We did not plan to eat at Lotus; we just happened on it. This was during one of the several foot excursions that Chuck and I embarked on while in Ubud. You cannot appreciate the beauty of the restaurant until you are well inside. We were there for lunch. It's quite busy and informal. We were seated right in front of a huge lotus pond, with a temple sitting atop a brick wall. On our right hand side (picture this, because the restaurant has no back wall)we have a craftsman hammering away at something he's creating. The menu includes the native goreng dishes (vegetable fried noodles), different satais (those are safe to eat at reputable restaurants; be careful if you land at a self-serve type of eatery). A number of creations to tantalize the palate, but we insure with our servers that none will burn the roof of our palates.
We are both gazing at this expanse of lotus floating on tranquil water; even though it's cloudy, it's an amazing vista to behold. You can have Balinese Kopi (coffee) if you wish, or end your meal with tea. Chuck sampled and approved the local beer. By Western standards, the service is quite slow, but if you are in a hurry, get off the island. We are sharing our appetizers, something very similar to the Indian samosas.
Chuck seems to have lost all his inhibitions about local fare, and is no longer sniffing his food. Although we had been warned not to eat raw salads, the salad they serve us is crackling fresh. Again, exercise caution and be more careful when patronizing off the beaten paths warungs (cafés). The decor at Lotus is very tropical and the tablecloths are white with green and red flora. My memories of Lotus Café are less about the food and more about the locale.