NOTCH Jakarta: Kid-Friendly Restaurant Review | Qpon X

All the moms here in Jakarta know, trying to find a place where the kids can burn off all their energy while you get to enjoy a proper meal is next to impossible. So when I heard that this place, NOTCH Jakarta in PIK, has a three-story indoor playground, my eyes lit up ✨.

Just imagine: the kids are going wild upstairs, and you're downstairs elegantly sipping your coffee... Mantap! It's literally the ultimate dream of freeing up your hands. But! Reality hit me with a loud slap in the face. This place is half heaven, and half... emmm, you'll know what I mean as you read on.

Kid's Paradise vs. Mom's Battlefield

To be fair, the ambiance is beautiful. Modern, comfortable, and the design is on point. But don't be fooled by the pretty pictures on Xiaohongshu, thinking you can come here for a peaceful afternoon to `Chill`. During peak hours, the entire restaurant is filled with the screams and laughter of children, reaching the noise level of an amusement park[1]. For friends who want a quiet chat, I'd say just skip it.

However, its biggest trump card is that awesome indoor play area on the third floor[2]. It's not one of those half-hearted little slides, but a genuinely clean and `proper` kids' playground that will definitely make your little monsters not want to go home. This point alone is enough to make countless parents willingly open their wallets.

Food Hit & Miss List: Half Amazing, Half Terrifying

The menu here is also a contradiction, with extremely inconsistent quality.

👍 The Hits (Order with confidence)

👎 The Misses (Run!)

Wagyu Picanha Steak[3]: The best dish of all! The medium-rare was cooked to perfection, the meat was juicy and tender, and the seasoning was sophisticated. Absolutely worth the price.
Nasi Goreng Cakalang[4]: You can never go wrong with Indonesian fried rice, especially this skipjack tuna version. They give you big chunks of fish, not tiny flakes, which shows they're not skimping.
Pan-Seared Sole Meunière[5]: A French-style pan-seared sole that's rare to find in Jakarta. The skin was golden and crispy, the fish was fresh and tender, and the lemon butter sauce was perfectly balanced. A pleasant surprise.
Shakshouka[6]: This dish was a complete disaster zone! The version I had, the tomato sauce was so sweet it was like drinking sugar water, completely lacking the complex layers of spice you'd expect from a Middle Eastern dish[7]. Anjay! If you've ever had the authentic version, please, avoid this at all costs.

The Ultimate Deal-Breaker or Worth Tolerating?

Alright, let's get to the main point. The biggest complaint about this place is its suffocating service[8]. Slow and unprofessional waiters are minor issues. The bizarre experiences I've heard of include, but are not limited to: a customer being kicked out by the owner for"having people waiting" while they were still ordering (even though there were empty tables), a manager having a sour face and not saying a word during payment, and even a customer getting burned with the owner just watching and doing nothing...

Combined with its not-so-cheap prices (an iced Americano costs 40k Indonesian Rupiah[9]), you ask me if it's worth it? I can only say, it depends on your mindset.

Pro Tips (A Guide to Avoiding the Pitfalls)

For the friends who want to take their kids there to free up their hands, here are the key points:

1. Mindset Prep: Please think of this place as a"premium children's playground that serves food," not a restaurant where you expect top-notch service. For the sake of the kids' happiness, just bear with it!
2. Book! Book! Book!: It gets insanely crowded, especially on weekends and during dinner time. If you don't want to have a meltdown waiting at the door, you must book in advance[10].
3. Don't Go Too Early: If you're planning for a morning coffee, don't rush there right when they open. Their coffee might not be ready until after 8 AM[11], so you'll just be waiting around.
4. Attention Content Creators: Some reviews mention that they don't allow photo or video shoots for content creation purposes[12]. If you're planning to visit for a review or to post about it, it's best to ask beforehand to avoid being stopped on the spot and ruining your mood.