You might think Meradelima only serves comfort food only, for the “Peranakan” term is being flung around many times. The answer is no. Instead, Meradelima boosts several artisanal beverages and desserts whose names are, sorry not sorry, downright strange.
While other restaurants are blatantly put every ingredient as the F&B name, Meradelima works differently. How do guests guess (no pun intended) the ingredients contained in a beverage named Ni Hao?
Ni Hao is a special beverage to celebrate Chinese New Year. Don’t worry, it is still available last time I checked. Loaded with fresh fruits like mango, dragon fruit, and pineapple, Ni Hao is the best juice to drink at any season. For the taste, it is subtly sweet with hint of sourness.
I finish with a sweet dessert named Es Cina Makan Sirih; and yes, Meradelima is back to fool us again. For those who don’t like betel leaves for its spiciness and fragrant, fear not. Es Cina Makan Sirih doesn’t contain betel leaves in any form. (Ps: in English, sirih means betel leaves).
The dominant coconut milk usage makes this dessert has similar taste to es teler, a traditional fruit mocktail. However, Meradelima’s Es Cina Makan Sirih is more fragrant, thanks to ingredients like pandan and basil leaves.
Considering heavy gridlock in Pondok Indah area, it requires much effort to get to Meradelima. But I’m very pleased I made it. This small restaurant – considering that it is part of Pakis Group – is made with heart, run by enthusiastic group who is determined to bring back old eating ritual, when internet and social media are not part of the dining table.
Meradelima Restaurant, Street Gallery, Ground floor, Jalan Metro Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.
