Diningout: eclecticeco Experience
Brizola brings great food and beautiful ambience to a family-friendly place
Filda Yusgiantoro, Chairwoman of the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center, and her husband Alexander Ery Wibowo, Professor of Law at Universitas Pelita Harapan, share with Indonesia Tatler the secrets behind opening one of the city’s hippest establishments: Brizola in South Jakarta
SEEKING OUTDOOR,
family-friendly ambience, Filda Yusgiantoro and Alexander Ery Wibowo had had a penchant for food and dining since their days at university, but somehow no restaurant was able to fulfill their desires. Alexander was fond of cooking and excelled at making steaks, so they decided to take up cooking as a side business. With this in mind, Brizola was born in Senopati three months ago.
A blend of Indonesian and Western favourites, Brizola brings with it ecofriendly touches of wooden furniture, glass windows, and a luscious green garden as a
backdrop. Apart from its green atmosphere, the restaurant’s walls are adorned with colourful artworks, giving each corner a vibrancy of its own.
“One of our main aims in making each corner different is for the whole restaurant to be Instagrammable from every angle,” explains Filda.
Currently, the restaurant is a second home to ladies who love to lunch, millennials who are eager to be trendsetters, corporate employees in the vicinity, and families who enjoy weekend getaways.
Paying attention to detail is a factor that needs to be considered these days when opening any new venture, especially a restaurant. With intense competition in the country, Brizola ensures its atmosphere is second to none. “We bring a sense of Europe to Indonesia through the music that plays in the background while guests are dining,” says Alexander, who was the mastermind behind the eco-friendly concept with a dash of eclectic art vibes.
To begin the feast and to beat the cold on a rainy day, My Kinda Zuppa Soup was the most obvious choice of starter. A delicious portion of hot creamy soup that was accompanied by a bread stick opened the day on a high note.
What followed soon after was a dish known as Beeta Fetta—a beautiful blend of cubed red beetroot, shredded green lettuce, and white feta cheese, all for a daily dose of fibre and protein.
Even though Brizola might only currently be known for its lunch and dinner options, its brunch menu nevertheless sets it apart. For all egg-lovers, the Wake Me Up All Day and Portobello Benedict serves as great kickstarts to a lazy Sunday morning.
What came next is a specialty at the restaurant. Brizola translates to “meat” in ancient Greek; therefore, it is known for its
various types of meat cooked with different ingredients. One of the main dishes is The Tomahawk, a succulent piece of beef that can be shared between three or four people and which can be cooked in five different sauces.
“I am extremely fond of steaks so I made sure Brizola’s specialty would be its variety of meats,” Alexander says, and he has certainly achieved his goal.
Despite the restaurant turnover rate being so high in an area such as Senopati, Alexander and Filda are confident that Brizola is here to stay. The restaurant isn’t classified as a café and as long as quality is maintained, they are confident to be in it for the long haul. While explaining their thoughts, a sweet indulgence was brought to our presence. The Lemony Cotta is Brizola’s new creation of lemon sorbet paired with a serving of fresh vanilla panna cota. A sweet closing to the culinary feast, indeed.
Even though a franchise is not on the cards at the moment, Filda and Alexander are not omitting the possibility of opening another branch in the next few years depending on whether they are able to maintain the quality of what they have at the moment. The restaurant takes pride in its ability to incorporate fresh local ingredients into its imported meats, which they hope to be able to source locally in the next few years.
“How’s a cup of traditional Gayo or perhaps Papuan coffee to end this meal,” asks Alexander. We couldn’t decline the offer.
Brizola
Jl. Tirtayasa No.26, Melawai, Jakarta 12160 Tel: +62 21 2942 6256
“One of our main aims in making each corner different is for the restaurant to be Instagrammable from every angle,” explains Filda.