Tartine Bar and Restaurant Review, FX Lifestyle Xenter, Jl. Sudirman, Jakarta

I was actually on my way to Scandal in Plaza Senayan, when I spotted this little gem tucked away beside the car entrance ramp to the main lobby. What caught my eye initially was the bright yellow dance-floor which serves as the waiting area. Given that the place was empty (it has only been open three weeks, soft opening to come) we chose the waiting area to sit in as it added a quirky quality to what we expected would be a bog-standard encounter. It was not to be. I asked the waitress a few questions and she gave us a very pleasant run-down on the place, without being too PR schticky. Apparently there is a smaller outlet in Citos, but she said their concepts were markedly different. So I guess if you are already a fan of the smaller one, you might not be so drawn to this one. The manager was connected somehow, I believe, with Social House, which would explain some of the design feature similarities. The walls are clad in exposed brick, with crimson painted panels breaking up this starkness and giving a demure backdrop to some kitsch advertising posters.

Feeling a little tarty?

At the front is a fully set up stage for a band, which one of my friends tells me is a little, ahem, enthusiastic volume-wise in their sonic endeavours. This would be a big turn-off for me. When I was there they were playing soul (as in real soul, not this homogenised crap we get nowadays) and sixties classics on the non-in-your-face sound system, so I had a good old sing-a-long as I tuckeed into my nosh. Yes, I know, don’t sing with your mouth full. Sorry, Mum.
The drinks are standard price for a restaurant set in a mall, with beer around 20-30K for a mini-bottle. They also had a drink called a peach woo-woo, which I tried to imagine myself ordering with a straight face but the thought alone made me giggle.
Speaking of nosh, I ordered Tartine au Boeuf, which was essentially an open sandwich, but the taste of the horseradish, tender beef and the balsamic salad dressing was dish-delish. This was served on a very ploughman’s style chopping board. I washed this down with a couple of Carlsbergs and went on my merry way, a happy ninja. Sitting in the morning sun, I’ll be sitting when the evening comes…

About these ads