Having lived in Bali for more than one year, I've had the chance to dine at the Trattoria, an Italian restaurant. Located within the upscale Jl. Laksmana area, Trattoria's candle-lit table settings set the mood for a romantic dining experience.
I continued to crave for Trattoria's delicious thin-crust Margherita pizza even after I moved to Jakarta. As if reading my thoughts, I received a phone call from my friend one Sunday afternoon, inviting me to join him at a Trattoria Restaurant! “Plaza 2 Pondok Indah, right in front of the Citibank headquarters,” he said. Was this the Trattoria I had in mind?
After seeing its wooden tables and chairs, hand-written menu, and the staff's warm welcome, I knew instantly that it was. Trattoria has an airy bar-cum-dining place on the first floor and an open kitchen at the second floor, a nice spot where I can kick off my shoes and enjoy the afternoon.
Just like its sister restaurant, Trattoria Jakarta has an Italian chef who happily whips up authentic Italian dishes at a reasonable price. Have a pizza for Rp 21,000 to about Rp, 35,000. Pastas are still pocket-friendly, ranging from Rp 25,000 to Rp 34,000.
Pizza aficionados wouldn't want to pass up the Vegetariana, a mixed-vegetable pizza topped with mozzarella (Rp 24,000); and the Tonno e Cipolla with tuna, black olives, and onions (Rp 27,000). I finally had a bite of my favorite Margherita pizza (Rp 21,000),
My friend ordered the Tonno in Crosta a la Siciliana, delicious, freshly-baked tuna topped with crunchy bread and served with vegetables. Complimentary shots of Cioccolatello, a milk, chocolate, and vodka cocktail, arrived after our meal.
The reasonably-priced dishes made up for the rather pricey drinks. My soda costs about Rp 12,000 while my friend paid Rp 21, 000 for his watermelon juice, the same price as my pizza. True to Italian dining tradition, one can order a glass of white wine (about Rp 25,000) or ask for a full bottle (Rp 240,000 to Rp 320,000). Be prepared to shell out more for the red wine (Rp 210,000 to more than Rp 960,000 a bottle).
Ps: Credit cards are not accepted so do bring enough cash.
Trattoria
Plaza Pondok Indah 2, Block BA 25-26, Jl. Metro Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 750 0959
Operating Hours: Trattoria is open from 11 am until midnight.
