Although we’re surrounded by an ocean, it’s not every day that you can find a place that offers a great dining experience on the beach. The Station, Seafood Restaurant & Bar in Dehiwela gives you all that and more.

While travelling down Marine Drive, it’s hard to miss this eye-catching nook on the beach which at first looks deceptively small from its rear view. Once you cross the railway tracks, (after parking your vehicle along the road behind the restaurant and railway line), you are greeted by a beautiful stretch of beach with dining tables and chairs.

The restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner, has a dining space on the sand within its gates and within as well; you can also request for a few tables to be set up on the shore itself, beyond the gates. At night, what you’ll mostly sense of the ocean beyond is its salty air and gentle waves, not the sight of the ocean itself. However, if you take a walk further seaward, you’ll find a decently secluded stretch that is both calm and inviting. Lantern lit tables give the entire experience a romantic and serene feel.

The in-restaurant dining area spanning two floors, houses the restaurant’s bar as well. The upper floor would be recommended for a clearer view of the ocean. There is a loft like area separate from the main restaurant which can be booked for larger gatherings like office functions or family meals.

Food at The Station is exceptional, with each dish prepared carefully. They offer starters, salads, soups, vegetarian dishes, crab, fish, prawn and cuttlefish dishes and chicken, pork, beef and grilled dishes that consist of mixed grill dishes and grilled Darne of Seer, grilled chicken, grilled pork chops, grilled lamb chops and grilled sausages served with fried egg, boiled vegetables and garlic bread. They also do a few pasta and spaghetti dishes which are quite nice.

We chose the nasi goreng (LKR 800) from their many rice dishes, on the first visit and it was absolutely mouthwatering. Served with prawn crackers, two eggs and a choice of seafood or chicken, the portion was easily enough for three people of average appetite! You can’t come to a seafood restaurant and not try a hot butter cuttlefish dish and so we did and we relished every bite!

Two popular dishes seemed to be their seafood mixed grill consisting of prawns, cuttlefish, Seer fish, crab and French fries (drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce) and their meat mixed grill consisting of chicken, pork, beef, lamb, fried egg and French fries (also drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce), both reasonably priced at LKR 1500 each. The dishes are served piping hot and you can see the sizzling heat emanating from it, all the more pronounced if it’s a dark night’s backdrop! They also serve a variety of beverages inclusive of soft drinks and fresh juices.

The prices are very reasonable and their service is quite good, although they could get delayed with your orders if the place is buzzing (which it seemed to be even on a Monday), something you can’t really be too fussy about. On the two nights we dropped in, there was a three-piece band playing at tables on request as well, which most of the foreign diners seem to lap right up!

All in all, The Station is a welcome spot on the Marine Drive beach stretch, affording an ideal location for weekday nights out with friends or a quiet outing with family.

Address - 1/41, Wasala Road Dehiwala
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/thestationrestaurantandbar

By Jennifer Rodrigo
Photographs courtesy – The Station Facebook page