Pique Nique

I was pretty excited to read that Chef Pang was going to open Pique Nique at Ngee Ann City with a design concept as if you were sitting at Forest like design. Ah, finally, something different at Ngee Ann than those family/group restaurants.

When it was unveiled and opened for business, yes, I was thrilled, the concept certainly refreshing and unique. Must be based on its name 'Pique Nique' which means picnic in French.

Went there to try its All Day Brekkie dishes and was seated next to the window facing KFC Takashimaya. 

The colour scheme, the furnitures, the displays, the chosen font used for its menu and logo was certainly a detailed execution, and the uniform of the waiting staff in checkered shirt with jeans and caps. It certainly fitted the concept

I went there twice and twice I was being hugely disappointed with its service standard; the staff were too inexperienced, the coordination between kitchen and service was terrible, the staff didn't know whether the drinks were available or not. 

I ordered a vanilla milkshake and after 2 mins was being informed, the blender machine was broken then I said ok for Earl Grey tea. After got the Earl Grey tea, almost end of our meal, a vanilla milkshake was delivered to my table. ???????????

Huge flaw in the service here, there was no supervisor to coordinate, everything was in limbo and this still happened after my 2nd visit, few months after the first one.

The brekkie was good, there was no need to add on salt/pepper as it tasted good as it was.

I'd say that Pique Nique wins in its appearance, no doubt; and food also quite good but on the important aspect in dining establishment nowdays, which is the service standard, it has red mark all over it.

Hesitated to give it another shot after 2 shots....

Cute looking menu

Pique Nique under white tree trunk? Cute

Cute tree trunks..and loving the cozy brick wall with hanging lamps

Good idea to alternate the glass window panel, some was opened and some closed, giving some depth

Simple omelette with toast...tasty

The big brekkie; nice fries...

Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow..

Cute mugs

Luving the logo...

Pique Nique
Takashimaya SC
Ngee Ann City Tower A 
#B1-01/02
391A Orchard Road
S 238874
Tel: +65 6238 6705

http://www.piquenique.com.sg/

Opens daily from 10 am to 9.30 pm

Sardine

Again, read about Sardine from Bali 360 degree issue on iPad, the concept intrigued me. A healthy Sardine cooking made into fine dining and the view of facing the Rice Paddy Field/Sawah. 

I made reservation via email prior to visit as on their website, it was mentioned Recommended, but it wasn't as crowd as I imagined.

It was drizzling when we got there, a bit reclusive to find but still around Seminyak area, and the space was not as spacious as I thought. We got thru a small gate with security cubicle on the side.

Turned out, they had some sort of small alfresco/terrace area with umbrellas in between the rice paddy field and dining area; since it was drizzling, we got no chance to sit at that section...too bad...thought could made a good photo of rice paddy field. Someone teased me saying this concept was for those urbanite who never seen rice paddy field in real person (quite true statement, I must admit)

And a bit odd was the kitchen area was located on the opposite left side of the dining area, not under same shelter.

I found the menu of sardines / perhaps the way it cooked to my liking was not as plenty as I hoped, imagined it was majority Sardine as main course.

Lacking from this establishment was the prominent good service you usually encounter in Bali, the staff only 2 and the male staff was so slow and as if he was being-forced-to-work-there-kind of attitude.

It was apparent that this establishment is owned by caucasian, as we met two nice ladies upon leaving. One of them had at least helped to take out their huge umbrella to walk us out to taxi. But, that was after I was about to take my own initiative using their umbrella for us. 

It's a good initiative to focus on organic and healthy dishes as their menu but somehow their lack of attention to their patrons was a major blow to this otherwise a full of potential establishment than others in Bali.

Will not recommend, as it wasn't worth your money and time due to its service attitude.

Simple graphic of sardines

Nice chandelier

View from our seat

The simple menu

My smoked sardine

The kitchen/back area, opposite our dining area

Sardine

Jl. Petitenget 21, Kerobokan, Bali

Tel: +62-361-8436111

Email: sardine@sardinebali.com

http://www.sardinebali.com/

 

Opens daily from 11.30 am to 1 am (last order by 11.30 pm)

Lilin @ Potato Head Beach Club Bali

Our target was Potato Head Bali for our dinner, but it was fully booked despite a month in advanced reservation request; then they offered us Lilin, the new branch of dining section.

I didn't mind to try Lilin as reading from its website, Lilin focused more on South East Asia dishes.

Arrived after sunset, around 7.30 pm and Potato Head section was certainly fully occupied and we were shown to Lilin section, which was like next to it.

It was a very dimmed venue, then we were seated in a long table for sharing, luckily we were on the end of the table, so it wasn't so awkward.

I really don't like this kind of long table for sharing, as it make you sometime face to face with other patrons, side by side with no space in between. A dining area with narrow gap between tables is already make you uneasy to have your conversation, what about this?

Lilin served the dishes as sharing portion, again, since it was so dimmed, you couldn't even saw clearly what dishes you had in front of you.

Food presentation is part of the important experience for diner, so, I think a restaurants who fail to see this point already make a minus point, especially if the food taste great and presentation also take some skills and time to make it.

Waiting staff were friendly but those on reception area was a bit aloof  (similar attitude we met quite often in Bali, but different singing tune if they see Caucasian)

Well, food was okay, but not so fantastic with table and lighting arrangement definitely not appealing. Same kind of lighting I found at Potato Head in Jakarta. Perhaps, its more suited for the drinking and chatting session...

Not the place I wish to revisit if returning to Seminyak. 

The Menu

The long table arrangement, definitely not my liking

The light on top of the table

The fried wanton, it was presented quite nice but it smeared by that too dimmed lighting

The glutinous rice, so cute as they made it into a small cup like shape

This was one of the dish in our platter of 4 different dishes

LILIN
Potato Beach Club
Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak, Bali
Tel: +62-361-473 7979

http://www.lilin-bali.com

Opens daily from 5.30 pm to Midnight

Mama San

I was intrigued when I read about Mama san in 360 degree bali in iPad, first from the name and how the snaps of interior decor photos looked like.

And it didn't disappoint us when we went there in one hot scorching day for lunch. I would suggest making reservation as it looked quite popular with the local and international tourists.

Mama san has mashed-up menus, from Indonesian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai but I think it appealed to majority of us; who couldn't eat these flavourful dishes.

For lunch, it seemed they only used the ground area which is dining area and when we went upstair for the restroom (a pretty decor too), the upstair area is the bar/lounge area.

Staff were friendly and courteous; knowledgeable for which fave dishes to order. But the sequence of orders was a bit off, like the main dishes came before appetiser.

If you are visiting Seminyak and looking for a good restaurant with asian dishes, Mama san is a place to go. 

Luving this pretty Logo

Such an eye-catching backdrop, it just so distinctly fit the name and theme of this restaurant, nice concept

Staircase to restroom and bar area

The leather bound menu

Luving the word, 'Love, Mama'

Dew drop shaped plate

Strawberry Lassi

Pineapple Passion Crush, Fresh pineapple and passion fruit

Passion Fruit Lassi

Chicken wings

“Bun Cha” of grilled pork with fresh Vietnamese herbs crushed peanuts

& a light nouc cham dressing 

I know, I know, it was a bit odd to order a Vietnamese “pho bo” in Bali, but I was feeling it at that time; it tasted quite authentic...

Stir fried rice with seafood Chinese sausage green peas & Asian celery....Nice.... 

Mama San

Jl. Raya Kerobokan No. 135

Br. Taman, Bali

Tel: +62-361-730436

http://mamasanbali.com/

Opening hours:
Lunch from 11 am to 3 pm
Dinner from 6 pm to 11 pm

Fire @ W Seminyak

If you ever stayed at W Hotel and Resort collection, you could expect there some design awesomeness, service awesomeness, food & beverage awesomeness, facilities and spa awesomeness.

This was the same level of awesomeness you found at W Seminyak, beside fantastic stay, we tried their fantastic breakfast service at Fire restaurant.

It was different, it was good and it worth it!

Not only the buffet selection was different from the norm but the arrangement and service was also different.

From example, once we entered the main door, you would see shelves filled in with mugs of different shapes and designs, turned out, it was provided for us to select which one to use for our tea and coffee drink during the buffet.

Few moments after seating, one of the staff brought around special individual dishes that was not on the buffet selection, for all the patrons.

Two thumbs up for the food display, again, it was done so attractive and tasteful. One the corner next to service door, some of W's merchandise and cooking books was for sale.

If you have the opportunity to stay at W Seminyak or even just visiting Seminyak, it is worth the splurge to visit Fire for a different buffet experience.

The trademark lighting of Fire

Mugs selection for your coffee and tea

Cute Mug

Pretty table arrangement

Serving in mini casserole, a different kind indeed

What a creative wording

The abalone soup, individual special dish

Veggie juice, another special dish

Mini milk jug for your drink

The pastries were put on displayed in huge dim sum basket, how creative

FIRE

W Retreat & Spa Seminyak, Bali 

Jalan Petitenget  Denpasar - Bali 80361, Indonesia

Tel: +62-0361-4738106

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3221&EM=VTY_WH_3221_BALISEMINYAK_OVERVIEW