Ku De Ta Restaurant: Bali

On one of our evenings in Bali a few weeks ago, we thought it was time to treat ourselves to something truly special (okay, every night felt special), and after reading many reviews about the über famous Ku De Ta restaurant in Seminyak, we went for the crown jewel. Only seconds after opening the menu, the prices were a bit of a shock, coming from a place where you can eat delicious fresh fish for only a few dollars; seeing a $35 entree was hard to stomach, but the service, atmosphere and overall experience made up for it in spades. Tables were set around the outside of an enormous reflecting pool with a DJ set right at the edge. Soft red umbrellas were scattered along the catwalk above the beach — an incredible and idyllic place to share a drink at sunset. The scene was littered with the rich and pretty looking tourists (or rich locals, which there are very few) from Asia and Australia. The eclectic mix of local Indonesian food infused with French and Italian elements were elegantly presented and deliciously cooked by New Zealander, Chef Philip Davenport — who at this point is a local celebrity (and not to mention, probably very rich man). All said, Ku De Ta is definitely worth it for a special occasion — but not a deal you should be hunting for in Bali by any stretch of the imagination. If I could have done it any differently, I would have just gone for the environment, the drinks, and the view.