A restaurant modelled after an old railway station, situated by the sea, serving hawker street kind of food (which, mind you, is delicious)… What am I am ranting on about this time? Well, it is none other than Golden Mile situated in Mount Lavinia.
This two-storied structure, built with timber, definitely stands out and at the time it came up, in 2001, it was the only such structure on the beach in this area. The design and vision of the restaurant was that of Vasantha Jayasuriya, and his son Vivek, the young man currently in charge of the restaurant.
We are here to talk about the food, so let’s talk about the food. For anyone who has visited the place, it is pretty clear that the Golden Mile has quite a varied menu ranging from the usual continental dishes to Chinese food as well. They serve all types of meats like chicken, lamb (and in particular the lamp chops, are a must try), beef (of which the steak is a popular dish) along with various preparations of pork.
But just like most restaurants by the beach, it is their seafood which is their trademark. Among them the seafood platter, the lobster thermido and the giant chilli crab are the most popular along with the tandoori prawn.
Take note, that the crabs served at the restaurant are that of export quality, therefore one crab is big enough to be shared by two! These can all be enjoyed with side orders of rice, bread, salads and grilled vegetables. “We have our regular customers who know which page to turn to, in the menu,” Vivek quips.
After having started off with a deliciously refreshing lime juice, I moved on to the chicken nugget followed by the seafood kebab. And I must say, it is a must try. And to end your delicious meal, just try out the mango sorbet served in an almond tulip with tropical fruits and ragout of blueberry. Amazing!
I have always been curious as to why the name The Golden Mile came about and it seems that in the Colonial days this stretch of beach, which was a mile long, was called The Golden Mile and was declared a tourist beach!
“The two lifeguard towers at the restaurant become towers of love by night,” said Vivek adding that one is offered a personalised service when dining at the towers. And sitting at the restaurant in the evening, it is easy to understand how romantic it must be, up in the towers of love...
These romantic evenings aside, if you want to have that romantic beach wedding you have always dreamed of, The Golden Mile just might be the place for you. Vivek also said that they allow the place to be rented out for awards nights and various other functions.
The food aside they also have a pub and karaoke bar however, Vivek stressed on the fact that this is a family restaurant and that you must dine at the restaurant to be able to use these facilities.
When dining at the beach and walking toward a beach restaurant, safety is always of concern but we are guaranteed that it is a safe spot.
So this Sunday, why not re-discover or try out The Golden Mile with that special someone, or your family and enjoy some of their amazing dishes topped with an amazing view of the Indian Ocean... What a perfect way to begin your week! |
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