Dining out under the stars to the accompaniment of the sound of waves breaking on the shore and a cool breeze in Jakarta seems too good to be true.

But it is possible. You can enjoy this unique experience right here in the northern part of the capital, or more precisely in Ancol Jakarta Bay City.

Being the largest integrated tourist site in Southeast Asia, Ancol has various restaurants that offer not only good food but also a nice coastal ambiance with a beautiful panorama.

Ancol, which has long been known as a recreation park, has developed its culinary tourism in the past few years, aggressively opening new restaurants with unique concepts to meet the growing need of Jakarta residents. The beach panorama, something rare in Jakarta, indeed works to its advantage and has become one of its main attractions.

One of the food outlets is Le Bridge, a restaurant in the sea. Yes, you literally eat above the water, reaching the restaurant via a 100-meter wooden bridge.

"I like places like this. It is romantic, a good place for a date ... with an ocean view," said one guest.

The food, she said, was average, which she said was fine as it came at a reasonable price and a beautiful view. Among the items on the menu are burgers, sandwiches and steak as well as chicken cordon blue.

Other restaurants in Ancol include Bandar Jakarta, Jimbaran, Segarra, Back Stage and Dermaga One.

Those who want to eat seafood can go to Bandar Jakarta, Jimbaran or Dermaga One, while Segarra and Back Stage serve international cuisine.

In Bandar Jakarta and Jimbaran, you can see live fish, lobsters, clams, crabs and other sea creatures in tanks just there for the picking, ready to be cooked according to your preference.

Bandar Jakarta literally means "Jakarta Port" while Jimbaran Restaurant is named after an area in Bali noted for its grilled fish.

It is no wonder that Jimbaran Restaurant's specialty is grilled fish, which is prepared with various kinds of ingredients. The dishes have three kinds of sambal or chili sauces: sambal terasi (chili sauce with dried shrimp paste), sambal mentah (sauce made of raw chili) and sambal kecap manis (chili sauce with sweet soy sauce).

Located on a one-hectare plot of land with a capacity for 400 diners, the restaurant has a strong Balinese nuance as reflected in the decor, while many of the chefs and staff come from Bali to guarantee the authenticity of the taste.

The much bigger Bandar Jakarta can accommodate 2,000 guests, and is the perfect place to dine out with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere. With an atmosphere of old Jakarta and romance, as well as great food, Bandar Jakarta attracts lots of customers. Despite its huge capacity, sometimes people have to wait for a table.

Bandar Jakarta has Betawi architecture with white tents and little boats with colorful lights.

You can choose to sit on the beach to enjoy an ocean breeze and the scenic view or take a seat inside the building within a cozy atmosphere while eating mouthwatering dishes.

Dermaga One or Pier One is one of the new restaurants in Ancol, offering Sulawesi seafood. The recommended dishes are fried gurame (freshwater carp), grilled baronang (rabbitfish) and spicy sour prawns. All are served with a sauce that is specially prepared with a Sulawesi touch.

But of course you can pick your favorite food from the menu, which has a list of 250 dishes, including dim sum and crab porridge.

Segarra restaurant offers Asian and European food. It has a great variety of dishes from tom yam noodles, grilled salmon and even pizza. Segarra means ocean and when dining at this restaurant you can hear the sound of waves breaking and a light breeze.

If you've had enough of the sea and would prefer to listen to real music instead of the natural orchestra, you might want to visit Backstage. Combining romanticism and exoticism, the restaurant has a stage surrounded by the sea. The wind and the waves, no matter how strong they are, will not bother you. In this 1,000-seat restaurant, you can enjoy a meal while listening to live music.

Bandar Jakarta and other restaurants have attracted food enthusiasts, especially on weekends, and Ancol is planning to open more and more food outlets, which will complement one another.

"We want to become one of the main destinations for culinary tourism in Jakarta," said YJ Harwanto, head of the Corporate Plan Department of PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol.

Jakarta has seen tremendous growth in culinary trends in the past few years with many people eating out as part of their lifestyle.

"Dining out is not just about eating and drinking. It is also a form of recreation. This fits our concept as a recreation center," he told The Jakarta Post.

People who want to eat out in Ancol, however, have to pay an entrance fee of Rp 10,000 (US$1.10) per person.

"At first we were a bit worried about this. But it turns out that people do not mind. Money doesn't matter as long as they are satisfied," he said.

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