Amok Sunset Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Nusa Penida Subdistrict

26 Dec 2021

Located in basically the middle of nowhere... No... Literally... This little gem of a Restaurant is on the Northwest side of Nusa Penida, nestled between the Gamat and Crystal Bays. It features a lovely cliffside location with an equally lovely view of both the ocean and Cenogan Island, 2 private 5m (or so) tall cabanas, a swimming pool, and a bar. The food here is phenomenal. The pullrib tostadas were somewhat disappointing, as I figured the dish was going to be a fair portion of tortilla chips caked in pulled rib meat and the other toppings as mentioned in the menu... Unfortunately this wasn't the case. There were 6 of these small, round tortilla chips (a little bigger than a U.S. Half Dollar coin) topped with the pulled rib meat and aforementioned toppings. They were undoubtedly delicious, but for the price, I kind of expected a bit more. The pulled rib burger meal is very filling, and comes with a super small "salad" and an ok portion of potato wedges. The Es Teh Manis (Sweet Iced Tea), was good. It was infused with some flavors including star anise and lime (they call it lemon here in Indonesia). The California Dream is a vodka-based alcoholic beverage and was good, but you could definitely taste the alcohol. Perhaps that's because they use about 3 different alcohols in it? The Ocean breeze and YOLA drinks were definitely on point. Very pleasurable to drink. The chocolate lasagna was delicious. Prefect sweetness. Not too sweet! Nothing more to say there.

The overall atmosphere at the time of our lengthy visit at this establishment was very nice. At around 1pm or so, it was just the 4 of us in our party. After about an hour or hour and a half, more people came along. Maybe 25 people or less werr there including my party. The music wasn't unbearingly loud, nor were the people there, except for a 3 bules from [probably] europe that insisted on shouting across the premesis to communicate with each other whilst ordering drinks and food. I don't blame the establishment for that. They do have wifi, but at the time we came here, it wasn't functional. The wifi landing page was basically non-functional. They also don't have the ability to split bills. At the time of this review, they have a 15% discount for bills over 500k IDR. This was a lovely unexpected and appreciated gesture they offer.

Final assessment: Overall, I HIGHLY reccomend this restaurant. For the most part, you will NOT be disappointed in the overall quality of service.

I gave 4/5 for the following reason(s):

1. The Tostadas were disappointing and didn't come out as an appetizer as we ordered it to be. It came after the maon dishes.

2. The alcoholic beverages took forever to be prepared and delivered. With so few people to serve, a single drink shouldnt take more than 2 to 5 minutes to prepare and deliver. It took 15 to 20 minutes to deliver a single drink, so I wasn't able to enjoy the 5p-6p happy hour as I would have liked to before we left. This was the single most consideration to justify a 4 star review. I would suggest remedial training for speed and pour accuracy. It can be done.

3. The wifi. If a foreigner such as me comes in and doesn't have an international data plan taking advantage of the Indosatoroo network, the wifi should work if you offer it. Perhaps, work on...

WHO IS THIS FOR? Travelers looking for a laid-back spot to enjoy a beautiful sunset, take iconic photos, and relax with good food and decent ambiance, while tolerating some seasonal bugs.

🌟 3 THINGS I ENJOYED: 1️⃣ Photogenic Spots 📸: Three distinct photo opportunities—the boat, wooden circle, and infinity pool—make this restaurant a visual treat. 2️⃣ Good Food 🍜: The Mie Goreng was enjoyable, and the "chocolate lasagna" (though more like a chocolate cake) was a nice dessert option. 3️⃣ Added Comfort 🏖️: Towels were provided for swimming, a thoughtful touch for guests wanting to enjoy the pool.

💬 PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Amok Sunset Restaurant & Bar is a gem for sunset lovers. The three curated photo spots—especially the infinity pool—are great for capturing memories. The road leading here isn’t perfect, but it’s manageable and worth it for the views.

The food was satisfying; the Mie Goreng was flavorful, though the "chocolate lasagna" turned out to be a simple chocolate cake, which was still enjoyable. The atmosphere during the week was calm, with fewer people, making it a relaxed experience. The music choice also complemented the setting, enhancing the vibe.

While the staff were pleasant, their service didn’t stand out as exceptional. Construction in certain areas hinted at future improvements, which might elevate the experience once completed. The main downside was the abundance of flies and mosquitoes during December—something to be mindful of if visiting during this season.

💡 A FEW NOTES: 1️⃣ Best for Sunsets 🌅: Arrive early to secure a good spot for sunset viewing. 2️⃣ Bug Protection 🦟: Bring insect repellent, especially during the rainy season. 3️⃣ Bring a Camera 🎥: The unique photo spots are worth capturing!

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I have mixed feelings about Amok Sunset Restaurant. Based on the great reviews and a recommendation from my stay I decided to make a reservation. Transport on the island can be a challenge so their shuttle service sounded perfect and it truly was. The driver arrived exactly on time and the ride was smooth.

When we arrived I was impressed. The place looks beautiful with a stunning view and stylish interior. We were warmly welcomed and got a lovely table. It happened to be DJ night so the music was a bit louder but that actually added to the atmosphere. We ordered quite a bit of food and everything was served quickly which at first gave a great impression.

The Pad Thai and rice were delicious. Some of the side dishes however arrived already lukewarm as if they had been waiting in the kitchen for a few minutes too long. The calamari was completely cold so we did not eat it. It took a while before anyone came by after serving and when I mentioned the calamari nothing was really done about it. Drinks also arrived late when we were almost done eating.

After finishing our meal we asked several times for the table to be cleared so we could order dessert but that also took longer than it should have. Later I noticed the calamari was still on the bill which was a bit disappointing especially since it was untouched.

Amok Sunset is a beautiful place with great potential. The atmosphere and setting are top tier and the staff is kind and willing but they miss sharpness in the small details. A strong manager could easily bring this place from good to exceptional. Because I believe they can improve and because the core experience was still enjoyable I am keeping this review at five stars even though two small but critical points would normally...