Bali Grill is a bit of an institution at Rosalie. Bookings are essential and it is always packed of a weekend. The food is billed as a healthy take on South-East Asian cuisine. Almost all of the meals are served with large portions of fruit, which I found quite unusual. I quite liked the practice however, as the fruit serves as a nice palate cleanser between dishes.
I have mixed feelings about Bali Grill. The food is undoubtedly spectacular – the curries are spicy, full of vegetables and the meat is tender. The food is fresh, the produce is of excellent quality and the portion sizes are generous. The service is quick and your meals come out very fast!
However, I did feel rushed through the meal and rushed out the door. This is undoubtedly due to the popularity of the restaurant. We left without ordering dessert because we felt too pressured to leave. To put this into perspective, we arrived at 6.30pm and we were sitting in a dessert cafe across the road by 7.30pm. That’s great if you have somewhere to be, but I like to linger over my food, enjoying the company and the conversation. I found myself missing the French attitude (never thought I’d say that!) that a customer has a table for as long as he or she wants it. You will never be rushed out of a restaurant in France.
My other grievance, although less serious, is that I felt the food was a bit overpriced for what it is. I found myself comparing the prices to that of my local Thai joint and found Bali Grill’s were a bit too high for takeaway. Perhaps this expense is due to the fruit? I also think a measure of an Asian restaurant’s affordability comes down to how much they charge for rice. $4.50 for a small rice (and I mean small) is excessive.
Don’t let my criticisms discourage you. Bali Grill is still worth a visit – just be prepared to stand your ground if you want to take your time over dinner, or go there when you need to be in and out quickly.
For interest, the dishes that we enjoyed were:
- Coconut Chicken Hot Pot
- East West Grilled Lamb Rendong
- Lime Leaf Java Chicken
- Calamari Salad
- Braised Bali Greens with Cashewnuts
- Malibu Curry Beef
11.05.10 | 
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Ah… I also have mixed feelings about Bali. When I have been there, the service wasn’t rushed but I also thought the food is overpriced. For me, the food was ok, but not fantastic, probably not somewhere I would rush back to.