Blue Orbit by Citrus — Restaurant in Colombo

To keep my review short I'll mention the key points. General: Lunch buffet from 11.30am to 3pm Dinner buffet from 6.30pm to 11pm Inform the security at the entrance that you have made reservations and they'll guide you. For lunch it's recommended to arrive early to find shaded parking. Parking is located around the tower but limited. Blue orbit is on 27th floor. You can take the escalator to 1st and then the lift to 27th. After buffet you can visit the observation deck which is on 29th. But recommended to buy tickets from the restaurant @ 500 pp.

Restaurant: Upon arrival you'll be directed to your reserved table. They are numbered. The restaurant host warmly welcomed us and attended to our needs without hesitation. He's very friendly and his demeanor is professional. The revolving platform is situated in the center of the dining area. Most of the large tables are here. Not sure about the revolving speed. But I think it takes around 1.5hrs to 2hrs for a full round. Tables for 2 are on window side which isn't on the revolving platform. Surprisingly the AC was not low unlike other places.

Food: Due to the design of the restaurant and other reasons, food stations with different cuisines and types etc., (dumplings, seafood, sushi, desserts, cheese etc.) are located separately. You may have to walk a lot here to find the different types of food and bring it to your table. And I can say it's still worth it. 2 types of drinks and tea are available. All types of meat are available. At the sushi station a server is present to serve you the sushi you prefer since they are covered under glass covers. I think they try to limit the servings. The main dishes are covered with cloches so the food is kept hot but they are not transparent so you need to open it up to see the food. Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and Mediterranean dishes can be found. Whether you're a fan of traditional favorites or looking to try something new, there's something for everyone. Plenty of dessert options are available. However similar to other places, most of them are cakes and they are too sweet. I didn't really enjoy the desserts as much as the others. The waiters will start to collect the plates and cutleries 30mins before closing. So you better not waste time enjoying too much of the view and not finishing the food in time 😁. However you should visit the observation deck for a better view. All in all, it was a pleasant dining experience and I'm happy that I had a good meal with all sorts...

Best pork I ever had...

I went with my family for a weekday dinner to experience one of the newest restaurants in Colombo. And I was eager to experience the rotating atmosphere and having dinner more than 200m above ground.

The restaurant itself is pretty nice and welcoming. There is a great 360 degree view of commercial capital and the Indian ocean. The seating area of the restaurant is arranged on the rotating platform and it revolves slowly which is noticeable but does not hinder people from moving around.

The dinner buffet is arranged all around the restaurant split into many stations. There was a cheese station with everything going along with cheese and it was the biggest cheese collection I have seen in a buffet in Colombo. Another station with deli meats and lots of condiments. Apart from that a station with Japanese sushi and pickles. It also had 3 drinks which were offered for the night. Another station with a large seafood collection which included octopus. Another one dedicated to desserts. All these were at the outermost ring close to the glass wall. The middle ring was the seating area with a rotating platform. The inner ring contained the main course of the buffet. The main course looks a little small comparatively but there is enough to fill you in. Also it contained an ice cream station, kids corner with lots of sweets and a chocolate fountain.

I tried almost everything available there and I liked them all. The cheese station was great. Drinks were good too. The main course contained the most tender and tastiest pork dish I ever had. It seemed seared and baked and it was so tender. I liked it a lot and it was the best for that night. The ice cream station had 10 flavours and most of them are uncommon in buffets. The chocolate fountain was also a plus and you don't get it everywhere. Overall I loved the food there even though you don't have lots of dishes from many cuisines.

The restaurant was almost full that day people were buzzing around and it didn't feel packed and the table service was also good. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Overall I loved the whole experience and will return for more in the future.

Update: Recently I went there for lunch with my colleagues and we had a good time. There was a very nice pasta dish (I rarely find tasty pastas even in five-star places) and also a nice lasagne. The spread is the same as dinner and...

Blue Orbit by Citrus, located at Colombo’s iconic Lotus Tower, offers a distinctive dining experience as Sri Lanka’s only revolving restaurant, providing guests with breathtaking 360° panoramic views of the city.

A special acknowledgment goes to the reservation team for their exceptional flexibility and support. Despite having to make several last-minute changes to our booking, the team remained accommodating and helpful, ensuring a seamless experience.

The restaurant boasts an extensive international buffet featuring a diverse range of cuisines, including Sri Lankan, Indian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern dishes. The ambiance is modern and elegant, with calming blue accents that complement the stunning surroundings. The revolving floor completes a full rotation every hour, offering diners an ever-changing view of the cityscape. For those who prefer a fixed perspective, window-side seating options are available.

The staff were warm, friendly, and attentive, further enhancing the dining experience. However, while the dishes were well-presented, the food quality fell short of expectations, especially given the premium pricing. Some dishes were noted to be abysmal while being overly dry, chilled, or lacking in flavor, including staples like rice, kottu, noodles, sushi, dumplings, and even simple desserts like cake or doughnuts. Additionally, certain items, such as the cordial juice or smarties from the kids’ section, could be improved to ensure better quality across the board.

An incident with the seafood section revealed a lack of awareness among the chefs, where octopus were recommended for oysters during inquiries. This highlights the need for better training and familiarity with the menu to deliver a refined dining experience.

Unfortunately, the overall dining experience did not meet expectations, with several dishes being left unfinished due to poor quality. Considering the price per person, this was disappointing.

While Blue Orbit by Citrus offers a memorable setting with stunning views, significant improvements in food quality and consistency are essential to ensure the restaurant lives up to its potential. With these enhancements, the establishment could truly shine as a must-visit destination in Colombo, but at the present I wouldn’t recommend this place for a pleasant dine in experience mainly cause of the poor food...