Cozy, romantic, homey aura at Godeliva
Les Coffier, Contributor, Jakarta Post
Anyone trying to open a new restaurant these days in Kemang, South Jakarta, is faced with quite a task. There are already so many eating venues in this part of town, catering to every cuisine, price bracket and lifestyle, that newcomers will find it hard to make their mark. Godeliva Restaurant and Bar, which had its grand opening last October, seems to have found its niche.
The restaurant lies on the south side of Jl. Kemang Raya, at the end of a small alley that emerges between an architecturally striking KFC fast-food outlet and Animale boutique. In a way, these two neighbors seem to define the aspects of what Godeliva is trying to project: the friendliness and informality of KFC, together with the Balinese-inspired, dazzling-white ambience of Animale (which nonetheless still looks out of place to me somehow, in that commanding position on Kemang's main street).
Why "Godeliva", I hear you ask? According to marketing executive Yudith Arwendha, that is the name of its young owner, who hails originally from Sumatra. Having completed a course in hotel management, she is putting her skills and ambition to the ultimate test.
The restaurant's position at the end of an alley is both a blessing and a curse. It has taken full advantage of the seclusion that this offers -- managing to create a quiet, village-like atmosphere, despite the central location -- even before guests step inside, with restful, goldfish-stocked ponds and potted plants dotted here and there.
Ample space is also available in front for parking, a real boon in this part of town, which is so often congested.
The downside, of course, is that it is very easy to miss the place altogether, and passing trade must be very hard to come by. That does not seem to have been too much of a problem thus far, for Godeliva has already established itself as an ideal venue for functions, birthday or wedding parties, meetings, exhibitions, media conferences, and so on. It can accommodate 100 people seated or 300 standing.
Much of the attraction lies in the venue's ability to provide a variety of different spaces, each with its own character. The restaurant's description of itself as cozy, romantic and homey pretty well sums up why it has become so popular in the seven months since its grand opening.
Although the building is quite simple architecturally, it is divided into five main dining sections plus outdoor gazebos and a swimming pool (available for guest use), each tastefully decorated to create an ambience that will be familiar to those who have dined out in some of Bali's more pleasant restaurants. The dining areas, while interconnected, can also be closed off from each other. Lighting, after dark, is subtle and creates a romantic ambience.
The five main spaces include a "fine-dining" area, bench seating at plain wooden tables, a bar area and even a private room with TV (plus karaoke, if required!) where 10 to 15 people can dine and relax in comfort and privacy. The flexibility also allows for private parties to be accommodated while other parts of the restaurant are still open to the general public.
The main menu is basically Western food, including pastas and salads, with the centerpiece being open-flame barbecued steak -- tenderloin, rib-eye, sirloin and rump -- chicken or fish and ishiyaki (Japanese hot-stone steak or fish, cooked at the table).
Starters and salads are priced from about Rp 30,000 to Rp 40,000. I tried the seafood melon balls salad, which was an interesting combination, although slightly overpowered by the amount of Thousand Island dressing placed on top.
Barbecued surf and turf (Rp 99,500) was a generous portion of steak and prawns blackened just so, with a mushroom sauce. It was served with crispy potato wedges, plus cauliflower, broccoli, green beans and baby corn, boiled minimally so they were all still crunchy.
The usual range of cold drinks --juices, beer and nonalcoholic cocktails -- plus coffee and tea are available. House red and white wines can be ordered by the glass (Rp 45,000) or bottle (Rp 200,000). Groups of diners will be interested to know that beer is available by the pitcher (Rp 85,000), as are margaritas (Rp 200,000) and the cocktail, Long Island Tea (Rp 250,000).
Godeliva also offers a set lunch for Rp 30,000 that includes a soup, main course and dessert, plus a range of buffet packages for party catering. Barbecue buffets (three options) start at Rp 75,000 per person, Western buffets (three) at Rp 70,000 and Indonesian buffets (three) at Rp 65,000, all for a minimum of 30 people. Snack packages are also available for meetings, starting at Rp 35,000 per person for a minimum of 30 people.
Next time you find yourself passing along Jl. Kemang Raya, try making the effort to explore the alley between KFC and Animale -- you could well be pleasantly surprised. Phone in advance if you want to hang out in one of the gazebos on a Saturday night, though, as they are very sought after.
Godeliva Restaurant and Bar Jl. Kemang Raya No. 14B Jakarta Selatan 12730 Tel. 7182730, 7179 2605, fax. 7180549 website: www.godeliva.com Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Tuesdays to Fridays) 11 a.m. to midnight (Saturdays) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sundays) All prices subject to 15.5 percent government tax and service charge. Major credit cards accepted.