W

ant to feel the ambiance of an ancient Chinese village? Well Dian Xiao Er offers old style dining and is the perfect pit stop after a long working day.

At a glance, Dian Xiao Er, nestled on the third floor of Taman Anggrek Mall in West Jakarta, is just like any other food outlet. But once you step into the restaurant, you'll be surprised by what you find inside.

Every bit of the restaurant is designed to look like an ancient Chinese inn - reminiscent of scenes that you usually find in old Chinese martial arts films.

The kitchen is covered by a contained hut where Dian Xiao Er's signature roast duck is cooked and served. In the center of the area, a traditional wooden bucket stands next to an exposed brick well. The water drips from the bucket to the bottom of the well, which is full of white stones and the sound of the dripping water offers a Zen-like soothing atmosphere.

Rustic timber sheds add to the mood of traditional Chinese dining, beautiful lanterns create ambient lighting, while the waitstaff in traditional uniforms make the whole place very cozy and welcoming.

The traditional Chinese d*cor sets the mood, it feels as though you are eating in a real old inn (except that it is air-conditioned), far away from the crowd of the shopping center.

Dian Xiao Er, first established in Singapore by Samuel Yik, symbolizes a pit stop for travelers (customers) to rest and refresh before setting off on their hectic journeys again.

Apart from the unique interior, the main attraction of Dian Xiao Er is the herbed roast duck menu.

The history of duck roasting can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty when it was listed among the imperial dishes. It gained widespread acclaim as a prized delicacy during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The use of Chinese herbs has evolved over thousands of years. In fact, it has become a distinctive part of Chinese culture heritage.

It was believed that combining herbs with roast duck was the idea of a waiter in a roast duck restaurant many years ago. Xiao Er actually refers to "waiter" in the ancient times.

It started out as an attempt to help his master on the route to recovery after a long journey. After a few sessions, the master showed remarkable improvements in his condition, making a speedy recovery and even emerging stronger than before.

From then on, herbal roast duck became the specialty of the restaurant.

But what's so special about herbed roast duck?

Dian Xiao Er uses Cherry Valley ducks, which are chosen for their fine quality as they are naturally breed off the lakeside, said Yik.

"We take great care in selecting and preparing our ingredients. Our ducks are prepared and freshly roasted in the display kitchen daily," he said.

The whole ducks are first marinated with herbs and spices for hours, before they are roasted at the appropriate temperature to keep them from drying out. There are various types of roast duck cooked with different Chinese herbs. One that is a must-try is the Angelica Herb Roasted Duck. The duck meat is drenched in a savory, tasty herbal sauce.

The duck meat is tender and juicy and is topped with a layer of finely roasted skin. Even the skin itself is crispy and fragrant. The duck roasted with "Ten Wonder Herbs" is another version available on the menu.

If you are craving something a little lighter before you opt for the duck delicacies, you can order the fish maw thick soup with seafood for a starter. Different from other places that just bulk up their soups by thickening the stock with corn flour, this one is full of chicken, fish and other seafood.

Another option is emerald tofu with seafood. The mashed tofu appears like a chiffon cake with a scoop of seafood, gravy sauce and broccoli. Veggie lovers can opt for baby kailan (Chinese kale) with salted fish and lime.

And if you are not in the mood for duck, you can choose the roast lamb grassland style, which has a sweet and peppery taste.

After tasting a series of dishes on the menu, a refreshing dessert will make your day. Try the xian cao herbal jelly, a mixture of black jelly and fresh strawberry juice.

No matter what the reason may be, Dian Xiao Er is a great pit stop for all occasions.

DIAN XIAO ER

Taman Anggrek Mall, Level 3

Phone: +62-21-5639278

Operating hours:

Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (break: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.)