Barelang Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Riau Islands

Going to Barelang Seafood Restaurant has always been in my mind for my visits to Batam but it was always "out of the way" for dinner and our packed itineraries. During the last round, we visited Rezeki Seafood Restaurant and yes finally, we had set foot here.

We did not make any reservations and as a first-timer there, we were impressed by the large-scale dining area. There was no electronic bells to call the server from a far distance. We either waved frantically to get their attention or simply walk all the way back to somewhere near the entrance if we need their service,

There were simply many seatings facing the sea and we chose the seat with a view of the Barelang bridge, hoping to get some shots of the blue hours.

Ocean Blue! What a beautiful drink made of syrup with Nata De Coco and Chia Seeds.

Ocean Blue 蓝色海

We also had a Coconut Drink to cool ourselves amidst the hot weather.

Coconut Drink 椰子水

We were not in the luck of ordering Lobster and Crayfish and were told sold out. We took the alternative to order their Butter Prawns. They were medium in size, similar to what we usually have from a basic bowl of prawn noodles.

Butter Fried Prawns

Having tried the Mantis Shrimp in Batam before, I was reminded of its tough shells and springy meat. We ordered a plate of 3 pieces and opted for steaming cooking method. These shrimps were seasoned with soy sauce, chilli, garlic and ginger.

Udang Belalang Mantis Shrim 螳螂虾

The style of Petai was a culture shock to me. The stinky beans were generously accompanied by fried crispy Ikan Bilis and spicy chilli. There were simply too much spice and Fried Ikan Bills that we could not finish .

Petai Bilis Stinky Beans Dried Fish 臭豆小鱼干

The salted egg fried crab was well coated but not as savory as compared to what we had in Singapore. Nonetheless, freshness of their seafood was assured.

Salted Egg Fried Crab 咸蛋炒螃蟹

I will be back for Lobster...

I visited a seafood restaurant that was recommended as one of the better options in the area. I chose it because I wanted to explore different dining experiences with a good view and it also happened to be the closest to where I’m staying, Harris Resort.

Some of the dishes were enjoyable, while others fell short of expectations. As someone who genuinely enjoys seafood, I found the overall experience a little disappointing. During a quick stop at one of the nearby shops to buy cigarettes, I caught a glimpse of what seemed to be their kitchen or staff canteen, and unfortunately, the hygiene standards were quite poor. That moment gave me a gut feeling literally that I might be in for some discomfort.

Sadly, that turned out to be true. Everyone in our group experienced stomach issues shortly after the meal.

It’s unfortunate, because the location had potential. But based on this experience, I wouldn’t return, and I’d advise others to proceed with caution. Cleanliness should never be compromised, no matter how attractive...

20 oct 2018@7pm, The hot plate toufu is nice but salty as mentioned by my friends but personally I’m ok it it, the beenhoon despite being oily still tasted nice, the kailan is cooked very well & we all love it, the crab with Chili sauce is good, just that it’s a pity that it’s a small crab. The salted egg crab lacks the crab freshness, the meat wasn’t in good quality compared to the sauce. All the crab sizes seen at the kelong are only available in small sizes, maybe they are not in the season now. The goon goon shellfish food is a failure, it’s overcooked and not nice, so is the furong egg, my friends says they can cook better according to them, so the verdict is it’s a hit and a miss dinner for us. Chili condiment is spicy & good though. Had a nice view at this restaurant over looking the bridge and the small...