Pala Adas Indonesian Bistro

Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) is well-known for its variety of restaurants. Almost every other month a new eatery in the area pops up. It has definitely turned into a food haven in a very short period of time that parking is getting more and more of a hassle.

The opening of the new Pala Adas Indonesian Bistro made me realise that there was no fine dining Indonesian restaurant in the area before. This restaurant takes Indonesian food to a whole new level;  healthy, creative and modern.

During the food tasting event, the chef told us that they have meticulously planned their menus such that they are using healthier cooking alternatives, including using less cooking oil and incorporating only fresh produce/ingredients into their food.

The interior is very comfortable and has a contemporary feel. The owner of the restaurant sat with us during this particular event and ordered most of the popular items from the menu.

One of their star dish is the Bebek Cabe Ijo. The Bebek Cabe Ijo is a half deep fried duck served with green chili. It is definitely the best one available in Jakarta in my opinion, better compared to that served at 99 Ranch Market restaurant, which I originally thought was the best.

The Bebek Cabe Ijo really goes well with the Nasi Pandan, which smells really fragrant and tasted quite delicious.

Iga Babi Tiga Rasa is also another favorite dish. I really enjoyed this dish as the ribs as the seasoning was well-absorbed by the meat, making it really tasty. A difficult feat.

Next, we were served their Sop Buntut. The chef proudly mentioned that their Sop Buntut is probably one of the best around, much better than their well-known competitor at Dharmawangsa Hotel.

I have to agree. The meat are extremely tender, falling of the bones, and the soup is well-spiced.

Then came the satay dish, Sate Pala Adas.

The beef went through hours of boiling process and served with Serundeng, which are sautéed grated coconut with spices. Explaining why the beef is so soft and aromatic.

Their Ayam Goreng Pala Adas is deep fried chicken served with a special Pala Adas sauce on the side.

Who doesn’t like deep fried chicken? But I have to admit that this was the most forgettable dish of the day.

Next is the Samcan Hitam Manis, which tops my must-order list in Pala Adas Indonesian Bistro. Nothing can beat juicy pork belly marinated with flavorful sweet soy sauce.

They also offer Sate Kerang (clams on bamboo skewers) in their menu; which is considered to be a very authentic Medanese dish.

The final dish, Ikan Sambal Matah, is extremely spicy and is not for the faint-hearted. Suitable for most Indonesians who are typically chilli lovers, this dish was just too spicy for me. On the plus side, the fish is very fresh and the taste of the sambal was delicious.

Although I normally hate green juices, I enjoyed this particular Healthy Juice; a concoction of different vegetables and fruits.

We ended the meal with their best selling dessert, Kolak; an Indonesian dessert made with cuts of bananas, pumpkins, sweet potatos, jackfruits and plantains soaked in palm sugar and coconut milk.

I strongly recommend you to leave some stomach space for this dessert if you do give Pala Adas Indonesian Bistro a go.

To summarize, the three dishes that I highly recommend are the Iga Babi Tiga Rasa, Bebek Cabe Ijo and of course their Sop Buntut.

I was pleasantly surprised by Pala Adas Indonesian Bistro’s take on fine dining Indonesian food and will definitely come back again.

Food: |**** |          Ambience: |***  |         Price: This was a closed event for invited guests only.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11am – 11pm

Location: Jl. Elang Laut Boulevard No.8-10, Pantai Indah Kapuk

Telephone: +62 21 2921 9129

Posted by FidoDido