Do you know that humans are naturally drawn to symmetry? Symmetry symbolises balance. A symmetrical face is a representation of good health during childhood. Symmetry is an important element in Mathematics. It’s also the namesake of a charming coffee shop in the quiet part of Puri Indah area: Simetri Coffee Roasters.

Besides its attractive name, what immediately jumps out about Simetri Coffee Roasters is the earthy, woody colours of the whole space, interspersed with vintage knick-knacks and green potted plants. It feels cosy and homey, like having a cup of coffee with your friends in the comfort of your own house.

Huge Ikea fans would surely love coming to Simetri. Most of the furnitures and some of the decors come from said store, and the way things placed makes it feels like one real-life Ikea showroom. 

Cold Brew with Milk (IDR 40k)

The soothing voice of the indie pop band Oh Wonder—good choice of music, dear Simetri—is a wonderful friend for sipping a glass of Cold Brew with Milk. While this drink admittedly tastes a tad too soft for our taste, it still gives that very much needed boost of energy to get through the sleepy afternoon.

Cereal Milk Latte (IDR 38k)

To be perfectly honest, Cereal Milk Latte feels a little bit gimmicky. Anything with toppings—cereals, marshmallows, you name it—is very popular in Jakarta these days, and we can’t help but feel that Cereal Milk Latte is simply a means to an end. However, if you like a little crunch in your coffee, do give this one a shot—but don’t wait until the cereal becomes soggy, ok? It is indeed a fun beverage.

Flat White (IDR 32k)

Wild Mushroom Fettuccine (IDR 55k)

Wild Mushroom Fettuccine dishes up a generous amount of fettuccine, ham, poached egg, and wild mushroom. This dish is pretty satisfying, though some more mushrooms and a perfectly poached egg would’ve made it even better!

Simetri’s Potato & Fish has the promise of a great dish: smoked salmon, potato rösti, avocado salsa, and fresh greens. Despite that promise and the beautiful presentation, for some reasons this dish doesn’t really sit well with us. We would have preferred if the smoked salmon was saltier and the rösti fried or baked even further, to give it some more crunch. Having said that, the salad is refreshing and acts a great palate cleanser.

While we’re still on the fence about the food, Simetri Coffee Roasters is a great place to hang out and work around Puri Indah area. Jump at any chance to visit Simetri Coffee Roasters to see it at its birthplace, as it is going to move to a new location in June.

Simetri Coffee Roasters
Instagram / Web / Maps
Address: Jl. Kembang Abadi 7 Blok A13 No.15, Puri Indah
Phone: (021) 58358895
Opening Hours: 8 AM - 7 PM

Tucked between other restaurants on the third floor of Kemang Village shopping mall is W Diner, a F&B establishment serving American food classics. While the restaurant is indeed quite petite in size, it pops out amongst its neighbours as a result of its quirky look.  

Take one look at W Diner and you’ll immediately think of classic American diners: checkered black and white tiles, faux bar that also functions as a service counter, high stools, and bright blue long sofas. The use of retro wallpapers and the staffs’ uniform emphasize the atmosphere even further.

Choco Killer Milkshake (IDR 68k)

If there was ever a list of food that could cause death by chocolate, W Diner’s Choco Killer Milkshake would be somewhere down the list. It dishes up chocolate milkshake with chocolate pocky sticks, Oreo biscuits, waffle and marshmallow drizzled with chocolate sauce, Coco Crunch cereals, and whipped cream. Chocolate coma, anyone?

Having said that, I find this milk shake not as chocolatey as its descriptions, perhaps thanks to the thin consistency of the milkshake itself, which is almost Milo-like. It is a weird experience, really. I expect something a lot sweeter, but it turns out to be the opposite. 

Original W Diner Beef Burger  (IDR 69k)

No American diner-inspired restaurant would be complete without hamburgers. The best-selling Original W Diner Beef Burger is a sinful serving of fresh beef patty, onion rings, melted cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and french fries on the side. If I had to nitpick this dish, I would say the buns are dry to the point of being crumbly. The highlight of this burger is definitely the juicy, fatty beef patty! Oh, and the little Deadpool flag pricked on top of the burger. I love Deadpool.

Fettucine Carbonara (IDR 55k)

Well color me surprised. W Diner’s Fettucine Carbonara is a great Fettucine Carbonara. It’s cheesy. It’s creamy. It has that small bits of beef bacon that everyone loves. The fettucine is cooked properly. It offers everything you would ever expect of Fettucine Carbonara in an American restaurant, and a little bit more. Sharing is probably a good idea, because that much dairy could make you feel a bit gaseous. *note to self*

American Breakfast (IDR 58k)

This, sadly, is my least favorite dish at W Diner. It initially has the promise of a dish I would normally love: grilled chicken sausage, pan-fried beef bacon, scrambled egg, french toast, and baked red bean with tomato sauce. While the rest of the elements are okay, the french toast is excessively oily, ruining the whole dish. Simply thinking about it leaves an unpleasant greasy sensation in the back of my throat. 😭

Nutella Smores Dip (IDR 40k)

You, W Diner, are very clever. Who can resist Nutella—especially when combined with smores? While I find this dish a tad to sweet for my palate, it is undoubtedly a fun dish. Dip the classic Marie Regal biscuits into a pool of smores covered with Nutella, and dump it into your mouth while it’s still warm. Yum!

While some dishes indeed taste better than the others, overall W Diner gives me a pleasant dining experience. The staffs are very patient and helpful, which are definitely plus points. The interior and the dishes are visually gorgeous—perfect for photo enthusiasts.

P.S. With a minimum transaction of Rp 200.000,-, Maxx-Stamps members can redeem one of these two: Classic Milkshake or W Original Beef Burger. T&C applies. 

Traditionally, a Japanese restaurant is not what you would think of when hearing about the three wise monkeys. You’d probably think of the classic proverbs “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”—or the WhatsApp emojis 🙊🙉🙈 . Now you’re going to have another thing to think about: a Japanese restaurant and bar at Senopati area, Jakarta.

3 Wise Monkeys boasts a cool, laid-back vibe that encourages people to sit down just a little longer. The huge windows let in plenty of light in the afternoon, perfect for photo enthusiasts. Expect open-ceiling design, gorgeous hanging lights, monkey decorations, and randomly placed blue chairs that pop out nicely against the white walls.

The decoration reminds us of those minimalistic-modern type restaurants that are spreading rampantly around Jakarta. Simple furniture, cement flooring, and wooden floor make us feel pleasant sitting for hours. Leaving out the toilet’s condition (yes, they seriously need to renovate the toilet soon), the restaurant is overall quite comfy. If you choose to sit on the second floor, you can see people’s activities on the first floor through the void—in our case, there is a loud birthday party!

Japanese food lovers would surely love coming to 3 Wise Monkeys! The restaurant serves a long list of classic sushi and innovative rolls options—and overall they’re quite yummy. One thing we’d like to note is 3 Wise Monkeys’ wasabi is not too strong, perhaps they are using wasabi powder?

Chawan Mushi (IDR 35k)

3 Wise Monkeys’ Chawan Mushi is definitely one of the best we’ve had in Jakarta. The steamed egg custard is seasoned perfectly, giving a smooth texture and savoury flavour that complements other ingredients—salmon roe, shrimp, mushrooms—beautifully. Two thumbs up!

Salmon Lava (IDR 58k)

Whoever loves salmon would surely love Salmon Lava! *raising our own hands enthusiastically*

Tuna Avocado Tartar (IDR 68k)

Tuna Avocado Tartar dishes up diced maguro slices mixed with tangy tartar sauce. We really like the freshness and slight acidity of this dish, although the pungent tartar sauce is admittedly not for everyone’s palate. 

Aburi Salmon Truffle (IDR 55k)

Oishii! Love this dish! The salmon is fresh and the creamy mayo on top gives a little heat.

3 Wise Monkeys Special Roll (IDR 72k)

True to its name, this roll is among 3 Wise Monkeys’ signature dishes. We really like how the salmon, kani stick, and mayo blends inside our mouth. Yum!

Salmon Skin Roll (IDR 40k)

Although we’re a bit unsure about this dish at first—the presentation is a bit messy, to be honest—it turns out okay! The salmon skin is fried nicely, giving a satisfying crunch that you can hear when you bite the sushi! 

Matcha Shiratama Parfait (IDR 45k)

While matcha and ogura (red beans) are quintessential Japanese dessert ingredients and should be a recipe for foolproof deliciousness, we have to say that this particular dish has a couple of shortcomings. The dish is as pretty as a picture—the green matcha ice cream contrasts beautifully with the red jellies, and the pocky sticks are so darn cute—but it’s kinda small for the price. And the red beans could be sweeter? Perhaps this is a bad batch of red beans. Oh well.

As it’s too early for sake, we decide to try a glass of iced latte and some of 3 Wise Monkeys’ mocktails: Kiwi Mocktail, Ganbatee, and Lychee Mocktail. The mocktails taste general, but quite refreshing indeed. Iced Latte is what you would expect of coffees in a Japanese restaurant, not too strong.

Latte (IDR 35k)

Kiwi Mocktail (IDR 40k)

Fresh kiwi, lemon juice, kiwi syrup, sprite

Ganbatee (IDR 40k)

Banana, orange juice, fresh lime juice, vanilla syrup

Ganbatee in Japanese means semangat, so we believe this drink should give you that extra oomph to get through the day. It doesn’t. The sliced banana is too ripe and thus has gone too soft, which is a shame because the combination with other ingredients is actually pretty nice.

Lychee Mocktail (IDR 40k)

3 Wise Monkeys has become one of our favourite sushi places in town! Although the service could have been better (the staffs are quite slow and can’t remember our order right; but then again perhaps they’re understaffed because of the huge birthday party on the first floor), we have hopes that it’s going to improve. We’ll be back!

Dearest Pizzeria Mozza Singapore’s Lime Pie,

A wise man once said, “To be someone’s first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect”. But what if you found your first and last love with the same person? Wouldn’t it be absolutely beautiful? As a matter of fact, I’m not actually talking about a person. I’m talking about my love for lime pie. The lime pie. Pizzeria Mozza’s Lime Pie. You.

I vividly remember the day I had a first bite of you. The sun was shining brightly; it was my last day of travelling around Singapore in May 2014 with my friend Monica. We went to see the Dinosaurs Expo at the ArtScience Museum, got completely famished, and decided to dine at Pizzeria Mozza at Marina Bay Sands Singapore simply because we were huge fans of Joe Bastianich. Total fangirls, I know. 

While the home-made Grapefruit Soda was an utterly refreshing beverage and the Margherita Pizza was heads and shoulders yummier than any other Margherita Pizzas I had tasted in my life, it wasn’t until you came out that we had a total eye-rolling, ooh-aah-ing, out-of-this-world-so-good moment. You were, pure and simple, delicious.

Ever since then, I fell in love—hard—to all sorts of citrusy pie.

The fact remains that none of my citrusy pie conquest tastes as wonderful as you. This is why I jump at the opportunity to revisit Pizzeria Mozza. This time with my mom, my fellow citrusy pie enthusiast.

I must admit that I pay little attention to the pizza—Prosciutto di Parma, Rucola, Tomato, and Mozzarella—or the pasta—Fazzoletti with Beet Greens, Ricotta, and Mushroom Besciamella. My heart is pounding so fast, waiting for you to finally present yourself to me once again. When you do, oh boy, what a treat.

You, my dearest lime pie, are as gorgeous as how I last saw you; the bright yellow colour of your fillings contrast beautifully with the almost-black blueberries, complemented with the vine-like placement of candied lemon zest. The dollop of cream on the side simply begs me to dip my spoon into it and have a feast. I take a little bit of everything and slowly savour the burst of flavours and sensation assaulting my palate: the wonderful acidity from the lime, the crunchy pie crust, the watery sweetness of blueberries, and the creaminess of cream that ties everything together. I feel like shedding a tear from your perfection. My mom loves you too, by the way.

When will I get to see you again?

My lime pie, you will remain my one true love. Although I can’t promise that I would not try for relationships with other citrusy pies, I promise you that I would always love you. That, and I will be back someday. Wait for me. 

With love,

Sandra

P.S. My dearest lime pie, why do you have so many yummy dessert friends? I must admit that your friend, Caramel Copetta, is kinda cute too. Her combination of marshmallow sauce and salted peanuts are deadly delicious. Please send my love to her.

Pizzeria Mozza Singapore
Official Web / Facebook / Instagram / Google Maps
Address: Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
Phone: +65 66888522
Opening Hours: Daily Noon - 11:00 PM

Is there anything better than the view of a crystal clear blue pool to accompany your lunch time? Imagine you’ve been stuck in the office since morning doing some mundane tasks; the sun is hiding behind the clouds and that is making you feel somewhat sleepy. Yep. You’re most definitely in a desperate need of a good lunch and a relaxing view. Or a visit to Massilia Café, where you’ll get both of them. 

In recent years, kopitiam has become a common view in Jakartans’ daily life. In some areas, such as Pasar Baru, you can find kopitiam at almost every corner of the street. In Malaysia and Singapore, kopitiam is where you would go for some breakfast, coffee, or casual chit chat. Kopitiam, which literally translates to coffee house, is now unofficially included on the list of tempat nongkrong anak Jakarta. Without further ado, say hello to PappaJack Kopitiam!

Bakmi lovers rejoice! Until January 24, 2016, there is something exciting going on for you: bakmi hunt. In collaboration with Green Sands, Bakmi Club Kelapa Gading offers a treasure hunt-esque experience for foodies and foodgrammers. Simply dine in one of the listed noodle restaurants, and you’ll get a chance to win a trip to the capital of Indo-Chinese food, Medan.

There are 10 noodle restaurants on the list. For a first timer, visit any restaurant you like, then ask for the Bakmi Hunt pamphlet. After eating, ask the staff to put a stamp on your pamphlet. Repeat the steps at the other nine restaurants. The restaurants are, among others, Bakmi Danau Toba, Bakmi Ayam Kampung A Tjuan, OTW, Mie Benteng, and Bakmi Sin Lun. Check out Bakmi Club’s official page for more details.

Now I’m going to talk about two restaurants I’ve visited: Bakmi Sin Lun and Mie Benteng.

Don’t you people agree with me that one of the greatest God’s gifts to the world is all you can eat restaurant (AYCE)? Especially one that serves high-quality meat that would satisfy even the pickiest carnivores. One that is also somewhat healthier, as it mainly serves shabu-shabu and not barbecued meat. Say hello to Shabu Ghin, Senopati area’s latest shabu shabu joint.