Dapur Babah Restaurant

Address: Jl. Veteran I No. 18-19 Jakarta Pusat
Telephone: (021) 385-5653
Operating Hours: 11.00 - 23.00
Reservations: Recommended
Dapur Babah is an increasingly popular blast from the past, providing a boost in the preservation movement of old and historical buildings in Jakarta. This fine dining establishment serves the mixed culture that resulted from marriages between Chinese settlers, and the native Javanese women, referred to as Babah. In daily life, the Babah culture in Java developed from the gradual fusion of three cultures living side by side: Chinese, the local Javanese, and Dutch. The fused culture includes a specific dining culture, which encompasses the dining ritual as well as the choice of dishes. The dishes served in Dapur babah are the result of the experiments of the babah wives (known as Nyonya) as well as house-cooks and maids (known as Bedienden) who cooked without any previously documented recipes. The Babah kitchen, with its delicious food and the homey, motherly rituals, inspired the creation of Dapur Babah. The owner/designer of Tugu Hotels and exotic spas by Anhar Setjadibrata is thr proud owner of Dapur Babah.
Dapur Babah showcases the history of the Oei Family, a wealthy Babah family that lived in Java at the end of the 19th century. Dapur Babah keeps the statue of the Goddess of Protection as well as an image of the Oei Family in the kitchen, to give them confidence in the quality of their dishes. Most diners would agree, and we can understand why. Specialties include Nasi Tjampoer Babah (pandanus rice mixed with lavish Javanese crisp-fried shrimp, marinated grated coconut, salutéed tofu and soybean cake in ketjap sauce, marinated beef, stewed vegetables in coconut milk, fricadel van garnalen, chicken cooked in chilli sauce, peanut, Javanese crackers, sambal) served with piping hot and robustly-flavoredly Sayur Lodeh (stewed vegetables in coconut milk). Bebek Goreng Boemboe Lengkuas (half fried duck marinated) in their special galangal sauce) that was served fresh and tasty. Make sure you don’t miss the Wedang Ronde (Babah style sweet ginger dessert with little rice balls filled grilled nuts) served hot before leaving Dapur Babah.

Court Yard Restaurant

Address
Plaza Indonesia, 3rd floor
Jl. MH Thamrin, Jakarta
Telephone: (021) 310-7706
Operating hours: 11.00 – 22.00
Reservations: Recommended
The courtyard at Plaza Indonesia has succeeded in taking classical Chinese cuisine and carefully tweaking it to create elegant contemporary dishes. The first-time diner should not miss the restaurant’s signature Braised Duck (with orange peel in a clay pot). Topping the list of must-try dishes are the Deep Fried Scallop Stuffed Prawns and Stewed Bean Curd with Seafood and X.O. Sauce. Other recommended dishes include Beef Ribs in Black Pepper Sauce, Braised Whole Abalone in Oyster Sauce, and Braised Superior Shark’s Fin and Bird’s Nest Soup. These dishes are something that you cannot afford to miss. If you have room to spare, the chef’s special Fied Chinese Noodles is an excellent side dish. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff about the variety of Dim Sum or vegetarian dishes. Dessert choices are limited, but the flavorful Coffee Pudding and Mango Pudding are deliciously refreshing. The service echoes an Oriental charm that is both courteous and unobtrusive. They know when to pay attention and when to leave customers in peace to enjoy their food. Needless to say, Courtyard only serves the freshest of ingredients to create a perfect combination of flavors. It’s hard to get a table, if you don’t come early. Stop by at Courtyard on your next visit to Plaza Indonesia.

Cilantro Restaurant

Address
Wisma 46 Kota BNI, Level 46
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 1
Jakarta
Telephone: (021) 251-2822
Operating Hours: 10.30 – 22.30
Reservations: Recommended
The indoor dining area of Cilantro has a warm, inviting atmosphere, and tranquil, charming music. The menu is just a page long, but the culinary creations offered are so tempting, you will salor every one of them. Start your meal with exciting dishes that present a delicate blend of flavors, such as the Peking Duck served with plum sauce, or Cilantro Deluxe Four Seasons (four different dishes of prawn cake, jelly fish, beef shank, and maki roll served together in one plate). Or, for something familiar, yet just as satisfying, have a fresh double boiled superior Shark’s Fin with Consommé Soup. Main courses include the Drunken Prawn (live prawns grilled in Chinese wine at your table), Stir fried Beef with Sze Chuan sauce and ‘Nenek Moyang’ Beancurd (stir-fried pok cay, beancurd, and mushrooms mixed with oyster sauce). No run-of-the-mill dessert will do for this classy international restaurant, so save some space for innovative desserts like the Deep Fried Macha and Cilantro’s Strawberry ice Cream. Helping to complete your dining experience is an excellent team of wait staff that impresses with their professional yet lively service.