Ooh la la: New hot spots in town to enjoy French cuisine

French food is often associated with high-end cuisine, requiring customers to dress up before walking in to a French restaurant. These new establishments offer casual settings and affordable prices. Bon appétit!

Moovina

Sharing the same owners as Italian restaurant Ocha & Bella (Svarna group), Moovina offers an alternative spot to chill out after a hard day at work or just to hang out with friends at Plaza Indonesia. Offering delectable French cuisine with Vietnamese influences, Moovina promises friendly ambience for everyone.

"[The prices] are affordable. We are not the fine dining type," William Di Nardo, Moovina culinary director, said.

The bar, open kitchen and wine cellar are called Mezzanine and can be found on the fourth floor. The delicious Mis-Cuit ("sous vide" duck foie gras with fig chutney and cherry jam, accompanied with raisin bread), Merou En Croute (baked grouper in crispy puff pastry, served with chive butter sauce) or Asian Delight (pan-seared wagyu beef with green papaya salad with a Vietnamese dressing) are definitely worth a try.

For a meal with a view, head to Le Jardin on the third floor, which is decorated with real plants to emulate a French garden.

Located at:
Plaza Indonesia 3rd Floor & 4th Floor #06
Jl. MH Thamrin Kav. 28-30 Central Jakarta
Price:
Mis Cuit Rp 195,000
Merou En Croute Rp 145,000



Colonial

Designed to attract Kemang's trendy residents and visitors, Colonial offers a palatable choice of French cuisine and molecular drinks in contemporary space. The latter, with options such as The Grinch (a mix of vodka, melon liqueur, pineapple juice and blue curacao caviar, served in rock glass) and Mint Embryo (rum, lime juice, mint leaf in a liquid ball, which is served in a duck spoon), take 20 minutes to be prepared due to its scientific process.

They have plans to introduce meals cooked with the molecular gastronomy technique in the near future. However, you can still enjoy its vast menu selection, including melt-in-your-mouth meat dishes such as Slow Cooked Beef Cheek 62°C and Tenderloin a La Rossini, after savoring the complimentary French breads and garlic butter of course! For dessert, try the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant or Profiteroles. Enjoy the outdoor space when the weather is nice for a more relaxed ambience.

Located at:
Kemang Village Upper Ground, Lippo Mall Kemang
Jl P. Antasari No. 36 South Jakarta
Price:
Slow Cooked Beef Cheek 62°C Rp 165,000
Valrhona Chocolate Fondant Rp 65,000
Molecular drinks Rp 135,000



Ratatouille

"We want to offer homey food, to make you feel like you are at home," said Tesia Marcelina, one of the owners of Ratatouille, when asked about the restaurant's concept.

While enjoying the delicate and tantalizing Confit de Canard you may get that comfortable feeling from the surroundings as well as the dish. The establishment has a “mixologist” to create cocktail requests that are named and put up on the bar's blackboard. Tango Night on Mondays, Ladies Night on Wednesdays and free flow wine at Sunday brunch are also part of Ratatouille's strategy to obtain popularity. Downstairs, they will open a French bakery with its own restaurant in February as well that will cater for up to 30 people.

Located at:
The H Tower
Jl HR Rasuna Said Kav. 20 Kuningan South Jakarta
Price:
Confit de Canard Rp 95,000
Ratatouille Ice Tea Rp 35,000



Garcon

Located in the upscale Plaza Senayan shopping mall, this semi-fine dining French bistro and bar provides the perfect atmosphere for anyone who is looking for a new rendezvous hotspot. The dimly lit lounge is a suitable spot if you are planning something romantic. Its menu offers an interesting selection of fish and meat dishes, such as sautéed shrimp with lemon and parsley risotto; scallops with king mushroom, bacon foam and crunchy nuts; duck confit with cabbage ball and mashed celeriac; and wagyu burger 9+ with seared foie gras and French fries. It all comes with a complimentary French bread and butter.

Located at:
Plaza Senayan 4th Floor No. 410
Jl Asia Afrika No. 8 Central Jakarta
Price:
Sauteed shrimp with lemon and parsley risotto Rp 90,000
B.O.S (a mixed of strawberry, orange and banana) Rp 45,000