Wednesday 18th of January 2012 01:46:05 PM

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I’d say that the Flying Saucer still holds its spot as the #1 place to get a VARIETY of beer in the Triangle. The whole length of the bar is backed by taps, taps and more taps. Mixed in between the taps are coolers full of 100’s of bottles. There rarely is a time that you want a beer and can’t find it here. So for selection, bar none, the best. On the other hand, I’ve been here enough and ordered from their “just landed” keg list to be highly disappointed at not having one of the six I chose. This seems to happen more on Saturdays though. Some other areas of interest, if you’re not just there for beer.

The Food selection is a little bit off, and by off I don’t mean bad, rather, very different. It’s not your typical bar food, although you can get some typical bar food if you want it. The Saucer does a good job with their menu. Some things I’ve ordered and loved; The Saucer Bratzel, the Space Club, the Cheese plate. That being said, their fries kinda suck, and there is some stuff on their menu that you go, “Huh? Who the * would order that?”

The staff is hit or miss. If you want someone with knowledge I’d generally recommend sitting at the bar. Some of the waitresses are knowledgeable, others don’t have a clue. As someone else said, the Management can be rude at times, other times right on point and friendly.

Cost = Way overpriced. Sorry Saucer, you don’t have to charge $7 for some of those beers. I have a kegerator at home and am constantly putting in different, non-traditional (see, crappy American) beer and I know it doesn’t cost near what you charge. That being said, sometimes they run firesales, and pintnite’s where you can get pints for $3.

All in all The Saucer is an excellent place if you want variety, not so great if you want food or aren’t looking to spend a ton.

Saturday 16th of August 2008 11:50:40 AM

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The Flying Saucer can be a bit difficult for the uninitiated to find, and parking can be a pain. Generally parking is available on the sides of Hillsborough Street if nowhere else. The draft list at the Flying Saucer is extensive, but often and unfortunately the beer may not be the freshest. Management has been rude at times and stellar at other times. Service has always been good and the atmosphere is good for a beer bar with a stale beer and cigarette smell which permeates the interior and lets one know they have entered the Saucer.

Arguably the best draft list in Raleigh, but be sure you aren't the first pull of the tap to ensure you don't get the sludge from a dirty tap line.

Monday 6th of August 2007 11:43:53 AM

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Stopped in for dinner before a concert downtown, and the destination should be observed as distinctly beer-oriented rather than a stop for food. Neighborhood bar feel. Taps galore. Servers are quite knowledgeable in beer and, it doesn't hurt, are quite easy on the eyes. Beer menu is extensive with notations for on-tap and bottled offerings. NC discount pint nights, trivia nights, Belgian beer discount nights, there's always something going on at a Saucer promoting good beer. Food menu is sparse with some basics: wraps, pizza, hot sandwiches, salad, and a cheese board. "Bratzel" was tasty: soft pretzel with bratwurst and swiss cheese with a spicy mustard dipping sauce. Yum.

Thursday 17th of May 2007 11:41:27 AM

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I like the Flying Saucer and it was easily one of the better places to get a wide selection of craft beer when I lived in the Triangle. I felt that they had a good solid selection, but they really couldn't pretend to have "no crap on tap".

The food wasn't awesome, but it hit the spot and it was a necessity on one or two occasions. The menu is limited.

I never really got into the whole short skirted server theme that seems to be running through the wait staff. But they were usually attentive and helpful. The bartenders were more beer knowledgeable but very few of them seemed very interested in beer or beer events.

The atmosphere of this location was often loud and smoke filled. On pint night, you really have to be there early to get a seat and it is a bit of a struggle to be served at the bar, so make sure you get a good waitress.

My main problem with this Flying Saucer (I haven't been to any others) is that they weren't extremely good at turning over kegs. They have a great selection but it's probably not that easy for them to turn them all over before some of them get a bit old.

I would definitely suggest the Flying Saucer if you are in the area and you are looking for a large selection of regional and NC brewed beer.

Tuesday 13th of March 2007 06:42:45 PM

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I've always enjoyed the Flying Saucer, even thought I'm not chainadelic. I've heard some folks complain about "problems," but until one visit recently, I never had a beer that was sour or otherwise problematic. And in a sourness situation, that's the distributor's fault, not the bar's. I think you might expect a few problems in a place that boasts 80+ taps, and we can all be armchair bar managers and say we'd clean our own bloody lines, but come on, will we really have that kind of time?

I have good things to say about Raleigh's Saucer. I enjoy it better than the Charlotte location (to which I've only been once), primarily because this has more of a downtown feel than a strip mall feel. The atmoshphere is beercentric and good. Selection is great, and they truly support local breweries. They don't just talk about it. Generally, I'd say the staff is pretty well informed. I don't go to the Saucer for food, as it is generally lackluster, but a pizza's safe enough. Just don't go planning on chowing down. You're going here for the beer selection. Reasonable draws and/or specials throughout the week.

I'd call it family friendly, because I take my family there, but we're a beercentric family and it's usually in the afternoon after a hike when this family guy gets around to going out for a "drink." I'll have to edit to get wifi checked correctly down below, and while I'll check that there's parking available, the fact is that you may need to drive around the block to find a spot. Parking's not great, let's say. And when I say correct glassware, I mean a bigger beer will be in a snifter, not necessarily the logo for that beer. To me that's practical appropriateness, not anal appropriateness. I'm a beer geek, but not that friggin' anal.

Definitely, check it out if you're in Raleigh.