Bali Satay House is one of few restaurants that has survived in Campustown, even with plenty of competition from other Chinese and Asian restaurants. It has also added more entertainment with open mic and music night featuring everything from electronic to blues. The Daily’s DPD pair went to see if the food matched the entertainment.

Atmosphere:

KB: Bali Satay has made a lot of changes since my freshman year — it’s begun having concerts, and its clientele seems to have increased. We were there on a Tuesday night, and it was pretty busy. The clean plastic tablecloths and wooden floors make it a simple decor, but that’s all you need sometimes.

KF: This looked like the perfect cross between a Chinese restaurant and an American bar: Chinese for the art on the wall and the type of cuisine, American for the worn wooden floors and the neon Budweiser sign by the bar. It was comfortable and interesting. And the bathroom smelled like an orange Tootsie Pop. It was great.

Service:

KB: Our waiter was pretty speedy, or at least as speedy as he could be. When I ordered he asked me how spicy I wanted my food, something I don’t usually get asked. The wait staff is pretty good when someone has questions about the food; ours withstood my interrogation about how spicy “really spicy” was at Bali Satay.

KF: We had quality service. Nice, quick and always keeping an eye on our water glasses. You really can’t ask for much more.

Quantity/Value:

KB: The amount of food we got was a pretty good size. A big plate of lo mein was more than filling, and I got more than some cheap veggies and two pieces of meat. Duck is not necessarily cheap, so I was glad to see there was a fair amount of it along with well-cooked bok choy and what seemed like Chinese sausage or bacon.

KF: I really can’t complain. For less than $7, the growlies in my tummy were silenced and I didn’t need to change into stretch pants. Bali Satay is definitely comparable to other Chinese restaurants in terms of food value, and paying my bill didn’t make my wallet cry.

Quality/Taste:

KB: Duck is a really strong taste, so I was glad there was plenty of other flavors present in my meal. I could taste a little bit of garlic. The only downside is the exact reason I tend to not order lo mein. It’s usually pretty oily, and the grease can ruin the meal. Bali Satay was decent, although they could have eased up on the oil a little bit.

KF: After giving blood earlier in the day, my body was craving some scrumptious nutrients. Bali Satay delivered exactly what I wanted. The chicken was wonderfully marinated and seasoned, being the perfect complement to my rice and garden-fresh string beans. The garlic flavor wasn’t overpowering, and my dish was just spicy enough to make my lips tingle.

Final Say:

KB: 3.5 of 5 forks

KF: 4 of 5 forks

Bali Satay House

2424 Lincoln Way

(515) 292-7719

Hours: Lunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Dinner: 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday,

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday through Sunday

Kate’s Meal: Hot and spicy string beans with chicken, water, $6.99

Kim’s Meal: Duck Lo Mein, water, $6.50