The scene at Tamarind Mediterranean Restaurant is everything one would expect out of beachfront dining along the Balinese coast. Sunlit tables are shaded by sea grape trees, palm fronds, and screw pines, trading tiled floors for powdery white sands. There’s almost no distinction between indoors and outdoors as no walls obstruct views of the picturesque rolling seas and cloud-streaked skies. The whole space is simmering with an organic feel from the bamboo construction, thatched roofs, and wicker furnishings. Yet, behind its unassuming façade lies a culinary approach that’s anything but.
Positioned as a premier dining destination fit for any occasion, the menu moves from breakfast to lunch and dinner with as much ease as its idyllic ambience. Early birds can easily catch the warm hues of the sunrise glow before enjoying a selection which includes pancakes, avocado toast, and a choice of egg dishes alongside some juice and coffee, an ideal start to one’s tropical getaway. Afternoons are the prime time to bask in the panoramic oceanic vistas Late risers can jump straight into the lunch menu, boasting fresh salads and soups, an assortment of burgers, pizzas, and pastas, as well as classic entrées like fish and chips, chicken gyro, and beef and truffle arancini.
As nightfall takes over, a romantic mood blankets the shoreline, drawing diners up the spiral staircase to the restaurant’s second floor. This elevation offers a wonderful vantage point to gaze at the inky waters that seemingly blend into the twilight sky that, if one is lucky enough, is adorned with stars that wink knowingly at them. The dinner menu expands on its daytime counterpart, adding sophisticated dishes like bouillabaisse, risottos varieties, hearty steaks, and succulent seafoods to its roster. Couples can even amp up the amorous atmosphere with a grazing board featuring international cheeses that are locally produced in Jimbaran, or indulge in desserts that include the restaurant’s twist on a classic tiramisu and a decadent gianduja confection.
