I've come here several times throughout the years and always enjoyed their bing soo. I'm a huge fan of shaved ice topped with fruits, red beans, mochi, ice cream and condensed milk.
That being said, I'm not a fan of the drinks here. By looking at the bubble tea menu I could tell they use powder mixes so I opted for a green tea latte (thinking it was real green tea powder mixed with milk, or at least a semblance of real green tea). When I got the double green tea latte I discovered it was made with the fake green tea bubble tea powder. Ugh. And they said I can only buy a double if I'm taking it to go because they only offer double to go cups. Why can't they put a single in a double cup? I don't know. Well, actually I do, it's called cheap.
On the other hand the server with glasses was very nice and polite and apologized multiple times for forcing us to buy doubles.
One thing I noticed has changed since I came here a while back is the decor. The place is covered in Christian flyers, books, pamphlets, notes, etc. If that's your type of thing then you'll feel comfortable. If it's not really your jam you might feel a tad out of place.
I'd come back for the bing soo.
I came here searching for good boba milk tea. I had it "hot," something I've never had before, and it was delicious. However, the tapioca balls melt, which defeats the purpose of having boba tea. You would think the servers would let you know, especially when you say "I've never had boba tea hot- what's it like?"
I then wanted to order an iced one so that my brother, who has never had boba (hot or iced), could try the amazingness. I wanted plain, iced milk tea boba, but they brought me a smoothie version of it. I asked the waitress why she brought us a smoothie because I ordered "iced" and she said that if I don't specify, I get a smoothie. Does "iced" mean blended/smoothie in Chicago? Their menu states that if you do not ask for an order exactly the way you want it, and then it comes to you in a way you don't want it, they will not replace your order. Awesome customer service...
They only get 2 stars because 1) their interior decor is cute and cozy (but their couches will dislocate several of your spinal discs) and 2) their hot milk tea boba is delicious. But they need some serious customer service training, as well as better looking (and spelled) menus.
Kenny O. and I ordered the fruit bingsoo, after making the erroneous (?) assumption that the difference between the fruit bingsoo and the red bean bingsoo came down to: bananas or red beans? We didn't even realized that it's the red bean that makes the paht bingsoo. Oh well. We'll know better next time.
So how do you eat bingsoo? We googled this, and our search results told us that there are two ways about this:
1. Mix it all up and eat.
2. Eat the ice cream and your favorite (fruit) topping first before mixing it all up.
We tried the first option, and it was pretty tasty.
We've tried the taro boba drink, the citron tea, and the ginger tea. I like the ginger tea the most, even though all three are very sweet drinks. The least sweet option happened to be the taro boba, which is a bit surprising because I made another erroneous assumption that tea can't possibly be THAT sweet.
The cafe also offers free wifi, so Kenny and I spent a few hours here reading and working. It was quite nice.
Came here to relax and catch up with friends after eating my weight in burgers and mac n cheese at Kuma's Corner. The cafe is quaint with a welcoming and warm atmosphere to it. There is plenty of seating from large armchairs to couches to benches. It's perfect to for studying, relaxing or just hanging out with friends. There are also a large variety of board games and magazines to choose from as well. Although we had just eaten dinner, we decided on order some desserts to share as we were talking.
FRUIT BING SOO
For those who aren't familiar with this asian dessert, it's basically shaved ice that's topped with fruit and ice cream. The fruit bing soo wasn't anything special, but it was fine. It came topped with strawberry ice cream and mochi along with fresh fruit including strawberries, kiwi, peaches, mandarin oranges, cherry, etc and topped with condensed milk.
Outdoor Cafe also offers sandwiches and a large variety of coffee drinks in addition to their desserts. The owners are visible, incredibly friendly and hospitable. My friend had a special request and the staff member was more than happy to make the accommodations for us. I'll definitely be back!
Green Tea Latte a muuuuuust folks!!!! A little too sweet when they gave it to me but I love that they will fix it for you to taste. After they tweeked it. Heaven. Just heaven.
The ambiance here is just awesome. SO comfy, cozy and relaxing. There are tons of games and magazines to read.
Prices are reasonable too. Had some ice cream here with some bean sauce... yes bean sauce... dude. Delish.
Highly recommend this spot for a nice place to kick back and enjoy some cafe & sweets.
Service is also decent too.. & open late. Don't forget to get your drink punch card!
Food/Drinks/Dessert:
-ppatbingso tastes good
-tea: Â tastes like tea, can't go wrong with making tea right?
*haven't tried any of their food items yet..
Customer Service:
-good customer service, the people there are usually friendly
Atmosphere:
-i like the feel that the atmosphere gives...comfortable and casual place to just go and hang out with friends (group setting) or to go to study (individual setting).
Costs:
-reasonable pricing (within norm for coffee/dessert shops)
-ppatbingsoo portion is small during k-fest
Parking:
-street parking is available
Atmosphere: Warm, cozy, crowded, loud, full of Chinese people. (I'm allowed to say that cause I'm part Chinese ;)- 2 stars
Service: Okay. Rushed and sometimes blunt but they get the job done- 2 stars
Food:
Grilled Cheese-3 stars
Chocolate fondue- 3 stars (fondue with fruit, marshmallows and ice cream)
Conclusion: I like this place because it's open till midnight and there are a variety of games you can play at your table. (Jenga, cards, scrabble, monopoly etc) I don't like this place because it's often too crowded at night and the crowd is not usually diverse or particularly friendly. However, Â it's a great place for a group.
I've only ever come here for the bing soo. Â Usually I get paht (red bean) bing soo, because I love the sweet red bean. Â It's always tasty, especially when it's hot outside. Â I love the shaved ice topped with sweetened red bean paste, ice cream, mochi, and fruit drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Â So good!
Sometimes we'll meet up with friends here and play cards or jenga or something. Â It's a very relaxed casual atmosphere. Â There are sofas with coffee tables as well as regular tables and chairs to sit in.
I'm never coming back to this place again!!!!
I ordered a fruit bowl with no red beans to go.
When I arrived home, I began to eat my fruit bowl,
I noticed the fruit was very warm, then I tasted red beans in it  -___-
I told the person that took my order 3 TIMES that I DID NOT WANT RED BEANS!
On top of that I found a piece of hair in my fruit bowl.
Java & Mug Cafe is way BETTER!!!
Probably the best place in Chicago for potbingsu!
I spent numerous times here in college, hanging out with friends. Â The place is decorated with an "Outdoor" motif with patio furniture and a rocky pathway between the furniture, leading towards the ordering counter. Â They serve various desserts and food, coffee and tea. Â What they're really famous for is their potbingsu, a Korean dessert with ice cream, shaved ice, condensed milk, various fruits, red beans, dduk (rice cakes), and/or other toppings. Â It's probably one of the desserts I always crave. Â
The cafe has board games that customers can use to play. Â Which makes this a fun place to go for high schoolers, college-aged kids, and adults who just want to feel young again. Â I wish I lived in Chicago to experience this again. Â
Overall, it's an awesome place to relax and chat, read a book, hangout and I'm not afraid to admit, secretly eavesdrop with friends on nearby hilarious conversations.
What a fantastic atmosphere!! Â
Went here with a group of friends to play board games. Â My friend and I ordered the ham and cheese sandwich (if it had a special name, I don't remember it) and the barista was excellent. Â She was very busy making drinks and food for people and was happy while doing it. Â Our group stayed right up until closing and they didn't mind a bit. Â Not even a glint of the evil eye many places would give you for staying late. Â
Comfortable, unique, friendly, and no shortage of parking. Â This is a fine example of a business remembering why they are profitable, because of the customer. Â
PS. Â there is a funny sign in the bathroom that you MUST check out if you go. Â =)
I came here with my sorority sisters and the only place to gather a large group in on multiple couches next to each other which was akward and incovenient. The menu is fun and interesting with many types of sandwiches, appetizers and soups to choose from. The dessert menu is where the fun gets started - its a photo album of all the delicious concuctions they create.
The portions are large and in charge, most sandwiches enough for three people!
Riiiiight, this place is not all that but they sure act like they are. They open and close when they want to, and they reserve the right to ask you to leave if you are only ordering a cup of coffee. Oh wait, I thought this was a cafe. BTW your coffee is overpriced (4.92 for a green tea latte??) and sh*t. Â I will not be returning and will surely advise my friends not to patronize this place.
SUCKS
p.s. I should also add that I've been here several times ( I forgave bad service because I enjoyed the sandwiches), but this was so bad that I had to write a review on this website.
I love this place! They have excellent pat bingsoo
(Korean shaved ice) ) and has board games, jenga, and much more! Â
Inside they try to make it like your backyard except its indoors and very cozy. There are five to six tables where you and your friends can go eat yummy decadent  authentic Korean desserts, play board games and chill.
Normally I order the strawberry bingsoo (drooooooool). There are fresh strawberries,strawberry ice cream, mixed fruit, mochi, shaved ice, red bean and sweet syrup.
The portion are big enough for 2 people to share a bingsoo and is reasonably priced. They have at least 5 kinds of bingsoo to satisfy everyone's taste!
Also they have a big selection of other desserts like tiramisu and cheesecake if you don't feel like eating bingsoo. They have hot and cold drinks like espresso, cappuccino, green tea and much more.
All of my friends love this place and we play jenga/scrabble and really have a great time.
Just looked at my review and decided to give an update...
I'm back in the area for a bit and am lacking in good internet connection which Outdoor has solved. Their wifi is nice and fast which was perfect as I needed to finish up a few things.
Went with my gf last night and she got the paht bing soo... I'm sure it was good as she finished it only offering me some like maybe once or twice.
Coffee is good though not as fancy with the latte art as Java n Mug, but I like the seating better at Outdoor and everything else.
This may be my new place to come and relax while back in the neighborhood!
After our horrible experience at Boo Il, we came to this place to find a serene environment and tasty treats. Â My friend and I ordered a Korean dessert, which is very similar to the Filipino halo-halo dessert. It it the hodge podge, everything but the kitchen sink, kinda dessert. Â Included were mochi, beans, syrup, fresh cut strawberries, ice cream, and crispy rice to name a few, all atop some shaved ice. Â Simply refreshing, and large enough to share for 2.
The inside itself was decorated quite nicely. Â It's like an outdoor patio, but indoors. Â Soft music playing in the background, an area to play games, plenty of seating and a rack full of magazines make this a perfect place for an evening snack, a group outing, or a place to study.
Allow me to warn you, I absolutely cosher cafes with board games and Asian sweets and treats! This place is irresistible.
The wait staff was especially friendly and welcoming as they immediately greeted us when we entered the cafe. My friend and I ordered a red bean bingsoo and green tea latte to go with our intense game of Scrabble. Neither of them were disappointing. In fact, it's one of the better lattes that I've ever had. It wasn't watered down and the foam was just right.
They don't have a website or online menu, so I took a few snapshots of it. Please take note of their word play:
Milkshakes - "get in touch with your inner moo"
Chillax - "don't choke on the ice"
Panini sandwiches - "Porky Meets His Match"
The downside is I reside in the Bridgeport area so I wouldn't be able to frequent this cafe as much as I would like to.
The waitress that took my order served me and once a group of her friends came in it was like I never existed. She never came back to my table to ask if I needed anything else and solely concentrated her service on the group of friend that came in. This is when I had to ask the owner for service
I was really disappointed on the service I received from the owner at the establishment this evening. I was really looking forward to enjoying some nice hot green tea and reading my book. It went completely down the drain when I asked for more honey for my tea and the owner was hesitant to give me more thinking I wasn't going to purchase more tea or additional items from the menu. When she came back with the honey it wasn't enough for one serving let alone the whole pot of tea that I had. I was so disappointed I had to pay my bill and leave immediately.
I was very uncomfortable with the cleanliness of this establishment. When you look at the floor and the tables you can tell they don't really clean this place at all. The layers of dust on the floor and tables was very disturbing.
The only positive thing I can say was my tea was decent.
This place needs some MAJOR training in customer service and a course on how to clean and I'm sure they would get a boost in business.
This review is a footnote and friendly poke in the ribs to Aurore L. "Queen of the bathroom photo-op."
I can't believe you missed the sign in the Loo (I scooped you, doll):
"We do not have the latest in toilet technology and to prevent any clogging, please follow these guidelines:
1. Only toilet paper goes in the toilet. No paper towels or feminine hygiene products.
2. Please flush often. Our toilets cannot handle large masses.
If you clog up the toilet and do not notify us, we will call you Mr. or Mrs Poo-poo in our heads. :) "
Review # 200!!!!! Well, this is a review that is a delight to write on so many levels. First, Outdoor Cafe is very close to home. Nice! Second, I have gone past it hundreds of times and never thought to stop. Third, it was was a true adventure, full of ice cream creations I had never heard of before. Fourth, I had my first Bing Soo. I opted for the red bean Bing Soo. It contained everything but the kitchen sink. I was able to get a days worth of fruit and legumes in one delicious combo served over shaved ice. Chris and a friend of ours both had the strawberry Bing Soo and loved it as much as I did.
We sat by the window on couches with a coffee table in between. There is all kinds of seating available and the menu is full of cool things to try. I can't wait to go back.
They do have a sign that says if you are there with Mr. Computer they ask that you spend at least $5. No problem, even though I left Mr. Computer at home.
This is a great destination on a hot summer evening, or for dessert after dinner at one of the many Korean restaurants in the area. They are open till midnight. Go and have your own ice cream adventure. And remember, Mr. Computer is welcome!!!!
"We have to go to Outdoor Cafe. It's indoor."
That - was how the place was introduced to me, via text message, and before Korean wing coma (a pretty dangerous variant. Don't say you were not warned.)
Main reason to come here?!?!?
The frog in bathing suit and sunglasses soaking up the light on the back shelf just behind the loo.
2 second good mood inducer. You cannot look at it without a smile on your face. Who needs art when you have Kermit giving you his best impersonation of Miss Piggy in your house?
I mean.....
Get your priorities straight.
Outdoor Cafe actually does that pretty well. They aim at pleasing you, stat. Straight line. No chichi, froufrou or winding roads.
You want evidence, huh?!?!
Well....let's start with Bing Soo. Imagine a huge bowl filled with Korean shaved ice, fresh fruit, mochi, ice-cream, red bean paste, sweetened condensed milk and a cherry on top......because.......well....just because. Cherries don't need a reason to be.
But what about a Coppa Cafe, a wondeful twist on the classic parfait, made of fior di latte ice-cream, coffee and chocolate?
Or a dark chocolate fondue that comes with all the trimmings - including home-made cheesecake - you can think of?
Or a chocolate espresso milkshake?
Or a "I studied abroad and fell in love" panini?!?! (banana and nutella, yep, that is love indeed)
Outdoor Cafe is a rare and true delight tucked all the way up in North Park. It's welcoming, warm, cozy, definitely slow-paced and just perfection made coffee shop. Our party of seven settled down and quickly forgot all about time and the hustle and bustle of our crazy lives. We had a lovely couple of hours, playing board games, yelling and laughing like kids at recess, taking pictures, teasing each other, just enjoying a quiet and rainy Saturday afternoon.
What a delight.
Definitely worth the trek.
Come enjoy.
Yep. Â It's 5 star good. Â An P brought me here promising that I would like it. Â Lots of teenagers hang out here (or at least they were when we visited), which in my mind is a marker of a nice low-stress place. Â And I appreciate the fact that in the dead of winter, Outdoor Cafe tries to make you feel like you are sitting outside with all of its silly little plants.
But really, the best thing about this place is its desserts. Â I tried the Bing Soo and a red bean creamy tapioca ball drink. Â YUM! Never had a boba like that before! Â Soooo tasty. Â I'm definitely coming back. Â Thanks, An!
"Let's get Bing Soo for dessert!"
"What the heck is Bing Soo?"
"Are you crazy? You've never tried it?!"
"........Bing what???"
"Forget it, we're going!"
In Chicago, even in the depths of winter, we still like to eat out ice creams, desserts and other cold things that shouldn't be eaten when the wind chill drops below 0°F! After spending dinner burning meat on flaming red hot coals at San Soo Gab San, we were still a bit hungry and decided to jump off to the other side of the temperature spectrum and needed some late night dessert.
I am not a dessert junkie and do not indulge in my sweets and sugars as much as I should but have no qualms about diving into some serious dessert after a delightful meal. Getting twice the rush of flavors piggybacking on a terrific dinner = BONUS.
We get to this cafe that I never previously knew existed despite having spent many a night at Hollywood bar right across the street. I was in disbelief that I had been across the bar across the street so many times and never looked across the street to see there was a dessert cafe right across the street!
"Everyone Asian person has been to Outdoor Cafe," my cousin told me.
"Well, I must be Asian, I've never ever been here before!" I said.
As we walked in, there were about half a dozen people huddled around an intense game of Jenga. Another few people were quietly relaxing in the corner and we found seats and sat ourselves down while a lady was working on free wi-fi right behind us.
COZY! That was the first word that popped into my mind when I first looked around to survey the environment. I was sitting on a very cushy chair while my cousin sat on a big comfy couch. Yeah, there was some outdoor patio furniture spread out throughout the cafe, but the other couches looked just as comfortable and I had enough space to sit and relax with conversations with my cousins.
As we perused the menu, the crashing of the losing pulls of the Jenga came crumbling down to a chorus of wooden pegs collapsing in a cascade onto the table and floor followed by unmistakable laughter. If this was a true dessert place, it would surely have gelato! After looking through their various coffees, ice creams, paninis, and Bing Soo, my eyes focused on their vanilla and chocolate gelato combo with a hard chocolate shell, whipped cream and strawberry: DONE.
Our desserts arrived quickly and my cousins were flashing some amazing Bing Soo and Tiramisu while I took a crack at my gelato: YUM! We all exchanged bites of our desserts and I earned a new perspective on sweets. Why hadn't anyone told me about this Bing Soo?! It really is an amazing fruity shaved ice and ice cream combo where texture meets flavor merged into a new dessert treat causing neural tranmissions of pure pleasure.
Yelperati, THIS PLACE IS BADASS!
My preferences have swayed from Outdoor Cafe to Java N Mug right down the street. Â This place went under new management a while back, and changed the decor a bit inside. Â It looks a lot nicer, and they play good music most of the time, but the service has gone south.
The owner is nice but seems unsure of herself, almost as if she's worried that you're not satisfied and are judging her and are going to walk out without purchasing anything. Â It's strange.
I like their food and drinks, but the prices are high for what you get.
As a student at the school that is "Northeastern Illinois University," I find it useful to find SOME form of chill that isn't on the drab campus. Outdoor is one of my options.
Now, lets talk about what you're going to order. Their menu isn't "bad" but you don't get enough bang for your buck. You'll get swanky ass food sizes for half of what you'll pay at these swanky ass food places (which is more than you'll want to pay for a slice of cheese cake). I polished off my White Chocolate Mocha in about 3 sips and wasn't nearly satisfied.
Atmosphere wise, you'd think it'd be a fine place. The gimmick is pretty appropriate, out side furniture on the INSIDE. INGENIOUS! I would expect them to be on the outside. The problem with this is that, outdoor furniture is uncomfortable as all Hell. Metal chair with light cushions are really unforgiving for my oh so supple buttocks and plastic chairs are insanely cheep. When these things are outside, it makes sense. Bugs could live in more supple cushions and plastic is good for combating ever changing weather conditions. The perks of being inside, is being comfortable inside.
Now the service. What a bitch is all I could say. I wanted my food on the veranda, not the cross. The passive aggressive bullshit my waitress was giving me and my good friend was just WAY too much for me to stand.
In conclusion, walk down the block and check out Java and Mug.
I read good things about them on Yelp.
And, like a reviewer before me, I had a bizarre, perplexing, weird, exasperating experience.
I almost expected Alan Funt to come out yelling, "Smile! You're on Candid Camera!!!"
In retrospect, the proceeding blah blah will make one heckuva great scene in a play. Something to think on. . .
I have to tell it from beginning to end.
I walk up to the corner, bldg is painted with cafe scenery - cute. On the door I note a poorly spelled, sign warning people not to leave any items in their vehicles. Concern - that's nice.
Walk in, bi-level seating (about 40 or so seats, couple of couches and small tables in the window), 4, eighteen year old-ish people playing cards and having a great time.
No other patrons.
Counter and kitchen area in the back.
Their are two women behind the counter. One younger (perhaps 25 or so) the other older (her mother? perhaps 55 or so).
I stand there. They both look at me. The younger one is making 4 bubble drinks for the 18 year olds. The older one is wiping down a counter.
I stand there.
I stand there.
I stand there, I say, "are you getting ready to close?"
Older , "Not closed. You want a menu?" She smiles SUPER BIG when she asks this question as if she's trying to be personable.
I reply, "Yes. (hands me the menu). Do you have table service?"
She looks at me.
She walks away.
A language barrier perhaps?
She returns.
I ask, "Do you have wifi?"
She stares at me.
She blinks.
She turns her head and coughs.
Okay, no cough.
The younger barks over her shoulder, "WIFI WORKS!"
Something is not right in this place. I order an iced coffee, regular, no frills. $3.25. Really? $3.25? More that Strbx or DD.
I order a sandwich. The older looks upset with me and starts grinding her teeth. I pay the $9.00 on my c.c. and ask if I can sit anywhere.
Now I get what I take to be a genuine smile as she gestures toward the front window seating area. "Up there" pointing to the window in the front.
I sit on one of the two couches. There are also 2 two-top tables and smaller upholstered chairs. No one is up there. Only the 4, late teens still waiting on the bubblers.
I set up my world, take a deep breath and begin thinking of the work ahead of me next week.
"Lady."
"Lady."
I look up.
Older is standing nearby and says, "Lady (pointing to a table for 2) you sit there -- leave place now for for."
I think: For for?
For 4?
Like 4 people.
No way.
She's sh*ttin' me, she has to be.
I ask her several direct and pointed questions.
First I ask her to repeat her order/request.
Then I ask her if she is kidding.
Next I ask her if she realizing what an absolutely asinine request she's making. I point out THERE ARE ONLY 5 PEOPLE IN A PLACE THAT SEATS APPROX. 40.
Finally, I ask her how long she was planning on staying in business.
She looks like there is a dull hum going on in her head. She says, "people come you move."She grins, frowns, turns around and walks back to the counter while scratching her side.
Hives, I'm thinking.
I am in disbelief .
I pack my world up.
Walk to the counter.
I say, "Please credit me immediately. I'm leaving. I have no idea how you could believe, and you obviously do believe, it makes good business sense to ignore customers, be generally rude and indifferent and then make pointless demands of them. I read about this place on Yelp. Is it under new mgmnt or something?"
The younger, with HUGE comical-tude, tells me she is the owner and attempts to argue with me using the voice of a fourteen year old girl who is attempting to whine her way into her way. She seems to have a mini nervous break down, begins to quiver as she attempts to get the cc machine work.
Whackado makin' bubble tea.
Then she charges me a 2nd time instead of giving me a credit.
She rips open the plastic top of the cc machine and chucks it off to the side. She yells at the older woman and the older woman gets very quiet.
"I AM BUSY! I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER!" Younger is in low shriek mode now.
Older is now all apologies to me -side eyeing younger with a look that makes me wonder if it was medication time. Younger back to the bubble drink making dance.
I still have no credit receipt.
I start to take a couple giant bubble straws out of the container on the counter.
Younger worries begins talking to herself and cries out about melting bubbles and clanks the 4 drinks down in front of me on the counter.
I begin playing with the giant bubble straws on the counter. Finally I get two refund receipts. As I leave I mention it's too bad since I read such nice things. The younger blurts out, as I am leaving, "YEAH? WELL, I LIKE RETURN CUSTOMERS!"
You ain't gonna like me too much then Ms. Bubbly McBubblekins.
Next time I am going down the street to Java and Mug.
I read good things about them Yelp.
This place is a cool gem for desserts, cafe treats, and hanging out till the wee hours of the night.
We came at about 10pm on a Thursday night, and it was pretty packed - great sign! Â After a rousing game of dominoes, we ordered the Strawberry bing soo for about $6. Â This was quite the treat. Â Basically a huge bowl filled with crushed ice, strawberry liquid, red bean, sesame powder, mixed fruits, strawberry icecream, and cherries. Â Wow, t'was a new treat for my mouth and I loved it.
The chocolate fondue was a fun dessert ($9.95). Â Comes with melted dark chocolate, marshmalows, icecream flavors (x 4), pretzels, and strawberries. Â I'm not the biggest fan for most of the dippings, but it was a lot of fun and a good price.
Come here if you want someplace to hang out, drink a coffee, grab a dessert, and don't want to hang out at a loud bar at night.
This place is ADORABLE. A friend of mine took me here when I was visiting for winter break. It is super cozy and has a wide selection of drinks--ranging from boba, to tea, to coffee and also a wide selection of desserts!!
We chatted on the new furniture (I had the same Ikea coffee table) and got fast and friendly service.
It's open late night and I would say it's a nice, easy place to hang out at. I bet in the Spring/Summer it is crackinnn.
The girl even ran out in the icy cold to give me my gloves I had left behind.
A good hang out place for sure! It is also another place a lot of my friends and I know. At night time on the weekends, it can get a bit crowded and possibly hard to find somewhere to sit because a lot of people like to stay there for a while and hang out. But I haven't had too much trouble with it.
Service: depending on the waitress. The owner (female) used to be the waitress and she was okay. But now it's usually younger (high school aged) waitresses who usually serve now. They're generally nice and try their bests. I heard some of my guy friends thinking they were hot... but it's none of my concern! lol. The owner (male) is usually very courteous and will greet you as you come and go.
Decor: I know people absolutely love this place for its super asian-parisian look alike cafe. Girls will be absolutely smitten with this place, and guys will probably go there because there's a lot of girls there. lol. Personally, the cobblestone-stone walkway is a lil tricky to walk in if you have high heels. but people deal. Very uberly superbly cute indeed.
Food/drinks: I believe as of now, the bubble tea and other fruit freezes has gotten better! they do taste like they use fresh fruit now! They offer carryout versions of their drinks if you want it too. The drinks are usually less than $5. They offer green tea ice cream (which i always gobble up). They have a pretty extensive menu overall.
There's an okay variety of bubble tea drinks (they stay pretty basic. no dragonfruit-mango type drinks here). They offer the standard bubble tea drinks with fruits. And also a pretty good variety of coffees, and teas (including Korean teas which in my opinion are a little overpriced for one cup).
They also serve some basic food items: bagels, sandwiches (which are tasty), desserts, pastries, and ramyun (Korean ramen).
They also serve some pretty cutesy dessert items like sherbet in a coconut cup, a kona coffee dessert, tiramisu, and a lot more including a Korean dessert called bingsu (which is a dessert combining fruit, sweet rice cake, ice cream, shaved ice, and more). They offer the sweet red bean one (pat bingsu) (which is my favorite! don't get scared off by the name!) or a strawberry one.
Recommendations: their sandwiches are good, ice cream is standard, their bubble teas (taro, strawberry-banana), citrus Korean tea, pat bingsu, and their magazines and Scrabble game options!)
I really love the look of this place. Â It's so cute! Â Sorry...although I like sports and videogames just as much as the boys, I am still an Asian girl and therefore, it's deeply implanted in my genes to gravitate towards cute adorable things. Â
So saying that, lets move on to the pat bing soo (which is the only thing that I get at Korean cafes pretty much).  I typically get the strawberry pat bing soo and I actually like it better here than at Java & Mug (aka Time) Café mainly because the strawberries are sweeter here which is key since it's a strawberry bing soo.  They also have more mee soo ka loo (not sure what the English word is but it's a powder) which I love but less ice cream, which I actually don't really mind. Â
Although it looks pricey, I wouldn't mind trying some of their other desserts next time I go!
This place is super cute... Â it's an "outdoor" Korean cafe...indoors! Â With cobblestone/pebbles walkway and outdoor patio furniture. Â Very cute theme.
This is a great place to go in small groups to chill and play all sorts of different board games that they have available for you right when you walk in the door!
Get some drinks (including hot and cold bubble teas), coffee, desserts, or, of course, bing soo while you're playing games and hanging out with your friends. Â Fun times!
Overall:
-Atmosphere - fun and chill!
-Great for small groups to hang out
-Food/drinks - great little snacks, desserts, and drinks
-Service - friendly
-Parking - decent street parking available
Have fun!
Don't be distracted by the cheesecake or ice cream here - stick to their core competencies - that is BING SOO and the ever-present bubble tea.
What's BING SOO? Â I was just introduced to it last night, so let me give you my neophyte's description: Shaved ice, topped with fresh fruit, a floury bean powder, mochi ice cream, and some cream. Â It's an incredibly tasty treat - sweet, but not overpowering, crunchy, chewey, and mild. Â Delicious! Â It combines the tastes of a snow cone with the tastes of an ice cream parfait.
As far as ambiance, prepare yourself for a stone floor and tables filled with giggly Korean teenagers. Â They have plenty of magazines and board games and stay open until midnight, so you can make a relaxing evening of it here. Â Service is a bit slow (it's a 2 person operation) but friendly when your treats arrive.
Totally unexpected on this dreary-seeming stretch of Bryn Mawr, New Outdoor Cafe is a treat!
My friend introduced me to this place and dessert not too long ago, so I will have to temper my enthusiasm (given my neophyte status) and give this place 4 stars. Â I had never had a proper patbingsoo (aka babingsoo) before (for the uninitiated, pat [pronounced like "paht"] is red bean) and I regret that I've been missing out on this dessert for a very long time. Â
I have only had the strawberry patbingsoo here and it is a great summer treat. Â It consists of shaved ice, fresh strawberries, some canned fruit, mochi pieces, (sweet) red beans, nutty powder (that I lack a translation for), a scoop of strawberry ice cream completed with colorful sprinkles and a maraschino cherry. Â This concoction can sound rather intimidating but it tastes divine.
I'm a big fan of the quirky decoration in this place. The floor is covered in small white rocks, with larger, circular patio stones leading to tables. There are several shelves covered in nicknacks ranging from Houston Astros beanie bears to bamboo plants. I don't get it. I don't need to.
The deserts here are excellent, though I'm convinced you can actually gain weight from just looking at the menu. They have a wide array of cakes and chocolate covered treats as well as exceptional bubble tea.
The prices here are reasonable, and really the only thing holding Outdoor Cafe back from 4 stars in my book is the sub-par service. The waitresses seem to be efficient but disinterested. There is a bit of a language barrier, which may explain the lack of pleasantries and charisma, but I don't think that's the entire explanation.
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