Even a few years back, we didn’t think that a restaurant will open in Kolkata, specializing on pork dishes. And subsequently, will emerge as a winner. Welcome to Cafe Porkotini- a (supposedly) Cafe serving specialty pork dishes varying from North Eastern delicacies, to pizza to hold your breath… pork biryani. This story is on that.
Location and ambiance
If you go towards the Jadavpur PS from Abhishikta E M Bypass, via Jadavpur connector, Cafe Porkotini will come on your right- bang opposite to Khosla Electronics. Cafe Porkotini is your friendly neighbourhood cafe with a nice and cozy open air area and a stuffy AC interior. I always prefer sitting outside, personally. The signage proudly holds a cute picture of a pig and that probably shouts about the meat preference in this place. Sitting is average and though a bit crowded, but considering the casual ambiance, you probably won’t mind that. there is some space available in front for bikes and 1-2 cars.
Please check the location on Google map here
About beverage at Cafe Porkotini
It’s supposedly a cafe, but focusses mainly for it’s food items, than its beverage section. The coffee is pretty decent and pocket friendly. The americano is good and is priced at sub-100 rs segment. Rather, the Vietnamese Coffee is pretty good here. And the servers at the Cafe prepares it with lots of passion and show-off. Some cream is poured on ice and kept below, wherein the coffee is set on top to drizzle down. And considering the hot and sultry summer, it makes an excellent cold brew. I don’t know about technicality and origin of the coffee, but it tastes pretty good.
The second beverage that Cafe Porkotini always suggests is this mocktail below. It’s named as Silvertini. Maybe due to the fact, that it uses some edible silver dust for garnishing. It’s a layered, fruity (orange+ litchi+ grape juice) flavoured and tastes decent. The good part is, it’s extremely instagrammable and thus appealing to the youth. In fact, one of my friend’s 18 year old son goes to Cafe Porkotini for this. I sometime think, why not Beer instead- but whatever…..
About food at Cafe Porkotini
But the great food compensates the average beverage experience at Cafe Porkotini. Now here, let me confess something. I have never tasted any other meat, than pork here and thus don’t have any idea on them. In fact, let me start with the North Eastern delicacies.
North Eastern delicacies
There are few items which I personally never ever miss here. The first one being the Pork Bhorta Salad. And it’s just mind blowing. Bhorta, for common men, is a rustic and fiery dish. the idea is to have a lot of rice, with less of meat. And it’s just that. The dish is a classic in Tripura, where boiled pork is mixed with raw sliced onion, mustard oil and roasted red chilly. The spice quotient here is toned down, but I always ask them to make it hot and fiery. And it’s simply brilliant. One portion of Pork Bhorta Salad is good for one hungry soul and is definitely recommended.
Wherein, Pork Khorika is a type of Pork Kebab. Pork cubes (mostly lean meat) is skewered and is bar-be-qued. Very less spice is used- mostly ginger garlic onion paste and some lime juice. And for that simple reason, the taste of meat is predominant. The dish is presented as a sizzler- mostly for the sensory pleasure… but this dish is definitely recommended here. And let me be honest, every single time I taste this, I ,miss my peg of dark rum. P.S, don’t miss the fiery red chutney served with this.
Momo, Kothay and Fried Pork
The momo and Kothay at Cafe Porkotini is quite underrated, but is pretty good. In fact, the wanton (though a bit pricey, considering Tung Naam) is pretty good. the surprise dish here is the Deep Fried Pork with sweet chilly sauce. It’s exactly what the name suggests. Pork cubes (with some amount of fatty layer) is deep fried and served with a homemade sweet chilly sauce. And it’s damn good- simply irresistible. The good part is, the pork fat is handled quite well. Cheers!!!
If you are looking to relive your Thailand experiences on meat, I am not really very sure. But the crispy fried Pork here is recommended.
Main course and Pork Biryani
I’ve had only two main courses at Cafe Porkotini, because most of the time, I get full by their starters. Well, if you can, try the Boiled pork here. It was suggested by my friend Sunando Banerjee and it subtle food is your choice, you’ll get floored. Boiled pork is served with some onion slices, cabbage and coriander leaves… There is a light gravy and fine aftertaste.
But the surprise element at Cafe Porkotini is the Pork Biryani. If you’re looking for the Kolkata styled biryani, this is not very likely to suit your palate. This is more of a tawa pulao with nice juicy small pork chunks. The good part, mostly lean meat, yet it’s quite juicy and the spicy taste of rice. It’s flavoured with coriander… but if you like a nice tawa meat pulao, this is damn good.
And the desserts…
Well, on one occasion, I have tasted even the Brownie with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce here. It’s good, not bad but maybe I was too influenced by the pork dishes at Cafe Porkotini, that it didn’t really appeal to me.
My experience
If
- ONLY good food is your choice, and not the ambiance and
- You louve pork
Cafe Porkotini in Kalikapur is your go-to place. Do visit and let me know your experience.
I can be reached at indrajit.lahiri@ymail.com
