Cuadrilla Restaurant (Kemang)

Cuadrilla is a small restaurant in Kemang, serving Italian, Spanish and Greek food. It has only a few tables and the prices are affordable. I tried the Greek Salad (47,000rp++) and the Pita Bread with Tzatziki (23,000rp ++).

Considering the price, it was very decent. The Paella seems to be their signature dish so I would be happy to come back to try it.

Overall: Recommended for lunch if you live in Kemang. They had fast wifi too and the waiters were very friendly. The music played was Latin mostly, including Bossa Nova, Manu Chao, and maybe Bonga (?).

Cuadrilla Restaurant Kemang
Jalan Benda No 1D (near Beer Garden Kemang)
Kemang, South Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 782 0188

Facebook: Cuadrilla Resto Kemang
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cuadrillaresto 

Opening Hours:

Everyday from 11am to 11pm

E&O Jakarta (Restaurant, Bar)

E&O (Eastern and Oriental) is a trendy, upmarket restaurant, bar and lounge located in Mega Kuningan, not far from its main competitor in the area, Loewy (which has the same owner actually, also behind Union).

The kitchen is headed by Chef Will Meyrick, behind the famous restaurants Mamasan and Sarong in Bali. The cuisine in E&O is actually similar with that of Mamasan: Western dishes with a twist of Asia (or the contrary).

The menu is long and full and discoveries. We had lunch or dinner there quite a few times and the food can be hit-and-miss as some of the food combinations can be audacious.

Overall: If you want to discover original unique cuisine in a refined restaurant, with an upmarket crowd and atmosphere, E&O is your place.

Opening hours:
Everyday from 11am to 2am.

E&O Jakarta

Menara Rajawali, Ground Floor, Jalan Anak Agung Gede Agung

Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 576 1645

Email: reservations@eandojakarta.com or info@eandojakarta.com

Website: EO Jakarta
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eandojakarta
Facebook: E&O Mega Kuningan
Instagram: E&O Will Meyrick

Mariette's House (Alam Sutera)

Mariette's House is a surprising little café located among the rukos (small shops and offices) accross the road from Living World Alam Sutera Mall. They serve mostly coffee, not expensive, and small snacks that I imagine taste average.

It is very very quiet, I stayed 3 hours and no customers came in.

Overall: I would still recommend it as it is very cosy and homey.

Mariette House
Ruko Alam Sutera Town Center 10C No. 16, Tangerang 15235 (in front of Mall Alam Sutera Living World)

Phone number: +62-21 825 72902

Whatsapp: 085715115849
Email: mariette.house@gmail.com

Facebook: Mariette House
Website (with Menu): http://mariettehouse.tumblr.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariettehouse

Opening Hours: 

Everyday from 12pm to 9pm (2pm to 11pm on Saturday)

Ismaya Catering Co. (Grand Indonesia) - The People's Choice

Ismaya Catering Co (Changed its name to People's Choice in 2014) is usually one of the busiest cafés in the level 5 of Grand Indonesia, which is already the most interesting area in the mall for dining/hanging out.

It is rather basic, and it is actually just an extension of their catering company, whose office is next to the cafe. Its success probably comes from the simplicity behind it, and from its hybrid status office/café. It is a bit confusing but I think the objective for Ismaya is to promote their catering business through this outlet.

The menu is rather small, but a new one is coming soon. Currently, it does not have anything special: Ismaya Catering Co. serves the usual mix of Asian and Western favourites + a lot of junk food. The prices are rather low for a café in Grand Indonesia from Ismaya (50,000rp++ for an appetizer and 75,000rp++ for a main course).

The best thing about the place is the atmosphere. The music selection was very good and it got me pumped up at 2pm. It is also rather busy so you can easily spend an afternoon there looking at people pass by (yes that's what I like to do).

Overall: I would come back but only for a drink or a small snack. Hopefully their new menu will be extended and feature more original dishes.

Ismaya Catering Co. Jakarta
Grand Indonesia - West Mall, Level 5

Phone number: +62-21 2358 1157

Mobile phone: 0818 897 878
Email :catering@ismayagroup.com

Facebook: Isamaya Catering Co.
Twitter: Ismaya Catering Indonesia
Website: http://www.ismaya.com/micro/read/ismayacatering

Nip and Dram (Whisky Bar)

Nip and Dram is a Whisky and Fine Spirit bar located in Landmark Center near Jalan Sudirman. In Jakarta, it is as close as it gets from a true Gentlemen's Club. While it is not member's only, it is clearly targeting a male, upper-class crowd. Women are allowed of course, but the feel of the bar is very masculine.

The team behind it is a group of 10 people, Indonesians and Expats, among which (from what the waiter told me) the owner of Blue Bird, the previous GM of Keraton at the Plaza (Klaus Woizik) or the previous GM of Buddha Bar Jakarta (Bogdan Vlase).

The prices are among the highest of any other bars in Jakarta. Cocktails start at 165,000rp++ and the (extensive) list of alcohols includes bottles costing up to 50 million rupiah per unit. They also sell cigars.

Nip and Dram is dark and intimate, with live music 4 times per week (Jazzy on Wednesday and Thursday, Top 40 on Friday and Saturday). It is recommended if you are looking for a classy, quiet place to have a drink, and of course if you enjoy alcohols that are not always available elsewhere in Jakarta.

They also have a kitchen, but I didn't try any of the dishes.

Nip and Dram Jakarta

The Landmark Centre II

Jalan Jend. Sudirman No. 1, GF

Jakarta, Indonesia 12910

Phone number: +62-21 5790 3991

Email: bogdan.vlase@nipanddram.com

Opening Hours:

From Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 1am.

From Friday to Saturday from 5pm to 3am.

Twitter: Nip & Dram Whisky Bar
Instagram: Nipanddram
Facebook: Nip and Dram Jakarta

Mojo Bar + Kitchen (Jakarta)

It is only recently that I discovered Mojo Kitchen & Bar. It is small and unpretentious, similar with Treehouse in Kemang. It has a great location at the intersection of Jalan Senopati and Jalan Kertanegara, one of the most expensive residential areas in Jakarta.

They have great music, a cozy atmosphere, and a menu featuring Korean, Californian and Mexican dishes. I didn't try any of their food though, only a cocktail. Please comment if you have been there.

Overall: Recommended for a drink after work.

Mojo Bar & Kitchen Jakarta
Jalan Kertanegara No. 70, Senopati
South Jakarta, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 9200 0529
Email: mojo@lax-indonesia.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eat_MOJO 

Facebook: Mojo Jakarta

Opening Hours:

Every day from 11am to Midnight (until 1am on Friday and Saturday)

Bistronomy (Jakarta)

 

I was very surprised with my visit of Bistronomy. Because of its name, which sounds modern, I was expecting a regular wannabe-trendy restaurant like many can be found in Jakarta.
 

Bistronomy is actually the contrary. It is a vintage restaurant, inside a house in a residential area, where every details has been made to fit with the theme (the uniforms, the menu, the design, etc). For those who know, it looks similar with Balique restaurant in Bali.

The menu has all the favourite, typical dishes of any restaurants in Jakarta (Cheeseburger, Spaghetti Bolognese, Nasi Goreng... ) and some more original (Ceviche, Shoya Fondue). I tried the Sandwich à la Méditerranée (75,000rp++).

I was quite disappointed by this dish for a few reasons: The bread was just plain white bread (probably industrial). It was impossible to eat it like a normal sandwich with hands so I had to use a fork and a knife. It was quite heavy on the sauce too and the taste very average. It is really too bad the owners of Bistronomy spent so much time on the design and marketing of their restaurant and apparently so little in the kitchen.

Sandwich à la Méditerranée: How do you eat it?

Regarding the service, it was very good (the waitresses were smart enough to do some upselling on three occasions) but I found it a bit strange that nobody was standing outside of the place to welcome guests.

Overall: I could come back to Bistronomy for its atmosphere, but certainly not for the food. I found out that it belongs to the Kawano group (http://www.kawanointl.com/) which has some excellent restaurants in the city (Sakana or The Grill). Since it is Japanese, I would say that maybe you have to stick with the Japanese food and not go for any of the Western dishes (especially the French ones).

As I was about to leave Bistronomy, the music playing was "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, immediately followed by "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion. It made me go away, but in the taxi I thought the place could be perfect to bring a date, especially if she is Indonesian. Bistronomy is kitsch, but it is romantic.

Bistronomy Jakarta
Jalan Ciranjang (Cinuru 1 No. 2)
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan
Phone number: +62-21 709 6655

Email : Bistronomy@kawanointl.com

Facebook: Bistronomy Jakarta
Twitter: Bistronomy
Corporate Facebook page: Kawano Group
Corporate Website: Kawano International Indonesia

Opening Hours:

Everyday from 11am to 11pm (until 1am on Friday and Saturday)

Istanbul Turkey Restaurant (Kemang, Ampera)

Istanbul Turkey is a Turkish Restaurant located on Jalan Ampera, not too far from Kemang. It was opened recently by a Turkish national who owns other venues in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The place gave me a very good first impression as it was mostly crowded with Middle-eastern people. It doesn't look very upmarket, but it is authentic, clean and comfortable.

I tried the Iskender Meat Lamb and Beef (135,000rp). It found it was excellent, but I couldn't tell you how the original dish is supposed to taste like since I never had it before.

Iskender Lamb and Beef

As there were many Turkish customers, I imagine it must be pretty authentic.

There is Live Music (Arab and Turkish) with Belly Dancers on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night. They also have all kinds of Shishas.

Overall: Istanbul Turkey is a cheaper alternative to Turkuaz or Anatolia if you are looking for Authentic Turkish food in Jakarta.

Istanbul Turkey Turkish Restaurant Jakarta
Jalan Ampera Raya No. 7 

Kemang , Jakarta, Indonesia 12560

Phone number: +62-21 78836363

Email: istanbulturkeycafe@gmail.com

Website: http://www.istanbulturkeyrestaurant.com
Facebook: Istanbul Jakarta

Halo Niko (Greek Restaurant Jakarta)

Halo Niko is the second Greek Restaurant I try this week in Jakarta. It is a very homey place, owned by a mixed couple Indonesian/Greek. The decoration is not Greek though, it looks like a cute warung with an outdoor and an indoor area.

There music was a CD of oldies songs, which unfortunately I heard 3 times in a row...

Their menu is large, featuring all the famous dishes of Greek Cuisine with some Javanese ones.

I was not so hungry so I only tried their Greek Salad (70,000rp ++). It was good but it had too many capers and seasoning. The one I had the day before in El Greco was better in my opinion (and slighty cheaper).

Overall: I really like Halo Niko. It is very small and it feels like home. Even though the food was not extraordinary, I would be happy to give them a second try to experience more items.

Warung Halo Niko!
Warung Yunani & Jawa
Gedung Promenade (ACE Hardware Parking Area)
Jalan Warung Buncit Raya No 98, South Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 7919 1227
Website: Halo Niko Greek Restaurant Jakarta
Email HaloNiko: halo@haloniko.com

Opening hours:
Everyday from 9am to 10pm (opens at 12am on Sunday)