Now Open: Hey Brew

There's a new kid in town and it serves some of the most beautiful food and drinks I've seen to date. And unlike its hashtag "hey stranger" the people behind this bar and eatery sure are no strangers to the foodie community. 

Hello, Hey Brew Eatery + Bar!

Hey Brew is the newest restaurant and bar headed by the talented Chef Niño Laus and Kalel Demetrio. If you've been out and about, you must have heard of these two shaking up the food and beverage industry with their innovative and refreshing concepts.

Located at the ever busy Theater Mall of Greenhills, Hey Brew is hard to miss as it's by the corner across Promenade Mall. 

It has an extensive menu despite being on soft opening. Expect a wide range of appetizers, scrumptious entrees and drinks to delight you. 

We started our night with Foie Gras Chawanmushi (PHP350), Baked Smoked Mussel (PHP180, 3 pieces), Granita Oysters (PHP120, 2 pieces), 3 Cheese Oyster Rockefeller (PHP150, 2 pieces) and Ox Tongue Skewers (PHP190).

As a fan of foie gras and uni, I was overjoyed when I got a taste of this wonderful chawanmushi. It was like a dining fairy tale come true. The amazing blend of land and sea flavors was so smooth that I felt tipsy with happiness. It had that divine sweet flavor balanced by the light custard-like steamed egg. And topping it with ebiko was just marvelous!

I found Baked Smoked Mussel's presentation quite interesting. The baked shellfish was placed on a potato starch cooked with squid ink and formed to mimic the shape of a mussel shell. This dish could potentially ruin a person-in-white's night but will definitely not disappoint anyone's taste buds with its nice cheesy taste. (It's a bit messy to eat if you bite it in half so make sure to have tissue ready.)

If you want something cheesier, grab Hey Brew's 3 Cheese Oyster Rockefeller. The cheese-covered oyster on a bed of sauteed spinach, wakame seaweed and bacon will surely whet your appetite. 

The Granita Oysters may not exactly be the prettiest dish served that night as the granita's bright red hue gave the shellfish a bloody first impression. But the sorbet-like dessert gave the fresh oyster a nice sweet flavor. 

Lengua lovers would enjoy Hey Brew's Ox Tongue Skewers which takes a week to prepare! Tender and flavorful, I could picture myself having three orders of this in one sitting!

For mains, we had Duck Leg Confit (PHP450) and Braised Lamb Shank (PHP830). 

The slow-cooked duck leg called us to dig in as soon as it got to our table. Its dark red meat had that nice light taste beautifully complemented by cranberry giving a bit of Thanksgiving vibes. Do eat this with the roasted greens for crunch. 

I usually veer away from lamb dishes as I have this fear of it being gamey. But the lamb shank from Hey Brew was spectacular! The meat was unbelievably tender that you don't even need a knife to get a slice. Its sweet Hoisin flavor paired with all sorts of pumpkin--from seed to blossom, was a great combination. Though pricey, its outstanding execution makes it worth every penny. 

If you plan to drop by Hey Brew in the afternoon for snacks, do try its Beef Tongue Sandwich (PHP380). This hefty brioche sandwich made with 72 hour braised ox tongue, pickled red cabbage and topped with salted egg sauce is a must try item on the menu! The complex flavors worked well together and I loved the sharp taste of the pickled red cabbage which made this dish not cloying at all. I would have liked this even more if the brioche was a bit more toasted for extra texture. Or I could just have a sandwich or two to go and toast it at home!

Make sure to save room for cocktails and desserts as this place serves really good ones.

We got to try Strawberry Shortcake, Pistachio Sansrival and Carrot Cheesecake to cap our meal.

Among the three, I loved Pistachio Sansrival the most as it had that nice addictive chewy texture. 

I am not fond of carrot cake but Hey Brew's Carrot Cheesecake was also great. It didn't taste healthy (or carrots) at all!

If you are down for some cocktails, do try Hari ng Kanto which uses Kalel's Kanto Vodka. This local vodka has that delightful sweet taste of salted caramel giving the drink that dark caramel notes.

Or go for the classic Gin and Tonic made purple by Sirena Gin.

A glass of Beautiful Mistake is also a nice option with its refreshing watermelon flavor.

Not into alcohol? Hey Brew also has milkshakes and this glass of Brown Sodium Milkshake (PHP230) can double as dessert! 

Best to stick with a glass of brewed Iced Tea (PHP180) if you're not into sweet drinks.

I can't wait to go back for more of Foie Gras Chawanmushi, Lamb Shank and Beef Tongue Sandwich and pair it with Hari ng Kanto! Or maybe a pint of Engkanto Lager.

Hey Brew Eatery + Bar is located at Ground Floor, Theater Mall, Greenhills, San Juan.

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