Solo, Newtown
Bringing the tastes of Surakarta to Newtown
Located at 415 King St, Newtown 2042
Solo is the short name for Surakarta, and it’s the name of the town where the two founders Alvin Saputra and Akbar Thais grew up. It’s also the name of the newest restaurant to pop up on the bustling streets of Newtown. Newtown has always been home to some of the most innovative and modern restaurants in Sydney, and Solo is no exception to this trend. Solo gives Indonesian dishes an exciting and contemporary spin, while still respecting the traditional flavours of the East.
Solo’s dinner menu is unique, as it is divided into three categories (1) small (2) medium and (3) large. The founders designed the menu so that the dishes would be shared family-style. It’s a nice change from most Indonesian joints that serve individual platters of food.
“Solo gives Indonesian dishes an exciting and contemporary spin, while still respecting the traditional flavours of the East.”
The small category features an eclectic mix of traditional dishes along with experimental fusion options. One of the most eye-catching dishes of the lot is the beef rendang that comes mixed with tomato, chives, cheese and coriander in a quesadilla. Fusing Mexican technique with Indonesian flavour, this dish perfectly encapsulates the experimental edge of Solo. Other favourites from the “small” category include the chicken skewers, the lamb skewers and the crispy fried chicken lollipops.
The Chicken Skewers with their specialty peanut sauce was a crowd-pleaser! Its taste was reminiscent of the char-grilled skewers from the festival favourite Hoy Pinoy. The smokiness had been infused in the skewer and the bitter char off the skewers complemented the sweet and thick peanut paste.
The Fried Chicken Lollipops were extremely crispy and the chicken encased inside the batter was nice and juicy. The lollipops were tossed in a delicious mixture of garlic, chilli, kaffir lime leaf and sweet Indonesian soy sauce. The taste of the kaffir lime leaf was prominent and its unique flavour helped to differentiate itself from the other fried chicken I’ve eaten in my time. The Murtabak was also crispy (though not as crispy as the lollipops)! This Indonesian street food favourite was stuffed with the classic ingredients — beef, spring onion, egg and coriander.
After these series of small dishes, we moved on to the medium platters. We ordered the Nasi Liwet. This is a traditional Indonesian dish usually served on bamboo leaves. It’s a succulent dish as the rice itself is steamed and hence infused with the essence of coconut milk, chicken broth and spices. The dish was generously topped with flavoursome shredded chicken and crispy fried shallot.
Another favourite were the Mussels. Not only were the mussels added with lemongrass, galangal, chilli and garlic, but they were drowning in Indonesia’s local brew Bintang. The bitterness of the beer was prominent in the mussels themselves that added another complexity of flavour atop the potent taste of lemongrass and garlic.
At the owners’ suggestion, we decided to sample each of the dishes from the “large” menu. The Big Tray Chicken was probably one of the most aesthetic dishes of the lot. The chargrilled chicken (also known as Ayam Bakar) was perfectly cooked and the caramelised chicken skin gave the meat a nice char and smokiness. The Ayam Bakar was complemented by the coconut rice, sambal kecap, sambal bajak, salad and slaw. The Short Rib packed a flavour punch! It was marinated in a delicious sweet and sticky sauce then grilled to perfection. To cut through the flavour, the boys at Solo appropriately added a side of refreshing watermelon pickle. Finally, we sampled the Lamb Gulal. It was a mild curry, so it was a favourite amongst all patrons (even those who couldn’t tolerate spice). The lamb itself was so tender that is basically melted in your mouth. It was served with potatoes and okra, with a side of roti. The roti was a new addition to the traditional gulal dish, as Indonesian curries are generally served with a side of rice.
Overall
With a restaurant named after the brothers’ hometown, Solo really pays homage to the dishes of Alvin and Akbar’s upbringing. The restaurant has been a dream for this pair of brothers for as long as they remember. They have dreamed of bringing the food from their childhood to the Australian community and this restaurant really delivers! The Big Tray Chicken and the Satay Skewers are a must-have. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, then try the Lamb Gulal or the Mussels drenched in Bintang.
Rating: Yummy in my Tummy
Service: 4/5
Gourmet Gumbo dined as a guest of Solo.
