Nostimo Greek Grill Bali - Ubud

One afternoon, my Mom and I decided to dine in at this particular Greek restaurant adjacent to the clinic where we got ourselves tested for COVID-19. We had different plan for lunch that day, yet the sight of the aesthetic and Santorini-like ambience caught my attention so I offered my Mom to grab a bite at this place instead. Like many other restaurants and cafes in Bali during the pandemic, Nostimo Greek Grill was empty. It was lunch time, yet there were only us and the staff roaming around the restaurant. 

As we stepped into the white-painted building, the friendly staff greeted us warmly; which is quite rare nowadays because us locals are often treated differently than those international tourists. Mbok Yuli was the name of the waitress who took our order and her health protocol game was so strong she stroke a UV light on our table instead of just spraying it with disinfectant. As a person who wears two sets of mask and often sprays my surroundings with alcohol, her anti-COVID-19 procedure deserved a two-thumbs up.  

Mom and I shared a lot of food that afternoon. We had a bowl of Greek Salad and Pork Souvlaki Platter, along with a couple glasses of Iced Ginger Tea, a plate of welcome bread, and Lukumades for dessert. We hadn’t had a set of lunch as luxurious as the one we had that day for a while and the sight of the scrumptious and colorful food truly boosted our weary minds. 

We had our complimentary sliced bread with a heap of oil and balsamic vinegar. Though it may look quite simple, the bread had bits of chopped olives in it, which tasted sublime when paired with the tangy dressing. I’m not a fan of olive myself, but the unique flavor combination was delectable for me. 

Complimentary Bread is my jam!

The Pork Souvlaki Platter on the one hand was also delicious. There were so much going on on our plate, yet we managed to finish them all clean. The pita bread was chewy and deliciously savory, while the french fries were also delicious and I noticed how the chef used fresh potatoes instead of frozen french fries. The Pork Souvlaki tasted amazing despite how dull they looked. They were smoky and full of flavor, and the herbs used to marinate them meat were plentiful. They had a nice kick in every bite that I took. Oh! Did I mentioned that the Pork Souvlaki was all meat and no fat? As a person who doesn’t enjoy pork fat, this meat skewer truly is a game changer!

Pork Souvlaki Platter

Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?

What I love most from my Pork Souvlaki Platter was the Tzatziki Sauce. For those of you who are not familiar with this sauce, Tzatziki Sauce is a yogurt-based sauce mixed with herbs that tastes overwhelmingly fresh and zesty. I assume the chef inserted a nice amount of lemon juice in our sauce, which went well when used as a dipping sauce for every single dishes that were served on our plate. Mom and I loved it so much we devoured the whole thing clean. 

It’s a good thing that we decided to share a platter between the two of us. I was going to order my share of platter if I didn’t notice how big of a portion one plate can be. I would definitely recommend the Pork Souvlaki Platter for those of you who eat pork. As for my fellow muslim readers, do have the Chicken Platter instead. 

For dessert, Mom and I had our share of Lukumades, which is a type of Greek-style fried dough. This particular dessert has quite the hype in Jakarta during the pandemic, but I haven’t got the chance to try one yet. At Nostimo Greek Grill, they serve their Lukumades with a bucketful of honey and a generous dash of cinnamon powder. They were quite heavy and solid for small fried dough, and they have this chewy texture instead of fluffy Dunkin’-Donut-like texture. Though they tasted delicious, I don’t think I would have another round of Lukumades in the future. I guess I’m more of a Dough Darlings kind of gal. 

If you decided to stop by at Nostimo Greek Grill with the whole gang, do have as many platters as you can and have a delightful flavor combo in every bite. Yet, if you happen to dine in by yourself, have yourself a Gyro Wrap with your preference of meat. I had the chance to get myself the Pork Gyro Wrap the other day and, boy, was it super fulfilling. It’s like enhaling Santorini in one handful. 

My plate of Pork Gyro Wrap

Those Pork Gyro were delicious and savory!

P.S. 

If you love Falafels, please get yourselves some! They serve individual Falafels here at Nostimo Greek Grill and they are delicious. Crunchy, nutty, flavorful, and definitely suitable to be paired with your bowl of Greek Salad. 

Nostimo Greek Grill Bali - Ubud

Jl. Raya Pengosekan No. 108

Ubud, Gianyar - 80571

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 11.30 AM - 9 PM

Contact:

+62 821 4573 5546

Instagram 

My Go-tos at Crumb & Coaster

Okay, so, Crumb and Coaster has officially become my family’s go to place whenever we feel like fulfilling our needs for good food and aesthetic visuals. For the past month, we’ve been coming back and forth for, like, two or three times already and we always leave with satisfaction. Dad and I finally took Mom to the restaurant for lunch one day, since Dad and I are the ones who usually roam around the streets of Kuta to find new places to eat, and she loved it, thank God!

These were the food we ate a few days apart,

Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich

The tittle says it all. But, what it doesn’t say is that the crew here at Crumb and Coaster are using a chewy and crunchy sour dough instead of a usual bread loaf and that in between those layer of breaded chicken breast and sour dough is a generous pile of colorful and juicy coleslaw. It also came with some House Fries on the side and a portion of ketchup, along with a slice of lime, to go with. This dish truly has a breathtaking visual!

I can assume that the chef are using high quality chicken breast judging from its’ presentation and flavor. The chicken breast were very thick and it was breaded nicely and well fried. I have to admit, it tasted a bit dry, especially combined with the sour dough toast, but the flavor was smacking I ended up finishing everything that was on my plate even though I promised myself not to eat carbs. There wasn’t much seasoning on the chicken and the sour dough, the flavor was very subtle, so adding some ketchup into your sandwich can be a good alternative. Don’t forget to ask for chilly flakes! Add some into your ketchup. It will elevate the whole flavor wheel. 

The coleslaw really helped by adding those wanted juice along the way of munching. There amount of mayonnaise inside the coleslaw was proper for my taste - just a few amount of it because I don’t like my food be all saucy from the mayo - but for those of you mayo lovers out there, if you don’t think there’s enough mayo in your coleslaw, you can definitely ask for more to the waiters and waitresses. 

On the one hand, the House Fries was bomb - thinly cut, fried to perfection (golden brown fries are my jam!), crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, topped with some fresh parsley, dashed with a pinch of salt and pepper, and the portion served as a side dish was just on point! If you’re a fan of having your french fries with ketchup, like me, I say, “Go for it!”. 

BBQ “Naughty” Pull Pork Burger

This was Dad’s dish. The visual of this naughty burger is as pleasing as my sandwich, but if I have to chose between the two, I would probably go for the burger. 

Constructed out of two amazingly solid, yet chewy, buns with sesame seeds on top, Crumb and Coaster’s signature barbecued pulled pork, homemade coleslaw like the ones I have in my sandwich, and a generous drizzle of melted cheese. It also comes with some House Fries on the sides and a generous serving of ketchup. 

 I tried a bite of the barbecued pull pork and, boy, it was very delicious! The meat was shredded and cooked well, hence the tender and juicy texture, with barbecue sauce making it very flavorful and somewhat caramelized. For me, the amount of barbecue sauce is very overwhelming to the point of sickening when I ate too much of it. But, other than that, this dish right here is a must try! It’s my Dad’s go to meal whenever we come to Crumb and Coaster because he can’t get enough of it. 

You better prepare yourself before you devour this baby. You ought to empty your stomach and get ready to be messy! 

Wagyu Classic Beef Burger

Mom’s choice for lunch was the Wagyu Classic Beef Burger, with the meat cooked at medium well-done. Although the presentation of this burger might be a runner-up compared to the naughty burger that my Dad had, it sure has its’ own persona and charisma that makes one curious regarding how it’s going to taste (and by “one” I meant me). 

A classic burger usually consists of meat patty, lettuce, onion, tomato, and a dollop of sauce in between the meat. Crumb and Coaster might add a little twist to the term “classic” by adding another element that sure bring the whole being of the burger to another level, which is a sunny-side-up. Correction. A sunny-side-up with a runny yolk! Gosh, I might faint from all the food porn imagination I have in my head. If you squash the sunny-side-up with the top part of the bun, I can guarantee you a very satisfying frame of runny egg yolk streaming down your wagyu and onion to the very bottom of the burger tire that would definitely gain hearts from your Instagram follower. I mean, who doesn’t like a good food porn, right? 

My Mom ordered her meat patty to be medium well-done and it was served, thankfully, like her expectation. The outer part of the meat was grayish brown with a bit of charcoal mark imprinted here and there and the inside was only the slightest bit pink in the middle, just like how medium well-done are supposed to  be like. The meat patty was very juicy it dripped until the bottom bun along with the egg yolk!

Falafel Salad Bowl

Ah, my go to meal during my diet days. Consisted of sliced zucchini and a whole other bunch of greens, this salad is the proper go to dish that usually get when I feel like eating fancy without feeling guilty afterwards. Other than just greens, it also had some sliced horse radish and bell pepper in it, as well as four pieces of falafels which I love so much!

Them falafels may be the best falafels I had, so far! They were fried to perfection, golden brown and very crispy, and the texture was not just mushy, yet it had this whole bits of pea in it. Love it! And, although the flavor was very nutty and savory, it helped a lot in digesting the whole other bland leafs as I didn’t use any of the white sauce served because I was afraid that I would gain some extra fat on my bums if I did. 

Cold Beverages

I always go for the smoothie. My favorite, so far, is the Farm Berry Smoothie because it tasted really refreshing, very creamy from the yogurt, and it came with three pieces of blueberry on top. My second favorite is the Inner Strength Smoothie because banana can never go wrong with a handful of peanut butter. 

Now you know some of the things that I love to indulge in at Crumb and Coaster. It’s time for you to find yours!

Crumb and Coaster

Jalan Benesari No. 2E

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 7.30AM - 10PM

Contact:

+62 819 9959 6319

Instagram

Great Falafel in Ubud!

Located at a narrow street somewhere in Ubud, Warung Falafel lives up to its’ name as it was very small and compact. The Mediterranean food spot is surrounded by local people and their booths of Balinese handcrafts competing against each other to sell some goods to foreign tourists. Dad and I were just casually strolling around Ubud with our motorcycle when I happen to have this sudden urge to munch on Falafel. I quickly typed in “great falafel in Ubud,” on Google’s search engine and the first option that popped on my phone was the one and only Warung Falafel. I didn’t have to think twice to ask Dad to turn around as we just passed the designated road that would lead us to the warung. 

There were no exclusive parking spots for the customers of Warung Falafel, so I do not recommend you to bring your own motorcycles, let alone cars, as the narrow alley was already too small and compact for pedestrians to begin with. You might want to use local transportations, or online transportations, or if you happen to bring your own bike, you can definitely park it on the sides of the streets near Warung Falafel. 

I made my entrance to the warung and was welcomed with the friendly staff who was just serving free samples to tourists. I spent a minute to enjoy the lovely vibe that the food spot gives. Despite it being way too small for a restaurant, or a cafe, Warung Falafel has this vibrant color scheme that makes it delightful to look at. All those splash of blue and green really work well in bringing a comfortable atmoshphere. 

“Hi, welcome to Warung Falafel. If you have any questions, let me know,” said the man behind the counter. He was a bearded man with swishy brunette locks and beautiful olive eyes. Was it olive? Or was it hazel? Now, I’m not so sure anymore. But, I do recall being shy when I talked to him as he was very beautiful. All of the staff at Warung Falafel were all local people, except him, so I’m guessing that he’s probably the owner of the plant-based food booth. 

I had a hard time choosing my preference despite the fact that there were only three choices of dishes, which are pockets, wraps, and bowls. All of the three comes with falafel, a generous slop of hummus and tahini, and three choices of add-ons of your favorite greens. I settled for the wrap had the sprout salad, Arabic salad, and Tabouli for the three extra ingredients, then the staff gave me some extra spicy carrot and this generous translucent sauce which I don’t know the name of and forgot to ask. “Do you prefer the normal size, or the royal size,” asked the brunette man. I was feeling a little bit famished, so I impulsively went for the royal size. 

“Is the wrap gluten-free,” I asked. “Our wraps have gluten in it, but we also have gluten-free wraps. Are you gluten intolerant,” he replied. I briefied him about how I actually don’t have any intolerances towards food and that I’m currently on a no-carbs no-sugar diet. He nodded quickly with a smile and complied with my request. 

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Warung Falafel is an open place, smoking is not allowed on the table. I had to smoke outside its’ territorial, even when it means that I’m smoking exactly adjacent to the imaginary border of the warung. 

I diligently watched the staff preparing my lunch. The falafels were in the frier, my gluten-free wrap was spread out on the cutting board, a handful of sprout salad was placed on top of the hummus-glazed wrap, then came the splash of the translucent sauce followed by another handful of the Arabic salad, and she kept going building my wrap until the whole ingredients were overflowing. I was super excited!

A minute later, my Falafel Wrap was served on the table, although it didn’t look much like a wrap but more like a soft taco. “Miss,” the brunette man approached me, “our royal wrap today are smaller than our usual, so it’s just our normal wrap. And since the gluten-free wrap is smaller than our normal wrap, we couldn’t wrap the whole thing, so it is shaped similar to a taco.” I’m not complaining, the dish looked sexy!

Most gluten-free food that I have eaten so far would result in me having a nausea after eating too much of it but, thank God, not this baby. I know I would have enjoy tortilla way better than this, but it ain’t bad, especially when you’re trying to lose weight but still wanting to eat sinfully delicious food. The gluten-free wrap has this chewy and rather flaky texture that is similar to a tortilla, and it tasted bland, although had a bit of sweetness in between my bites. 

My wrap was filled with four pieces of falafels that tasted very delicious. It had a quite mushy texture, which was kind of a let down because I love my falafel to be slightly crispy and has this bitable chickpea bits in it, but it definitely satisfy my need for pea fritter. On the one hand, I really love the Tabuli as it was very refreshing and crispy. I would definitely come again to have my wrap with extra Tabuli in it, along with a dash of lemon zest, yum! “Mbok, enak ini,” I said to one of the staff who was busy preparing some ingredients at the open kitchen. She smiled and thanked me for the positive feedback. 

After I finish the whole thing, I got me a bottle of Warung Falafel’s mint-infused water, which was stored inside an empty Marjan (Indonesia’s leading brand of bottled fruit-flavored syrup) bottle. One bottle costed me Rp20.000,00 and I got to keep the bottle to myself, which is a great deal! I also ordered a couple of falafels to go for dinner. “Do you want a bag, or banana leaf is okay for you,” asked the brunette. “I’m cool with banana leaf!” 

Warung Falafel

Jalan Karna, No. 15

Ubud, Gianyar - 80571

Opening Hours:

MON - SUN: 9AM - 9PM

Contact:

+62 813 3722 8733

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Website