Breakfast is my most important meal of the day. I can just get a smoothie for lunch, or a salad for dinner, but breakfast? It has to be something good, uplifting, and filling. I am of the morning chronotype, so I need fuel for my morning mental heavy-lifting,
Jakarta is not a place to go hungry, even early in the morning. The selection is impressive – from the dirt-cheap noodle warung on the roadside, to fancy brunch places – the place has a lot of things to offer, even to the discerning palate. In this post, I will talk about two brunch places I have been to – one is something I just accidentally found after walking around early Sunday morning, and the other one is recommended by a friend.
Maple & Oak is a highly rated brunch place set in an industrial building. Minimalist lines, sombre lighting, and locally-inspired design elements characterise the place. Its outdoor dining area fronts a busy street, while the interior seating has high ceilings and a muted color finish that gives it a homey feel.
The food is good. I got Dragon Fruit Bowl first. It is visually appealing and really a great mix of dragon fruit and banana smoothie, seeds and grains, and honeycomb with seasonal fruits in tow. 5/5.
The I got an avocado and pesto tartine that’s served with salad greens and a poached egg on top. Just the right amount of carb for me. 5/5. I paired it with coffee which was also good, but not necessarily phenomenal.
Is it worth it? Yes. Will I come back? Definitely. It is not just a brunch place, there’s a lunch and dinner offering plus a selection of wine, so maybe, I will come back to test this culinary offering.
My friend’s reco: Belly Bandit
I need to see my good friend Dinita so we decided to meet at one of her favourite places – Belly Bandit. Belly Bandit looks like your neighbourhood diner – some place you will go to when you forgot to buy eggs and bacon when you went to the supermarket the previous day. I like the way it’s decorated – no frills, just good vibes.
For my breakfast, I did a “make-your-own” selection, as the things that I’d like to put together in one breakfast plate are offered as multiple dishes.
So I ordered corned beef hash, a small salad, 2 strips of pork bacon (yes, they have pork bacon), and two poached eggs. It’s sounded good, right? I wonder why they have not offered this selection in their menu! And then I paired it with Avocado Espresso Milkshake. What a delight. All 5/5!
Dinita was right. This is one place of a heaven for breakfast. Will definitely come back.
Everything Random 
Leave a comment