Bali Wine Bar & Grill

I am not sure how one of the latest reviews even happened since Bali has been closed for remodel for awhile but… I have been part of a business group that tried several places before choosing Bali for the weekly lunch meeting. Putu has unique and wonderful food and has shared stories about the types of vegetables and fruits as she serves them, unique to Bali and the culture. We have always come away very satisfied with the salads, beef, pork, chicken and fish. I have attended at least 10 of these meetings now and have never been disappointed. She is available now for catering and the restaurant will reopen for regular diners very soon.

You’ve got to be suspicious of Bali’s Unilocal reviews when ALL of its recent «five star» reviewers have only reviewed one establishment.
Bali has this upscale, shi-​shi look to it but the food is mediocre at best and definitely overpriced for what it is. The lumpia (spring rolls) were greasy and there was barely any filling inside. The pork chops were thick but undercooked. The coconut rice was good and unique.
The service was incredibly slow. It took forever to get drinks and for our orders to be taken. They serve water in a large bottle filled with mint but the mint still has dirt stuck to hit, which doesn’t give me much confidence about what else might not be clean there.
The wine list is pretty limited, which was a big disappointment since it’s supposed to be a «wine bar.» Like other reviewers have noted, what is up with all the crap in the bathroom? Nail polish remover, toiletries and perfume? I felt like I was in my sister’s bathroom.

Bali is a wonderful restaurant and Putu the owner is an incredible cook! We currently have a business meeting once a week at the restaurant and the food is outstanding, the service is great and the atmosphere is perfect. Can’t wait till they reopen for dinner!

The owner is very rude and not friendly at all.
Food is mediocre
I was the only customer at that time, but still have to wait a long time to get my food … unbelievable.
Not recommended at all

The food and décor was nice. The service was a little slow. The owner/​chef came out and introduced herself to us which was nice. The food tasted great and the portions were good although a little pricey. The CD they were playing started to skip and it took them about 2 min to turn it off which was really annoying. Also, once I got the check instead of deducting $ 10 off for my
coupon, they ADDED $ 10 to my bill. I told them it was wrong and they assured me it was right. I them calculated it on my phone and requested they removed the extra $ 20 overcharge. It took them about 20 min to get it corrected which is way too long in my opinion. Sadly to say, that ended the experience on a frown.

Don’t waste your time. When we arrived the place was empty and the menus had not been printed for that night. That should have been our first clue. The server (owner maybe?) was a complete moron. She had every excuse in the book as to why it was taking over an hour to get our entrees. When the food arrived it was horrible. The chef obviously has no idea what he is doing. This was such a disappointing night. We had been looking forward to going back to Bali Wine Bar as we had been in 2007 and it was decent. This place needs to close down so that a decent restaurant can go in this space.

This place used to be better but now it’s gone downhill. It took a long time to order our food because there was only one waitress who doesn’t know the menu and moved a bit slow. The portions are small — I considered this a gourmet restaurant because you get small portions and not that full when you leave. The ambience is great — they can cut out the trance music. Once in awhile you hear nice authenic music and then next thing… I hear a scary guy’s voice mixed in with the music. I was a bit scared. j/​k.
They didn’t have different types of beer except Corona, who wants to drink that when you can grab one in the frig. They should have had a beer from Bali or something better than Corona. They had no sparkling wine even though they had a big-​ass Chandon bottle as part of their décor. The name of your restaurant reads wine bar & grill…
The garlic chips were great, the salad was good and so was the noodle dish w/​shrimp.
But…they only get 2 stars because my husband’s BBQ chicken dish was raw. I understand it takes longer to cook the thigh but it was an inch of it was raw. When I called the waitress, she instantly knew and said «the chicken is not cooked enough?» So she knew. hello .why the hell are you serving customers raw chicken? Have you heard of salmonella? Instead of apologizing immediately and offering to take it off the bill or perhaps offer a dessert for free, she said it’s because the thighs are really thick and harder to cook, I can have it put back on the grill… I would have said no but my husband said ok. The waitress thought it was no big deal. So we waited for her to have the cook put it back on the grill. A few minutes later while my husband finished eating it, the cook (I think she is the owner) comes out and explains why the chicken wasn’t cooked, it was a big piece and I told her you guys need to cut it in pieces rather than serve raw chicken. She said she used to do that, but the presentation looks better when the pieces are whole. I just rolled my eyes. and thought you’re a restaurant, learn how to cook it. you can get in big trouble and shut down if someone decides to go a step further.
I will be back soon because they may not be here much longer and only because I have another
gift card, but this time, I am will only order salad, one entrée and a dessert.

My husband and I went to Bali tonight for the first time. As we were walking into the restaurant, we were somewhat impressed with the outside décor, but when we went inside, we were disappointed. The place seem to be very disorganized especially with all the dirty dishes and boxes on the bar. The hostess/​waitress/​owner seemed very busy when there were only three tables including us. We waited for a long time for water, appetizers and our entrees. I would say that it took them at least 30 minutes to serve us the appetizers and another 40 minutes for the entrees. Not only was the service was bad, but just like the other reviewers stated, the food was very overpriced. We had originally ordered the spicy chicken wings as our appetizers but they had ran out so she suggested for us to get the lumpias. When we got the lumpias, we found out that they were tiny and was only given 3. We paid $ 8.95 for 3 lumpias, that’s almost $ 3 each lumpia. That’s crazy!!!
One of the entrees we ordered, some beef in dry rub was gone so she suggested the beef in curry sauce which was one of their specials. When our entrees came to the table, they were well presented but the food was horrible. The pork ribs were decent but the beef in curry sauce had no flavor at all. Not only that, the beef tasted like it just came out of the crockpot-​very tough and hard.
One thing that really upset me about the waitress was her rudeness to us. When our food arrived, my husband was using his fork and knife to eat the ribs and she insisted that he should use his hands to eat it. What and who gives her the right to tell a customer how they should eat and shouldn’t eat? Even if it was a suggestion, she could have said it in a nicer way instead of treating my husband like he was her child. Not only that, we also constantly had to remind her to fill our water cups.
When we got our bill, we handed her a
gift certificate (the main reason why we wanted to try the restaurant), and she took a long time to give us our bill back. Our bill was about $ 40 before the deduction of the gift certificate, which was pretty outrageous. And yes, we are still hungry!!! On a side note, she had some friends seated at the bar and she was too concentrated on her conversations with them than to serve her own customers. There were still only three tables that she had to serve the whole time that we were there. Oh on top of that, when she returned the credit card back to us, the whole bill was dirty with some sauce on it when she didn’t even go into the kitchen and of course, our credit card was sticky and dirty. She didn’t even offer to wipe and/​or clean our card.
As we were heading out the door, we told her to have a great night. She just brushed us aside and didn’t even suggest for us to come again.
This has been the worst restaurant experience that we ever had!!! I woudn’t suggest this place to anyone!

My wife and I had a dismal experience here. We were lured in by samples they provided at the Sacramento Zoo’s King of Feasts event (my wife liked the lettuce wraps and loved the garlic chips) and a coupon.
My thoughts over the course of the evening.
— The ambiance seemed very nice, seemed like a fair amount of thought was put into the décor.
— The garlic chips were excellent
— The server, though friendly, was too overwhelmed to be prompt or attentive. She was the only one serving and busing probably a dozen tables.
— Our chicken wing appetizer was tasty, but oversauced and horribly overpriced. I believe we paid something like $ 7 for 3 measly mini chicken wings.
— We had to wait a good 30 minutes for our appetizer to come and another 40 minutes for our mains to come.
— My wife’s lemon grass shrimp dish was extremely disappointing. The sauce had far too much white wine while the shrimp were tough and tasteless
— My beef noodle dish actually tasted pretty good. The only problem that the noodles were drenched in a super salty soy-​sauce based dressing. I had to pour out the puddle of sauce into another bowl before the noodles became palatable. This was unfortunate because the noodles would have otherwise been pretty good. They had a nice texture and could have had a good flavor.
— The ambiance seemed really awkward. The hushed atmosphere indicated that the customers at the other tables were as unhappy about the wait and the food as we were.
Overall, my wife and I were very disappointed with our dining experience. The food was woefully overpriced considering the quantity, quality, and preparation of the meal. Fortunately, we had a buy one get one free coupon, which helped to relieve the sting. There could be potential here, but Bali really needs a strong managerial presence to ensure the quality and promptness of the food. Would not recommend.

After one weird experience at Bali, I decided to give it another try because my friends really wanted to go and I always give places a second try. Next time, my friends can go back without me! The service is weird and the portions are way too small for the price that you have to pay. I felt like they just wanted to get us out of there so they could close early. If you close at 10, then you should still be able to order dessert at 9:30 right? Right? Man. The flavors are good because they are different and the bathroom is a fun experience but those two things are just not worth it in my opinion.

It took over an hour and a half to get our food. It was not worth the wait. The server didn’t seem to know the menu or what she was doing. The bathroom was strange. It had EVERYTHING — magazines, shaving cream, mouth wash…
On the plus side, the interior is pretty.

I lived downtown for almost three years after transplanting from Southern CA. This was one of my favorite places to eat. I’ve been there about a dozen times. I used to date a lot, and it’s a great place to get to know someone; for some reason unknown to me, the place was always very quiet. The owner is a very hospitable woman who acts as server. The food is moderately expensive, but the ambiance is great, and you can actually hear your dinner partner talk! The menu is a little sparse, but everything I’ve ever had there has been freshly cooked, perfectly seasoned and delicious.
My recommendation: the barbeque pork chops. Large portions, cooked exactly how you order them. The sides are usually fresh vegetables, and a rice that is to die for. Try this place. It’s excellent.

Hands down the weirdest, most junk-​filled bathroom I’ve ever seen. And I’ve dated guys whose moms are hoarders. Everything from toiletries to tiny decorative objects. So strange.
I chose Bali because I found it on
. Overall I enjoyed the food but thought the portions were disproportionate with the prices. If I’m going to pay $ 12 for lettuce wraps, I expect more than three leaves of lettuce. If I only get three little lumpia rolls, I don’t want to pay $ 9. At least the garlic chips were free. Even my baby liked them.
Nicely decorated interior, pretty good food, high prices, small portions and very off the beaten path.

I don’t recommend this place at all. Food selection and portion are small, and relatively expansive. As per rodent problems, it’s there, I can second that.

Call me crazy but I happen to have a gigantic rodent phobia. I admit that it might be a tad out of control– I’ll explain: when I see a squirrel I have to deep breathe.
So, understandably, when my husband and I are trying to dine al fresca on a warm summer eve and I am interrupted by a gigantic f-​ing black rat running back and forth three feet from our table— it’s a little distracting!!!
CHECK, PLEASE!
Needless to say, I can’t remember what I ate. All I remember is formulating my exit strategy as I grabbed my stuff and ran like a crazed manic all the damn way home!
I won’t be returning.

(from the March 2006 visit of our gourmet club) Overall, my experience was pleasant. I enjoyed the company (of course) and the service was great. The down side for me was probably the food which is probably not a good thing for a restaurant.
FOOD SCORE: 2
I shared two appetizers. The first was the beef lettuce wraps. They were quite tasty but very difficult to eat. I also do not think that you get much for the money paid. The second appetizer was the chicken wing dish. They were quite tasty and plentiful for the price. I am not a fan of wings but they were flavorful. The main dish I ordered was the fried rice with grilled chicken and fried tofu. I really enjoyed the chicken and the tofu. The rice had a great consistency with interesting ingredients. However, it lacked flavor. I didn’t think it had enough salt. The beef pieces were too big in comparison to the rice. It was difficult to eat. I just didn’t enjoy it. I did enjoy the Bali rice which I thought was much better than the dish I ordered. The delicate flavor of garlic and coconut really gave the plain white rice a greate taste.
SERVICE SCORE: 4
I thought the service was excellent. Our server was very friendly and attentive. She regularly checked on our group to make sure all was well with our experience.
AMBIANCE SCORE: 4
The place was super cute. I liked the décor and the spice demo was really an added bonus.
VALUE SCORE: 2
We spent $ 75 for two people with no alcohol. It wasn’t the best value for the quality of the meal.
RESTROOM SCORE: 4
Okay, this is not the best judge of a restaurant. However, the restroom was clean and quite interesting. The had toiletries in the restroom for their patrons which I thought was a nice touch.
RETURN?: Yes
Yikes, this is a difficult question to answer but I think I would give it another try. I would probably order several appetizers instead of an entrée.
Cute place, great service but the food (primarily the entrees) could use some help.

On a friend’s recommendation, we came to this beautiful restaurant for a special occasion, but were sorely disappointed. From the time we came in and stood ignored at the counter for 10 minutes, til the time our bland and boring meals arrived, we kept waiting for something special to happen. The appetizers looked beautiful, but were flavorless. The sauces were ordinary chili pastes. Two chicken entrees, described as having «distinctly different flavor profiles» were really bland and ordinary, with none of the spices, coconut or lemongrass flavors mentioned on the specials board. We really did enjoy the décor and the atmosphere, but when it comes down to it, you still want something delicious when you come to a nice restaurant such as this. What a shame…

I had heard nice things about this restaurant, so I decided that the gourmet club (work buddies who gather for dining adventures) should experince Bali Restaurant and its Balinese delights! The atomosphere and service were very nice as the waitress made a point of introducing us to all the spices that were included with our meals. They also had nice water pitchers that were wine bottles with mint. I visted Bali in March 2006
FOOD SCORE: 4 (my arbitrary scores are 1 – 5, 5 being spectacular)
I had Babi Bakar dengan Kecap Manis Grilled Pork Chops (kecap manis, tabia & bawang) sweet soya glaze, chilies, shallots. It was awesome. It had a light glaze that was just sweet enough and the pork chops themselves were enormous. The accompanying rice was just slightly spicy and complimented the meal. I also had a dessert of plantains and jackfruit fried in a wonton and topped with a cinnamon sauce which was great. I was unaware what exactly jackfruit was before, but one of our members enlightened me on its taste and convinced me of its greatness. They was correct! I also sampled the black rice pudding with mango and coconut which also was pleasant.
SERVICE SCORE: 4
The waitress was attentive and water glasses were always full.
AMBIANCE SCORE: 4
The ambiance was great with an ethnic/​Asian feel. Nice furniture throughout the restaurant.
VALUE SCORE: 3
Once dinner, dessert and drinks were added up, it did end up being a little expensive. Its more of a special occasion place rather than a neighborhood restaurant, regular outing. I was a little sad that ice tea refills were not complimentary.
RESTROOM SCORE: 4
Their restroom had contact cleaner, Victoria Secret Perfume, shoe polish, lotion, aspirin, many magazines, and an outside umbrella that covered the sink for that «island» feel. Although it was a little over the top, I was very impressed with their bathroom efforts!
RETURN?: Yes
I would return, but not regularly, maybe for a special occasion. Its a small restaurant so perhaps with some friends to have a nice small dinner. Or perhaps with my mom who would buy my dinner.

{My work’s gourmet club visited this establishment on March of 2006. This is my review}
A very enjoyable feast.
FOOD SCORE: 3 of 4
My night started with the lettuce wraps. I must say that this is one of the best lettuce wraps I have ever experienced. Ground sirloin paired with a sweet sauce presented on a fresh lettuce leaf — this dish is something that I would order for a main course!
Next I sampled their Bali wings. Now I’ve tried many chicken/​buffalo wings in my lifetime and these rank with the best. Prepared to perfection, the outer was crispy, the inner juicy, and the minimalist use of sauce was spicy and sweet with enough complexity for me to enjoy all 3 drumlettes.
My main dish was the grilled pork chop. I’m usually not a fan of the pork chop as there are other cuts of swine that draw my attention. However, this pork chop is one that I will return to often. The cut was well over 1 inch thick, yet grilled with loving tenderness as to render the meat slightly pink in the center and juicy all the way through. The sweet/​spicy dark sauce paired the natural flavors of the pork to perfection. An amazing creation that pays perfect tribute to the perfect animal.
For desert I tackled the fried plantains wrapped in won ton wrappers with chocolate sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. Overall I enjoyed this desert. The portion of this dish suggests that it would be better shared, nevertheless, I finished all of my order. However, I’ve tried variations of this dish and prefer some of them over the Bali offering. The chocolate sauce seemed overkill to my palette. A little less would’ve gone a longer way.
SERVICE SCORE: 3 of 4
We were served by a delightful Indonesian lady who happened to be one of the owners. Always attentive, my water cup never went empty. Our wait staff requested, unbeknownst to me, that I be given a massively think cut for my pork chop. For that, this staff will always have a place in my heart. The sole detraction was the gentleman who could not decipher the bill or recall the price of drinks.
As a plus, the owner/​chef paid us a visit. In all of my culinary experiences, this has never happened. We chatted briefly about my fat cut of pork, his experiences in Indonesia, and the food. Delightful!
AMBIANCE SCORE: 3 of 4
Brightly colored walls with tasteful Indonesian decorations and excellent subdued lighting. Wood and bamboo place settings and menu coverings with wonderful utensils whose heft fit my hands delightfully. The single detraction was their poor choice of plastic handled pork chop carving utensils and desert spoon.
VALUE SCORE: 2 of 4
I ate a lot and expected to pay a lot. However, my share of the bill coming out to $ 45 was perhaps more then what this experience merited.
RESTROOM SCORE: 2 of 4
One of the most unusual restaurant restrooms I’ve been in with its offering of lotions, creams, solutions, etc. I was reminded of a restroom at a gentlemen’s club I once was forced to enter. Unnecessary for a restaurant but perhaps that’s how it is done in Indonesia. It was clean and I would not hesitate marring its cleanliness.
RETURN?: Yes
I enjoyed my meal and would definitely return for the pork chop on a special occasion with family or a special friend.

I was the first one to review this restaurant, and I gave it 5 stars at the time. Having visited this establishment again over time, my views gradually changed. Service is very slow, and the owner is downright rude and does nothing to hide her disdain. To be fair, there was a male server who was extremely polite and gracious, but, given the demeanor of his employer, I hope he finds a nicer place to work. I will not return.