328, Hotel Renuka, Galle Road, Colombo 3
Open until 10:30 PM
Palmyrah has long been one of the best places in the city for Sri Lankan food. They've expanded well into Western and Indian too, the food is great, and it's also a comfy, quiet, chilled space to dine at.
Nestled in the basement of the Renuka Hotel, Palmyrah is a little gem that serves authentic Northern Sri Lankan cuisine and hoppers. We weren't able to try out their legendary aappa this time around, but did have some pretty mindblowing mutton rolls.
You walk into a neat, cool and spacious dining area tastefully furnished with simple and comfortable tables and chairs. Nothing much has changed over the last few years except the colour of some of the upholstery. There's a splash of teal amongst the beige.
The waitstaff ushers you to a table and service is swift, efficient, and friendly — and best of all, they are actually honest about portion sizes and let you know what you'll be getting. For instance, I asked if a portion of rice was enough for two servings or just one, and our server told us that one would suffice. Seeing my excitement over spotting masala chai on the menu, he told me that it's a tea bag, not brewed from scratch; which I found very thoughtful and helpful: we basically avoided a disappointing experience. Likewise, he helped us through our orders and was conscientious throughout, down to asking for preferred sugar and ice levels in our drinks, and delivering it to the dot. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get his name.
However, we did get a complimentary basket of pappadam and a cup of perfectly brewed rasam.
The prices range from middle-end to slightly more expensive: you can expect to put down about Rs 1500 - 2000 per head. There's a Western Menu and a local one, with Palmyrah recommendations and 'legends': their more popular dishes, I suppose. I love how they've stuck to the native names of the dishes with a brief description of what it is (e.g. Porichcha Meen Sambol: diced fried fish tossed with sliced onion and green chillies).
For appetizers, we started off with a portion of mutton rolls. Priced at Rs. 600 for 3 rolls, we reconsidered getting this dish because it seemed too expensive, but whatever apprehensions we had about it disappeared the moment we bit into it. For 'rolls', it's actually more of an elongated cutlet so the size is a bit of a disappointment, but the cutlet (roll?) itself was delicious: fresh out-of-the-wok hot, this was a bread-crumb coated and fried mashed-potato concoction stuffed with flavourful and aromatic minced mutton.
We eyed the last remaining roll with utter sadness as Dili and I split it between the two of us and squashed the temptation to order another portion.
For mains, we got a bowl of Saffron Rice (Rs. 290) with Beef Paal Poriyal and Poori Potato, both priced at Rs. 790 and Rs. 400 respectively.
The rice was slightly dry, but nicely made with batterfried onions and tempered spiced karapincha mixed in with it. The Poori Potato was creamy and milky, with a lot of potato in the dish: this was easily enough for 3-4 people (but maybe order it with some dosai instead, I feel it'd be better as a dip instead of something to go with rice).
The Beef Poriyal (a slow cooked, semi-dry dish) was superbly spiced, not too much heat packed in it but full of flavour. The beef was surprisingly soft and succulent, and diced into convenient, bite-sized pieces. It went great with the yellow rice.
For drinks, we ordered iced coffee and a lime juice. The iced coffee (you can get it with or without ice cream, I opted for without) was creamy (Milkmaid?) but had a strong and flavoursome caffeine aftertaste which we really liked.
We asked for a sugar-free lime juice and received just that: a strong glass full of fresh lime with the acidity counterbalanced with just the right amount of water so that the flavour wasn't diluted.
In case it wasn't clear, let me reiterate: we really enjoyed our meal here and would definitely drop in again for both their amazing service and the food. And the mutton rolls, despite the heavy price tag.
Palmyrah is one of the places we 'd recommend twice over for their authentic food and great service.
Palmyrah has long been one of the best places in the city for Sri Lankan food. They've expanded well into Western and Indian too, the food is great, and it's also a comfy, quiet, chilled space to dine at.
Palmyrah has long been one of the best places in the city for - Sri Lankan food. A cuisine type which, quite bafflingly, is massively underrepresented in the capital of Sri Lanka.
සිංහල ලංකාවේ කෑමවලට කොළඹ තියෙන ඉහළ මට්ටමේ තැන් කිහිපයෙන් පට්ට තැනක් තමයි රේණුකා හෝටලේ ‘පැල්මයිරා’ අවන්හල.
සිංහල කොළඹ පුරවරයේ හොඳම දේශීය ආහාර පිරිනමන තැනක් කලක පටන් පිහිටා තිබෙනවා කොල්ලුපිටියේ රේනුකා හෝටලයේ. ඒ තමයි, පැල්මයිරා.
Address
328, Hotel Renuka, Galle Road, Colombo 3
Directions
Right on the Galle Road in Kollupitiya, on the corner of Sellamuttu Avenue, almost opposite Burger King. Once you walk into the Hotel, go straight in and take the staircase to the basement.
Contacts
Report InaccuracyGreat place to have a delicious Sri Lankan buffet…
A restaurant and a guest house in Ella, that one should…
2/5
Today my family and I went to The Palmyrah restaurant at Hotel Renuka. There was no one to usher us in to the restaurant. Nobody showed us to a table although there were plenty of staff around. We were there for a good 10 mins before we recieved menus although I was gesturing and calling the staff throughout. They blatantly ignored us. When we finally gave our orders we waited for almost an hour for us to get our food. I got the fillet steak. Boy, was it one of the worst steaks I've ever had. It was like chewing beef soup flavoured rubber. Fortunately my family's dishes were alright. To make matters worse we were only given glasses and water after we received the food. The napkins we had to tale from another table. Absolutely, absurd. Terrible service and sub par food. I used to recommend this place highly. There was barely anyone today and still they messed it up right royally.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree… I think the specialities at Palmayrah restaurant are their Mutton Koththu and Mutton Paal Poriyal… SImply the best you can find in the island. And I would definitely not avoid the western items. Their Chicken Cordon Bleu is to die for! And their Baked crab and Lamb are definitely worth a try!
Why avoid the western items?
I found them to be great! Specially the Chicken Cordon Bleu, is by far the best I've had.
Their Kottu among other SL foods is made superbly as well.
Returned last Sunday.
Love the food even the portion is small.
I seldom find such an attentive staff in Colombo.
Will visit again.
Check their Crab Meat Curry and Mutton curry.simply awesome.I haven't tried the Mutton Kottu yet.
Just walked into the Palmyrah which has been redecorated quite pleasantly, only two other tables occupied and they're playing Bronski Beat on the piped music system. Decor check. Music check check.
Just walked into the Palmyrah which has been redecorated quite pleasantly, only two other tables occupied and they're playing Bronski Beat on the piped music system. Decor check. Music check check.
Shifani, wondering did you check the total S/C and Taxes for your bill? I was shocked when I received my bill, the taxes are unusually high and I ask the manager why? He said, every hotel and restaurant is charging 28% but he couldn't break down the taxes for me. I told him, this is my first encounter in Sri Lanka to pay a 28% taxes for my meal. He then push all the blame to Government and said they just follow the rule.
A Ceylon Tea is 280rp, a 1000ml water is 250rp and a Coke is 330rp- all before the high taxes.
Can anyone explain what are the 28% taxes the manager claims is the standard practice for all food establishment? Where can I find out what are the actual taxes? Can Yamu do a research and publish it so that we can be inform reader without being rip off by unethical establishment.
It is not about the taxes that I am Dissapointed with, it is the arrogant attitude that keep insisting that every food establishent is practicing this same practice that really upsets me. Hence, I am writing here to warn everyone who plan to visit this place.
2/5
SavithJ
Today my family and I went to The Palmyrah restaurant at Hotel Renuka. There was no one to usher us in to the restaurant. Nobody showed us to a table although there were plenty of staff around. We were there for a good 10 mins before we recieved menus although I was gesturing and calling the staff throughout. They blatantly ignored us. When we finally gave our orders we waited for almost an hour for us to get our food. I got the fillet steak. Boy, was it one of the worst steaks I've ever had. It was like chewing beef soup flavoured rubber. Fortunately my family's dishes were alright. To make matters worse we were only given glasses and water after we received the food. The napkins we had to tale from another table. Absolutely, absurd. Terrible service and sub par food. I used to recommend this place highly. There was barely anyone today and still they messed it up right royally.
4/5
Mystica
Very authentic flavours. Excellent service staff. Complimentary rasam is wonderful. Kool, hoppers all accompaniments very good.
4/5
ajlalwani
Great for their hoppers. Slightly on the higher side price wise compared to cafe on the 5th.