Editor’s Note: The Muddled Pig has closed
A longtime Maplewood bar and grill is closing to make way for a new gastropub. The Muddled Pig is set to open doors in mid-February in the space currently occupied by The Wood at 2733 Sutton Blvd., as reported by Feast. Co-owner and co-chef Austin Hamblin said The Wood’s last day in business is Jan. 31.
After working together for two-and-a-half years at Bella Vino in St. Charles, Hamblin and chef Michelle Allender were interested in opening their own place. “One of (The Wood’s) old investors contacted us and wanted us to take part ownership and completely change everything,” Hamblin said. The Muddled Pig will see a new staff, menu and interior.
Hamblin and Allender will focus on a pork-centric menu sourcing Missouri hogs and other proteins locally. Hamblin said they plan to take advantage of their convenient location across the street from Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions, sourcing pork skin for house-made pork rinds and charcuterie for meat and cheese boards. Hamblin said other menu items will include house-ground burgers, cast-iron skillet fried chicken and farro and Missouri mushrooms from Naturally Mushrooms.
Behind the bar, look for craft beer from local breweries like Urban Chestnut, 4 Hands, Six Mile Bridge Beer and soon-to-distribute Earthbound. Hamblin also hopes to have a fine-tuned cocktail menu featuring local spirits and heavily focused on whiskeys.
In the two-week period between The Wood’s closure and Muddled Pig’s opening, Hamblin said they will transform the space from a neighborhood bar and grill to a casual yet cozy gastropub. Look for reclaimed wood throughout the space, a fresh coat of paint and new tables and chairs. Decor changes will continue throughout the first few months of opening. “You’ll see a slow progression,” he said.
This article appears in January 2016.