Bhima's Warung
| Bhima's Warung | |
|---|---|
 The storefront of Bhima's Warung | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1994 |
| Owner(s) | Paul Boehmer |
| Food type | Southeast Asian fusion, Indonesian |
| Street address | 262 King St N. |
| City | Waterloo |
| State | Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°28′39″N 80°31′30″W / 43.47744°N 80.52496°W |
| Reservations | Yes |
| Website | www |
Bhima's Warung is a southeast Asian fusion restaurant in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, located at 262 King St N.
Menu
[edit]According to a 2011 Guelph Mercury article, "Bhima’s menu is all about elaborate, wacky, creative fusion".[1] Bhima's uses elements of French cuisine as a foundation for its fusion of Asian cuisines.[2][3] Bhima's offers a large selection of fish and seafood,[4] and the food is generally spicy.[5] For drinks, beers, Singha, cocktails, and wines are served.[1][6] Examples of appetizers served include Goi Tai and Nam Prik Gung Mamauang.[1] For mains, past options have included Cornish hen, Kee Mao, Bistik Tandoori, and the Pad Ped Surf & Turf.[6][1][7]
History
[edit]Bhima's Warung opened in 1994.[1] The restaurant is owned by Paul Boehmer,[1][8] and is named after Bhima, a Hindu legend that is a chef to the gods.[6] The warung in the name means a small Indonesian food stall.[6] The restaurant's location has been described as "blink-and-you'll-miss-it".[7]
Boehmer is classically trained in French cuisine (with over 15 years of experience)[5] and discovered southeast Asian cuisines during his travels.[3] While in Indonesia, Boehmer learned some Indonesian, allowing him to learn recipes from elders for traditional dishes.[5] On the mix of cuisines, Boehmer stated "The two came together and it was not necessarily planned."[3] At this time, Asian food was less popular in Waterloo, but this changed as the increase of international students caused the city to become more multicultural.[3]
In 2004, Bhima's added a patio in reaction to a regional no-smoking bylaw.[9] The same year, Boehmer opened Loloan, a restaurant in Bali, Indonesia.[1][10] In March 2018, Bhima's opened a sister restaurant, Loloan Lobby Bar, which imitates the atmosphere of a hotel lobby bar.[8][11] Bhima's closed for indoor dining during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021, but remained open for takeout.[12] Due to the lockdowns, Boehmer considered closing the restaurant, but decided against it.[13]
Reception
[edit]Bhima's has received reviews from The Record in 1995,[5] 1998,[6] 2002, 2014,[7] 2017,[14] and 2021,[13] and reviews from the Guelph Mercury in 2000,[15] 2008,[16] and 2011.[1] The 1995 Record review described the food as "sensational" and menu as "exceptional ".[5] The 1998 Record review praised the atmosphere, food, and service.[6] In 2005, Bhima's was listed in the restaurant guide Where to Eat in Canada.[17] The 2011 Mercury review was positive, describing the restaurant as "one of a kind" and summarizing it as having "intoxicating flavours, laid-back atmosphere, great service".[1] According to a 2014 Waterloo Chronicle article by Bob Vrbanac, Bhima's "has been rated as one of the top places to dine in Canada" and is among the highest rated restaurants in the region on Trip Advisor.[3]
Legacy
[edit]According to Andrew Coppolino of CBC News, Bhima's has a reputation for developing cooks who "stay in the region to add their skill to the food scene's diversity".[18] Vrbanac wrote that Bhima's was creating Asian fusion dishes before that trend existed, and "some might suggest that [Boehmer] anticipated the trend".[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "A little taste of Bali". Guelph Mercury. January 21, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (August 31, 2019). "Try this: Andrew Coppolino's guide to fusion food". CBC News.
- ^ a b c d e f Vrbanac, Bob (October 14, 2014). "Staying true to the food". Waterloo Chronicle. Waterloo, Ont.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (November 27, 2021). "Beyond salmon or served with chips, local restaurants offer fish in unique dishes: Andrew Coppolino". CBC News.
- ^ a b c d e Elton, Peter (April 13, 1995). "Bhima's Warung offers diners a culinary and cultural tour of Asia". The Record. D8.
- ^ a b c d e f Burr, Virginia (November 12, 1998). "Chef to the gods? Other Menus At Bhima's Warung, the food lives up to the name". Waterloo Region Record. D22.
- ^ a b c Clarkson, Leigh (March 14, 2014). "Fine dining with a twist". Waterloo Region Record. N18.
- ^ a b Coppolino, Andrew (November 11, 2017). "Take a tour of new eateries in Waterloo region with Andrew Coppolino". CBC News.
- ^ Aggerholm, Barbara (January 10, 2000). "Waterloo restaurant owner to open outdoor, heated patio for smokers". The Record. B02.
- ^ Record staff (November 17, 2005). "Cooking, eating for a good cause". Waterloo Region Record. F19.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (December 11, 2021). "Lobbying for the lobby bar: Waterloo Region's Loloan Lobby Bar is unique in the region". Waterloo Chronicle. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ "Some restaurateurs say it's not worth reopening with red zone restrictions". CTV Kitchener. February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Bielak, Alex (April 22, 2021). "Dining: Bhima's Warung is a special place in Waterloo 'we don't want to lose'". The Record. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ Bielak, Alex (October 13, 2017). "Dining Out: From local to exotic at Bhima's Warung". The Record. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ Middleton, Tim (April 5, 2000). "Choice delicacies abound at Bhima's Warung". Guelph Mercury. B1.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (February 21, 2008). "Savour a World of Experience". Guelph Mercury. F18.
- ^ Hill, Valerie (July 30, 2005). "Glitches aside, annual guide is a hit with diners - and restaurants". Waterloo Region Record. G3.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (March 27, 2021). "Where to find unique dishes from around the world in Waterloo region". CBC News.