If it swims they have it.
Bali Hai Seafood Market is a large semi-open-air restaurant decorated in a Balinese theme. Euro 2012 was on while we were there, and we couldn’t decide if all the soccer balls hanging from the ceiling were there specially for the event, or part of the usual ambiance.
The most striking feature however, is the wall lined with fish tanks. There you could choose from a huge range of local and imported seafood such as Alaskan spider crab, emperor crab, snow crab, Australian lobster, rainbow lobster, pearl lobster, giant mantis prawn, geoduck, eels and standard fishes.
No, I didn’t know what geoducks were either. But apparently, they’re those appetising looking white creatures in the middle tank.
Once you’ve chosen from the menu, you can watch as a chap in gumboots and overalls fishes your dinner right out of the tank.
Although, some items were not kicking and screaming, they were already dead and on ice.
There was quite a range of shell-fishy bits and pieces. I’m no ichthyological expert (did you see that? Twice in 24 hours I’ve managed to work that word in…) so you’ll just have to settle for my vague descriptions of the aquatic life on offer.
I can state with some authority however, that the cooked results were delicious.
This dish had interesting aesthetics.
And the garnish of dry ice under the parsley in the half pumpkin was a “noice, different and unusual” touch.
I know that seems like a lot of food for just the three of us, but it was over two nights – we enjoyed it so much the first time, we went back a few days later.
And then we found out there was a sister-restaurant on the beach at Batu Ferringhi where we were headed a few days later…
Next up: Pinang Peranakan Mansion
