Bali is going through an amazing culinary journey. Not that many years ago the food offerings in Bali were mostly devoid of taste and value, with both locals and foreigners operating "restaurants" that they believed presented cuisines of the world. Only one thing was missing, and that was the professional knowledge that can only come from experience, having been trained at the highest level.
The Bali of today boasts of many top-flight chefs. Most, of course, work in the ever-increasing number of 5 star and boutique hotels and luxury villa complexes that seem to be opening almost monthly all over the island. Others are finding their own style, opening restaurants of their own at both ends of the scale, from classic dining down to great value mid-range dining. Just as important is the ever increasing number of experienced restaurateurs who are arriving, to drive the revolution!
The BaliEats web site [www.balieats.com] now lists restaurants of some 54 different cuisines, the majority of which present high quality food at an amazingly low cost. During 2007 another 85 new restaurants opened in Bali that were of sufficient interest and quality to feature in my regular column in The Bali Advertiser. The following is a summary of the very best of them.
Best New Fine Dining Restaurant - Blossom (Kerobokan)
In the Sentosa Villas was Blossom (main picture), something so new for Bali! There are similarities with Australia's trendy Longrain restaurants, whose designers worked on Blossom as well, but this one has style and class. It began with wonderful Thai food from Will Meyrick and quickly established itself as one of Asia's finest! Within a few short months Blossom achieved what many others failed to do, yet a management decision saw the departure of their chef. A ready replacement was fortunately available - Chris Patzold, well known to Bali's diners from his days as the original chef at Ku de Ta (back when the food was both great and cheap) and subsequently at Axiom. The most popular Thai offerings have been retained but menu now includes Patzold signature dishes described as Contemporary Australian but better known simply as Mod OZ. Best of both worlds!
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Grocer & Grind
Best New Restaurant - Grocer & Grind (Kerobokan)
Grocer & Grind provided something very different with its very Australian bistro style and accompanying deli. Normal egg breakfasts: Benedict, Florentine or just Eggs with choice of bacon, lamb sausage, mushrooms or rosti. For lunch; snacks, salads or a perfect Panini on Ciabattini. Dinner is casual bistro dining with items such as Prawn Cherviche, juicy prawns tossed with sliced mango in coriander, meaty lamb sausages or large (and very tender) lamb shanks.
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Brazilian Churrasco @ Rio
Best New Value Restaurant - Rio (Seminyak)
The Swedish Veranda became the Brazilian Rio (under Finnish management) offering a full Brazilian Churrasco with 5 salad starters followed by 7 different meats all cut from the giant skewer, after being cooked in the flames. The list includes a Pork in Marsala and a perfect Australian tenderloin, as well as an interesting selection of a la carte items. $20 per person for food, very good value!
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Table BBQ @ Chonos
Best New Restaurant North Bali - Chonos (Lovina)
Surprising newcomer is Chonos, a BBQ restaurant with a difference! A tray of lava stones are inlaid into the top of smart wooden tables, seated above a gas ring. Order your meats and show what you can do. During the day a smart garden cafe downstairs offers many Dutch treats such as kroket, bitterballen, shoarma, all made on the premises This place is going to become very popular. Congrats to people who dare to be different!
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Best New Cafe - Chat Cafe
Best New Cafe - Chat Cafe (Seminyak)
The Chat Cafe, under the guiding hands of Marinos (formerly of Mykonos Tavernas) led the way with a cafe/lounge bar that worked from the first week. Apart from cheap tasty food, they also offer free internet access, as do an ever-increasing number of cafes and small restaurants in Bali, though so far mostly in the Seminyak and Ubud areas.
This one buzzes!
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Best New Cheapie - Warung Mendez
Best New Cheapie - Warung Mendez (Ubud)
The revolution in Ubud has slowed to a walk. It's no wonder, with so many new places opening over the past 5 years. Up on the hill at Penestanan was one of the finds of the year. Mendez, the longtime personal chef for famous Australian art dealer Warwick Purser, opened his own small warung offering Goat Legs and Beef Ribs. Using old Yogya recipes, which require simmering for hours before marinating in Javanese spice pastes, the result is sweet tender meat and wonderful value in simple surroundings. $15 for two, what value!
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Once again, 2008 promises much: a new quality Thai restaurant opposite Gado-Gado, and a French Bistro with one of Bali's greatest chefs, both in Seminyak. To cap it all off, the return of the prodigal with select Thai, Vietnamese and Malay Indian menus at Will Meyrick's new venture (site of the old Esmerada) in Jln Petitenget, Kerobokan.
Bali just keeps on getting better, and the great value remains the same!
