A white baby grand sits in the corner, on Friday and Saturday evenings the pianist and bassist are joined by two lady singers, and the place really swings.
The food at Street Café is anytime food. Snacks, light meals or full scale versions. Simple food, often served in unusual ways, cheerful service and prices that truly amaze. To further add to the value here, all prices are inclusive of tax and service. Why cannot everyone do that in Bali? The perennial ‘plus plus’ is the most frequent tourist complaint about their visit to Bali. Thailand is not so stupid!
Inside, in the air-conditioning, the very comfortable and spacious layout is its own worst enemy. The big lounge area tables and chairs in the seated section are all so large and heavy that with only a handful of guests the place is already full. Still high bar stools make a good spot for devouring their tasty finger food.
Snacks double as bar food and entrees as well. The ever-popular Dutch Bitterballen are perfectly prepared and presented. They are made by cooking beef mince in a broth with seasoning. It is then cooled and rolled into balls before crumbing and deep frying. A firm crunchy shell encases the soft tasty filling. Dip them in the mustard supplied and enjoy!
Nachos are served ‘unbundled’. All the ingredients are presented separate for you to combine as you wish; a bowl of corn chips sprinkled with shredded cheddar, and dips of guacamole, Mexican salsa, green chilli and sour cream. Other snacks include spicy Chicken Wings [drumlets] or Cheese Balls.
Apart from specials of the day there are a standard 3 options for Lunch Specials. Grilled Chicken Thigh [boned] on a bed of spicy noodles, Vietnamese style Beef Noodle Soup and a Shaslik that is not a Shaslik [chunks of beef and vegetables fired on a skewer]. At Street Café lamb and beef is minced together, along with a variety of spices, to form small sausage shapes very similar to the Yugoslavian Cevapcici. These are grilled over a flame and served on a bed of grilled vegetables, sour cream on the side for dipping.
Included with any of the Lunch Specials is a trip to the Salad Bar and the Dessert of the day. Effectively three course for an all inclusive price of just Rp.45,000, incredible value!
Sandwiches are available, select your own bread and fillings then visit the Salad Bar as well. Hamburgers are also rather special here, all served on a large soft sesame seed bun. Beef or Lamb minced in the normal way with your own toppings from the Salad Bar or you can go Vegetarian. Your burger filling can be Tofu, Falafel or a slab of Camembert crumbed and pan sealed sitting on grilled vegetables, leafy rocket above.
Mains are all grills and include local and imported meats [all of which are specified as well as being offered in a range of different weights]. Beef can be local Tenderloin or imported T-Bone or Rib-Eye. Lamb Chops. Pork Chops or Pork Ribs. Bratwurst [German sausages] and Half Chickens are also on the menu.
Grilled seafood includes the Catch of the Day, Squid, King Prawns or a mix of all. When they finish the installation of their wood-fired oven [as a by product also increasing the range of available breads] they will then be offering whole fish baked in the oven.
Desserts are simple but tasty; Strawberry Bavarois, various fruity flavours of Ice Cream, Chocolate Mousse and Special Pancakes topped with honey and cream.
Street Café is simple, but it works. Busy since its opening it offers great value food, friendly young service in a relaxing ambience. Sit inside at small or large tables, big comfortable lounges or out on the tamarind tree shaded decking at front.
QUICK REVIEW
Restaurant : Street Cafe
Address : Jln. Danau Tamblingan 21, Sanur.
Telephone : 289.259
Open : 11.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m., daily.
Parking : Street only.
Price : Rp. 200.000 for two [+ drinks]
Credit Cards : Visa, Mastercard.
Food : International.
Wine : Small list.
Service : Cheerful.
Atmosphere : Relaxing
Overall : Sensational 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.
