Kolamba East

London

SPICE IN THE CITY

With its warm, inviting atmosphere and a menu that’s a joyful celebration of Sri Lankan flavours, Kolamba East brings a welcome touch of the island’s spice to the heart of London. Husband and wife restaurateurs Eroshan and Aushi Meewella now have a stable of two Colombo home- cooking-inspired joints – one in Soho and this new one, on Blossom Street, near Spitalfields. The fragrant roast pineapple curry is a standout, alongside the tender Jaffna spiced lamb chops, perfectly grilled and richly flavoured. The hot butter soft shell crab brings a satisfying heat, while the Ceylon Moor king-prawn string hopper biryani is an aromatic masterpiece of delicate rice and succulent shellfish. The cocktail list is equally exciting, featuring twists on classics like the arrack old fashioned and the sweet, tropical banana Manhattan.

Words by Lauren Hoffman. kolamba.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Milo Brown