Cafe Halaman's romantic ambience unrivaled
By Sri Ramadani
BANDUNG (JP): The city of Bandung -- which is known for its clothes bazaars, factory outlets, cake shops and bakeries -- is now attracting visitors keen to undertake a culinary tour of its cafes, restaurants and sidewalk eateries.
Tourists, mostly from Jakarta, throng these dining spots which offer good food, comfortable dining rooms and wonderful ambience.
Traffic jams on Bandung streets leading to dining spots such as The Peak and Kampung Daun have become a common sight every weekend and on every holiday over the last few months.
Jakarta-registered cars pass along Dago, Merdeka, Setiabudi, Cihampeulas and other Bandung streets with the owners hoping to enjoy their vacation without traffic jams like in Jakarta.
When I spent a weekend in Bandung recently, I stopped by at one of the most famed eating spots to find out exactly what the tourists get.
Cafe Halaman, Jl. Tamansari No. 92, Central Bandung; phone: 022-2512350.
Location: At the T-junction of Jl. Siliwangi and Jl. Tamansari and located only a few meters from Bandung zoo and the Bandung Institute of Technology.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Monday to Friday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends and public holidays.
What's It Got: Halaman cafe offers steaks, spaghetti, omelettes and other European main dishes. Chicken and beef satay, fried rice or noodles, sop buntut (oxtail soup), rice, lontong (rice steamed in banana leaves) and other popular Indonesian traditional dishes are also on offer.
The cafe's specialties are bakmi Tasik (Sundanese traditional boiled noodles and meatballs), which are named after a district in south Bandung, chicken and beef cordon blue (chicken, beef coated with flour and filled with smoked beef), and a drink called Dr. E (a mix of strawberry, mango, vanilla ice and ginger ale).
Another Sundanese traditional dish is nasi timbel (steamed rice wrapped in banana leaves) served with sambal sauce, lalap (uncooked vegetables), fried chicken, tofu or tempeh (fermented soybean cake).
Hot beverages, fruit juices, milk shakes, soft drinks and all the usual fresh beverages a la cafe are available.
Besides salad, soup, and dessert, diners can eat other meals such as French fries, bitterballen, calamari, fried spring roll and siomay (kind of dim sum).
Price Points: I paid Rp 115,500, not including tax, for three snacks, two European main courses, two bowls of soup, two glasses of juice and five glasses of hot beverages.
The bill showed two pieces of fried spring roll for Rp 3,000, two creamed corn soups for Rp 11,000, an imported Sirloin steak for 27,200, a portion of calamari at Rp 10,500, spaghetti bolognaise at Rp 12,500 and a glass of Dr. E at Rp 9,500. These are competitive prices compared to other famous cafes in Bandung.
Looks: It looks like a lively party in the yard of an old- fashioned house on Jl. Tamansari. The cafe has wooden dining tables and chairs, like other cafes, and is lit with wall lamps.
It is located at the side of two busy streets but diners won't be disturbed by passing cars outside, as it is surrounded by green plants. Some pictures are hanging on the pillars to improve the look of the cafe.
The waiters, wearing black t-shirts, are friendly and efficient. I also had no complaints about the rest rooms.
Popular with...: Boy bands, singers (musicians based in Bandung and Jakarta often come here on weekend nights). Two members of the Project Pop comedy and pop group, and singer Andre Hehanusa were performing when we had dinner. One of Halaman's staff confirmed that many entertainers, including musician Yovie Widianto and local boy band M.E., frequently visited the cafe.
Taste Factor: We were satisfied with our food, except for the creamed corn soup which was already cold when served. But the a la Mandarin corn soup -- containing shredded chicken, corn and egg -- tasted really good.
The imported sirloin steak flavored with butter sauce was tender and not too fatty, while the calamari was crispy and not too salty.
Hot cappuccino, chocolate, jasmine tea, and lemon tea warmed our party of five on the rainy Saturday night of our visit.
Minus Points: Attention to cleaning the tables, security in the small parking area and the music could all be improved.
Verdict: A typical Bandung outdoor cafe, Halaman offers a romantic and informal ambience for intimate dining. However, it is also comfortable enough to unwind with friends, family or business partners.