I slightly prefer TOS the cage, because it's the complete talos iv story, and has extra scenes with pike and the enterprise crew. However, I really like kenney's portrayal as pike in TOS the menagerie, and TOS the menagerie has a pretty good story too.

I'd have to say The Menagerie for me. I think the added plot line of Spock hijacking the Enterprise to get the crippled Pike to Talos IV gives the plot an added level of intrigue it had otherwise been missing.

Don't get me wrong, I like The Cage on its own still too, but I also understand why the network thought it not engaging enough and commissioned a second pilot to use instead.

I like the Menagerie better

“The Cage” is terrific as a stand alone (‘too cerebral’, really?), but “The Menagerie”, as a way to utilize the earlier footage, is brilliant.