Me Vui fills a hole in the Bali cuisine offering, A Vietnamese restaurant with a Vietnamese in the kitchen! As a long time lover of this cuisine I have had to make do with regular visits to Kuala Lumpur to dine at the wonderful Sao Nam restaurant to feast on their specialties [Mangosteen and Tiger Prawn Salad and their marvelous Duck stewed in tamarind]. Now we have a real Vietnamese restaurant in Bali on Jln. Raya Legian. Whilst they are justifiably proud of their classic Pho, they also offer many other beef and chicken dishes, all true to their cuisine heritage.
Good Mantra is hidden away on Jln. Dewi Saraswati III, Seminyak in the Kosta Hostel. Their specialty is plant-based cuisine [VEGAN], but that does not stop them from offering very tasty and satisfying breakfasts inspired by acclaimed Perth chef Dom Hammond. Almost everything is made in-house, from the nut-milks to the granolas and even the zingy relishes and sauces. Try the vanilla buckwheat hotcakes (all vegan!) or the avocado and herbed hummus on sourdough for breakfast. Then for lunch, tuck into big-energy salads and stuffed sandwiches with layers of seasonal baked vegetables and a good slather of plant-based mayo.
The Melting Pot, Bali’s largest and best sports bar and sole Texan restaurant, is about to celebrate their 10th anniversary. From a humble beginning up at Kedawatan and now for many years at their bigger location on Pengosekan they have been a trail blazer. I know Texas is supposed to have the biggest of everything but the bar here, on two levels, is definitely the biggest in Bali. They have pool tables and other games together with many sports screenings. When the major sports are on the place really rocks. Their 10th anniversary will be held on Sunday December 6. Between 1300 and 1700 there will be a chilli tasting. Whilst The Melting Pot is better known as a bar it also has an excellent food menu displaying all of the cuisines that are popular in Texas including a fantastic Gumbo and the best Quesadillas [as they are supposed to be made but rarely are in Bali].
Pizzeria is the beachfront restaurant at Sanur’s Hyatt Regency. They have now joined the Sunday Brunch club offering a relaxed version of same with an a la carte menu of 20 dishes, changing weekly, plus a couple of live stations. All of the à la carte dishes are tapas sized, allowing for a guilt-free savouring of every single one – before ordering more of your favourites if you so desire. Pass around pizza is kept flowing throughout, A live acoustic musician plays from the beach, the ocean as his backdrop; the shaded, well-spaced deck and restaurant area allow for a cooler enjoyment of a sunny Bali day as food is delivered to your table.the menu is constantly changing. One recent week it featured an eclectic array of international dishes, from Crispy Soft Shell Crab with Kimchi to Lobster Benedict and Korean Spiced Lamb Cutlet. From 12.00 till 3.00 p.m., every Sunday, the cost is Rp.390,000++ [food and soft drinks] or Rp.750,000++ [free flow of wines and cocktails]. Children 6-12 are half price, Under 6 are free.
Karma Beach has always been one of the better up-market beach experiences in Bali. Now, due to COVID, they are offering FREE membership to their VIP Club [normally a $199 joining fee]. This will entitle you to many benefits, with no obligations. With this card you will enjoy free access to their private beach area, at any time, priority seating and use of lounge chairs with no minimum spend, 15% off all food and beverage spending, free entry to the Three Monkeys Kids Club for your children when you are at Karma Beach, and much more. It is always good to get something for nothing but especially when it is at the top end of the quality line.
Boardwalk, beachfront at the Bali Gardens Hotel, South Kuta, has to be the best value sunset restaurant in Bali. No high priced entry fee here for the view, its free [as it should be]. The cuisine may be simple, but it is also very budget-priced, a good selection of all those ever-popular dishes with the same sunset view as the one at those places where you get charged an arm and a leg. The beverages are also budget-priced.
Street 32 is the restaurant at the new Mamaka Hotel on Jln. Pantai Kuta, Legian. It offers classic Asian cuisine, all of the favourites on one menu. Starters of Rice Paper Rolls, Onion Bhaji’s, Spiced Corn Fritters. Salads of Thai Som Tam and Vietnamese Cha Ca [crisp fried fish with rice noodles, herbs, cashews, pineapple and scorched chillies. Noodles from Thailand [Pad Thai Gai] and Singapore [Laksa]. Mains from Indonesia [Rendang], Goa [Seafood curry], India [Paneer Masala], Thailand [Green Vegetable curry], Bali [Ayam Kalas] and a variety of desserts.
By Gerry Williams
For more information see our website: www.balieats.com