Angus House

Got beef? I had some last week and a real good plate of it! It was FW's 31st birthday and as a celebration, Angus House was opted. We had an early dinner at around 6pm and thus the crowd wasn't busy. Just a couple of tables occupied. Well, the interior of the restaurant wasn't fancy at all. It was rather too plain for a fine dining restaurant. The color scheme were mainly white and black with a rather cheesy pink table cloths spread all over. But hey!! The steak is one of the best I've eaten by far. Worth the every bit of the splurge ^_^

If I may comment about the service, it was clearly that the staffs were well trained. Ask them about the entire menu and they all had memorized it very well. Table manners were a specific thing that they all performed while serving, pouring and even while clearing our plates. Well, you're spending an easy Rp 500,000 a head, thus immaculate manners  make sense. Therefore, I wouldn't complain any bit about the waitress but this way, rather gave a 'cold' feeling towards the customers.

Menu : Entree - set menu
Price : RP 345,000 ++ Set Menu
Score : 7.0 / 10

>> A succulent piece of prawns with a grilled white fish at the bottom. Served with a sauteed water spinach at the side. How does it taste? Love the prawns and the fish !!! The veges, well not so much. It was a plain well sauteed veges. The sauce was complementing too! It has the tangy taste and a hint of sweet chilli with it.

Menu : Mushroom Soup - set menu
Price : RP 345,000 ++ Set Menu
Score : 8.0 / 10

>> Yummmmm, but sadly too small of a portion. I'd love a big bowl of it. This mushroom soup is very creamy and yet doesn't give you that 'sick' feeling that you get after a big bowl of creamy pasta. Maybe it's the small portion, maybe it's the type of cream they use, or maybe it's just me and my tongue. But regardless, a solid 8 pointer from me !

Menu : Salad - set menu
Price : RP 345,000 ++ Set Menu
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> This salad is no question fresh and crisp. But as for the dressing, rather too plain for me. It's not a cream nor a mayo base dressing. It was a vinegar base. FW lovesss balsamic and thus he'll probably gave an eight. But it all comes down to a matter of taste. It was an okay for me.

Menu : Tenderloin 200 gram - set menu
Price : RP 345,000 ++ (Set Menu)
Score : 9.5 / 10

>> I regret of not ordering the 300 grams. This is sooo good. Well, to begin with, my fav part of a cow's is the tenderloin. It has the right amount of fat for my taste and the way the chef cooked it was perfect! I asked for a medium and I got a medium. Do you know how many times other steak chef gets the temperature of a meat wrong??!!! You asked for a medium and a medium well comes out, or worst destroy the meat by cooking a well done! But hey! yummmness is all in this plate. Steak cooked to perfection and would ordered the 300 grams one next time. Worth your money !!

Just to mention a few of other dishes that was ordered ala - carte (not included in the set menu)

Top Left : Abalone & Sea Urchin Pasta
Price : RP 160,000 ++
Score : 8.0 / 10

Top Right : Scallop Salad
Price : RP 110,000 ++
Score : 7.5 / 10

Right : Espanole Soup
Price : RP 50,000 ++
Score : 7.0 / 10

Well, last but not least, happy birhday F !! You're getting bald :p

ANGUS HOUSE 
Senayan City 4th Floor No : 48
Phone : 021 - 7278 1588

Manega Seafood - Jimbaran, Bali (Lebaran 2012)

I always put aside one dinner slot schedule for about eight out of ten trips to Bali, especially for this restaurant. There were some renovation made to the place, better decor all around but one thing for sure, their food is as good as ever! I made a point to come there sharp at 5.30 pm, just managing to catch a good glimpse of the Jimbaran sunset while waiting for the dishes to be cooked.

If you reach here at their peak period (per say 7 to 9pm) you will need all the patience you can find inside you to wait for seats and chasing the waitresses for to deliver your food out of their super chaotic kitchen. Therefore, I seriously suggest for you all to reach no later than 5.30 pm. Rather early for a dinner but the time they get your food onto your the table it's 6.30 pm! Perfect timing isn't it?

Menu : Sate Cumi (Squid Satay)
Price : Rp 75,000++ (For 15 sticks)
Score : To Be Advised

>> If you don't know, I don't eat squid unless maybe fried calamari rings (not a fan either). I didn't try any of these but hearing from FW, he loved it. There is something about the texture and the chewy pat of the squid meat that I just don't like any bit.

Menu : Tiger Prawn

Price : Rp 70,000++ (For 4 pieces)

Score : 6.5 / 10

>> Very well cooked, exactly how a prawn should be grilled. It's well done, but still retains it's 'springy' texture when you bite and chew into it. The smoke grilled taste is infused into the dish and when dipped with 'kecap manis' (sweet soy sauce) and cut chili with sambal matah, you'll probably order another dozen of these!

Menu : Kerang (Shellfish)

Price : Rp 40,000++ (For about 12 pieces)

Score : 9.0 / 10

>> This dish is not only the cheaper among the menu but also simply the best tasting one! The shape of the shell retains all the sauce that was smeared all across it instead of dripping down the grilling stove. The sauce is simply yummeh!! It's their specialty I suppose, it's buttery, able to taste the smoked effect from the grill, strong in garlic and has a slight BBQ tang ! Hmmm....delightful :)

Menega Cafe

Jl. Four Seasons Muaya Beach, Jimbaran Bali

Phone : +62 (361) - 705888

Porter House

I did talk about the transformation that Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) had become in a short period of time. And so... the next time you're making your way down to the stretch of cafes that PIK has to offer and confuse on picking which one to check out, you might remember this post. 

Porter House is one of the busiest cafe that you'll notice. Three units of shop houses (Ruko) were combined to become a two level restaurant / cafe / hang-out place. They offer an indoor and outdoor separate place, both smoking and non-smoking areas, private rooms are available too on the second level.

Even though parking might be a slight hassle, I'm guaranteed a table every time I'm there to visit. Availability is a very important thing to me, I'm definitely a kind of person that wouldn't want to queue for an hour just to get a seat, unless the world is ending tomorrow and I must eat my last meal at a specific place, hahahaha ...

Menu : Hungarian Beef Goulash

Price : Rp 28,000 ++

Score : 7.0 / 10

>> A warm hearty and a rather good size bowl of soup. The fillings inside were generous; diced beef, bell peppers, capsicum and all the typical ingredients you expect to find in a goulash were there. I like the balance of flavor, a good kick of tomatoes to the tongue. This soup reminds me of a cross between a marinara and a bolognaise sauce. Good stuff!

Menu : Scallop de Horenzo

Price : Rp 25,000 ++
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> When the dish arrived on the table, I was slightly disappointed on the size of the scallop. I expect it to be like the ones served on Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, but when I was reminded on the price tag that this rather perceived as 'expensive' seafood is a mere Rp 25,000 (for 3 pc), I shouldn't complain much. The well cooked scallop were place on a bed of buttery spinach with melted cheese and cream glazed on top.

Menu : Escargot Bourguignon

Price : Rp 55,000++

Score : 7.5 / 10

>> This time, I was surprised by the amount of escargot they serve on the tin plate. I usually find restaurants serving it on a much smaller quantity and charging with a much higher price tag. I love the generous amount of garlic, buttery, olive oil sauce served on the bottom layer. They definitely should serve this with more slices of toast. One of my favourites on the menu!

Menu : Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Price : Rp 45,000++

Score : 5.0 / 10

>> If you're hungry then you shouldn't order this dish. The size was a let down! It couldn't satisfy me, let alone if you're an adult male. You probably end up ordering two main courses. For the taste, I'd say I had better ones. This was a little bland, I couldn't find the typical strong garlic and spicy taste that Aglio Olio need to offer. But don't get me wrong, it didn't taste bad or disgusting; still fit for human consumption as long you are not picky about your pasta.

Menu : Penne Carbonara

Price : Rp 47,000++

Score : 8.5 / 10

>> A very big difference in terms of taste with the 'Aglio Olio'. I'm not a big fan of creamy pastas, but the next time I'm at Port'er House, I'll order this again. This is not the typical tasting Carbonara that I've ever tasted anywhere else. A generous hand of bacon over a rather 'garlic' tasting cream sauce. I'm forgetting about Aglio Olio and changing to this instead!

Menu : Beef Mignoettes ala Pizziola

Price : Rp 55,000++

Score : 6.0 / 10

>> Size is again an issue here. The beef was very well cooked, perfectly medium just how I usually like mine. However, the fact that it is only a 3 slice beef medallion dish couldn't satisfy my hungry tummy made it a slight let down. They served it with two types of salad; a potato salad and a spinach salad on each ends. A super small portion of penne were placed on the bottom of the beef and a beef reduction glaze was poured over tying the dish together.

Menu : Oreo Thousand Layer Cake

Price : Rp 30,000++

Score : 7.0 / 10

>> I know the fact that Port'er House get their 'thousand layer cake' for a local vendor in PIK. They have two flavours; original vanilla and oreo. To be honest, I like both and doesn't mind which one to have. Be quick to order it early because they usually ran out of it before they close.

Note : First Love Patisserie in Plaza Indonesia is better than this by a mile! 

Porter House

Rukan Crown Golf Blok B No 38 Pantai Indah Kapuk
Phone : 021 - 44632017
Mon - Thu : 11 am - 12 am
Fri - Sun : 11am - 2 am 

King Chef

My head was all cramped with house topics and budget issues. I now understands when previously I heard stories that goes something like: "Omg! Have you heard A & B broken up? They've been dating for 5 years and about to get married, I wonder what happen...". Wondering what may happen? Sooo many freaking issues to talk and compromise about. And when you can't find common ground, that is when the 'cracks' develop!

Anyways back to food topic (sorry I got sidetracked), I went to 'King Chef' on that stressful day and it was my first time. I visited the branch in Emporium Mall Pluit but upon looking on the menu, they do open branches in Mall of Indonesia, Mangga Dua Square & Plaza Semanggi. Some dish took me by surprise; in a good way and overall the dinner was alright. Comparing to it's rival "Maystar & Duck King", this was less pricey. In addition to that, they're having 20% discount on all.

Menu : Pickle

Price : Rp 12,000++

Score : 7.0 / 10

>> I liked it! I know it is pretty much an ordinary looking pickle that the table seldom finishes it. But this is slightly different. The fresh ingredients blend into the vinegar with salt & sugary taste has a different kick on the tongue.

Menu : Steamed Scallop with Minced Garlic

Price : Rp 18,800++ / each

Score : 6.75 / 10

>> I'd give a 6 for the scallop itself, pretty much ordinary. What gave this a higher score was the vermicelli sitting on the bottom. It has so much flavor and sorts of balances the strong garlic shavings on the scallop.

Menu : Broccoli with Spicy Prawns

Price : Rp 40,000++

Score : 7.5 / 10

>> Again took me by surprise! The portion was generous, the broccoli was fresh; not overcooked and thus still has the crunchy texture! The prawns was slightly overcooked but it was forgivable when you taste the sauce. It's like a 'sweet chili' flavor partying on your taste buds. Not bad at all !

Menu : Beef Enoki Roll

Price : Rp 51,800++
Score : 2.0 / 10

>> Worst dish of the night and lost by a big margin! I gave a pathetic 2. The beef was chewy and not tender at all. The Enoki mushrooms were extremely soggy and tasteless (I bet the mushrooms were frozen ones). The oyster sauce on top was a joke and this was such a let down because the rest had my appetite going.

Menu : Soft Shell Crab Fried with Oats

Price : Rp 55,800++
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> Even though this was slightly on a mini portion for the price, nevertheless it was worth it. The crab was crunchy and the oats has a buttery fragrant which I love! Maybe the oats were fried in butter instead of oil. The generous oats were a perfect match with steam rice too.

Menu : Es Shanghai

Price : Rp 16,900++
Score : 3.0 / 10

>> I don't like this. The green bean was undercooked, thus slightly crunchy. The rest of the ingredients were just typical then picking and throwing it into the bowl. Nothing great about this. But because I need to have a desert for every meal, I finished it anyway :p

KING CHEF
EMPORIUM MALL PLUIT, 4th FLOOR (Next to Solaria)