Good food is somehow easy to find. What’s hard is actually the quest of finding guilt-free good food. Well, I think I have found it in Attarine, the newly-opened restaurant specializes in Western cuisine. Oh, Attarine is also a restaurant by The Potato Head Group.
Well, interior-wise, I personally love the way they designed the seating. It’s more towards casual with laid-back vibe. They had these plants arranged in the dining area and some were hanging under the ceiling. Just like an elephant in the room, there’s actually a vintage FIAT in the middle of the room!
Service-wise, I experienced a professional one. The waiters and waitresses seemed to know what they were doing and served customers well. Even during the time Attarine was a very newly-opened restaurant, the waiter that served me happened to be very knowledgeable about Attarine’s menu.
One of the recommendations that I had here is Jamu Royal. When told, I cringed a bit. But well, since that’s the recommendation, I was challenged. Jamu Royal is consisted of turmeric, tamarind, honey, lemon juice, carrot+ginger beer. It turned out to be quite good! The taste of turmeric and tamarind was strong, but with the company of the honey, lemon and carrot+ginger beer, the overall taste was acceptable, or dare I say, quite addictive, especially because of the sweet and sour sensation.
Let’s get on with their food.
# Cup of Chicken Bouillon (IDR 65 k)
One can’t simply expect something based on the description. This is so true when it comes to the 1st course I had which is actually a freaking chicken soup for God’s sakes! This was also a recommendation from the waiter that DID also make me cringed. But when this was served, I could really smell the super strong chicken and mushroom aroma without even trying. First look, there’s nothing in the bowl except for soup and a small mushroom. That’s all. Still a bit disappointed, I had a spoonful of the soup. My response (and this is true!), ”OH MY, IT’S SUPER GOOD! WHAT DID THEY PUT IN THE SOUP??”. The chicken broth was super strong, definitely not overwhelming, and blended really really well with the distinctive fragrance from Kulat Pelawan Mushroom. After hearing the explanation of Sari, my companion of the day in Attarine, I just knew that Kulat Pelawan Mushroom is a mushroom from Bangka, that had the similar quality of the famous truffle. This type of mushroom is simply seasonal and doesn’t grow in big quantity, thus the expensive price. All in all, this Chicken Bouillon is a must-try!
# Duck Leg Confit (IDR 145 k)
My second course came straight away after I finished my soup. It’s Duck Leg Confit with lentils and roasted garlic. The Duck Leg was extremely good, with a very crispy skin and tender duck meat inside. When combined with the lentils and roasted garlic, the joy of the texture blended smoothly together with the creamy lentils. The subtle roasted garlic made it even better. Oh, the cherry on top is in the form of pomegranate that came in mouth with light refreshing sweetness. Voila!
# Marinated Zucchini and Tomatoes (IDR 45 k)
As a side dish, I had Marinated Zucchini and Tomatoes that seemed perfectly appropriate for my precious Duck Leg Confit. The Marinated Zucchini and Tomatoes were sweetish and slightly acidic. Whatever marinate they used in the dish, Attarine seemed to do it right!
# Golden Cauliflower (IDR 45 k)
Cauliflower is pretty popular nowadays. If done right, cauliflower can be amazing. In Attarine, their cauliflower is mixed with turmeric, lemon and cashew butter. This was overall a good rendition, especially with their dominating cashew butter that brought out the creamy nuttiness.
# Fish + Beetroot On Soudough Toast (IDR 85 k)
Since I was a bit hungry, I had more before calling it a quit. Since I loved beetroot, I ordered this dish which is definitely one of the most unique creations by Attarine. Dominating in magenta color (from the beetroot), the appetizer was pretty fulfilling. It’s full of fiber, some grains and nicely topped with poached snapper (depends on the fish of the day). Yum! But I should say that this dish might not be for all. I especially know if my mother eats this, she will hate it. But me? I love it!
I finished my late lunch without a dessert here. Definitely not because their desserts didn’t appeal to me, but it’s because I needed to get going to catch my movie time (it’s freaking Doctor Strange!).
IMHO, Attarine is definitely a breath of fresh air for the culinary scene in Jakarta. What Attarine can offer is something much more than just the food and beverages. It’s actually the experience, a new sight about what ingredients can do if experimented right. Attarine plays with spices and ingredients, creating something distinctive for the patrons to taste. And at the same time, Attarine seems to pay attention to the benefits that their food and beverages bring. For me, it’s definitely something that Jakartans need nowadays.
Some of the recommendations that I urge you to try are the Chicken Bouillon, Duck Leg Confit and the Jamu Royal. Oh they’re now opened for lunch and dinner!
ATTARINE | JAKARTA
Jalan Gunawarman No.11A
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, 12110
Phone: +6221-22771256
Instagram: @AttarineJakarta
Operational Hours
Lunch: 11.00 – 16.00 Local Time
Dinner: 18.00 – 23.00 Local Time