The restaurant at the Mystique Apartments, Kerobokan, always
offered above average food at very reasonable prices. It is
a casual sort of place where whenever you drop in, you immediately
felt relaxed. That Aussie twang can always be heard, at any
time of the day, even the staff are picking it up! Not the
Kuta style but more often from the hard working type of Aussie
who has made it in the world and now resides or regularly
visits Bali, many coming up from close neighbour, Perth.
So it is fitting that the new styled restaurant at Mystique,
Artini, now serves what is commonly referred to as Modern
Australian cuisine, of European descent with local touches.
Well known Sydney/Perth restaurateur Bradley Griffiths has
created a simple menu that suits all day dining. Good basic
food, with taste, and at great value prices!
One old custom at Mystique is their unique free Tapa. Whilst
studying the menu, order a complimentary Tapa [your choice
from six] to munch on whilst pondering.
It is also time for your first Martini of the visit, they
go well together!
No Aussie menu could exist without a Prawn Cocktail, and Artini
is no exception. However the accompanying cocktail sauce has
a hint of chilli to suit the location. The Thai Chicken Salad
features crisp chicken strips on a mixed salad. The vinaigrette
is a blend of Thai [ginger, lemongrass, garlic, chilli, chopped
shallots and a fish sauce] and a bit of Bali with a dash of
Kecap Manis.
The Tempura Chicken Strips are tender pieces of sesame seed
impregnated chicken breast with a tangy chopped papaya salsa.
The Prawn and Avocado Salad is combined with onion and tomato
and a dash of white balsamico. Crisp Calamari Rings, with
tartare sauce, make either an entrée or a bar snack.
Their all day menu combines a variety of breakfasts with tasty
snacks. Excellent Eggs Benedict, or a Malay style breakfast
of pan-fried Roti Cani, grilled Teriyaki Chicken and a sweet
chilli relish or a Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Leg Ham
Frittata. All perfect for that relaxed brunch!
Mystique Chicken Breast is stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes
and herbs before being wrapped in bacon. I often find that
stuffed chicken breasts in Bali are invariably over-cooked,
and dry to the taste. Not this one, it is very good, the stuffing
complementing not overpowering the chicken meat, and the tangy
herb and cream sauce providing just the right accompaniment.
Duck is on every menu in Bali and so it should be. This one,
however is done differently, and at an extremely reasonable
cost. The bird is roasted, very slowly over water, part roasted
part steamed, until almost cooked. It is then immersed in
a marinade until required for serving. It is finished off
with another short roasting, a mango sauce added. The meat
falls from the bone at first touch, yet firm and full of taste.
Lemon Pepper Chicken is a vast improvement on that old Cantonese
version, the sauce here has a bit of life to it and not oversweet.
The Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks are just that, once again those
lumps of perfect lamb meat can be removed with just a light
touch. The sauce is a red wine one using shiraz.
One Pasta dish is their Penne that is tossed with chicken
and roasted vegetables in a Thai green curry mix, whilst the
other is a Seafood Linguini, in a Provencal sauce a touch
of garlic and chilli added.
There are a variety of other seafood dishes on the menu. The
White Fish Fillet is topped with a salsa of tomato, onion
and olives. Tuna Steak is simmered with lemon butter and capers,
whilst the Mixed Seafood Plate is topped with a sauce of garlic,
chilli and coriander.
Desserts include an interesting Orange Cheese Pudding, and
a Caramelized Apple Tart. All desserts at Artini come with
either their homemade ice cream or sorbet.
The wine list is a bit of a shock for Bali with nothing over
Rp.260,000 and most of the 26 wines much less than that. The
vineyards may be all Australian commercial but at the same
time they are from the better ones. Great value!
The service at Artini is relaxed and friendly, it is one of
those places where you just switch off and relax. Always a
most enjoyable visit.
And then there are those Martinis! Apart from the standard
ones there are many unusual variations. A Nutty Martini combines
vodka and Frangellico, Crantini’s are the craze [vodka
and cranberry juice] but it was the Kiwi Martini that caught
my eye. I assume the ‘skinned kiwi’ is of the
fruit variety not a homo sapien.
QUICK REVIEW
Restaurant :Artini
Address : Mystique Apartments,
Jln. Raya Petitenget,
Kerobokan.
Telephone : 730.465
Open : 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m., daily
Parking : Secure, off road
Price : Rp. 220,000 for two [+ drinks]
Credit Cards : All major cards
Food : Modern Australian
Wine : Excellent good value list.
Service : Friendly and informative.
Atmosphere : Casual, relaxed.
Overall : Amazing value!
Reviews that appear in Bali Advertiser are based on actual
visits to the establishments listed, without the knowledge
of the restaurants, and are not paid for by the individual
restaurants.
Opinions expressed here are those of Gerry Williams and not
necessarily those of Bali Advertiser. Gerry Williams attempts
to write from a ‘typical’ diner’s perspective
and whilst quality of food is the most important criteria
overall, value for money is the real measuring stick.
