Pico Pizzeria & Coffee Bar near Vivekananda Park is the latest addition to south Kolkata’s cafe scene. A slice of Italian heaven awaits those who walk into this little cafe in the lane beside Oudh 1590. The menu has woodfire pizzas and innovative coffee creations, like this Rose and Popcorn Latte that is delicious and perfect for your Instagram The cafe is open 11am-11pm, but will open sooner once they launch their breakfast menu
All photos by Soumyajit Dey
Every cuppa comes with a card detailing the type of beans used and how the coffee was made. The (top) orange coffee concoction, made with fresh orange juice, a shot of espresso and tonic water — a recipe developed by the owner — is the best way to start your experience at Pico. The basil coffee concoction offers a whole new coffee drinking experience with freshly muddled basil leaves topped with a shot of espresso
From the dough to the pizza sauce, Pico makes it all in-house while the woodfire oven adds a smoky flavour to the pizzas and baked items. ‘Our oven bakes at a temperature of 550°C so we have to make our bread fresh since it doesn’t take us long to bake it,’ explained Prateeek Didwania, the owner of Pico, his second F&B venture after Snacking opposite South City Mall
Fresh out of the oven, the cheese on the Pulled Cheese Garlic Bread made for the perfect sight before the perfect bite of delightful freshness of bell peppers and juicy chicken with melty cheese. The buttery exteriors of the bread added the last touches of perfection you would expect from well-made garlic bread. ‘Our menu isn’t extensive. The focus is on coffee, pizza and pizza-related items so we strive for perfection with every dish that comes out of our kitchen’ quipped Didwania
Chicken wrapped in pasta topped with cheese — the (top) Chicken Cannelloni made for an experience even the Italians would be proud of. The Georgian way of making a cheese garlic bread came in the form of the (bottom) Khachapuri offering a burst of flavours loaded with bacon and cheese, topped with a poached egg — the perfect dip! Tasting like breakfast in a bite, the Khachapuri can be customised to your taste with your choice of toppings, a must-try along with your coffee
With multiple sitting areas, Pico has a seating capacity of 55. A minimalist wood-and-bamboo theme with rattan chairs, bamboo lamp shades and soft yellow lights make up the interiors, while the outdoor dining area (where smoking is allowed) is behind the kitchen. You can perch on the bar stools at the coffee bar and watch the barista brew up a storm
If you’re a coffee lover, then Pico also has all the merch for you to brew your own cuppa at home. There are four varieties of Arabica coffee sourced from estates in Chikmagalur (Karnataka) and Yercaud (Tamil Nadu) along with different coffee press equipment, bamboo tumbles and more. ‘We have 100 gm pouches and jars of coffee and only sell what we use because we believe in quality over quantity,’ said Prateek. You can also buy different kinds of house-made bread
