How about dining underneath the Mango tree, instead of the Jam Fruit tree? Well, there’s just the place in Colombo – the VOC Café at the Dutch Burgher Union (DBU).

The VOC Café serves up easily one of the best Beef Burgers in town with a juicy beef patty and a lightly toasted soft bun along with the usual trimmings. But it is their Lamprais that really is the showstopper, with its delicious Savoury Rice accompanied with the traditional Meat Curry made with beef, chicken and pork as well as Frikkadels (breaded Dutch meatballs), BrinjalPahè, Blachan (spicy shrimp paste), Fried Ash Plantains and SeeniSambol.

The DBU over the years served some excellent ‘bites’ but the premises were only open to members of the DBU and their guests. For those who really wanted to get some traditional Dutch Burgher Lamprais, Love Cake or Ginger Beer, there was a little ‘hole in the wall’ at the DBU premises where these goodies were sold.

It basically is this little ‘hole in the wall’, that has been given a massive facelift and since October 2012 the VOC Café opened its doors to anyone wanting to indulge in Dutch Burgher treats while also being able to join the club.

“Our idea was initially to target young people but we’ve recently got Chef Koluu involved to revamp the menu to feature items that would attract the over 50’s, to give them a taste of the food they would have indulged in, in their childhood,” Dallas Martenstyn, General Committee Member of the DBU, said and stressed that the earnings from the café go to charity and to support  St. Nicholas’ Home at Sri Saranankara Road.

The VOC Café has an impressive menu ranging from sandwiches to rice and short eats. While their DBU Specials, like the Kalu Pork Curry, Beef Smore, Iced Coffee and Ginger Beerare definitely worth trying. Their home-made Ginger Beer is so refreshing and ideal for balmy Colombo weather.

The VOC Café’s Yellow Rice and Ghee Rice are almost as popular as their Lamprais served with pork, or chicken, it is definitely worth trying out. The Yellow Rice seemed to be extremely popular when I visited the café at lunch time a few weeks ago but I really enjoyed their Chicken Lamprais. The rice was perfectly flavoured while the curries were delicious. Each complimenting the other, just as it should with the aroma of the steamed Banana Leaf…

“Gentlemen are supposed to eat five packs while ladies are supposed to have three was how Lamprais was made in the good old days,” Dallas explains adding, “That was the traditional way of eating Lamprais because it was gourmet food and one packet was not meant to be an entire meal so we’ve maintained the authenticity of the traditional Dutch BurgherLamprais while catering to present needs,” he said adding that they make fairly larger portions now. You are advised to place orders in advance for your preferredLamprais as they are made to order and sell out quickly.

I also highly recommend their Pulled Pork Sandwich served with mustard and soft bread, it is so scrumptious, while they make some excellent Beef Patties and Rolls. All these lunch time goodies aside they also have an impressive dinner menu after 7pm, which has a combination of local as well as western cuisine with items ranging from Mulligatawny Soup, Beef Smore with Mashed Potato and Salad, Quiche with Green Salad, String Hopper Meal too name a few. 

The VOC Café at the DBU is open from Monday to Sunday from 11am to 10.30pm and they close at 4pm on Poya Days. With ample parking space available, it is the ideal place to sit down for delicious meal or snack accompanied with some refreshing home-made Ginger Beer, without making a massive dent in your wallet! 

By Natasha Fernandopulle

Pics by Kanishke Ganewatte