Hidden Gem: Bruschetta Italian Restaurant

Hotel Borobudur Jakarta has been a major name in the local hospitality industry for as long I started to become aware about what an hotel means. Today, the property has just hit 4 decades mark, and that is indeed impressive.The hotel is a favourite among companies as well as the government, as a MICE venue. After all these years, I have only been to a few of the F&B restaurants, Teratai (Chinese Restaurant) and quite some time ago, Bruschetta Italian Restaurant.

As I walked through the black cast iron fence at the entrance, I felt like I was about to enter an old-fashioned tavern. To be very honest with you, Bruschetta has seen its better days, back then, way before the arrival of fancier, flashier, and more modern Italian restaurants around town. But do not let the place discourage you, because this place served some of the tastiest Italian dishes I've ever had and they are absolutely reasonable for a 5 star hotel standard.

Right: the bar at the restaurant entrance

Wide open - open kitchen

One of the private rooms, not so updated, but still classy after all these years

Now, flash back to that evening when I and a few friends had a massive feast, when the Italian Resident Chef of Hotel Borobudur, Marco Matteuci prepared a lot of new, as well as classic favourite dishes at Bruschetta. Even just writing down the things that we devoured that night, is quite confusing! I'm still amazed at how we even managed to conclude that evening without dragging our tummies on the floor LOL. Can you imagine 15 different dishes from Antipasto to Main Course and on top of that, some wine, cocktail, soft rolls, and complimentary starters! 

Left: complimentary bread basket

My first (and definitely wasn't my last) glass of 2011 Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir

Pre-Antipasti (complimentary) Left: taro gnocchi with green pea puree and broccoli
Right: Tomato minestrone

The dinner started slow, as we were waiting for some of us to arrive from each of their previous locations. But once the first dish was served, I had to take photos quickly for each to keep with the pace: food comes, snap snap, take turns and then eat, repeat.

Antipasti Freddi (cold)

Affettato Misto - Cold Cut Platter (coppa, bresaola, parma ham, salami, pancetta) IDR 248,000

Right: Carpaccio di Tono con Finocchio, Oglio di Oliva e Limone - Tuna Carpaccio, fennel salad, basil & olive oil dressing IDR 78,000

Insalata di Spinaci con Bresaola Croccante, Pomodorini Marinati - Baby Spinach Salad with crispy bresaola, marinated cherry tomato & olive oil dressing IDR 122,000

Antipasti Caldi (hot)

Insalata di Verdure Arroste Profumate al Sensi di Giardino - Grilled Marinated Vegetables salad with fresh herbs dressing IDR 68,000

Sformatino di Parmigiano-Reggiano con Salsa Verde - Parmesan Souffles with Creamy Salsa Verde IDR 88,000

Pasta

Sauteed Jumbo Prawns & Scallops with diamond pasta & spicy creamy shellfish sauce (price not specified)

Left: Cannelloni di Agnello con Carciofi e Pinoli - Baked Cannelloni stuffed with lamb, artichoke & pine nuts IDR 172,000
Right: Ravioli di Spinaci - homemade ricotta & spinach ravioli in butter sauce & tomato fondue IDR 158,000

Linguine as Astice con Pomodoro Fresi, Aglio Pepperoncino - lobster linguini with fresh tomato, garlic & chopped Italian parsley IDR 850,000

Now this is possibly one of the most expensive pastas I've seen and eaten so far, so what makes it so pricey? Fresh Canadian Lobster, shell fried, meat cooked in the pasta. The sauce uses tomato, white wine, garlic, red chili, olive oil and parsley. It was quite spicy, but still manageable. Mind you, the portion was quite large, it can be shared among 2-3 persons.

Ravioli di Funghi Porcini con Mozzarella e Salsicia di Maiale - homemade porcini mushrooms ravioli with mozzarella & Italian pork sausage chunks IDR 178,000

Pesce

Spigola Cilena in Cartocio con Spaghetti e Sfritto di Pepperoni - chilean sea bass in cartoccio with fresh pasta & peperonata sauce IDR 348,000

The cartoccio is quite special, in which Chef Mateo cooked duo colour fresh spaghetti, with chilean sea bass, diced bell pepper, garlic, tomato sauce and olive oil. 

Carne

Costine di Agnello con Polenta Arrosta, Insalatina di Sensi, Salsa con Olive Nere e Aglio - roast rack of lamb with polenta chips, herbs salad & red wine sauce garnish with sun-dried tomatoes, black olives & garlic confit IDR 258,000

Filetto di Manzo con Crosta al Gorgonzola, Puree di Piseli, Fagioli Bianchi al Burro, Salsa al Vino Rosso e Pere - Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola cheese crust, mashed green peas, sauteed navy beans, red wine & pear sauce IDR 347,800

Right: Osso Buco di Vitello Primavera - braised veal shank osso buco on mash potato, little carrot, zucchini & saffron bowl, fresh thyme, truffle oil IDR 264,000

After all the non-stop bombardment of good food, I'd think I 'd be disoriented and unable to single out my favourites. But once the Filetto di Manzo and Osso Buco came out, it was like Revelation from the Old Testament. Firstly, the Filetto, aside from the fact that it's utterly tender, the other side elements were not only interesting, but also tasty even when eaten separately. I absolutely love the cheese crust sitting snugly on the chunk of Tenderloin! As for the Osso Buco, I seriously never had a better lamb before. Personally I'm ingrained to think that lamb has a certain (unpleasant) odour to it, but this osso buco defied all presumptions I had about it

Bistecca di Tonno Yai Ferri con Insalata di Avocado, Mango e Coriandoro - grilled tuna steak with avocado, mango & coriander salsa IDR 182,000

And then, the sweet endings to our (seemingly never-ending) feast haha...a platter of trio gelato and Espresso Martini. Now, let me try to remember how to function my brains, because I needed to drive home despite the food coma haha...

Left: Espresso Martini
Right: Trio Gelato for dessert

I am more than pleased to say that Bruschetta is a real legit Italian restaurant that should get more exposure than what is currently going around. In my honest opinion, it's a hidden gem among the din of newer fancier glitzier establishments around town. Should anyone ask me where to go for Italian food, I will now look at the person from head to toe, if I could sense a real passion and gusto for real food, that person will definitely grazie me profusely for telling them about Bruschetta. ;)

*) Prices are subject to 21% Service Charge & Government Tax

Open Hours: 
Daily (except Sunday & Public Holiday)
Lunch: 11.30 am - 2.30 pm
Dinner: 6.30 pm - 10.30 pm

Bruschetta Italian Restaurant
Hotel Borobudur
Jalan Lapangan Banteng Selatan
Central Jakarta - 10710
Ph: +6221 3805555 / 3835000
Click to open in Maps

hotelborobudur.com
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