The string of seafood restaurants along Tanjung Pinang's waterfront all do broadly the same thing — fresh fish, crab, prawns, and squid, cooked to order over charcoal — but the open-air spots near the night market consistently deliver the best atmosphere and freshest product. You point at what you want, agree on a price, and it comes back grilled or wok-fried in whatever sauce you prefer.
Prices are low even by Indonesian standards. Crab with salted egg yolk, grilled squid with chilli sauce, and a plate of steamed rice run to perhaps 80,000 rupiah total — well under five US dollars. Order more than you think you want; the portions are not large and the walk back is short. The crowd is mixed: local families, Singaporean day-trippers, and the occasional visiting trader from Batam filling up before the late ferry.