Thalis Restaurant Indian Vegetarian Cusine — Restaurant in Colombo

Visited Sri Lanka after 7 years and after 2 months, wanted to try my favorite South Indian cuisine. So I stepped into Thalis restaurant, as I have good experiences with them back in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They have little space for free car parking. It was around 9:30am 25th Feb.

Loved the basic interior setting. Very much in line with average international Indian food restaurants, spacious and breathable, tables and seating are ok. 4 stars for that.

I ordered one of my favorite breakfast meals, Idli Sambar with Medu Vada and Sada Chai (tea). The waiter didn't understand one word I was saying in English. He kept on talking to me in his own language. Since we were not going anywhere with this, I switched to Hindi to see if he understands. NO. Tamil? NO. You would think that an International restaurant would employ a waiter who can converse a little bit in English or at least in one of the homeland languages. But no, this guy is so arrogant that he implies I speak his language.

When it comes to dining out, I don't look at my wallet or the quantity of food I consume. I demand quality; food and service which I'm prepared to pay good for. This was becoming such an uncomfortable situation. He didn't understand how to explain the simple order in their own menu. After 5 minutes of distasteful explanation and my hunger growing stronger, I pointed to the menu and asked to bring exactly what's there and said I want the tea before the Idly Sambar. Food preparation was fast. He brings the Idli Sambar plate, no tea. I reminded him my order. He said "tea later". I said "tea before Idly Sambar". He says "tea making, tea making". It was as if he wanted me to suffer thru my experience, so that I will not go back there. There were two other customers who were speaking his language, and he seemed to attend to them in a very hospitable manner. To get him to come to serve me, now I had to shout out "excuse me". If he can't handle just 3 diners, what if the place was up to capacity?

The idli wasn't exactly to authentic consistency. I felt they have mixed idli rice powder with wheat or Rava (samolina) as it wasn't breaking well. The taste was ok. The Sambar was almost closer to Dhal curry. Nowhere near the authentic. The Medu Vada and the Chutney were the only food that was good, and I enjoyed.

I didn't enjoy my visit at the Sri Lankan Thalis restaurant. The waiter spoiled the whole experience. The Sri Lankan Thalis management should take their diners seriously whether they are local or foreign.

5 October 2021 Update: I visited this place to get a quick snack. The waiter who served this time was well experienced. He could speak decent English and was courteous. Waited on us very well. The food was served promptly. My two friends enjoyed having the best south Indian food they've had so far in Sri Lanka after...

The Ugliest service me and my whole family have ever experienced in our entire lives. Our family went on today with 09-People for lunch, and we had a small kid where we had to take his food with us. Innocent small kid was having his food while we ordered our food. Just after ordering foods were served, one steward came to us and asked us to remove food that the small kid was eating. They insisted to remove the food that the innocent small kid was having mentioning that they don't allow outside food to have in their premises. They would have informed us prior to our order, then we would have considered whether to consume their food or not. They saw that the kid was consuming the outside food, but waited till the order was served and then asked to remove the kid's food saying outside foods were not allowed. It is soo disgusting and very bad to see asking to remove the kid's food while he is having it. When we said just let him have it since he was having it with his joy, they still asked to remove it without considering the kid. This is so bad and inhumane work as a restaurant. Please do not visit this place even for the rain. They will definitely chase you saying not to stay for the rain even. Such horrible service. We paid the bill even without consuming food. When we asked to pack them, they didn't do it. Even they delayed the bill to settle.... I haven't seen a single restaurant chasing when a kid is having his food saying outside food is not allowed. Kids are kids and they have their own preferences.... These people are so terrible!!! Never ever recommend this place... Very scary to visit. Also, They have taken the service charge also and Chees Kottu was not given but, charged in the bill. The manager didn't come to inquire about the issue also.

Don't worry there are more places with better service with delicious food for a far better price.

Also, Now don't come & talk about outside food policies...You should politely refuse to consume outside food in the 1st instance, without waiting half-way around...

Have just come back from this restaurant. 3 waiters served us - a younger one and 2 elder ones. They were all fairly useless and rude to some point and lack understanding what is customer service. They all packed flexibility in serving us. We were party of 3 - whilst 2 members got together what they ordered for their meal I had to ask for half of my meal as the other half was getting cold (clearly the waiters thought that's its OK for me to wait whilst other members had started eating while back - and the late arrival of my half of meal not a single word spoken by the waiters).

I dered 3 teas: 2 ginger and 1 massala - order accepted and we waited. Later another waiter brought only 2 teas and didn't say a work. I asked him which of the 2 teas is ginger tea and which is massala. He said they were both massala. I said I ordered 3 teas as described above. The waiter said we don't do ginger teas. I said it was in menu and order accepted by another waiter and I pointed out waiter who took order. In mean time 3rd member said they no longer wanted the tea ordered.

I asked for WiFi and waiters said we don't give out WiFi - managers orders. I asked him to bring to me the manager. I told him we found his restaurant on Google and using hotel WiFi we arrived via uber to get there and only want to use restaurant WiFi to get back to hotel for ordering uber - say 5 mins WiFi use and after 5 mins of convincing managers that we are foreigners and want to go back to hotel by ordering uber. The manager was initially saying you have to go elsewhere to get WiFi. Finally he agreed and called over another staff member to use his SRI Lanka phone to use to call uber on our phone. Quite a lot of drama for wanting a stress free meal.

Amazing management.

Have no idea how waiters treat customers like this sort of take it or leave it basis with lots of attitude and rudeness. Just amazing empowerment.

We wish this restaurant and it's current...