‘Friends’ nostalgia at our very own Central Perk
The cheery purple door and the bold letters of ‘The Central Perk’ sign is the first to grab your attention at Colombo’s latest coffee shop located next to 16th Lane, Marine Drive, Colpetty. If you’re a fan of the renowned TV series ‘Friends’, you’re immediately transported back in time as you step inside.
Pic courtesy www.facebook.com/thecentralperklk/
Monica’s Kitchen was a beloved room in the series since it was one of the primary spaces where memories were made. From the blue shelves to the homely atmosphere, the ground floor of The Central Perk (TCP) is reminiscent of that kitchen. It’s also spotless to even pass Monica’s rigorous test for cleanliness, while the food and beverages that came out of it looked and smelt delicious enough that diners may have a hard time choosing just one thing.
The idea of starting a cafe of the sort had long been on the minds of Shazi, Rimzi , Rumaiz and Ara, a group of best friends themselves and also ardent fans of the series. “We wanted to have a place which made us happy, as well as everyone around us as well,” Shazi tells us as we begin a tour of the three storied building.
The cafe easily houses 125 guests and comprises a non-smokers lounge, the smokers lounge and the rooftop, with the latter two areas also serving shisha. Each of these floors also come with a beautiful view of the ocean. No matter where you’re seated in the room, you’re bound to catch the perfect sunset, whilst sipping on a cup of Hot Chocolate or coffee, if you arrive at the right time.
On this note, we took our seats and were soon treated to two of the cafe’s signature dishes. Namely, ‘How you Doin?’ which the TCP’s signature fried chicken (Rs. 1200) and ‘Joey doesn’t share food’ which is a Chicken Shawarma (Rs.800).
The fried chicken to us, was everything chicken should be, which was nice and moist. The portion itself is quite filling and comes accompanied with a flavour infused sauce that compliments it perfectly. In fact we’d also recommend dipping a few fries in the sauce as well.
The Chicken Shawarma is definitely not meant to be shared simply because it’s delicious. From the first bite on, it gives you a hint of cucumber that adds a light freshness to the dish. The dash of mayonnaise inside the pita bread is not overused and you’re still able to taste the different spices in the chicken.
The Central Perk also houses a version of the show’s famous orange sofa. Pix by JS
We were also recommended the cafe’s ‘Hot Chocolate’ (Rs. 640) and ‘Central Mint Ice Infusion’ (Rs.790). The underlying aspect of both these beverages was that they weren’t overpoweringly sweet. The Ice infusion is served in a trendy Mason jar glass and comes infused with a hit of chocolate and mint. The Hot chocolate is the perfect answer for the one looking to get cozy on a rainy day or after a long day of work.
‘The Central Perk’ also houses a version of the show’s famous ‘orange sofa’, which was custom made for the cafe. The walls on each floor are also decked with posters and murals that depict famous quotes on the show.
However, the cafe is not limited to the show itself, though it follows it’s theme. As Rimzi puts it, they did not want to follow the show or copy it.
Rather, they simply wanted to create a space where they would love to hangout as friends. “We’re a group of friends from the 90s who want to have that atmosphere,” he explains, adding that this is why the building also plays music from that era.
The cozy ambiance of the cafe was also designed and decorated by the owners themselves, who used to meet up at several coffee shops.As Rumaiz shares, they had wanted to introduce a different kind of culture to Colombo. “We wanted to have a coffee shop that offers a view from any point of the room.” The seating arrangements had to be comfortable too.
Though they are quite new to the cafe business, the four friends are enjoying the feedback from the crowds that come in. They also hope to organise Trivia nights and runs of the show in the near future.
Overall, ‘The Central Perk’ offers you a chance of reliving your favourite memories off the show, whilst also allowing you to have a great time with your friends.
At present the cafe opens from 2pm to 11pm, six days a week with the exception of Tuesday.
Some offerings from Central Perk
