Bali Bali

I always make time to go to Bali bali when visiting London as I rate this restaurant highly. Don't know what the others have ordered but I always struggle to eat everything. Atmosphere very informal.

Good value for money and also for anyone who has not had Indonesian before.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 29, 2008

I cant complain about a thing! Great food (and im Indonesian), lovely service (family owned) decent price. Those who have mentioned small portion size probably ordered pre-theatre, its supposed to be small and fast!

Go for the set menus, there were six of us and they advised to order for 5 as it would be enough (And God knows it was).

Been a few times, will defo go again.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, September 05, 2008

I have eaten at the restaurant several times - it is one of my favourites in London. it is well located, reasonably priced, highly attentive staff and the food is delicious! What more could you want?
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Went to Bali Bali with my partner. Food was nice but I thought it was not that much, I was still hungry afterwards and I don't even eat that much! When I asked about the amounts I was told I have to order vegetables as well, but in my opinion, a main dish is a main dish, you shouldn't have to order extra vegetables!

In the end I had to have their pancake for desert which was stuffed with dried coconut and served with condensed milk - they said it was coconut milk???

I had fried fish in with green chillis. It was nice and surprisingly spicy but I was not impressed becuase it had its head cut off! - The reason I was not impressed was because I could not tell if it was actually a whoe fish as they claimed or if it was a fillet of fish.

Food came out really quickly which made me think, hmm, for the amount of money how fresh is this food??? it was almost £9 for the dish.

We were in quiet a cramped corner, I think they try to fit too many round tables in, but hey, this is west end, with hardly any space!

Overall it was ok, food was something between Thai and Chinese, so it was a nice change.
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Tasha
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Friday, May 02, 2008

Bali Bali might be fine for London standards, given the little choice in Indonesian restaurants here (possibly accounting for the many good reviews so far submitted), but good (/authentic, whatever you want to call it) it definitely ain't.

I've eaten there twice and on both occasions been disappointed. On our last visit the sate was dry and the sauce did not look like any Indonesian (or even Malaysian, because they are different) sate sauce that I've ever seen before in my life. It looked and tasted like a chutney more than anything. The sauce also appeared to be exactly the same sauce used for the gado-gado (if you know Indonesian you know gado-gado sauce is different from sate sauce).

Sambal goreng dishes came with sambal that looked like it was nothing more than plain sambal sauce out of a jar, and certainly didn't taste like any more spices had been added to it. And our tumis buncis was so bland that we couldn't eat it. I recall on our first visit also being disappointed with the sayur lodeh. Essentially none of the dishes had the spices that make Indonesian food so good!

I would advise you to avoid it - you'll get a very wrong impression of Indonesian food!
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G
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Friday, April 04, 2008

Me and my workmates went out for dinner here, and the food was just divine. makes a change from thai/chinese. The chicken/prawn satays and curries are fab and especially the Indonesian soya sauce chicken was extra special. I highly recommend this restaurant as the staff are very friendly and meticulous, the food is divine, the portions are very generous, the service is prompt and at around £21 per head what more can we ask for. Will definitely have to go there again.
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Zarina Khan
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Have to disagree with the last 2 reviews here as I have been a regular here for years and keep coming back for more. First of all the food is definately good, never had anything disappointing from the menu and the rijsttalel is fantastic!

Staff are very friendly and it's a bit like they are inviting you into their home. If you liek to be seen in places this is not one of those but you could always go to the Ivy around the corner.

Bottom line is if you want a honest Indonesian meal served and prepared by people who know what they are doing give it a shot. You will not be disappointed. £35.00 for 2 courses and drinks for 2 people is good value anywhere in the world and especially in Covent Garden.
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JW
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Last week my husband and I were in London. Our agenda was very 'busi' and my husband and I had only a free evening for ourselves. We had dinners at very formal restaurants (of which I shall write wonderful reviews) and longed for something a bit less formal. I came to your 'london-eating' and saw this Bali Bali restaurant with all its mainly good reviews. So, we booked at this place and were REALLY DISAPPOINTED not only in the staff but also in the food and atmosphere. Definitely I DO NOT recommend the BALI BALI.
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rosa banzo
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6
Thursday, November 15, 2007

I am dismayed by the positive comments about this wretched place. We actually made a point of trying the restaurant when recently in London and left feeling that our money was wasted and in need of some mouthwash to remove the greasy aftertaste. The appetizer for 2 was a selection of fried items that were cold and soggy. The other dishes served by a surly waitress were not prepared to order but re-heated leftovers and quite banal. Tea consisted of a bag served on a saucer holding a cup of hot water and soft drinks were the canned variety sold cheap by the case at the cash and carry. In a city the size of London there surely must be at least one good Malaysian restaurant. Bali, Bali is over priced and crude and noisy and not worth of recommendation.
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Li
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, October 27, 2007

It was my first time in Bali Bali yesterday, after reading the incredible reviews here. I was a bit suspicious -- too many good reviews, it can't be that good, can it? But I decided we should check it for ourselves.

We ordered the special Rijstafel for all of us and, amazingly as this might sound, there was not even one mediocre dish served, all were very good, with the fish in tangy tomato and chilli sauce being simply excellent and all six of us said the same. Portions were very generous.

The decor is very simple, nothing that will feature in the Architects Journal ever, but the service was efficient and friendly.

With at least a couple of beers per person and service we paid £24 each, which is the average in covent garden in my experience, but once you regard the quality and the quantity of the food this is exceptionally good value.

I am really looking forward to eating there again as it's one of the best restaurants I have been to in London.
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Colin
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 27, 2007