Fine dining and friendly vibes at Amici, Seminyak’s new Italian eatery

(Clockwise from top:) Italo-Indo-Nihon style, the Tartare of Wagyu Tokusen Chuck Tender; Uovo e Tartufo (slow-cooked egg with black truffle); and one of the best vegan Parmigianas you’ll taste.

They take Italian cuisine seriously in Indonesia, and why wouldn’t they? Many Italians have been calling Bali home since the late 1960s, and Indonesia has held great diplomatic relations with Italy since 1949. It was in the 1980s, though, when Italian ex-pats began setting up shop – or restaurant, as it were – across the island of Bali, and soon enough visitors from around the world would be saying Italian food in Indonesia – particularly in Bali – is almost as good as if it were cooked up by chefs in Rome or Rimini.

Newly opened restaurant in Seminyak, Amici, continues the Italian/Indonesian love affair of good company and fine dining.

The establishment is owned and run by famed Michelin-star chef Enrico Bartolini (last count, 12 wins) whose sophisticated preparation and stunning presentation of Italian cuisine sees him worthy of another couple of stars.

Italian-born Enrico Bartolini continues the healthy tradition of great Italian food on offer in Indonesia.

Paying homage to the rich food culture of Italy, Bartolini and Amici capture the essence of generations of classic dishes passed down through time. The restaurant’s exquisitely designed space intertwines earth tones with timber-lined interiors and high ceilings. Rather understated the décor is, actually, but that’s because the real showcasing comes out of the kitchen.

It’s an open-view kitchen, where chefs are kept busy preparing exquisite dishes like the Raviolo d’Anatra (hand-made duck ravioli served with a saffron sauce and side of mustard pear) or the Tartufo Deluxe (mozzarella, black truffle, Italian-style sausage with champignon mushrooms – the iron factor in this place is well taken care of).

Each dish is meticulously presented and looks like something out of a modern art gallery.

Since we were a group of four, we decided on dishes we could share, leaving it up to good head chef Alessandro D’amico to choose from his extensive menu and the results were like winning a jackpot.

The Wagyu Tokusen Chuck Tender saw Japanese and Italian fuse beautifully, the rare steak delicately chopped and served with cured egg yolk and a salsa of Dijon mustard, shallots, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, and even a dash of ketchup. But the real star in this big taste contest was the cognac snuck in nicely. No, I didn’t bring a hip flask into the restaurant with me, the cognac’s actually in the ingredients. Yum.

In contrast, La Mia Parmigiana is a family staple turned even more maravilloso: deep fried eggplant layered with tomato sauces and grana padano cheeses. Yum, yum. Unlike most vegetable-based parmigiane this one was not too soft or gooey, instead it could be sliced through like a mini birthday cake hence easily shared among four.

Other dishes perfect for sharing are the Raviolo Ragu Bolognese (homemade Bolognese ragù wrapped in a delicious pastry) and of course the kitchen’s famed Margherita Amici – a pizza that adheres to the ol’ Italian rule of ‘three ingredients max’ on a pizza (but sneaks in a bit of basil oil to boot).

Since I was great friends and family, the sharing idea worked really well.

Complementing the dishes is a vibrant drinks list, honing in on good wines from Italy – curated by house sommelier, Wahyu. Meanwhile Bar Manager, Buda, has expertly curated a neat cocktail and spirits menu. I myself like a white wine and was offered the Leonardi Da Vinci Vermentino Toscana. Yes, the label was too obvious but it made for a nice dry white from the Tuscan countryside that balances out all those glorious ingredients previously mentioned. Nice, soft, dry, yum.

After dinner, you might even be inclined to check out magnificent club next door The Iron Fairies which impressed us big-time; or vape out front of the restaurant under shade or shelter, surrounded by laidback vibes and an amazing view of passersby).

Amici is situated in the heart of busy Seminyak but it’s a venue large enough and with great acoustics that it will make you feel you’re miles away from Bali’s tourist hotspots. If you’re not into the full meal, drop in to enjoy aperitivi with a view.

Antonino Tati

Amici by Enrico Bartolini is situated at No. 19 Jl. Petitenget, Kerobokan Kelod | Seminyak, Bali.

Reservations can be made through amici-bali.com or by phoning +62 899 699 9000.