Most restaurants on the island offer a similar menu and with few exceptions, the quality is the same. It's a mixture of Indonesian with basic Western food, and plenty of Italian options thrown in. Try and order your food before you're hungry as the pace of service can be pretty relaxed. The Santay at the Gili Air Santay for Thai and Biba at Biba Beach Village for Italian are also two excellent choices. Most of the restaurants listed are nothing more than open-air beach shacks. Almost none of the restaurants have phone numbers. They do not have credit card machines.
The Green Café serves a selection of sandwiches, pasta, and some delicious Sasak home cooking for Rp15,000 to Rp25,000. Munchies (Rp10,000-Rp25,000) is popular with travelers for their reasonably priced fresh fish barbecues. They also serve local curries. Prices for fresh fish are agreed upon when you choose. Tami's (Rp20,000-Rp40,000) serves a variety of local cuisines mostly to day visitors from the Oberoi Hotel on Lombok. The dish to try is the delicious grilled chicken, but the rest of the menu is not much different from others on the island -- and it is slightly more expensive.
The Wiwin Café (Rp25,000-Rp30,000) gets packed in the evening thanks to its large selection of fresh fish. The fish is weighed in front of you and you agree upon a price. Also on the menu is local and European food and some pretty good Indian curries. The bar has a large selection of local and Western booze. The attached bookshop has a good selection of secondhand books.
Zipp Bar (Rp35,000-Rp50,000) is an ideal place to pass the day. Lounge on one of the sun beds and sip cocktails until you doze. Jump in the water, and enjoy some of the best snorkeling on the island. Try a pizza from their wood-burning oven. A range of pastas, burgers, local food, and sandwiches are also available. Watch out though, you may be charged from the more expensive "tourist" menu. Same food, different prices; ask for the local menu. If you are looking for some late-night drinking, this is the place to head to. Either look out for or watch out for the crowd-pleasing full moon parties.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
