Amanda FooThe Hangout is a fun, casual place, perfect to burn off all the stress from work.
While the décor does look as though it is targeted at people under 21, don’t judge a book by its cover. The first look of the place is clean and quiet and this is where most working adults settle down to indulge in a slow card or board game.
That’s not the only room, as The Hangout has made good use of its space to cater to the needs of all its customers.
There is a long well lit room partitioned nicely and each section is equipped with gaming consoles and a comfortable couch. If you seek a little more privacy, there are rooms that you can book.
When UrbanWire visited, the café was packed. The energy of the patrons was almost tangible and while it can be a bit of an audio overload, it makes for an environment that you can easily fall into.
The food also reflects the casual feel; it includes fish and chips, popcorn, cheese fries and ice-blended drinks.
The Hangout Buttery Caramel Popcorn ($1.90) started the sugar rush.
It’s just popcorn, The saving grace is that it is not as cloying, but the caramel topping still makes your teeth hurt, albeit in a good way. It’s like most sweet treats, overly sugared, but still satisfying nonetheless.
Chili Beef Cheese Fries ($5.90) followed, which are a great fun to have because it feels rather indulgent to eat even though you know it’s unhealthy for you.
There is a generous heap of minced beef, which gains points. The fries are fantastic served warm and the whole lot is slathered in mayonnaise and cheese sauce.
The next was a main course: Seafood Pasta in Rose Cream ($7.50).
Seafood seems to consist only squid and prawns. While they are generous with those ingredients as well, the squid is overcooked and rubbery while the prawn is powdery and tastes suspiciously like it originated from the freezer.
The rose cream tasted like cheese sauce with less cheese here and it’s oddly reminiscent of milk powder.
UrbanWire also sampled a drink: Mocha Tiramisu (S$2.90).
It’s pleasantly sweet, without an overwhelming bitterness from the coffee. The name is lost on you though, because nothing in this drink reminds you of tiramisu in any way, which can cause some heartache if you’re a big fan of the dessert.
Nonetheless, The Hangout was so named for a good reason. Despite its culinary shortcomings, it’s a great place to unwind and play the hundreds of games that they have here. There’s a whole list for you to choose from: Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and board games.
The Hangout stocks many popular console games. They have Cooking Mama, Band Hero and Modern Warfare 2, just to name a few. The Hangout also updates its games frequently, often running out to buy a popular game the moment it is released.
The charges are student-friendly too: $4.50 per hour for console games and $3.50 per hour for board games, which makes it slightly cheaper when compared to better known places like Settlers. It may be a challenge for The Hangout to compete with more established places along Prinsep Street, but it has all necessary
While it is not food that is of restaurant standard, it is satisfying and that could be the best part of this place. It manages to blend great atmosphere and satisfying food to produce an excellent place to well, hangout.
Address:
64 Prinsep Street
Telephone No.:
6336 9578
Opening Hours:
Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 2pm – 11pm
Friday and Saturday: 2pm – 3am
Rating:
★★★✩✩