On WTF this week, we took a drive down south for some sun and good food. Galle is still beautiful although the numbers visiting is not so great because of COVID. There is so much to see and so much to be mesmerized by in the Fort. I have visited Taphouse in Colombo many times but the Galle experience was totally different - the food, the place and the vibe are so relaxed and it kinda won my heart over the one in Colombo.

 

The food is very good and quality is well maintained and flavours are well balanced. The Chef has a good balance between the Lankan taste and what the foreigners like. I chatted with Rangani on what makes this place click.

 

I think each of our outlets complements the character and pace of the city it is based on. At Galle, it is a more laid back experience. Time stands still at the Old Dutch Hospital in Galle Fort. We encourage guests to take their time here, to relax, and listen to some music. You can even try a few board games from our games library. We are lucky to have a great culinary team in Galle and our food and cocktails also reflect this.

 

 

Yes it is a different clientele, and it is predominantly international. So we normally start with an international menu as the base. But then we ask ourselves “How do we add Sri Lankan flavour to these dishes and make it our own?”. For example we would start with a common pasta dish but then start playing around with Sri Lankan flavours and pretty soon end up with a Pasta Navaratna or a Gnocchi with Chicken Curry. Completely different but also with some element of familiarity.

 

 

Not great at all. As a tourist city, most restaurants in Galle rely heavily on foreign guests for revenue. We are no different. However, we are grateful to local residents and weekend travellers from Colombo who continue to visit us whenever possible.

 

I dug into some of their most famous dishes.

I wanted to know what they keep in mind when they make the menu line up and Rangani added, “We want to showcase Sri Lankan flavours, and we want to expand the scope of where those flavours can go. We could have easily gone with a selection of standard Sri Lankan dishes and a selection of western dishes and called it a day. But where’s the fun in that? We would much rather develop a menu that marries the flavours on offer from Sri Lankan and international cuisine”.

I also wanted to know if Roti mafia is going to start in Galle and she said, “most definitely! Pol Roti Mafia, our newest venture in Colombo is getting rave reviews. People are excited about the amazing dishes we are doing with the humble pol roti. The “Mafia” will be coming to Galle very soon.”

 

 

I love the fact that all their pasta dishes are homemade. Galle is always special to me and good food is the main reason for the drive. Can’t wait to go by again!