Sapphire Dragon — Restaurant in Colombo

I haven’t had quality Chinese food in over eight months. How keen was I then to have several choices to choose from in the capital city. The reviews seemed promising but ultimately I chose the location and decor. As you approach the level two entrance, the delightful Tharushi greets you with the most beautiful smile. She then escorts you to the lifts which then in turn take you to the 24th floor.

So far so good, I’m then taken from the entrance of the restaurant through an oval bar and on into the restaurant itself. You could be forgiven for thinking you’re in a James Bond film. I’m seated to the side of the restaurant and it’s a blind spot when it comes to the lighting. I have to use the torch on my iPhone to read the menu.

It’s a Monday night so it’s relatively quiet. The restaurant manager Li Chen is courteous, professional and accommodating. I ask to order some roast duck. Her face is stunned and shocked. She is from Wuhan where roast duck is a staple part of the Chinese culture. I’m so disappointed it’s not on the menu.

Instead I ordered sweetcorn and chicken soup as a starter with prawn crackers. A lion ice was my beverage choice. The decor was a Chinese infusion and the ambiance was ok. The muzak was cheesy jazz which somehow didn’t really fit with the theme of the setting. My lager was brought to the table and the server was going to put the drink straight into the glass before I stopped him.

I then placed the glass at 45 degrees then proceeded to pour the drink. Whoever trained the staff here needs a ticking off. The soup arrived and it was pleasant enough. Prawn crackers were fresh albeit a little greasy. Then my Chaozhou fried pork belly and Yang Zhou fried rice arrived a little later on. I found the chop sticks challenging so I asked for a fork as I had only been given a tablespoon.

The servers were excellent, impeccably dressed and professional. There was very good service throughout my evening. The only real issue I had was the food itself! The fried rice was dry, I kept having to add soya sauce. The pork also was disappointing. I left half of it, didn’t want desert. The food was reasonably priced. However the surcharge and taxes really increased the overall bill. Never will I return as I’ve had better...

A Wonderful Birthday Celebration at Sapphire Dragon

We recently celebrated a birthday at Sapphire Dragon, Cinnamon Life Hotel, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The team welcomed us warmly from the moment we arrived and took care of every detail with great attention. Their attentive and friendly service ensured everything ran smoothly and made us feel truly valued.

The private dining room offered an intimate and elegant setting, creating a relaxed and cozy environment for our celebration.

The food was delightful, with each dish full of flavor and beautifully presented. The surprise birthday cake was a thoughtful and lovely touch that made the celebration even more special.

We are grateful to everyone for making our special day so enjoyable...

We had lunch here while staying at Cinnamon Life, it wasn't that busy so the service was quite fast, and we got a good table right near the window. We ordered a few simple dishes including the fried rice, crispy fried chicken, and wok fried cabbage. The flavours of the chicken and cabbage are delicate - and not over powering, so they're simple but delicious. We were surprised at how good the cabbage was for such a simple dish! The fried rice was also not over powe and well balanced. Service was great, even though our toddler made a mess, the manager said don't worry about it. Though it's a bit pricey, I'd highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion. Not being busy, we were able to...