Cafe Halaman's romantic ambience unrivaled<\/p>\n
By Sri Ramadani<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): The city of Bandung -- which is known for its
\nclothes bazaars, factory outlets, cake shops and bakeries -- is
\nnow attracting visitors keen to undertake a culinary tour of its
\ncafes, restaurants and sidewalk eateries.<\/p>\n
Tourists, mostly from Jakarta, throng these dining spots which
\noffer good food, comfortable dining rooms and wonderful ambience.<\/p>\n
Traffic jams on Bandung streets leading to dining spots such
\nas The Peak and Kampung Daun have become a common sight every
\nweekend and on every holiday over the last few months.<\/p>\n
Jakarta-registered cars pass along Dago, Merdeka, Setiabudi,
\nCihampeulas and other Bandung streets with the owners hoping to
\nenjoy their vacation without traffic jams like in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
When I spent a weekend in Bandung recently, I stopped by at
\none of the most famed eating spots to find out exactly what the
\ntourists get.<\/p>\n
Cafe Halaman, Jl. Tamansari No. 92, Central Bandung; phone:
\n022-2512350.<\/p>\n
Location: At the T-junction of Jl. Siliwangi and Jl. Tamansari
\nand located only a few meters from Bandung zoo and the Bandung
\nInstitute of Technology.<\/p>\n
Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Monday to Friday and 4 p.m. to 2
\na.m. on weekends and public holidays.<\/p>\n
What's It Got: Halaman cafe offers steaks, spaghetti,
\nomelettes and other European main dishes. Chicken and beef satay,
\nfried rice or noodles, sop buntut (oxtail soup), rice, lontong
\n(rice steamed in banana leaves) and other popular Indonesian
\ntraditional dishes are also on offer.<\/p>\n
The cafe's specialties are bakmi Tasik (Sundanese traditional
\nboiled noodles and meatballs), which are named after a district
\nin south Bandung, chicken and beef cordon blue (chicken, beef
\ncoated with flour and filled with smoked beef), and a drink
\ncalled Dr. E (a mix of strawberry, mango, vanilla ice and ginger
\nale).<\/p>\n
Another Sundanese traditional dish is nasi timbel (steamed
\nrice wrapped in banana leaves) served with sambal sauce, lalap
\n(uncooked vegetables), fried chicken, tofu or tempeh (fermented
\nsoybean cake).<\/p>\n
Hot beverages, fruit juices, milk shakes, soft drinks and all
\nthe usual fresh beverages a la cafe are available.<\/p>\n
Besides salad, soup, and dessert, diners can eat other meals
\nsuch as French fries, bitterballen, calamari, fried spring roll
\nand siomay (kind of dim sum).<\/p>\n
Price Points: I paid Rp 115,500, not including tax, for three
\nsnacks, two European main courses, two bowls of soup, two glasses
\nof juice and five glasses of hot beverages.<\/p>\n
The bill showed two pieces of fried spring roll for Rp 3,000,
\ntwo creamed corn soups for Rp 11,000, an imported Sirloin steak
\nfor 27,200, a portion of calamari at Rp 10,500, spaghetti
\nbolognaise at Rp 12,500 and a glass of Dr. E at Rp 9,500. These
\nare competitive prices compared to other famous cafes in Bandung.<\/p>\n
Looks: It looks like a lively party in the yard of an old-
\nfashioned house on Jl. Tamansari. The cafe has wooden dining
\ntables and chairs, like other cafes, and is lit with wall lamps.<\/p>\n
It is located at the side of two busy streets but diners won't
\nbe disturbed by passing cars outside, as it is surrounded by
\ngreen plants. Some pictures are hanging on the pillars to improve
\nthe look of the cafe.<\/p>\n
The waiters, wearing black t-shirts, are friendly and
\nefficient. I also had no complaints about the rest rooms.<\/p>\n
Popular with...: Boy bands, singers (musicians based in
\nBandung and Jakarta often come here on weekend nights). Two
\nmembers of the Project Pop comedy and pop group, and singer Andre
\nHehanusa were performing when we had dinner. One of Halaman's
\nstaff confirmed that many entertainers, including musician Yovie
\nWidianto and local boy band M.E., frequently visited the cafe.<\/p>\n
Taste Factor: We were satisfied with our food, except for the
\ncreamed corn soup which was already cold when served. But the a
\nla Mandarin corn soup -- containing shredded chicken, corn and
\negg -- tasted really good.<\/p>\n
The imported sirloin steak flavored with butter sauce was
\ntender and not too fatty, while the calamari was crispy and not
\ntoo salty.<\/p>\n
Hot cappuccino, chocolate, jasmine tea, and lemon tea warmed
\nour party of five on the rainy Saturday night of our visit.<\/p>\n
Minus Points: Attention to cleaning the tables, security in
\nthe small parking area and the music could all be improved.<\/p>\n
Verdict: A typical Bandung outdoor cafe, Halaman offers a
\nromantic and informal ambience for intimate dining. However, it
\nis also comfortable enough to unwind with friends, family or
\nbusiness partners.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cafe-halamans-romantic-ambience-unrivaled-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}