Staid ol' Tavern goes on 'reenergization' trip
Staid ol' Tavern goes on 'reenergization' trip
Bill Blade, Contributor, Jakarta
The Aryaduta Hotel has been eagerly spreading the word that the
its rather sedate Tavern Pub has gone and gotten itself all
"reenergized".
Reenergized? Wasn't that something that only happened to
Captain Kirk and his intrepid band of space voyagers?
What could it all mean? With a companion in tow, I decided
that it was high time to take a trip down Senen way in Central
Jakarta to investigate.
Hours: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week.
Here's lookin' at you: Well, contrary to initial expectations,
the much vaunted "reenergization" certainly didn't have anything
to do with the decor. The place, apart from a few cosmetic
changes, was more or less just about the same as the last time I
had a night out there a long two years ago.
"Mexican Hacienda" is the predominant theme, although it's all
done in the best possible taste (apart from the fact that the
"vintage" cricket posters plastered up here and there do seem to
be somewhat out of place).
With lots of Spanish arches and dark, cozy nooks and crannies,
this is the perfect place for a long, romantic evening, helped
along by the fact that the ladies get treated to a glass of
sparkling wine gratis, while the lads can glug to their hearts'
content thanks to an all day buy-one-get-one-free offer right up
until the end of May (draft beer only).
If you're on your own, don't despair for the Tavern's bar is
just about as inviting and comforting as you're likely to find
anywhere (there's also a side bar where those who can't hack the
music can pose in splendiferous isolation).
Jutting out from the wall and fronting the stage, the main bar
is a big, square, heavy wooden affair that lends an air of
venerable solidity and age to the whole joint, helped along by
the Tavern's equally solid tables, chairs and stools.
With low ceilings and dark stained timber beams, the whole
ensemble wouldn't be all that out of place in Zorro, while at the
same time being comforting and consoling in a boozy, womb-like
sort of way, if you follow my drift.
Neither is the din produced by the band, almost within
touching distance of the main bar, overwhelming. In fact, the
Tavern has an amazing sound system that ensures by some miracle
of modern technology that the volume is at just about the same
pitch all over the pub.
Speaking of the band, it would appear that herein lies the
secret of the whole reenergization mystery. Imported from the
Grand Hyatt in Bali, Music Maker Band (yes, that's what they've
contrived to call themselves), seems to be regarded as the bee's
knees when it comes to pub entertainment. And, truth to tell,
they're not half bad, although I don't know that they're quite
enough on their own to elevate the Tavern onto an entirely new
plane of existence.
Fronted by two delectable ladies and a long-haired gentleman
in excruciatingly tight, white jeans, the seven piece group churn
out the golden oldies in the tried and trusted way you'd expect
from a hotel pub band -- Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive being
about as radical as you're going to get at this gig.
But, having said all that, they seemed to keep the mostly
middle-aged male punters happy, the mood of the latter no doubt
suitably buoyed up by the demon drink and the gyrations of the
curvaceous chanteuses.
Despite the best efforts of the band, however, the crowd was
still pretty thin on the ground when we were leaving at around
midnight
Bill, please: A glass of ice cold draft Bintang will set you
back Rp 30,000 (but don't forget the perpetual buy-one-get-one-
free promo).
Meanwhile in hard liquor land, a JW Red is to be had for Rp
45,000 per 45 ml glass while a JW Black or a Jack Daniels is
going for Rp 60,000 per 45 ml glass.
As for wine, well ya gets what ya pays for, as the man says,
and in this respect you could end up paying a pretty penny indeed
with prices going all the way up to the, for me at any rate,
uncharted bounds of million-rupiah territory.
For those on a more restricted budget, however, a glass of
Jacob's Creek Chardonnay or Chiraz will set you back a reasonable
Rp 55,000.
There's also a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. when most
drinks are to be had for half price -- with the extra free beer,
the amber nectar can end up being very good value indeed (all
prices exclude a 10 percent service charge and 11 percent tax).
Verdict: There's no doubt about it, the Tavern has got to be
one of the most relaxing and friendly upmarket watering holes in
the big smoke. Just a pity it doesn't seem to be able to pull in
the punters, despite the major marketing effort they've been
putting in recently.
Mind you, perhaps there's many a Tavern regular out there who
might say that's just the way he likes it!