Hearty burgers and tasty bites at low-key Arab St cafe
Over on Arab Street, the owners of The Social Hotel and nearby Afterwit Mexican Cafe, tend to their original cafe endeavor – Working Title. Most well-known for their coffee creations and chilled out space for hostel guests, I came over to try out their revamped food menu – and I was not disappointed.
Once again, I was extremely impressed with the food for a cafe that has no central kitchen and trains their staff to be utility employees – cooking food dishes, creating coffee drinks and doing everything else needed to run the joint. Oh yeah, and did I mention they also use all Halal ingredients to boot.
As previously mentioned, the cafe is connected to the upstairs hostel, but you might not notice if you didn’t know that coming in. The interior space has a very relaxed, slightly hipster vibe, but in an organic, not trying to be hip kind of way.
The space is perfect for popping in for a quick coffee or bite to eat in between haggling for goods on Arab Street, or relaxing with a friend or your laptop during a long, drawn out afternoon.
Walking through the main cafe space, you will find an unexpected light and breezy outdoor area. This spot is popular for those looking to settle in and work on their computer, or are simply looking for some extra peace and quiet. I’m also told the backyard space plays host to musical performances from time to time.
Now, time to chow.
You can’t come into Working Title without trying one of their coffee drinks. Having already maxed out on my caffeine intake for the day, I opted for the Bandung Latte ($5.00). The drink was very enjoyable. It was perfectly smooth with the just right amount of sweet.
The drink also comes in a ‘dirty’ variation which includes a shot of espresso mixed into their original bandung creation.
From the snacks and sharing menu I sampled the Truffle Tater Tots ($10.00). I was very excited to detect the scent of truffle oil before the dish even arrived at my table. The tots were plentiful. They were cooked golden and crispy and topped with a generous dusting of parmesan cheese.
If you like your food fried and are in the mood to indulge a little while hanging out, the snacks menu is filled with fan favorites.
Also from the snacks menu are the Ribena Chicken Wings ($8.00). The wings are covered in a ribena reduction – a black currant glucose syrup of sorts. This gave the wings a very sweet and unique taste that was enjoyable and not too overpowering.
I really enjoyed how the snacks were served in cute little dim sum pots for an added Asian flare to an otherwise Western-ish menu.
Working Title has recently shifted its focus to burgers with 13 different varieties on the menu. There is something for everyone with beef, chicken, salmon and vegetarian options to choose from. Beef lovers gravitate to the beefy Tower of Power, while the Rosti Burger is popular for those who do not take meat.
Onto the main event – the Tower of Power ($19.00). This colossal creation comes with double grilled beef patties, gooey cheddar cheese, sweet and soft caramelized onions, tater totes(!) and one of their gourmet homemade sauces. The bun, which comes from the popular The Bread Project, was the icing on the cake (I mean beef?) to a stellar burger.
If you are looking for something sweet to pair with your coffee or meal, Working Title has a display case full of cakes and pies for you to choose from. They also have a lengthy list of ice cream sandwiches, churros and sweet smoothies and shakes to satisfy your sweet tooth.
I tried the Key Lime Pie ($8.00). The taste was on the sweeter side and less sour than you would expect, but it had a nice creamy texture and generous amount of marshmallow cream on top. I also got a an ice cream sandwich from The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. to take home because why not.
Overall, Working Title has an impressive menu selection – of both savory and sweet items – and turns out tasty and quality food and coffee creations. I really enjoyed the unpretentious vibe, friendly staff and cool location at the heart of the Arab street quarter. I will return next time I’m in the neighborhood.
Working Title also offers set lunch options of burgers and fries or salads with a drink M-F, 11am – 3pm.
Expected Damage: $12.00 – $22.00 / pax
