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Upali's by Nawaloka

Sri Lanka Western Province ColomboUpali's by Nawaloka

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Nestled in the heart of Colombo, Upali's stands as a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Sri Lanka. From the moment you step through its doors, you're enveloped in an ambiance that's both warm and inviting, setting the stage for an unparalleled dining experience.As you peruse the menu, it's evident that Upali's takes great pride in showcasing the diversity of Sri Lankan cuisine. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared, blending traditional recipes with a modern twist, ensuring that there's something to satisfy every palate. The flavors are bold and authentic, capturing the essence of the island's spices and ingredients.The standout dishes at Upali's are a culinary journey through Sri Lanka. The prawn curry is a feast for the senses, with its rich and aromatic sauce complementing the perfectly cooked prawn. The pol sambol, with its spicy coconut flavor, adds a delightful zest to any meal. Vegetarian options are equally impressive, with the jackfruit curry being a must-try for its succulent texture and flavorful gravy.But it's not just the food that makes Upali's special; it's the atmosphere and the service. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure you feel welcomed, offering recommendations and sharing insights into the dishes that make your dining experience truly memorable. The decor, with its nods to Sri Lankan culture, complements the culinary journey, making you feel as if you've been transported to a different world.Upali's also understands the importance of community and sustainability. They source their ingredients locally where possible, supporting local farmers and ensuring that the food not only tastes good but also contributes positively to the local ecosystem.In conclusion, Upali's is not just a restaurant; it's a celebration of Sri Lankan culture, cuisine, and hospitality. Whether you're a local or a traveler, a meal at Upali's is a journey through the flavors and traditions of Sri Lanka, leaving you with a lasting impression and a desire to return. It's a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the best of what Colombo has to offer.

shyam natarajanshyam natarajan

00

During my recent visit to Sri Lanka, I wanted to try a place which had a huge variety of Sri Lankan food and not just any fusion dishes because I wanted to experience a true taste of what the country had to offer and I came across Upali’s and was so pleased with everything I tried! From rich and flavourful curries to freshly prepared hoppers, I loved each and everything I had here and absolutely loved the service as well! The staff were all so friendly and I’d like to make a special mention for Naween who took care of everything during my time at Upali’s and was so attentive and explained everything to me in detail about the dishes as well which was absolutely amazing as I did not know much about Sri Lankan food since it was my second day in Colombo when I visited this restaurant and I didn’t know how to distinguish it from other regional cuisines of South Asia. I also tried the Sri Lankan version of Biryani and I must say I loved it! It was just like the biryanis you find in nearby countries but still different enough to offer a new type of experience for your tastebuds to enjoy! Loved the serving size, fragrant rice and perfectly cooked moist chicken that was served with a yoghurt dip, raita, as well! The fruit platter with yoghurt was also a good way to end the meal! They have private rooms for families/groups upstairs as well and their outdoor seating with beautiful views of a park was just amazing! I really found the place to be quite serene and it’s definitely a place you’d enjoy, especially if you are traveling from the Middle East with your family and want a nice place to dine out at! They have ample seating space and everything is quite clean and comfortable! Would highly recommend a visit here if you are going to Sri Lanka this year!

shahzain mustafashahzain mustafa

10

Go to this place to be discriminated against for being a tourist, wait 2 hours for mediocre food (had better food all my trip through Sri Lanka), and then hear no apologies or be able to give feedback. This place was recommended by my hotel so I went there with high expectations for my last meal in Sri Lanka expecting some real authentic SL. For the first 30 minutes of getting seated with a menu, waving to the staff to take my order, no one came. This was not an isolated incident. The service is extremely slow, & ignores you constantly by being busy. Right in front of me, 3 people had to get up so that they could place an order right at the billing desk. Finally someone came but the person was doing me a favour by writing up my order and telling me about dishes. Serving more ego than actually meals. I even offered to translate my order in Sinhala. After a little back and forth my order was finally placed. The order was vegetarian kottu. It was bit dry, not a lot of flavours, the curry with it was tasty. Telling them to get the chilli paste was an excercise in patience because no ones comes to you when you want anything. The rest of the meal was mediocre at best. I have had way better in tourist towns. Couldn't finish the Kottu so I asked them for a takeaway box. Took them 30 minutes to literally give me the time of the day to pack up a dish and take my money. Mind you this was a Sunday night, and barely with the restaurant at 40% capacity. The place looks shabby btw. So I don't know what people are recommending. Maybe nostalgia. In the end, a angry trip to the manager helped things move along who apologized and got the dish packed. To end the day any worse, they also messed up the change from the final amount which can be a honest mistake. Overall, I say, don't. A smaller more local shop cam easily make what they cool & you can save the money too.

Vipul GuptaVipul Gupta

40

If you search for Sri Lankan restaurants, Upali’s by Nawaloka will come up most of the time. So, it was on my list to try out. It is a simple restaurant inside, but spacious, and with a lot of local and foreigner traffic. It seems to also be a popular spot for tourist buses, bringing their customers for a taste of the Sri Lankan meal. Therefore, I came here with high expectations. To my surprise, and from the get go, my afternoon lunch unfolded into a bag of mixed emotions. Since I desired to taste as much as I could in one visit, I opted for their set lunch. That comes with a big plate or rice, a vegetable, a sambol and pappadum with fried red chilies and a hard fried sprat or two. This was all at room temperature. Then comes a cart, from which they serve you vegetables (3 in all, none looked appetizing). All of them at room temperature and really nothing to write home about. I had to ask for Dahl (also at ambient temperature), and if you needed a protein it is extra. I chose a fish curry, the gravy of which was flavorful, but the fish pieces were hard and it tasted old. A few bites of everything was all I could take. I was done. Overall, a lack of temperature, freshness and taste. Sri Lankan food is my favorite cuisine. As expected, there are several super establishments to satisfy this craving, in and around Colombo. Unfortunately, Upali’s will be my least favorite of them all.

Peter MPeter M

20

To who this many concern, Today I went to Upali’s below you will see the experience that I had 👇🏽 “Lankanwe Elu Mas Soup” was ordered and we got the soup and no bread after asking we get an excuse saying bread rolls are over. Which he could have mentioned earlier. But if you look closely it’s roast pan with butter after asking it was brought out. But we still have to pay for the whole meal. We asked for hot water to drink and it was steaming when we said it was too hot to drink he took the water to his hand and tried to make a point to us saying it’s not that hot but all we asked was to get some normal water to mix into it but made a scene and was discussing with his colleagues about it and we could hear it all the way to the table. The attitude of the waiter was not acceptable. (I have attached a picture of the waiter so you guys can recognize him.) Please train them in a professional manner even for the locals not just for the foreigners. When we were leaving we were getting dirty looks from the kitchen staff that was visible to us. I actually came for dinner with my wife she is pregnant. Because of this experience we didn’t continue to dinner. You are only damaging your brand. If there is any one who is responsible reading this please drop your contact on the reply. Hope this helps your establishment.

Sahan GunasekeraSahan Gunasekera

40

Upali's by Nawaloka was once a favourite for us when it came to local cuisine, so we decided to give it another try for some R&C – only to leave utterly disappointed. We called ahead and were told by the staff that no reservation was needed. Yet, upon arrival, we were rudely informed by a waiter that the R&C was no longer available. He even had the nerve to say, "Did you ask me over the phone if it was available?" The management really needs to rethink their recruitment because the customer service has seriously taken a nosedive, especially with tourists coming in expecting a taste of authentic local food. Train your staff, pay them well, and stop hiring just anyone. Nalin (if I got the name right) came to our rescue and offered us R&C while apologizing for the other guy's behaviour. But even then, it wasn't the R&C we're used to. Standards have fallen drastically. The ambience? Still the same, and it feels like it’s deteriorating. Safe to say, this will be our last visit. Management really needs to step up before they lose everyone. #SriLankanCuisine #DisappointingExperience #Upalis

Sampath de SilvaSampath de Silva

30

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Overview

4.2

(1.9K reviews)$$

Phone

+94 112 695 812

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