Petit Nola (C. Vicari Joaquim Fuster, 95) is a small restaurant reminiscent of the charming spots in Bali where expats from Seminyak and Canggu love to gather. Inside, the decor is lush with straw details, and outside, there’s a sunny terrace. The menu is made up of Pan-Asian dishes with a slight Mediterranean twist.
Pros:
– The rich and aromatic scent of delicious food envelops the restaurant from all corners. You immediately want to walk in and order the entire menu.
– Huge lampshades made of palm leaves, ropes and indistinguishable items hang from the dining room ceiling. Some pieces are adorned with roses, especially the more conspicuous ones. Among the straw chairs, there are objects resembling royal thrones. A macramé curtain, mirrors, cushions, and a huge fan made from palm leaves — girls from all over the world are thrilled by such beauty. It feels like I’ve entered the bungalow of a good witch.
– The counter at the bar is laid with old turquoise tiles, with lemon crates placed underneath — a contrast I really love! Behind the bar stands a bartender with an incredibly artistic appearance ready to take your order.
– The excellent Vietnamese spring rolls “Rollitos Vietnamitas con Gambas Nola Style” (18.90 euro) are light wraps made with transparent rice paper. Finely shredded purple cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and generous sprigs of green mint form the base of this shrimp appetizer. The fresh, authentic flavor is truly invigorating.
– The “Nola’s Smoked BBQ Ribs” (22.90 euro) melt in your mouth, and the tender meat slides off the bones like butter. The sweet, spicy, and perfectly salty flavor can be slightly toned down with the creamy herb sauce (scrape it off the corn on the same board).
– The first row on the terrace looks like an orchestra pit, where beautiful women sit with cocktails and gaze at the sunset in unison — their symmetrical view is mesmerizing.
Cons:
– There is no view of the sunset from both, the first and second rows of the terrace. It’s also hard to catch a glimpse of the sea from these rows. However, there’s a clear view of a fence, construction work, and a street toilet booth across the road. All signs of cognitive dissonance are present.
– A large palm tree stands in the middle of the dining room, but it’s clearly withering and needs replacing.
– The bao buns with shredded braised duck (Pan Bao con Pato Desmenuzado – 11.90 euro) were unavailable. Instead of duck, the bao was filled with braised pork, and everything would have been great if it weren’t for the overwhelming Hoisin sauce dominating the dish. The annoying and unflattering salt from the store-bought sauce ruined everything.
– The entire order arrived all at once, without asking about the preference of order to receive the dishes.
– We had to deal with dirty plates and cutlery ourselves, as they weren’t changed or cleared right away.
– The restaurant’s interior has some small details that need repair. For example, there’s a hole with exposed wires in the wall near the restrooms, covered by a mirror framed with rattan (very feminine), but the hole is still noticeable. They urgently need to call a handyman.
– An attempt to order a mild coffee led to lengthy negotiations with the waiter, resulting in a huge glass made of pressed crystal filled with a latte and frothy foam arriving to the table. Drinking half a liter for almost 6 euros was impossible.
– The warm tacos “Mamma Mia” (13.90 euro) with lamb, feta cream, tabbouleh, and red onion should have been amazing, in theory, but they were inedible due to the horrific amount of salt in the sauce. Plus, you must eat the base tortilla before it cools down — once it does, it turns into something resembling greasy paper.
– The pieces of sweet corn that accompany the “Nola’s Smoked BBQ Ribs” is futile. You can’t chew them, nor can you cut them with a knife. In short, it’s overcooked corn, and the dish is better without it.
Text by Lana Kesoyan
