Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati

If you’re looking for a variety of delicious katsu menu and great Japanese Highball on tap, Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati is the place to be. Genbu announced their presence in South Jakarta by opening their third location in Senopati last December.

Still true to their original concept, Genbu Senopati carries all the elements that their flagship PIK location has—beautiful interior, delicious food and great service (you can read my full review on Genbu PIK here). What makes this location different though, is the presence of a highball machine at their bar that dispenses perfectly portioned, carbonated, and chilled highball from the tap. Imagine having a refreshing highball with their delicious katsu. That’s probably a good way to end the day after a busy work day or simply to chill with a friend or two.

Genbu Senopati has one small private room that could accommodate 6 people for special occasions or if you simply want a more private setting.

The Drinks

Horange-Cha (39k) | 8/10

Instead of ordering my usual Kitkat Mintini, which is usually my go-to for my every visit, since Genbu has added a bunch of new items to their menu, I tried their Horange-cha which is basically a mix of hojicha and orange juice. Pretty refreshing and I like it.

The Food

Salmon Aburi Canapé (59k) | 8.5/10

Chopped Aburi Salmon, Nori, Crispy Wonton.

Started my meal with the Salmon Aburi Canapé. The chopped aburi salmon was seasoned well and it was flavorful. But, unexpectedly, the highlight of the dish for me was the tartar sauce. The tartar sauce was the bomb and it really goes well with the salmon. I’m telling you, you got to dip it to the tartar sauce to get that wholesome flavor (seriously, you won’t regret it). I didn’t really care for the fried wonton because the size is a little bit too big for my bite and the texture was a bit soggy (maybe because I didn’t eat it right away). Maybe if they’re a little smaller and crispier, I’d give this dish a 9. But overall, it was still a great appetizer.

Salmon Rare Katsu (139k) | 8/10

Fresh Salmon, Crunchy Katsu.

Salmon Rare Katsu is another new addition to the their menu. The concept itself is pretty unique. They nailed the raw and fried texture giving it an interesting contrast when you bite into it. The deep-fried crispy breading sticks to the sashimi which is pretty impressive. The sashimi was fresh and tender and the size and thickness of the cut were also just right for a bite size. I do wish that the dipping sauce is a little saltier because it was a bit under seasoned for my personal taste.

A5 Wagyu Katsu Set (990k) | 9/10

A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Cutlet, Moritama Egg Yolk, Cabbage Salad, Rice, Kinpira, Japanese Pickles, Akamiso Soup.

If you read my other review on Genbu, you probably remember how I said that the breading of their gyukatsu was a little bit of a disappointment for me. I’ve given it a second chance after the chef revise the recipe but it still wasn’t as satisfying as I’d like it to be.

One and a half year later after my very first Genbu gyukatsu, I can finally say that their current version of gyukatsu is worth trying for. The chef has been going over revisions after revisions on their gyukatsu recipe to make sure that the breading sticks to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. And he finally did it. The breading does stick to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. It really has came a long way from the first version.

The meat is super tender and (I think is) best grilled to a medium for the doneness level. I still love the salt the most from the three dippings provided. The wasabi is actually also pretty good. It wasn’t too spicy for me and it gave that extra flavor and fragrance to the meat. Really enjoyed this dish.

Liquor on tap

After I had my meal, I ended up at the bar trying the different selections of liquor they have on tap while the chef explained each of the drinks to me.

Kakubin Highball (角ハイ) (120K) | 9/10

First, I tried the Kakubin Highball which is Suntory’s most iconic whisky mixed with soda. Served in a Suntory Kaku Whisky Highball chilled mug glass, the gold colored liquid is very light, smooth and refreshing. I imagine this would make a perfect pairing with Genbu’s dishes because it could help cut down the greasiness of the deep fried katsu.

Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda (120K) | 9/10

Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda is a mix between Japanese plum liqueur and brandy with soda. This one is sweeter and even lighter than the Kakubin Highball with a hint of aromatic ginger that came through in the aftertaste. I enjoyed this one as well.

Amaro Spritz (120K) | 8.5/10

Amaro Spritz is made out of Italian Vermouth from Cocchi with soda and orange peel. Very fragrant and the orange peel immediately hit my taste bud after my first sip. Would probably order this if I feel like I need a drink.

Daiyame Shochu Highball (120K) | 7/10

Mixed with an award-winning shochu made from 100% special ripen sweet potato in Kagoshima-Japan, Daiyame Shochu Highball has a unique lychee-like aroma with burnt-lemon after taste. Although it’s still on the lighter side, this one is the most bitter for me out of the four I tried.

Overall Experience

Genbu is probably the only restaurant in Jakarta (that I know) that has a very extensive selection of katsu with premium ingredients as well as menu that’s frequently updated with new interesting dishes. And that’s what makes going back to Genbu fun for me because I get to try different menu on my visits. I enjoyed the food that I had and trying their selections of liquor on tap was a fun experience. I’m not one to drink a lot of alcohol other than the occasional sip when I feel like it, but I have to say their on tap selections might make me inclined to order a drink in the future because they are all so light and smooth.

For those who knows me in real life, they know Genbu is one of the restaurants that I go back to pretty often. I’ve taken a bunch of my friends to try their katsu and every single one of them enjoyed their food. This visit was no different than my previous ones. I had a great meal and service was good as well. Will I go back to eat at Genbu again in the future? You bet I will.

 

Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati

Address: Jl. Suryo No.25, Rw. Bar., Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12180, Indonesia
Telephone: +62813 8153 0133
Hours: 11am -12am

Instagram: @genbu.jkt

---

---

Barcelona Dining & Bar

Barcelona Dining & Bar is a quaint Spanish restaurant that serves various cuisines inspired by the flavors of Spain with a little bit of Asian twists. Offering plenty of seatings inside a two-story building, the cozy interior and the vivid colors inside of the restaurant are reminiscent of places you’d visit in the Southwestern of Europe. The restaurant is also part of Hiro Group’s growing portfolio and is located at One Satrio, an open space lifestyle center at Kuningan, South Jakarta.

The food

Crispy Pig Ear (75K) | 8.5/10

Deep-Fried Pig Ear, Garlic, Daun Jeruk, Paprika Powder, Espelette, Tartar Sauce

The pig ear was fried to a crisp without being too oily. The highlight of the dish was the Tartar sauce for me. You gotta dip it in the Tartar sauce before taking a bite. We even asked for a refill for the Tartar sauce cause it was that good.

Baked Butter Scallop (125K) | 8.5/10

Hokkaido Scallop, Shrimp, Paprika, Butter, Tobiko

The butter sauce was wonderful. The liquid gold was savory, well seasoned and the scallop was nicely cooked. Also, I like the fact that they served the dish with burning charcoal underneath the shell which kept the dish warm and the sauce from being hardened.

Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna (80K) | 8/10

Crispy Sushi Rice, Tuna Tartare, Chili Aioli, Scallion

I like the play on texture on this one. The crispy sushi rice was well-executed, crispy on the outside with moist rice on the inside. The tuna tartare was also good, but I do wish that they’d seasoned a little stronger and it’d be nice if the tartare is chilled to get that contrast in temperature and make the dish more refreshing (just my personal preference though). But overall, this was a good dish.

Wagyu Tounge (280K) | 9/10

Grilled Thick Cut Beef Tounge, Negi Sauce, Chili Oil, Yuzu Foam

Really love this dish. The tounge was juicy, tender and cut in the perfect size. The sauce was savory but fresh at the same time. This was my favorite dish out of all the dishes we ordered.

Crab cannelloni (158k) | 8.5/10

Crab Meat, Shrimp, Jalapeño Pickles, Sauce Américaine, Tobiko

The pasta was cooked al dente. The combination of the pasta, the crab meat and the sauce was really nice and balanced. Although I have to say this dish might be a better option for sharing because the portion is quite big.

Overall Experience

Me and my cousins went to Barcelona during New Year’s day and the 4-months-old restaurant wasn’t too busy. The food was great. Everything we ordered we did enjoy. Their sauce works were also really wonderful because every single dish that we had had a distinct flavor that separate them from each other. Service was also great. The waiter who served our table was knowledgable about the menu. The manager also stepped in to help accommodate our dietary restrictions. Noise level at this place was at a medium just because there weren’t too many people around our table during the time of my visit (I have a feeling it might be high if the place is crowded). All and all, I had really nice meal at this place and probably going to go back again to try their other menu.

Barcelona Dining & Bar

 

Address: CBD One Satrio, Jl. Mega Kuningan Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio No.13, Kuningan, East Kuningan, Setiabudi, Kuningan, Jakarta 12949
Telephone: +6282 28000 3501
Hours: Sun-Thrs 11:00 am -11:00 pm | Fri-Sat 11:00 am - 00:00 am

Instagram: @barcelonajkt

---

Bistecca PIK Avenue

Bistecca is an Italian-American steakhouse and Martini bar that is inspired by the upscale New York steakhouses of the 1950’s. After establishing themselves as one of the best steakhouses in Jakarta with their SCBD location, Bistecca opened their second location at PIK Avenue Mall in November last year.

Staying true to their SCBD’s location theme, the interior of the PIK Avenue location is also mid-century inspired. Dining tables and plush dining chairs are complimented with black leather sofas, a cocktail bar and shelves of books that are reminiscence of a living room and a private home library of an affluent homeowner from the era where they usually entertain their guests. The space feels elegant, intimate and definitely upscale but without the pressure of having to dress up too much to dine in at the establishment.

The Ambience

The dimly lit space creates a romantic atmosphere that is perfect for a date night or an intimate meal with friends and family. Personally, I do think it is a bit too dimly lit to the point where it almost feels like a blackout (especially with the type of candles provided on each table) and flashlight from your phones might be required to read the menu. But even so, it makes a perfect venue for a candlelight dinner (quite literally). Plus, the noise level at this place is low, which is always preferable for me. The music that’s playing in low volume in the background makes it easier to talk to your dinner companions without having to engage in a shouting match across the table.

The Food

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio (225k) | (9/10)

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio with Hokkaido Scallops.

Al dente spaghetti, nicely cooked scallops and the dish was well-seasoned.

USDA Prime Beef Rib-Eye (300 gr) (655k) | 9/10

The meat was perfectly cooked, juicy and tender with crispy crusts.

Shoestring Truffle Fries (85k) | 8/10

Creamy Parmesan Spinach (95k) | 9/10

Charcoal Grilled Broccolini (110k) | 9/10

Overall Experience

I had a lovely dinner at this place. The service was good. The servers were polite and friendly. The food came out pretty fast after I placed the order. One thing to note is that the air conditioning at the restaurant was pretty cold when I was there so if you get cold easily, you might want to dress accordingly. And the air con did make the food get cold faster. So if you want to have everything while it’s pipping hot, maybe ask the server to bring the dishes in waves instead of serving it all at once.

But overall, definitely recommend this place if you’re looking for a great steak house in Jakarta or a nice restaurant for a date night.

 

Bistecca PIK Avenue

Address: PIK Avenue Mall, Ground Floor, Jl. Pantai Indah Kapuk Boulevard, DKI Jakarta 14470, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 11:00am - 12:00am

Instagram: @bisteccajkt
Menu

---

Phoenix Gastrobar PIK

Phoenix Gastrobar is a newly-opened luxurious bar in Golf Island PIK and is the newest addition to HW Group’s extensive F&B portfolio. Located between the Golden Tiger and Gold Dragon PIK—which are also owned by the HW group—Phoenix Gastrobar has ample sofa seatings, two bars, live music stage and private dining and karaoke rooms.

I got to visit the place during their soft opening earlier this week and I have to say the place has one of the most impressive interior design out of all the places I’ve been to in Jakarta. The high ceiling, the angular shapes of the balconies as well as the diagonal narrow stairs that connect one floor to the other, combined those with dark brown wooden panels, big marble fountain, leather seats, gold brass fixtures and warm yellow lights, they certainly give this place a distinct unique character. Einstein Architects really did a great job in designing this place and I’m predicting that this will be one of the biggest reason for people to come visit the bar.

Since I visited during their soft opening, most of their menu were still unavailable so I don’t think I can give a proper review on the food and beverages for now. But if you’re into cool interior design, I’d totally recommend you to check this place out. Phoenix Gastrobar just had their grand opening today (10 Feb 2023) and is now open for public.

 

Phoenix Gastrobar PIK

Address: Ruko Golf Island. Jl. Pantai Indah Kapuk No.183, 14460, Indonesia
Telephone: +6281119225168
Hours: 12:00pm - 02:00am

Instagram: @phoenixbar.id

---

Monsieur Spoon Préféré Plaza Indonesia

Just one month after opening its Senayan City location, Monsieur Spoon made yet another expansion to their locations, this time with a more premium concept compared to their previous ones. Monsieur Spoon Préféré officially opened to the public on 27 July 2022, occupying one of the space in Plaza Indonesia.

(A quick disclaimer, I visited during their opening day and as you know, first day could always go either way and there are always things to improve on.)

Ambience

Promoted as the more premium location, Monsieur Spoon Préféré’s interior design fell a little short of my expectations. I sat at the semi-outdoor area and the space felt a little cramped with all the tables, chairs and decorations filling up the space, leaving little room for guests and servers to walk around at when the chairs are occupied by patrons.

And having been to their Senayan City location, I personally think that the Senayan City location feels a little more upscale than this location.

The Food

Watermelon Feta Salad (72K) | 8/10

Compressed watermelon, feta cheese, Aiko cherry tomatoes, basil, and balsamic reduction.

A nice light, refreshing summer dish to start your meal. The watermelon and cherry tomatoes were juicy and fresh. The feta cheese gave it a slightly salty note to the dish.

Now, looking at my pictures, I do wonder if a component is missing from the one that I had because the presentation is different than the picture on the menu. Perhaps the balsamic reduction was missing?

Duck Egg Green Beans (68k) | 8/10

Sous-vide duck egg with green beans, bacon, and grain mustard dressing.

The egg was slightly overcooked (not runny, but not exactly hard boiled either). The green beans were well-cooked and well-seasoned. The bacon was savory with a hint of sweetness at the same time, giving it a nice little surprise when I took my first bite. Overall, I really enjoy the dish.

Pan Seared Yellowtail (155K) | 6.5/10

Pan seared yellowtail fillet, baby potatoes, sanfina, Aiko fondue, and basil oil.

The fillet portion was generous. The fish was cooked crispy on one side, but slightly overcooked overall and it could do with a little more seasoning for my preference. But the garnish and the pesto was was well-cooked and tasty.

Linguini Chili Crab (165k) | 4/10

Linguini with crab cooked in butter garlic, fresh chili, parsley, and lemon.

Had high expectations for this dish but the flavors didn’t really deliver. The pasta was al dente but way under seasoned. It helped when I eat it with the crab meat and the garnish, but since the amount of protein and garnish were not as much as the pasta portion, had a lot of bland pasta leftover.

Seafood Lobster Ravioli (95k) | 7/10

Mixed slippery lobster, salmon, prawn, paprika jam, and lobster bisque.

Presentation was interesting, although one of the ravioli broke when the dish was served. The pasta was too thick for my preference, but the lobster, salmon prawn fillings were delicious. Would’ve given this an 8 if the pasta was a little thinner. But overall, it was a good dish.

PRÉFÉRÉ Signature Chocolate (65k)

Tarlet filled with chocolate ganache, layered with chocolate mousse and dark royaltine, coated with chocolate glaze.

(From top to bottom) Strawberry Tartlet (38k) | Bébé Banana (58k) | Apple Gateaux (65k) | Milk Chocolate Mousse (48k) | Drink: Summer Paradise (45k)

Service

Service was pretty slow. Drinks came out 15 minutes after I ordered but it took 30 minutes for the first dish to came out and about 1 hour for all the dishes to be served. There were plenty of servers around the dining room but for some reason the speed of food coming out from the kitchen was slow.

Overall Experience

It was alright. The food was a bit of a hit-and-miss, some were good, some didn’t live up to my expectations.

The servers were nice and friendly but the speed of food and other things (cutleries, take away boxes, etc) being served definitely could be improved.

But then again, this was their first day of opening, so I understand if things weren’t perfect. Service on their other locations were good so I’m chalking these up to first day slip-ups.

 

Monsieur Spoon Préféré Plaza Indonesia

Address: Plaza Indonesia, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No.28-30, Jakarta Pusat 10350, Indonesia
Telephone: +62811 2001 1873
Hours: Everyday 10:00-22:00

Instagram: @monsieurspoon
Monsieur Spoon Préféré Menu

---