Glory restaurant is located on Jl. Legian about 200 meters up from Jl. Padma. For those people like me who have driven up the street a 1,000 times but never stopped, it's the place with the BCA ATM in front. Glory started 23 years ago and Bali was a very different place in 1982. Back then everything closed at 10pm, Kuta and Legian were 2 distinct places and Seminyak was just a village. The owner of Glory, (who asked that his name was not used) is still with the restaurant and told me that in the early days if people in Kuta wanted something of a change they make the journey up Jl. Legian to Glory. For those who didn't know it, Glory restaurant was the place that introduced jugs of Harvey Wallbanger, Long Island Iced Tea and shooters to Bali.
When Ika and I walked in I could tell it was a family style place, with plenty of space, a Balinese staff and style. Glory has an international menu featuring Chinese, Indonesian, western and Balinese dishes. The menu is divided into Appetizers, Soups, Seafood, Neptune's Feast, Rice & Noodles, Meat Courses, Snacks, Desserts, Tea & Coffee. There is an extensive list of traditional and original cocktails, the owner being a chemist! Our visit was deliberately on a Saturday as the Balinese buffet was scheduled. It was a very impressive feast including a whole babi guling (suckling pig). I assembled a plate for myself and one for Ika, being careful to leave out the pork items for her. She is actually okay eating pork, but does not really like the Balinese style, with chunks of pork fat etc. The babi guling was delicious as was the jackfruit and other side dishes. Ika told me later she thought the food was very good and better than local Balinese food. Visitors to Bali will have to look for a good selection of Balinese food like this, I don't find it very often. Most warungs are cooking Indonesian food, padang style food, Javanese food, but the Balinese food is mostly found away from the tourist areas.
Glory is spacious and we sat at the back next to the pond and fountain, enjoying our host's company. He told me that some of the signs in the restaurant have been there since the opening, including one asking the guests to remember Glory is not a fast food restaurant. I finished off my dinner with a lovely B52 coffee, recommended by the owner. I would say that with the focus on quality food, good service and good drinks, a large group on holiday could have a good time here. A Deep-Sea Fish Steak is 45,000rp, Nasi Campur Bali 25,000rp, Steak Tropicana 50,000rp. A small Bintang is 11,000rp.
Glory can handle private functions and you might want to put this on your list for decent family oriented food.
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G’Day Nick,
This is a great place with good food and a tremedous atmosphere. When Candika and I went there for a so-called romantic dinner, the service was A1 and delightful.
What I like about this place is that you can front up wearing anything you like. People get ‘dressed up’ and look like they just walked off a cruise ship, and others more laid-back. Heck, I went there wearing only shorts, T-Shirt and Teva’s!.
I agree its a good place. The Balinese buffet was lovely as were the drinks.
I think they need to promote the Balinese food way more, get in front of tourists in Tuban, Kuta, Legian and think of something extra that will make people want to come, whether it be a Trivial Pursuits night, Joged dance, whatever, you’ve got to give the customer some reason to maske the trek from Kuta as there is so much choice down there.
Hi Nick,
As any restauranteur knows, drinks provide good returns as they are high margin, low prep time and it does not spoil sitting on the shelf. Maybe some unusual fruity drink promo is the key.
Ambiance is important too. Some of the places that I’ve been to, although very good in food quality and presentation, turned me off when there is a lot of 2 stroke smoke and noise from being too close to the street. It’s a problem when the building is only 3-4m wide but very deep. The more you go inside the more stifling hot it gets, but sit too close to the sidewalk and you can only taste oily smokey soot. The one really bad thing about Indonesia, like in Jakarta, is the amount of 2 stroke motors. They should try and phase them out over say 5-7 years, in favour of 4 stroke.
Many restaurants here will take their slowest night, say Tuesday, and promo it by having a night where they bring a friend and they can get a 2 for 1 main course for free. Or something like all you can eat shrimp between 6 and 8 PM.
I first visited GLORY 1987. Wed Buffet Night. 4000rupiah all you could eat and 2hrs of free jugs of Long Island Tea.I and my mates became regulars for yrs on Buffet Nights Brings back great memories Excellent food and beautiful staff Still visit Bali twice a yr but missed Glory for last few. Will be in Bali Oct & will pay a visit. Do they still have Buffet Night NICK? Definately recommend anyone to go and sample a great and cheap night. Jaya Pub within staggering distance down the road Made that trip in the dark in the good old days heaps of times.
Hi Nick a vist to Bali for me is not complete until I have been to Glory. You were sitting at my favourite part of the restaurant. I know exactly what the owner means though, over the years it has gone from somewhere you were battling to get a table at to somewhere that is almost empty a lot of the time. It is a real shame as the food has always been great and the staff very good.
I have many times had a “Glory Ride” back to my hotel after a great buffet washed down with lots of Long Island Tea.
Yeah Nick,
Join us at glory for our forum dinner. As a long time Blog reader, it would be great to meet you. Contact Annyf above and hopefully we’ll see you there!
Cheers
Rodney
Chris,
I totally agree on the 2-strokes, they are a nusance. Glory does good drinks and I think the owner does okay promoting these.
Glory is fairly wide and also deep. The problem they are experiencing is how to transition from a ‘place to head for’ (they were one of the only places to go in Legian years ago), to a place mong many. The competition is intense, with many places in Tuban, Kuta, Legian. Being situated on the main road, rather than somewhere like Jl. Padma might be a dissadvantage in this instance, because people generally jump in a taxi and go from Kuta / Padma to Seminyak, they do not usually walk past.
Frank, I agree that Glory offers good food and good drinks. Don’t know about the buffet, other than the Balinese buffet on Saturday night. Glory is great for groups and families and should come up with some ‘extra reason’ for people to make the trek from Kuta, whether it be a music act or something to give some momentum.
Kez, Glory does have a free vehicle, ‘Glory Ride’, as you mentioned. They will pick up guests which is very nice.
Rodney, thanks for the invite.
Nick,
Can we count you in for the dinner at Glory on the 8th August? So far there are 18 of us going, mostly mad Aussies!
Cheers mate, email me if you can and let me know!
Rodney
I want to eat.As a long time Blog reader, it would be great to meet you. Contact Annyf above and hopefully we’ll see you there!I come from China minieappliance
Nick,
What happened? Last I heard you were coming along? Maybe we can catch up in April?
Cheers
Rodney
I planned to come along and Angie gave me a call. That evening I had a back log of things to do so couldn’t make it. Will be nice to catch up next time.
hi Nick,
a group of us from one of the Bali Forums are having a dinner at Glory’s in early August if you would like to join us !
email me and I will give you details…..
cheers,
Ann