Seminyak is the ultimate Aussie holiday destination. Just few hours away, beautiful tropical weather year-round, good surf, plenty of upmarket shops and now brimming with trendy health focused cafes and hip bars and fine dining restaurants. It feels almost like Bondi or Byron Bay but a whole lot cheaper and with far fewer hipsters.
Unlike elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Bali and particularly Seminyak does European food well. Since I LOVE Asian food, it has come as a real surprise to find myself choosing western over eastern in this region. Part of it is the thrill of getting it at such a great price.
Our friend Sean suggested we go to French restaurant Metis for a nice dinner on our first trip to Bali last year. It was a highlight of the trip.
I remember walking around the picturesque grounds glowing with soft, twinkling romantic lights and wondering if it would be the night that he would pop the question... and throwing a ridiculous fit much later that night when he didn't.
Oh if only I'd known that we would return exactly one year later, married and on our honeymoon, with Sean to celebrate his birthday too!
The ambience at this restaurant is like no other in Seminyak. You are transported into a midnight summers dream. Tropical trees, trickling exotic vines and flaming torches frame the beautiful pink lotus pond gardens set against young rice paddy fields.
Both the food and service is flawless. Although I must say that I have yet to come across anywhere in Bali where I have had less than excellent service. Everyone is so super friendly and speaks great English.
The foie gras here is a standout and a real challenge to refuse even for vegetarians. Metis has a menu dedicated to foie gras itself.
You must try the Trilogy of Foie Gras, it is exquisite! We ordered this and the terrine which was also devine. Each morsel of sumptuous melt-in-your-mouth liver is complimented with a tangy fruit puree or compote and wine or liquor infused jellies. Heaven.
Our mains were also fabulous. Perfectly cooked and seasoned and great portion sizes - big enough to make the big man happy and leave room for dessert.
For mains we had:
“Cheek and Tongue” Braised New Zealand Beef Cheek and Ox – Tongue in Red Wine, Glazed Carrot, Caramelized Shallots, Soft Creamy Polenta, Shimeji, Cabernet Sauce
Slow Cooked Australian Lamb Shank Cannellini Beans, Kalé Leaves, Semi Dried Tomatoes
Atlantic Seabass Fillet “ à la Plancha ” (French Origin) Niçoise Végétables, Kalamata Coulis
The evening was capped off with the sweetest surprise when all of the wait staff came out bearing dessert while singing and clapping Happy Birthday to Sean.
The boys each had the Salted Butter Caramel Mille-feuille: classic mille-feuille made from salted butter caramel cream, almond crumbled and caramel sauce. I chickened out and settled for the home made ice cream in chocolate and 'Tahitian' vanilla however I did experience a pang of envy watching the boys and vowed to myself I would have my mille-feuille in France.
The ice cream certainly wasn't your normal ice cream - decadently rich chocolate and vanilla flavours with textures so velvety smooth. As with all ice cream in Asia it must be scoffed down quickly before it melts 🙂
Can you believe that all of this, the two foie gras dishes, three mains plus sides of duck fat fries and mac 'n' cheese, three desserts and several beers and cocktails cost less than 1,400,000IDR (approx. NZ$150)?!
Make sure you book Metis in advance as it's almost impossible to get a table if you walk in. I would recommend booking at least a month in advance.
The only thing I feel that could make this restaurant any better would be to have some air-conditioning so that those who've spent the time sprucing themselves up, end their evening looking similar to how they started, but that's just me being a grinch!
[Metis: Jalam Petitenget No. 6 Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta, Bali | +62 361 4737 888 | +62 361 4730 777 | +62 811 393 0040 | info@metisbali.com]
All in all, hands down my favourite restaurant in Seminyak. What's your favourite in Seminyak?
