If you wish to have a lively dining, De'Kafe delivers but certainly not the kind of intimate dining where you can whisper and share a heartfelt conversation.
The restaurant is located next to liveliest part of hotel: lobby and lounge. Pushing open the doors, the lobby and longue boost a strong traditional feel with lemongrass fragrant and ethnic carpet.
But still, with minimalist furniture and two PC units, the front part still makes me feel like in a modern era.
The detail doesn't extend to corner of the rooom where De'kafe is nestled. It is a vintage, wood-clad dining area with more casual atmosphere that manages to be both elegant and comfortable. De'kafe is actually small, but manages to look spacious thanks to partition and food tables that placed conviniently. A half of chek-in table is used to place coffee machine and juice dispensers. Everything at De'kafe is utilized effectively, and it succeeds to strike me.
Kicking off was Ayam Taliwang, a Lombok-origin dish with chicken, generous explosion of sambal matah (shallot and lemongrass sambal), and lalapan (raw vegetables) that act as side dish and garnishes. Its sambal matah is poured freely on chicken, tempting me to run my finger round it. It tastes fresh with little hotness, quite surprising since the original sambal matah has burning taste.
De'Kafe's ayam taliwang is fried, unline the original one which is processed by roasting. For me, it doesn't matter, but for some people might find it disheartening, definitely. Every portion of ayam taliwang is served with half of chicken. I think it is the only aspect everyone will love.
