In Reply to: Jimbaran restaurants posted by ellabea on Monday, 22. August 2005 at 08:55 Bali Time:
There are 3 groups of fish restaurants one very near to the airport runway, this is actually the village of Kendonganan. One in the middle, this is the original group and is in the village of Jimbaran near to Hotel Keraton. The third further along again is tucked under the hill near the 5 star hotels.
This is the way it works. The ones near the airport are the most expensive and also the problems with fixed scales and poor quality seem to be confined, in the main, to that area. However also in this area is everyone's favourite Sharky's and a couple of other flasher set ups. It appears at Sharkeys you pay close to Australian prices but if you want something more upmarket (with a good toilet) this is the place for you. Many of these restaurants pay drivers commission to take customers there so naturally this is reflected in the price you pay.
The second lot away from the airport near Hotel Keraton are my personal favourites. Many expats and locals and domestice tourists use this end which speaks for itself. We go to Denas but I gather all of this group are much the same. I've never felt ripped off and never had dry over cooked fish. Same beautiful view of course at all of them. We usually pay a bit over Rp. 100.000 depending on size etc and typically that would include 1 fish, some squid, and some clams. and 1 large beer. The meal includes peanuts, fish soup, a salad of onion garlic and tomato oh and cucumber in vinegar first. The main meal comes with steamed rice, potato, green vegetable and sauces. You get fresh fruit to finish. You can buy wine there, prices about average, or byo. Now if you really can't handle a squat toilet either don't go there or don't drink much beer!!! For a first timer the way to handle it pricewise I feel is this. Don't get hung up on scales accurate or otherwise. Pick your fish before you sit down. They will then weigh it and you should get them to tell you what each item is going to cost you. If you are happy with the price, no worries. (You will be happy with the price) We don't eat prawns or lobster so I don't know how they go pricewise but if you buy prawns and you ask for a dozen and a dozen turn up on your plate (which they will)no worries again. When you go back more than once you need not go through all this if you don't want to because obviously they remember you and that you know what to expect to pay so if you feel like sitting down and having a couple of drinks before you pick your food that's fine.
If you got there with your own driver and he's waiting for you fine. If you came by bluebid taxi you walk to the corner of the carpark and they have group of drivers on standby there. You should expect to pay a bit more than it cost you to get there but they do have a fixed price policy and a book to prove it!!! You can't get a bluebird taxi called there because these drivers are from the village and really they have a cartel. Can't blame them as it is their village and the popularity of Bluebird taxis has really chopped into their income. Whenever we have used them they have been fine.
I have never eaten at the third group of restaurants away from the airport under the hill but I have heard only good things about them too.
Eating there is always a high spot during my holiday in Bali and whenever we have taken friends there they have loved it too.