Barracuda Sea Food & Grill — Restaurant in Sri Lanka

If you’re looking for a place where mouthwatering seafood meets a stunning beachside setting, look no further than Barracuda Seafood & Grill. From the moment you arrive, you’re welcomed by the fresh ocean breeze, the soothing sound of waves, and a relaxed yet lively atmosphere that immediately sets the tone for a perfect meal.

Ambiance: The setting is absolutely gorgeous — rustic wooden tables, fairy lights, swaying palm trees, and the beach just steps away. It feels like an escape from the city without having to travel far. Whether you’re here for a romantic dinner, a family get-together, or just a chill evening with friends, the vibe is spot on. Watching the sunset while sipping a cocktail and waiting for your seafood feast is truly an experience in itself.

Food: Barracuda’s seafood is next-level good. Everything is fresh, perfectly seasoned, and cooked with real care. Highly recommended dishes include:

Grilled Jumbo Prawns – juicy, smoky, and packed with flavor.

Crispy Calamari – light, tender, and addictive.

Seafood Platter – a seafood lover’s dream, overflowing with lobster, crab, prawns, and more.

Chili Crab – messy but oh-so-satisfying with rich, spicy flavors that are worth every bite. Even non-seafood options like steaks and chicken are handled with attention, so everyone will find something they love.

Drinks: Their cocktail menu is a perfect match for the seaside vibe. Refreshing mojitos, classic pina coladas, and a good selection of wines and beers make sure your evening is just the way you like it.

Service: The service here is excellent — friendly, attentive, and happy to recommend dishes or adjust spice levels to your taste. Even when it's busy, the staff handles everything with a genuine smile, making you feel welcome and well taken care of.

Value for Money: Considering the quality of the seafood, the stunning beachside location, and the overall experience, Barracuda offers great value. It’s not the cheapest place in town, but for the experience and quality you get, it’s absolutely worth it.

Highlights:

Amazing beachside ambiance

Super fresh and flavorful seafood

Cozy, laid-back atmosphere

Good cocktails and mocktails

Friendly, helpful service

Tips:

Make a reservation if you’re visiting on a weekend — it fills up quickly!

Best to arrive a little early if you want a table right by the beach.

Keep in mind the outdoor seating can get a little breezy — but honestly, it adds to the charm.

Final Verdict: Barracuda Seafood & Grill isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a whole mood. If you love seafood, sunsets, and good vibes, this is the place to be. Highly recommend it for a memorable dining...

I recently visited Barracuda Bar and Restaurant after hearing a few mixed opinions from locals and travelers alike. Tucked away from the main road, this place feels like a well-kept secret—but perhaps a bit too secret. While the ambiance is relaxing and the setting is clean and aesthetically pleasing, the lack of crowd left the atmosphere feeling slightly empty.

Let me start with the positives. The interior is well-designed with a modern coastal vibe—wooden finishes, open seating, and a calm sea breeze flowing through the space. It’s clear that thought has gone into the decor. The lighting at night is soft and adds to a romantic or laid-back dining mood. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive; they seemed genuinely happy to serve, and that added a nice personal touch to the whole experience.

The menu is another highlight. There’s a solid range of seafood, pasta, grilled meats, and vegetarian options. I ordered the grilled barracuda (of course), and it was cooked perfectly—tender, flavorful, and not overly seasoned. The side of roasted vegetables was fresh, and the portions were satisfying. Their cocktails are fairly priced, and the mojito I tried was refreshing, not watered down like in some beach bars. Everything was freshly prepared, and the kitchen was surprisingly fast considering it wasn’t busy.

But here’s the part that might matter most to some visitors: it was almost empty. I visited around 7:30 PM on a Saturday, which should be peak dining time. There were maybe two or three other tables occupied, and the bar area was completely quiet. For those seeking a peaceful meal or a spot to talk without yelling over music, this might be ideal. However, if you're someone who enjoys a more lively vibe, it can feel a bit flat. It lacked background energy—the kind you get from laughter, clinking glasses, and the soft murmur of nearby conversations. Music was playing, but it was soft and almost drowned by the silence.

This makes me wonder: Is it under-rated or just not well promoted? It could easily become a local favorite with better marketing or some live music nights. The space has the potential, but without customers, it risks losing its charm.

Final Thoughts: Barracuda Bar and Restaurant is a lovely place with great food, top-notch service, and relaxing decor—but it’s simply too quiet for those seeking a buzzing night out. If you're looking for a calm, intimate setting to enjoy a nice meal, you’ll probably love it. But if you want a vibrant dining experience with atmosphere, this might leave you wishing for more.

Rating: 4/5 – A hidden gem that deserves more attention, but too quiet to...

Date: 10/4/2021. Time: evening around 5:30pm. Yesterday, we had a disappointing experience at Barracuda Restaurant. We were planning to spend the entire night at Barracuda upon seeing the pictures, until the moment we left as soon as we experience a bad time. Not just the service was very slow, we were mislead by the servers to think that the Mixed Grill plater will have plenty of meat items. Unfortunately, when the food arrived, it was barely enough for 1 person because it had 1 sausage, couple of small pieces of liver, 1 half boiled egg and other burnt meat underneath which we couldn't figure out what it was and the half of the plater was covered in vegetables.

We immediately requested the manager at that it was around 6:30 pm. When the manager arrived, we were surprised to see how he was acting. I don't know whether this gentleman was under the influence of alcohol or what, but clearly he was not responsive with answers.

When we asked the manager, why in the menu it clearly says meat plater and the meat mentioned is clearly described in plural form as in sausages etc but in reality it was just 1 sausage. His response was this is the standard size whether you like it or not.

Then I ask do you really think this mixed grilled meat plater is enough for 3 people as your server described. His response was, "I can give you more vegetable or salad to cover up the lose".

So I immediately said to the manager, what you are doing is very bad. You gave the impression that we will get a load of meat but the portion of mixed grill plater worth Rs. 3200 is only enough for 1 person. It is unfair and unjust. We didn't want this incident to ruin our mood and destroy our night so we immediately requested for Bill, paid and left.

While we were leaving the server and security asked us to make a review so the owner apparently, Gihan Bandara would read this and take it seriously.

For love of God please avoid this place at all cost. There are better places next to this establishment which take care of the customers way better and at a reasonable cost. I have attached the receipt of the bill and picture of the plater. I feel like we got scammed. I will never come to this place and I will make sure that my friends avoid...