Chill, relax, unwind, however you may call it, everyone needs some “me” time once in a while and a new restaurant wants you to eat, drink and have fun while you are at it. The brainchild of caterer and chef Kristofer Pasamba of Home Grown Taste Catering, The Hideout promises exciting food in a unique and private environment.
When asked why the The Hideout is named so, chef Kristofer says that the restaurant’s location in a side street of Obrero feels hidden and hence the name. He also wants the restaurant to be a hide-out of sorts for yuppies and foodies who want to enjoy good food and drinks away from the busy malls.
“The idea is to have a restaurant for lunch and dinner service for good food and transitioning into a casual bar with beer and cocktails as the evening progresses.” shared Kristofer.
Inside, The Hideout carries a preppy indoor-outdoor look with the bar’s back wall accented with reclaimed wood. A huge tropical botanical mural flanks the bar. Instead of the usual dining room table, The Hideout has wooden picnic tables and benches which add to its casual feel. For those who enjoy the warm tropical air The Hideout provides outdoor lounges.
There is also a function room that can accommodate up to 20 people for those who need a little bit more privacy. “We had requests to book the entire restaurant as a function room for an intimate wedding.” added Kristofer. Finding a place to park your car at The Hideout is no problem as the restaurant has its own adjacent parking lot.
The Hideout’s concise yet well thought-out menu consists of comfort food staples but each given a creative twist. One item that is sure to be a crowd pleaser is his fried chicken wings served with your choice of hickory sauce, lime and pepper, wasabi garlic, honey soy, or parmesan. The chicken can be ordered in batches of four or in bigger batches of 12 for sharing.
An appetiser/bar chow which I can see making its mark is the Fried Dinuguan Spring Roll. The crispy rolls of pork blood are savoury and tasty, add a bit of spiced vinegar and it is sure to whet your appetite for more rice or more beer.
Lighter fare include Fish with lemon butter sauce, butter tomato sauce, or sweet chili. Are are also pasta dishes to choose from. I would suggest ordering the Tuyo Aglio Olio, the smoked fish flakes lend itself well to the garlic and olive oil on the dish. The addition of fresh cherry tomatoes and a squeeze of lemon add a fresh break from the rich flavor of the dish.
Pork lovers will rejoice at The Hideout’s French Porkchop. One of their signature dishes, the French Porkchop is a one-inch thick large slab of tender cooked pork slathered in sauce and served over rice or baby potatoes. For only Php220 I believe it is great value for money. There is also a Salted Egg Pork which consists of deep-fried pork belly slathered in umami-laden slated-egg sauce.
The Hideout is located along Cabaguio Street between Inigo and Veloso Streets and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 in the morning to 10 in the evening on weekdays and to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
