Tasik Indonesian - Northbridge

I discovered Tasik by chance about 18 months ago, and was thrilled. Not only was it in an old, rambling historic inner city Perth house, but it was an Indonesian restaurant run by, and employing, Indonesian waitstaff and chefs. Walking in, it smelled like good Indonesian food, with an overtone of history; spice, coconut milk, chilli, and beautiful floorboards. The food was cheap, plentiful, and incredibly yummy. As someone who has spent extensive time in Indonesia, and speaks Bahasa Indonesia, the service was as much a pleasure to me as the genuine, authentic and delicious food. My latest foray there, however, brought disappointment on all levels. To ask the person who was taking my order (in Indonesian) where they were from, being told Indonesia , and when I said No, I don 't think so , they admitted Malaysia, was the start of the fraud. They said same chefs, same food, just new owners . Also no. A complete and inedible mess. Soto ayam was a bright yellow glutinous mix of onions and dry hard-boiled eggs. The beef rendang was tough, dry, and overcooked; the satay sticks covered in a jelly cold paste. It also cost double what I have paid there in the past. Indonesian food is amazing and fresh when done well, from street to five star. The same goes for Malay cuisine. Sadly Tasik has gone from enak sekali (delicious) to nngak enak (very much not delicious). And Tasik, whether Indonesian or Malay food, doesn 't score on any level. Just yuck.

Pleasant setup in converted Victorian house Friendly but amateurish service. The food was slow to arrive. The real Indonesian food was wonderfully flavoursome. Do try the Rendang and the Satay. If you like pungent food ask for some Sambal Chili on the side. There is talent in the kitchen here and the food is cheap and really worth waiting for. Water and corkage appear to be free. Worth a visit

The place looks authentic. The menu looks nice. But most of the items on the menu were not available. Even simple fried rice/noodles/rice noodles etc are all not available. Even some of the drinks on the menu were not available. The reason given was that they were closed the day before. Not an acceptable excuse to run a restaurant. Perhaps that's why we were the only patrons here. Very dead silent restaurant. Not even background music.

Dinner with my partner at this restaurant was delicious and authentic Indonesian fare. We loved our meal.

Situated in an old house in Aberdeen Street, the rooms of which as well as the enclosed veranda make for a variety of dining areas, Tasik Indonesian has been around for quite a while, always popular with lunch specials appealing to the workers from nearby businesses. It is BYO and wine glasses and ice buckets are provided, with no corkage charged. Stopping in for lunch last week we began with a plate of fried tofu – crisply fried soft tofu – creamy melting centre and a spot of dipping sauce to add a bit of extra flavour – a pleasant, light beginning. Then on we went to a couple of generously sized mains – firstly Ikan Balado – fried cubes of fish – juicy and moist inside the crunchy exterior – and topped with Indonesian chilli sauce – and this added quite a hefty whack of chilli intensity – with tears flowing we tucked in – a very good dish for those who enjoy a chilli zing. Our second dish, again fish, this time Ikan Kecap Manis – fried in a sauce of tomato, onion and kecap manis the dark, sweet soy sauce of Indonesia. Much milder with salty, slightly sweet notes – but again the fish cooked well, moist and succulent. Both dishes came with a plate of steamed rice. Tasik is well worth a visit – friendly and welcoming waiters, the food very well turned out, and excellent value for money – our meal came to a tad over $40, which we considered outstanding for the quality, and quantity.