Café Gitane Kemang (Jalan Benda Raya)

Café Gitane is a small and intimate French Restaurant in the south Kemang area, located on Jalan Benda Raya. The place is owned and managed by French people who are cooking and serving your dishes. Inside the restaurant, everything will remind you that you are in a French restaurant, from the Gitane logo ( French brand of cigarettes) to the posters of Pastis or the nice bar counter.

I went there 2 times and it was always full (good thing when to have a small restaurant!). The food was good and the service was pleasant. Try the crème caramel for dessert, you won't be disappointed !

Overall: Café Gitane is good if you want spend time in a cozy and intimate place while having simple good French food.

 

Café Gitane Kemang
Jalan Benda Raya #14
Jakarta Selatan
Telephone: +62-21 780 5671

Closed on Mondays , so French ;-)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10 AM to 11 PM

Website: Cafe Gitane Jakarta 

Facebook: Gitane

For more reviews of French restaurants in Jakarta, read my review: My Favourite French Restaurants in Jakarta.

Paul Bakery and Patisserie ( Galeries Lafayette @ Pacific Place Mall)

Paul Bakery is now open in Jakarta, since December 2013. It is located right outside of Pacific Place Mall, near the Galeries Lafayette Department Store. You have 2 entrances : one for the Restaurant, if you want Dine-in, and one for the Bakery and Pastry shop.

I know Paul Bakery in France which is a widespread Bakery chain. Outside of France, it has a more high class positioning. I went there for Lunch and I took a "Croque Madame", a sandwich with cheese, turkey and egg sunny side-up,  with a salad on the side. There was nothing fantastic about it. I took an Orange juice as a Drink and it was very watery, I could barely feel the Oranges ! In my opinion, the food in the restaurant is average, there's nothing fancy about it ( except for the price).

On the opposite, the Bakery side is very good. They have a whole range of French and European bread which are among the best in Jakarta ! Same thing for the Pastries which are delicious and very tasty. I had a Strawberry Mille-feuilles and it tasted incredibily good. The French Croissant is also very good and is made with real butter.

Overall: I am glad that Paul Bakery and Patisserie finally arrived in Indonesia ! So if you go there, I would recommand the Bakery entrance to try the authentic French-style pastries and tasty croissants. 

 
Paul Bakery & Patisserie

Galeries Lafayette @ Pacific Place Mall


Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 52-53


Jakarta Selatan 12190

Phone number : +62-21 5799 3455


Opening Hours : 10 AM - 10 PM (Monday - Sunday)
Facebook: Paul Bakery Indonesia

Bistro Garçon (French Restaurant)

The French restaurant Bistro Garçon comes from the same group behind Immigrant, De Luca, Rustique, and Monolog. I was happily surprised when I visited it to find out it is much more than your average restaurant inside a mall.

I consider Bistro Garçon to be a true independent restaurant, with a passionate young French chef eager to please his guests. The place is rather small and simple, with a discreet French theme. You have a bar at the entrance with a good selection of wines, and a menu featuring mostly classics of French cuisine.

Everything was perfect during my dinner in Garçon: The food, the portions, the presentation, the decoration, the service, the music, etc... They also have delicious pastries and desserts from their Japanese Chef.

In conclusion, with the current team in Bistro Garçon, I am confident to recommend it to anyone who wants to experience good French food in Jakarta at reasonable prices.

For more recommendation of French restaurants in Jakarta, check my review: The Best French Restaurants in Jakarta.

Bistro Garçon
Plaza Senayan
Level 4 No. 410
Phone number: +62-21 5790 0140
Email: Info@bistrogarcon.com
Twitter: @Bistrogarcon
Facebook: Bistro Garçon

Opening hours:

Everyday from 10 am 12pm (until 2am on Friday and Saturday)

MooVina (Plaza Indonesia)

MooVina was opened by the same team (Svarna Group) behind Ocha & Bella, the popular Italian restaurant on Jalan Wahid Hasyim. The concept of MooVina is similar with long wooden tables and a lot of plants and flowers surrounding the restaurant. There is also a special attention to design with a few surprising items, and most important of all, good food prepared by an imported chef from France.

MooVina is not a copy of Ocha & Bella though. It is inspired by a romantic idea of France for the atmosphere, and the food combines French favourites with Vietnamese grill specialties.

It opened at the beginning of October 2012 and I'm sure it will be quite popular during the next few months. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts about MooVina on this blog after you've experienced it.

MooVina Restaurant & Bar
Plaza Indonesia 3rd Floor #119 and 4th Floor #06
Jalan M.H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30
Jakarta, Indonesia 10350


Phone number:
Le Jardin +62-21 299 24567
Mezzanine +62-21 299 23999

Email: whatsup@moovina.com
Website: http://www.moovina.com
Twitter: Moovina Jakarta
Favebook: http://www.facebook.com/moovina/

The photos of MooVina on this blog review were taken on the twitter account of the restaurant.

My Favourite French Restaurants in Jakarta

The overall quality of French restaurants in Jakarta has improved over the past few years, particularly with the openings of Lyon, Amuz and Orient8.

Still, I think the options are limited, and most of the best venues are too expensive: Take the first six restaurants of my list, they will all cost you around Rp1 million for a 3-course meal.

Some more affordable options exist, for instance Java Bleu, Le Bistro or Escargot. In those restaurants, the cuisine and the setting remain simple, but it is authentic and you eat well. A full meal in those should cost you less than Rp450,000.

At last, you have a third category of French restaurants, in which you have great design and atmosphere, but average food. Among those, Bistro Baron, Loewy or SHY are the most happening. A full meal will cost you almost the same as in fine dining restaurants.

So far, if I had to advise someone on where to find the best French food in Jakarta, I would give them the following places, in this order (you can click on each venue to read a full review from this blog):

1) Riva

2) Lyon

3) Cassis

4) Amuz

5) Orient8

6) Sriwijaya

7) Emilie

8) Java Bleu

9) Le Bistro

10) Loewy

11) Escargot

12) SHY

13) Epilogue

14) Coquelicot

15) Boka-Buka

16) Bistro Baron

17) Rive Gauche

I  will update this list of the best French restaurants in Jakarta regularly. If you think I'm missing one, please send me a mail or comment.

Riva (Park Lane Hotel)

 

 

Opened in 1998 in the Park Lane Hotel, Riva is one of the best French restaurants in Jakarta. It is a fine dining venue with mostly classic dishes: Steak au poivre, Foie gras, Salmon, Boeuf Bourguignon, etc.. Nothing experimental, you should not be too surprised by the food you will eat.

The restaurant looks old-fashioned, but it feels charming and unpretentious. I really enjoyed the open kitchen, which allows you to spy on the chef while he cooks. It is always impressive to see for yourself all the efforts that come with your meal.

The menu is not very long, and it changes regularly. I saw that they have it on their website here, but it isn't updated. You can still have a look to get a general idea about their food though.

I chose as an appetizer the Baby Organic Spinach Salad (with Parmesan, Lemon extra virgin oil dressing, and Truffle boursin crostini) and for my main course the Steak au Poivre (Seared wagyu beef rump rolled in crush white pepper, pomme dauphine, spinach, flambé with cognac).

Baby Spinach Salad

Wagyu beef steak with Pepper

Everything was delicious, way above any standard meal you could eat in a casual restaurant. The dishes were rich with distinctive flavors, melting just perfectly in your mouth. Consequently, such satisfaction has a cost and it isn't surprising that Riva is extremely expensive. An average appetizer is Rp300k, and an average main course Rp500k. A full meal with drinks will easily cost you more than a million rupiah... You can avoid that bloodbath by checking for promotions on Riva's twitter or facebook. I actually got myself an excellent deal: Rp208,000++ for a two-course set lunch menu (it will last all summer 2011).

Overall: Highly recommended, but I must say I would not have visited if I had to pay the full fare. If you can afford it, you should not hesitate. For the others, Lyon (click here for my blog review) is also an excellent venue, but with lower prices.

Opening Hours:
For lunch: Only from Monday to Friday - 11.30am to 2.30pm
For Dinner: From Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 11pm
Closed on public holidays

RIVA French Restaurant Jakarta
The Park Lane Hotel
Jalan Casablanca Kav.18

Jakarta 12870, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 828 2000


Fax: +62-21 828 2222

Email: riva@parklanejakarta.com

Website: www.rivafrenchrestaurant.com

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

Tartine Restaurant FX Mall

Tartine is a moderately priced eatery focusing on tartine, a french word for a slice of bread topped with anything eatable (just like a sandwich without a second piece of bread to close it). It is not haute cuisine but it is good enough and creative. Tartine is also very pleasant in its design: Elegant, yet simple and homey. For the price you pay, it is worth it not so much for the food, but rather for the atmosphere, very cozy.

Opening Hours:
From Sunday to Thursday: 9am to 12am
Friday and Saturday: 9am to 2am
Live Music from Wednesday to Saturday. Happy Hours: From 4pm to 6pm = 50% discount.

Tartine Restaurant
Jl.Sudirman Pintu 1 Senayan
FX Lifestyle X'nter Lt.FB No 02A.03
Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 2555 4222

Check their facebook fan group Tartine Restaurant for more information about events, discounts and pictures.

My own (bad) pics from my visit:

Baron Bistro (French Restaurant Jakarta)

The Bistro Baron is a French-themed restaurant serving popular French dishes. Expensive (at least Rp 180,000 for a meal), it serves decent but not excellent food. Clients pay also for the atmosphere since the place is a copy of a chic Parisian bistro. I must said the attention paid to details was impressive.

Ideal for snack, i recommend you to try some french specialties such as the crêpes suzettes, the lait-fraise or the orangina. For a full meal, I think there are better French restaurants in town (Java bleu, Escargot, Lyon) but if you can afford it, why not.

The Bistro Baron and Capocaccia have the same owner.

Opening hours: From 7h30am to 10pm (except on Saturdays and Sundays, it opens at 8am)

Bistro Baron
Plaza Indonesia Extension
Level 1, Unit E20-21
Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta
Tel. +62 21 2992 3505

Website: Bistro Baron French Restaurant Jakarta
Facebook: With the latest events and discounts on the menu, click here
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/bistrobaron

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) 

Le Bistro (French Restaurant)

 

Le Bistro is a charming French restaurant in front of Sari Pan Pacific hotel, near Sarinah. It is a real gem and one of my best discoveries so far in Jakarta.

Le Bistro is actually the oldest French restaurant in the city, since 1976. It is owned by Rima Melati, a famous Indonesian actress, who is also behind Jaya Pub and La Bodega Grill in Cilandak. The inside looks quaint, with many antiques, probably bought in France. The tablecloth had old stains on it, but it was clean and adding to the atmosphere (that's my opinion). With some famous French songs playing (Brel, Souchon, Brassens, etc.), it is among other things perfect for a romantic dinner. There were a few customers that evening, all expatriates (Japanese and European).

The menu features classic French dishes, with a strong Mediterranean influence. It reminds me of another French restaurant in Jakarta, l'Escargot-Café de la Bastille, but more expensive.

We had the Salade Provençale (Rp38,500k), the NZ Lamb Chops (Rp135,000), the Bouillabaisse (a seafood and fish soup from Southern France, Rp75,000++), and Crêpes Suzettes for dessert (Rp30,000++). An average 2-course meal should cost you between Rp150,000 and Rp200,000.

Lamb Chop (Rp135,000++)

Bouillabaisse (Rp75,000++)

The food was not fine dining, but nevertheless we really enjoyed it. Among the things that could be improved: The Salad Provençale was served with American "French Dressing", and it would have been much better with just olive oil and vinegar. The bouillabaisse was delicious (it is the Chef's specialty), but a little too heavy on the pepper. At last, the ice cream with the Crêpes tasted average.

Overall: In spite of that, I strongly recommend Le Bistro if you like independent restaurants managed with heart. Entering this place feels like stepping into someone else's world: More than a customer, you feel like a guest in Le Bistro. All the staff were among the friendliest I've seen in Jakarta, and we even had greetings by Rima Melati and her husband. Next to Le Bistro, you also have the Casablanca bar, an old-fashioned pub with a pool table and a piano.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 11am to 1am (2am on weekend nights)

Le Bistro
Jl.MH.Thamrin Kav.1-2 (Gedung Jaya)

Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone number: +62-21 390 92 49

Facebook: Le Bistro
Website: Le Bistro French Restaurant

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