Pig in the Porch is the hidden gem of the west side. Tucked into the little town of Loretto with a handful of other restaurants on the same street - this one is signaled by, shocker, the pig on the porch! The food here is wonderful. My family would always come for birthdays and anniversaries despite living 20+ minutes away. It's worth it! While I love the pasta, the real big ticket item here are the Bull bites (or tenderloin tips). If I'm not starving I'll snack on the family's order as an appetizer and get another order for my meal! The bites are perfectly seasoned and cooked. I guarantee you they are better than what you've tried at other places. What makes this dish a home run is the creamy horseradish sauce. I've never had better. Amazing flavor with just the right amount of heat with the perfect texture/thickness to coat a bite without feeling gluttonous in doing so every time. read more

Pig On The Porch - World's Best Bull Bites (Tenderloin Tips)!!! Also pictured... World's Best Creamy Horseradish. So much greatness in one spot! - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

I grew up in a small town, this restaurant screams everything great about small towns! Casual atmosphere with a very wide menu selection, whatever comfort food you pick will likely hit the spot. Our table enjoyed shrimp pasta gumbo, southern fried chicken sandwich, a French dip sandwich, and wings with a great dry rub. The bar menu included a nice selection of draft beer with a smallish wine selection. The food was fantastic and the service friendly and prompt. Loretto is not far, the fare well worth the trip. Give it a shot, I think you will enjoy! read more

Pig On The Porch - This is the restaurant namesake, I can see where a cold beverage on the porch with the pig would hit the spot during the summer... - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

The price on the specials is awesome! Look at this food! Friendly service, put my name on the board for a drawing for a shirt and Vikings tickets. Plenty of parking, immediate seating, great ambiance, clean, and I'm wondering why this place doesn't have a line out the door. read more

Pig On The Porch - Clubhouse omelette special. - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

I found this establishment when searching for a bar-type restaurant that my buddy and I would grab lunch at on a Friday. With a name like Pig On The Porch, my curiosity was piqued... how could I not check this place out?! It is located right off 19 in Loretto. Though there is street parking, I drove my truck and decided to park in a dirt lot nearby. There is a little outdoor seating, but most is inside. The design is kind of rustic, old bbq bar style -- I liked it a lot and felt comfortable. Our waitress was very kind and accommodating, informing us of the specials right away and keeping our drinks full at all times (I believe her name was Trish). I ordered the French Onion Steak Sandwich. My buddy got the Beef cheese soup, and we both had a side of fries. The fries were pretty good, and my buddy enjoyed his soup. My sandwich was bustling with the classic French Onion Soup flavor, and it even came with a side of the soup itself for dipping. The savory meat was on a soft bread and topped with a thick slice of broiled Gruyere. I would definitely buy it again, especially when I'm in the Onion mood:) Service was fast and the food left us happy. The Pig On The Porch is a great place to go when you want to relax and kick back for a bite or a drink! read more

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We love Pig on the Porch! We first stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. It was just past noon and we had our choice of places to sit. While they initially seemed a bit worrisome, we were quickly dissuaded of that notion. My wife and I split the Greek Wedge Salad. What a great twist on a old staple. We both loved the olives on it. My son order the BBQ ribs and he ate them all. I had the French dip and the wife had a chicken sandwich. All were wonderful! Glasses were kept filled and everything was fresh and hot. We also stopped in on a Tuesday evening to celebrate our 1st school concert. My son picked the spot. He wanted to come back. This is high praise! He wanted a steak. They were running a special that night, sirloin and coconut shrimp. I stole his shrimp, but he ate his steak and all the fries. He and I also split an order of steak bites to start. My wife had the halbit special. She said it was wonderful and would order again. I had a cup of crawfish chowder (awesome) and the pork chop. Thus far this place has it hit all our marks. We will keep coming back. read more

I'm new to Minnesota and I love non-chain restaurants. This was a winner!!! I was there on Thursday and I'm a sucker for a special, so I got the Juicy Lucy special...wonderful!!! So juicy, condiments are not needed! My sister ordered the cowboy burger, she loved the breading on the onion ring. It was so good, she finished it all. My hubby got the beef stroganoff, it was good but the burgers were phenomenal! My brother in law got the hangover burger, it was a unique combo of flavors. And to top it all off, they offer a free it my husband birthday and they gave him a free lava cake! 100% sure we will come back soon...stay tuned for another review. We're thinking about ordering the Fish 'n Chips and of course the Juicy Lucy again! read more

Pig On The Porch - Hangover burger - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

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First time here. Had reservations and we were sat immediately. We ordered two Juicy Lucy's and they were fantastic!! Perfectly cooked to our order. The fries were tasty also. The house salad could use some croutons. Overall it was very good and we will be back to try some other options off the menu....prime rib:) maybe. (Maybe they should ask if you want ketchup Or take it away with the plates. All I smell is ketchup) read more

Pig On The Porch - I don't like ketchup. - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

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Not bad, stopped in for lunch one afternoon. Kinda mid but not bad in all. I would say if you want a sandywhichy for lunch, the french onion steak was pretty good. read more

Great find in Loretto! The food was good from the appetizers all the way to the large deserts! You need to come hungry! Staff was very friendly and yes, there is a pig on the front porch Easy parking in the back too. read more

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Solid food, but can get pretty busy on the weekends...especially during the summer! If there one drawback, it's the lack of parking (but that's ultimately everywhere in Loretto). read more

Fun new place! I had the walleye sandwich and upgraded my side from fries to French onion soup. Hubby had French onion dip sandwich and a side salad instead of fries. The food was really delicious! My only problem is that when you upgrade your side from fries you want it to come out with your sandwich. Not before. If I had gotten the fries with my sandwich I would have gotten them WITH my sandwich , not before!! So, my soup sat and waited for my sandwich to arrive. read more

We had dinner with friends we have not seen in a long time and we were busy chatting our waitress kept coming to the table, visually annoyed we were not ready to order. We wanted another round of drinks - impossible. The hostess was pacing back and forth as if to say - pay bill and leave. Waitress was passive aggressive and rude. Food was ok but not good enough to have us come back. read more

Service is slow and it's not even busy. The food was just okay and it's expensive for what you get.

Terrific! We (5) went to Pig last night. It was terrific! The service was fantastic, and the food was wonderful! The Coconut Shrimp was wonderful, the salmon fresh, the Chicken Dumpling soup homemade. Our server was fun and friendly. Highly recommend! read more

Our experience was really great! It was a packed house when we got there but we were still able to be seated quickly. The food was amazing! The atmosphere was really nice too. Considering there was a HUGE fire happening at a local business just down the block, it was an 'exciting' night! We'll be back for sure! read more

Worst experience ever! We made reservations in advance, although upon arrival we were told it would be a 15-30 minute wait. After our soups and salads were brought out an employee opened the door right behind our table that led to the alley and propped it open. After a few minutes of the freezing winter air pouring in over us we asked a passing waitress if the door would be open long since we were quite cold and had to put our winter jackets on to keep warm. She reuwd the staff was hot a b d they were trying to cool the place off. Several minutes later we asked another of the staff to please close the door and she also told us they would in a bit. When paying between $20 to $50 per person, I would think the customers comfort would be a priority. If I wanted to sit in freezing temperatures I would not have gone to a restaurant. Although the prices are pretty steep, the food was mediocre. We were not given silverware or napkins until we requested them, no butter for the baked potatoes even though we requested it when we ordered. Our waitress didn't ask if we wanted beverages until she brought the bill! read more

The food was great but the portions were very small. My son had the kids' Mac and cheese and it was less than a cup of noodles with no sides. I had the 1/2 sandwich with a cup of soup. My Reuben and French onion soup were tasty but how a kids meal and a half sandwich and soup were $30, I have no idea (we drank water). Also, the waitress was dropping F bombs repeatedly because of some mix up with the checks and tables. I had my young son with me and I didn't like that especially since we were the only ones in the dining room. Definitely should have been a better experience. read more

It is great when an error can be corrected and customer satisfaction is paramount. Kudos to owner Jeff and staff for helping the business be the best it can be. His food is to be appreciated by all and now the bar service great as well. Thanks POP for putting a smile back on our face! read more

Went here for a work lunch the other day. Had never been out in the Loretto area before. This place definitely has the feel of a small town hang out/bar. I will say that I did not expect the food to be as good as it was. I tried their gyro and it was extremely good. The fries were also very good. Service was very good and attentive although it is very quiet the afternoon we were there. Definitely a good experience read more

My husband just finished eating this omelette. He said it was phenomenal. The wild alligator sausage has a flavor that just dances in your mouth, gives you that feeling you're eating something right down in the bayou! The mixture of green, red, and orange bell peppers with a delicate Hollandaise sauce tops it off. Highly recommended if visiting Pig on the Porch! read more

Pig On The Porch - Wild alligator sausage with a mixture of green, red, and orange bell peppers with Hollandaise sauce, toast, hash browns, and a tiny muffin. - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

Thought we would try this place, there was only one waitress for inside and out... We waited 10 mins to order, then it took 25 mins to get lunch. I ordered half chicken salad sandwich and chicken wild rice soup, it was pretty good but nothing spectacular especially considering the wait. Don't plan on a 30-45 min lunch. read more

Pig On The Porch - Chicken Salad sandwich and chicken wild rice soup - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

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Easy to walk on by but don't! Wow what a great meal on first visit. Walleye was fabulous. Loved everything on the plate. Awesome friendly service and great no pressure atmosphere. Totally worth the trip if in the area. Will be back. read more

I will never return here and recommend nobody dine here. The prices are insane for the quality of food and service. Very rude servers and horribly rude owner. We had ordered a juicy Lucy and the cheese wasn't even melted inside. When we sent it back it came back out cut open and still cold when we sent it back again we were told it would be over an hour wait. When we told our server to just take it back she sent another server out that was extremely rude to us and told us just to leave. We waited for the bill and it came back wrong 3 times. Owner never once came out to see what the issue was and we were told he wouldn't be coming out to talk to us. Actually insane dining experience. There are plenty of quality restaurants nearby that are much better. read more

Amazing food and great service definitely try the chicken bites and cowboy burger there salads are also bussin read more

My friend and I went there today for lunch, first time there for both. We were recommended by a local business, citing the Juicy Lucy as being very good. We both ordered Juicy Lucys, mine with fries, my friends with chips. Totally disappointing! The burgers were quite flavorless, the American cheese in the middle not melted. Although we did order them "medium", they were closer to med. rare, which was possibly why the cheese wasn't melted. My fries were soggy, as if the oil in the deep fryer hadn't been heated up enough. My friend's chip were totally unremarkable, also flavorless. On the good side, the service was very good, friendly, and the restaurant itself is very nicely done, looks & feels great. Too bad about their food, we won't be back. read more

Nice patio for a good fish 'n chips dinner and delicious Prime Rib. Server was most accommodating; we will be back!

Since they've shed the Axel's corporate yoke about a month ago, there are no reviews of this place as a NEW restaurant, which it is. Same building, different menu, not Axel's. I can't say if they changed everything or nothing, compared to before. But I do know that the food was good, the vibe was good, and the service was good. I loved the bread. Real french bread. The caesar salad was cold and crisp. French onion soup was rich and had all the right stuff. My prime rib was great, and I think he au jus was real not canned. My wife's walleye was perfectly done with a simple sauce (lemon-butter?) and almonds. Service was helpful and on-point, especially for being so busy while we were there. I'll be back if I'm in the area, to try some of the other tempting menu offerings they have , like beef stroganoff, or a steak. Apparently they cook some items over coals or wood -- not sure exactly what or how, but the salmon's menu-description referred to grilling like that. I'll bet it's good! read more

Took a motorcycle to this place for lunch. Great Food! Reasonably priced. Friendly staff. Great ambience. Will definitely return and recommend. read more

First time here. Tavern omelette was great. Definitely will be back to try other menu items.

Tucked away in little Loretto this gem greats guests with its rustic decor, friendly staff, and traditional belly up bar running down the side of the dining room. Quality old school martinis and manhattans and a nice wine selection and onion rings that are the bomb ! The walleye and burgers a great. read more

Had a lovely meal on a Tuesday night. Our family started off with the Calamari appetizer then ordered the Juicy Lucy Burger, Hangover Burger, Coconut Shrimp, and the Greek Wedge Salad. Everything tasted great and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back. read more

Had some great prime rib for mothers day and my wife had a walleye sandwich. Jasmine was our server and she did a great job, very attentive. read more

Pig On The Porch - My prime cut seasoned excellently. - American Near Me - Loretto, Minnesota

My all time favorite! Bull bites are phenomenal. The atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming

We have a newborn at home, so we really miss dining out for good food. After a few painfully slow and annoying TAKE-OUT experiences at the nicest restaurant in Maple Plain, we gave Axel's Tavern in Loretto a call. Ordered some soups and side salad "to go" and also asked for some bread on the side. The service was kind and hospitable when my husband got there. (Which was so appreciated, as often nice restaurants tend to seem kind of bothered by non-dining folks.) The Chipotle Black Bean special and Chicken Dumpling soups were both really great! From-scratch taste! The "side Caesar" was enormous (and genuinely delicious,) and the bread was almost a half loaf of crusty baguette perfection. Thank you, Axel's Tavern, for a truly great and satisfying lunch at home! read more

Our friends had raved about finding this place in Loretto. They weren't aware it was part of chain, which shows you how much they must get out. We made it a stopover on a long bike ride into the western 'burbs and arrived a little before noon. You know those Dawn of the Dead movies where the riders come upon a roadhouse and can't find anyone to wait on them? First signal. The service was extremely slow for a place that had one or two tables occupied. We sat on the front porch, which may have spread the server too thin. Eventually we placed drink orders and eventually the beers arrived. Two of us had Surly Benders in the 24 ounce mugs. The server told us they weren't as full as they should be because they'd hit the end of the keg, and she'd top us off when the keg got changed. (To her everlasting credit, she later brought us full pints without charge, though our original mugs were short less than two inches.) I ordered a Buffalo Chicken sandwich in the vain, ongoing hope I can find one as good as what Urban Wildlife used to serve. This was not it. When I heard one of the other sandwiches was served on a baguette, I asked about the bread for the Buff Chix. It was a hamburger bun, but the server offered to substitute the baguette. Point two for her. However, the "baguette" was more in form than constitution--a sort of Jimmy John's interpretation of a French loaf. The sandwich was just OK. Not much spice in the sauce. A commercial blue cheese spread on the side. Fresh tomato, small ring of onion, decent leaf of lettuce. Fries, average, which means not worth the calories. Side pickle would fit nicely in a bloody mary without making you feel it had dislodged any important ingredients. Eventually, the check came after we asked for it, but I had to go looking for it later in order to pay. Bottom line: nothing was horrible and the people were very nice when we could find them. read more

We joined some friends here for dinner and drinks since they had recommended we try it. The restaurant was nearly empty with one or two other tables and a couple people at the bar. We ordered drinks off the menu, which weren't very good. When we did finish them we were never asked if we wanted another drink. We shared the coconut shrimp dinner, which was good. The reason for my two star review is the service. It took some time before we were greeted, then another long period of time before we ordered drinks, another long spell before our drinks were made and delivered...every step of our dining experience was drawn out for what appeared to be no reason because they weren't at all busy. If you are looking for a decent meal, bad drinks, and horrifically slow service this is your place. Otherwise, I'd go out my way to go someplace that knows how to treat their customers. read more

One of the few places that we can get escargot, absolutely love it! Wait staff is friendly and helpful - Will absolutely be back!

Nice people. Food was terrible. 100 bucks and worth about 40 tops. Hopefully it was just a bad day for them. I might try again since they were so nice. read more

The chicken sandwich is delicious paired with a side of fries! The cocktails are made with fresh herbs and have just the right amount of kick. I would also recommend the spinach and artichoke dip! The staff here is really polite, able to honestly recommend dishes and whether we've stopped in during a busy timeframe or nearing close we have been treated well and received tasty food. Cute area and atmosphere as well. I'd call this a solid spot! 5 stars because so far I haven't had anything here I didn't like or had a bad experience. read more

Nice local place with a ton of personality. Stopped in for Sunday brunch and everyone really enjoyed their food. We had an omelette and a couple of burgers. Everyone loved their food. Only reason I'm knocking off a star is the service was good, but not great. Also, its mostly a bar type setting and the noise level to go with it. One thing to note, there is well marked street parking and they do have a parking lot, but the parking lot has no lines. So its very easy to not know how to park there. read more