Backstage – Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort

Backstage Food Theatre

Words: Kirsten Durward
Photos: Monica Tindall

Fully embracing the resort-wide theatrical ambience, Backstage Food Theatre is fun and fresh. An industrial design concept with textured metals, slatted roof features with pendulum spotlights, and entertaining graffiti pillars provides the backdrop for live station chef performances. Upbeat rock ‘n’ roll music pumps subtly through the space, lending a liveliness to the atmosphere without disturbing the food experience.  

Backstage Food Theatre

We are musing about whether to sit close to the outside, or more internal when Intan, a Back Stage navigator, spies my laptop and immediately guides us to a table with a charging point! So thoughtful! We settle in and order some table water while considering our menu choices. A ‘curtain raiser’ soon arrives for us to snack on as we wait for the ‘main event’ We nibble on the sweet potato crisps and sticky, spicy tamarind sauce and chat to friendly Back Stage navigator Jordy, who hails from Java, and tells us of his international study and hospitality travels. 

The Salad Show

Presented with a flourish in stylish glazed pottery bowls, our salads delight the eye with contrasting colours. Rujak Kepiting (Rp 120 000) sees crispy crab atop starfruit, young papaya, young mango, pomelo, rose water apple and kemangi, combined in a sweet and sticky tamarind dressing. The Detox Salad (Rp 110 000) is fresh and light with rocket, pumpkin, feta cheese, pomegranate, quinoa, cherry tomatoes, and red onions tossed in a zingy citrus dressing.

The Final Cut

Sustainable local seafood fresh from the grill is always a good option on island travel, so that’s what we plump for.

Bali Sustainable Tiger Prawn (Rp 160 000) features six plump and juicy herbed specimens, the stars on the plate. They’re surrounded by a supporting cast of ‘extras’; chargrilled asparagus with baked pumpkin. The white asparagus is firm and succulent, the pumpkin sweetened with maple syrup and adorned with feta crumble and sauteed spinach. The protagonist of my dish, however, is the resonant onion and chilli ‘sambal matah’ with superb lemongrass overtones. That one scores a definite Yum.

And the Yum award for dinner at Backstage Food Theatre goes to the Bali Sustainable Cod Fish Fillet (Rp 155 000). Chargrilled, firm and luscious cod flakes off the fork and into the mouth. Wow! It’s a really flavourful piece of fish without a hint of the oiliness that you get from some cooking styles. It can be freshened with a zing of grilled lemon or softened with creamy lemon butter. We prefer the simple squeeze of lemon. With fish of this quality, cooked this well, a sauce is unnecessary.

Breakfast

Backstage Food Theatre is also the place for breakfast with many room packages including the buffet with ala carte options also available. We try the extensive smorgasbord one day and pick and choose plated items from the menu the next.

Backstage Food Theatre Review

Backstage Food Theatre appeals to a family dinner or a group night out. As an extension of the Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort theatrical concept, it’s a contemporary fashion-lifestyle atmosphere with a stylish menu and freshly prepared dishes.

Reasons to visit Backstage Food Theatre: Fresh and flavourful food, friendly and happy ‘navigator’ waitstaff, funky upbeat ambience, a fun night out.

Backstage Food Theatre
Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort
Kawasan Pariwisata Lot SW 4 & 5
Nusa Dua, Bali, 80363, Indonesia
www.backstagebali.com
+62 361 2092888

Backstage Food Theatre Opening Hours
Breakfast: 6:30 – 11:00 am
Lunch & Dinner: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm

Dress Code
Casual

Find more travel recommendations for Bali here and stay up-to-date with our latest gourmet travel finds here and here.