Tempo Doeloe

Frommer's Review

For authentic Indonesian cuisine from Java, Sumatra, and Bali, this place is hard to beat. Though its local reputation goes up and down with the tide, it's invariably busy. It's got a batik ambience that's Indonesian, but restrained, and a long way from being kitsch. Attractive decor and fine china are unexpected pluses. Try the many little meat, fish, and vegetable dishes of the three different rijsttafel (rice table) options: the 15-plate vegetarian rijsttafel sayoeran, the 15-plate rijsttafel stimoelan, or the sumptuous 25-plate rijsttafel istemewa. In the big one, you get dishes like gadon dari sapi (beef in mild coconut sauce and fresh coriander), ajam roedjak (chicken in a strongly seasoned chili-pepper-and-coconut sauce), sambal goreng oedang (small shrimps with Indonesian spices), and atjar (sweet-and-sour Indonesian salad). For great individual dishes, go for udang raksasa (a large grilled shrimp bathed in coconut-curry sauce), the nasi koening (spiced yellow rice), or any of the vegetarian options. Finish with the spekkoek, a layered spice cake.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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