Indo Sari, Glenhuntly by Big Fil

IndoSari is one of those little eateries where you can get the Indonesian equivalent of that great Australian classic - meat and three vegetables - with rice for around ten dollars. While at first glance it doesn't look that inviting and the choice from the bain marie is limited, most of it is full of flavour. Not the sort of place I would regularly travel half-way across Melbourne to visit, but if you're in the area it’s a good option for a quick and cheap lunch or dinner.


On Saturdays you have the choice of steamed or 'yellow' rice. I am not sure how the yellow rice is prepared, but it certainly adds to the flavours and is well worth the extra dollar. The vegetables are fine, if nothing to write home about. The fried chicken is similar to that available in lots of Indonesian restaurants, a little oily, crispy on the outside but tender and moist on the inside. The best part of any meal though at IndoSari is normally the beef rendang. Here it is among the best I have tried in Melbourne: moist, flavoursome and "pull apart with the fork" tender.


The egg and tofu are cooked in coconut milk (not sure of the Indonesian name of this dish, maybe Telu Telor?) and is something I order nearly every time I go here. While I like the beef rendang and fried chicken, they are strongly flavoured and a bit oily. The egg and tofu provides a more subtly flavoured and less oily contrast.


The peanuts and anchovies (ikan bilis) are a stable of Indonesian/Malay cooking. They match really well with the rendang, similar to the Malaysian dish Nasi Lemak. It is quite a strong flavour though and may not be to everyone's taste. The diced potatoes are nice when fresh and just out of the wok, but if they have been sitting around for a while they can start to go a bit dry.


While I don't have any photos, the fish if freshly cooked is also nice.

Overall
While hardly fine dining, IndoSari is a pleasant surprise. Simple food, freshly prepared, pleasant staff and reasonable prices, it’s a class above many similar places.

Verdict
Ambience - 5
Service - 7
Food - 7
Price - 8

Address
1165 Glenhuntly Road
Glenhuntly Vic 3163
Tel (03) 9563 6718