Our epicure expert continues a sting operation to bring you the truth about the culinary scene in Jakarta. No spoon is left to chance in the quest for revisions honest, balanced, established favorite long for the hottest new restaurants in town.
This month, Seribu Rasa Menteng
Time Pop quiz. Where Jakarta you are most likely to fall on to the following: a horde of Dynasty hair Ibu-Ibu to arisan , perhaps with a small dog in a Chanel handbag under the table; a bunch of "business lunch tubules that may or may not be able to discuss these figures after third Bintang; and two or three mouse-like tourists, peering around the strongly room and take copious photographs? If you have not guessed Seribu Rasa, back to school for you. Because everyone knows this popular restaurant in South Asia the bees knees to watch people in Jakarta, bringing as it does a real floorshow countless rides Big Durian of life. They also manage to make some of the best upscale Indonesian dishes in the city.
Seribu Rasa is a of those rare restaurants that mysteriously manages to preserve the atmosphere "just opened"; buzzy yet, despite the passage of years since the opening Menteng 2009. the enduring popularity of the restaurant must surely depend on its attention to the food, in balance with a relaxed accessible. Clearly a winning formula with two other locations now open in Gandaria City Mall and Lotte World Shopping Avenue.
So how do they achieve a peaceful atmosphere close to Stone Jl. Sudirman? Local Menteng is actually a series of beautiful, airy, wooden villas connecting the ponds around peaceful, which brim with koi and other tropical fish. You could be forgiven for confusing your environment for those of a beach hangout Bali. Immediately, shoulders relax as the warm embrace of the unique hospitality of Southeast Asia envelope you. Inside the dining area windy, inflated orange curtains play peek-a-boo with dark teak furniture, creating an exotic haven away from the bustle of the streets.
The menu is extensive, covering most successful dishes of Southeast Asia. I'm usually suspicious of picture-book menus - they remind me of fatty fry-up on the Costa del Sol - but for the uninitiated it might be quite necessary to navigate the culinary waters offered for Seribu Rasa. In one session, you can eat your way from Singapore to Sulawesi, via Koh Samui or curry Pernakan specialties.
The great debate of satay (much like the great batik debate) is still raging in this part of the world, such as Switzerland Food, Seribu Rasa wisely chose to remain impartial, naming them satay by regions in Indonesia and Malaysia. We chose the squid Labuan (Rp.69,000) which, amusingly, was cooked perfectly, avoiding this pitfall rubbery many others do not. It was a new alternative to grilled varieties of chicken and beef most common.
Photo courtesy of sandraolga.blogspot.com
remaining firmly Indonesian for our main course, we found the beef Minangkabau rendang to be delicious. Rendang surprises me by its sweetness every time I taste, and this is no exception. It was as creamy and spicy as expected. It is a small part, but for such a rich dish, it's not unpleasant. A Rp.109,000, it is clearly one of the most popular items of menu, we could see flat out at almost every table.
The kangkung balachan flat side (Rp.49,000) was a bit racy number to complete our meal. Water spinach freshly blanched and tossed with red chili bucket and that all-important shrimp paste is as much a food can be quite stimulating. The umami taste salty from a good balachan is so important in this dish, and clearly in this case it was well grilled first before being added to food, to bring out its flavor.
We wanted nothing more than a couple of beers for that particular meal, which were highlighted with icy glasses. They have an extensive wine list and of course, the best pairing for most Asian cuisines is something lighter and softer like a Gewürztraminer or Riesling from Alsace. But to match the Indonesian food, sometimes there really is nothing better than Bintang.
Overall, the wait staff is efficient and friendly, with big smiles ready to every interaction. They are distinguished by their ability to advise on menu choices; obviously necessary with such a diverse clientele in attendance.
The question of value for money in this kind of place goes, I am sure, never to divide opinion. For some, eating such "haute'-Indonesian is like a kind of heresy, when the delicious food can be found for a fraction of the price, in a much less fancy environment. Yes, lots of it is home-style cooking your mother (OK, mothers of friends) can do, and yes, if you have a penchant for tapeworms, you can probably find some of them at a nearby kaki lima , with the added advantage of photo ops communing with the "local culture" in an appropriate demonstration rakish your expat superiority. But as you can see in our bill, it's actually a pretty cheap restaurant, all things considered. It happens to be in a more pleasant environment than your average warung .
If a large number of Seribu Rasa competitors fail is prey to the trap style over substance. They think expats and business travelers just want Asian atmosphere, comfortable chairs and Bintang, and demand nothing in the kitchen authenticity path. Seribu Rasa avoid this. To see how this is done, I invite you to go and witness how they live up to their name -
A 'thousand flavors is what we promised, and is certainly what this place delivers.
check please
Power Rp.227,000
Beverages : Rp.90,000
Service 10%
Rp.360,000 for two
[19459026(inctaxes)]
Seribu Rasa
Jl Haji Agus Salim 128, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
Tel. 62 (0) 21 392 8892
www.seriburasa.com