Satay Sarinah

[spaghetttti]

Tonight we had dinner at Satay Sarinah, quite a little gem located in the Van Dorn Station strip mall in Alexandria. I remember several enjoyable visits to its earlier incarnation on Wisconsin Avenue, Georgetown. Sarinah's menu is quite extensive, and although we didn't order it this time, Sarinah offers rijsttafel, which is a five-course meal which includes soup, appetizer, salad, a vast array of entrees and dessert.

We started off with Nasi Goreng Sarinah/Sarinah Fried Rice with chicken. Very tasty!

Gado-Gado, vegetables in peanut sauce. Nicely spiced, but a bit too sweet for me.

This is a plate of Nasi Rames, (a meat & three ). I loved this -- the steamed rice was accompanied by opor ayam (stewed on-the-bone chicken in a yellow coconut sauce), two skewers of satay, one chicken and one beef, stir-fried green beans, telur balado (deep-fried, halved hard boiled egg with a very hot red chili sambal) and krupuk (shrimp crackers).

A bowl of gulai kambing, a lamb curry -- very hot but packed with spicy flavor.

Es Teler was a nice and cool ending to a delicious meal.

Satay Sarinah

512-A South Van Dorn Street

Alexandria, VA 22304

703 - 370 4313

www.sataysarinah.com

It's a cozy, casual place with warm and friendly service.

[iamthestretch]

That looks really good. Puts me in mind of the fantastic rijsttafels we used to enjoy when we lived in Amsterdam. Indonesian seems to be one ethnic cuisine that hasn't had much of a shake in the DC area. Compared to, say, the nearby neighbors over the border in Malaysia, where there's at least a spectrum running all the way from the very good (Malaysia Kopitiam) to the bloody awful (Penang.) I'd like to try Satay Sarinah sometime, but would also be interested to know if there any other decent options that you know of?

[Pan]

I wish this place were in New York. Not that DC-area people don't deserve it, though. Thanks for the report and photos, Yetty.

[petite tête de chou]

Spaghetttti, What a pretty and pink dessert. What is it, exactly?

[DTBarton]

I also used to enjoy rijsaffels (rice table) in Indonesian restaurants in Holland. My favorite was at a place called Bali in Breda. The multiple entrees (about 12 to 15)were served in smallish dishes with enough for all at the table to have a taste, kind of like asian tapas. Hot bananas for dessert. The table was literally covered with these small dishes. I'd be interested to know what is served with rijstaffel at Sarinah.

[mnebergall]

Does Ivy's Place still exist on Ct. Ave. up from the Uptown Theater? They used to have a rijsaffel.

[Mrs. P]

There is also a place up in Wheaton with rijsaffel. Can't remember the name right now, but when I drive by it next I'll check. THey offered approx 7-8 small plates, brought out at once, with sides of rice if I recall correctly. This was followed by dessert.

[iamthestretch]

The place in Wheaton is called Sabang. It's on Ennalls Ave and has been around for a while. I don't know if it's any good, but do seem to recall it has occasionally cropped up in discussions here with a "not what it used to be" qualifier.

[monavano]

Spaghetti, thanks for the great review and pictures which made me drool. It's close to home and I'm sure to visit there soon!