Gallery Café grabs Best Themed Cuisine Restaurant

The Gallery Café moved into the Hall of Fame - awarded at the 5th Sri Lanka Tourism Awards ceremony held at Waters Edge when it won the Best Themed Cuisine Restaurant for the third consecutive year.

Opened in 1998 in a structure which was the former office of the world renowned Sri Lankan architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, this restaurant comes with his blessings.

The café attracts visitors not only for meals but for that morning cuppa to be enjoyed with a slice of delicious cake and or shopping at the Café’s Gift Store or the Studio which adjoins the Café.

The premise boasts an art gallery which features exhibitions regularly of both local and foreign artists. Some might ask why the Gallery Café does not change its’ menus – reason being, most patrons come repeatedly for the same dish that they relished on their previous visit.

Cocktails and desserts are popular favourites with most diners and ‘Good Food’ is the frequently heard quip from patrons and is always a “must visit” restaurant for those who come from afar.

The entire concept of Paradise Road Galleries and The Gallery Café is well known and continues to be a unique attraction to tourists and visiting dignitaries.

A brainchild of Chairman of Paradise Road Group of Companies Shanth Fernando the building was entrusted as Bawa had the confidence that he would maintain and promote his beloved building to full potential. Today, The Gallery Café is by far, the most visited Geoffrey Bawa building. The conversion of the building was done with tremendous sensitivity by Shanth with initial advice as to the placement of the main dining pavilion by Bawa himself.

The Gallery Café was the first restaurant in Sri Lanka to serve fusion cuisine and also the first to serve ‘typical’ Sri Lankan dishes such as Black Pork Curry with rice with traditional accompaniments, Prawn Curry with Rice all presented in a distinctive style known only to Shanth.

Known for the consistency of the food served at the restaurant which has spanned 14 years; this has been the key ingredient to its success.