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| - Porco is one of those places that fits a very specific nitch, in this case a real hole in the wall Tiki Bar. Located a bit of a ways South of Ohio City in an old brick building with a side parking lot, Porco is a place that you have to experience. A decent sized room is dim, with plenty of decor pieces from other tiki bars that have drifted away, wooden masks, decorated mugs and even a dugout canoe. You feel like you have wandered into a dive bar somewhere in the Caribbean. The bar is beautifully lit and well stocked.
The drink menu gives you plenty of options and it can take a bit of time to figure out what you want. I ended up trying both the Bali Bali and the Tiki Smash off the Happy Hour menu and they were both excellent. The Bali Bali came out in a ceramic coconut and was smoking nicely, which was cool; the drink itself had some nice fruit flavor and with the liquor at a nice agressive level. Be careful as even one of these can give you a pretty good buzz. The Tiki Smash is a bit more balanced with fruit, mint and just the right amount of sweet.
We also tried the new kitchen menu which is based around Meatballs; you pick the protein, the sauce and any extras. I tried the veggie balls with tomato sauce over the risotto. The veggie balls were superior, wtih a good texture and a wonderful flavor. the tomato sauce was great, bright and just sweet enough. The risotto was ok, with just enough bite, but I would probably pass on it next time, it just didn't really add anything to the plate. The focaccia bread on the side was an great way to sop up the extra sauce. For $9 you get 3 good sized balls with the sauce.
I had a great time at Porco, it is a unique place in Cleveland and well worth a visit. Where you have corporate places that work a theme, Porco feels genuine and truly appreciates those places that have come before it. When you need an escape from the Winter weather head over to W. 25th and get a tropical fix.
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