Kafe Coleman: The Indonesian Experience and Some

Kafe Coleman serves Indonesia and International finest cuisine with modern touch to the first class dining. by Stallone Tjia / August 4, 2009

Indonesia's rich culture is one worth boasting about. One of the country's more eclectic cultural factors is the various culinary options it offers from the sticky-sweet to the hot and dry. It also develops with time, taking influences from here and there, all to the pleasure of its enthusiasts.

For an experience so colorful and dynamic, perhaps the occasion calls for Indonesian dishes with a modern touch, combined with the elements hailing from the east and west. This is  what Kafe Coleman offers: a honorable nod to the country’s traditional dishes spiced up with an international style that is guaranteed to spoil your taste buds.

I walked through the doors of the Peninsula Hotel Tower. Located in Jl. S. Parman, Kafe Coleman is located within the tower, besides the lobby. A traditional-modern atmosphere greeted me as I stepped into the cafe withthe waiter politely welcoming me.

I met Maya Puspita Cahya, the Kafe Coleman's manager of public relations. She explained to me that Kafe Coleman is the best place to enjoy a variety of local and international menus with your family, friends, or perhaps your business partners. Guests can choose an assortment of food ranging from Indonesian, Japanese, and international delicacies in buffet or ala carte with a reasonable price.

"This is a right place for businesspeople to have lunch meeting with their partners, and it also provides a nice ambiance for family in vacation because the cafe serves food suitable for children," she said.

Kafe Coleman can serve up to 150 people. Tucked up in one corner of the café was a petite sanctuary, which provides a view of one of the busiest street in Jakarta, Thus, you can relax and enjoy your food while perhaps grinning at the hustle and bustle going on below. Hey, you might be a part of that in just a few hours from now, but might as well enjoy your victory while it lasts.

As the sun lights the room, a friendly feeling seeps in. And when the sun comes down, the street lamps reflecting from outside added a romantic ambience for the guests.

The cafe's buffet, which provides a range of delicious food, offered fresh, flavorful salad and the unforgettable baked Gindara. Kafe Coleman's oxtail soup was also truly enticing with its tender meat and thick soup.

The traditional ndeso fried rice is similar to the typical Javanese sweet fried rice, made flavorful by the spices, soy sauce, and the indispensable fried shallots on top. The fried rice mixes surprisingly well with the modern choice at the buffet table such as beef with black pepper sauce. Yes, in Indonesia, steak and rice is not a sin.

The Cafe also serves one of the can’t-go-wrong picks of Chinese cusine: the Shrimp with mayonnaise dressing. It’s always good when it’s crispy on the outside yet tender in the inside, providing that melt-in-your-mouth experience. The Kafe Coleman’s was a decent one.

Next up was the ice cream counter where you can choose your own flavors with various toppings like chocolate chips, almond, chocolate powder and other condiments for you to make it your own.

I took chocolate and durian flavored ice cream that day. Of course, there were other desserts like cake and cookies delivered directly from the Patisserie located in front of the cafe. Savoring the food in Kafe Coleman is one memorable experience. The menu fits the whole Indonesian atmosphere, since the country is not puritan in its culinary ideals.

You can have the same delightful experience that I had, especially with the promotions the cafe offers each month. Since it opens 24 hours, you will not miss the chance to feel the high taste of Kafe Coleman in Peninsula Hotel Tower at Slipi, Jakarta. (SG/ST)

Kafe Coleman
Menara Peninsula Hotel
Jl. Letjend. S. Parman Kav. 78
Jakarta Barat 11410, Indonesia
Tel: (62-21) 535 0888
Cuisine: American, Chinese, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Spanish, Thai

To know more about the restaurant, click here