Restaurant Review: Rumah Rasa’s Hearty Traditional Indonesian Fare at Bay Hotel Harbourfront, Singapore
PUBLISHED August 17th, 2017 06:00 am | UPDATED September 12th, 2017 01:58 pm
It is not unfair to claim that Southeast Asia has a reputation for unhealthy foods. For if the glistening oil on Singapore’s chicken rice or heaps of fried lard in our char kway teows are anything to go by, we could very well be serving up calorie-laden coronary diseases on our plates. But not every tasty cuisine has to be this way, especially not at Rumah Rasa, the Indonesian restaurant that reopened last month at Bay Hotel in Harbourfront, Singapore, after shuttering its door three years ago.
Helmed by the new Executive Chef Esa Hassim, this recently reinvented restaurant brings to our shores authentic Indonesian cuisine that goes beyond the commonplace ayam penyet and nasi padang. More than that, Rumah Rasa prides itself on its in-house (or rather, in-hotel) garden, from which the kitchen derives the herb and spices that flavour its delectable dishes. It’s an absolute guilt-free gastronomic experience, as no additives or artificial flavouring are used.
The more sceptical of you may be wondering how good these MSG-free dishes could really taste, but trust me, with each bite that you take, your palate will be titillated by an amazing blend of flavours. The Sup Buntut ($7.90), for instance, is distinctly hearty with the rich essence of brewed oxtail. Yet, the addition of tomatoes, celeries, and leek within lifts its taste with an inimitable sweetness, such that what results is a soup lighter and more refreshing than you’d imagine. Likewise, the Sate Lilit ($7.90) – signature Balinese chicken meat wrapped around rolled sticks of lemongrass, carries an unusual, zesty fragrance throughout the protein. To call these delicacies piquant may hence be an understatement.
Of course, no authentic Indonesian restaurant can ever go without serving a local staple: their seafood. At Rumah Rasa, the Ikan Kakap Bakar Cianjur ($28.50), or whole grilled seabass, is exceptionally fresh and tender, with the fish’s ambrosial juices melding perfectly into Chef Esa’s secret sauce. Warm, smoky, but ever so delicate, this dish is tantamount to possibly the highlight of Indonesian fare.
On the slightly heavier side is the Pempek Palembang ($7.90), a deep-fried tapioca fishcake dish served alongside vermicelli and a tangy sauce. A popular Jakartan street food, the pempek is chewy and addictive – it proves to be quite the workout for your jaw, if you ask me. Eat this with the tangy sauce, and the dish is at once a beautiful mix of sweet and savoury.
You cannot forget the incomparable Tahu Telor ($7.90), one of the most classic – and unfortunately, most sinful – of Indonesian dishes. With upwards of six eggs required in a conventional version of this dish, I understand if you may wish to consume it sparingly. But it is difficult to resist the light and fluffy tofu omelette, fried delicately on low heat, drizzled in the most appetizing dark sweet sauce, and topped off with a fragrant peanut sprinkle.
Familiar flavours are revisited and elevated to elegance in the dessert menu, including the humble Goreng Pisang ($6.90) and Bubur Hitam ($6.90). The former is, against stereotypes, not too greasy, whilst the latter is served cold – in a unique, but welcome twist to a recognisable dish.
Given Rumah Rasa’s delicious – and notably healthier – take on a largely underrepresented cuisine here in Singapore, this Bay Hotel mainstay is definitely a place to check out. As for its low prices and generous portions? Well, they’re most certainly a plus.
Rumah Rasa is located at 50 Telok Blangah Rd, Singapore 098828, p. +65 6818 6681. Open daily 12pm – 10.30pm.
