Situated in Cafe from Crisis, just a stone's throw from Spitalfields market on Commercial Street, The newest Shoreditch pop up, Oink - Swine Dining is an absolute must for anyone that loves all things pig.
The Venue
They have turned the cafe into a very relaxed and comfortable dining area, which is lit by fairy lights, due to the windows being covered by hilarious quotes about, you guessed it, pigs.
The staff on the evening were very friendly, helpful and you could tell they took great pride in what they had helped build. With almost every table full with a real mix of people, they had their hands full but managed the crowd exceptionally well.
Offering easy-going and comfortable vibes, the staff team at this vibrant pop-up ran a tight ship throughout our stay.
Food & Drinks:
The way the menu is set out is a mixture of sharing platters and traditional dining. You'll receive a bacon infused Bloody Mary as a starter, which scared me a little at first, but grew on me with every mouthful. The sharing platter starters - which were my date's favourite part of the menu - were a selection of Cracking Crackling and Apple sauce, Pig Got Seoul, which is a Korean Spiced Taco with Mango Chutney, and the show stopper dish, Cheeky Nuts; nuggets of pig cheeks and black pudding with 80's dip. The portions were large - which was a recurring theme throughout the menu to my delight - and was a perfect way to kick off the meal.
For the main you're presented with three dishes to choose from; a rack of pork ribs, a pulled pork burger or the Hogfather, which is porchetta stuffed with roasted sage and prunes with Chrispy skin and veal gravy. All the mains come accompanied with three sides of beans, potatoes and beetroot. We went for the Ribs and Hogfather and again were amazed by the flavour and left completely satisfied. By the time the rhubarb and pear crumble with custard turned up, I was struggling to find room to fit it in. I'm a sucker for crumble though and before I knew it, it had joined the ribs and crackling in my stomach.
A mix of sharing and more traditional plates help create a social dining experience.
Summary
It was a very pleasurable dining experience at Oink Swine Dining. They've managed to create a perfect balance of a relaxed atmosphere with top quality food, even during peak times. It's affordable at £25 a head, and has a fine selection of real ciders, local craft beers and wine to accompany the meal. The Pop up is open every Friday and Saturday for the foreseeable future and is definitely worth a look.
