Moved

Dear Friends,

After my email has been hacked, finally Gmail has been re-enabling my email and allow me to reset the password.. But I've moved my blog already.. Here's the link to my new blog:
http://lolo-appetite.blogspot.com

So, see you guys there!!

Cheers,
Lolo

Toscana

Do you all miss an Italian? It's been quite long time I didn't post any Italian food.. When I said an Italian here, I mean a TRUE Italian cuisine:).. And finally we found one, Toscana in Kemang..

An Italian cuisine = expensive? We've been here twice and trust me guys, you can enjoy a fine dining experience with an affordable price.. This is the best deal for a true Italian cuisine.. Let's check it out...


The inside of the restaurant looks pretty fancy, with its high ceiling and beautiful brick walls, the place is perfect for romantic or casual dining..


The restaurant was modest and cozy with dim lighting, this really gives an unpretentious and warm ambiance..


The bar area is filled with bottles of the restaurant's extensive wine collection..



Like any other Italian restaurant, basket of bread was served after we've been seated.. Fresh and warm Italian breads, nice..


On the 1st visit, E was in the mood for some soup so he tried their Zuppa Di Fungi (16K), a mushroom cream soup.. The soup was not overly creamy and this was a hearty start for our dinner..


For the pasta we shared Spaghetti Matriciana (37K), spaghetti stirred in matriciana sauce with a choice of smoked beef or bacon.. For this we choosed bacon, the mixture of bacon with spaghetti always worked so well..


We didn't forget the pizza, we opted their signature one Toscana Pizza (65K), topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, olives, smoked chicken, egg.. We completely satisfied with this one..

There are still a few dishes on the menu which we wanted to try out, so we made it the second visit..


This time we ordered two pastas, E opted Fettuccine Con Sugo Di Polpette (40K). Huaahh complicated name yaa.. Basically it's a fettuccine with duck and chicken meatballs stirred in tomato base sauce and mozarella.. The pasta was cooked just right and the sauce was sweet, tangy, and spicy..


As for me, I ordered Ravioli Di Carne Al Pomodoro (46K), a meat stuffing ravioli in tomato and basilicium sauce topped with cheese.. They serve a generous dollop of the meat filling on each ravioli, and it goes well with tangy tomato sauce..


And we're tempted to try their new pizza menu, Diavola (65K), it's a pizza topped with tomato, mozzarella, parmesan, cooked ham, peperoni salami, and hot jalapeno.. And I asked to add some mushrooms on it.. They are really good with the pizza, it's a wood baked pizza so no wonder the texture is soft and moist..

Aaahhh we're very satisfied for both our dinners.. Here we can enjoy a good authentic Italian cuisine, friendly service, superb ambiance, and most importantly the prices are not cut-throat.. Toscana totally win our heart hehe..


Toscana
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 120
South Jakarta
Tel. (62 21) 7181216/17

Tony Romas'

OK from the east to the west now.. I guess most of food goers familiar already with this one.. So, here it is, we arrived at Tony Romas', an American styled restaurant where you can find the best ribs in town..


The restaurant was modest and cozy with dim lighting..


As soon as we've ordered, we were served with this french baguette on wood chopping board served with margarine and herb butter as a compliment.. Mmm so nice..


E started with the Baked Potato Soup (28K), a cream based soup loaded with baked potatoes, garnished with cheddar cheese & bacon bits, and served with crackers.. I didn't order it, but I tried some sips the soup was totally creamy and taste was really delightful and delicious..


Next to the main course, E ordered a Half Slab St. Louis Style Ribs with Carolina Honey Sauce (150K), half pork ribs marinated in their special sauce, grilled to perfection, it came with coleslaw and baked potato.. The ribs were juicy, succulent, flavourful, and the carolina honey sauce was lip-smackingly good! This is recommended definitely..


I got this Marinated Boneless Breast of Chicken (70K), a well seasoned grilled chicken breast served on yellow rice and baked potato.. Pretty appetizing and attractive, don't you think? The chicken was tender, it was a fully meal and quite a worthy order..

For what it is, the price here might be on the high side but indeed they have the best ribs in town.. We were satisfied with our dinner, and would still recommended it to anybody as the food is good..


Tony Roma's
Panin Bank Center, Ground Floor
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 11
South Jakarta
Tel. (62 21) 7202735/36

Thamrin Nine Podium
Mezzanine Floor, Unit C
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 10
Central Jakarta
Tel. (62 21) 30006723/32

Mr. Curry

It doesn't take a long time for Ismaya Group to launch their another new brand restaurant after the Kitchenette @ Plaza Indonesia.. This time they are introducing Mr. Curry (Japanese Curry & Sweet House), a franchise restaurant from Singapore..


The exterior is wise, very attractive with some plastic mock-ups of the different type of dishes were magnificently displayed with bright lighting to attract patrons over.. This reminded me of some restaurant like Pasta de Waraku and Waraku, which I think is still under the same company in Singapore, you can check it out in their site..


And the interior is also had an interesting concept, it designed like a country kitchen decorated with some kitchen utensils..


Dominated with wooden tables and chairs, the place was comfy, neat, and bright..


The menu is all about curry.. But surely not just an ordinary curry dish.. So what's makes this so special? Let's check it out.. Various fusion dishes they serve here.. Japanese curry with ramen, Japanese curry with spaghetti, even some various Indian naan served here..


For the starter, we tried Indian selection Tandoori Chicken Naan (48K), a freshly baked cheese flat bread/naan topped with sliced tandoori chicken.. The bread was soft, a bit fluffy, and chewy..


As a tofu and noodle lover, of course I choosed a fusion Chinese and Japanese dish Mapo Tofu Curry Ramen (58K), a ramen in spicy curry gravy with tofu cubes, minced beef, sliced tofu skin puff, half boiled egg, and be careful with that chili padi hehe..


The noodle might look like an instant noodle, but trust me it didn't taste like it though.. I love their skin tofu puff, nyumzz..


E got Chicken Mushroom Omelette Curry Rice (58K), steamed rice wrapped in an omelette of chicken and mushroom with original curry sauce served separately on the side and a bowl of salad.. For omelette curry rice dish, we can choose from among 4 kinds of curry; original, red sauce, black sauce, and white sauce with different sauce base and also the level of spiciness.. The original one is a recommended one and it was good, but we'll try another sauce next time..

Mr. Curry has wide variety of curry dishes and dessert to choose from, really left us spoilt for choice.. Browse their dessert selections, stick cakes and dorayaki ice cream both are so attractive and really tempting.. We would return again to try it and other curry dishes..


Mr. Curry
Grand Indonesia
West Mall, Level 3A
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1
Central Jakarta

Radja Ketjil

Rambling around Pondok Indah Mall, we were looking something new for us for the dinner, and we stumbled upon this Radja Ketjil, they serve Peranakan cuisine/Nyonya cuisine..

The restaurant was packed when we arrived, the place was pretty small..


There are something antique items found to be used as decoration..


Started from appertizer, we ordered Lumpia Tauke (29.5K), it's a deep fried chicken and shrimp spring roll.. Try this, one bite and you wanna have more of it.. Another kicking factor is its sauce, with a hint of spiciness and sweetness, it added the extra taste..


Next, we had Tahu Hujin Tje Lie Rina (33.5K), a deep fried spinach tofu poured with minced chicken gravy .. The tofu was very good, it had a golden exterior both crisp and delicate with silky smooth centre..


And Chicken Ifumie (22K), a deep fried crispy noodle poured with mixed chicken and veggies gravy..


The crispy noodle was well-accompanied by the tasty chicken gravy and it really made you want to keep digging for more

Not only the unique restaurant name, the food name here is also quite quirky.. And for the taste, I must say the food here is nice and it's quite value for money.. Good to try..


Radja Ketjil
Pondok Indah Mall 2, 3rd floor Restaurant Row
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah
South Jakarta
Tel. (62 21) 75920468

Bandar Djakarta

Yeaahh seafood time, most people love seafood very much and so does E.. But I don't really like seafood, when I came to seafood restaurant I can only eat their side dishes.. Poor E, he must be missed the seafood so much since we rarely eat seafood.. This time E opted Bandar Djakarta in Ancol to satisfy his craving..


Bandar Djakarta on weekend is always crowded.. With an open air dining area, dine by the beach, its really a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy the seafood..


For the drink, a fresh Coconut Fruit.. Sweet, refreshing, and the flesh was also soft and tender..


To start with we ordered their Tahu Ondel, its a stuffed fried tofu.. This is my only fave here, we ordered two portions haha.. It's fried tofu stuffed with assortment of veggies..


Generous with the filling, there are carrot cubes, potato cubes, and mushroom.. Eat with its chili, oohh it's so nice.. The deep fried crust was very crispy and it create an extra crunch to each mouthful..


Grilled Kuwe Fish, we opted sweet and spicy sauce for the grilling.. The fish was just perfectly cooked..


Fried Squid, chewy inside and crunchy outside.. E finished it all..


Lastly, for the green we ordered Kangkung Belacan/Shrimp Paste Water spinach.. It cooked very well with the shrimp paste, it tasted spicy and tangy..

Sorry I'm not tell you about the price, I forgot to take the receipt.. I'm quite sure most of seafood lover is already familiar with Bandar Djakarta, they serve a fresh and live seafood with affordable price..



Bandar Djakarta
East Gate
Taman Impian Jaya Ancol
North Jakarta
Tel. (62 21) 6455472/6554

Tamnak Thai

It s not easy to find out a Thai Restaurant which has an authentic taste yet affordable around Jakarta.. Till we found Tamnak Thai in Menteng area..


The interior of the restaurant tries to create Thailand ambiance and I think with such ornaments they have successfully to recreate it..


Spacious and comfy enough to enjoy our meals..


The reason we're here is to try their Green Chicken Curry (38K) which is E's fave.. It's chicken chunks and some veggies stewed in green curry gravy.. E has been looking for the best Thai green curry, and apparently E was pleased with this one.. It was so flavourful and it's good to eat with a Thai fragrant rice..


And I opted Pad Thai (38K), stir-fried Thai rice noodle with egg, seafood, tofu, and veggies.. It's sourish and spicy mixed with crushed peanut, aaahh I loved it.. And the seafood inside was fresh too..


To share with, we ordered Pandan Fried Chicken (38K), a deep fried chicken wrapped in pandan/screwpine leaves.. The chicken meat was tender, juicy, and soo fragrant.. Nyum..

We enjoyed our experience here, most importantly the taste, the good pricing, and the cozy & soothing dining ambiance.. So, are you craving for some hot and spicy Thai food, give this place a visit and let's spice up your taste bud.. This is a real good for Thai cuisine..


Tamnak Thai
Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto No. 78
Menteng - Central Jakarta
Tel. (62 21) 3923000