Damar Toba ~ Lakeside Eatery & Stay — Restaurant in North Sumatra

Great hotel or maybe you could call it a homestay, as it only has 6 rooms. It's located in Balige and I stayed here for one night.

For the scenery, it's great, it is very close to the lake (Toba Lake), so you can take good scenery photos of the lake, you can also see the Samosir Island. The lake is also clean, I guess the governor did a good job preserving the cleanliness of the lake as the Toba Lake is a tourist place.

For the rooms, it's great, you get a smart tv that offers Netflix, YouTube, Vidio, etc. The bathrooms are great but one downside is that during my stay, the water pressure was uneven at night, sometimes the water pressure is fast, sometimes it's slow, sometimes there isn't even water coming out. But in the day the water pressure is fast and it's even.

For the food it's great, but when it's crowded it takes a long time, in my experience the food took a long time to come out, probably because it's crowded so I can't complain since you don't have to stay here to eat in the restaurant.

There is also an optional boat tour, I'm not sure if there's an extra cost but I did not go on the boat tour so I can't review that.

You can't swim in the water though I think, because the deepness of Toba Lake is uneven and until now no one knows how deep it is. But I think the lakeside isn't that deep yet but it gets deeper the farther you go in.

In my experience, I got a welcome drink (4 flavor options) on arrival, free car wash (as I was using a car to go there), and breakfast (I think it was free), these services are probably included in the price of the hotel/homestay.

Going to Balige takes a long journey from Medan, it took me 6 hours to reach there from Kualanamu airport, I recommend using a plane to Silangit Airport because it's closer to Balige, maybe it would take 1-2 hours from Silangit to Balige but I'm not sure.

Going to Balige takes a long journey from Medan, it took me 6 hours to reach there from Kualanamu airport, I recommend using a plane to Silangit Airport because it's closer to Balige, maybe it would take 1-2 hours from Silangit to Balige but I'm not sure.

Final score: 8.5/10, great hotel/homestay, great scenery, great food, good room, great services, facility is good, and the homestay is a long journey from Medan (6 hours and it can take longer if there's a lot...

Our family had an incredible 3-night stay at Damar Toba ~ Lakeside Eatery & Stay, and it was a perfect choice for our group of 15. With a mix of ages ranging from 20 to 80, including our parents-in-law, siblings, and grandchildren, Damar Toba provided something for everyone.

Ambiance & Location: The stunning location on the shores of Lake Toba offered a serene and relaxing atmosphere that was perfect for our family gathering. The picturesque views of the lake, especially at sunrise and sunset, provided a beautiful backdrop for our time together. The calm, rustic charm of the place made everyone feel at ease, whether we were relaxing in our rooms or enjoying a meal together.

Accommodation: The rooms were a highlight of our stay—clean, cozy, and designed to accommodate our large group comfortably. Despite the mix of ages in our family, from our parents-in-law (76 and 80 years old) to our grandchildren (20-23 years), everyone found the accommodations to be comfortable and suitable for their needs. Waking up to the view of Lake Toba was a treat every morning, and the beds were incredibly comfortable, ensuring a good night’s sleep after our days of exploring.

Family Dining Experience: The dining experience at Damar Toba was exceptional. We enjoyed a variety of dishes that catered to different tastes, from local Indonesian flavors to more international options. The food was fresh and flavorful, and it was wonderful to share meals together as a family. The restaurant’s lakeside setting added a special touch to our meals, making each one memorable. The younger members of our family particularly enjoyed the coffee, which was brewed to perfection.

Service & Hospitality: The staff at Damar Toba went above and beyond to make our stay special. They were incredibly attentive to the needs of our group, ensuring that our parents-in-law were comfortable and that everyone felt welcome. Their warmth and friendliness made a big difference, and it felt like we were being taken care of by family.

Overall: Our stay at Damar Toba ~ Lakeside Eatery & Stay was nothing short of fantastic. It’s a place where everyone, from the youngest to the oldest in our family, found something to love. Whether you’re planning a quiet getaway or a large family gathering, Damar Toba offers the perfect blend of...

Kamarnya termasuk sempit dengan harga segitu. Jika lebar atau panjangnya ditambah 1 meter saja akan terasa jauh lebih lega. — Terkait tanggapan manajemen: Ini saya menginap saat pertama kali mengunjungi Damar Toba sekitar 1-2 tahun lalu, jadi bukan kunjungan 1 pekan terakhir, jadi tentu saja jika manajemen mencari pelanggan terdaftar dalam 1 pekan terakhir atas nama saya tidak akan ada. Selain itu, saya menginap bersama keluarga jadi kunjungan bisa saja atas nama anggota keluarga yang lain. Tapi yang jelas, saya pernah menginap di Damar Toba. Saya harap manajemen tidak bersifat terlalu defensif karena yang memberi komentar tidak selalu pelanggan terdaftar, bisa jadi keluarga atau kerabat atau pasangan atau teman yang ikut datang.

Terkait makanan & minuman saat pertama kali ke sini terasa sangat enak, namun saat datang yang terakhir kok terasa kurang ya. Kuahnya terasa encer walaupun tetap enak. Minuman juga terasa encer, yang mana saya pesan minuman dingin dan saat datang esnya sudah hampir mencair semuanya, saya pesan es tambahan ternyata kena biaya untuk penambahan esnya. Harga makanan juga termasuk kemahalan. Sepotong ayam harganya diatas Rp100rb, sementara di kafe Medan dengan rasa yang sama enaknya tapi porsi ayam jauh lebih besar bisa dapat dengan harga jauh lebih murah. — Terkait kualitas makanan yang menurun: manajemen bisa jadi beranggapan bahwa tidak ada penurunan dalam prosesnya, akan tetapi kenyataan di lapangan para pelanggan lamalah yang merasakan penurunannya. Juga tidak ada tanggapan manajemen terkait biaya untuk meminta es tambahan. Lain cerita jika saya memesan minuman panas lalu meminta es, wajar dikenakan biaya tambahan. Ini saya memesan minuman dingin, karena esnya sedikit dan sudah cair maka meminta ditambahkan es.

Untuk lokasi sangat bagus dan suasana tempatnya juga sangat nyaman, hanya keseuaian harga dengan makanan, minuman dan kamar menurut saya secara umum overprice.

Dari tanggapan manajemen, saya merasa bahwa manajemen terlalu defensif dan cenderung menganggap komentar negatif itu terkesan tidak benar.

Sekedar masukan untuk manajemen: Pelanggan tidak selalu memberikan penilaian langsung setelah kunjungan. Bahkan tidak selalu dalam waktu dekat. Pelanggan juga tidak selalu langsung memberikan penilaian setelah kunjungan pertama. Bisa jadi setelah kunjungan kedua atau ketiga, lalu menghimpun kesan dalam beberapa kali kunjungan tersebut dalam 1 rangkuman penilaian. Yang memberikan penilaian tidak selalu tamu terdaftar. Tidak jarang yang memberi tanggapan merupakan rekan atau kerabat atau anggota rombongan, bukan tamu terdaftar. Pelanggan tidak selalu ingat nama menu yang dipesan sebelumnya bahkan jika ditunjukkam daftar menunya lagi tetap belum tentu ingat. Berhati-hatilah menanggapi penilaian pelanggan, karena bisa jadi itu tanggapan manajemen akan membuat pelanggan yang awalnya hanya merasa KECEWA bertambah dengan rasa...