Sri Lankan Seafood Restaurants
Red Snapper Hallucination. Two second exposure.
This may seem bad timing, but at these times it’s important to remember why this country is still great. For one thing, the food’s not bad. This post is really just an excuse to post the photos above. It’s Philip’s red snapper from La Voile Blanche, a new restaurant on the Mount Lavinia beach. It is rather nice to just eat a whole grilled fish on the beach occasionally. The beauty, taste and smells of this country often remind me why I choose to live here, and why so many can’t stay away. Admittedly, the more cognitive details are a complete shambles, but the emotional relationship remains. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are a few places where I’ve enjoyed the seafood.
Colombo
I think Colombo in general kinda sucks, but there are a few places.
Lagoon at the Cinnamon Grand is insanely expensive, but also very good. I like the garupa and assorted things. Very posh seating and stuff, but I’ve never had dinner there that someone else wasn’t paying for.
Beach Wadiya is a charming spot on Marine Drive, right at the end of the Savoy Cinema road, near Global Towers. I personally really like the food, the owner is charming and hangs around and the location is OK. You occasionally see animals scurrying around and the beach is, in the light of day, a bit dirta and smella.
La Voile Blanche is a new thing on the strip of seafood joints on Mount Beach. You can start from Golden Mile and walk down and every place will serve seafood. I just mention cause I just ate there. Got a whole garupa with sides for Rs. 900 which is not bad. The fish is fresh and simple which is nice. Haven’t tried the other stuff. While I was there the music was also really really good, Antonio Carlos Jobim and nouveau housey bossa nova. The service was OK, though drink orders get mad confused. We were sitting with the owner so I suspect I’m biased, but it seems like a nice new addition.
Unawatuna
Kingfisher (down Beach Access Road, turn left past Hot Rocks and Hard Something) is really really good. Some of the food in Una (Happy Banana) for example is total crap and takes hours. Kingfisher, however, is really good food and the staff is competent enough to tell you half and hour and then bring you an order that’s not totally wrong or forgotten about. Based on what the catch of the day is, there can be really nice jumbo prawns or tiger prawns or whatever. The wraps are also pretty good. The food is simple and seasoned well. Music is also usually good. Only downside is that the beach there is a bit rocky and bloodies my toes.
Uh, and that sadly is about all I know. This is perhaps the direct opposite of a comprehensive list. I’ve heard that Sea Anglers Club in Trinco is great, but never been. I couldn’t find much food at all in Kalpitiya and the fish from the market was rather small. If you know anything worthwhile please leave a comment.
you missed ‘Seafish’… i think it’s behind Regal cinema :)
I grew up pretty clowe to Beach Wadiya. Phenomenal restaurant! When did the Lagoon open, and where is it located inside Cinnamon Grand? I worked at the Oberoi for 5-6 years just trying to picture it..do they still have the taprobane – coffee shop? They had a killer Sea Food buffet on Wednesday nights and a yummy seafood thermidor.
Hotel Peacock at Una has fab pizza, great crabs and trippy music. It’s a bright orange building a little past Happy Banana (towards Joe’s bungalows).
Yeah the crabs are really good! Just order one ‘large’ dish for two and roll up your sleeves.
Is Beach Waiya also called Fisherman’s hut? or is it a different place?
I was in Colombo last summer and asked the taxi driver to take me to Beach Wadiya (recommended by my sinhalese friend) but I was told that I had to book tables in advance, I had to settle for a dinner at Cinamon Grand, which was very nice. I’ll definitely pay a visit to Beach Wadiya when I am there next.
Beach wadiya has always been called beach wadiya. Go to kinross beach in wellawatte AKA Colombo 6 and it’s right near the Kinross swimming club.
Try the Lucky Tuna in Unawatuna – the beer’s cold, the food hot and yum yum and leaves a little change in your pocket too!
Seafood Cove at Mount Lavinia Hotel. Not as good as Lagoon, but oodles of atmosphere with the waves beating near by, and the colonial mansion backdrop. Also: Seaspray Restaurant at the other Grande Dame, the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
Prices at Lagoon are unbelievable. Lunch for two with two whiskies and two glasses of wine cost 10k, which is a rip off.
Food was good, if ordering wine go for the bottle much cheaper and stay away from the hard liquor.
Sea Fish near Regal has always seemed rather grubby and the one time I ate their the food was not great (didi not go for fish, just a quick lunch).
10k for a meal is beyond my ken.
There’s this cheap street kade on I think it’s Station Road Wellawatte. Basically if you drive kinda straight through Wellawatte Junc down the sea side road it’s just on that road. You can sorta park there tho it inconveniences everyone. We call it Jaffna Kade, dunno the real name.
They serve food on a banana leaf, quite spicy whatever. What sets this kade apart is that they have decent crab and cuttlefish. Haven’t had the crab but the deviled cuttlefish is good. Like Rs 350.