A chilled out and laidback ambience encapsulates the Sunday Lunch at Ramada experience: a musician straddling a guitar melodiously croons popular hit songs, families mill about, and guests ravenous after a refreshing swim on a hot day flock to the buffet and the grilling station by the pool. 

The Sunday Lunch Buffet available from 12:30PM - 3:00PM costs Rs. 2500 nett for adults with half rate for kids. This flat rate also includes usage of the swimming pool at Ramada as well as a cookery demonstration - it was sushi the day we dropped in. They also offer 10% on house beverages. 

Food 

The buffet comprised sections for salads/appetisers, mains, an action station, and dessert. While certainly not the most extensive buffet available in town, there is a good variety with a reasonable number of options for vegetarians. The spread comprised a mixed bag of Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cuisine with a little bit of Japanese thrown in, and undoubtedly, their limited spread paves way for tasty grub. 

Their salad / appetiser spread included a sushi platter, assorted cheeses, grissini with tapenades, bruschetta, an assortment of salads in ramekins as well as fresh juices in shot glasses. 

Their sushi rolls were perfectly sized and yummy, not surprising since their Japanese restaurant Mizu serves tasty fare. Most conveniently, many of the rolls were vegetarian with a cream cheese and fruit combo that worked really well together. 

Their salads were all flavourful, although their Grilled Vegetable Salad, German Potato Salad and Marinated Seafood Salad stood out. Their shot glasses included Pineapple Mint, Ambarella and Melon Ginger juices. While the Ambarella was nothing to write home about, the rest we liked. 

They had two choices for soup: cream of asparagus and cilantro scented spicy seafood soup. We tried the asparagus which was good but we thought it was a tad too salty. The mains had 3 carb choices - steamed rice, fusilli pasta with mushroom cream sauce and a Mediterranean mutton rice. 

Other items on the spread comprised ghosht lahore, chilli prawn with cashew nuts, cajun spicy roasted chicken with pepper corn sauce, navaratne kurume, herb roasted potato and battered boiled veggies, among others. The mutton rice we thought was a little too sweet owing to the almost surplus of raisins - the dish was somewhat saved due to the spices used. We loved the mushroom cream sauce that came with the fusilli - this lip smackingly creamy sauce had us wanting more. The fusilli was cooked al dente. While we liked what we tried, the cajun roasted chicken was one of our favourites - it was packed with flavour and cooked perfectly. Ditto the chilli prawn. We also loved the vegetable dish navaratne kurume. 

Meanwhile, the chefs at the action station grilled meat only upon request - this meant that while we had to wait a little for the meat to be prepared, we didn't have to settle for meat that had been sitting aside for a while. So the meat is very juicy and succulent when you eat it. 

The dessert section was quite a decent spread and didn't disappoint - from coconut fudge, cookie berry pie, mocha chocolate mousse, pear caramel cheesecake, baked apple pie roll ups to a trifle-gulab jamun combo and ice cream, the selection was satisfyingly vibrant and colourful (we all know our eyes eat first). If they looked good, they tasted even better! From delectable and decadent to fruity and refreshing, we found it tough to pick favourites. But if we absolutely had to pick, it would be the pear caramel cheesecake which tasted like heaven. 

Service 

The staff at Ramada are very accommodating and friendly. Despite previous experiences to the contrary, they were very attentive in filling our glasses and clearing up plates once we were done. 

Ramada may have a trimmed down buffet spread, but they most certainly haven't compromised on the taste, which makes it a great option for a laidback Sunday hangout spot for families, large groups and even for dates. Despite many children in attendance, it was generally very quiet unless you elected to sit by the pool. Good food, good vibes and good value for money. 

Check out Ramada’s weekly Sunday Lunch Buffet that on from 12:30PM - 3:00PM at No 30, Sir Mohamed Macan Markar Mawatha, Colombo 03. 

Website: www.ramadacolombo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ramadacolombo 
Telephone: (011) 2 422 001 

PHOTOGRAPHS by Kushan Pathiraja