Chinese Dragon: The First Immortal #yamu
For YAMU, we’re doing a set-piece on The Immortals – Colombo restaurants which feel like they’ve been around forever and always will be. The list we’ve got is Chinese Dragon, Siam House, Sakura, Flower Drum, Beach Wadiya and Cricket Club. Say if you want to add or subtract. There’s a write up and photos on Chinese Dragon, the oldest immortal (founded in 1942), written by Savan. Check it out. The full set-piece should be out on Monday.
I’m happy to be featured in Echelon magazine’s 40 Under 40 feature, profiling young people who contribute to the economy in some way, mainly in business but also in terms of innovation and thought leadership. It’s an interesting article not just in that I’m in it (mainly for work on indi.ca and 
I won’t add too much commentary, but just read I guess. The youngest Rajapaksa, Rohitha (Chi Chi) has given an amazing interview to the 
In 2009 this strange character appeared on the Sri Lankan Internet scene, getting angry, flaming, trolling whatever. Then he started naming anonymous bloggers, posting comments as people’s kids, nasty stuff, for which I removed him from 
The chutzpah of this government knows no bounds. Every government since Independence has had to balance placating Sinhala nationalists (AKA racists) while at the same time actually running a sensible, inclusive nation that doesn’t send minority citizens, capital and foreign investment fleeing. Basically, they’ve had to pay lip service to nationalists while at the same time trying to run an actual nation. Every government has also generally failed, SWRD being killed by a nationalist monk and everyone after almost losing the country to various rebellions. In that context Mahinda is actually doing a better job by virtue of not being dead and not losing control of the country. But he’s still not doing a good job.
Most of the restaurants in Colombo are total crap. Aweful food with aweful service. I have not stop going. I thought that Bayleaf (opposite DS) was good. I ordered a beef dish which was total crap and smelled bad also. The pasta was also horrible. Since compalining to Sri Lankans is useless I cursed the SOBs and left never to come back. I once went to Gallery Cafe run by Shant Fernando. It is supposed to be the most post restaurant in Colombo. I ordered a pork black curry dish. The lights were dim and I could not see what I was eating. I tried cutting a piece of huge pork but could not. Only once I flshed my cell light I saw in horrow a HUMUNGUS pice of pork fat. It was disgusting. Pork means meat, not the fucking fat. I left that place also cursering the useless owers, never to go back there. But I guess since this is a 3rd world cesspool, we can’t expect world class restaurant here eithter. That would not be fair and also would be stupid I guess. I guess restaurants quality is 3rd world, jut like the country.
And you’re a third class person…so yeah
How can you call me “3rd class” when I was just giving facts of the terrible state of this country???? Our so-called 2500 civilization (LMAO) country is so fucking useless that a so-called high class (high class my foot but just for the sake of argument) has a pork dish for 1000+ Rupees with more fat than meat. Same for Bayleaf. Prices are all over 1000, but portions are very small and also not spectacular. I can tell you another incident. I went to Cinnamon Lakeside for lunch one day. Believe it or now the entire Chinese restaurant was full of flies. Yes a 5 star hotel but the Chinese restaurant was full of flies. Is this a developed 1st world country or a undeveloped 3rd world country??? you can’t be both at the same time?? GET IT NOW MORON??? You are an idiot. Typical Sri Lankan moron with average IQ of 81. If I am 3rd class then you are 10th class.
PS: Once I bought a beef burger from McDonalds Nugegoda. Inside was a huge piece of plastic glass. If you want 1st class food then you have to go to a 1st world country. I think that’s pretty logical. 3rd world country = 3rd class food.
The funny thing is, machang, this all seems to happen only to you. And swearing isnt really gonna make the pigs decide to exercise, now, is it?
Andrew, machan you are one unlucky man. Best you stay indoors and eat at home for everyone’s sake.
Your English is terrible.
Look forward to reading that on Monday. What about the German (Bavarian) place on Galle Face – that’s been around a while?
This was a very good place until the the Germans who owned it decided to sell it to a couple of Sri Lankans. As customary, the standards have dropped drastically.
lol. Andrew you should have followed them to Germany. They probably need a lap dog. You’ll be well fed then.
Love Beach Wadiya, drinks and the sea!
My favorite in Colombo is Paradise Road cafe. By far it does the best western dishes in town, beating most if not all of the 5 star hotels.
Most of the places you mention flavor wise are just ho hum and ok (other than the beach wadiya which is quite nice), although some of them have a good atmosphere and are quite flashy.
But by far and away the best food I have eaten out flavor wise has been from Jinadasa’s. It beats anything that all the other places I have eaten at (other than maybe the red wine ice cream from Paradise Road). Game people won’t tolerate bland flavors and anything that is not cooked just right. All the drivers, pilgrims and assortment of Sri Lankans get a home cooked meal that is often better than what they get at home. Do yourself a favor, stop here when you are going to or fro from Colombo to Kandy.
The place is basic and utterly unpretentious. This is what the common Sri Lankan man/woman is used to and ironically, flavor wise they will eat much tastier food than nearly all the posh western restaurants in Colombo. Even regarding the restaurants in the burbs of Colombo authentic Sri Lankan food is becoming bland and virtually uniform, like a series of McDonalds without the franchises. How did this happen?
Mind u sensal is doing an ok job of it.
Alt Heidelberg , is it still around? My favorite place in the 80′ies
Greenlands down shrubbery gardens best Dosa place, it’s been around forever ,
Why 168?? They have the best tom yum soup!
Fountain Cafe and the Metropole Restaurant?
The mixed grill at the Galaxy Bar used to be good, hehe.
I suppose that you are not going to seedy places like the Indo Ceylon Cafe.
Is the Akasa Kade still around, or did it get blown up with Ceylinco?
Rowing Club has amazing food. And the Golf Club Buffet is awesome
boru kiyanna epa oi.
Trouble is to clear the waiting list for the Golf Club membership (assuming one were eligible), so no point of a review, and Indi’s been banned from the Rowing Club for wearing the national costume (now he’s even shirtless), so no possibility of a review.
Fountain Cafe is an ancient name, but it has not operated continuously. Therefore, probably does not qualify for immortal status. Green Cabin in Bambalapitiya does.
Gallery Cafe has done well since opening in Dec 1998. Is that long enough? Mathura has been around for about as long.
I have to somewhat agree with Andrew. I have been in the US now for over 11 years. Having lived in Sri Lanka for the the fist 21 years of my life, I have tasted the food of both countries. I can say only one thing: If you want to taste REAL food, please come over to the US. You just cannot compare the cheesy joints that are found in Colombo to something like Katz’s Deli in NY or Coi in SanFran. You just cannot even compare the two. Two worlds. No offence to Colombo restaurants. I am sure they are doing their best.
Lol! Amusingly, any well traveled American will tell you that if you want real food you have to leave America. Sri Lanka food joints may not be amazing but America is hardly the culinary capital of the world.
I agree dodo!
Although to be frank i love jewish deli’s
Were there many around Hamilton?
that’s pretty creepy!
LOL! Couldn’t resist. It was tooooo easy. Dont worry though. I wont say another word.
I have to somewhat agree with Andrew. I have been in the US now for over 11 years. Having lived in Sri Lanka for the the fist 21 years of my life, I have tasted the food of both countries. I can say only one thing: If you want to taste REAL food, please come over to the US. You just cannot compare the cheesy joints that are found in Colombo to something like Katz’s Deli in NY or Coi in SanFran. You just cannot even compare the two. Two worlds. No offence to Colombo restaurants. I am sure they are doing their b_est.
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