Jakarta, IO – That afternoon, the parking lot at Ragusa Italian ice cream shop on Veteran I Street, Gambir, Central Jakarta was full. The parking attendant seemed busy directing motorbikes and cars of visitors who wanted to go home and then returning to park the vehicles of visitors who had just arrived.
Those who came were seen to be dominated by young couples and also parents. There are also groups of four to six people.
“Welcome, want to eat here or take away,” said the waiter.
Visitors are also welcome to choose a menu of choices that are already listed in the menu book which is neatly arranged near the cashier’s counter.
“Please choose a menu, OK? Write it here later,” said the waiter, handing him paper and pen.
Ragusa ice cream shop itself was founded in 1932 and is the oldest ice cream shop in Jakarta. The menu listed is also claimed to be a long-time favorite. There are regular flavors consisting of mocca, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry with an average price of Rp20,000. Next there is a fancy flavor consisting of spaghetti ice cream, banana split with a price range of Rp35,000 to Rp40,000. Mixed flavors are in the form of special mix and coupe de maison with a price of Rp25,000 to Rp30,000 and several drink menus with prices starting at Rp15,000 to Rp35,000. Finally, visitors can add extra toppings to their order.
“The atmosphere of this vintage place can make you nostalgic, the ice cream menu is also varied, delicious and the portions are quite big, the prices are also affordable,” said one visitor.
Based on its history, Ragusa was built by the Ragusa brothers, namely native Italians named Luigi Ragusa and Vincenzo.
In this ice cream shop we can see the old photos of Ragusa including portraits of Luigi and Vincenzo.
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At first it was said that this legendary shop was built in Bandung, but Ragusa often opened ice cream stalls through an annual event in Jakarta. Because it became popular, Ragusa finally opened a branch in Jakarta. It was from here that Ragusa continued to grow and after so many years, the Ragusa brothers finally bequeathed this shop to an employee named Guntoro who is now known as the owner of Ragusa and has continued to grow up until the present day.
Ragusa has been named by the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI) as the oldest ice cream shop still in opration. (rr)