The most prominent feature in the reception area is a large chalkboard sign noting the specials of the day. The red brick interior walls of this refurbished building gives the place a historic feel. The casual atmosphere with the long rows of tables, empty coffee cans filled with napkins and utensils on each table, beverages served in jelly jars, and bird cages encasing the overhead light fixtures reminds me of those places where they spread out the butcher block paper and give you a mallet to crack your own crab. The bar is large and takes up most of one side of the restaurant. Still, there is a lot of seating and the dining room is comfortable. I felt like I was sitting in someone's back patio, but with air conditioning.
We decided to order several dishes and share them. MC sipped her Pandon Iced Tea ($3) while I sipped my Iced Coffee (Vietnamese-style with sweetened condensed milk - $4) out of jelly jars as we waited for our food. Our first course was the Smoked Ham Hock Croquettes ($7.50) which was comprised of three golf ball-size croquettes that were panko-coated, fried, and topped with grated cotija cheese. The shredded pork filling was tasty and I recommend eating the croquettes with the shishito pepper romesco sauce and purslane greens that garnish this dish because they really enhanced the flavor. The serving looked small at first but it was actually very hearty.
MC wanted to try the Rigatoni, which is a pork bolognese with seaweed, jicama and shiso leaves ($16.50). The price of this dish alone was about double what I normally spend on lunch, but it was worth every penny! MC and I loved the sauce and we had no trouble finishing this dish. The lunch menu says they only make 15 orders so we were happy to be among the lucky few.
We also shared the special Bahn Mi of the Week, which was Shaken Beef ($14). I loved the shredded cabbage salad, tasty Fritos-shaped shrimp chips, and pickled onions that came with our sandwich. Sadly, some of the meat pieces of the well-seasoned beef were a little tough, but that happens sometimes when meat is cooked little rare. The couple sitting next to us were visiting from California and they recommended that we try the Pho French Dip Bahn Mi next time. They came to this restaurant to try that sandwich specifically!
For dessert, we shared the Avocado Cake, which came with a dab of corn gelato topped with bee pollen, strawberries, dabs of avocado, and pea shoots ($9). The cake was very good and reminded me of cornbread with a light crunch. Fair warning, some of the desserts can take a few extra minutes to make. Our waitress was nice enough to let us know about the potential wait time for certain dishes. She realized that we were on our lunch break and had to get back to work.
I recommend eating the garnishes and sauces that come with whatever you order. The balance of flavors is incredible and I applaud the chef for being so creative and talented! In addition to the excellent food, the place is clean and the service is very good. I had a question about my bill after leaving the restaurant so I sent an email via their website. They responded to me the very same day and politely answered my question. I can't wait to return to The Pig & The Lady with my husband. He will love it!
The Pig & The Lady
83 North King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 585-8255
http://thepigandthelady.com - the website has a listing of nearby parking
Hours:
Tuesday to Thursday: 10:30A - 2:00P and 5:30P - 9:30P
Friday: 10:30A - 2:00P and 5:30P - 11:00P
Saturday: 10:00A - 2:00P and 5:30P - 11:00P
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| Vietnamese Iced Coffee & Pandon Iced Tea (Photo by MC) |
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| Smoked Ham Hock Croquettes (Photo by MC) |
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| Rigatoni Pork Bolognese (we already ate half before snapping this photo) |
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| Special Bahn Mi of the Week - Shaken Beef |
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| Avocado Cake (those specks on the gelato are bee pollen) |
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| View of the dining room. |
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| View of the dining room and bar |
