The Dutch and Batavia
This post, is dedicated to my amazing city, Jakarta.
A city that is need more love and appreciation. It is known that Jakarta not really attracted for tourist because of its traffic. Nonetheless, there are some places that need to be visited and food to be tasted while in Jakarta.
Jakarta has a long history with the Dutch, and this link with Europe naturally lends itself to the great number of foods available to try here. Almost every Asian, Western, Middle East cuisines are available here, so no matter where you travel from, one can easily find themselves feeling at home- especially at one of the familiar fast-food retailers here (though the taste might be a little bit different!)
There are two restaurants that are a MUST to be visited while in Jakarta. Though both restaurants serve Indonesian food, they each have their very own view and concept.
The first, Kafe Batavia is located across the Fatahillah building and can be found easily in one of Jakarta’s main tourist hotspots. Getting here by bus (Transjakarta) is recommended. To do this take the bus to Kota station where you’ll be find it located behind the bus station. It usually takes 15-20 mins to get here from a typical hotel in the city centre. If the bus seems to daunting, take a taxi or uber to this area is another option. Parking near Batavia can be a challenge, so taking your own car is not recommended.
Inside Batavia, the interior presents you with a mixed feeling; somewhere between traditional architecture and a happening 1970’s Indonesia. You’ll notice that nearly every inch of the wall is adorned with recognizable (and some not so recognizable) photographs of musicians, artists and celebrities. *tip: some menu items are actually hidden behind these photos- you may ask a waiter if you want to know where.
Food prices at Batavia range from 40.000 IDR (3USD) to 200.000 IDR (25USD). One excellent and very Indonesian meal to try is Nasi Campur Meneer. It consists of rice, spicy egg, salad, lamb satay, cucumber, “sambal”, sliced cooked meat and soy cake (Tempe). Fear not! The spicy egg itself isn’t too spicy (at least by Asian standards). The lamb satay is tender, the vegetables fresh and delicious. The accompanying sauce blends together perfectly sweet and savory flavors (those with allergies beware- both the satay and salad contain nut sauce).
Another restaurant that you might want to visit whilst in Jakarta is Lara Djonggrang. Its name is taken from the princess in an Indonesian folk legend, which gives this restaurant a somewhat mystical feeling.
Upon entering the restaurant its rather dark feel gives way to a very Javanese ambience. There are a few rooms to choose from; China Blue, the Lara Djonggrang room and an outdoor section. For those seeking something a little stronger, the restaurant also has a bar.
Unlike Kafe Batavia, this restaurant serves all kinds of Indonesian food. It is however rather more expensive than Batavia. For example, 1 portion of rice will set you back by 20.000 IDR (1.5USD).
One of their most famous dishes is the Nine Satay. This consists of every conceivable satay available in Indonesia and is set upon a ‘boat’ brought to your table. The taste of each satay is seriously gorgeous; the chicken and fish are delicious; the lamb avoids the pungent aromas often found in it’s street food equivalent. This satay dish will cost you about 408.000 IDR (30USD), though each boat is designed to be shared between a company of 5-6 guests.
Lara Djonggrang is located in Menteng, and as it is not serviced by bus, an Uber or taxi is highly recommended. If you’re driving yourself, you may find the parking rather limited, but for those seeking the most authentic Indonesian experience, arriving via motorbike is the best option.
