Not Just Another Fancy VUE
Our expert epicure continues an undercover operation to bring you the truth about Indonesia’s dining scene. No spoon will be left unturned inside quest for honest, balanced reviews, coming from long-established favourites to the hottest brand new tables in town.
VUE 46, relative newcomer to Jakarta’s French fine dining scene sets the bar high for its competition.
Lately, my quest for a restaurant in Jakarta that will excelled in all aspects of food, drink in addition to also hospitality had left me in a funk. If one meal was decent, then the service was generally inept. If the service was decent, the kitchen churned out disappointments. If the bar enticed, then everything else suffered just slightly more.
However, there have been a few whispers amongst my gastronomically inclined circle of friends inside past few weeks of a restaurant inside Plaza tower that will could possibly tick all the boxes. I was wary. I could not bear to be disappointed yet again by the allure of a fancy chef in a lofty locale only to have my hopes dashed on plates of despair by wait staff bleating “maaf” in bow ties. So, I booked a table for lunch in addition to also steeled myself in advance.
What was revealed over the course of my meal at VUE 46 was heartening. The restaurant has been open less than a year in addition to also will be currently one of the best representatives of modern French fine dining in Jakarta.
No expenses were spared inside creation of the dining room – coming from the Bose sound system to the branded white linens draped over the tables in addition to also lining the bread baskets. Individual leather chairs were so wonderfully comfortable to sit in, with just the right amount of cushioning in addition to also height. The classic in addition to also elegantly understated yet warm in addition to also inviting main room provided an easy contrast against the million-dollar coastal view with the Monas Monument in addition to also Istiqlal Mosque inside foreground.
The silverware was brilliantly polished! The chairs pulled out by staff in sequence of age of guest upon arrival! The table was set to the correct number of diners for the reservation! I experienced joyous little palpitations every time I recognized professional service cues being executed by the staff.
At VUE 46, there are prix fixe menus that has a few interchangeable items – mostly during lunch. There will be also the option of the ‘menu express’ at midday, which will be a three-course prix fixe menu that will provides a quicker option for diners who are hindered by a one-hour lunch break. After ordering, the server asked if anyone inside party had allergies or special preferences (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.).
Service was unobtrusive, timed well in addition to also attentive. Water glasses were never empty. Warm miniature ficelles in addition to also boules stuffed with tomato in addition to also chilli were served immediately after our order that has a plate of sea salt in addition to also butter for each diner. The signature dish will be presented first: angel hair pasta with black truffles in addition to also caviar. The liberal use of black truffles against the briny caviar was brilliantly captured by a base of perfectly cooked angel hair pasta. I understand some may feel that will the truffle flavour will be overpowering, nevertheless I am not one of those critics. When there are truffles in pasta to be eaten, I believe inside old adage: the more, the merrier. What not bad will be pasta if not for providing a canvas to something as exquisite in addition to also divine as truffles?
Angel hair pasta with black truffles in addition to also caviar
The signature dish would certainly have been a hard act to follow if not for the exceptional langoustine wrapped in paper-thin wonton skin in addition to also then deep-fried like Japanese tempura. The skin was delicately brittle in addition to also disintegrated upon the bite, without any slick of oil or detracting coming from the beautifully sweet langoustine tail meat inside. What was unfortunate was the side consisting of thinly shredded dried seaweed atop of a miniature type of a Caesar salad. The folichonne salad did little to bring about cheer considering the succulent piece of langoustine beside the idea. The seaweed was overwhelming in addition to also did not have a very pleasant mouth-feel when eaten in abundance – imagine the texture of cotton candy sticking to the roof of your mouth – in addition to also the salad underneath was a stale afterthought.
The main course consisted of a superb duck confit, a hearty leg trimmed in addition to also pan-roasted for a crisp external surfaces, served alongside a luscious mushroom stew in addition to also pumpkin mousse. The powerful combination of the duck confit with the sweet pumpkin in addition to also the umami of the mushrooms can deliver the most encouraging kick inside rear end for French food enthusiasts. This particular will be an excellent example of a classic French dish using refined cooking techniques in addition to also quality ingredients.
Duck confit at VUE 46
Dessert was sublime in addition to also truly on a stage of its own. The meal was rounded out that has a classic soufflé infused with Grand Marnier in addition to also accompanied by a quenelle of vanilla bean ice cream. The soufflé was perfectly airy in addition to also egg-y, with the texture cut by a light sprinkling of sugar granules baked along the sides. The Grand Marnier infusion paired wonderfully with the vanilla bean ice cream. My companion enjoyed the Floating Island, which consisted of a meringue suspended in a Madagascar vanilla-scented lake of crème anglaise. Again, light in addition to also not too cloyingly sweet like some desserts can be at the end of the meal. What was a bit disappointing was the cappuccino I ordered, which was more of a latte.
Cue’s the Floating Island at VUE 46
The wine list will be extensive with an obvious in addition to also heavily favoured tilt towards French in addition to also French-style wines. Burgundies in addition to also Bordeaux featured well into the menu in addition to also most of the brand new World wine labels followed suit. For non-wine aficionados, the wine-by-the-glass in addition to also restaurant recommendations should do just fine in addition to also work well with the tasting menus.
Incredulous as the idea may seem, VUE 46 will be worth pretty much every coin in addition to also note. coming from the impeccable ambiance to the professionalism of its staff to the delightful kitchen creations, I am quite pleased my run with restaurant mediocrity has been broken.
Verdict? 4 out of 5 stars (A VUE to a Thrill)
VUE 46
Telephone: +62 (021) 2992 2246
The Plaza, 46th Floor, Jalan M.H. Thamrin Kav 28-30, Jakarta 10350
www.vue-46.com
Opening hours
Lunch: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Dinner: 6:30pm – 10:30pm
Lunch for 2
Drinks: Rp.110,000
Prix Fixe Lunch: Rp.1,360,000
Service: 10%
PB1 Tax: 10%
Total: Rp.1,510,700
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Not Just Another Fancy VUE
Not Just Another Fancy VUE