02/22/09

A study of a bad meal

by Mazman

A terrible and disapointing meal. Almost a joke. I ordered the mixed vegtables with curry sauce. The vegtables were steamed and overcooked with no seasoning. The curry sauce was temperture hot liquid completely bland. Burned my mouth. For desert ordered bannana crepe. Hard as a rock. Again the bannana was temperture too hot. Burned my mouth again. Terrrible rushed service. Not enough utentsils on table. Had to ask for water. Keep away.

10/25/07

ruined my night

by dreysea

A south east asian friend recommended the place and frankly, I expected more for the prices we were paying. The food was bland and devoid of the spice and aroma of authentic Indonesian food. Even the ginger tea lacked character. Service was poor - they forgot an order - no apologies, only "it's coming". And don't get coffee at the end of your meal - this time it was instant! Only for those palates uninitiated in the art of Indonesian cuisine.

• Cons: food, price, service

10/06/07

Very Bland, high prices

by wisebrain

If you don't know Indonesian Food, you'd probably consider this place good. However, I am Indonesian and I can say that I can cook better than this restaurant. Not to say that it is bad food, but for the price it is so not worth it!

• Pros: Good Location
• Cons: Bland Food High Prices

08/25/07

sick

by nolender

yo the restaurant best ever

i had the best meal ive ever had and it made me so happy in side

i loved it

• Pros: great food
• Cons: nothing

09/12/06

Fantastic food at fantastic prices

by nginnyc

This is one of my absolutely favorite places in the city. They are so nice here and the seating is always prompt. There is this tofu steamed in a banana leaf dish that is out of this world--totally different than anything you've had before.

• Pros: Quick seating, great food, great prices
• Cons: Ambience is not the best but isn't bad..

02/22/06

Delivered on all counts!

by hipstermom27

You almost can't go wrong on Ninth Avenue in my book...it's my favorite place to wander & read menus to make that all-important dinner decision.

That said, we are upstaters whose international dining choices are relegated to standard Indian, Thai, Greek, etc. Trips to Manhattan provide a great opportunity to eat around the world. We went here on the strength of a citisearch 8.9 rating and are happy to report that 3 fairly discerning eaters deemed it a 10!

We shared 3 appetizers among us -- pancake, spring rolls, fried tofu -- that we all loved. Two of us chose barbecued meat on sticks, one did a vegeterian noodle dish...again, 3 different thumbs-up. Finally, 2 different desserts -- cinnamon layer cake and coconut custard -- and plenty of flavorful jasmine tea completed our experience.

The wait staff was more than accommodating...the value was fantastic...we could not have been more pleased!

• Pros: Food, food, food!, Price, price, price!

01/13/06

Indonesian equivalent of cheap Chinese take-out

by adoumri

If you like food to be carefully prepared, delectable with subtle and complex flavors; if you like your cucumbers elegantly sliced rather than coarsely chopped into giant chunks; if you like flavors that pay tribute to the uniquely original flavors of Indonesia, then DO NOT come to this place! Bali Nusa Indah is the Indonesian equivalent of cheap Chinese take-out. It's completely inauthentic, the food is inferior, and the chef doesn't pay any attention to subtleties of flavor. The Pempek Palambang I had was so atrocious that I almost sent it back, and the beef Rendang Daging tasted about as Indonesian as backyard barbeque. If you want excellently prepared, delicious, AUTHENTIC Indonesian cuisine go to Borobudur located on 4th St. between 1st & 2nd Avenue. I will never go back to this place again!

• Pros: spacious, location
• Cons: food, inauthentic, service

01/12/06

oh so good!

by boomoola

A friendly, little neighborhood place, Bali Nusa is low on atmosphere but BIG on food. The flavours are awesome, the staff cheerful and welcoming and the prices are pretty decent for the quantities of food that appear at your table. My favorite thing to do is go in there and order up a roti canai, java wings and a bakmi goreng. they do a pretty decent rendang pedang as well! Ooooh, I feel a craving coming on!

• Pros: food

08/19/05

Fresh meat & prompt service

by brandy76

I went here with a group of 10 co-workers for a 12pm lunch. From the other reviews I was expecting to see a hole in the wall, but it was very clean, decorated with Indonesian artifacts and played soothing native music. We got served right away, waiters were attentive but not hovering over us.

First they brought out fried tofu with a dipping sauce which was very good. Then we ordered a little bit of everything from chicken to shrimp to red snapper (i think) and each piece of meat was delicious & fresh tasting, some of the sauces were spicy but not too bad. All their desserts focus on bananas and mango ice cream

The food is very affordable, place never got crowded consider we left at 2pm, I'm assuming it gets busier at night. So if you're looking for a cheap, BUT GOOD restaurant then you must visit.

• Pros: inexpensive, attentive wait staff, Fresh meats
• Cons: small restaurant, dessert menu

04/13/05

Amazing Value

by lovezfood

It doesn't look like anything spl but the food and the value more than make up for it. I had the complete dinner for $18. Includes a salad and a big entree (meat or vegan) with multiple side dishes, beer or wine and desert. The food was fantastic, sort of a cross btwn Thai and Indian. Maybe one of the best deals in the city. If you don't care about ambience and want some great eats for $21 total this place rocks!

• Pros: Value, quality