Jakarta Restaurant Tips by lmkluque

Bengawan Solo Restaurant: Hotel Sahid Jaya Buffet Review

Another fine restaurant in a Five Star Hotel.

I ate here several times and though I was told that it was, "Five Star" I didn't really know what that actually meant. At first walking in, the blast from the air conditioning was a life saver! Yet, after ten or fifteen minutes I felt the heat. Not as it was outside, but much warmer than an air conditioned restaurant I'd go to here in the States.

In any case, the hotel was a very nice one and I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed the food. Each time here, we had the generous and delicious all-you-can-eat buffet in a lovely dining room.

This was one of the places that convinced me that Indonesian food is the best of the best.

Favorite Dish: Everything offered had a very delicious flavor, Sambal Udong (Shrimp in chili sambal) was my favorite, but I had a bit of everything and liked it all.

I can only say that the food was so good I actually forgot about the heat.

Address: Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.86,

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Located at the famed Golden Triangle District in the Grand Sahid Jaya

Phone: (62-21) 570 4444

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Buffet

Website: http://www.grandsahidjaya.com/bengawan.html

Peacock Café: Semi-Formal Dining, Lunch or Dinner Indonesian Review

We had dinner at the Peacock Café, an elegant 24 hour coffee shop that looked more like a Fine Dining Restaurant than any coffeeshop I've been to. I guess that is what I should have expected at a Five Star hotel.

On another day, we had the lunch buffet in another part of this dining room. Both the a la carte menu and the buffet offered delicious and flavorful food and though the cost may be a bit higher, a meal at this place is worth every penny.

At the Peacock Cafe as at all the restaurants I went to, the displayed a sign informing the guests that the food came from "Halal" kitchens, which means that it was prepared properly for Muslims to eat it.

Favorite Dish: The food in this hotel was beyond very tasty. I tried a little of everything from the Indonesian buffet and can recommend it with high praise.

The evening we had dinner here I wasn't feeling well and only ordered a salad. I mention this to say that the salad was small and not really large enough to be considered a meal.

However, order anything on the menu that appeals to you, it will be delicious!

Address: JalanGatot Subroto, Jakarta 10002

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 62215703600

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Kosher/Halal

Website: http://www.sultanhotel-jakarta.com/ppc/

Cafe Venezia: A Popular Meeting Place Indonesian Review

A place to get out of the sun and try to escape the heat. Cafe Venezia was a Steak House & Italian Ice Cream, a Japanese-Korean Barbecue, a Boutique and a favorite meeting place. It was one of a couple of restaurants/cafes on the Campus of the Art Institute.

Sri suggested that I meet her here after wandering around the campus. I was hot and tired when I stopped here. Compared to the outdoors areas, it was cool and I ordered a refreshing drink while waiting for Sri.

Favorite Dish: My comment would be, Don’t drink the Pepsi!

I ordered a Pepsi, it was awful, like dishwater, I tried a Coke and it was perfect.

In all fairness, I didn't have a meal at Cafe Venezia and can't say if the food is good or not. my guess is that it would be pretty good, but no promises.

Address: Jl. Cikini Raya 73,

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: On the Campus of the Jakarta Institute of Art (Taman Ismail Marzuk)

Phone: 3146263 – 65

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Local

Website: http://joglosemar.co.id/isi_ygy.html

Manari: Theater Restaurant Seafood Review

A lovely restaurant which also offered a dinner show of traditional Indonesian dancing.

Favorite Dish: Seafood.

DELICIOUS SEAFOOD! All of it.

Address: Museum Striamandala

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto No.14
Jakarta 12710, Indonesia

Other Contact: Fax. 520411

Phone: 516102, 5204036

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Local