Riau Islands (Culinary) Trip in March 2013: Harbour Bay Seafood Restaurant, Batam

This is our last night staying in Batam. Tomorrow, we are returning to Bandung. After a tiring but happy days, a spectacular end is a must, and this place provides it.

Located conveniently in the Batam harbor, we can see Singapore lights from the place. The trip itself would take only around 30 minutes. So near, and it kept us wondering, is there any similar restaurant facing us also in Singapore?

Their dishes mostly are seafood. Their main diva menu is their signature Black Pepper Grilled Crab. The Crab is so big and have a lot of meat inside. Really spiking up your cholesterol level, but really worth it (We can burn the carbo later when we are returned to Bandung).

Overall dining experience was delighful. Cannot wait for us to return here again soon.

Enjoy! 

Harbour Bay Seafood Restaurant
Komplek Harbour Bay No.R 08
Jln. Duyung Sei Jodoh
Batu Ampar - Batam
29461 Batam – Indonesia
Phone: +62 778 – 741 5188
Fax: +62 778 - 741 5199
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/harbourbaysearesto
Email: info@harbourbaysearesto.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hbseafoodresto
Website: http://www.harbourbayseafoodresto.com/

The Signage

Crab Soup

Add caption

Deep Fried Shrimp with Oatmeal

Grilled Crab with Black Pepper Sauce

Stir Fry Veggies with Seafood (Cap Cay)

A View to Singapore

Add caption

Happy Hungry Face

The Fresh Fish Aquarium

Read More

Riau Islands (Culinary) Trip in March 2013: Kelong Restoran Tunteja 533

We couldn't get enough of seafood. Since it kind of abundant here and relatively cheap compared in Jakarta or Bandung, so why not have a dinner with seafood (again). 

The place was quite far from the hotel, and since it was dark, I couldn't guest where are we right now. Just follow the crowd.

They were serving all kind of seafood like usual. We had deep fried flour battered shrimp, steamed fish, cap cay or stir fried vegetables, and chili crab, it was our favorite one. We also ordered fried chicken for the one who can't eat seafood. It was GOOD! Of course, nothing can beat the freshness of seafood while we're near the sea. 

So, our tummy were full and got back to the hotel feeling tired but happy :D

Enjoy!

Kelong Restaurant

Tunteja 533

Desa Sebung Pete

Kec. Teluk Sebung

Bintan

The entrance

Deep fried flour battered shrimp

Fried chicken (This one is good!)

Stir fried vegetables

Steamed fish

Our favorite: Chili carb. Yum!

Full tummy = happy faces!

Read More

Riau Islands (Culinary) Trip in March 2013: Akau Potong Lembu, Tj. Pinang

Based on Haluan Kepri, Akau Potong Lembu is the biggest and the oldest culinary spot in Tanjung Pinang and the visitors not only people from the city, but tourist also come to this place. That's us! The place reminded me of pujasera in Gading Serpong we used to come and also in Night Market of Bangkok, Thailand.

It was almost late at night but the place was swarming with people and matter of fact it felt cozy and that's why people loved this place. We already had dinner with crabs and the friends, so we just ordered beverages, Aswin and I ordered ice tarik tea. I also took a bite of grilled cuttlefish, it was quite delicious, maybe because it was so fresh.

So, this place is very recommended to visit during your trip to Tanjung Pinang. Enjoy! 

Akau Potong Lembu

Jalan Potong Lembu

Tanjung Pinang - Kepri

Indonesia

The Logo

The Making of Their Delicious Coffee

Can You See How Hot it is?

Although it is night, it is very crowded!

Great Place for Light Discussion and Kongkow-Kongkow

It is over 10 PM!

And yet the crowd is still around!

Happy Faces!

Foamy Teh Tarik

Snack: Grilled Cuttlefish

Read More

Riau Islands (Culinary) Trip in March 2013: Dinner at dr Azis' Residence

Aswin was extremely enthusiasts when we heard that to get to Tanjung Pinang we had to take ferry first. But since we sat in VIP area, it wasn't like the last trip when I took the ferry in 2003 for our campus field trip, from Bali to Bandung.

It took around 1 hour from Batam to Tanjung Pinang. Based on Wikipedia, Tanjung Pinang is the capital and second largest city of the Indonesian province of Riau Islands after Batam. Tanjung Pinang itself is located on south of Bintan island.

After we arrived at the port, we went to dr Azis' residence with bus, which took around 10 minutes. The house itself has 1200 Sqm where in every bedroom there was a bathroom and walk in closet. Wow! It was extraordinarily generous of them to invite us spending the night there.

We had dinner at 8 pm. They served us crab (again) with chili sauce, Kerapu fish, shrimp, fried chicken, and chicken soup. There also otak-otak for snacks, and fruits and cendols for dessert. After we had dinner, we were doing line dancing and also karaoke. Well, they are entertained us to the max. Great food, good companion, and great entertainment! It was such great evening, thank you for dr. Azis and family.

Enjoy!

dr. Azis' Residence
Tanjung Pinang - Riau Islands
Indonesia

We were entertained to the max!

Aswin in VIP Room of the Ferry

Welcome to Tanjung Pinang!

The Harbour

Various types of Local Seafood Dishes

Cendol ala Tanjung Pinang

Otak-otak #1

Otak-otak #2: Leave no food behind!

A little work-out in form of Poco-Poco to shade that excess fat

Singing Contest

Read More

Riau Islands (Culinary) Trip in March 2013: Balerang Seafood, Batam

Balerang Seafood

The entrance

Look how vast the room is

View from the restaurant

Our table

VIP room with Air Conditioner

Waiting...

Hungry faces

Kangkung ca

Crab soup

Shrimp with butter sauce

Batam fish soup

Crab with chili sauce

Smile...

Boiled Gong gong

The crab soup

Preservation #1 No wonder they're so fresh

Preservation #2

Preservation #3

In front of Balerang bridge

We went to Batam and Bintan Island!

We're extremely excited since it was our first time to go the area.

Batam is one of islands near Singapore, and Bintan also their neighboring island. Batam and Bintan Island are included in Kepulauan Riau or Kepri with Tanjung Pinang, which is located on Bintan Island as the capital city. And shame on me that are the facts I knew when I went here. Geography and I are never meant to be. What excite us more is their culture and of course their culinary. Since there always some connections between two of them.

After we had arrived in Batam, we took lunch at Balerang Seafood near one of the Balerang Bridge which is called Tengku Fisabilillah bridge. Based on Wikipedia, it is the biggest bridge comparing with the other one that connects Batam and Tonton island. It stretches for 642 meters and is the most popular bridge of all, being a cable-stayed bridge with two 118 m high pylons and main span 350 m. The Barelang Bridge is a chain of 6 bridges of various types that connect the islands of Batam, Rempang, and Galang. “Barelang”also refers to the islands themselves. The smaller islands of Tonton, Nipah, and Setotok (considered parts of the Batam island group) connect Batam and Rempang. The entire Barelang region covers 715 Sqm. This bridge was also known as Jembatan Habibie, after Jusuf Habibie, who oversaw the project in construction, aiming to transform the Rempang and Galang islands into industrial sites (resembling present-day Batam). It is looked like Golden Gate bridge in San Fransisco, and it is one of the landmarks in Batam area.

The building of the seafood restaurant was quite strange because it was like building for futsal (indoor soccer). It was vast, it had wide span and high ceiling. So, we assumed that the place was exceptionally famous. Maybe in the weekend, the restaurant was crowded with visitors. Basically, they served all kinds of seafood, but for this lunch there were crab with chili sauce, Batam fish soup (fish with tomato soup), boiled Gong gong, shrimp with butter sauce, and Kangkung ca (vegetable). It was good, I like their Batam fish soup, it was like the combination of tom yam soup and bolognaise sauce. And Aswin like their crab, he was eating it with frenzy. And our Zimmerman moment was when we tried the Gong gong. They looked like clam, but also like a snail, and we could see their leg that  reminded us of cockroach's foot. Well, finally we tried the Gong gong and hmm...their tasted just ordinary. I guess it wasn't worth considering their look.

Well, we're a tourist, so it was obligated to take photos in front of the landmark.

Enjoy!

Balerang Seafood
Jln.Trans Barelang
Before Jembatan 1 Barelang
Batam - Indonesia
Ph. +6281277559191
E. barelangseafood@yahoo.com

Read More