Layar Seafood 99 brings fresh seafood to your table no matter how far you are from the ocean.
Kitchenesia.com - As we are in a far better condition than in the last two years, dining out is finally back on track. There is no better time than now to venture out to some restaurants in the J-Town. And most importantly, to experience firsthand why they outwon the pandemic.
We catch ourselves stopping by a restaurant in Meruya area, West Jakarta, between late lunch and early dinner. It is Layar Seafood 99, which, at first glance, seems like a typical family-style restaurant whose food does not come cheap.
There is something in the façade that draws me in: elegant and inviting. Couples of pillars and statues of deities provide a grand entrance, but the overall exterior speaks to homey, modern architecture.
Besides, the absolute-packed parking lot, even after lunch, gives me a positive impression. At least for now.
An anomaly among its kind
Layar Seafood 99 consists of two parts: indoor and semi-outdoor. Both are parted by a partition door that is separate enough for each part to have its own atmosphere.
Funnily enough, I can feel an anomaly when entering the restaurant. Most restaurants provide outdoor seating on the front porch, near the main entrance. However, Layar Seafood 99, being a kind of its own, has a fully air-conditioned indoor right after the front door, while the semi-outdoor area is in the back.
Although Layar Seafood 99 is almost landlocked (the restaurant is near Pesanggrahan river), guests can feel the seaside dining experience thanks to its nautical concept. Here, a coastal vibe is alive with a pale cream palette dominating the room – reminiscing the color of beach sand.
There is plenty of space in the indoor area. Even if divided into fourths, each part still makes a spacious room for a family restaurant. Another highlight is the large windows which bring in the natural light. Thus, it gives the illusion of an even more spacious area.
Tucked away in the back, the semi-outdoor area surprisingly gets ample sunshine. There are two types of ceilings here; first, the sunroof around the borders, enabling sunlight to pass into the room. The second is the wood ceiling, right above where the guests dine.
Here, the concept gravitates more towards the garden concept. It incorporates the elements of a pond, wooden furnishing, and indoor plants. The technological and aesthetic enable guests to bask in the sun glow without sweating profusely due to the heat. Hence, dine in comfort and style.
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Tank-to-table dining experience
Reflecting the restaurant’s family concept, the menu celebrates sharing concept – perfect for hosting large-group dining. Even better, Layar Seafood 99 provides VIP rooms that come in different sizes.
Seafood fanatics will have the time of their lives here. Guests can pick exotic, live sea creatures – lobster, crab, fish – to be processed with their desired flavors. At Layar Seafood 99, kids also get their entertainment right. You can request a tour of the tanks to learn more about live sea creatures.
The waitress told me kerapu steam kecap is a best seller – and I could see why. It is the flavor balance that makes it crowd-pleasing: it is savory, but not too savory; it is sweet, but not too sweet. The fish meat is delicate and flaked easily – senior-friendly. Kerapu steam kecap presents taste, ease, and most importantly: comfort.
As a lover of spicy foods, I am more than ready to fire my mouth up with some of Layar Seafood 99’s chef recommendations. But something unexpected comes: a bowl of sweet-soy-sauce rich crab soup comes to my table. It is called kepiting saos bawang (onion sauce crab), consisting of a male crab in butter and garlic stock, and served hot.
Perhaps sensing that it is too garlicky (which is not at all), the chef garnished kepiting saos bawang with a lime cut, enabling guests to add a tart taste as they like. It is the food that starts a conversation considering I find it a bit challenging getting meat out. But that’s the fun of eating it.
Layar Seafood 99 is home to the new experience of seafood dining. Take sukang bakar rica (spicy grilled leather jack) as an example. The traditional, Manadonese spicy grilled fish has the chili relish drenched over the fish. This one has chili cuts topping the fish. Consequently, the spiciness is not fully permeated.
It is, though, the kind of thoughtful idea. The fish meat has inherent sweet-savory flavors, and some may find the additional spiciness is intrusive. For those who like their foods hot, just eat the fish with the chili cuts in one gulp. Everyone is happy.
Layar Seafood 99 is one of many will get excited for. Apart from wide-ranging food selections, the restaurant also goes the extra mile to serve everybody with different needs and tastebuds. It is a friendly restaurant for all demographies; and yes, including the seafood-allergic people (yes, it serves chicken, too).
Layar Seafood 99. Jalan Pesanggrahan Raya No.80, Meruya Utara, West Jakarta 11620
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