On a recent getaway to Bali, we only had a few days to get as much dining in as possible. With a bit of research, we decided to jump in a taxi and head down to Republik 45 for some of the best traditional Indonesian cuisine.
ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE
The name of the restaurant comes from the year Indonesia declared their independence in 1945. With so much history behind their name, the restaurant has provided a swanky traditional, yet sophisticated industrial fit out with high exposed ceilings, traditional artwork and oversized comfy chairs and couches.
Your eyes are instantly drawn to the gorgeous feature bar located at the far end of the restaurant. Floor to ceiling shelves showcase the abundance of liquor, which goes into creating their delicious cocktail menu.
I found the service genuine during our dinner. The waiter was attentive, and made some delicious recommendations to the menu.
FOOD
The menu is a combination of incorporating traditional Indonesian and European dishes, with more than 90% of their menu being gluten free.
Local dishes include everything from crispy pastry filled with duck, tiger prawns in a rich spicy tomato sambai sauce or their signature charcoal grilled fried rice with spicy seared tuna wrapped in banana leaf.
Overall, I was definitely pleased with the food that was presented to us. It was so hard to try and make a decision as everything looked so delicious. But, after much debate, we decided to stick to all local dishes, as we were in Bali after all!