GIA Restaurant & Bar, Sampoerna Strategic Square, South Jakarta

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Ismaya Group is one of the most popular restaurant group in Jakarta. With various kinds of brands spread across Jakarta. All the restaurants I've ever visited have an interesting and unique concept. Well, this time I visited one restaurant that can be practically quite new to operate for 2 years than other brands.

Slightly different location with other Ismaya restaurants we usually encounter in shopping malls. GIA is located in an office building, Sudirman area. Carrying the concept of authentic Italian and classic, GIA built with a fairly exclusive interior.

Dominant black and white, as well as tables and chairs that are all black. Equipped with beautiful yellow lights, then a black rack that contains drinks that give a touch of elegance. In addition to wooden chairs, here are also available sofa on several sides for more comfortable.

As I said, GIA offers the experience of enjoying classic and original Italian dishes. The menu offered is certainly about pizza, pasta, and steaks. To start our lunchtime meal, we were presented with an Italian welcome bread, focaccia bread with firm texture and savory taste. It was also served with balsamic sauce and grounded tomato sauce that became an Italian style.

There was also an oval-shaped pizza bread with onion & truffle toppings. The crisp and savory texture of dough blends well with the fragrant onion flavors and powerful truffles. This is very nice to enjoy while warm. Thin, consistent cuts make me even more excited.

Before to the main menu, it's good we tasted the fresh appetizers. I tried Carpaccio Al Tartufo, thin and consistent beef tenderloin slices, then served with black truffle, parmesan and a gorgeous micro greens on it. Pieces of thin, fresh carpaccio are delicious and perfectly enjoyed together with garnish.

In the Italian restaurant that must be tried of course is pasta. As the recommendation, I tried Totellini in Pollo Burro e Tartufo Nero. For those who are not fluent in Italian, certainly not easy to read every menu here. Tortellini pasta stuffed with chicken cacciatora meat then a thick cheese sauce and large truffle piece on it. The savory and creamy flavors blend into one, the soft tortellini and the enticing truffle aroma are fascinating.

Another amazing menu is Guancia di Wagyu, Birra, Zucca e Salsa Verde. Steak made from beef cheek part with a mixture of beer and salsa verde sour sauce. Delicious meat flavor with soft texture combined with the unique aroma of beer. Then in the middle there is a salsa verde sauce that has a distinctive sour taste provides a balanced combination.

I also tried the recommended dessert of Cremosso Al Burro in Arachidi, a dessert with a beautiful presentation, peanut butter cream pudding served over soft dark chocolate cake, then with a thick honey caramel sauce. I think this menu has an overly sweet taste of all the elements. So I had to drink a few times while eating this dessert.

Overall, I was quite satisfied with this lunch experience. With an exclusive restaurant atmosphere, comfortable and quiet. It's just that there was a little problem, the mosquito was quite disturbing around  the seat. The typical Italian menu offered authentic & classic highlight different tastes with Indonesian food. For the price offered is quite high in accordance with the concept presented by the GIA, we would feel the experience of eating an elegant and classy.

GIA Restaurant & Bar,

Sampoerna Strategic Square, Lantai Ground,

Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Sudirman, Jakarta

Tel: +6221 5795 3300