A week before coming to Indonesia, Tino, a Canadian vocalist who had been living in Bangkok for six years, met a friend whose contract to sing at one of Jakarta's five-star hotels just had expired.
"We were at the gym and he suddenly threw away his towel, *I didn't have this before the contract,' he said referring to his belly. He advised me to be careful, saying that hanging out in Jakarta always involved eating. Is that true?"
Trying to answer with something smart, the writer said "Well, I guess ."
The point of the conversation is, of course, how essential eating out is in the life of Jakartans. A fat belly, on the other hand, is something to consider in case you get carried away.
There are countless restaurants in Jakarta, some of them are good and more of them are bad. Not all well-known restaurants are clean or grand, including those located in five-star hotels, shopping malls and even in tents on roadsides. With the city's population reaching up to 8,792,000 people - almost double Singapore's - opening a restaurant is always good business.
Nevertheless, a restaurant can only be good if the price is right and the food is great. Here are some tips that can be handy on your gastronomic adventures in Jakarta and possibly other cities in the nation.
Look for a crowd
Good restaurants are usually packed with people, while empty ones are usually bad in terms of food or service. Crowded restaurants in shopping malls could either have great food or low prices, while crowded eating places on roadsides are usually noted for a specific type of food.
Money and tipping
Many of the smaller restaurants in Jakarta, including those in big shopping malls, don't accept credit cards. So either check first before ordering or be sure to take enough cash with you to pay for your order plus tax. Tipping is commonplace in Jakarta, although some restaurants do include a service charge on the bill, which basically translates into a tip.
Seating
Pay attention to where they seat you. Smoking has recently been banned in malls but some restaurants still allow people to smoke inside. And as many don't have a non-smoking section, once you ask for a non-smoking table, they may put you somewhere out of sight near the toilet or kitchen. Some of them also have stereo speakers in the corners of the room. Beware of these speakers if you intend to have a night of great conversation with friends.
Taste vs. hygiene
If local friends told you they knew of a great roadside restaurant, be sure you understand what you're getting into. If hygiene is not a big issue and you don't mind eating at a relatively dingy place, go for it. Some people may not let an aversion to dust or slight discomfort get in the way of experiencing some of the best food in the city. Decide what's best for you.
Mention your dislikes
Always make sure to ask the waiter what's in a particular dish. In traditional restaurants, including local eatery havens Rumah Makan Padang and Warung Tegal, spicy food and different types of meat cooked in coconut milk are mostly what you'll get. Say directly what you don't like or are allergic to and make sure they don't include it in your order.
Mind the traffic
One annoying thing about Jakarta is the traffic, so if you're thinking about making dinner arrangements on a weekday, be sure to make it for about 8 p.m. Bad traffic usually lasts from 4 to 7 p.m., while on weekends there are not as many cars - or motorbikes - as there are on weekdays. Parking areas in malls are usually quite full on weekends though, so be as early as you possibly can.
Morning hunger
The city sleeps too early for some people. And when you want some good food at 3 a.m., the only available places to go are 24-hour fast food restaurants and a number of restaurants in hotels. Be sure to get some info on them before heading out.
Although Jakarta has a diverse range of restaurants, one tip applicable for all restaurants is to take it easy.
You can try complaining about the food if you don't like it, but only a handful of restaurants will do something about it.
If you think your complaint is justified, be firm in making it, as in general people prefer to maintain harmony and so you'll probably end up getting the service you expect. Good luck!
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