Review: Urchin Grill & Raw Bar Seminyak
You are nothing if not spoilt for choice of restaurants in Seminyak right now – in fact there are more good restaurants than there are hot dinners to prescribe over the course of a typical holiday stay. Nice problem to have.
One of the latest additions to Seminyak’s contemporary dining scene is Urchin – grill and raw bar. Chef Owner Steven Skelly – formerly head chef at Sydney’s Pier and later The Sailor’s Club has hit town with a bang peddling his mastery of modern Australian seafood.
According to Chef Steven, Urchin is seafood led, produce driven and strives to deliver exceptional standards without the fuss of fine dining. We think he’s nailed it.
An entire menu at the ‘Raw Bar’ and many of the entrees in the main dining room are raw dishes. Think coral trout carpaccio with fennel pollen, dill oil and broccoli, or beef tartare. We started with the selection of sushi & sashimi with house pickled ginger. This was as tender and flavoursome as the best we’ve tried and, when chased by their surprising and superbly robust miso soup, is a meal in itself.
But gluttony has its rewards and we gladly pushed through to discover the mains (ok..and desserts!) Mains include a variety of interestingly paired and prepared fish dishes such as crispy skinned Red Snapper with carrots, almonds and sherry vinegar, roasted Barramundi with braised cos and shimeji mushroom consommé. There is a vegetarian risotto and a fantastic Black Angus tenderloin fillet served with onion, nasturtium and mulled wine for those who prefer not to mess with fruits of the ocean.
The interior – designed to feel like someone’s big airy beach house, is raw and earthy with its interplay of wood, stone, concrete and a groovy copper urchin installation, but it could use a few months to be worn in before it will feel really homely. We like the fully exposed kitchen and you do have a sense of eating at the chef’s table but the ambience has a little way to go when compared to other vibey joints along the strip.
We’re sure it’s only a matter of time.
Address: Jalan Laksmana 22, Seminyak, Bali 80361 Indonesia
Images: Urchin Grill & Raw Bar
