So, I am finally sick of nasi padang. Time to do my weekend food indulging.
David introduced me to this place, Saung Grenvil. Best seafood in Jakarta (Selatan / South) ,he claims. Well, for a person who has been here for over 3 years, I gave him the benefit of doubt. Brought me there 2 weeks back, and it was the best food I had in Jakarta so far. But then again it's not really fair comparing some road side food stall with a proper restaurant.
Went over with some friends today.
The one I went to was in Blok S. According to David, Blok S is a one way street, and will definitely pass it. There will be a split road that will connect back to the same road and soon after that you will find the restaurant on your left. Just look out for it's big lighted signboard that looks something like this:
Yeah, I know, it's a pretty fucked up picture. Just google up Saung Grenvil and you can find the clearer picture of the crab. So, just tell the taxi driver, Blok S, look out for the small split road, and soon after, on your left. Managed to find the place easily without David and the taxi driver not knowing the place.
The 3 of us ordered:
1. Male crab - XL size - black pepper style.
2. Prawns - M size - salted egg style.
3. Oyster in omelette (similar to the Malaysian Oh Chien)
4. Pomfret - ikan bakar style.
5. And some random vegetable.
I am not sure if I haven't had much seafood back in Malaysia, or I am deprived of good food here, or the fact that I have not eaten that day, but I thought the food here was excellent. The other two agreed.
The prawns, coated in a batter of salted egg and fried to perfection.
The ikan bakar. The ikan bakar here taste pretty much like the ones in Malaysia. It was good but I thought it was such a waste to cook the pomfret in this style, cause, basically any fish cooked in this style would have tasted the same. Could have gone with a cheaper fish.
And the highlight of the day, the black pepper XL size crab. The black pepper gravy was excellent. Not overpowering, but complimenting the taste of the crab meat. And the crab ... it's claw was as big as my fist. The biggest crab all of us at the table have ever eaten. It's shell was so thick that I was at war with it and was totally worn out after the meal. Again, this is coming from a person with not much crab eating experience. I totally enjoyed it.
Here's a breakdown of the bill for price reference.
ONE XL sized crab @ 538,000 rupiah.
Prawns (6 pieces) @ 113,000 rupiah.
Oyster in omelette @ 35,000 rupiah.
Ikan Bakar Pomfret @ 107,100 rupiah.
Some vegetable @ 35,000 rupiah.
Including miscellaneous stuff like rice, drinks and tax, the total amount came up to 1,055,010 rupiah which is around to RM340 plus.
Not too sure if a crab that size cost that much, but it is definitely a new culinary experience for me. Man, claw as big as my fist. Most expensive meal here so far, also the most awesome (so far).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Went back home, totally stuffed and soon drifted off to sleep.
Dreamt that I was eating crab again, reliving the moment, the taste and the atmosphere.
Two sessions for the price of one. What a steal.
Woke up still full and noticed the half chewed pillow.
True story.
Apart from the chewed off pillow.
David introduced me to this place, Saung Grenvil. Best seafood in Jakarta (Selatan / South) ,he claims. Well, for a person who has been here for over 3 years, I gave him the benefit of doubt. Brought me there 2 weeks back, and it was the best food I had in Jakarta so far. But then again it's not really fair comparing some road side food stall with a proper restaurant.
Went over with some friends today.
The one I went to was in Blok S. According to David, Blok S is a one way street, and will definitely pass it. There will be a split road that will connect back to the same road and soon after that you will find the restaurant on your left. Just look out for it's big lighted signboard that looks something like this:
Yeah, I know, it's a pretty fucked up picture. Just google up Saung Grenvil and you can find the clearer picture of the crab. So, just tell the taxi driver, Blok S, look out for the small split road, and soon after, on your left. Managed to find the place easily without David and the taxi driver not knowing the place.
The 3 of us ordered:
1. Male crab - XL size - black pepper style.
2. Prawns - M size - salted egg style.
3. Oyster in omelette (similar to the Malaysian Oh Chien)
4. Pomfret - ikan bakar style.
5. And some random vegetable.
I am not sure if I haven't had much seafood back in Malaysia, or I am deprived of good food here, or the fact that I have not eaten that day, but I thought the food here was excellent. The other two agreed.
The prawns, coated in a batter of salted egg and fried to perfection.
The ikan bakar. The ikan bakar here taste pretty much like the ones in Malaysia. It was good but I thought it was such a waste to cook the pomfret in this style, cause, basically any fish cooked in this style would have tasted the same. Could have gone with a cheaper fish.
And the highlight of the day, the black pepper XL size crab. The black pepper gravy was excellent. Not overpowering, but complimenting the taste of the crab meat. And the crab ... it's claw was as big as my fist. The biggest crab all of us at the table have ever eaten. It's shell was so thick that I was at war with it and was totally worn out after the meal. Again, this is coming from a person with not much crab eating experience. I totally enjoyed it.
Here's a breakdown of the bill for price reference.
ONE XL sized crab @ 538,000 rupiah.
Prawns (6 pieces) @ 113,000 rupiah.
Oyster in omelette @ 35,000 rupiah.
Ikan Bakar Pomfret @ 107,100 rupiah.
Some vegetable @ 35,000 rupiah.
Including miscellaneous stuff like rice, drinks and tax, the total amount came up to 1,055,010 rupiah which is around to RM340 plus.
Not too sure if a crab that size cost that much, but it is definitely a new culinary experience for me. Man, claw as big as my fist. Most expensive meal here so far, also the most awesome (so far).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Went back home, totally stuffed and soon drifted off to sleep.
Dreamt that I was eating crab again, reliving the moment, the taste and the atmosphere.
Two sessions for the price of one. What a steal.
Woke up still full and noticed the half chewed pillow.
True story.
Apart from the chewed off pillow.
