Finding fine restaurants in the heart of Jakarta

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.