Central Java - Jawa Tengah

Semarang

Although the 6th largest city in Indonesia the Shipping Port is the main reason for it's population. The outcome though is a city that has much cultural diversity due to the international business this port provides access to. One of the oldest industries is furniture and this city is a gate way to Jepara the most popular woodworking region of all of Indonesia.

We have noticed in the past few years that food is the first social impact from this diversity. Semarang loves food as much as the rest of Indonesia but they are taking the restaurant idea to a different level. Each month you will find a new restaurant trying to one up the previous ones by creating beautiful architecture and new dishes. Some of our favorities to date are:

The Tavern
Goodfellas
D' Sushi
Nescology
S2 which has 4 different restaurants inside
Kopi-o
Lakers
Pizza Yo

More descriptions and attractions to come...


Solo 

Heaven’s Kitchen & Chillax 

Location: Jalan Capt Mulyadi, No 85. Lojiwetan, Solo  
Price: Rp. 20.000-70.000 per person
 

 

If you are looking for a good restaurant with some energy, Heaven’s Kitchen and Chillax are the way to go. Heaven’s Kitchen is on the bottom floor; Chillax is on the top floor. Both are owned by an expat known as Steve the Oz. Previously a chef as well as concert/bar/event organizer, this guy knows how to treat his guests. Heaven’s Kitchen offers a polished upscale feel. The diverse menu offers nice sized burgers, pastas, salads, seafood platters, and steaks that make your mouth water. Every day, additional specials make it hard to choose what to eat.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Heaven’s Kitchen offers Buy One Get One on select items for lunch and dinner. Prices for these select items are around Rp. 40,000, so it comes out to Rp. 20,000 apiece. Upstairs, Chillax Lounge is dark elegant and chill. The indoor bar area plays a mixture of live music, depending on the night, or a mix of jazz, Spanish, and other deep music. Step outside on the balcony, and loud pop music gives a young, club feel.

Chillax currently doesn’t have a liquor license but there is a large variety of beers, all served at -4 degrees. The mocktails are legit too. If you like the flavor of Lemon Chills, order the Snow White. It’s like a margarita.
Monday Night = Movie Night. A new movie every week starting at 8 pm.
Saturday Night = Ladies Night. Free Mocktail for every lady. 

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O-Solo-Mio

Location: Jl. Slamet Riyadi, Solo City, All Taxis and Becaks know the place

Price: Rp. 50.000-150.000 per person

This Italian Restaurant lives up to the popular guide books hype. There menu is full of all Italian dishes using the freshest ingredients and sparing no cost to make full flavored dishes. The owner is a Dutch lady who spends most of her time in Yogyakarta. The atmosphere is beautiful and peaceful so allow for sometime to enjoy a glass of wine or mulch-course meal. With so many local food options I recommend you treating yourself the last night of your trip to Solo.

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O La Vita

Location: Jl. Tirtosari 11, Solo City, All Taxis and Becaks know the place

Price: Rp. 15.000-60.000 per person

O La Vita specializes in pizza, pasta, chicken, steak plates, and appetizers. Solo’s food typically leans on the sweet side and O La Vita isn’t an exception. We have tried O La Vita a few times, trying a variety of food. As a westerner who loves pizza, I wouldn’t recommend O La Vita if you are in the mood for a pizza. The dough was nice; thin and a nice mix of crunchiness and soft, but the sauce was a little too sweet for me.  If you like Hawaiian pizzas, you would probably be content, but if you are craving a traditional pizza this is not your place. With that said you won’t be disappointed with just about anything else on the menu. The Fettuccini Alfredo was creamy and full of flavor. The other pastas look good, but we haven’t tried them.

Overall, if you try this restaurant, I would recommend the chicken and steak dinners. O La Vita has an option for buying quarter, half and whole baked chickens which are amazing and a huge portion for a great price. You can also have the chicken fried. The steak plates come with a pretty tasty side of mashed potatoes and gravy.

Finally, if you want a really good dessert, we’ve had the chocolate mousse, and the chocolate cake. Both were amazing!! They are super rich and chocolaty, which is surprisingly rare for Indonesia. Usually desserts are flavorless and greasy. All the drinks are legit too, so you really can’t go wrong.   

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Saffron Resto & Meatshop

Located: Jl Ronggowarsito, No 38, Solo, 57131 Contact Information: Robby Putranto, Head Chef, Cell Phone: +6287777111088

Email: robby_putranto@hotmail.com
Price: Rp. 20.000-80.000 per person

Saffron is a quaint resto in the heart of Solo city, north of the Kraton. Located in the midst of simple warungs (traditional open-aired food stalls), Saffron beams its white lights and clean surroundings. This small resto seats approximately 30-40 people with indoor nonsmoking and outdoor smoking seating.

Dishes include salads with delicious smoked salmon, pesto pastas, chicken, burgers, steaks, and pork! Not many places have pork, so if you are craving a good bratwurst, this is where you need to go. Portions are average, if you are a big eater, it might be a little light, but I think if you ordered an appetizer/salad and a main dish, you would be satisfied. Also they have some legit desserts, including a pear dish with coffee and caramel glaze, and homemade apple pie and ice cream.  Drinks include an assortment of teas, juices, coke-a-cola, and beer. I had and ice lemon, which was a really refreshing.

Saffron also has a small frozen meat shop where you can buy different types of steak, chicken, and sausage. They have beef and pork sausages distributed out of Bali. The price for 300 grams of sausage is about Rp. 50,000.

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Tiga Tjeret 

Location: Jalan Ronggowarsito

Price: Under Rp 30.000 per person

A very common eating style in Indonesia is called Angkringan. This is basically a small mobile cart, only open at night. These carts are always lit with a simple hanging light bulb, distinguishing angkringan from other cart food. The food consists of simple fried snacks called Gorengan. The types of gorengan include tempe goreng (fried tempei), tahu goring (fried tofu), telur (egg), usus (intestines), and others. Also, little banana leaf-wrapped packets of rice are available. These packets of rice are known as Naci Kucing (Cat Rice), because they are small and simple. Basic coffees, teas, squeezed orange drinks, and ginger drinks are served hot and cold. The coffees are usually from individual packets so there is some variety.

Tiga Tjeret is an upscale, trendy version of the basic Angkringan. For anyone who is wary of eating out of a cart but want to try the traditional fried snacks, Tiga Tjeret is a place to try. It’s a cool two-story open aired building, great for hanging out with friends. All the food is already cooked and sitting out under heat lamps. You just grab a plate, grab your food, pay, and eat. You may run into it as you tour around Solo as it is located just east of the Antique Market and small Kraton.