On our way down to Bali Nusa Indah it occurred to me that it was Friday night at 8pm and we never made a reservation. Amateur move on my part however as we got closer I finally spotted the unassuming green awning and realized a reservation was probably not going to be needed. The inside was nicer than the exterior with art deco meets bona fide tribal. The Indonesian culture is of course prominent, especially the Batik weave on the wall.
The restaurant was empty minus one woman sitting in the corner and therefore we were seated right away. After scoping out the menu Sous Chef opted for the rijsttafel which translated literally means “rice table” in Dutch.
Plantation owners invented the dish back when Dutch colonized Indonesia in order to try a wide sampling of indigenous dishes. At Bali Nusa Indah, rijsttafel ($24) comes with 5 in all. It’s a great option because tiny tastes of a lot of things provides an introduction without commitment, like speed dating for the palate. It also included a salad, dessert, and a glass of wine – certainly a bargain in my book.
I opted for Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice w/Chicken Satay) and Rendang Padang (Tender Beef Simmered in Coconut & Chili Sauce). Sous Chef’s sampler included salad (iceburg lettuce with peanut dressing), steamed Jasmine rice, chicken satay, corn fritter w/shrimp, beef simmered in coconut & chili sauce, broiled sole filet w/lemongrass, ginger & chili sauce, stir fried spicy string beans, shrimp crackers, and a fried banana dessert. Long story short everything was good, nothing was great. The prices were reasonable, the staff was friendly, and the food was flavorful although not to the extent of memorable.
For some strange reason we weren’t in the mood for drinks tonight so we left with a bill under $50 and a curiosity of why there aren’t more Indonesian spots in the city – potentially one with a more hip scene and a more tender beef rendang. Anyway, if you want decent Indonesian on a random week night head to Bali Nusa Indah, if you want authentic Indonesian wait for the food bazaar in Astoria’s Masjid Al-Hikmah Mosque that runs randomly throughout the Summer, and if you want a happening Friday Night spot – pick a different cuisine.
Wanderlust Chef 