Michelin Chef, but the servers are bigger divas than me? An Honest Review of Caspar Jakarta.
qponx
2026-01-24
Curious about the hype surrounding Caspar Jakarta? This Spanish spot is a visual masterpiece with a glamorous vibe, perfect for photos. While the Basque Cheesecake is a showstopper and some tapas shine, the experience can be a gamble. This review reveals inconsistent main courses, like the risky paella, and service that often falls short of its high-end price tag. It's a place best visited for its stunning atmosphere and dessert, not necessarily a flawless meal.
Girls, I checked out that super popular Spanish restaurant, Caspar, for you all!
Honestly, the moment you step inside, your eyes will literally light up. As expected from the master designer Bill Bensley, the whole vibe is mysterious and glamorous, and every corner is just screaming"take a picture of me"[1]. It's a high-end restaurant by day and transforms into a bar with an amazing atmosphere at night; they really know what young people like these days.
But! Don't rush over just yet, let me finish…
The Food: A Rollercoaster Between Heaven and Hell
They recently got a new chef with a Michelin background[2], sounds impressive, right? As for the food, well, how should I put it... it's kind of Schrödinger's deliciousness.
The best dish of the night has to go to the Basque Burnt Cheesecake (Tarta de Queso)[3]! It's dense and smooth, melts in your mouth, and the sweetness is just right. This is definitely in my top three cheesecakes I've had in Jakarta, and I'd come back just for this.
Some of the tapas were okay too, like the Garlic Prawns (Gambas)[4]. The shrimp was bouncy, the garlic flavor was rich, and it was a great appetizer. The Grilled Octopus (Pulpo a la Plancha) was also a pleasant surprise; it was unexpectedly tender[5].
BUT! The signature Paella[6] is a total gamble. The one I had this time was... emmm... the rice was a bit too salty, and the soul of the dish, the crispy rice crust, was nowhere to be found, which was a bit of a letdown. Looking at online reviews, it's a mixed bag, so it seems like the quality control isn't very consistent.
The Downsides: Besides Being Expensive, There's More...
Alright, enough with the praise, let's get real.
The biggest flaw of this place is definitely the service[7], which doesn't match its price tag at all. I was seriously Anjay, the staff had a cold attitude the whole time, their response time was slow enough to make you question your existence, and sometimes I felt like I was invisible. Plus, I've heard from more than one friend that the restaurant lost their reservation[8], which is just ridiculous.
Next is the price, it's definitely on a 'rich lady' level. A bottle of beer costs over 90k rupiah[9], and the food portions are generally small[10]. If you want to eat until you're full, your wallet will definitely cry. As for value for money, I'll let you guys be the judge.
How to Avoid Disappointment | A Must-Read Before You Go!
So, is it worth going or not? My advice is, manage your expectations! Don't think of it as a place for a proper big meal. Just treat it as a visit to a beautifully designed bar for some snacks, and your experience will be much better.
- Ordering Strategy: For dessert, get the Basque Cheesecake without a second thought. Don't have high hopes for the main courses. It's best to ask"Is this available today?" before ordering, because many items on the menu are often out of stock[11].
- Choosing Your Seat: If you're purely there for photos, I recommend booking an indoor sofa seat. If you want to Chill and chat with friends, you can sit outdoors; it's very comfortable and surrounded by greenery. But! You must take mosquito precautions! The mosquitoes there are super aggressive[12], otherwise you'll just be feeding them.
- Best Time to Go: The atmosphere is best after 9 PM. There's live music, making it a great spot to Nongkrong and have a drink. If you're going mainly for dinner, it's better to arrive earlier.
- Bill Bensley's Caspar: high-end dining by day, stunning atmospheric bar by night. Every corner begs for a photo![1]
- That dense, meltingly smooth Basque cheesecake (Tarta de Queso)[2]? A must-try – Jakarta's top 3!
- New Michelin-trained chef[3] brings surprises. Signature paella[4] tests your luck – up for it?
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