Publik Markette vs Caffé Milano
By
Tibs
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Following the opening of Central retail store and Uniqlo in Grand Indonesia, there has been a few new restaurants opening in this part of the mall. The two most popular are Publik Markette and Caffè Milano. I tried both of them for a quick double lunch on a weekday. In that same area, you also have Union Deli, Benedict and Nomz that I did not visit. Publik Markette was opened by Ismaya ( SKYE , Kitchenette , Pizza e Birra , Fook Yew, etc) and Caffé Milano is owned by the same people behind Union (some of which are also shareholders in Loewy , E&O and Cork & Screw ). The Union group's venues, concept and design, are more geared towards Westerners while Ismaya's concepts are very popular among local Indonesians and less among expats (except for a few venues such as Dragonfly ). Ismaya is usually more playful, more creative and innovative, while Union stays more classic and chic. Caffè Milano:
AW is a restaurant which was opened by a celebrity Chef (one more) named Akira Watanabe. I had never heard of that name and I am pretty sure you haven't either. From what I could find on the internet, he participated in a TV show called Iron Chef in 2009. He then probably read a book about how to turn one's name into a brand and went on to open several restaurants in Japan. The staff told me that he only came to Jakarta for a few days for the opening, then left and never came back. The current Chef is still Japanese though. Unlike what you could expect, the food in AW Kitchen is Italian, mostly pasta. It is rather expensive, but still reasonable considering you are in one of Jakarta's most luxurious malls. The service was friendly but they did quite a big mistake as they brought my appetizer and my main course at the exact same time. The setting of the restaurant is fine as well, with a few original touches.
The Italian Restaurant Mamma Rosy is quite unique in Jakarta. To my knowledge, it is the only one which is entirely managed by an Italian expat family. At the top, you have Daniel Vigone, the main owner and manager, his mom (Mamma Rosy) who is behind the kitchen, and several other family members which I could not identify but seemed like their children/wife/sister. To see the whole family in the restaurant and in the kitchen gives you quite a good first impression and makes you feel instantly at home. If you have a bit of imagination, you could even feel as if you went to Italy...
Altitude is a group of 3 restaurants located on the 46th floor of the Plaza tower, one of the most expensive office buildings in Jakarta (also home the the Keraton hotel). 46th floor, yes: Great view of course, but make sure to book in advance and ask for a table near the window (if possible in the angle of the building). Luckily for my wallet, I only tried one of the three restaurants, Gaia, the Italian. The food was good, but not spectacular for the price: 550k for one appetizer and one main course. The quality of the service and the attention that we got, not only from the waiters but also from the managers, including 3 foreigners, may have been what we are really paying in the restaurant. One thing felt very wrong: The music was clubbing style and they only had one CD. So we had Gangnam Style and Party Rock Anthem twice each in one evening. That's twice too much. In Altitude, there is also an Australian Steak House (Salt Grill) and a Japanese (Enmaru) that I haven
PEPeNERO is a chain of Italian restaurants in Bali and Jakarta. They are almost copies of the Trattoria restaurants, so you can read my review about it also. I visited the PEPeNERO in Menara Karya, during lunchtime, and it was packed with both locals and expats. If you come with a group of people, I think you should always book in advance. The menu is large, written in Italian and English. Prices for a starter is around Rp50,000++, for main dish around Rp80,000++, and for a pizza around Rp50,000++.
There is a wide range of Italian restaurants in Jakarta, from fast-food pizza chains to fine dining options. I have tried, or heard of, the majority of the good places in Jakarta, and I hope this page will help you decide where you will find your favourite Italian food in the city. Among the chains of restaurants, there are two names that are above the competition: Izzi Pizza and Pizza Marzano . The last one is actually a British brand, but they make thin crust pizza and they have a whole Italian menu. In none of these venues you will eat authentic Italian, but they have fair standards when it comes to quality and service. They can be found a bit everywhere, more specifically in malls, and the average price for a pizza is Rp80,000 and Rp60,000 for a plate of pasta. In the same price range, I advise you to try Pepenero and Trattoria , two favourites among Jakarta expats. Without sacrificing taste, they offer excellent value dishes in a quite authentic atmosphere. If you ar
Ocha & Bella is a restaurant in Morrissey Hotel (ex-Citadines) which opened in March 2011. I didn't try the food there yet, only the cocktails, so I will keep this blog review short. For me, Ocha & Bella is one of the most charming modern-design restaurant in Jakarta. Its designer, Willis Kusuma, is also behind Social House and Pesto , but it reminds me even more of Maja House in Bandung. Ocha & Bella has a different vibe whether you sit near the bar, in the open-air garden, or in the main dining room. For this reason, I think it is suitable for any occasions: Dates, late drinks with colleagues, hang-out, or even solo.
Rosso is the fine dining Italian restaurant of the 5-star Shangri La . In the same hotel you may also find Satoo , a top-notch all-day buffet restaurant, and B.A.T.S , a popular expat bar. I visited on a Monday night and it was almost full, with mostly expatriates and business travelers. Consequently, though the waiters were very efficient, they were not always immediately available and it gave me the impressions they were understaffed. The design of Rosso is chic and modern, with a high, painted ceiling. The sitting is comfortable, on sofas or in a booth, and the tables are distant enough to allow for private conversation. There is also a cozy lounge in Rosso's smaller room. I didn't try the wine, but there seems to be quite a large selection on the menu.
In 1996, Toscana was one of the first Italian restaurants to open in Jakarta. Since then, its reputation has grown and for many people, it is the best of them. Though it is an upmarket restaurant, you will notice that the interior is very simple. Actually, in my younger years I was working as a waiter in an Italian restaurant and it looked just like Toscana. Also, the service is fast and friendly.
Trattoria is an excellent, good-value Italian restaurant in Indonesia . Except for their steaks, most of the dishes in Trattoria are very affordable and taste just as good as in Europe. That's very rare in Jakarta! I have been a regular for a few years already, for every occasion: Lunch with colleagues, dinner with friends, dates, etc.. It used to be full of expatriates, but now you will find most customers are Indonesians. The service is very friendly and efficient, and very often, you'll see the Italian manager (or owner?) around.