Right after our cafe hopping we were left in a dilemma. To go back to our hotel in Seminyak and wait for dinner or stay in Kerobokan until dinner time. We end up choosing the latter and decided to go to our dinner spot early for some drinks. Tonight’s dinner is none other than the famed Sardine, a fine dining restaurant famous for their fish dishes in an amazing Balinese setting.
In the evening just before the sunset, the outdoor sitting area is pretty special. The rice field has now been swapped out with sunflowers for the next couple of months. When it blooms, I can imagine Sardine to be the most welcoming place for a drink or even dinner. After being wowed by the setting, I was kept impressed by warm and attentive service. From the moment we stepped in the ladies brought us to the lounge area and allowed us to choose our seats. Once the drinks order were placed, a complimentary bowl of hand cut chips were served as a snack.
As our dinner was about to start, we decided against snacking but my colleague could not help but take a photo of another table’s satay. It was a tough thing not losing my determination to not order any snacks! Thankfully, time flew and we moved to the dining area.
Complimentary bread:
Have to say that the bread was good! Easily on the same level like other fine dining places you would find in Australia.
After that was the amuse bouche of Tuna Nicoise Salad.
For dinner that night, we ordered a few things but I only took a few photos as the warm lighting prevented me from taking photos without flash.
I ordered the lobster potstickers with a ginger and vinegar dipping sauce.
Surprisingly Asian but still every bit tantalising. There was not like a whole chunk of lobster in the dumplings but there was a good enough amount to give diners the bursty-briny flavours of the lobster that is rich in seafood sweetness. The final kick of acidity came from the dipping sauce that mellowed nicely with the dumpling flavours.
Another of the other appetisers we ordered was the Vietnamese Beef Salad.
Have to say, the flavours were authentic but lacked the “wow” factor because it was something you could get easily in the Vietnamese restaurants back in Perth. I guess, what I am trying to get at is that there could have been a little more surprise to the whole dish like the lobster potstickers which I ordered. Perhaps, hitting the right notes like an authentic Vietnamese diner would is a good enough achievement? lol.
Finishing off the appetiser, my main arrived. This time, another Asian inspired dish of Miso Seabass with a Soba salad.
This white fish is a favourite of mine because when cooked right its absolutely tender and smooth. Sardine is well-known for their fish dishes and its smooth flesh did not disappoint! Its accompaniment of soba was the perfect pairing for the miso basted fish. My slight discontent though was the fact that the layer of miso on top could have been a bit more generous. And to finish that good layer of miso, shall be a good broil to help all the miso caramelise to perfection. Why more Miso? For me the dish could have done with a little more salt and the caramelised miso also has an ability to accentuate the sweetness of the fish!
We skipped that dessert that night as it was probably the 4th or 5th meal we have had that day. Sardine was an enjoyable dinner. While the setting was worth raving about, the food as a whole felt a bit of a let down. Do not get me wrong, it was in no way bad but it lacked that “special” touch and finish. But if it’s the classics that you are looking for, Sardine will have plenty to offer. Price wise, be prepared to pay around $40 for a full 3 course meal + drinks. Not cheap by Balinese standards but still worth every penny.
WenY
