Double Ikat restaurant serves authentically refined Indonesian cuisine, with delicate traditional art on the side.
After the successful Clay Craft, a restaurant revolving around the concept of a pottery studio, Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa has followed up by introducing its much-awaited crown jewel in the dining front, Double Ikat. Ikat is a traditional Indonesian weaving technique, and first-timers can immediately see how the age-old craft sets the whole tone for the intimate, yet casual, restaurant.
As you enter Double Ikat, you will be welcomed by colourful spools of thread and a loom. Rows of tables are separated by screens made to resemble threaded looms set on wooden frames, simultaneously creating an iconic backdrop and a degree of privacy. The plates are decorated with a crisscross pattern – homage to the intricate craft of weaving, and the cushion covers boast rich colours and patterns from Indonesian ikat.
After you’re done with all the oohs and ahs over the mesmerising decor, your journey to discover Indonesian culinary delights can start. Not only does the restaurant bring a sleek and refined touch to a well-known local craft, it also aims to recreate the warm hospitality usually found in Indonesian homes. So it’s only natural to start the experience with a sambal-making demonstration, using a traditional mortar and pestle, right on your table. Add assorted Indonesian crackers to dip in the sambal, and your palate is more than ready.
The menu isn’t too much, but it comprises the best-loved dishes from several regions in Indonesia. Authenticity is paramount at Double Ikat, as top-quality ingredients sourced locally and flavours stay true to their traditional recipes. No unnecessary fusions, no complicated culinary gimmicks, everything is truly Indonesian, only enhanced by meticulous preparation and presentation.
All-time favourite light bites like perkedel jagung, sate campur, tahu isi and pangsit goreng make great appetisers. While heartier fare like nasi goreng Uluwatu, gulai kambing, rendang daging and ikan kukus asam manis are a parade of vibrant flavours that will make you an Indonesian cuisine enthusiast – if you aren’t one already.
The culinary chef d’oeuvre at Double Ikat is undoubtedly the babi guling. Bali’s most famous local dish, the suckling pig is roasted using coconut husk charcoal, resulting in a tantalising taste laced with an incredible hint of smokiness, perfectly crispy skin and succulent meat. As Double Ikat’s pride and joy, the babi guling is not to be missed.
Further creating a homey atmosphere is the open kitchen, an unobstructed spectacle of gastronomic magic created by the kitchen team under the guidance of Chef de Cuisine Wayan Bagiana. You can even opt to dine by the kitchen to get a front-row view of the show. For small-scale gatherings, choose between the two sophisticated private dining rooms.
Dining time at Double Ikat makes both a great preview and conclusion to what Indonesia’s treasures really are in terms of craft and cuisine, bringing what’s traditional and authentic to a new age in the country’s culinary scene.
Double Ikat
Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa
Jalan Pantai Balangan 1 No. 1, Ungasan
Bali 80361, Indonesia
T: +623612003588
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