Nothing To Hoot About

My wife and I tried out Hooters at the back of SM Mall of Asia last Saturday during an informal reunion with some old friends.  Although it’s been open since late April of this year, it was going to be our first taste of the well known franchise from the U.S.  Being as such, my expectations for it were admittedly higher than the average restaurant, Hooters Girls notwithstanding.

First time visitors, especially those not very familiar with Mall of Asia’s layout, might find the place a bit hard to locate.  It practically sits at the edge of MOA’s complex, right at the northern tip of the resto strip, much closer to the popular venue One Esplanade than the mall’s main building.  Consequently, parking wasn’t too much of an issue although they do charge a small fee.

The interiors were cozy, with high ceilings, albeit unpaneled and painted black.  The tables and seats we got seemed a little too elevated, comparable to those surrounding the bar area, although there were ‘regular’ height seating available along the walls.  Big, shiny, flat-panel screens tuned onto sports channels dotted the place.  And of course, Hooters Girls in distinctive white tank tops and orange short shorts were around to serve tables.  Despite this, the venue gives off a family-place kind of vibe.  And you’d probably find more than a few minors dining in with their families.

As we sat and looked through the menu, we were presented with a shockingly limited amount of choices.  It’s either you get their specialty, the famous hot chicken wings, or you’d have to settle among the few varieties of appetizers, salads, or sandwiches.  TGI Fridays typically has more crammed into a single spread of their menu than this.  Prices are in the same range as TGIF or Burgoo.

The food wasn’t so much bad as mediocre, with nothing to set it apart in terms or flavor, presentation, or even serving size.  They could probably serve it up at any other themed restaurant and it’d fit right in.  At this point, I find it hard to believe that this would be the primary reason for any repeat customers.  Their novelty and ambiance might only take them so far, unless they manage to come up with a wider and better-tasting selection of dishes.

As for the Hooters Girls, they’re courteous, friendly, and give a mean YMCA dance performance every hour or so, adjectives that could just as well be used to describe the staff of virtually every other reputable restaurant or bar (well, probably not the dancing part).  I’ve read of complaints circulating around the blogosphere with regards to the looks of these girls, and I must say, they’re nothing if not ordinary.  I wouldn’t go as far as what some guys have said about them, but, like their cuisine, I can’t really say anything positive of note, apart from their intriguing dress code.

If you’re looking for a somewhat unique dining experience, like ogling at waitresses, or just simply want to be able to say that you’ve been to Hooters, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.  On the other hand, if you’re particular about the taste and choice of the food being served, and would prefer to have your servers dressed in something more conservative to avoid competition for your male companions’ attention (wives and girlfriends should fall into this category), then it’s best to take a pass on this.