I couldn’t believe it when Openrice invited me for a food tasting session at Harry’s! After all, it was only my first week of induction into the community. Kudos to Reka for being such an amazing and chatty host, as well as other members of the Openrice team whose names I have forgotten.

Harry’s always had a rustic charm to its décor, so I was rather surprised to see postcards and other travel-inspired furnishing decking their walls. It was a rather refreshing change from the classic look!

First up, was the Fish Cracklings, which reminded me of a rather tasty fish cracker snack from the past (if anyone can give me the name, I will personally send you an email to thank you). The fish cracklings were delightfully crunchy and had the right amount of saltiness to go with it. The best way to enjoy the cracklings however, was to dip it with the accompany Garlic Mayo sauce, which was mild and garlic(ky). Upon further enquiry, I found out that the ‘fish’ in question was eel. Eels are fishes too right?Next were the Crab and Potato Cakes; cute little golden-brown pillows crowded around a pool of chilli sauce which they would soon be bathed in for devouring. The cakes were surprisingly fluffy, with a very strong flavorful of crab and a subtle hint of potato. The chilli sauce, though not very spicy, did not disappoint with its tinge of sweetness from the inclusion of tomato. Had it not been for the price ($19 for 6 pieces!), I would have considered ordering another plate for myself!No bar experience would ever be complete without chicken wings, and Harry’s is brilliant enough to deliver wings that are quite simply put – delicious. For some strange reason, I compared the wings to the McWings served at well…. McDonald’s. Let’s face it; everyone loves anything from McDonalds, and McWings are heavenly. No, I’m not asking you to bring your own McWings and skip Harry’s Wings, for the portions here are definitely bigger! The homemade chili jam (a rather funky name for sambal sauce) adds a local spicy kick to it – and for that, I’m going to give this dish a thumbs up.Harry’s then treated us to a pint of their Harry’s Premium Lager, which I joyfully gulped down my throat. The beer was nothing out of the world, but its slight notes of malt and mild bitterness makes for an enjoyable drink for patrons.

Jalapeno Steak Sliders came after the beer; three mini burgers that I knew I could take on in under a minute. Strips of steak served with cheese, jalapeno and chili were housed between the soft and glazed buns. I could have devoured the entire thing in one mouthful, but decided to take a small chomp instead to maintain my dignity in the presence of other esteemed guests. “Oishi” I muttered to myself, and it was gone in the next 5 seconds. The burgers weren’t especially spicy, but carried a tinge of heat that is always welcome for people who can’t take spicy food.Chicken Masala came next, with a heap of charcoal bread accompanying it. Initially, I thought that the contents in the bowl was curry, but soon found out that it was thick gravy infused with aromatic spices and chicken chunks. The chicken was surprisingly tender and had a chock-full of flavor thanks to the gravy. The bread however, tasted rather bland by itself, and had to be dipped into the gravy before actually tasting good. An excellent dish foiled only by the mediocre bread.Perhaps the only disappointing dish on the menu – Crabmeat Spaghettini. The portions were generous but that didn’t justify the lacking flavor of the tomato base. I had expected a tangy taste when I had my first serving, but a rather weak and diluted tomato flavor followed instead. The crabmeat was also less than stellar, but managed to be the saving grace for the dish. Harry’s need really work on this dish if they want to keep it on the menu.I enjoy all kinds of alcohol, and the Dirty Harry certainly appealed to my sugar tooth! Served as a complement to the big plates (chicken masala and crabmeat spaghettini), this mixture of vodka, brown sugar, lychee liqueur, zesty lime wedges and cherry lychee at the top, added some well-deserved sweetness to the savory feast.

What dining experience would be complete without dessert? For our last dish, we had the Toffee Apple Crisp Tart, which was the perfect ending to the food tasting session. Apple slices lying atop crust pastry, coated with salted caramel sauce and a topping of vanilla ice cream. Each bite was chewy and had a soft velvety mouth-feel unlike a usual crust pastry dish. The caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream only makes it so much more sinful.This concludes my review for Harry’s Bar, and I would once again, like to thank Openrice and Reka for giving me this wonderful opportunity to experience being a food taster. Be sure to check out Harry’s Bar!

Note: This review was written back in September 2014, when I attended Hang Out's grand opening. It was originally on Facebook, prior to me finding out about OpenRice. Photos used were obtained with express permission from Hang Out Cafe.

AMBIENCE: 7/10
Hang Out Café is nestled in a quaint neighborhood area at Ang Mo Kio, so keep an eye out! It can be quite easy to miss!

A huge juxtaposition strikes you when you first step into the Café; its clean and minimalistic interior puts you right at home amidst the rather unimpressive neighborhood. The décor is artistic and modest, a break from the usual vibrancy of other café’s. The place does have rather limited seats though, so you might have to place reservations if intending to dine in a big group. Diners craving for some fresh air will be pleased to know that there are seats available outside the café!

Do note though: the walls of the café are rather thin, so it can be hard to hear from across the table when the chatter levels start rising!
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FOOD: 7/10
Of course, food. Glorious food.

I started off with the Hang Out Big Breakfast, a hearty plate of fresh forest salad, scrambled eggs, honey glazed ham & bacon, chicken sausages and mashed potato balls for those who insist on their hash browns.The ham and bacon were delicious, a skillful mix of sweet and savory. I would have enjoyed it better had the ham been thicker/juicier; though it’s just a matter of personal preference. The scrambled eggs are different from the ones I’ve tried before – more silky than runny/fluffy. Despite the new mouthfeel and texture experience, I had no difficulty gobbling them up in seconds. Oishi.

Those who don’t enjoy their greens very much (hi-five!) would have no problem with the forest salad. The dressing (balsamic vinaigrette?) and cherry tomato slices added a touch of sweetness that had me patiently munching away on it. The chicken sausages (a slight grey color) were succulent and juicy, though nothing to write home about. My favorite part of the breakfast though, was the mashed potato balls. These little things packed a big potato punch that reminded me of hash browns, and lots of delicious things. YUM!

I then had their chef recommended’s Bombastic Eggs! These babies consist of bacon, cheese and egg housed in thick bread slices shaped like muffins (Not an egg mcmuffin). My very first bite left me with mixed reactions; the bread was crusty and its taste seemed to overpower the other ingredients, until I took another bite with the egg yolk. I think smorgasbord would be an appropriate word here; the taste culminating in your mouth was sweet, eggy and savory all at the same time! This is definitely one for the adventurous, or those craving to introduce new and unique tastes to their palate.

The Super Mario Pizza came next, a quirky name that I deduced to be related to mushrooms. Lo and behold, the thing was really MADE for mushroom lovers! It consists of mushroom slices, lots of cheese and their special house tuned paste. This was my favorite item of the menu; had I not been calorie conscious, the entire pizza would have been finished by me! I managed to grab two slices before some ninjas sneaked in and made off with the other four.

I managed to grab a bite of their house wings as well, which comes in either honey or buffalo sauce. The honey variant was so-so; its taste was slightly overpowered by the sauce’s sweetness, and I quickly moved on to the Buffalo wings. The buffalo variant was coated in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce which I found out upon enquiry, to be another one of their unique house tuned sauces (secret recipe, just say lah…). For someone who isn’t a huge fan of spicy food, it was tasty enough for me to polish everything off to the bone.

Last but not least, I had the Brownie with Vanilla Ice-Cream.I normally skip desserts because they’re sinful, but sometimes I let YOLO get the better of me. The brownie is made by their pastry chef Juliet, and it certainly is delicious! The texture is fluffy and melt-in-the-mouth, while the union of vanilla ice cream and chocolate is simply heavenly. Shiok! There are also berries accompanying it for that extra dose of fruity sweetness! Did I also mention that their hot teas (chamomile, lavender, earl grey, etc….) can be topped up with hot water free-of-charge?
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CONCLUSION:
With their unique menu and extensive choices, Hang Out Café is definitely a place you would want to watch out for! Whether you are a veteran café hopper or simple foodie, Hang Out will offer a range of novel dishes that will delight your palates!
For more information, check out their very own Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hang-Out-Caf%C3%A9/729644860405486?fref=ts