Lovina has long been known as a Dutch enclave. Many well-to-do expatriates own impressive villas along Bali’s northern shoreline, some residing permanently whilst others flit in and out.
The Dutch are now being specially catered for, at the Chonos Café. Open from early mornings for breakfast, what could be more relaxing that a full breakfast [your choice of a Dutch cold breakfast or an English fry-up] under the trees in the garden courtyard. If you want to be very Dutch then there is always their Uitsmijter, a perfect brunch, two slices of bread each layered with ham, cheese, mushrooms and onions with a fried egg on top.
Dutch snacks are to the fore, all being hand made on site in their kitchen, and you can tell the difference from some of the commercial versions available elsewhere in Bali. Kippenballetjes are chicken balls, Bitter Ballen are similar but made from beef. Their Krokets are some of the best I have had, nicely firm and crunchy outside and firm inside rather than the ‘too often gooey mess’, just perfect with dabs of hot mustard. Order these with Chips [French Fries to all you Americans], because they are the best in Bali! Cut from real potatoes [not re-hashed from powder via a machine] in chunky style, and deep fried to a golden brown. Eat with a crunch! The even offer Puntzak Hollandse Frieten, French Fries in a paper bag with tartar, eat in or take away!
Shoarma is very popular in Holland. Originating in Egypt and popularized in Greece with their Gyros style, it is shavings of meat [at Chonos they use pork instead of the original lamb], combined with onions and capsicums tossed in a creamy tartar sauce. At Chonos you can put it into a baguette, or just on the plate, with more of those Chips, of course. Ask them for a Mixed Plate [Kroket, Shoarma and French Fries], it will come with a small salad and all the necessary dips. It makes a simple, but great, lunch.
For the snackers there are Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Jaffles [with exotic fillings such as Smoked Ham with Mango and Cheese or Tuna and Pears with Rum Cheese], Baguettes are with a variety of stuffings including sliced meat balls or even Shoarma, simple Pastas and a variety of Pizzas, including the Chonos Special [tomato, onion, mushroom, salami, ham, olives, anchovy, cheese and pineapple] provide for just about every taste.
A nice touch is not only the Kids Menu [Krokets or Mini Balls with French Fries, Fish Fingers or Chicken Nuggets] but a dedicated play area, a small cave equipped with plastic chairs and toys, all visible to the parents whilst they are relaxing in the garden courtyard.
Upstairs the Chonos Restaurant is also open all day for lunch or dinner. It is an attractive open terrace fitted with special hand-carved wooden tables that have an inlaid cooking area of specially selected lava stones [a gas ring underneath heats them to cooking temperature]. Obviously the Table BBQ is the main attraction. Many different meats and fish can be ordered on skewers that enable you to cook them to whatever degree that you wish, over the lava stones that face you in the centre of your table. An unusual offering is Goat Sate, but this must be pre-ordered so it can be prepared properly. Many different salads and accompanying sauces are available, to accompany your BBQ.
Chonos also has quite an impressive a la carte menu which you can combine with the BBQ or stay completely with. An interesting appetiser is a Cucumber Flower rolled with salmon and an orange cream sauce. Mushrooms are stuffed with a mix of crab and walnuts. A Salad Provencal is covered with shredded goat’s cheese.
The Stew Pot is beef that has been simmered in beer with a fragrant mix of onions, apricots, cloves, cinnamon and assorted vegetables. Tenderloin Steaks can be had with a pepper cream sauce, mushrooms, French Rocquefort cheese, or with paprika as in Stroganoff. European Schnitzels are flattened escallops of pork, crumbed and pan fried, served with a corn paprika salsa and fried potatoes.
The Spicy Chicken and Cashew Nuts sure is spicy! The mix has been stir-fried in beer, and a fiery Balinese Sambal Matah added to spice up your life! This one is only for the locals, and adventurous westerners. The Chicken Roll is meat from the breast wrapped around rashers of crisp bacon and cream cheese. The menu says this dish comes with Roesti, but in reality rather excellent Indonesian Potato Perkedels, nice and firm and well seasoned, not the slushy KFC variety.
Seafood is fresh, with the ocean only metres away. Snapper is served with a ball of crushed potato and bacon, and the Fish of the Day with an anchovy sauce. A Pizza Marinaro combines tuna, shrimps and calamari with mushrooms,garlic, onion and cheese.
For the Vegetarians, an appetiser of Grilled Paprika and tomato, a Garlic Soup with roast potato and other soups. A Potato Salad is available or one of Tomato and Cucumber. Crepes stuffed with vegetables or Pasta with spinach and cheese.
Chonos Café is already becoming a meeting place for all the Dutch expats who live along Bali’s northern coast, but many from other origins are also rapidly discovering the great value and taste in such a pleasant garden courtyard.
QUICK REVIEW
Restaurant : Chonos Café / Restaurant
Address : Chonos Hotel
Kalibukbuk,
Lovina.
Telephone : (0362) 41.569
Open : 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m., daily.
Parking : Street only.
Price : Rp. 180 - 300.000 for two [+ drinks]
Credit Cards : Visa, Mastercard.
Food : Dutch.
Wine : Small list.
Service : Very friendly.
Atmosphere : Garden setting or upstairs in BBQ restaurant.
Overall : Relaxed and casual, great 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.
