfect. Nothing fancy about it but just how I wanted it. There’s a playground in the back where most parents are with their kids. It had a nice privacy fence also so you don’t have to worry about your kids wandering off. Overall a fun little bar.

Love love love The Pigpen. Love that it’s walking distance from my mom’s house. Love the big outdoor space with tons of tables and chairs (and a playground for kids). Love that it has indoor space, too, for when the weather gets too, too hot! Love that they have so many beers on draft (tons of Texas beers among them). Love that it’s dog friendly. Love that it has TVs for those people that love watching sports at bars. Love, love, love. There’s food, too, so The Pigpen has everything! Try it out!

Honestly if I was making a review based on just the food here, it would be five stars. The BBQ that the Smoke Shack is serving up is the best. Nice and greasy, and delicious. YUM. But I’m not reviewing just the food that’s located at the little truck in the back of the bar. I’m reviewing the bar itself. Which is good, for the most part. The bar consists of two bar areas. One catering to the inside, where there is a band that usually plays, and the outside catering to a playground that kids can enjoy while their parents partake in inhibitors that the bar offers.
I came on a Saturday night, during a Spurs game (towards the end of it), with myself and three friends. My friends were hungry, so we went straight to the little food truck in the back to get some BBQ, which is when we learned that the little shack in the back is only where they make the food… but you actually have to order at the Bar. When you order the bar gives you a number and the servers at the bar will bring your food out to you. Which was a little weird, given that the silver wear, onions, pickles and usual BBQ fixings were next to the truck, so if you needed any of those things you would have to go over there anyway.
In any case. We ordered, they stop serving food at 10, and then stop serving drinks at 12. (Which if you ask me is kinda of early for a bar on a saturday night, but to each their own.)
My friends got the Brisket Nachos, Two Punches and a Taco. After ringing in the order, and bringing us our drinks that Bartender let my friends know that they were out of Brisket, and suggested Pulled pork instead. So that’s what we got! Pulled Pork Nachos.
The Punches were pretty good. They were kind of small, and they were basically Long Island Iced Teas but with a different name. So a classic, with a name twist. Cant’s really go wrong. The PULLED PORK NACHOS THOUGH. This shit is kind of expensive, it’s like 12 bucks for the Nachos. BUT YOU GET SOOOO MUCH! There were four of us, two of which were really hungry. After the two that originally ordered the nachos ate some, the rest of us shared what was left. Which was about ¾ of the plate. An hour later, and were still weren’t able to finish them. Four grown women couldn’t finish a plate of nachos. I am ashamed. But that just lets you know how big these things actually are. They are pricey, but well worth the money.
Now the reason there is 4 star review instead of something higher, is simply because of the service. While everyone there is very nice, and friendly, it did take them quite awhile to actually come to us in order to get our order. We sat at the bar for about ten minutes before someone greeted us. Then after ordering the service was still slow with getting the drinks out.
If the speed of service is worked on, I will totally be back.

I wish I could give this bar more reviews. I want it to be my new neighborhood bar but after tonight I really doubt it. Before I begin, the service was great. The bartenders were friendly, helpful, and easy to get the attention of. Great staff that deserves more than the two stars of this review.
Here is the problem. At 10:00 the outside bar closes. That is fine but we were told it was okay to be outside but our cards would be transferred to the inside. We would have gone inside but there was a live band. It such a small space, live music makes it impossible to speak to the people you are at the bar with. Personally I was here to have a couple of drinks and great conversation with my friends. We stayed outside so we could chat and hear each other.
At 11:30 the manager I am assuming turned off all the lights outside without any warning. There were two large groups of people outside. There was no warning or any suggestions that we were supposed to be inside. It was rude and ruined our night.
If you want to close down your outside area because of neighbor’s I completely understand. But have the live band end at 10 so people can come inside and have real conversations. I really want to come back. Maybe have certain nights with no live band or something. In such a small space it is hard to have a live band and have conversations.

The place seemed cool but my toddler was going to bust a tooth on the playground. Our mistake for thinking he’d be content running around us. Good for families with kids five and up if you want to grab a drink while the kids stay busy. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty from rock dust and rusty outdoor furniture. Food smells great and should be if it’s from Smokeshack. Has cider and full bar if you’re not a beer fan.

Drinks were pricy but great new rustic charm. Stage looks like they have live music. $ 12 brisket nachos were good. Could have used more brisket but at least the rest was tasty. Nice beer selection on tap. Friendly bar staff. Prompt friendly service at the bar — none at the tables but maybe that changes later.

I really enjoy The Pig Pen. It’s so laid back. It’s kid and canine friendly. And well there is the yummy food of course! There is a bar outside and inside, a playground for the kiddos, live music indoors and plenty of seating room inside and out. They have a great beer and wine selection and tasty cocktails including a brisket baring Bloody Mary. The «truck» you get you food from has a smaller selection than the Smoke Shack restaurant and Food Truck but just as yummy and a few different options. Also to note you can order at the bar and keep eveything on one tab. The brisket nachos were piled high and not stingy with the brisket at all. The tacos were packed with bbq and defiantly a must. This is a great place to go when the weather is nice and those family friendly events.

I love this place. So glad it opened up kind of in my neighborhood. Smoke Shack you hit a home run with this new neighborhood bar. There is a full service bar both inside and outside. Inside there is a stage for live music.
First of all there is the food. Featuring delicious Smoke Shack brisket. I love both the burger and the brisket nachos.
There is the nice variety of beers on tap. And the Bloody Mary is wow. A nice spicy bite and garnished with a piece of brisket, wedge of lime and an olive.
I plan on being here quite often, especially as nicer weather arrives and i can enjoy the outdoor area more. It makes you forget your so in the middle of an urban area.

Awesome place for food & drinks & kids! One of the best outdoor spots in SA! The staff is very friendly & attentive.

Brought some BBQ from next door (Smoke Shack) and had some great drinks! My wife had the Mississippi Punch and I had the Old Fashioned. We usually get beer here but the drinks didn’t disappoint! We’ve had food from the food truck out back and it was great as well. Can’t wait to come back!

Apparently, when all my friends get married and start creating little versions of themselves, they move to Mahncke Park. It makes sense. You’ve got a ton of children friendly places all over the area (Doseum, Witte, McNay) and then you have this bar that has a playground outside so you can ostensibly watch your children while drinking a beer and watching sports.
On my last visit, all pretext was dropped. No wives, no kids, just guys, sports and beer. And brisket tacos. Have you tried a brisket taco here? If you haven’t, well they essentially use the brisket from their main business (the Smoke Shack) and make awesome tacos which means none of that precious meat is going to waste. They have nachos as well which I haven’t tried as of this writing.
The beer list is relatively small but well curated. It’s local forward with nods to Texas breweries. I went with Karbach’s Weekend Warrior which has probably been the most reliable Texas craft beer I have found (the lack of beer selection in this state is truly appalling). Service is friendly and you get the impression that this bar is going to have a very strong neighborhood presence. I think I’ll be one of the few regulars that doesn’t live within walking distance of the bar, but those who do live in that radius are the lucky ones.
Pigpen has everything you are looking for as far as a casual neighborhood spot and it doubles as a place where some of my friends can entertain their kids. It’s pretty much a given that I’ll have a semi-​regular Sunday presence here.

If you’ve visited the Smoke Shack truck and thought, «this would be even better with a beer and slightly better scenery», then your dreams have been answered. This spot behind the brick-​and-​mortar Smoke Shack is like a smaller Friendly Spot with a permanent Smoke Shack food truck.
I visited on a Sunday afternoon when the brick-​and-​mortar was closed. The truck didn’t have the full 410 & Naco lunch truck’s menu; on that day the offerings were loaded nachos, tacos (brisket or pulled pork), turkey sliders, wings, and chips and dips (salsa/​queso/​guac) — quite enough selection to do the trick.
We sat at the outside bar and enjoyed some good brew with our delicious snacks. There are about 15 taps with some standard local selections (Busted Sandal; Branchline) and some decent liquors for the mixin’ (Hendrick’s; Deep Eddy Grapefruit).
The yard area features a play place, so it was abuzz with children laughing. It’s dog-​friendly, so there was tail-​wagging. There are 2 TVs at the bar, so the parents were doing a little sportsball-​cheering. It was a nice, friendly, laidback scene. perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon.
This place would be nice without the Smoke Shack factor; WITH it, it’s damn near perfect.

Located right behind the Smoke Shack this little neighborhood bar opened not too long ago.
First time I came into this neighborhood bar on a Sunday afternoon I was expecting a bar with just a couple of families. To my surprise there was a lot of kids occupying the playscape area outside. I think there must of been a birthday party or something. Now don’t get me wrong, not at all a Chucky Cheese environment but a family environment. Perfect neighborhood bar! For all you single people I know what your thinking… Don’t fret! There is a warm and cozy bar inside for you if you don’t want to be bothered by all the ruckus or weather outside.
The food truck is great, didn’t take long to get the tacos we ordered: we had one of shrimp, one of brisket and the other pulled pork. Delicious, too bad we ate them too fast to take a picture of!
It has a kind of ‘Cullum Attagirl’ air about it with out all the craft beer. This is more of a popular neighborhood bar with plenty of seating for everyone. Owners of ‘Smoke Shack’ did a splendid job of renovating it from what it once was! Thank you Lord! Lol.
I spoke to the owner and has plans of bringing in live music groups to play Wednesday through Sunday! Wow, sounds like a lot of fun (my kind of place)! We’ll be there everyday the way my toddler played in the play area and my husband enjoyed the drinks. I absolutely loved the pulled pork and shrimp taco, yum! What a great opening! Love it! Don’t miss coming by this neighborhood bar if your a fan of the Smoke Shack and if not stop by any way, there is something for everyone!

Previous reviewer hit the nail on the head — this place is perfection. Others like it around town are missing one or more of the key features The Pigpen offers: Beer (in our family, that covers dad), FULL bar with REAL cocktails including a Mississippi Punch that begs the summer to get here soon and a tasty, tangy margarita (a Texas staple, this takes care of mom), and a safe playground (for the little ones, obviously).
The live music on NYE (blues) was an act I suspect will be a regular one — they were AWESOME!
The Smoke Shack next door has the best barbecue in town (don’t take my word for it, it’s an official title) and you can order food to bring over. As I understand it there will be more food options to come which just means the goodness keeps on coming.
The Pigpen is walking distance from Brackenridge Park, the Witte Museum (you can walk from the parking lot @ Brackenridge easily), the Childrens «Doseum», SA Zoo and is a short bike ride or walk from the Pearl.
The prices are right and the beer/​liquor selection are excellent (14 beers on tap).
This is a great place to come have a drink while the kids burn off some energy. Play a game of «corn hole» or watch the game in what feels like the backyard of the coolest friend you have.
Get here!

This hasn’t happened to me in a LONG time!
You see a playground from the street to a brand spanking new establishment. You do a drive by, because your eyes are probably deceiving you. You hear LIVE music. You pull into the driveway. You confirm: that is a playground with an outdoor patio. That’s right! A kid friendly spot!
Wait! There’s more! Beer! Drinks! Lots and lots of bar space with ample indoor and outdoor seating. Four tvs!
I’m in heaven.
I have a feeling I’ll be coming here often!