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.

Bunga Rampai Restaurant

Address:
Jl. Teuku Cik Ditiro No. 35, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
Telephone (021) 3192-6224/5
Operating Hours: 11.00 - 23.00
Reservations: Recommended
Bungarampai is an upscale traditional Indonesian restaurant that serves high quality Indonesian cuisine with real flavorful depths. With the same owner and management as Kembang Goela, you’ll recognize the look: fresh flowers, white linen, ivory walls, soft lighting, elegant local paintings, and portraits of people from the 14th century. The resident Indonesian chef serves up a wide range of lavish dishes tinged with exotic local flavors in his state-of-the-art Elegance menu. Start with a tasty and tender. Lumpia Ny Liem (deep-fried bamboo shoot spring rolls) or try the Konro Bakar (beef back ribs in a sweet soy and coriander sauce with homemade pickled vegetables). Select from an array of main courses that includes the Sate Bungarampai (assorted meat and seafood skewers), Kerapu Goreng 9deep-fried Kerapu fish served with mango sauce), Nasi Buketan (green rice served with beef satay, fried chicken, ebi, potatoes, eggs, sliced beed, perkedel, and spicy peanut sambal). Another tempting dish is the Palu Marra Bunaken (fish soup cooked with shrimp paste and local starfruit). Bungarampai is not just a restaurant, it’s a state-of-art dining experience.

Bumbu Restaurant

Address: Sheraton Bandara Hotel
Telephone: 559-7777 ext 746
Operating hours: 18.00-23.00
Reservations: Recommended
Named for the mix of spices used in all Indonesian dishes, BUMBU offers authentic Indonesian cuisine at the Sheraton Bandara Hotel, prepared by Chef Rosid Muhammad. The spices are distinctively flavorful but not too spicy for the average diner. Featured starters include Selada Daging Sapi Manis Pedas (tossed grilled beef salad in chili-citrus dressing with cucumber, tomatoes, and coriander). Among popular main courses are Ikan Kerapu Tausi (fried whole grouper with chili-black bean sauce) and Sari Laut Asam Pedas (steamed king prawns, grouper filet, scallops, and mussels with hot and sour soup). The selection of ingredients assures that dishes are consistently at their freshest and finest. The most popular dish on the menu is Udang Karang Bakar atau Panggang Mentega Pedas (grilled lobster with chilli-tomato sauce, served with a dash of garlic-and-butter sauce). The quick-fried Medallions of Australian Beef Tenderloin in Green Chili Sauce are a most and tender meat dish, whilst the Bebek Betutu (Balinese steam-roasted duck in banana leaves) is another must-try item. Bumbu is currently open for dinner only.