With competition tight among restaurants in Jakarta, it takes more than just fancy interior design for eateries to survive in the city.
Two years after Rustique Grill and Wine opened its doors, the restaurant is offering a new menu, in line with its modern contemporary cuisine.
While executive chef Fany Hermawan still works the kitchen, Rustique recently invited chef Shigetoshi "Gio" Uramoto to join the team.
Starting his career in Japan 20 years ago, Gio refined his culinary skill in San Francisco's Barracuda Sushi restaurant where he worked for six years.
Since Gio arrived in Jakarta, he has provided Rustique with his unique touch, a m*lange of American, European and Asian flavors.
Mini Trio Burger
Describing his cooking as "international", Gio takes his inspiration from many cultures and countries to create something new, yet retaining a sense of familiarity.
Since food these days is perhaps considered something of a "fashion", Gio believes the secret to success is producing quality meals, because quality does not lose its style.
"Chef Gio spent three months helping us develop Rustique's Japanese-fusion menu," Christoph Darjanto, Rustique's co-owner, said. "Now, about 40 percent of our menu is new."
According to him, the response to the new menu had been postitive. He said his restaurant would invite chefs whose cooking capability fit with Rustique's modern style.
To better accommodate the customers' dining needs, Rustique has created two lunch and dinner menus. The lunch menus comprise lighter dishes with smaller portions, suitable for quick yet wholesome lunches.
One of Gio's lunch dishes is the mini trio burger, consisting of three mini burgers: salmon, chicken and beef. Along with the usual accompaniment of lettuce and tomato, the salmon and beef mini burger patties are mixed with refined vegetables, such as carrots, making for a healthier meal.
dory popcorn
Another light dish for lunch is the Dory Popcorn, served in a bowl-shaped crusty egg roll, complemented with sliced cucumbers and spicy mayonnaise and mixed with Japanese nori.
When evening arrives, Rustique offers a rich dinner menu dominated by steaks, meat and poultry served in large portions in a variety of styles. Recommended dishes are the Pacific Seafood Plate, steaks with six choices of sauce such as the Japanese-style ponzu, and the cream cheese green teacake.
Although there is a lunch and dinner menu, guests can order plates from either menu at any time of the day.
"Guests can also order the vegetarian version of a dish," Christoph said. "For example, vegetarian paella and quesadillas."
Even though the new menu has arrived, Rustique has kept its specialty menu, featuring the dry-aged beef, tender meat, which has been hung between 21 and 28 days. Guests also have a wide selection of beef to choose from including rib eye, sirloin and tenderloin, available in various weights.
Rustique Grill and Wine
Plaza Senayan
Level P4 *413
Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8
Jakarta 10270
Phone: (021) 5785 2760
Mini Trio Burger
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