Honey & Smoke — Restaurant in Pulau Bali

POTENTIAL IS THERE BUT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD "TASTE"

Full disclosure: we visited bali multiple times and this is our twenty first restaurant, and we have to say in terms of the taste of the food and value... this falls under our lowest ten percent. Our analysis:

PRO: Great ambiance! We cannot emphasize enough as I think they did a good job of making it romantic and hip. Plus the food presentation and plating is very well done with staff above average service. Good ingredients were used: we could tell the ingredients were good because the vegetables all tasted fresh with meat/fish tasting fresh

CON: biggest issue here is that we could tell that they used good ingredients, HOWVER, the balance of the food was off and the chef tried so hard to be fancy that it actually missed the key points of the food.

Lamb Shank: has good seasoning on the outside, but inside the meat, near the bone is very dry and has no flavor. This means that the meat was not boiled long enough in the seasoning broth or never was stewed (which should be because lamb shank needs to braised for few hours)

Carbonara: Has pontential...you guys did an excellent job of using good ingredients to include real pecorino cheese and usage of fresh pasta like they do in Rome. Now where did the "too much" go wrong....it was the goat cheese. Of course it's used in Roman dishes but adding this to the carbonara is abnormal and already puts strain to those haven't tried real carbonara. So we recommend taking it out as it over powers the pecorina cheese flavor which in itself is enough for that salty cheese flavor. If you are gonna go do goat cheese then what's the point of using pecorino cheese? Waste of money on ingredients.

miso glazed grouper: Cooked well but there's nothing miso about it. The soy sauce based black sauce literally tasted like watered down soy sauce mixed with yuzu. Hmm not sure how to improve because I'm not a fish expert but I do think a thick miso based sauce might be better instead of soy sauce.

We could tell that management/chef really has the ambition of succeeding in this restaurant, but what is lacking is the twenty percent of finessing taste. 2 stars is given for food because the price was definitely not worth it. It has nothing to do with the amount of food or ingredient quality or presentation but simply the...

Heard about this place and decided to try, We came early and ordered the octopus, grilled baby cos, the fries with liver mousse, tartar tune and scallop, steak and snapper or grouper..cant remember exactly. And some drinks. Drinks came.. It was a pretty nice set and well presented.. However the server kept offering us more water.. In which is nice but then i realized that the water would cost us 70k (for a water!!!) And we ordered once... Probably enough...!! Then the octopus came.. I was expecting nicely grilled whole tentacle, not thinly sliced octopus. For the price.. Not much flavor.. Although nicely presented. Then the grilled baby cos.. Had a better one somewhere else.. It's just too creamy of the dressing. The fries.. Over powered by truffle.. most probably oil or salt, didn't enjoy it much. Just not my taste of too much truffle flavor.. I would enjoy the fries otherwise. The fish however was perfectly cooked with a hint of korean gochujang if I'm not mistaken. Well balanced with the crisp vegetables below it. Now the steak... Overpriced with the quality we hope (790k !!!). We had better steak for less, more over we ordered medium rare ut it came fairly rare. Almost bleu. Slightly chewy for the price paid and way too many flavor that is not Kohesif at all to the steak. There are three different sauce, the jus would have been sufficient. (It was a proper tasty jus) in it as well the corn puree and the spinach. The whole dish was just too much confusing flavor. This is the case of usually a young chef whose trying too hard... Keep it simple chef.. Would've enjoy it more. Anyway sorry to give the 3 stars... Not because it was not good..but because it's too confusing... Fusion confusion.. We used to say it. Would i come back? I will certainly not..but it was just us, other maybe like or dislike, it's a matter of personal taste. The bill was 2 million and we were not satisfied.. And we're...

Honey and Smoke is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Bali, and my recent dining experience there was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment my companions and I stepped through the door, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality that set the tone for an unforgettable evening.

The staff at Honey and Smoke truly went above and beyond, offering detailed explanations of each dish we ordered. Their passion for the cuisine was evident, and their dedication to ensuring our satisfaction was unparalleled.

Now, let's talk about the food. Each dish that graced our table was a work of art, both visually stunning and bursting with flavor. The Whipped Mortadella was a revelation, easily claiming the title of the best thing I've tasted in my three years in Bali. Its rich, creamy texture and bold, savory taste left me longing for more.

The Fusili Pasta was another standout, a symphony of flavors and textures that left me speechless. Paired with creamy burrata, it was a match made in culinary heaven. I find myself still dreaming about it days later, a testament to its unforgettable taste.

The Grilled Chicken Wings were a delightfully tasty treat, perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. I found myself licking my fingers in delight, wishing there were more to enjoy.

Beyond the exceptional food, the ambiance of Honey and Smoke was enchanting. The soft lighting and romantic atmosphere set the stage for an intimate dining experience, while the pleasant background music added to the overall charm.

In conclusion, my experience at Honey and Smoke was nothing short of magical. From the impeccable service to the sensational food, every aspect exceeded my expectations. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor to Bali, I cannot recommend Honey and Smoke highly enough. It's a culinary oasis that deserves to...