IO – This November, the south Jabodetabek area has become more interesting: we have two new dining destinations with strongly different taste and ambience. As the spread of COVID-19 has subsided in Indonesia, and especially in DKI Jakarta, visitors have slowly trickled in for dining in without separator screens, enjoying their meals without time restrictions.
How do these two new dining destinations operate in the new normal? Read on for Independent Observer’s recent discoveries!
Justus Steakhouse
Born and grown in the Flower City, Justus Steakhouse officially opened its 11th outlet, the first one in the Capital, at Jalan Cipete Raya Number 3, South Cipete, South Jakarta, this November.
Justus started out as a tiny juice stall opening in Bandung Trade Centre in early 2000. Later on, it expanded by serving burgers and steaks in Bandung Electronic Center, alongside its juices in 2006. With the expansion of its menu, the BTC outlet follows the change in concept to Justus Burger & Steak, which rapidly grew to have 10 branches in Bandung.
More than 15 premium steak dishes can be enjoyed at the latest branch of the Justus Steak House in the favorite categories of Specialty Steak, Prime Steak and Dry Aged Beef, which is marinated for 14 to 28 days for favor and tenderness. They provide delicious steak meats like Norwegian Salmon Steak 200 gr, Aussie Lamb Chop 250 gr, US Black Angus Sirloin Steak 200 gr – and the prestigious Stroganoff Wagyu MB5+, Back Ribs Wagyu MB5+ 500 gr, and Tenderloin Wagyu MB5+ 200 gr.
“With family diners as our target market, we at Justus Steakhouse always do our best to provide an atmosphere of homeliness to all consumers who come to us, to give them pleasant memories of the time they eat out with their families. We don’t just try to provide affordable products: we also do our best to remain consistent with the quality of our menu,” said Justus Steak House Chief Operation Offcer Nico M. Sitindjak during the opening.
Other than Western culinary staples of steaks, pastas, sandwiches, and burgers, Justus also provides East Asia dishes like chicken amiyaki and salmon teriyaki, as well as Indonesian delicacies like sambal matah dory fish and oxtail soup. Priding itself as a family restaurant, it also provides a children’s menu with dishes like teriyaki beef fried rice and cheesy meatballs, the latter slathered in a rich cheese and mushroom sauce.
Justus also provides a large variation of beverages – tea, coffee with royal creamy aren or palm sugar, and mocktails. The latter is only available in the Jakarta branch, and includes fresh sweet minty drinks like virgin mojito and lychee mojito, as well as bitter ones like the sensational red bitter sunrise.
During the pandemic, Justus makes various efforts to ensure that diners can eat in happiness and comfort while maintaining health protocols, such allowing Drive In & Dine (eat in cars in the parking lot). Justus is also planning to open a Meatshop, which sells a variety of its frozen dishes that customers can take home after a direct visit, or order for delivery by phone.
Green Cozy Food Court
Cirendeu. Administratively, this tiny region is part of South Tangerang – and it is just a stone’s throw away from South Jakarta. What’s new there? Why, the Green Cozy Food Court, of course! The 4-story eating establishment allows people to dine leisurely while enjoying the atmosphere and taking photos, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
The Food Court was originally a car showroom. As the area became more densely filled with commercial businesses, the owners decided to switch gears and take advantage of the opportunity by revamping it into a culinary destination. “Green Cozy is a one-stop culinary and lifestyle area, where guests can eat, hold meetings, work, hang out at the rooftop area, or shop for goods provided by our many small-business tenants,” said founder and owner Rico during the grand opening in mid-October.
Here are some of Green Cozy’s lovely culinary tenants: Putra Minang restaurant on the ground foor, serving Pariaman dishes such as black broth rendang and the savory-sweet Sicincin grilled fish; Bababil Biryani Rice Stall, which serves a variety of Middle Eastern staples like the richly spiced biryani rice and chicken tandoori, the latter marinated and heated in an oven for 24 hours without oil, as well as crisp samosa; Sei Sapi Mas Kopl49, with original East Nusa Tenggara dishes like its name sake sei sapi, beef slices marinated and smoked for 12 hours using a special furnace; Mutty’s Kitchen, specializing in popular Japanese and Korean dishes like sushi, ramen, and bulgogi, spiced with Korean style chili paste gochujang; Gelato Nusantara, which serves thick, creamy gelato with distinctly Indonesian favors such as rujak fruit salad, ketan hitam (black glutinous rice), and klepon; Kopi Dari Hati, a cutting edge coffee brewer outlet located on the second foor where you can work quietly outside the office or have a relaxed business appointment; Iga Nusantara, a distinctly Indonesian diner that primarily serves iga or ribs. You can have iga bakar or barbecued ribs, rib soup, rib fried rice, and iga garang asem or spicy sour ribs.
One of Green Cozy’s non-food tenants is the White Knight Chess School (Sekolah Catur Kuda Putih – “SCKP”). For over 5 years, its nationally certified coaches have been striving to help participants regain and improve their concentration and creativity.