Cozy, romantic, homey aura at Godeliva

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.