Papaya — Restaurant in London

I’d been reading up on Sri Lankan cuisine when I came across a dish called lumprais (or lamprais), a banana leaf wrapped parcel of rice cooked in stock, with curries and cutlets included. The word is supposed to have originated from the Dutch lamprijst, meaning ‘packet of rice’ and I could only imagine how all those flavours melded after being baked together in that parcel. Needless to say, I became a bit obsessed with it and to my delight, I discovered that a Sri Lankan restaurant in west London (Northfields, specifically) served it.

Here was their lumprais (£14). Now, there are set rules as to what a lumprais must contain and whilst this one broke all the rules, it was still delicious – here everything was served on a banana leaf instead of being baked within it. As well, not all the components were present but was included was fantastic. There was the rice cooked in stock and embedded in that mound of rice was a fish cutlet. There was a rich and robust mutton curry and a ‘special’ aubergine curry that was all silky and tangy and seeni sambol, a luscious sambol of caramelised onions, dried fish and spices.

To round out our dinner that night, we also had a couple other dishes to eat with it. Devilled chicken (£7.50) was a delicious dry chicken stir fry with lots of pepper and spice, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

Dhal spinach (£5) was a chef’s recommendation and was a soothing combination of dal cooked with fresh spinach leaves.

To eat with it all? One plain hopper (£2) and an egg hopper (£3). I love the crispy edges and soft centres of hoppers, and their slightly fermented flavour reminded us a bit of Ethiopian injera. And yes, that egg on the right hand side had a beautifully liquid yolk.

I couldn’t resist the vattilappam (£5) on the dessert menu. We’d tried this already at the Buddhist temple dinners and this version was equally as good – it’s a creamy set pudding of coconut milk, brown palm sugar, eggs, spices and cashew nuts.

I can’t believe I didn’t discover this place sooner as it has always been here in West London near where I live! I do suspect that the heat levels had been toned down for us (us loser non-Sri Lankans!) but I’m sure you could get true Sri Lankan heat in your meal if you ask!

Papaya 161 Northfield...

I note reviews are mainly from non- Srl Lankans. On ordering I insisted on true Sri Lankan cookery, The Devilled Beef was given a revision with black pepper instead of chillies, horrible.

Another, forgettable dish with ripe mango, unheard of In SL was sweet in curry sauce. When I complained to the Malaysian waitress I was advised the customers liked it. I commented English? she confirmed. Add the odd review from other Sri Lankans , this place is definitely not for connoisseurs of Sri Lanka cuisine.

Restaurant boasts a community award which, I can only assume is from the Northfields NOT Sri Lankan community which speaks for itself!!

Posted 27 April 2019. I had not bothered to check for Manager's response however, I now respond to Manager as follows:

a) I should not need to speak with you if you serve authentic SL cuisine! Waitress was one of your experienced team who explained core customer's are English!

b) There were just two staff on the floor the waitress and yourself although, you did not move from behind the counter you were not far from my table to over hear my request and...

Came with my partner after a long day and was served by a lovely young lady. My partner was recommended a few dishes and we asked for a lamb dish. We asked the waitress and she said it was not avaliable.

We double checked we were not getting the name wrong of the dish and another lady came over and was very rude to my partner in explaining the dish was not avaliable and snatched the order taking note from the young lady.

This upset me and my partner as we don't like people being treated this way. We decided to leave and told the other senior manager how rude the lady was to the young girl.

He convinced us to stay and actually took the time to make the dish my partner originally wanted, so the chef made it amazing and the food was great.

I would defiantly recommend this place, but that other so called 'manager' should not be waiting on people, she is not good.

The other young lady and young man were really nice and should be commended.

Good place, but lost two stars in my rating because of...