02/18/09

Great place for a few rounds with friends and good food to boot.

by caliko

I love walking into a restaurant that drips with personality, even ones that require their waitresses to wear tiny plaid skirts with boots and stockings pulled high. There?s a comfy living room set-up in the front with leather couches that amazingly don?t come across as dirty like most furniture does in restaurants and coffeeshops. You can eat up there if you?d like or grab yourself one of the wooden tables or booths throughout the main dining room. An appealing patio is also available but it?s still a bit too cold for that here. The walls are mustard yellow and covered with various saucers and plates, including the ones awarded to those brave souls that drink 199 beers or more and get to leave a victory quote for posterity.

The menu is designed to keep people chatting and drinking with pick-your-own cheese plates, appetizers, sandwiches, and salads. There?s no rush to eat all at once; you can take as long as you want here. Not being a beer-drinker, I decided to try a barley wine that I found on their extensive beer menu. Lo and behold, I can drink them!

The cheese plates come with almonds, apples, olive tapenade, crackers, crostini, and spicy mustard in addition to whatever meats and cheese you choose. We also tried the bratwurst nachos that were served like the ones at Chili?s, with individual chips weighed down with all the toppings. I?m not a fan of that style and the bratwurst just doesn?t taste right on nachos but the Rocket Tots were great! They?re a cross between tater tots and jalapeno poppers without all the oozing cream cheese that?s standard in those. Instead, the cream cheese is in dip form on the side, a revolutionary idea, I tell you.

As a place to while away the hours on a weeknight with friends, The Flying Saucer is a great bet. And for these prices, the food stands up to the challenge of sustaining you through a few rounds.

• Pros: Beer selection, fun ambience
• Cons: Crowded

02/07/09

Largest beer selection in Raleigh AND great food

by mkathrynp

Flying Saucer definitely has the best/most varied beer selection in Raleigh. Go on Monday night pint night--MOST drafts are only $2.75, and do branch out and try some new beers. Join Beerknurds for $14 get a card to swipe when you go in, a t-shirt, and free brunch on Sunday, then work towards getting a plate on the wall. On Monday's it gets extremely crowded and it can be hard to find a seat. The outdoor seating is great in warm weather. The food isn't bad either... All in all it's a great place. Even on Monday's when it's slammed I've never had bad service. The waitresses know every beer there, and they are generally fast and accurate--at least in my experience.

• Pros: Great beer selection, Monday night pint night, good service
• Cons: Mean bouncers at the door, sometimes really crowded, downtown parking can be difficult

11/20/08

One of the best bars in town!

by jharvey

Flying Saucer is a great place to meet friends with a ton of beers to choose from. Food is OK too, but you don't really go for the food.

• Pros: Great service, beer selection
• Cons: $3 to park