Ping’s Cafe Orient, Park Street Area, Kolkata

Restaurant Name: Ping’s Cafe Orient, Park Street Area, Kolkata
Phone: +919830462761, +913346020420
Address: 2A, Middleton Row, Near Loreto House College, Park Street Area, Kolkata 700064 West Bengal India
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,500
Cuisines: Chinese, Thai, Healthy Food, Burmese, Vietnamese, Finger Food, Momos
Facilities: Home Delivery, Takeaway Available, Full Bar Available, Romantic Dining, Wifi, Indoor Seating, Restricted Entry, LGBTQIA Friendly

One of the happiest discoveries of staying home dinners is the wide choice of take-home and door delivery opportunities on a simple phone tap during the lockdown months. And as providence would have it, when the uncooperative weather gutted all exuberant meal plans last week, I was convinced that the easy, delicious Asian bowls are my go-to ecstasy!

True honour to the indomitable spirit of the hospitality heroes, who made sure accessibility, was never an issue. We decided to ride the myriad crunchy goodness of street food ingredients from the far eastern regions, thanks to Ping’s Café Orient. While ordering, it revealed that as per the new pandemic rules, the café has currently reopened for lunch between 12pm and 4pm, while dinner orders continue to be on takeaways and delivery.

Ping’s Cafe Orient, Park Street Area, Kolkata: Food

The menu is a delightful mix and match of vibrant slices of the Orient. Add healthbingeing nourishment of seasonal vegetables, proteins and perky condiments. Dolloped with the fun of deconstructing and DIY assembly. We order a line-up of Three mushrooms and asparagus (₹395) and Smokey bacon wrapped prawns (₹495) for starters followed by a Veg laksa noodles bowl (₹465) and a Pork nasi goreng rice bowl (₹595).

Ping’s Cafe Orient, Park Street Area, Kolkata: Plus & Minus

The packaging is simple and sensible, a set of labeled disposable containers and cutlery to go with it. The toss up of oyster, shiitake and button mushrooms in fiery bird’s eye chilli, fresh basil & fragrant kaffir lime leaves with shredded spears of asparagus makes a spicy start to our evening. The charred smokiness of bacon wrapped around jumbo prawns drizzled with a hint of honey and nuttiness of sesame stimulates the palate. The mains begin with the Malaysian curry, laksa, a warm and wholesome soupy noodle bowl with broccoli, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables doused in the thick and sweet coconut milk, flavored with the aromatics of galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. It is perfect for a rainy day, with a sprinkling of fried onions, chopped green chilli, fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime. We balance it with the Indonesian fried rice or nasi goreng, bowl of earthy and smoky wok-fried rice with the kecap manis or spiced sweet soy and nuttiness of sesame, topped with fried egg and a side of barbecued, luscious pork skewers.

Finally, a delicious house signature dessert of Chocolate marquise (₹395), molded, wobbly dark chocolate custard served with salted toffee sauce, wraps up the evening.