Seminyak never really runs out of restaurants to check out — and here’s yet another contender for your dining attention: Herbs & Stones, situated within the Villa Air Bali Boutique Resort and Spa. The restaurant actually first opened its doors last year, but its owners recently finished refurbishing the venue, apparently bringing in not only a new look to the establishment, but also a new menu.
We ought to begin with their al fresco dining pavilion, which is cozy, inviting, yet also elegant. The resort itself is surrounded by tropical gardens and water features, and even if you’re just coming in to dine at Herbs & Stones, you’d still get to enjoy this view during your meal.
The tranquil space made us imagine spending early evenings with friends and family over on the outdoor bale, sipping on delicious drinks and munching on good food. There were live music performances during the grand reopening event that Coconuts Bali attended, but they’ve also got performances lined up for every Sunday evening throughout August, along with other special events scheduled this month.
We’re told that most of what we see in the restaurant, both in its interiors and menu, are all pretty much new. The bar area, which they didn’t have before, lights up the space with an elegant, warm yellow glow as the evening approaches, and was one of the interior features that stuck out to us the most — plus, we love bar stools with armrests, and they’ve got ‘em.
When it comes to the food, Herbs & Stones has got a pretty interesting menu, which it describes as “contemporary, creative cuisine with French roots” that is dedicated to using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Great! But how do these dishes taste?
Coconuts Bali sampled a number of their signature offerings during the event. First off is their Pink Vegan Burger (IDR 128,000/USD 9) and Black Teriyaki Burger (IDR 120,000/USD 8.5). Colored buns are fun and all, but we were initially feeling a bit skeptical about how the burgers would taste since the use of colorful buns seems like one of those built-for-the-‘gram moves that doesn’t really impact the flavor of the dish.
With that being said, we’re pretty happy to report that the pink burger was quite tasty. The homemade vegan bun was tender with a little bit of crisp, which was filled with a vegan beetroot and red bean patty, caramelized onion chutney and a slice of (delicious) vegan cheese. It’s pink, it’s vegan, and it’s yummy, folks.
The black burger, which was comprised of minute-grilled beef steak, teriyaki sauce, arugula, candied cherry tomatoes, and a black bun, was also delightful — a subtle twist to a classic meal. By the way, these are filed under “Snacks” on their menu, just in case you miss them when browsing through the dishes.
Chicken Katsu on Mango Curry (IDR 120,000/USD 8.5) was next in line for us, and this one tastes very much like the classic katsu dish, though with a noticeable zest, thanks to the combination of mango and coriander.
For dessert, we sampled their Lemongrass Brûlée (IDR 68,000/USD 4.85) and Rosemary Panna Cotta (IDR 68,000/USD 4.85). The latter was not too sweet, and creamy enough for our liking, while the former has got a nice crunch thanks to the caramelized sugar, and had a perfectly creamy custard texture on the inside.
There’s also a chou bun stuffed with white chocolate mousse, which guests can ordinarily get as part of their set of three All Around Chocolate (IDR 95,000/USD 6.8) – and this was the soft, sweet surprise that shook up our evening, y’all.
Herbs & Stones has got a whole lot of potential to become one of those places that we frequent to have a chill evening (or afternoon) with friends and family, be it after work or during the weekends. It also looks like a great place to host special events, too.
We’re seriously digging the peaceful and cozy vibe, and the food makes you want to stay a little while longer. Plus, if they are to have regular acoustic live music, then even better.
FIND IT:
Herbs & Stones is at Jl. Lebak Sari, Br. Taman, Kuta
Open: 11am-11pm, daily
Phone: (0361) 737378
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