Indrapura is one of the older more established Indonesian Restaurants in Amsterdam. The first time I ate here was in the early 1980s when I was a low-budget backpacking college student; so the 20 dollar splurge for me was serious; almost twice as much as my cheap hotel room. Back then the most abundant Rijsttafel feast had over 40-50 dishes, and it was far less expensive too. Today most Rijsttafel set-menus at most Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam have between a dozen and two dozen dishes, not including sauces and pickled vegetables. It is still an overwhelming amount of delicious food, but I can't help but wonder what has been left out. Other things are different too. For instance, back in the last century everything was covered with little pink, white, and lime-green Shrimp Chips, which I came to love. Also the meal always began with a bowl of hot soup or broth similar to Tom Yum, but not anymore. However, how can I possibly complain that I didn't get my full fifty dishes the last time I chowed-down in The Netherlands.
As far as this specific restaurant goes, it is a pretty good place with one of the larger menus and a nice view out the window. The Sate skewers are particularly impressive; as is the beef Rendang, which takes many hours to prepare. The family that owns Indrapura is from Jogjakarta in central Java, far from the home of Rendang (or most of the Rijsttafel dishes actually, many of which originate in northern Sumatra, just a boat ride from the coast of India back in ancient times. Although today Indonesia is a Moslem county (except for Bali which is Buddhist), back 1500 to 2000 years ago Indonesia was The Hindu Kingdom of Java, when the developing Hindu cuisine of Early India was spreading across the thousand plus islands of Indonesia like a bright sunrise of spices. Then, just a few centuries ago, The Dutch spice traders became the dominant colonial power in the area, and like many-a-rotund European colonial power at the time, they took the reins of Indonesian-cooking and put a scoop of all of Indonesia's different dishes and plopped them down on a bed of rice. It was essentially an ever expanding AYCE Buffet of Colonial European Gluttony: proof on a plate that the Dutch were truly Masters of The Universe.
One thing is for certain, although their colonial empire is No More, the hybrid cuisine that the Dutch patched together from the many Indonesian palace kitchens has stood the test of time as one of greatest and most exotic feasts on the Planet: right up there with many other great feasts like...
Korean BBQ with all of the Banchan,
a traditional English Sunday Prime Rib Roast or "Beefeaters" Supper,
a really extensive Dim Sum feast with all the carts,
a Good Family Thanksgiving with tons of leftovers,
a twenty-five course Japanese Omakase in Kyoto,
an abundant Swedish Christmas-Eve "Jul Bord" Smorgasbord with lots of Glogg-Aqua Vit-pickled herring-Gravlax-caviar-strong cheese-meatballs-reindeer-potato sausage-elk stew and other Scandinavian homecooked food,
an authentic Northwest-Indian Wedding Feast with all of the Curries-Chutney-Korma-Vindaloos-Tandoors-Breads-Biryani-and vegetable stews like Saag Paneer-Mater Paneer- & Dal - like the buffet of your Subcontinent fantasies,
a traditional Greek & Turkish/Greek Easter Feast of whole roast Lambs on spits accompanied by ancient clay pot meat stews and soups plus the freshest seafood dishes-Kababs and Mazza followed by Hellenic pasties,
or my favorite birthday meal: a Cantonese & Sichuan Birthday Banquet with everything on the menu including Peking Duck,
or a more American New England feast of raw Oysters-oyster stew-steamers and a Clam & Lobster Bake,
or a night of dozens of Spanish Tapas & Sangria followed by Pallela & Fideo and a Discotheque,
or an Old Dickensian Roast Goose Christmas,
or a multi-course Italian meal straight out of the movie "The Big Night",
or a Mardi Gras Creole eating party in New Orleans with everyone ending the night drunk naked and stuffed,
or all seven of Oaxaca's Moles accompanied by every Mexican dish from the movie "Like Water For Chocolate",
and finally - the biggest Heute French Dinner one can imagine, as long as there's lots of wine & spirits.
But topping them all may well be Rijsttafel. read more