May 12th, 2011

Canteen opened in the new extension of the luxury Plaza Indonesia in central Jakarta in late 2009, and like it’s sister establishment- Canteen at Pacific Place, adjoins directly to the affiliated Ak’sara bookstore. Canteen occupies a large corner space on the 5th level of the mall, with a wide open entrance facing onto the mall, plus a wall of full height, floor to ceiling glass, with views out over the Jakarta skyline. The room during daytime is bathed in natural light giving the space the bright, airy atmosphere of a relaxed, casual cafe. At night, with dimmed lighting, the room takes on a more “warm” feeling with an inviting long timber cocktail bar for evening drinks.

Canteen is furnished in a Scandinavian inspired style with extensive use of light colored timbers for both wall panelling, and much of the furniture. A long row of bright green upholstered bench seating delineates the main room from the slightly raised level of the cocktail bar, and provides a burst of color to the otherwise muted tones of the timbers and terracotta tiled flooring. An eclectic collection of vintage appliances from the 1950’s and 60’s- items such as a large salon hairdryer, manual cash register and mechanical weighing scales, are strategically placed around the room. In addition to the cafe tables, and small chairs along the bar, there are some plush sofas and armchairs in the window area for more relaxed moments with a coffee or drink.

The menu at Canteen offers a simple, gourmet cafe style selection of dishes- concentrating on using the freshest available local ingredients. The menu has recently been refreshed by the new head chef from Amsterdam, Chef Chris Moes. His creations are both simple and sophisticated- without being overly complicated, and as well as revamping the popular favorites on the menu, he has introduced a number of new gourmet dishes to the already popular offerings from the kitchen. The new creations consist of classic, wholesome dishes that have been re-interpreted in a modern way. Examples include the Goat Cheese Salad– which is prepared simply with char grilled eggplants, crisp salad leaves, roasted walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. Another classic dish is the Roast Chicken– cooked perfectly moist and tender with flavorsome juices. The Rib Eye Steak is a prime cut of beef accompanied with a classic Bearnaise sauce, crispy asparagus and a creamy rich potato gratin.

Desserts are highlighted by the Lemon Pie with burnt Meringue– with a smooth and silky texture, and a balanced taste of sweet and sour.

On the weekends, Canteen serves an “All Day Brunch”- featuring classic dishes such as Eggs Benedict- poached eggs served with rich hollandaise sauce; and also Belgian Waffles- baked and topped with whipped cream, fresh strawberries and maple syrup.

Turning to the bar, cocktails are a specialty at Canteen, with award winning signature cocktails such as “White Chocolate Martini” and the peanut butter based “Skippy” . There is also a good selection of wines to select from, and fresh draft and bottled beers. And of course excellent espresso coffee is available all day and into the night.

There are special events held regularly at Canteen– in particular the monthly “Canteen Style” events which combine fashion, food and fun…Details are posted onto the Facebook Page- and is an easy way to keep up with future events at Canteen.