BrownBag (Sandwich and Coffee)
By
Tibs
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Brownbag is a small restaurant serving sandwiches (all the classics), some popular main courses and drinks (mostly coffee). They also serve Macarons and Poffertjes. The place is comfortable, with soft lounge music, the wifi is fast, and the waiters are professional. My sandwich was a bit expensive and small (74,000rp including tax for the Roast Beef) but it was fresh and good. Overall : I recommend Brownbag for any quick meal at any time of the day if you are staying near Menteng. Update: After a second visit to Brownbag, I realized they only have one CD for the music. Brownbag Jakarta Menteng Central Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto No. 78 - 80
Probably one of the most authentic Arabic restaurants in Jakarta, Hadramout specializes in Yemeni cuisine, particularly Mandi/Madhbi (basmati rice, meat, spices). By coincidence, it is exactly what I ate the day before in Al-Jazeerah in Cikini so I was able to make a useful comparison. I preferred the atmosphere in Hadramout: They give you the possibility to eat directly on the carpet, in small private areas, which is quite unique in Jakarta. I advise you to choose the areas closest to the kitchen, more intimate. On the walls, you'll also find some traditional instruments and artifacts from Yemen. As in Al-Jazeerah, all the waitresses wear the headscarf and the television channels are in Arabic. Of course, no alcohol is served. Concerning the food (Lamb Madhbi for 2, Rp121k++)), Al-Jazeerah was the best. The rice had the same taste, but the lamb in Hadramout was too salty and fatty .
Abunawas is a middle-eastern restaurant, similar to nearby Hadramout , with mostly specialties from the Arabian Peninsula. I was quite disappointed with my experience there. The first time I came, it was 9.15pm and they were closing at 10pm so I was told to come back another day. I did come back, 2 days later, at 8.15pm, and already, the dining rooms upstairs, the nicest ones with a floor-seating area were not available (too late). We sat downstairs, while the staff was busy cleaning up the place, which gave us the feeling we were intruders. The waitress told us then there was no grilled meat available nor almost everything listed on the menu. I didn't keep the bill so I only remember the name of one dish (Mandi Laham). Here are the pictures (total bill was Rp120,000 with drinks):
Al-Jazeerah is among the best and most famous Arabic restaurants in Jakarta. They have several branches now but the one I tried is the original restaurant, which is located on Jalan Raden Saleh. The restaurant doesn't look fancy but it is comfortable and clean. It consists of a large function room, to be avoided if you are a small group, and a smaller one in the back which is much more intimate. They also have a giant screen with Arabic channels. The night I visited, there was about 10 other customers, and all of them looked foreign, most likely Arab. The air-con was very strong and blowing everywhere in the room unfortunately, and it made me leave as soon as I was done eating.
Meat Me Steakhouse & Butchery is a chain of restaurants specializing in local and imported steaks. It serves good quality meat for a reasonable price. You can also buy meat for take-away. Opening Hours: From Sunday to Thursday from 9pm to 11pm (until Midnight on Friday and Saturday) Facebook: Steakhouse Jakarta Twitter: Meat Me Shop and Restaurant Website: Meat Me Steakhouse Email: meatmeshop@gmail.com
I had been to Camden bar in Bandung , but never to their two branches in Jakarta. I corrected this mistake last weekend by visiting both Camden Gandaria and Camden Cikini in one evening. Both bars are very popular, almost any day of the week with a clientele of Indonesians in their early 20s. Cikini's crowd is more upper-class (including a few foreigners - backpackers and interns) while in Gandaria you have mostly young students. Typically, they will buy a beer tower (IDR250,000) and share it at a table with some snacks.
¿Por Que No? was opened in 2015 as a Spanish tapas bar and restaurant in the neighborhood of Menteng, at the northern end of Jalan Rasuna Said. While the food is decent but definitely not haute cuisine, it is an interesting venue to hangout and drink before party. Cocktails are just above Rp100,000 net and Bintang at Rp50,000 net, which is not that bad considering the central location. The food is more expensive and the portions small (obviously, small like tapas). There are 2 different areas, indoor and outdoor. Outdoor is a small rooftop where regular events are organized. In particular, they have some techno nights that attract a young and fun crowd. You also have jazz nights, open mic nights, etc. Check their Facebook page or Instagram below to get their latest schedule.
L'Avenue is the main restaurant of The Hermitage Hotel , a new 5-Star Boutique hotel in Menteng, located steps away from the antique market of Jalan Surabaya. The hotel was built in a historical colonial building, and they tried to reflect this heritage in the design of the restaurant. It is classic, full of marble from the floor to the buffet tables. The feeling of exclusivity is reinforced by the small size of the place, only 60 pax at most. At the time of opening, the Executive Chef of L'Avenue, Chef Guillermo Varela Mata, was Spanish (with origins from South America). He created a menu with a strong French influence. I had the Chicken Breast with Gratin Dauphinois (potatoes with cream and cheese). It is a dish from Southern France that I've eaten a hundred times in my life. The one in L'Avenue was not as good as the one my Grandmother makes, but still very tasty! The portions were too small for my appetite though. There is also a buffet where y
I discovered Chicory Cake Shop & Café randomly while heading to Kuningan from my home. Located on Jalan Sumenep, in the heart of Menteng, they serve a whole range of European pastries: Tarts, croissants, almond combs, choux and financiers. Decorated in an old-fashioned way with wooden bistro tables and chair, it really looks like a tiny "salon de thé" as we have in France. The Pastry Chef is an Australian and he is the one who makes all the pastries everyday. Chicory is surfing on the trend of the French Bakeries and Café recently opened in Jakarta like Paul Bakery in Pacific Place Mall or Eric Kayser in Plaza Senayan. This place is different as it is not a franchise. The quality standards are just as high in my opinion, just like the ones you could get in Europe or in other 5-star hotels in Jakarta. The price is a bit high though, around Rp50,000 for a pastry. Overall: Chicory is a recommended neighborhood pastry shop. It is great for meeting a close fr
Is Jakarta becoming a hipster place ? Yes, if you refer to Awan Lounge, located in Menteng on KH Wahid Hasyim. I discovered this place thanks to a friend and we went there together to have a casual drink before going clubbing. Awan Lounge is located on 9th floor of the Kosenda Hotel, a recent boutique hotel located steps away from Ocha & Bella Restaurant . First advice: don't come with your car since the parking is very small ! Apart from that, I found the place very nice. This is definitely the kind of rooftop bar that this area needed. Kosenda hotel is a boutique hotel with a very unique style: I would define it as hipster but it could also be trendy/relaxing or even Arty-fancy. Awan Lounge is located on the rooftop of the Hotel. The great thing about this place is the view of the Jakarta skyline. You can see Thamrin Residence, Thamrin Executive but also The Plaza and Keraton at The Plaza from this Bar. They have elaborated cocktails starting at 99 K and also f
After Beer Garden Kemang and Beer Garden SCBD, Beer Garden Menteng is now open, right in front of the Oria Hotel, not too far from Ocha & Bella . Same concept, same furniture, even the same Rooftop Bar like in SCBD. Those places really look alike. The place opened in October 2013 but has already a good basis of customers who already went to the other Beer Gardens. Since the place is all open, you would definitely get hot and sweaty, thus drink more beer to refresh yourself ! You get the concept ? Live bands, affordable prices and good choice of imported beers.
Giyanti Coffee Roastery is located on Jalan Surabaya, in Menteng. This place is so cozy ! It is not only a regular coffee place it is a real roastery. What does it mean ? Well, basically when you get in, you will find 2 big coffee roasters. Fresh coffee is sourced in many islands of Indonesia (Toraja, Aceh Gayo, Flores, Java, Padang among others) and is roasted every week in the coffee place. That is why the place is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. The place is quite small actually but that what makes it unique and very comfortable. The owner of the place is always here and he will advice you on what kind of coffee you should have, depending on your tastes and on your mood ! I tried the Gluten-free pastries and that was good, even though I cannot really tell if it was actually gluten-free or not... Price are standard here even though it will be slightly cheaper than a coffee in a Starbucks in a mall. Other particularity of this place: there is a table soccer (or &
Seribu Rasa is one of the most famous Indonesian/Malay restaurants in Jakarta. Located near the Plaza Indonesia roundabout, it is popular with locals and expats , and it is a good venue to experience some of the food specialties from the different islands of Indonesia. I didn't find that the atmosphere inside was exceptional, except if you choose one of the private dining rooms around the fountain. The main room was actually completely full and noisy when we arrived, and I thought it lacked coziness. Also, we had to wait a few minutes before sitting so do make a reservation if you can (Phone number: +62-21 392 8892). They have a great menu with a picture for each one of their dishes, making the picking easy. The prices are high for Indonesian food, but by international standards it is very affordable. You should not pay more that Rp130k (11 euros) per person for a large meal with drink.
Kafe Pisa is an institution in Jakarta. It has been around since 1993, starting in Menteng, with now different branches and activities in Indonesia. I only tried Kafe Pisa in Menteng, which is a really happening place. The live music schedule is impressive: Starting at 9pm every evening, you have a band playing inside or in the open air garden. Each night is different, from jazz to rock & roll with a DJ also. Their website is very well updated and it has the list of events a few weeks in advance ( Kafe Pisa events' schedule ). One of the problems I have with the band is that it can be quite loud. The restaurant is a great hangout spot for you and your friends, but not ok for dates or intimate dinners. The crowd is mostly made of middle-class Indonesians, very few expats now.
Abuba Steak sounded to me like Abuja Steak, the capital of Nigeria, so I had a strong feeling against this restaurant before visiting it... Fortunately, it was a great surprise and a place I recommend to everyone, excluding vegetarians. The outside doesn't look so great and would need some painting. The inside is similar to that of a warung, basic but clean, with some posters of meat ads. You have about 30 tables, and 1/4th of them were taken when I visited. Many people seemed to complain on internet about the smoke of cigarettes, but in the Abuba I visited, in Wahid Hasyim, no smoke at all since there is a private/closed room for smoking. There is also a small musholla for praying in the back... My only concern was that the AC was not functioning very well, so it was a bit hot for eating. Click on the picture to see the menu