Biteorbye? Bite, 100%.
Why you will love it ❤
1. THE FOOD. If love had a flavour, it will taste like Social Garden. Here is what I ate:
-The highlight of the meal was easily the 48H Braised US Short Ribs. The beef ribs is exquisite, it is on the sweeter side however is balanced with the nasi uduk puree (yes, underneath that beef ribs is actually nasi uduk that has been pureed so you can really taste the coconut milk flavour!). It comes with Vietnamese coleslaw topped with puffed rice. You know the dish is a labour of love and the chef pours his heart out to create it.
-Tasmanian Salmon Ceviche is the dish that looks super simple yet able to surprise you. The ceviche has been cured for 5 hours so all that fishy flavours? Gone. Only thing left is the smooth salmon taste with ikura on top but the crispy garlic and nuts really add that intriguing dimension. Honestly, this looks super simple but you can taste the complexity. They say you only fall in love once, Social Garden proved that is wrong because every bite feels like we fall for the flavours over and over again.
-Wingko Babat Bakar is interesting! Who knew they can bring a very interesting twist to a local dish and elevate it even more. The most interesting part is this citrus taste which gives an element of surprise and refreshing taste served with vanilla ice cream. The portion is generous for 2-3 people, so get this to enjoy with your date, friends, family, friendzone, etc.
-Wagyu Bibimbap Bowl is not a typical bibimbap bowl as it uses Japanese Curry and floss I believe which really makes every bite a treat, bibimbap with Social Garden’s twist.
-Quattro Formaggi Pizza was enjoyable because well, cheese. Brie, mozzarella, gorgonzola and grana padano parmesan. You can never go wrong with cheese honestly. AND HONEY.
-Spinach Agnolotti is a vegetarian option with great taste! Usually pasta with no meat is not the best (for us, at least), but they proved us wrong.
-Mango Passion is served with ice cream and highlights the sweetness of the mango and slight (very slight!) sourness of mango. Great option for you who want something refreshing yet sweet.
2. They experiment with drinks to find what works! Here’s our favourite:
-Passion Colada! Must-order. Love the passion fruit because it sour and has a hint of sweetness, really refreshing especially since it awakens the palette after all the great food. Also a plus, the drink looks super pretty. Note though, this is on the sour side, so might not be for everyone. If you prefer sweet drinks, go for the Strawberry Fizz.
-Strawberry fizz is also a popular one, it has a sweeter flavour profile so if you are not a big fan of sour drinks, definitely go for this one it has coconut, strawberry, aloevera, chia seed and basil. They really love to play around with the food and create art!
-Garden specialteas, make sure you get it. It’s not just a treat for the eyes but also the taste buds. Calming and relaxing feeling served in a cup.
3. The chef can also personalize the menu if you want a vegan or gluten-free meal. Really appreciate that they cater to various dietary restrictions.
4. The ambience is really something. There are two areas, the inside of the mall which is more well-lit and you can get more artsy photos here due to better lighting. But I personally prefer the outdoorish - not really outdoor though/darker area. People can smoke here, but I guess the exhaust works really well you cannot smell smoke and the temperature is just right, not too cold or too warm. Perfect place to chill and relax with family, friends and that special someone during brunch, lunch or dinner.
5. The service is great, but not really surprised on this one because, well… Ismaya always have great service and concept. Thanks Mas Ardy for the hospitality and explaining our menu!
What could be improved 🙏
1. Personally thought Fresh Tomato Carpaccio was a bit on the salty side. But this could be due to the ratio of feta pistacchio puree and tomato though - it's generous on the feta pistacchio then again a generous topping never hurt 😉. However, I ate here with 4 other people and they did not complain.
2. Quattro Formaggi Pizza’s crust would be better if it were thinner. This really depends on your crust taste, because some people might enjoy this. But in terms of taste, this reminds me of the Quattro Formaggi in Social House in GI which is one of the best pizza in Jakarta (under the same Ismaya brand so I guess I can mention the name? 😉).
3. 48H Braised US Short Ribs was easily my favourite, I think an element of freshness or hint of sourness would have been interesting to compliment the sweetness of the ribs and the savoury of the nasi uduk. While the coleslaw was enjoyable, thought a refreshing/tangy salad would have complimented the dish better. 😊
3. I think a bell for each table would be useful. Nonetheless, staff did a great job in terms of attentiveness and friendliness considering the restaurant was packed. Can’t wait for my next visit to Social Garden, planning it already!
Place: Social Garden, Senayan City
Menu:
Tasmanian Salmon Ceviche (140K): 9.3/10
Fresh Tomato Carpaccio (85K): 8.2/10
Wagyu Bibimbap Bowl (150K): 8.9/10
48H Braised US Short Ribs (275K): 9.3/10
Quattro Formaggi Pizza (135K): 8.8/10
Spinach Agnolotti 8.3/10
Wingko Babat Bakar 8.5/10
Mango Passion 8.4/10
Passion Colada - non-alcohol (60K): 9.1/10
Strawberry Fizz - non-alcohol (60K): 8.6/10
Garden Specialteas (60K): 9.0/10
