Our Jay Rayner Story

Last year, we received a review that truly meant a lot to us — from Jay Rayner, one of the UK’s most respected food critics.

His kind words about Bali Satay House were more than exciting; they were deeply encouraging for everyone here, especially our head chef, who’s been working tirelessly to perfect her dishes since day one.

When she heard about the review, she was both proud and emotional. It reminded her why she started cooking in the first place and gave all of us even more motivation to keep sharing the real flavours of Indonesia with North London.

(Read the Full Review Here...)

Reflecting on the Moment

As a small, family-run restaurant in Barnet, it honestly felt surreal. We didn’t expect something like this to happen so early in our journey — it took a while to sink in.

And yes, like most people, we know exactly who Jay Rayner is from MasterChef!

It was both exciting and a little intimidating, but mostly it made us realise how important it is to keep growing carefully and staying true to what we do best, serving authentic Indonesian food made with heart.

The Impact

Since the review, we’ve had so many new faces come in, guests mentioning they’d read Jay’s article and wanted to experience the food for themselves.

Our weekends have definitely been busier, and even though we can’t say it’s all down to the review, it’s clear that it helped more people discover us.

The biggest change, though, has been in our confidence and sense of community.

It reminded us that the hard work is paying off — and gave us the push to keep making every guest’s first taste of Indonesian food something to remember.

Ikan Bakar Bandung (Grilled Sea Bass)

What’s Next for Bali Satay House

That motivation has led to our new Island Night Series, where each month we celebrate the food, culture, and atmosphere of a different Indonesian island, from Java to Sumatra and beyond.

We’ve refreshed our menus, refined our presentation and kept that same passion alive for what we love most: sharing the warmth and flavour of Indonesia right here in Barnet.

Bali Satay House may be tucked away in North London but for those who visit, we hope it feels like a little piece of Indonesia... Welcoming, flavorful and made with love.

Traditional Indonesian Performance at our Island Nights

👉 Read Jay Rayner’s full review here: [Link to The Guardian review]