Al fresco dining, local style, with Santiga Seafood Halal
Al fresco dining, local style, with Santiga Seafood Halal
JAKARTA (JP): Since Hartadi H., better known as Abeng, took to
the streets in business in 1989, his seafood sidewalk eatery has
won a place in the hearts and stomachs of connoisseurs of the
fruits of the sea.
Santiga Seafood Halal, Jl. Raya Bendungan Hilir Kav. 36 A,
Central Jakarta (in front of BCA bank, next to KFC restaurant and
across from Benhil traditional market). Accessible from Jl.
Sudirman and Jl. Pejompongan Raya.
Open: 6 p.m. to midnight, daily including holidays.
What's it got: The four-page menu lists no less than 75
varieties of seafood, including calamari in oyster sauce,
Kepiting Saus Padang (spicy crab), crispy shrimp, broiled fish,
and fish soup. Apart from Padang, there are five other types of
sauces: saus mentega (a spicy butter batter), saus tiram (oyster
sauce), asam manis (sweet and sour), goreng tepung (flour) and
one from Makassar in Sulawesi.
Chinese delicacies of Fuyunghai (crab pancake), Ifumie (fried
noodles and sauce) and kwetiaw (thick rice noodles) are also
available. Vegetable dishes include cap cai (boiled or sauteed
vegetables), hot plates of kangkung (morning glory) or tofu,
brokoli cah (braised broccoli), kailan cah (kailan) and braised
mushrooms.
For non-seafood eaters and those with allergies, there is beef
or chicken steak, sweet and sour chicken, tofu, corn soup and
fried rice to pick from.
The beverage list includes tea, lemon, mineral water and soft
drinks, but lovers of a tall cool one (beer, that is) will have
to quench their thirst some place else.
Price Points: Depends on the weight of the fish chosen by the
customer (the fish weigh at least 400 grams). A baronang fish is
Rp 4,500 per 100-gram weight, kakap, bawal (pomfret) or kue fish
are Rp 3,500, crab is Rp 40,000 per serving, shrimp Rp 20,000 per
serving and other seafood ranges from Rp 7,500 to Rp 15,000.
Chinese dishes average Rp 10,000 per serving; steaks are Rp
16,000 each.
Looks: This place is untypically clear of garbage, flies,
smoke, beggars and street singers, which are the bane of most
sidewalk eateries, even the good ones, in the city. The tabletops
are squeaky-clean, with no bits of the previous diner's morsels
escaping the notice of the waiters as they clear up. Another
exclusive touch is the presence of Apostolos Acoustic group, who
perform during dinner (diners can request their favorite tunes).
They are the reason street singers stay away.
Popular with...: Office workers from Jl. Sudirman, shop
workers, residents of the surrounding Bendungan Hilir area and
celebrities. Pak Abeng said some of the famous names who dine
there include singer-actress Novia Kolopaking, her husband Ainun
"Cak Nun" Najib, AB Three group member Nola, badminton player
Taufik Hidayat, comedian Timbul, actress Jihan Fahira, actor
Sultan Djorghi and soccer commentator Ronny Patinasarani.
Taste Factor: Standard taste except for the outstanding
freshness of the fish. Recommended dishes were the sapo tahu (egg
tofu filled with mushroom, carrots, slices of seafood), spicy
crab and the broiled fish a la Makassar. The broiled baronang
spiced with onion and garlic, was as good as it smelled. No
problem with the rice and drinks (a lemon drink is good to
neutralize the fishy taste).
Minus Points: As usual with sidewalk restaurants, no air-
conditioning (but it's in the open air after all) and forget
about asking for the restroom. Public transportation is a bit
difficult at night, but it is only 100 meters walk away from Jl.
Sudirman.
Verdict: Bring as many friends as you want, because it will
end up cheaper if you go Dutch and get a great selection of eats.
As its name proudly declares (and as one would expect with Cak
Nun dining there), it's an acceptable eatery for Muslims. (Sri
Ramadani)