Gabah Restaurant

One of the original Kuta/Tuban eateries, Gabah restaurant has been keeping hungry travellers happy for over a decade.
Appearances can be deceptive in Bali, with humble exteriors often belieing a surprisingly grand interior. Take Gabah Restaurant at the Ramayana Resort & Hotel for instance. Right in the middle of the action of Kuta Square, this old school classic houses an atmospheric slice of Indonesian heritage – both ornamental and edible.

Large wooden day-bed style sofas and elegant wooden furniture give the breezy interior a rustic, homey feel, with the array of traditional carvings and knick-knacks dotted around adding to the ambiance. There’s plenty of greenery too, giving a calming air to the place that’s part part of the gorgeous Ramayana Resort. Go casual on the sofas or alternatively grab a table further inside for a more intimate dining experience.
The menu boasts plenty of enticing pan-Asian dishes and barbeque style fare on offer. The focus is on authentic Indonesian style cooking, but there are plenty of Western style alternatives if that’s what you’re after. The drink list is also top-notch, with a concise selection of cocktails of the martini, muddled and mock variety, as well as the usual suspects on the beers list.

To kick things off with a bang, I sit back and watch the bartenders work their magic on the Cointreauversial (94k++) – a full-blooded concoction of Cointreau and Sambuca, shaken up with star anise and blackcurrant puree. It’s a pretty full on starter, so from thereon in I stick with the altogether more lightweight Ramayana Pimms (98k++).

A standout starter has to be the fantastic Tuna Sambal Matah (60k++) – a Balinese style salad of tender chunks of tuna with seaweed, cucumber and lemongrass with a kick of local style spice. For the particularly hungry, the signature Nasi Goreng Kambing (95k++) should do the trick. Tenderly grilled to perfection, the meaty chunks of lamb are complimented by all the trimmings you’d expect from a classic nasi goreng. New on the menu, I also check out the Pesmol Kakap Snapper (128k++) – essentially butter-soft steamed whole fish with a special sweet soy sauce and greens on top.

The Lemongrass Rice Pudding (48k++) should take care of desert, with a creamy mix of sticky rice with a hint of lemongrass flavour, covered dramatically in a spun sugar net. Open all day, Gabah restaurant has got you covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Dan Ashcroft
Gabah Restaurant
751864 | www.ramayanahotel.com/gabah-restaurant-lounge