Tucked away in a little street ending in Miami Beach, is a taste of true Indonesian fare. Nestled in a small store front topped by the Lorraine Hotel, this is a gem among gems. Recommended to us by Ami James of TLC's hit show "Miami Ink." (Look for his video "Up Close & Personal" coming in September's issue), this restaurant delivers all the unique tastes associated with this simple yet tasty cuisine. 

 The atmosphere is quiet and relaxed with exotic smells coming from the kitchen immediately tantalizing your taste buds the moment you walk through the door.

The decor is eclectic yet elegant in the very casual way you would expect from a beach restaurant with exotic touches scattered throughout. A nice touch are the table covers, which bring that flavor of the cuisine's culture to bear as you partake of the meal set before you.

The place is owned by Pieter and Ineke Both, who hale from Amsterdam. With the rich Indonesian history liberal in its Dutch influence, the match of this pair, the cuisine and the relaxed welcome atmosphere you encounter upon entering is a winner.

If you have never tried Indonesian Cuisine, do as we did and order the 'Dutch Treat.' It is the best way to get a sampling of all that this wonderful cuisine has to offer. We opted for the Indonesian Rijsttafel Sumatra. ($26.00pp, min. 2 persons)

This is a 14 course tasting  that is absolutely out of this world, lovingly prepared by Ineke, with Pieter handling the descriptions and explanations of each dish, all of which are completely unique in its own right.

While it would take too much space to deconstruct every offering for you, a copy of the items that make up this dish is below for your vewing and I will highlight some of our favorites. 

Sateth Ayam was a standout, a grilled chicken skewer with peanut sauce (one of my all time favorite sauces) that was moist and tender, almost falling off the skewer. One of Louis' favorites was the Sayur Lodeh, mixed vegetables in coconut broth, the vegetables cooked perfectly crunchy, while the broth was light and wonderful. The Telor Besegnek, boiled eggs in curry sauce was absolutely marvelous, with the perfect amount of curry. Flavorful, yet not overpowering, with Ineke applying just the right amount of the spice. She adeptly refrained from using too much, as can happen when some chefs cook with this strong flavor enhancer. 

Not to be outdone, the Rendang Padang, beef stew in thick spiced coconut sauce was one of the best uses of beef I have had in some time. The Atjar Ketimon, sweet and sour cucumbers, was a nice refreshing offering that counter-balanced the heat that is inherent in most dishes from this part of the world.

If you have never tried black rice pudding, you have no idea what you are missing. This is a real treat for those who know it and unlike traditional 'American 'rice pudding, the rice needs to be a bit firmer, not creamy. Chef Ineke hit the mark with this dessert, and topped with what we had to assume was homeade vanilla ice cream, ( I say this because no store bought ice cream I've ever had tasted this good), the combination of flavors was the perfect end to our culinary journey.

All in all a wonderful taste of the exotic and well worth the trip and visit when you are in Miami Beach. We will definately go back. Thanks Ami, we give Indomania a ***½ star rating, and gladly add them to our Recommended Restaurants list. 

Indomania Restaurant
131 26th Street
(off Collins Ave.)
Miami Beach, Fl. 33140
305-535 6332

www.indomaniarestaurant.com