It’s been over 20 years since American Brian Aldinger traded New Jersey for Ubud to open up a modest little street side warung with his Balinese wife Nuri. Naughty Nuri’s sold the best pork ribs and most ridiculous martinis in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, but there was only one problem, what if you didn’t live in Ubud? Would you drive all the way there just to get your rib fix on?
Happily, the gods saw fit to answer everyone’s prayers and Naughty Nuri’s Warung Seminyak has now flung open its doors, serving the same winning combo of wicked ribs and brutal martinis, not to mention a whole host of other goodies. If you’ve happened by the Nuri’s Ubud domain before you’ll know the drill. If not, it’s all about fun informal dining around large wooden tables with a ramshackle-chic ambience and the mouthwatering barbeque smell wafting around like smoky ambrosia.
Interested to see how the new venue stacks up against the Ubud original, I stop by to get stuck into one of my favourite food combos. First up, just to whet the whistle, a fellow Nuri’s aficionado and I order up a couple of frosty Bintangs (35k+) – ice cold and beyond refreshing, with a bowl of the Pork Poppers (50k+) to nibble on. Described as ‘sexy, crunchy and juicy’, the succulent minced pork balls are the ultimate beer snack.
It’s a stellar start, but soon enough we’re salivating for the main event, which comes in the form of a couple of racks of the infamous signature pork ribs (135k+), and a couple of gin martinis (125k+). Slathered in the secret, sticky, smoky finger-lickin’ sauce, the tender ribs just fall off the bone – easily one of the most unmissable dining experiences on this island. To complete the picture, we share out a bowl of the Mixed Fries (45k+) – a trio of crinkled, wedge and straight-cut potato chips.
Meanwhile, the martinis are doing an excellent job of lubricating our lunch – not for the faint-hearted, get through three of these bad boys and you’ll get your name up on the Nuri’s wall of fame. No easy feat I can assure you. With another round on the cards (this time with a lychee twist), we soldier on bravely into dessert territory, and have a go at the Umpa Lumpa Shake (75k+) – essentially a chocolate shake of extreme proportions, piled high with cookie bits, pretzels and whipped cream.
Open from 11am-10pm every day, Nuri’s Seminyak is just what the doctor ordered when you need to get your rib & martini fix (and there is a whole lot more on the menu), minus the trip up to Ubud.
Dan Ashcroft
Naughty Nuri’s Seminyak
Jl. Mertanadi No.62, Kerobokan
T. 847 6783 | www.naughtynurisseminyak.com
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