Nusa Indonesian Restaurant

As a local, Nusa is one of those places that always catches your attention as you drive by. The cute little garden terrace, complete with string lights, is so inviting. I finally had the chance to try this new Indonesian restaurant myself, and the experience was exactly what I expected.

The ambiance was the perfect set-up for what was to come. The service was great from the start. Our table ordered a 9-dish “rice table,” which, as the name suggests, is nine different dishes that can be shared amongst everyone. There are even plenty of vegetarian options to choose from. When at a new restaurant, it’s very rare that you get to try so many menu items in one sitting. So this was, of course, a treat! We enjoyed our cocktails and enjoyed the breeze while we waited for the colorful feast to come. They brought some kroepoek (prawn crackers) with peanut sauce to snack on because we were starving! As they put the food on the table, everyone got quiet.

You know how they say you eat with your eyes and nose first? For a second, I forgot where I was. How do I tackle this? Do I go in on everything at once and fill up my plate like a truck driver, or am I going to be a classy young lady who only takes a little bite of everything and gently wipes my mouth while I sip my cocktail? Yeah, no. I went in! The spring rolls were crispy and delicious, and the beef stew (which is cooked for hours!) with the fluffy nasi was an explosion in my mouth. Sorry for the graphic imagery. The shrimp skewers really brought me back to the island feeling I had when I had just arrived.

Everything was delicious! Chef Wayan really knows her spices and has mastered the art of cooking Indonesian food. I left with my belly full and my heart happy. I will definitely be stopping by for some more mouth explosions in the near future. Fun fact: Nusa means island in Indonesian. By Xayenne Tromp – Digital Content Specialist.