One of the venues which have sustained their independent culinary image in Colombo is the Barracuda Restaurant, located on the end of Marine Drive in Dehiwela. The popular seafood venue sits right opposite the rail tracks with an undisturbed view of the sea. On a rainy Thursday evening it was my dinner destination. The entrance is lined with a wooden fence that displays the names of the bands playing there throughout the week. One can be seated under the coconut palms or on the beach- a nice option from being inside an office all day.
The paved path winds around the garden leading to the beach, where a large white marquee has been set up. As the moonlight casts its silhouette, a few tiny crabs are visible scurrying along the beach, and have drawn the attention of a few Chinese guests. Opting to sit under the marquee I chose to indulge in their signature mocktail, Ambrosia, which is a concoction of mango and coconut: the quintessential tropical blend. The appetizer as recommended was the hot butter cuttlefish, served in a cane basket, quite a nice contrast to the ordinary ceramic dishes. The texture and taste were just right.
The salad roll was another novel concept where the salad is served within an encrusted portion of pastry; it is simple dishes like this that stand out on a menu for their creative insight. Another dish of prawns garnished with a somewhat fiery chili caught me a bit by surprise, as the chili was a bit too hot, but then again each person’s perception of chili would vary. Prior to my visit here my friends had told me about the garuppa (fish) and thankfully the dish done in both Thai and Chinese preparations and served together was delicious. Another signature dish was the seafood sizzle: a dazzling display of prawns, seer fish, and cuttlefish served on a heavy wooden sizzle. The seafood was nestled on a bed of carrots, beans and cabbage and can be consumed with steamed rice. The “sizzling” effect of this dish lasted about five minutes at the table, remaining hot and was a pleasant treat on a rainy night.
The menu has an array of seafood and alternate dishes to cater to every discerning gourmet with generous portions that can be shared. The double fried belly pork is another top dish at this venue.
As often, dessert after an intensely flavorsome dinner is a challenging choice and the chocolate biscuit pudding was welcome. However, the pudding lacked the “crunchiness” within the biscuit realm that one expects. Barracuda offers guests a genuinely relaxed atmosphere to chill and engage in prolonged conversation, along with ample parking on the road with security. It is a definite stop on the culinary trail of Colombo city. The operators are set to open “Breeze by Barracuda” at Galle Face in October.