Bobby D's (Kemang)

I haven't been to Bobby D yet, but it was recommended by a reader of Jakarta100bars. His comment was:

"Hi Thibaud, I'm in bobby D's now and haven't found a review for it on your site. It's a nice layout, apparently the guy that owns it is Australian. Had some food here which was quite nice.

The staff are quite friendly here too. They have a pool table as well...check it out :)"

I checked their facebook (where I took the photos) and it looks like a simple place with quite many events of all kind: Salsa, Sports, Sexy Night, Cuban, live music...  The prices seem reasonable too... Probably a good restaurant and bar to socialize in Kemang...

If you want more info, check one of the following:

Website: www.indoheart.com
Twitter : twitter.com/bobbyds_jakarta
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/BobbyDsRestaurant
Facebook:  Bobby D's Kemang

Bobby D's Restaurant and Bar

The Mansion at Kemang, Shopping Arcade GF 001-003

Jl. Kemang Raya No.3-5

Phone number: +62-21 2905 5488/99

HP: 081808048894/93

BB Pin: 275fo2cf

Email: bar@indoheart.com / event@indoheart.com

Opening Hours:

Every day from 10am to Midnight.

Bubur Kwang Tung (Open 24-Hour)

Bubur Kwang Tung is an institution in Jakarta, especially for late-night clubbers. Open 24-hour and located in Pecenongan, not far from many nightlife venues, it is similar with Kamseng, located on Jalan Mangga Besar. It is mostly popular for its rice porridges (bubur in Indonesian) but it serves also a complete menu of Chinese (Cantonese) dishes.

We visited it well after midnight after a fun evening of exploring live dangdut café, and we were both very happy with the taste of our porridge. I was even surprised I liked the food so much as I'm normally not a fan at all of it.

Overall: A must-try in Jakarta, especially after a night of clubbing. If you are a celebrity, you'll eat for free and you can have your picture on the wall too...

Bubur Kwang Tung
Jalan Pecenongan No 671
(near Red Top Hotel)
Central Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 386 5688
+62-21 345 8267

Website: http://www.buburkwangtung.com/
Facebook: Bubur Kwang Tung Jakarta

Open everyday, 24-hour.

Arabian Tent Café (Shisha Lounge)

 

Arabian Tent is the Arabic café next to the famous restaurant Al-Jazeerah (see my review about it on this blog here). To date, I can say this is the most authentic shisha lounge you will find in Jakarta. Most of the patrons are foreigners from various Arab countries (mostly Saudi Arabia), and you'll probably be wondering if you are still in Indonesia...

Overall: Arabian Tent is a good find. We just tried a tea and a shisha, both were very good. but unfortunately I didn't feel comfortable nor welcome there. For this reason, personally I would not go back.

I noticed that many Indonesian girls were there, I wonder what kind of relationship they had with the clients...

 

Arabian Tent Café

Jalan Raden Saleh No.58,
Jakarta 10336, Indonesia

Siera or Pujasera Nightclub (Mangga Besar)

Jakarta nightlife still surprises me... The latest unexpected find was Siera which I had heard of before but never had the chance to visit... People also call it Pujasera, but I was unable to understand which name was the proper one...

Siera is located on Jalan Mangga Besar, about 1 kilometer East of Jalan Hayam Wuruk. It is not too difficult to find but you should be attentive not to miss it. It looks like a Roman temple, with a colourful lighting.

You have to pay about Rp20,000 to get in, and for this price you will get a small bottle of water. Inside is really crowded, until morning. The club is like a long corridor, maybe a 100 meters deep, with at least 500 people, maybe a 1000. If you were on the dancefloor at the end of the corridor and suddenly there was a fire, you'll have no chance to escape. It is very likely that 90% of the customers have taken drugs, and I would imagine that all girls in this place are working. As the price and facilities are quite cheap, it attracts a crowd of middle class Indonesian, with few Chinese.

The music is very aggressive and loud, and personally I couldn't stand to stay more than 10 minutes in the club. I took a few pictures, which are unfortunately quite dark, but I have a video that captures well its essence.

Overall: Recommended place for those wishing to explore the undergrounds of Jakarta nightlife. Also good for anybody who wants to experiment the contradictions of the capital of the largest Muslim country on earth.

Pujasera / Siera Discotheque
Jalan Mangga Besar 65, North Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 659 2445

Abunawas (Arab Food)

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):

Mandi Laham

Second dish

Of the two dishes, the Mandi Laham was fine, especially thanks to the sambal, but the lamb was a bit dry. We didn't enjoy the second one, which was oily with low-quality/hard-to-chew meat.

Overall: Abunawas has a nice design from the outside, and the private areas upstairs can certainly be cozy if you come with a small group. Yet, it feels touristy and unauthentic, while the food is average at best. I also think I've rarely seen a restaurant with such a bad organization: The opening hours are a joke, 3/4 of the dishes on the menu were not available, the drinks came after our main dishes (that came separately as well), etc... Not recommended, even though it has potential if the management improves.

Opening Hours: 

Everyday from 10am to 10pm

Abunawas Restaurant
Jalan Matraman Raya No. 15 (Next to the Pramuka flyover)
Pegangsaan, Menteng,

Central Jakarta, 10320

Phone number: +62-21-8583914/859 10 322
Fax : +62-21 - 859 10 323

Website: http://abunawas.web44.net/

Al-Tahrir (Egyptian Restaurant)

Al-Tahrir is a Middle-Eastern/Egyptian restaurant located in Pasar Festival, on Jalan Rasuna Said. Intended as a meeting point for the Egyptian community in Jakarta, it is named after Tahrir square in Cairo. The most interesting is that it is supposed to stay open 24-hour (see 24-hour restaurants in Jakarta), one of the only venue to do so in the area.

Concerning the food, it is rather cheap, but what I had tasted average. The Chicken Shawarma (Rp30,000) was made in the Egyptian way, with only tomatoes, peppers and the meat. I usually prefer when there are more ingredients (onions, white sauce, garlic, herbs, etc...), hence my disappointment. I also tried the Mixed Grilled Meat (Rp110,000), which is quite big for one person. The cooking was fine, particularly the sauce and the spices, but the ingredients used were probably not the best quality. There are no miracles, you get what you pay for.

Chicken Shawarma (Rp30,000++)

Mixed Grilled Meat (Rp110,000++)

Overall: I didn't sample enough dishes to give a definitive opinion about Al-Tahrir, but for sure, it is not the place where you will enjoy the best Middle Eastern food in Jakarta. Yet, the owner and staff are so friendly that this restaurant is still a venue I would recommend for a light meal or to hang-out. Apart from the main room, you also have an outdoor terrace, perfect for a drink (no alcohol served) or for shisha.

Operating Hours:

Open 24-Hour, everyday (Since it just opened, they may change that so call them before to make sure)

Al Tahrir (near Taman Rasuna)

Egyptian and Middle Eastern Restaurant Jakarta

Pasar Festival Blok LG 02A

Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav C-22

Jakarta 12920

Phone number: +62-21 5263 187

Bali Jimbaran (Jakarta Seafood Restaurant)

 

Bali Jimbaran is one of the many seafood restaurants located near Mangga Dua, opposite ITC on Jalan Gunung Sahari. I chose to visit Bali Jimbaran particularly because it had the brightest outside sign, and also because it was the most crowded.

The restaurant is large, with two dining areas on two floors. First, you can select your fresh seafood and fish, and then watch how the cook prepares it in the open-kitchen. It is not a beautiful venue: There is no real decoration, the hygiene looks average, the road nearby is noisy and the aircon is not working properly. As in any open-air restaurants in Jakarta, beware of the mosquitoes as well. On the "plus" side, it looks authentic and the prices are cheap.

We ordered quite many dishes, among which Fish, Squid, Sea Shells and Prawns. I cannot find the bill anymore but the cost was around Rp150,000 (for 2 people). The grill was not available so they fried everything, which proved a bad idea because the cooking oil used was not good quality and they put too much of it. I remember I was quite disappointed, but I still don't know if it is because of the taste of my food, or because I didn't get exactly what I had in mind. My friend was not as severe as myself and he told me he enjoyed his meal a lot, especially the prawns.

 

Overall: I think Bali Jimbaran serves average food, not worth the ride to Mangga Dua if you don't live nearby. They could probably improve the overall atmosphere also, because as it is now, it is far from resembling any restaurants from Jimbaran in Bali...

Opening Hours:

Everyday, from 11am to midnight

Bali Jimbaran Gunung Sahari

Jl. Gunung Sahari Ancol no: 6A, Jakarta Utara
Phone number: +62-21 641 5119/ 641 5120

Facebook: Bali Jimbaran Ikan Bakar

Also in Muara Karang and Jalan Juanda:
Jl. Muara Karang Raya no: 121, Jakarta Utara
Phone number: +62-21 666 01901 / 666 01903

Jl. Ir. H. Juanda Raya no: 31B, jakarta Pusat
Phone number: +62-21 384 5215 / 386 5776

Bebek Bengil (Jakarta Branch)

Bebek Bengil is a Balinese restaurant, originally from Ubud, Bali, which opened a branch in Jakarta in 2009.

It was quite a challenge to re-create a Balinese atmosphere in Central Jakarta with the pollution and the traffic, but the final result is not bad. It would have been better to make it in a house in Menteng though because in its current location, you cannot help but see the towers all around the garden. There is another Balinese restaurant nearby which is more peaceful in my opinion, Baruna (see review).

The specialty of Bebek Bengil (which means "dirty duck") is the Crispy Duck. They also have some popular Balinese, Indonesian and Western dishes, but I didn't try them.

Here are a few pictures of the food we ordered:

Appetizer: Crispy Mushroom (Rp34k++)

Main course: Crispy Duck (Rp72k++)

Dessert: Vanilla Ice Cream Tart (Rp35k++)

I also had the "Hanoman street" mocktail (Rp35k++), very sweet but recommended.

I'm not a big fan of Crispy Duck: I find there isn't enough flesh to bite into and also, you never know if it is a bone, the skin or the meat that you are eating... I must recognize though that the one in Bebek Bengil is very tasty, especially if you eat it with the Balinese sambal they give you. I only had small bites of the Crispy Mushroom and Vanilla Ice Cream Tart, and I thought they were average.

Overall: Bebek Bengil is not an exceptional restaurant, but it is worth trying for its relaxing outdoor garden (far different from the original in Ubud, be warned!). Naturally, it is also recommended if you are a fan of Balinese-style Crispy Duck.

Opening hours: 

Everyday, 11am to 11pm. Beware of mosquitoes if you come around sunset.

Bebek Bengil

The Ubud Building

Jl. Agus Salim No.132

Menteng, Jakarta 10310

Phone number: +62-21 391 8016 or +62-21 391 7965 or +62-21 391 8091

Fax: +62-21 391 7721

Email: bebekbengil.jakarta@yahoo.co.id

Also in Ubud: 

Jalan Hanoman, Padang Tegal

Bali 80571

Phone number: +62 361 975 489 / 977 675

Fax: +62 361 975 489

Email: bebekbengil@indo.net.id

Bremer (Kemang) Jakarta Beerhouse

Bremer Beer House is a friendly, tiny bar in Kemang with a beer garden and live performances occasionaly. Very popular at the moment, it's a good address to try in Kemang and it's not particularly expensive. The crowd is quite young though so you may want to avoid it if you are anything above 25 years-old.

You can have more infos about events here: Bremer Kemang Jakarta Facebook group.

Bremer Jakarta (opposite Splash)
Jl. Kemang 1 No. 8
Mampang Prapatan, Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia 12730

Phone number: +62-21 7199304

Opening Hours:
From Sunday to Thursday until from 4pm to 2am, and until 3am on weekends.

Boka Buka (French Food, Cipete)

 

I tried Boka Buka about 10 minutes after I finished eating in Epilogue. Since I almost never go to Cipete, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to try one more French restaurant in Jakarta.

Unfortunately, I was full and could not stand a second meal in a row, so I only ate one of their salads (Bokabuka Salad, Rp50k). I was quite disappointed with it because clearly, the quality of the ingredients used was average, in particular the cheese and the beef ham. The sauce was too heavy also, far from what we should expect from a French restaurant.

I've seen on other Jakarta food blogs some very positive reviews about Boka Buka though, so maybe I didn't choose the right dish, or maybe I was not hungry enough to appreciate my food. Another explanation for the different perception between my fellow bloggers and me could be the recent change of ownership of the restaurant, from a Frenchman to an Indonesian.

Boka Buka Salad

Apart from the food, I thought the design of the place was charming and unpretentious. They have a few small, cozy areas where I can imagine it must be nice to spend the afternoon or the evening.

Overall: I shall come back to try the rest of their food, but from what I've had, Boka Buka is best to have a drink or a light meal only than to experience authentic French cuisine. For that, and in the same price range (Rp120k for a meal), you can go to nearby Escargot instead.

Opening hours:
Everyday from 11am to 11pm (12am on Weekends)

Boka Buka
Jl. Cipete Raya No. 7
Jakarta 12410

Telephone: +62-21 759 17471 / 759 13284

Email: boka.buka@yahoo.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BokaBuka
Facebook: Boka Buka

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

Cengkeh Restaurant (Indonesian Cuisine)

I discovered Cengkeh while I was coming back from Pondok Laguna in Batu Tulis. From my taxi window, Cengkeh drew my attention with its elegant look, rare in this part of town. While South Jakarta has tons of similar restaurants, the kind you'll choose for a romantic dinner, the North has almost none: It may have great food, but most restaurant owners are not paying any attention to the atmosphere, and when they do, they try too hard (for my European taste at least).

Back to Cengkeh, I finally visited the place in early October 2011 to see if the food matched the setting, and I wasn't disappointed. The menu features mainly Peranakan and Indonesian favourites, more expensive than average but still affordable: A 2-course meal with drink should cost you Rp100,000. I ordered a plate of "gorengan" (Fritters) and a Sop Iga Sapi (Beef Ribs Soup) which were nicely presented and tasted excellent. Compared to street food, the quality of ingredients used is much better, and you don't have all the extra fat + the weird ingredients (like food acidifier). The only thing that bothered me was the service, friendly but quite slow and unexperimented.

Overall: I will visit Cengkeh again, and I will probably bring friends on holiday to make them experience quality Indonesian cuisine.

Operating hours:
Everyday from 10am to 10pm

Cengkeh Indonesian Cuisine
Jalan Juanda III no 31M (next to Dinemax)
Jakarta 10450
Phone number: +62-21 350 3115