Ground Level
Ratu Plaza Shopping Centre
Jl. Jend. Sudirman 9
Jakarta Selatan
Tel. 725 2188
Pondok Indah Mall
1st floor, Unit 153B
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah Blok 3 B
Jakarta Selatan
Nicole and Russell, Cate and Hugh are hardly a novelty now; neither are frowning Howard and his much more affable replacement. So many diplomatic hugs and spats, too; love and hate thy neighbour equally. However, there’s something about kitsch that works, as images of wallabies and koalas, kangaroos and emus, Aboriginal art print and boomerangs on walls warm the heart. Or is it something else?
We know the story: Outback is a late 80s Tampa, Florida fantasy of “down under ambience” inspired by the irresistible charms of the movie Crocodile Dundee, and now, some 800 worldwide outlets later, there is no looking back. Good, calorie-packed, finger-lickin’ food in any event, from Typhoon Bloom, an indecent orgy of onion rings to Bushman ‘Shrooms, deep-fried breaded button mushrooms served with a tartare-like spicy ranch dressing; from baby back ribs on the Barbie, smoked and grilled to dripping lusciousness, to the ultra sinful Alice Spring roast chicken loaded down with beef bacon and a melted blanket of mushrooms, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses; from the Prime Minister’s Prime Rib, a royal slab of that beautiful, succulent section of the meat along the rib cage, to the Botany Bay grilled salmon, a well-meaning piece of steak if there ever was one.
It’s indeed a rarity, and I say this again, to find a franchise that can marry pedestrian, down-home mass appeal and a degree of culinary seriousness, paired with sound quality control. Even the wines, though very mid-to-low-range and jarring in the otherwise very liquid outback ambience, are highly drinkable. Yes, don’t miss the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under, which is essentially baked pecan brownie, topped with rich vanilla ice cream, homemade melted chocolate and choc shavings. By this time you will have slumped against one of those wooden booth chairs, kicked off your shoes and dreamed of a jolly swagman camped by a billabong under the shade of a coolibah tree, singing waltzing matilda with me…
Price range: Around Rp 600,000 for 2 (2 courses + wine)
Operating hours: 11:30 – 23:00 (Fri – Sat);
11:30 – 22:00 (Sun – Thurs)
Dress code: casual
Atmosphere: American outlet with Aussie theme
(enough said)
Alcohol: beer, wine, liquor
All major credit cards accepted
Reviewed: January 2008
Selain menerbitkan seri Jakarta Good Food Guide yang telah memenangi sejumlah penghargaan, Laksmi Pamuntjak telah menghasilkan dua himpunan puisi, Ellipsis (salah satu buku terpilih harian The Herald UK tahun 2005) dan The Anagram; sebuah karya filosofis tentang manusia, kekerasan dan mitologi, Perang, Langit dan Dua Perempuan; dan sebuah kumpulan cerpen tentang lukisan, The Diary of R.S.: Musings on Art.