We dropped by Tenderfresh recently at their new location on Duplication Road (they were previously located at Wijerama Mawatha), adjacent to their sister establishment Manhattan Fish Market. At the time we dropped by, they had been in operation for about a week. 

The first thing we noticed when we got to Tenderfresh was the welcome change - compared to the relatively dingy spot they previously occupied, the newer space was thankfully quite spacious with plenty of natural light thanks to the floor to ceiling glass. The interior was minimalistic - but then again for a diner, it works. 

We were handed a menu that had been updated - they seem to have added more items to the menu to suit and cater to more palates. Nevertheless, Tenderfresh is all about chicken, so you’ll find that it dominates the options on offer. But there’s also beef and seafood options available, though largely limited. We started off with the Milky Rose Cooler (Rs. 390/-) a faluda kinda drink, and a Ginger Passion Lemonade (Rs. 390/-). While we thought the Cooler was quite good, we absolutely loved the Ginger Passion Lemonade! Neither the passion nor the ginger flavors were overwhelming and instead, seemed to complement the other perfectly. Definitely a must try. 

We picked the Sampler (Rs. 990/-) as a starter, which came recommended by the staff. This is a great option that can be heartily shared among two people. The Sampler included roasted wings, mushroom tempura, fried calamari, wasabi prawn and coleslaw. We almost couldn't find fault with this starter - the mushroom tempura we could have done without - but the chicken was well flavoured, the calamari perfectly fried (and thankfully not rubbery), ditto wasabi prawn and the wasabi sauce a total win!! The coleslaw was good too. 

For the combo meals etc, you can choose between original, spicy or sambal. So for our main, we started off with a Crispy Fried Chicken Combo (Rs. 740 for 2 pieces) with sambal. It came with French fries and coleslaw. We also picked the Crispy Chicken Chop with Brown Sauce (Rs. 690/-) from the Western menu options and the Chicken Carbonara (Rs. 640/-) from the fusion menu. We were quite impressed that we had no complaints about any of the mains either. From the crispy chicken with the yummy sambal to the perfectly cooked chicken chop with the amazing brown sauce to the creamy carbonara, we were totally won over. 

We finished off with dessert; Oreo Delight and Chocolate Mousse (both Rs. 390/- each). You know what they say - all good things must come to an end, and come to an end it did with the desserts. The only saving grace was the Oreo Delight while the Chocolate Mousse was a total letdown. With the consistency of melted ice cream which did nothing to help the taste, it was a disappointment from the otherwise excellent lineup so far. 

Tenderfresh has come a long way since its initial run in Wijerama Mawatha with a major taste and location overhaul to boot. We loved their food - despite the desserts - and would definitely go back for more! 

Food: 4.75/5 stars 
Ambience: 4/5 stars 
Value for money: 4.5/5 stars 

Tenderfresh is located at #400, R. A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3, and is open Monday-Friday from 11.00am - 11.00pm and on weekends from 11.00am - 12 midnight. 

By Rihaab Mowlana 
Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja