Tea Garden @ Gading Serpong

David and I drove quite a distance of 32 Kilometers from my house to Gading Serpong. Serpong is a large residential and commercial estate with all the necessities you can find there. Two of us were house hunting and for a late lunch we hit this restaurant called "Tea Garden". Both of us overheard the house brokers saying that the place has good food. The place was very easy to locate because it is situated on the main boulevard road; as long you take notice of your surroundings, you won't missed it.

At a Sunday 2.30 pm, the place was still busy and busy means good business and thus good food I have in mind. But honestly, I was confused when I first enter the eatery. The decoration was very weird, they have Chinese red lanterns all over and also Malay signature green window panes. I'm very sure that the owners didn't hire an interior designer to do the place. When I opened the menu, I was even more confused. The variety of food was abundance! There was way too much choices and it spread from Western, Chinese, Malay, Deserts, etc. I couldn't decide promptly and asked what was the house signature dish; Hainan Chicken Rice.

Last but not least, I have to praise them for the rather cheap price they charge. For two grown up who eats big portion (all the menu below) we spend Rp 160,000 (include tax) that is approximately around USD 17. Good value for money don't you think?

Menu : Hak Kau

Price : Rp 15,000 ++
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> David's favorite and thus we need to order this every time any restaurant has it on their menu. This particular Hak Kau has super fresh shrimp, when I bite into it, I can feel the meat is still firm and springy; not mushy at all.

Menu : Baked BBQ Pork Puff

Price : Rp 12,000++

Score : 7.0 / 10

>> Whenever I give at least a 6.5 / 10, you really need to have a go at it and this you have to try! The sweet pastry was a perfect combination with the savory pork fillings inside. I wanted to have a second plate but ordered too many other dishes and thus, next time I'll have to come back here !!

Menu : Crab Siu May

Price : Rp 14,000++
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> The taste was rather typical but I have to give an extra point for the fresh ingredients. The crab and shrimp fillings inside were so fresh that I can feel it coming back alive, hahaha.

Menu : Fried BBQ Pork Bun

Price : Rp 12,000++
Score : 7.0 / 10

>> This is a cross between fried "Man Tou" and a steamed BBQ Pork Bun. The goodness of each dish were all combine into one! Great crispy skin outside and splendid savory pork inside. Most importantly, NOT too oily at all.

Menu : Hot & Sour Sze Chuan Soup

Price : Rp 10,000++
Score : 3.5 / 10

>> I know the price is cheap (even crab meat is added into) for a bowl of hot and sour soup but the taste is confusing. Meaning, it is neither hot, sour, sweet nor salty. The taste is just weird. I have to point out here that the soup is not bland, seasonings were definitely remembered but it is just the taste that I don't like.

Menu : Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce (Tauco)

Price : Rp 11,000++
Score : 5.0 / 10

>> I was surprised at the portion of this menu. But when look closer I realised it was only 3 feet (normal serving) but it was  huge feet and the fact they didn't cut into smaller portions was rather a turn off for presentation. At all level , regardless of taste, portion, presentation Din Tai Fung's is still better.

Menu : Dumpling Soup

Price : Rp 16,000 ++
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> This is a satisfying bowl for my standard. The broth is not only clear but also has a calming taste. The dumplings were plump with shrimp and chicken stuffing. I can really feel that the kitchen were generous with their portions in relative to the price they charge.

Menu : Hainan Chicken Rice

Price : Rp 18,500++
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> I'm not sure why I got served white rice when they stated "Hainan Rice" and the stupid part was that I didn't asked the waiter about that. Nevertheless, the steam chicken with the soy seasoning was delicious and the chicken broth at the side was heavenly good! I might sound exaggerating for just a bowl of soup but I mean it. You have to try it and decide it whether I have good taste buds or not. The chili and ginger condiments were beautiful too. I would have given this a 7.5 / 10 if only they serve me Hainan Rice instead of white rice.

Menu : Egg Tart

Price : Rp 5,000 ++ (per piece)

Score : 8.5 / 10

>> I was head over heels for this tiny thing. I went "WOW" at my first bite and I reckon Tea Garden might serve the best egg tart in Jakarta. The texture was silky smooth, the sweetness was prefect and I can taste the intensity of the curd filling. Heavenly good !!

Menu : Durian Pancake

Price : Rp 26,000++
Score : 5.0 / 10

>> If you notice, this is the most expensive dish on today's lunch table (even more expensive than the Hainan Chicken Rice Set). Thus for that, I have a high expectation. However sadly, it was disappointing. The durian fillings were too little, the egg roll wrapping was slightly too thick and thus I can taste the doughy texture in my mouth. I rather have 5 egg tarts in exchange for this.

Imperial Kitchen

I went to Supermall Karawaci last Saturday Afternoon, a very different and rather far destination than my normal routine but because of several reasons I was there. David was craving for Dim Sum and had been nagging for it for the past few days. I wanted it less badly but when pretty excited when we choose this for our Saturday brunch menu.

Apparently at the end of the meal, I was not blown away. The price was not expensive, it was rather reasonable but I'll prefer to pay slightly more money and have Dim Sum at 'Din Tai Fung' (January 2011's post). I felt no body even come close to Din Tai Fung's chicken feet. It was so damn good !

Menu : Steamed Beef Balls

Price : Rp 13,900 ++

Score : 6.0 / 10

>> Seasoned well and served pipping hot which is great. But it would have scored a higher point if the meat wasn't too mushy. I'd like it to be more tighter and firm. This slightly feels like a baby food.

Menu : Chicken Feet with Black Pepper Sauce

Price : Rp 12,900 ++
Score : 3.5 / 10

>> If you have tasted Din Tai Fung's then any chicken feet dish you tasted later after that would be extremely difficult to beat. This is lacking in taste, seasoning and texture in comparison. But if it was to be judged by itself, I'd say it is still pleasantly edible.

Menu : Crab Xiao Long Bao

Price : Rp 13,900 ++

Score : 5.0 / 10

>> Lacking of the 'soup' inside the steamed bun. Xiao Long Bao should be bursting with hot broth that actually made the signature way of eating (biting a small hole and slurp the broth). This particular dish was ordinary and nothing to be missed or praised about.

Menu : Hak Kau (Steamed Shrimp Dumpling)

Price : Rp 13,900++

Score : 6.5 / 10

>> Hak Kau is one of the most common dish ordered during any "Dim Sum" session. I have rather nice things to say this time; thin translucent wrapping, big satisfying shrimp meat inside and when dipped into soy sauce, it taste good!

Menu : Siu Mai 

Price : Rp 13,900 ++
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> Fresh meat, succulent taste and great seasoning. The next time I come to Imperial Kitchen in Supermall Karawaci, I'll probably only re-order the Hak Kau and Siu Mai.

Menu : Hainan Chicken Rice

Price : Rp 27,900 ++
Score : 3.0 / 10

>> BAD ! The rice is not fragrant at all, the chicken is super dry, the vegetables were soggy and tasteless. Everything about this dish is just a nightmare !

Menu : Sunkist Pudding

Price : Rp 14,900 ++
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> I wanted the coconut pudding but they do not have it in their menu (shame!) but instead they have this interesting looking Sunkist Pudding. The flesh of the orange is forked out and filled with real Sunkist tasting pudding. The taste was pretty good and it was a good first time experience having "Sunkist Pudding". Very creative I might say !!

Rice Bowl

I wasn't in the mood for food but for the sake of just eating I had 'Chicken Rice' at Emporium Pluit Mall. It was a quick trip down to 'Rice Bowl' and actually my first. Rice Bowl (www.ricebowl.co.id) was first opened in October 2004, with the goal of providing great food, great services at an affordable price. Rice-Bowl serves many different variety of Asian cuisine, such as their all time favorite Roasted Duck, Black Pepper Beef, Hainan Chicken, Braised Japanese Tofu, and many more.

Menu  : Singapore Hainan Chicken Set
Price : Rp 39,900
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> For the budget price, I reckon the portion and the taste was satisfying and definitely worth it for money. The portion was generous and I couldn't finish the set. The rice was fragrant, chicken was succulent and broccoli was crunchy and yummy! I felt the chili was alright but definitely can improve on the taste; it was spicy enough and a little more ginger can do more good than harm.

Rumah Makan Apollo

Menu : Nasi Ayam Hainam
Price : Unknown
Score : 7.0 / 10

It was a pleasant take away that my uncle sometimes bring over to the office and gave me. I haven't ordered lunch and this was very much welcomed. I had myself ready to tuck into the dish when suddenly there was a quarrel in the office. Nevertheless, it didn't spoil my appetite. I would have to say the rice was the star of the entire dish, it was very fragrant. The combination of chicken stock and ginger smell simply made my tummy roar. The boiled chicken's soy sauce is good too! The soy sauce definitely combine harmoniously with the splash of their home made chili sauce.

RUMAH MAKAN APOLLO

Address : Jl. Muara Karang Blok D VII Timur No. 98 Jakarta Utara

Phone : 021 - 6611238, 6625554