Denpasar –
Rows of trays containing various dishes are served behind clear glass. At first glance, it looks like a Tegal stall, aka warteg. The difference is, the various types of cuisine are Italian cuisine. Il Pomodoro Restaurant on Jalan Gatot Subroto, Denpasar, is an Italian restaurant with a warteg concept.
Interestingly, the price of the Italian food served is cheap, starting from IDR 5 thousand. Each visitor can choose the menu of their choice by pointing or mentioning the desired food. Similar to warteg in general.
The owner of Il Pomodoro, Edy Bagyasadu Purnomo, said that initially what he sold was not Italian food, but coffee. Over time it developed into a typical Italian restaurant.
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Edy admitted that he was inspired by the warteg concept because European cuisine, including Italian, was considered expensive. Edy, who opened the Il Pomodoro restaurant on June 24 2010, is trying to change this stigma.
“We are introducing Italian food but the concept is like a warteg. When we opened, prices started at IDR 3 thousand or IDR 2,500 at first. Now the cheapest ones start at IDR 5 thousand and many are under IDR 10 thousand,” explained Edy when interviewed at Il Pomodoro, Saturday (24/8/2024).
 Menu list at Il Pomodoro. Photo: Ni Made Lastri Karsiani Putri/detikBali |
The menu priced at IDR 5 thousand includes bread and garlic bread. Even though the price is relatively cheap, the size of the bread is quite large and filling.
Edy revealed that there were at least 30 kinds of menus presented at the warteg concept buffet. One of them is crespelle.
Crespelle is a typical Italian food recommended for children. Because, up to now, children tend not to like vegetables. However, Edy continued, through crespelle, children can enjoy a healthy menu without realizing that it contains vegetables.
“The ingredients are chicken, cauliflower, mushrooms, and several supporting ingredients, such as pasta for the skin. After everything is arranged properly, then put it in the oven for approximately 30 minutes,” explained Edy.
Tasting the crespelle, the savory and delicious taste hits the tongue. The taste and texture of the vegetables are not very visible so this menu is considered suitable for children. The price is quite affordable, IDR 28 thousand.
Edy said that in Italy there is a buffet concept like Il Pomodoro. However, the menu is not as varied as at Il Pomodoro. They tend to prefer a la carte menus. Meanwhile, people in Indonesia, including Bali, tend to prefer food served quickly and economically.
When he founded Il Pomodoro, Edy invited native Italians to train local chefs. After time passed and often held blind tastings, Edy said the chef at his restaurant was better than the expatriate chef.
Il Pomodoro restaurant also uses 50 percent imported ingredients to maintain the authenticity of the taste. One of them is tomatoes.
 Various types of Italian cuisine at Il Pomodoro. Photo: Ni Made Lastri Karsiani Putri/detikBali |
“We never change the taste, the concept is authentic from Italy. We use all the food recipes here that are as authentic as from Italy because there, in our opinion, the taste is acceptable to the local tongue. So, we don’t adapt the recipes to suit the local tongue,” explained Edy.
According to him, as many as 90 percent of visitors who come will first choose the Italian warteg concept. Then later you will switch to the ala carte menu.
Edy is grateful that so far he has received many positive responses. Both from children to the elderly. According to him, many of them have become loyal customers, including customers from Italy.
On the other hand, Il Pomodoro, which also has a family restaurant concept, offers a free pizza dessert menu for birthday visitors, without conditions.
Apart from the buffet and a la carte menu, Il Pomodoro also provides gelato, pizza, pastry and coffee.
One of Il Pomodoro’s loyal customers is I Gusti Ngurah Diva Ismayana. He was interested because an Italian restaurant with a warteg concept had just been discovered here.
“Personally, I’m also more interested and like it because it’s easier for us to choose (the menu). Immediately see the visuals of the food. So, it’s more fun and interesting,” said Diva.
He also considered that the taste of the food at Il Pomodoro suited his taste.
“The dining atmosphere is also more private. So, it’s not too crowded and the pizza is delicious, including margaritas. The prices are also affordable, not too expensive, not too cheap according to the taste,” said Diva.
(hsa/gsp)
