November 2013
There are mixed reviews when it comes to this fairly new restaurant offering value for money western fare. Within its vicinity in the Fettes Park area, there are already two other known such eateries including a rather established one. The question here is, will Mr. Pork stand up to competition and the discerning palate of Penangites? We feel it’s a resounding yes.
First of all, you must remember, what you pay for is what you will get. So, if the rib eye steak is a mere RM22.90, it’s a slightly chewy version but pleasant, nevertheless. Furthermore, it comes with generous portions of potato wedges, coleslaw and steamed corn, along with a side bowl of pepper gravy.
Mr. Pork's casual, colourful interior
From their extensive menu you’ll find meaty dishes including eight types of pork dishes such as grilled ribs and chops, lamb chops and cutlets, fish and chips, fish and chicken cordon bleu, linguini, grilled prawns, mixed grill of seafood and meats and Hainanese chicken chop from between RM10.90 and RM31.90. These dishes come with fries or potato wedges, coleslaw and sometimes, corn on the cob.
Besides the rib eye, we’d recommend the fish cordon bleu RM12.90. Although thin on the fish, the bread crumbed layer is crispy, not thick and the melty-cheesy filling is generous. The fries and coleslaw are good and the slightly sweet tartar sauce will grow on you. A little tip on the sauces offered here on the side, go easy on it before pouring on your meats. You might want to dip each bite rather than slather it on top to enjoy the fairly fresh meats.
The cheesy mussels
While there are quite a number of main dishes to choose from, it’s slim-pickings from their appetiser menu of several all-time favourite soups and side dishes. However, we find their cheesy mussels at RM15.90 for a serve of eight, rather satisfying. Firm, quite fresh and coated thickly in cheese and cream sauce, the mussels are good as a light meal on its own too.
Now the real surprise here is, other than their friendly service, there’s a 20 per cent discount on every lunch order daily between 12pm and 3pm. The colourful, casual interior of Mr. Pork’s restaurant does get crowded during meal times and if you’re in a hurry during lunch, opt to take-away because their packaging is efficient and will allow for a tidy desk eating. Kitty Kaye