JAVA LOUNGE
Finally, Sri Lanka has the legendary Starbucks coffee at its disposal. Located on Jawatta Road the Java Lounge exclusively serves Starbucks coffee to its clientele. Opened last December, the shop caters to ‘coffee lovers with distinction’. Ordering a coffee, you’re asked to ‘pick up your drink at the red light’. This thrills me to the bone and it turns out it’s a Starbucks tradition the world over, where your drink is placed on the counter under a red light for pick up.
For coffee that is branded Starbucks, the prices are surprisingly reasonable. For a minimum of Rs 270 you can buy a freshly brewed coffee. For Rs 480 you can get a caramel macchiato and the most expensive is the Java-chip frappuccino, and barista Khiaz tells us these two are the crowd favourites.
They’re about to launch a new range of food items to complement the amazing coffee and current favourites available include an absolutely divine strawberry shortcake and the calorie monstrosity aptly titled ‘Chocolate Nightmare’. They’re also the only retailers for Patchi chocolate, a Middle Eastern delicacy.
Java Lounge employs nine people, and every single one of them has been a starbucks employee somewhere in the world. Khiaz handles an espresso shot with ease while sharing fascinating titbits of coffee trivia, for example, did you know that an espresso shot must be drunk or blended with something within 10 seconds…or it dies? It is this kind of attention to detail that emphasizes the premium quality coffee they serve.
D’ CAFÉ
Located on Cambridge Place right under D’divas, this café is part of a CSR initiative and proceeds go to the upkeep of the beautiful Kumbuk River. Opened in January, the café uses Illy Coffee for its rich blends, the heady aroma of which, on a rainy afternoon, can make you ravenously hungry.
They have their share of substantial food. Order the English Cream Chicken Pie, a profusion of gooey melting cheese, warm doughy base and oh yes, chicken, and you will not be disappointed. Complement this with a Black Forest Frappe and a cupcake (they come in three flavours; vanilla, chocolate and red velvet), and that’s about as filling a meal as you’ll find anywhere.
A house special is the Kumbuk coffee, a yummy caffeine drink that incorporate a little bit of strawberry. They also serve up the Russian dish Pelmeni, along with an array of lasagnes, sandwiches, burghers, and salads. Prices are a little on the expensive side, a cucumber juice will cost you just Rs 180 and the English Cream Chicken Pie comes at Rs 1400 but it’s massive and can be shared!
They plan to expand soon, Friday night events and poetry readings are on the cards. Be warned-the café doesn’t have WiFi, but they’re working on it. What you will get however is chilled out music, comfort food that can serve an army, and very rich coffee.
CAFFE PASCUCCI
Pascucci possibly has the most extensive range of coffees out of the lot, with coffee menus ranging from cappuccinos, espressos, fraspuccios, macchiatos, ice blends, teas of all origin and yummy yoghurt cappuccinos.
The beverages are made using the Pascucci coffee blend, handed down from the Italian family of the same name from the 1800’s. The cafe opened late last year with relatively little fan fare.
They’ve chosen to build a reputation based on their signature coffee and food offerings. Go through the menu and you’ll find an impressive and mouth-watering array of pastas, lasagnes, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, all made on the spot. I’m told that nothing, not even the dough for the pizzas, is frozen.
Pascucci also serves up a variety for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try their pastas, which come highly recommended by most of the clientele. Go for Penne Alla Siciliano (eggplant penne pasta,chicken, tomato and basil) or Spaghetti al Pascucci or even Pollo Saapriello if you fancy a rice dish.
Accompany it with a Fraspuccio Confuso or a Jamaican Ice Coffee (plain ice cream, molten chocolate, coffee syrup, whipped cream and choc crunch, yum). The Espresso Gold comes at the minimum price of Rs 250; while an Arabica will be served up for 790.The café is open from 7am to 11pm every day. Looks like Pascucci is here to stay.
BARS CAFÉ
Located right next to the P&S on R.A.De Mel Mawatha, this café’s been around for a while. With the firm belief that everything tastes better ‘behind bars’, you’ll find there are all types of food and beverage bars, for every kind of drink and dish under the sun! The coffee bar will whip up a mint hot chocolate within minutes, it’s incredibly refreshing and it’ll wake your taste buds up like nothing else.
This is in addition to the quirky orange hot chocolate they serve; meant to complement their mint and orange cakes.
Signature items at the café include the Bars Burgher, the Baked Crab and the Cheesy Chicken and their Gnocchi with mushroom and tomato and Thai Curry pot with Saffron Rice are sure to delight a discerning diner. A minimum of Rs 250 will get you an iced tea, while the most expensive item on the menu, a cheesy chicken, will cost Rs 950. The café is open from 11am to 11pm on weekdays and 11am to midnight on weekends.
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