Milky Wave - Japanese Fusion Cuisine Restaurant — Restaurant in West Nusa Tenggara

A Refreshing Culinary Surprise

Last night, my boyfriend surprised me with a dinner reservation at Milky Wave, a beautiful and inviting spot tucked away in the heart of Kuta Lombok. From the very first moment, the place exuded charm — relaxed yet stylish, with just the right lighting to set the tone for a memorable evening.

We began with a lemongrass iced tea and a mocktail with soda — bright, flavourful, and refreshingly balanced. A promising start, and indeed, it set the stage for what was to come.

Then came the sushi rolls. We opted for the tuna roll with curry sauce and the vegan roll, and I must say — both were absolute delights. The tuna roll in particular stood out with its originality. The curry sauce was unexpected, yet it didn’t overpower; it brought warmth and dimension. The rice was perfectly cooked, the textures played together beautifully, and the freshness of each ingredient shone through. That tuna roll easily slides into my personal Top 5 sushis ever — not just for taste, but for boldness and imagination. Truly impressive.

One of the most surprising dishes of the evening was the passion fruit ceviche. A symphony of contrasts — the sharpness of the onion, the zing of the maracujá, the freshness. It was a creative, vibrant dish that left a mark. My only note: the fish itself got a bit lost in the acidity. I would’ve loved it slightly more marinated or seasoned to give it presence and depth against the brightness of the fruit. Still, a dish full of potential and flair.

Now, the octopus. This one, unfortunately, didn’t pass my test. As a Portuguese woman from the Algarve — more precisely, from the capital of octopus dishes — I have high standards when it comes to this particular seafood. At home, it’s a family specialty and my personal pride. So I was genuinely curious to see how it would be prepared here. Sadly, it was overcooked hard and tough, lacking the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes octopus so special. It needed more time to soften and open up. I’d also recommend slightly longer cooking for the potatoes that came with it — they were still a bit too firm for my taste.

Service-wise, the team was incredibly kind and attentive, and the overall atmosphere was warm and welcoming — a place you want to linger in.

In summary, Milky Wave offered a very positive culinary experience with dishes that surprised and delighted. The sushi and ceviche were the clear highlights, showcasing creativity and quality. With just a bit more care in the preparation of the octopus, this could easily be a five-star...

We had dinner here recently and our expectations upfront were high but the overall experience was disappointing. Let’s start with the good:

-The location is nice, the restaurant looks nice and it’s elevated above Kuta and the views are great. -Free pickup service for anyone staying in Kuta

The not so good:

-The appetizers (Clam soup, miso and raw tuna) were nice but ALL the sushi we had was disappointing. Not sure if it was the rice used or the fish but the taste was blend and everyone in our party did not liked it.

-The service was not great and not in line with what you would expect when visiting such an upscale restaurant. Examples: first appetizers came before we had received our drinks. We constantly had to ask waiters for new drinks, plates were not taken, again only after we asked the waiters. It felt like there was no manager overseeing the restaurant and the staff. Everyone was running around without being properly managed.

-All the food came randomly, so you would expect they would deliver the main courses for all at the same time. No, all the food came when it was ready and everyone was eating on their own. Totally not what you would expected when eating out.

-Toilet was not clean, again not what you would expect when visiting such a (pretended) upscale place.

-Overall the food was overpriced for what we got. We paid about 700K pp, no alcohol or desserts.

And just before we left we noticed something really bad. There was a cat sitting on a table next to us for at least 5 minutes. Several staff passed by and NO ONE did anything 😱

Like if it’s normal that pets are sitting on a table in a restaurant with such prices (remember, this place is not a Warung on the side of the street). Only after we pointed out the cat someone removed the animal.

Oh, and the table was not cleaned afterwards. Very disgusting and totally not acceptable!!

No need to say we will not return and we do not...

You know that feeling when you’re eyeing a brand-new building like it’s a potential soulmate? Yeah, that was me with Milky Wave. Ever since the first bamboo pole went up, I was that nosy neighbor, mentally taking notes: “What is this going to be? A secret lair? A yoga retreat?” Spoiler: It’s a Japanese restaurant. And not just any Japanese restaurant – it’s the kind that makes every dish look like it just graduated from culinary art school with honors.

Let’s start with the building itself because, honestly, it’s the Beyoncé of architecture. Made entirely of bamboo, it’s a love letter to sustainable design and proof that you don’t need AC when nature is basically your personal fan. The breeze swirls around like it’s been choreographed by a wind goddess, keeping the entire place cool in that effortlessly chic, “Oh, this old thing?” kind of way.

And then there’s the food. Imagine your taste buds getting a personal invitation to an art exhibit. Each dish arrives looking like it should be framed, not eaten. But eat it you must, because the taste is as good as the view. And the view is the kind of thing that makes you feel like you should start writing poetry or at least reconsidering your life choices. A sweeping panorama of the bay, dotted with boats and the occasional, inexplicably perfect cloud.

The staff? Well, they’re like those rare, mythical creatures who are both genuinely kind and seriously knowledgeable. It’s like they went to a special school where they majored in being awesome.

In short, Milky Wave is the kind of place that you accidentally fall in love with and then keep finding excuses to come back to. Will I be back? Oh, absolutely. I’ve already started planning my next trip, and no, it’s not stalking if it’s...