Melati Indonesian Restaurant

(03) 9889 4101, 629 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell. VIC 3124
Open Tues-Sun 6pm-10.30pm; Unlicensed, BYO, Corkage $.80 bottle; AE, BC, DC, MC, V, Seats inside 40

Mietta's Review
Eric Yong and his Balinese wife, Listiana, have been running Melati since1984. The oldest Indonesian restaurant in Melbourne, Eric proclaims. Vegetarians will be well served. There are vegetarian entrees, noodles, rice and main courses, all suitably priced. For the carnivores, there are more than 30 dishes. There is the traditional banquet "rijstaffel". That's Dutch for rice table, a legacy of Indonesia's colonial past. The traditional rijstaffel is a feast of rice, fresh pineapple slices, cucumbers, mango, bananas, dried shrimp, peanuts, crisps, fresh coconut, a selection of sambal, chicken or beef satay, hot curry and spicy fish. Melati's "rijstaffel" is more modest. It has to be, if one is to savour anything else; like its martabak entree. This is pan-fried spicy beef with spring onion encased in a pastry pillow. Babi guling, a Balinese roast pork served with salad or vegetables and crackers, is another traditional favourite. Soothe the palate with the kolak Bali dessert - ripe banana and tiny pieces of jackfruit simmered in a sauce of coconut milk and sugar.