Locals “Pig” Out

Finer’s father set his expectations for dinner with his daughter; both left pleasantly satisfied after choosing The Ravenous Pig for their meal.

Last night, I took my father out to dinner for his birthday. He shares my dislike for Applebee’s-ian establishments, so I knew I’d have to find an impressive place to take him. Immediately, The Ravenous Pig came to mind. I’ve been meaning to check it out for months but, due to my poor college student financial situation, I’ve put off visiting.  The Ravenous Pig is off of Orange Avenue and features complimentary valet parking, but unless you’re familiar with American customs,  you should know it’s rude not to tip, especially when the valet guys literally sprint to and from your car.

When you walk into “The Pig” as the employees and regulars refer to it, you will immediately see that no expense has been spared to create a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment. Presentation is impressive at The Ravenous Pig from the moment you walk in and their food is no exception. To start, my father and I split a large “Gatherer Salad,” the only salad on the menu that comes in two sizes. The Gatherer is one of the few things on the menu that does not change daily. Most of the menu changes, which definitely keeps guests guessing. The salad consists of lettuces, pickled beets, avocado, goat cheese, radish, pistachios (impressively crunchy), and an herb vinaigrette. It was massive, but so tasty we finished it very quickly. For entrées, I ordered the Short Rib (a special item, not typically on the menu, according to our waitress) and my father ordered shrimp and grits.  Both of our entrees were miniscule in portion compared to the salad, but absolutely delicious nonetheless. The Short Rib was tender enough to cut with a fork and the dish was seasoned with an Asian flare. Unless you are a self proclaimed “foodie,” expect to have a handful of  questions on what dish ingredients listed on the menu mean. The Ravenous Pig doesn’t play around with quality, it delivers and leaves you wanting more. The food is fresh, inventive, and satisfying.

The Ravenous Pig is owned by a husband and wife team, James and Julie Petrakis, who realized their dream of opening their own restaurant in their hometown, and managed to bring their prestigious culinary education into the mix. The Ravenous Pig is classified as an American Gastopub, a category that you’ll be happy to get to know better.

Rollins students, listen up: The Ravenous Pig is a great place to take your parents. It’s one of the best restaurants I’ve been to anywhere. It’s a little pricey with entrees ranging from $13-29 but luckily for me, even on his birthday, my dad was generous enough to pick up the tab. Speaking of the tab, just after our very helpful waitress dropped off our check, she brought out a surprise birthday dessert which was absolutely divine. It was anything but your average carrot cake and just goes to show The Ravenous Pig will go the extra mile to please its guests. We will definitely be back. Just not on a Sunday or Monday because it’s closed! More information about “The Pig” is available on their website at The Ravenous Pig