Finding fine restaurants in the heart of Jakarta

Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta

"Do you want the food to be warmed in the microwave, sir?" asked a waiter at Pelangi Cafe inside Hotel Ambhara near the block M area, to my great surprise after letting the food I had ordered go untouched for almost an hour due to a long conversation with an important guest.

"What service!" whispered my friend who did not expect to receive such additional service from the seemingly ordinary restaurant in one of Jakarta's medium-sized hotels. We quickly agreed to have the already cool food heated in the microwave.

When the same waiter asked whether I wanted my Mustang Lamb Chops to be heated again in the microwave, I nodded too though I felt uneasy when realized that this waiter had actually been watching us for almost an hour, conversing without touching the food.

Certainly, warm food is more delicious than the that which has cooled down. The waiter at the hotel applied this simple wisdom to enhance not only the experience of savoring the delicacy but also the quality of service for the restaurant guests.

Jakarta certainly has many great restaurants with unique specialties. Some are led by foreign chefs such as those from Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Those restaurants offer undoubtedly delicious delicacies to their visitors.

But what attracts people to dine in a restaurant is not just delicious food, but also good, comfortable surroundings that make it nice for dining with either with family members or their special guests.

Finding a good restaurant with delicious food, comfortable surroundings and a human touch from the staff, not just through broad smiles at the restaurant door, but also attentive services to the guests' can be a joyful discovery.

Jakarta's JW Marriott Hotel is doing its best to offer such joy. If you are fans of authentic Korean Cuisine, such as Kimchi, new versions of the Korean Hot Pot, Gul-bang e-mu Jim, Bulgogi, do not miss this month's Food for the 'Seoul' at the Sailendra Restaurant. Chef Young Pyo Hong has flown in especially for the event from Seoul.

Japanese cuisine enthusiasts may pamper their taste buds with popular dishes such as Robatayaki, Teppanyaki, Kobe Beef Teriyaki and the Tokyo set course in JW Marriott's Asuka Japanese Restaurant.

The English-speaking Japanese resident chef Yoshikatsu Miyazaki brings the experience of Japan to the heart of Jakarta.

Located on the hotel's third floor, Asuka evokes the memory of old and historical Japan with a touch of modernity in its six separate dining rooms, namely the Robata room with 10 seats, Teppanyaki room with 12 seats, two main dining rooms with 48 seats. The Sushi counter can accommodate 11 diners and two tatami (rice straw floor mat) rooms can accommodate up to 12 people each.

To ensure authentic taste, Miyazaki imports practically all ingredients from his home country, including most of the fish and sauce ingredients. Be careful if you are not accustomed to Japanese horseradish paste, known as wasabi, with its warm and unique sensation that permeates up to the inner part of your nose.

For beef fanatics, do not forget to savor the highly recommended grilled Kobe beef. The meat of Kobe's specially bred cattle is so tender that every bite enhances the deliciousness of fine dining.

The cozy atmosphere created by an elegant, minimalist interior design with a great open view on to one of Jakarta's main roads and friendly crew makes Asuka one of the recommended places for fine dining in Jakarta.

For those who plan to invite guests with different appetites, the Melt Restaurant on the ninth floor of the BRI II tower can be a good choice. Serving Western, Japanese and Thai dishes, Melt provides a broader choices of delicacies.

The open kitchen concept enables guests to have a look at the cooking process of their ordered delicacies. While savoring one of the finest Japanese meats, especially Matsusaka Beef, guests can observe the skillful movement of Chef Abdul Malik as he slices fish in a true Japanese way.

Though being Indonesian, Malik has years of experience in pampering guests with Japanese cuisine. The thinly sliced raw fish is for the sashimi, and his knowledge of all the Japanese ingredients are proof of his true devotion to Japanese cooking.

Opened a year and a half ago, Melt also has a monthly promotion. This month's promotion offers guests 50 percent savings from Monday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. There is also a 50 percent discount offered for drinks, snacks and their Cozmo Lunch from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A daily discount of 15 percent is given every night.

Its strategic location at precisely the center of Jakarta's CBD Sudirman Road, its friendly staff, who even remember the preferences of regular customers, cozy atmosphere with soft jazz music or live performances on the piano and guitar and broader choices of Japanese, Thai and Western foods constitute the strengths of this restaurant.

Also in Central Jakarta, is the Hotel Borobudur's various restaurants. Located a little off the beaten path on the fringes of the main business district near the city's oldest Catholic cathedral, it enjoys a serenity rarely found in Jakarta.

Three choices of fine dining are tailored to meet the guests' needs. For Indonesian food buffs, particularly the popular "Sop Buntut", the delicious Javanese oxtail soup, Bogor Cafe would be the choice.

Lovers of Italian food may find their favorite cuisine at the hotel's Bruschetta restaurant. This elegant restaurant is known for its refined and innovative gourmet cuisine complemented by a fine selection of Italian wines.

With lively, yet comfortable surroundings and an excellent view of the tropical garden, it features a wood fired pizza oven, and is probably one of the better places to have a fruitful business lunch or a romantic dinner for two.

Again for Japanese food fanatics, Borobudur's Miyama Japanese Restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine and a wide selection of Teppanyaki, Sushi and Tempura dishes, and there is also a good selection of sake at the Sake Bar.

For those fond of Chinese food, the hotel's Teratai Chinese Restaurant may be the place to satisfy your hunger for a true oriental taste. Elegantly designed with fine decor, the Teratai Chinese Restaurant brings you authentic Cantonese dishes prepared by three Hong Kong Chefs. The Dim Sum Brunch is served every Sunday and on public holidays.

Jakarta still has many fine dining places that can serve as oases amid the city's congested roads. But finding the perfect one to dine in and socialize in with guests requires a bit of searching. When you have found your favorite place, it will bring you the joy of discovery.