BENEDICT GRAND INDONESIA - JAKARTA

Been so curious with BENEDICT restaurant since it a view month ago when it 1st opened at East Mall, Grand Indonesia around February 2015. And I've heard many positive comments from my blogger mates. So, finally I had time to visit Benedict.

Benedict is still under UNION Group and it means under the same roof with Caffe Milano, Union Deli and so on. Like Union typical restaurant interior, Benedict interior designed with Posh, Modern and Cozy. With wooden interior, Benedict had a green as a basic color. So the restaurant look so earthy and homey. If you look at the window, it remind me of my Grandma house. A big window where we can see the view outside.

The area divided into two area, smoking and non-smoking where it only separated by the tall rack. The bar and the kitchen placed on the smoking area. Like the attractive bar setting. Luckily we've got the place in a nice cozy sofa even though too bad it placed in smoking area. Can't more complaint, since its lunch hour and the restaurant almost Full Packed!

BENEDICT served all day breakfast with the star of the menu actually the Egg Benedict like its name. But, after I'm screening on their menu list, they have a lot of varieties menu that we can choose start from Western, Asian and Mediterranean. As it lunch hour, I'm looking something that can make my tummy happy.

MAIN COURSE

KOREAN BOWL - IDR 90.000
Pork-3-Ways or Grilled Steak, Chili Fried Rice, 7-Minutes Egg, Cauliflower, Furikake
Since we don't eat pork, so we asked the Server to substitute it with Beef Grilled Steak. And it turned to be good. It tender and marinated well. Like the rice also. Its not to spicy and it seasoning well. All ingredients served on the bowl completed each other. So you get the savory, the hint of the spicy, a soft from the egg and a bit crunch from the cauliflower. The furikake that usually you find in Japanese dish, become a topping for this menu, add a sweet taste to the dish. So perhaps this is why I didn't taste too spicy. Because it balance one to another.

ANGEL HAIR PASTA with DUCK CONFIT - IDR 110.000

Chili Flakes, Scallions, Confit Garlic, Cherry Tomatoes, Pomegranate Molasses

Actually, this is not the 1st menu that I want to order. But then the server suggested me one of their Special Menu. Why it become special? Well, beside the ingredients in it, this menu is not the regular menu that BENEDICT have. This still a trial menu. If the order is good, then probably this Pasta will become their regular menu. Well... I tried my luck then.

Angel Hair Pasta is a kind of pasta that similar like spaghetti but the diameter smaller than the spaghetti. It cooked aldente with a rich flavor of garlic and a hint of spicy from chilli flakes. The duck confit also cooked perfectly. It so tender and juicy. Not to forget the Pomegranate Molasses that give a sweet taste to combine the savory of this menu. The cherry tomatoes add a bit tangy taste. Super love of this Pasta. And I think, Benedict should make put it into their regular menu.

DESSERT

SNICKERS CHEESECAKE - IDR 55.000
This cheese cake is definitely a heaven for cheese lover. The cake texture is so smooth and soft. Eventhough it full of cheese, but not too overpower. The snickers crumble on top add a crunchy texture to this cake. So it has the good combination in one cake, chocolate mix with cheese, and it really good.

BAN-A-TELLA CRUMBLE - IDR 55.000
Just heard from the cake name enough to make me mouthwatering. Imagining banana with nutella. And this one become my favorite cake that day. A crusty pie mix with the softness of the banana and the nutella. This one I can eat all day fo sho!

BANOFFEE PIE - IDR 50.000
First time I ate Banoffee Pie a view years ago and I fell in love ever since. So I'm glad that Benedict have the Banoffee Pie on their cake list. A pie consist of banana, dulce de leche, cream and topped with nuts crumble. But I only can ate 3 bite. After that, it become overwhelmed. Way too sweet for my palate.

At the end, I really satisfied with what Benedict served that day. The food was great, the service is excellent. And probably on  my next visit, I'll try their all day breakfast that really look tempting to try.

BENEDICT Grand Indonesia East Mall LG #37-#39  
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1 Jakarta Pusat 10310
021 - 2358 1238 
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 10 PM  
Pricing: $$ / IDR 300k for two  
Dresscode: smart casual

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PUBLIK MARKETTE GRAND INDONESIA - JAKARTA

Visiting Grand Indonesia is always an exciting thing (at least for me). This mall is so dynamic and always have a new joint vendor. Like this (not so new) restaurant called Public Markette.

Publik Markette is still under ISMAYA GROUP. I always amaze with Ismaya creation. They always have something great when making something. Just look at some of their restaurants like SKYE, KITCHENETTE, ISMAYA CATERING and many more.

Publik Markette placed at East Mall Grand Indonesia inside the Central Dept.Store and located between another hype restaurant Union Deli and NOMZ. I already interested in Publik Markette restaurant on my last visit to Union Deli.

The Publik Markette interior similar like other Ismaya's restaurant. The vibe, the ambiance and the decoration is so attractive and enjoyable. Publik Markette design their venue with wooden interior and furniture. With a pretty big and interactive Bar on the side where you sit at the outside the restaurant area.

The dining concept here is like we dine in a market. But of course Publik Markette here is an upscale and more stylish. So when you entering the restaurant area, the server will take you to your seat. Then you bring your table number to the food stall and just mention your table number when you order your food. The food will be deliver to your table in a warm condition. Pay your food before you leaving the restaurant.

What happen next to me is... my eyes keep on drooling on their stall. They look so tempting. Starting with a big plate of salmon, ribs, chicken roast, fried rice, fish and chip OMG... Next stall there's salad, next there's bread, quiche, dessert and last drink and juice. I'm so overwhelmed seeing all food on the stall.

And these are what we ended with...

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH TURKEY BACON - IDR 35.000
The simplicity come from this dish. I thought it would be too creamy. But I like this dish. It so smooth and delicate. It's a potato gratin model with a cream and smoke turkey bacon. Even though the potato have a thick cut, but it so soft and smooth. This is so good!

PENNE BOLOGNAISE PASTA - IDR 55.000
I guess I always been in love with pasta in anyway. Like this baked bolognaise penne pasta It cooked al-dente. With a lots, generous amount of bolognaise sauce and melted cheese on top. I like the taste of the sauce, a bit sour from the tomatoes. So it make a balance with the cheese.

BUTCHER MEAT FOCCACIA - IDR 50.000
See the appearance the one excuse why I bought this Foccacia. It look like Pizza, but no, its not a pizza. The foccacia, too bad is a bit chewy. Not fluffy, not smooth. Need some time to chew. But the topping really recover the disappointing from the foccacia. The topping is really generous. A lots of meat. Thick pile on it. Blend with the tomato sauce, the dried tomatoes, thick layer of melted cheese and topped with grated cheese. Yuuumm...  

PULLED CHICKEN CROSTONE - IDR 60.000
A crispy crostone topped with big chunks of chicken and shredded chicken. The crostone a bit hard for the texture. Need a bit effort to bite. But I like the pulled chicken. It so tender and well marinated. the corn add some texture into it.

BITTER SWEET LOVE - IDR 50.000
This is what I called black beauty. The simplicity comes from the dessert. This cake really blew me away. It so moist and melted in my mouth. A bit bitter from the dark chocolate combine with the sweetness from chocolate ganache. Devilishly good!

Overall, the food here is surprisingly good. The canteen look like that they modify into a stylish dining place called Publik Markette has really amaze me in so many aspect. I like the details they putted in every single corner of the restaurant. The price, I have to admit a bit pricey. But, you wont be sorry spend your money, considering they have pretty big portion. The service also quick and good. So gotta be back here!

Pose with Chef Phillips & YennyW

Publik Markette
Central Department Store East Mall - G Fl. (Across Nomz and below Social House)
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1
Jakarta Pusat 10310
Opening Hours:
Lunch Time: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Ala Carte Hours: 3 PM - 5 PM
Dinner: 6 PM - 9:30 PM
Pricing: $$
Dresscode: sporty casual
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Itacho Sushi – Grand Indonesia Jakarta

A view days ago me and hubby so damn craving about sushi. We already imagine to have lots of sushi. Usually we had our sushi always in the same place. Because I have an indication to get an allergic to a not fresh sushi. But I'm so curious with new chain sushi restaurant called ITACHO that place at Grand Indonesia, East Mall Shopping Town Jakarta. So... keep scroll down to catch our sushi menu.

Itacho Sushi already well known as a sushi restaurant in several countries like Hongkong, China, Australia and the closest from us Singapore. Its Saturday night before dinner time when we arrived. We just tried our luck and hope that we get a seat. Not so long, finally the server take us to our seat.

Itacho Sushi  have a spacious dining area with wooden interior. every seating area divided by wooden partition. There's a sushi bar where we can seat there and eat while watching the Chef prepare our sushi.

The Order Sheet

How to reserve your meal is by filling the number on the paper that the server give to you. Just right down your order and the quantity then give it back to the server.

Itacho Sushi have a wide selection of Japanese kind of food. They serves many selection of Traditional Sushi, Fusion Sushi, Temaki, Hand Roll, Donburi, Udon, Soba, Rice, Salad and many more. Price ranges from IDR 6,000 (Sushi) to IDR 670,000 (Abalone Sashimi) for food, and IDR 0 (hot/cold ocha) to IDR 1,100,000 (Dassai 39 Sake). 

OCHA – Hot / Cold COMPLIMENTARY (Bottomless)

*Happy Dancing*

#1815 SALMON HEAD SOUP with SPICY SAUCE - IDR 40.000
Compare this Salmon Head Soup to the sushi Restaurant next door, this definitely more delish. With a hint of tangy and sour from the soup make this dish so fresh. Plus, there's so fishy smell from the Salmon. Served warm. Good in a rainy day.

#112 FATTY SALMON - IDR 11.000
Like its name, the salmon really had a thick cut and it taste fresh and not fishy.

From Left To Right:
#128 SHRIMP - IDR 10.000
#223 ROASTED MACKEREL - IDR 10.000
#220 ROASTED SALMON WITH CHEESE - IDR 12.000
Sweet and delicate shrimp, the one that blew me away. Roasted Mackerel that has a perfect seasoning, soak up well, so it make it roasted perfectly. Roasted Salmon with Cheese, slightly taste of cheese, so it makes the salmon still the star.

#611 CRAB & CRAB MISO  - IDR 22.000
How petite is the size when it arrived to my table. But from the (very) small size come big taste. Like the combination of a crab and Miso paste.

#713 SPICY SALMON - IDR 18.000
Actually I make a wrong note when I order it. I supposed to be want to order the salmon handroll instead of this Spicy Salmon. But this salmon turn our really good too. Combine with a bit mayonnaise. Crisp texture from the seaweed contrast with the fluffy rice with a hint taste of vinegar and spicy. If you don't like spicy, I'm sure you still can handle this. The mayonnaise has make a perfect balance into it.

#415 FATTY TUNA WITH SPRING ONION ROLL - IDR 28.000
Actually this fatty tuna come 4 when it serve. But because hubby to curious about the taste, one already sink into stomach LOL. The fatty and fresh tuna filled this roll. The spring onion  and the seaweed add the crisp texture.

#214 ROASTED EEL - IDR 28.000
This one is my favorite. The eel is so tender and the soy sauce marinated well into the eel. It taste sweet and savory.

#141 SCALLOP - IDR 30.000
No wonder this single sushi is expensive than the others. The thick cut of the scallop is so smooth and tender. It is also so fresh. I feel like eating a cotton.

#230 ROASTED SAURY SUSHI - IDR 10.000
To be honest (OMG, I feel ashamed because my hubby like to fishing a lot, but I dunno this kind of fish! Shot me!) this is the 1st time I ever ate Saury Fish.The shape similar like Mackerel Fish. And also with the taste. but this saury fish is more delicate and sweet.

#422 SALMON SPRING ROLL - IDR 25.000
The appearance is a little bit sloppy. It a salad in a roll. Served cold, with combination of salmon, fresh lettuce, tamago (egg), crab stick and a drizzled of mayonnaise. The taste is good. I really feel like eating a salad.

#616 FLYING FISH ROE - IDR 10.000
Ordered this just because my hubby love the texture of the flying fish roe. It pop in your mouth like a candy. Even though the shape is so small, but it paid with the taste.

At the end, me and hubby really feel so damn full. We can't get our ass up from the chair. Spoiled with so many scrumptious sushi make us over-whelmed. Itacho's strategy marketing really worked well with us. They sell dishes in a small portion with affordable price to make us want to grab every single food from the menu book LOL. 

The service that I've read from several comments on my friends blog didn't happen on my visit. The service was doing well. I even want to give more appreciation to the server named Risti (the chubby lady, If I'm not mistaken), that really helpful and always give a smile. 

So, overall, our visit that day was exquisite. Happy tummy with a happy face. 


ITACHO SUSHI

Level 3A, Unit FD1-10 Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall 
Jl. MH Thamrin No.1, Jakarta
(021) 235 81228

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