Escape into a calm oasis with great food
For most, an escape has never seemed more tempting. A moment of respite during the last month of the year and a place to relax and enjoy some deliciously different food. Restaurateur Senuri Ranatunga offers diners just that with her new al fresco establishment, The Escape.
Perfect ambience: Green surroundings close to the city
While studying Politics and International Relations during her time at University, Senuri kept her dream of one day opening her own restaurant alive, supplementing her interest in food through cooking, food blogging and travel to experience cuisines around the world.
Escargot in France, Mediterreanean feasts in Morocco, Spanish delicacies and authentic Chinese food including a few rare dishes served to the Emperor himself just to name a few– Senuri says special moments like this which allowed her to experience the food she admired from its country of origin not only surpassed her expectations but was eye-opening. “Trying out food from each of the places where those dishes were created helped me understand how the food was actually meant to be.”
Her dream came true this August on the 27th when The Escape opened its doors. Located on Lake Drive in Rajagiriya, adjacent to the Royal Colombo Golf Club, Senuri says the space is quite serene and calming, where even though it’s in Colombo, “it’s away from all the hustle and bustle of the city – we’ve got so much nature surrounding it.” With this kind of tranquil green atmosphere, the name of her establishment didn’t require a second thought as she says, “Every time I walk in there it feels like such an escape for me.”
The Escape serves a variety of cuisine including Sri Lankan, Italian and Asian along with a rich range of coffees and desserts. This festive season they launched their Christmas menu which includes new additions to their dine-in menu and an extensive catering menu for small gatherings in the safety of diners’ homes. Executive Chef Lakshan Silva and his team’s special seasonal menu includes signature slow roasted meats of turkey, pork, chicken and lamb complemented by appetisers, sides and desserts. Beverages include The Escape’s popular premium eggnog and mulled wine. Diners keen on celebrating early at The Escape can look forward to the restaurant’s mince pie, roast lamb and pork and eggnog infused pavlova amongst others.
It was not without its challenges – The Escape’s debut was also faced with the impending restrictions of COVID-19. “We don’t actually know a world apart from post corona for our restaurant,” explained Senuri. To ensure the safety of their team and customers, staff were on premises to avoid possible exposure due to travel. Regular sanitization, special care with delivery orders, ensuring guests complied with government safety and hygiene regulations, prohibiting smoking in their open air dining facility and more have been a part of the restaurant’s safety measures since its opening.
Ideal location for a seasonal treat
Despite the difficulties, Senuri is elated at realising her goal of becoming a restaurateur. “It’s not a monotonous job. I think something new happens everyday. We’ve had so many events that have kept me on my toes. Just this week we had a wedding we catered for as well. It was such a special moment when people are celebrating and making memories in the place we opened.”
Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas day brunch is available by reservation due to limited seating options as per safety regulations. For those keen on fine dining, The Escape also offers customers an intimate fine dining experience on a pre-order basis.
For reservations or information, call 0777 551 557 or 077 224 4224.
Senuri and her mother