Fountain Cafe brings entertainment to dining out

JAKARTA (JP): At this cafe complex, there are several of, to be more precise, tent cafes, popularly known as warung tenda. The complex is located at a square with a stage for live entertainment at Plaza Senayan, one of the leading shopping malls in the capital. Unlike other mushrooming cafes in the city, these offer more than just food and music. A fountain as the major attraction, gives it the name, the Fountain Cafe.

In fact, the fountain is more impressive than the menus at the 14 cafes. Located at the center of the square, it is about 10 meters in length and width. There is no water pool. The floor is flat and water spouts directly from a series of underground holes, which move in any direction while shorter and taller jets of water and light come from underground. What a beautiful scene.

You might have visited the mall several times but if you've never seen the fountain and are curious, come to the area on the weekend after 7 p.m. and you'll find it.

The Fountain Cafe opens only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting at 6 p.m. until midnight.

The fountain attracts many people, mostly kids, who venture close in curiosity to the fountain square, stepping between the holes from where the water spurts.

On a recent Friday night, not only young children, but older women and men as well were seen playing with the fountain. They were having fun enjoying the water. They walked, ran and even danced in the middle of it. Rain did not stop them either. It seemed that the rain was a complement to having fun and being wet.

If you are lucky you can also see a special dance performance or fashion show there.

Visitors at the cafes are mostly families. The whole family, young and old, can share and enjoy fun together at the square while having meals.

The Fountain Cafe, which was launched in February, is part of the Plaza Senayan complex, which comprises a shopping center, office buildings and apartments. The square remains vacant during weekdays as the fountain occasionally works in the daytime.

An executive at Plaza Senayan, Heru, said the tent cafes initially began operating in July 1998 as an alternative activity to the plaza.

"We are the pioneers in establishing tent cafes at a shopping mall," he said.

Tent cafes are also found at Ambassador Mall on Jl. Casablanca in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Plaza Senayan built the fountain as part of a new arrangement to attract more visitors. Today, there are 14 cafes at Plaza Senayan.

According to Heru, some of the cafe operators previously ran their business around Kebayoran Baru. They moved to Plaza Senayan as it was more promising. Some others, however, left Plaza Senayan to operate at Kampung Tenda Semanggi, a complex of semi- permanent cafes located in the Central Business District, near Jl. Sudirman, which was inaugurated last March.

Heru admitted that there was a drop in the number of visitors since last year, and especially after March, which forced the management to make more of an effort to attract the public.

"We introduced live entertainment in May, with two groups performing each time," he said.

Heru said there were about 2,000 visitors every night during the operating period on the weekend, which was lower than some 5,000 visitors in November last year. "It's because of the recent (security) situation in the capital."

"More people came when there were top performers like Nugie or Joshua," he said, adding that there was usually sponsorship for the artists.

Cafe operators have to pay monthly fees for a space of 40 square meters each and are required to offer "attractive" menus. Heru, however, declined to mention any figure.

A tenant, Hary Riadi, started at Plaza Senayan in July last year.

He said he currently takes in some Rp 3 million during the three operating nights from his Nidya cafe, which offered, among other things, spaghetti and barbecued items.

"It's a bit low compared to the Rp 6 million to Rp 8 million I got in November last year."

He said the only challenge was the wind and the rain. "We have to set up a good tent, especially to avoid heavy rain."

Doddy Nababan, who runs Hilite Cafe, believes the location at Plaza Senayan has better prospects compared to other tent cafe areas.

He expects the customers of Plaza Senayan, who are from the middle to upper classes, to visit the cafes.

"But we also have to consider competitive prices on the menu," he said.

There is no fierce competition among the cafe operators regarding pricing as each of them offers a wide range of food. Therefore, visitors have various choices including Indonesian or western or other kinds of food and drinks. With Rp 10,000, one can have a plate of noodles or a sandwich and a cup of mineral water.

Ade, an employee of a private company, said she often comes there with her boyfriend because of the pleasant atmosphere.

The last time she went there she ordered beef barbecue for only Rp 7,500. "It was good, but the portion was so small. I was still hungry so I ordered fried cheese rice," she said. She paid Rp 8,500 for the rice, and another Rp 6,500 for a glass of "Fantastic Chocolate."

Before returning home, she dropped in at a tent, which sells shoes, to get a pair she ordered two weeks ago for Rp 55,000.

However, you do not have to buy anything to experience the nice atmosphere, play with the fountain and listen to the live music. And there is a lot of space to sit and get relaxed around the square while enjoying the entertainment. (icn/sim)