There are few things I enjoy more than ticking a massively populous nation off my hit list by visiting one restaurant. Well done Indonesia, you are entirely represented by Bali Bali (http://www.balibalirestaurant.com/) the restaurant so Indonesian they named it twice (after the smallest and probably least representative province of Indonesia).
Bali Bali is as compact and bijou as any estate agent is contemptible and odious. Mainly catering to the pre-theatre crowd means they churn out the dishes with rapacious efficiency with the goal of turning the covers over as quickly as possible. We (me and i Headissimi) perused the menu whilst nursing a tall, cool Bintang beer (take note all other Muslim countries. Allah seems cool with booze). The menu is extensive and includes Rendang (which I was told was Malaysian – hey Rasa Penang! What the Hell man? That was basically the only Malaysian thing you could muster up on your menu and now I discover that was BS); Thai green curry and Chinese looking stuff. The waiter in fact directed me to Rendang when I asked him for something Indonesian, so I didn’t know who to trust. We all know Goreng means something Indonesian, so after I was talked out of my tantrum/disabled lavatory, I went for the Mee Goreng, which was comfort food, but could have been served hotter and possibly better seasoned.
There were a bunch of Indonesians in, negotiating with the manager so I guess they were asking for the good stuff, but as a (astonishingly) uninformed person I had little to go on. £43 for 3 people including 10% service.
I went to Bali once and saw a cock fight. The waiter did not like being asked where the cock fight was. Some people.
INDONESIA!
CODA
Went to see Tony Law afterwards. I think fans of Tony Law should be called Tony Lawyers.
This should remind me of my time in Bali.
Nasi Goreng with some tasty looking shrimp.
Mee Goreng. People say I’m self-centred and I’m beginning to think they’re on to something. Mee Goreng. Mee?
Beef Rendang. There are numerous infantile remarks I would like to make but I shall refrain. You kind of owe me big time now. I accept bitcoins.
OK, this picture makes it look like a woman waiting in a small airport bar, but it was in fact very cosy.
Cursed, coordinated photobombers trying to ruin everything.
Bali Bali
150 Shaftesbury Avenue
LondonWC2H 8HL
Tel: 020 7836 2644
http://www.balibalirestaurant.com/
Looks delicious but unfortunately, you chose the most generic food.
Just a little insight on Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean food – They are all almost the same. Rendang and Mee/Nasi goreng, for example, can be found in all 3 countries. Pretty sure Singapore’s McDonalds even had McRendang Burger last year. Goreng means fried in Malay, a language spoken in all 3 countries. So it’s pretty much widely used. I love pisang(banana) goreng.
However, each country do have their own special food. My advice is to attack the desserts, that’s where the differences are. Hit me up on twitter if you need more info @tengkumia
Source: I am a Malaysian with Indonesian parents and travel to Singapore often. :)