Before I begin, I should first declare that this review might be slightly biased due to my love for Thai-Vietnamese fusion food. Aside from that, let’s give a warm welcome to our very first great Thai-Vietnamese fusion restaurant, Eastern & Oriental (E&O) in Jakarta. Brought to you by the same team that is behind Loewy and Union. This means that you should expect similar retro/classic interior design and delectable cocktails.

There is a lot of hype surrounding this restaurant – being our very own Chef Will Meyrick’s first venture outside Bali. Chef Will Meyrick, as you may have recalled, brought you the famous Sarong and Mamasan restaurants in Bali and is well known for his take in South East Asian and street food style cooking. E&O offers modern Thai-Vietnamese inspired dishes designed to share – the taste is fresh and fun due to its clever play of Asian spices. A visit will definitely leave you wanting to come back to try its other menus.

Get your hands dirty with its Chicken Betel Leaf entrée which nailed it in both its taste and texture. The coriander and capsicum, combined with a hint of chilli, adds freshness to the chicken while the betel leaf and roasted shallots give a crunchy texture to this dish. Less impressive was its Green Mango Salad, which, though refreshing, is a bit too sour to my liking.

For the main, I ordered E&O’s rendition of Penang Wagyu Beef Curry. I was pleasantly surprised by the tenderness of the beef cuts, coated by the rich and flavorful curry that could be one of the best in Jakarta. Match this with a plate of fragrant and crispy Roti Canai and this dish is a winner for this restaurant.

Even though I could eat the Roti Canai + Curry all day, I could not look past E&O’s twice-cooked beef shorts ribs and crispy pork hock on the menu. The beef ribs were tender and moist and the accompanying fish sauce added a tasty sweetness to the meat. Nothing special about the pork however – though its skin is pleasantly crispy, the meat is dry and the layer of fat in between is just too thick.

The dessert selection did not disappoint. Most are an adventurous mix of flavors suited for E&O’s concept of a fusion restaurant. Of the eleven choices available, we chose; the Durian Panna cotta and Peanut Butter with Honeycomb Crumble. One bite of the Durian Panna Cotta and it made me its biggest fan – the silky, smooth texture of the dessert is an interesting companion to the bold taste of the king of fruit, though our very own PrincessFiona found it a little bit too sweet and rich for her taste, a view likely to be shared by fellow weight watchers.

On other hand, PrincessFiona was going nuts for the Peanut Butter crumble. Pardon the pun. The honeycomb crumble gives a necessary crunchiness to contrast its creamy peanut butter and cocoa ganache. E&O Jakarta definitely lived up to my expectations. It does have its flaws (snobby waitresses) but it is one of the best fusion restaurants in Jakarta. Make a reservation for your dinner or be prepared to wait for a table. Alternatively, lunches are less crowded.

Food: |**** |          Ambience: |**** |          Price: |$$$$ |

Opening Hours: Everyday (10 am – 10 pm)

Location: Menara Rajawali 1st Floor, Jalan Mega Kuningan Lot. 5.1

Phone: (021) 2902 3418 (accepts reservations)

Posted by AliceInWonderland