After a week of rice and chicken on the Sumatran west coast it was a delight to find somewhere with more variety. Even if it included various lumps of offal and only non-alcoholic drinks to wash them down. Mental note ; if you like a beer, avoid Indonesia during Ramadan. Beer was possible in some places, but generally warm and poured over ice. This would quickly melt it, providing a flat, watery liquid of just below room temperature. Yum.
Restaurant Garuda immediately looked like a safer bet than its namesake, the national airline. After some warm up satays on the street ( 12000 rup - AUD 1.50 for 10 ) we were welcomed like kings to a long table with plush seats. A rocky water feature runs the full length of the restaurant adding nicely to the ambiance ( warning re bubbling water for those with weak bladders? ) Delightful, almost silver, service only marred by the blank looks and silence when Bintang was requested. Never mind, a delicious mango juice with an odd but nice chocolate syrup drop turned out to be nearly as good.
About 12 separate dishes quickly arrive - without being ordered. A great range of Indonesian dishes without a nasi goreng in sight! From spicy crunch prawns and an almost sag-like minty pea thing to a crispy dried fish they were generally delicious. My fellow diners seemed slow to appreciate the stomach, lung or intestine and I have to admit there were far better things on offer. Bowls of chilli squid with depth and texture without being chewy, creamy curried fish and sambal chicken, and deep fried fish bones.... mmmmm.
Almost the perfect tasting meal. You only pay for what you eat and that solves a major dilemma for those too ignorant to speak the local language. You don't even have to order!
Unfortunately the jelly to finish had an odd texture and tasted like my 2 year old had made it without supervision.
So if you happen to find yourself wandering down JI. Kartini in Lampung, look for number 31. For all of around AUD $10 you too can eat like a king.
Food 7.5 Service 8 Atmosphere 6
Friday, October 5, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)