Piggyback gets a contented oink in Chicago Mag's list of Ten Best New Budget restaurants:

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magaz ... ain-Spots/

It has entered my bar rotation; love the fries, micheladas, smoked olives, deviled eggs, meats can be hit or miss but it always smells spectacular in there.

Santander wrote:Piggyback gets a contented oink in Chicago Mag's list of Ten Best New Budget restaurants:

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magaz ... ain-Spots/

It has entered my bar rotation; love the fries, micheladas, smoked olives, deviled eggs, meats can be hit or miss but it always smells spectacular in there.

Interesting that it gets a mention as a Budget Restaurant, when some of the complaints in this thread are about cost/value.

Piggyback has strengthened this year, and the meats are now usually tasting as good as the place smells - a real wood fire, multiple batches coming off per day, and the (quarter) chicken (haven't had the pulled chicken in a taco for a while, no guarantees there) and ribs are really thoroughly smoked now without drying out. I also really like their deviled eggs - nothing fancy, consistently fresh, a bit dear but such a nice contrast with the 'cue.

Better even than the regular menu, where $10.50 for a pulled pork or brisket sandwich with fries and slaw doesn't seem too outrageous - hey, it's $6 less than Milt's - is the brunch menu. The homemade Bloody Mary bar mixes, olives, and smoked sausage garnishes set the right tone for both the savory plates like the chilaquiles (I add brisket) and the sweeter offerings like the baked apple pancake with smoked syrup.

You know, I've noticed an uptick in quality, too.

Piggyback is now opening two locations downtown, both right near the two Blackwood locations:

175 North Wells
(formerly Lemon Tree formerly Sixty-Five Chinese)

500 West Madison

BBQ choices downtown!

Looking forward to more BBQ choices for lunch!

Just tried the brisket for lunch at the Wells St spot. While I can't say that it was bad, it was closer to roast beef than bbq. It's brisket bbq like this that makes first-timers perplexed as to why people rave about brisket.

Poor choice to open right next to Blackwood.

Chicago Hokie wrote:Just tried the brisket for lunch at the Wells St spot. While I can't say that it was bad, it was closer to roast beef than bbq. It's brisket bbq like this that makes first-timers perplexed as to why people rave about brisket.

Poor choice to open right next to Blackwood.

I was just there for lunch today, and agree - the brisket at Blackwood is much better.

I am going to go here in a few hours.
The reason being something that has not yet been mentioned here on LTHF: The Spring Rewards program. {I feel quirky mentioning it in this thread. Perhaps it should have its own thread.} The way I am utilizing it is that I've linked my primary credit card to the program. When I visit one of the venues in the program, if I reach a certain amount spent there, I will get a rebate on my credit card.
There is also a function where I can buy an on-line certificate for a selected venue (if available) and receive more credit than what I expended; but this is only valid for the next thirty days. This is what I accidentally did with the Piggyback Tavern.

If you want to join Spring Rewards, you need to link at least one credit card with it, and provide an E-Mail address through which it will inform you of your progress. You almost always will also be opting-in to that venue's E-Mail list. (I would use a disposable E-Mail address, and if the venue's E-Mails are not overwhelming and persistent [three E-Mails a day ], whitelist the "From:" address.)
I have noticed no posts in here since May 2014 {that other venue near downtown has closed - so those don't count}, so hopefully, we will all learn how the BBQ program is going.

Piggyback is dead to me; excommunicated, unmourned.

They have decided they are a "street taco and burger" joint - no more barbecue or smoker, taco plates $10+ (no singles), appetizers bumped up. It strikes me as most problematic that they have no pig on the menu other than bacon.

http://www.piggybacktavern.com/uploads/ ... _17_17.pdf

I booked them for a special event before realizing the change. We received indifferent service, middling burgers, limp fries, puzzlingly bad micheladas and hot pretzels (how do you screw either of those up), and the place smelled like old overheated fryer oil instead of wood perfume. Buh-bye.

Wait, what? That's nuts. I know a couple of weeks ago they lost a smoker (at least) in a grease fire, but that's insane. Why bother if they don't have BBQ?

So strange, the website/facebook still has pictures of BBQ and the pig is still in the logo. And they are still called Piggyback!

Looks like the lack of bbq is temporary. From Facebook:

"Hello Friends, we are open! After a brief closing due to an equipment fire, we have reopened. While we wait for new equipment to arrive, please check out our temporary menu here ... we look forward to serving you soon!"

Ah! Figured. I didn't see that.

Vitesse98 wrote:Ah! Figured. I didn't see that.

Jeez. I don't wish bad luck on any establishment and would have refrained from posting if this had been explained in person or on the website. It doesn't excuse the service or food miscues with remaining menu, but I'm sorry to kick a place when it's down. Good luck making it (Piggy)back, owners.

Ha! I had the same visceral reaction last night while watching the Finals when I went to their website contemplating a take out wing order. I like(d) their smoked wings quite a bit, particularly being in what I consider a "wing dessert" - Wing Boss is hit or miss, most other restos in the area serve the breaded product, which I hate. Exit Strategy make some fine wings nowadays but they were closed, etc etc

It sounds like they are bringing the barbecue back. Based on the comments above I can't see a reason to return until they do, although I will admit an interest in their "wood-grilled" burgers.