Craving for some Aussie delicacies? Here’s a place to go.
From its name, you could easily mistake Cecilia’s Café for an Italian trattoria. Well, it’s not. Although its owner is of Italian descend, Chia Sabbatucci was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. That is why when she decided to open a café in South Jakarta, the food that she put in the menu is the kind that Australians like her would feel very familiar to. According to Chia, the café’s food is all made based on her mother’s recipe. Some of the items are even quite rare in Jakarta, such as the Lamington, Aussie’s famed sponge cake coated in chocolate sauce and smothered in desiccated coconut; widely popular in the land of the kangaroo, especially on Australia Day. Australians living in Jakarta have found the food here, especially the Lamington and meat pies, to be authentic and remind them of home.
With a quick glance of the menu, you will see familiar main courses normally found at British pubs such as the Bangers and Mash, Fish and Chips, and Steaks. However, Cecilia’s breakfast and lunch menu is more popular. Most of Cecilia’s customers visit in the morning; either for a big breakfast comprising egg with toast, bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, hash brown and baked beans; or for Cecilia’s delicious Eggs Benedict. Some people opt for the smaller size breakfast with just a cup of Illy coffee and French Toast.
By mid-day, customers are seen making a quick visit to get lunch takeaways. The favorites would be Quinoa Salad and choices of burger, sandwich and wrap. Cecilia’s Café allows its customers to choose their bread for the sandwich; Pita Bread, Bagel, Ciabatta or Focaccia. In our visit, we tried the Roast Chicken Sandwich with roasted chicken slices, fresh lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheddar cheese and mayonaise. The dish is our favorite, after the Egg Benedict, for its combination of flavors and textures.
Working bees would visit Cecilia’s Café for some solitary hours with their laptops, once in a while taking short breaks while ordering from the menu to cheer their tongue and comfort the tummy; a bowl of hot soup, or small bites such as the Bruschetta, Chicken Wings and Salt and Pepper Squid. If you’re in the mood for something hearty, there are options of pies to choose from including meat pie, chicken pie, steak & mushroom pie or shepherd’s pie; all are served with chips and salads.
The café’s signature drinks like the Mixed Juice can help balance such meaty intakes. We had the Green Juice made of broccoli, celery, apple and cucumber. The whole experience was funtastic.
Cecilia’s Café
Jl. Ampera Raya No. 5
South Jakarta, Indonesia
+62 21 71796048
photos by
Kiky Y. Basuki
