AKATAMA PIK AVENUE

When it comes to Japanese food, I am kinda picky. I don't mind having all those fresh sashimis, high quality grilled meat, but sometimes I just have to have sushi rolls to indulge my palate. As you know, Japanese food in Pantai Indah Kapuk area is getting serious. Sushi Hiro, Sushi Sen, Tajima, they all have those good quality of Japanese food and I am quite pleased with them. One addition to Japanese food at PIK won't hurt though. Here comes Akatama. 

Akatama has ita clean white decoration delivering the luxurious modern ambiance. The atmosphere somehow is too glamorous for PIK avenue, kinda intimidating, telling us that they're serious in this industry. It's quite spacious with bunch of sofas on the corner. The staffs are friendly as well. Good start. 

Welcoming you with miso soup for each person on the table. So thoughful, aren't they?

SALMON SALAD

A fresh start to my palate! Fresh lettuces, cuts of carrot, and fresh salmon sashimi with roasted sesame dressing, if I'm not mistaken. Love the combination of it all. Too bad the portion is way too small for a salad-sucker like me.

KUSHIYAKI

I have this grilled mushrooms, chicken wings, beefs, and grilled chicken. Everything is good and tender. I love the sweet seasoning that wraps all the skewers. The chicken and beef are also tender and really enjoyable. I even ask for additional portion of their mushroom.

BEEF TERIYAKI DON

Tasty bowl with tenderly cooked beef, sprinkled with fried onion on top. Portion is quite generous. This one can be your choice when you want something comforting and play safe.

ABURI SALMON SUSHI

Eight big chunk of sushi rolls with layers of salmon, tempura and crunchies inside. Love the combination of it all. I also love how they maintain the authenticity by only giving small amount of mayo.

DRAGON ROLL

My kind of favorite sushi roll! Fresh and tasty unagi on top, crunchy tempura inside, delicious Japanese rice. Love how the combination of it all meet my palate. Again, they do not give overwhelming sauce on the sushi roll, so that the original flavor is still right on point.

TEMPURA MORIAWASE

Tasty crunchy ebi, veggies, sweet potatoes dipped in light tempura sauce. I do enjoy it, but I prefer to have more intense sauce of tempura.

Overall Akatama at PIK Avenue is quite enjoyable. Selection of menus are quite vary, delicious sushi, fresh sashimis, and tasty skewers. I love the ambiance so much I can spend hours here. The thing is, the portion is quite small but I do understand they want to keep it affordable. So best of luck for you!

AKATAMA 

PIK Avenue, Ground Floor unit E5

Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta

021 22570866

Opening Hours : 10am-10pm

Best regards,
Jessica Christy Limanjaya

COFFEE AYA

In the middle of Jakarta coffee industry, you have to be bold among those popping coffee shops here and there. You have to have things to offer because people in Jakarta have too many offerings yet they can judge it even from the first step, the first sip, and the first bite. You can be a coffee shop that has an awesome cup of coffee, an exquisite food, a friendly barista, a comforting corner, whatever it is, you gotta have something you can highlight about it.

Stepping into Coffee Aya, one newcomer in Jakarta's coffee situation, located in the heart of Muara Karang. Surrounded by those crowds in Muara Karang market, the location quite surprised me by being the only modern spot around. It's like finding one zen in the hectic area. 

The story is, the owner has the good eye to build this pretty zen. Dressed in all white and soft wooden creature, Coffee Aya reminds me of the relaxing Japanese house. It's so quiet and suitable for working, to escape from reality in the heat of Muara Karang. I can imagine myself sitting there, hallucinating about the sound of soothing water fountain around. Tranquilizing atmosphere? Check!

Greeting on the door. Fall in love at my first step.

I have my latte, as usual. My cup of latte is way too hot, kinda surprise me while having my first sip, burning my palate. Not to mention the break latte art on top of it. Their latte is dominated by milk, a lot. The coffee is too light, even for my palate. The owner is very kind to change the first cup, but sorry to say, my second cup is hotter than the first one, with better latte art, but still too watery for me and burnt aftertaste.

Loving the ambiance. Everything is seated on point, very pretty.

Finding these cuties from Cotton and Tartlets with several flavours. IDR 10k each. I find these kind of pastry suit Coffee Aya well. Elegant yet beautiful. They also have cookies from Surely Someday Kitchen (thank you Coffee Aya for the cookies!) Everything is good and enjoyable. 

Overall the soothing ambiance really got me on my first sight. Everything is so pretty in white, modern yet elegant. Too bad I did not have any good impression about the coffee, even they serve it way too hot. Coffee Aya is really suitable for you when you need a refugee from this city, and I know that this hidden zen can make a good improvement. Best of luck!

COFFEE AYA

Ruko Niaga, Jl. Muara Karang Z8 no 19

North Jakarta

Opening hours: 8am-7pm

Best regards,

Jessica Christy Limanjaya

@jechristy

OETARA COFFEE

Coffee shop nowadays is identical with something rustic, minimalist, greyish, wooden dominated, and stuff. Can't agree more, those concept of coffee shop make them pretty, instagenic, a perfect spot to shot your OOTD or just your caffeine boost of the day. This coffee shop, on the other hand, has its candy house concept with fun bright colors: Oetara Coffee.

Nope, I do not know what they real concept is, the candy house stuff is my personal opinion. Fun tosca walls are dominating, while the iconic tosca window is one unique twist for this coffee shop. The rest of it is covered with wooden wallpaper, how I wish they use a real one though, to beautify its pretty place. Place is spacious, separated into indoor and outdoor area. I won't mind to sit outside during this rainy season though, since the weather is so friendly, but I don't think the heat of usual Pluit weather would be a perfect companion for a-non-airconed space.

One photogenic leaf.

The barista is former headbar for Chye Seng Huat Coffee in Singapore, they said.

Lotsa cakes: apple crumble, tarts, kouign amman, they have it all.

COCONUT LATTE-40k

One of their speciality: hot coconut latte. They only serve it in hot because the coconut is not a good match to be paired with ice drinks somehow. This one is good! Good presentation, taste of latte is on point with a twist of coconut inside. I like it how the coconut really blend well with the coffee, giving it a kick to my caffeine.

I also have their hot latte and hot capp. They already reminded me that their latte is a bit thinner because they are using bigger cup, and yes it is so light. I prefer the heavier kind of latte, tbh. Their capp is fine, though.

CHOCOLATE CAKE-50k

Their recommendation to pair my milky coffee with a slice of chocolate cake, to neutralize the texture. This cake is not bad, but I find it's to sweet on my palate, even for my brother's who is a fan of sweet tooth. Texture is fine, portion is quite big, but still, 50k for a slice of cake is quite pricey.

Overall Oetara is an exciting addition to coffee shops in North Jakarta. Super friendly staffs with comfy place and not-bad coffee, it can be your next spot for afternoon chit chat.

OETARA COFFEE

Jl. Pluit Karang Barat blok G6 no 25A (aligned with ex Zenbu Muara Karang)

North Jakarta

Opening hours: 7.30 am-10.30 pm

Best regards,

Jessica Christy Limanjaya

@jechristy

PORTAFILTER COFFEE KELAPA GADING

"I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you
Yes there's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you.
I've seen the paths that your eyes wander downI want to come too"

Sunday afternoon, good song is playing along in the background. The heat of Kelapa Gading area was beaten by this new cool coffee shop: Porta Filter Coffee.

One step inside and I knew it. I fell in love with this coffee shop, even before I had my first sip. I felt like I was home: comfortable, friendly, and the ambiance was so familiar and warm. It was spacey, instaganic, with this 'hype' industrial grey decoration. Feeling rustic and cushy at the same time. My favorite part of it? Natural light at its best. Place to hang out? Checked.

HOT LATTE - 35k
HOT CAPPUCCINO - 35k

They had some selections of food menu, beside the coffee they served. I recently went to some new coffee shops around in Jakarta, but sorry to say, they did not beat my previous favorite. Porta filter's latte, I had to admit, easily won my heart. First sip and I knew it was gonna turn my day to be a better one! (Yes, crappy coffee annoyed me!)

ECLAIRS-30k

They had these selections of eclairs: chocolate, peanut, and coffee. The dazzling topping of their peanut eclair drooled me much and I thought I had this right decision by choosing it. It was crunchy on top, soft pastry, and tasty creamy filling inside. 

They also had some mouth watering cakes on display too! Oh I wished I had a larger quantity on my tummy!

Table situation

Overall I really liked Portafilter coffee. The ambiance, the coffee, the food, really pleased me. I really wished Kelapa Gading is much nearer to my house (which is in west Jakarta). I had this favorite coffee shop in Kelapa Gading area (bet you know this one), but Portafilter is surely worth the visit!

PORTAFILTER COFFEE

Jl. Boulevard Raya Timur Blok A No. 1

Kelapa Gading

Jakarta Utara

(021) 4528526

Opening hour: 8am-10pm

Best regards,

Jessica Christy Limanjaya

@jechristy