Bandung chic with a view at trendy McNzie

Bandung chic with a view at trendy McNzie

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): On a recent weekend escape to
Bandung, I decided to head up to the cool climes of Dago, one of
the main attractions for visitors to the city. Just where the
view southwards across the whole city was at its most
spectacular, I came upon a new concrete building, very simple in
design but accommodating one of the latest attractions for
foodies in Bandung.

Location: Jl. Bukit Pakar Timur No.73, Bandung 40198. Tel/fax
(022) 2531030. It is open at lunchtimes and evenings and major
credit cards are accepted.

Looks: The restaurant is located on a hillside overlooking
Bandung, giving the restaurant a sweeping panorama, which at
night offers a dramatic view of the twinkling lights of the city
below. This view is marred only by a half-finished building just
below that obstructs part of the foreground.

The restaurant building is an L-shaped barn-like concrete
construction that runs down the slope of the hill, thereby
offering a number of different levels all under one roof. The
ambience is trendy, postmodern minimalist, and two entire sides
of the building have windows, to take maximum possible advantage
of those views. The floor is bare wooden boarding and stone, and
the two solid walls are mainly bare brickwork, with some arty
motifs attached.

The lighting, very effective at night, consists mainly of
shaded halogen bulbs suspended on long cables directly from the
live electrical cables slung between the roof beams. This means
that although the tables are well lit, the people sitting at them
are in half-light, creating quite a romantic atmosphere. At this
elevation there is no need for air-conditioning, or even fans!

The waiting staff, very much to their credit, were the epitome
of courtesy, politeness and calm, despite being rushed completely
off their feet. Their all-black uniforms complemented well the
restaurant's suave and urbane ambience.

What's it got? The menu is dominated by beef or steak dishes,
with a smattering of fish, pasta and chicken. Although there were
some Asian dishes available, the cuisine is primarily western and
presented in the nouvelle style. The fact that almost all the
diners on that busy night were Indonesians is a tribute to its
popularity. There is also a range of light meals (such as tuna
melt or steak 'n' cheese sandwiches), plus desserts. The usual
range of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, plus wines,
are available.

Taste factor: I opted for one of the "specials" for that day
-- spicy steak. It was served almost like a stew, as the beef was
cut up, cooked in a rich red wine sauce and served on a bed of
seasonal vegetables. It was accompanied by rosemary potatoes. My
companion had chicken masala, which was creamy and spicy without
being too hot. It was served with vegetables and croquet-like
potatoes with a cheese coating.

Both helpings were reasonably sized and the food was tasty.
Unfortunately the dessert I'd ordered (mocha tartlet with
custard) was not available, and as I'd already waited quite a
while before they informed me about this, I didn't bother with
anything else. My companion had chocolate and mocha ice cream,
which was fine. Two cappuccinos rounded off the meal.

Price points: The meal above, including a Miller bottled beer
and a mixed fruit juice came to Rp 162,000, including tax and
service. Main courses were about Rp 20,000 to Rp 100,000 and
desserts Rp 15,000 to Rp 30,000. Drinks were around Rp 12,000 to
Rp 30,000 and a bottle of wine around Rp 200,000 to Rp 250,000.
(All the above prices exclude tax and service charges).

Minus points: The main problem with Mc Nzie is that unless you
have your own transportation, it can be difficult to leave after
the meal is over. My companion and I had traveled up as ojek
(motorcycle taxi) passengers from the Dago minivan terminal, but
when it came to leaving, the ojek were nowhere to be seen. The
restaurant said it was pointless to phone for a taxi, as no
driver would come out this far so late at night.

There was no alternative but to opt for shanks' pony, and
fortunately the last minivan going back down to the city picked
us up as we walked. Surely, there must be other diners who might
find themselves in a similar predicament, so couldn't the
restaurant at least make some transportation arrangement to run
guests down to the Dago terminal on the weekend?

Verdict: Strongly recommended for its trendy ambience, the
superb views (particularly at night), the romantic atmosphere and
reasonable prices. Bring your own transportation though! (Les
Coffier)