Barberkyu: More than Just a Barbecue!

Food: International - Price: cheap
Bali has many restaurants that offer what I call a ?Tourist Menu?. By that I mean one that covers many different cuisines, obviously trying to find ?something for everyone?. Sadly, most fail and all the offerings finish up as a local version of everything, almost unrecognizable from what was originally attempted, at least in taste. However some, not too many, also succeed brilliantly. Barberkyu in Ubud is one such restaurant. They have an enormous menu of pastas, pizzas and other Italian style dishes as well as Indonesian, Balinese and general International, apart from their large offering of barbecued fish and meats. Though when you consider the background of this place this success is not really surprising. The location for Barberkyu was the original one for the famous little Bali Pesto [now moved to larger premises 50 metres down the road], and is under the same management.

There is plenty of anytime snack food including interesting sandwiches [they even bake all of their own bread here. Their BLT is served in ciabatta, whilst their classic Gus de [could he be the owner?] Club Sandwich combines chicken sambal matah, crisp bacon, fried egg, ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce! Breakfast starts the day at 8.00 a.m. My option is the old Pesto Breakfast; fruit/juice, omelette with choice of fillings, hash browns, good toast and Bali Kopi, just Rp.27,000++.

Papaya Chicken Salad is a cool choice on a hot Bali day; crunchy veggies combined with chunks of pan-fried chicken and slices of fresh papaya with crisp lumpia skin, herbs and a sesame oil dressing. The crunchy Lumpia Ayam is stuffed with chicken, glass noodles and vegetables.

Soups are very popular here and the Pumpkin Soup is one of their best, made with coconut milk, lemongrass and ginger. The real Italian Minestrone is more than just a vegetable soup, with back bacon and small pasta added to the usual vegetables. The Chicken Consomme has a spinach ravioli floating inside as well as finely sliced vegetables, very tasty!

An extensive pasta list is headed by a wonderful Chicken Cannelloni. Green Ravioli is stuffed with spinach and ham whilst the best Fettuccine is the one with chorizo sausage, ham and salami pan-fried in garlic butter and herbed olive oil. Spaghetti with Lemon Chicken is as different as you can get [chicken pieces, lemon, mushrooms and tomato].

If you just want to stop in for a pizza, you have the choice of many, all of which can be done with a crisp base, just the way I like them. Ayam Kampung sees chicken combined with tomato, chilli and mushroom, Puttanesca will suit all the anchovy lovers; anchovy is combined with capers, chilli and olives. Antipasta brings together ham, bacon, salami, peppers, mushroom and tomato. But hard to beat is the Sambal Udang; prawns, a touch of fiery sambal, chilli, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

Mains include a Rosemary Chicken, a pan-fried breast served with wedges of roasted potatoes. Chicken & Ravioli sees chicken pieces that have been sautéed in a mushroom cream sauce served with a ham and spinach ravioli. Something completely different is the Lemon Pork! Seared tenderloin is combined with lemon, honey and mustard and served with potatoes mashed with pesto. Daging Rica-Rica is braised beef in tomato, galangal, chilli and coconut milk whilst the Beef Escallops are with garlic roasted potatoes and rucolla.

Then we have the Barbecue menu! Pick at Chicken Drum Sticks, Sate Ayam or Sate Babi. Share a variety of barbecued sausages; Chorizo, Cabanosi or Bratwurst, all covered in that tangy BBQ sauce, as are the Pork Spare Ribs [meat falling of the bone style]. The Pork Chop is served with garlic roasted potatoes and a honey mustard sauce. From Australia either a Loin of Beef [herb mashed potatoes] or Lamb Chops [cheese potatoes, mint sauce and chutney].

Any barbecue in Bali has many seafood options and there is no exception at Barberkyu! Ikan Bakar Kedonganan combines snapper, calamari, tuna and king prawns. There are River King Prawns and Tuna Kebabs, a Marlin Steak or perfect Snapper Packet [fillet of snapper wrapped in foil with chilli, tomato, ginger and lemongrass].

Crisp Fried Apple Spring Rolls for dessert [with chocolate ice cream and palm sugar], a Ginger Crème Brulee or a pudding of Kelapa Muda [oven-baked young coconut pudding with chocolate ice cream and a chocolate sauce].

Barberkyu serves above average food with a small well selected wine list all at very reasonable prices, the friendly unassuming service by their young staff an extra bonus. No wonder it is sometimes difficult to find a spare table at meal times.

Address: Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud.
Tel: 976.177
Email: bali2001@indosat.net.id
Card: none
Wine: small list