AMUZ (French Fine Dining)

Amuz is a French fine-dining restaurant opened in October 2010 by chef Gilles Marx, who previously worked in Riva. The venue sets you in a Parisian décor, circa 1900, with exposed metallic beams, large windows and classy furniture. The clients on that day were mostly rich Indonesian/Chinese women but it might have been just a coincidence...

The menu is classic and should change depending on the availability of seasonal products. A la carte, the price for an appetizer is around Rp200k, and for a main course Rp350k (up to Rp650k). I took the lunch meal, more basic: Rp250k++ for a 3-course set lunch. This is an excellent deal.

I started with the AMUZ gourmet salad, which includes Mesclun Lettuce, Marinated Tomato Olive, Artichoke, Quail Eggs, Shaved Foie Gras Terrine and Hazelnut/Balsamic Dressing. It is not an exceptional dish, but it should be enjoyed for the quality of the ingredients used. In particular, the balsamic vinegar tasted authentic, which is usually rare even in good restaurants.

As a main course, I had the Tender Braised Baby Lamb Shank, with Basil Mash and Kalimata Olive. Again, the dish was simple, with only the basil mash being a bit unusual, but both the cooking and the ingredients made the difference.

To finish I had a delicious, fruity Crème Brulée:

Overall: Recommended. I only experienced the most simple dishes from AMUZ, which were all excellent. Since I'm already quite familiar with French cuisine (I am French), I would have liked to be more surprised with the flavours but this is more a matter of personal taste. I am also a fan of AMUZ's interior design, one of the most elegant you will find in Jakarta. At last, concerning the service, it is friendly but I noticed some problems with the organization (i.e. nobody to greet me upon entering or when leaving). It is no big deal but unusual for such establishments.

Opening Hours:
Open from Monday to Saturday from 11.30am to 2.30pm for lunch and 6pm to 11pm for dinner. No lunch on Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays.

It is usually quite crowded for dinner, especially by the end of the week, so make a reservation first.

AMUZ French Restaurant
The Energy Building, 2nd Floor SCBD Lot 11A
JL. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Jakarta, 12190

Telephone number: +62 21 250 506 or +62 21 250 5064
Fax: +62 21 250 5067
Email : Cheffounder@amuzgourmet.com

Website: http://amuzgourmet.com
Facebook: AMUZ Gourmet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amuzgourmet

Read about my favourite French restaurants in Jakarta on this blog: Jakarta Restaurants (French)