The Porch Restaurant: Southern Comfort in Northern California

By Austin Mikula

Amidst the clever guise of gastronomy has come an epidemic which has already claimed countless restaurants in its wake. Restaurants are now adopting the unsettling habit of shrinking portion sizes and raising prices. When did it become a rule that in order for the intricate flavor and artistry of a dish to be enjoyed, one must eat it under the view of a microscope?

Fortunately for food lovers, there is one eatery that stands against this torrential wave of petite plates. Located in the Midtown area of Sacramento, The Porch Restaurant and Bar is a pleasant retreat for diners looking for hearty Southern classics guaranteed to leave them satisfied.

Upon entering The Porch, a guest is instantly removed from the oddity and eccentricity of the Midtown area and immersed into an atmosphere reminiscent of the Colonial South. The white washed fence around the front porch, the cozy interior, accented with dark mahogany and summer flowers accompanying each table, gives the restaurant a familiar, homey feel.

Of course, no home is complete without a home cooked meal. Here, everything is locally sourced and made from scratch; and I do mean everything – all the way down to the ketchup. With a menu that changes every day, one wonders how these mystical chefs consistently produce such succulent dishes. But somehow they do it and they do a mighty fine job of it.

For my companion and me, it starts as it often does with drinks. My Classic Manhattan is a perfectly crafted combination of whiskey (for me it’s a rye), bitters and sweet vermouth. The real standout, however, is the Seasonal Bramble. 1776 bourbon and elderflower liquor delicately mingle with fresh muddled juices of strawberries, blackberries and lemon to create an eloquently sweet yet refreshing solution.

As the meal begins, a smiling server delivers an intriguing alternative to the usual bread and butter: a small taste of popcorn with an unexpected combination of flavors. This soft warm vessel with the occasional crisp, presents a swirl of sweet, spicy and salty all in one bite, serving as the perfect prelude to the meal.

Shortly after ordering, the first appetizer is introduced: Grilled Brie, served with homemade jam, organic spinach, a fig balsamic reduction and grilled garlic toast. The jam is a fig, strawberry and orange blend that faultlessly compliments the buttery garlic toast and smoky brie. Altogether, the buttery, sweet and savory dish is nothing short of divine.

The second appetizer was a bit heartier. Apple wood smoked bacon, sweet potatoes, and smoky Gouda are all enclosed within the sweet, moist blanket of the Skillet Cornbread. It’s served with honey butter and the same fig, strawberry and orange jam as the brie; giving the dish a sweet and smoky allure and making it difficult to save room for the main course.

Putting the cornbread to the side to save for later, the final course arrives promptly. For me, it’s the Shrimp and Grits; a southern staple. The gulf shrimp are plentiful (about six large shrimp). They gently lay on a warm bed of creamy Gouda grits and whole bacon strips as they bask in a drizzle of sweet house-made barbecue sauce, topped with dice tomatoes and green onions.

The true spectacle of the evening; the dish that truly titillates one’s taste buds and gently seduces them late into the evening: The Beeler’s Pork Belly. For those who may not be familiar with pork belly, it’s the same cut of the pig that gives breakfast goers all over the world a little thing called bacon; except instead of a measly strips, it’s an entire filet.

The pork belly at The Porch is apple wood smoked and then char grilled, imbuing it with a smoky underpinning that echoes throughout every bite. Served over sautéed Swiss chard, a drizzle of sweet and savory brown root beer sauce slyly covers the pork and protects its luscious salty center. At first taste, the rich tenderness of the meat melts in one’s mouth leaving it ever longing for its next bite.

At The Porch, there is rarely enough room for dessert. With generous portion sizes befitting of the classic Southern cuisine, The Porch is a delightful escape from the culinary curtailing that is demonstrated far too often in today’s eatery culture. As the menu constantly changes, there are three truths which remain constant at The Porch: the food is always made from scratch, the food is always locally sourced, and the food is always delicious.