The Light House Galley opposite Colombo Lighthouse is a courtyard-restaurant run by the Navy – it’s a good place for lunch or dinner, although we were impressed mostly by their wattalapam.
Food
The menu has a range of rice, seafood and chicken options. We ordered their Nasigoreng (Rs. 500), Hot Butter Cuttlefish (Rs. 500) and Chilly Chicken (Rs. 500). The Nasigoreng came with a side of pineapple, egg and chicken kebabs. The rice was very greasy but spicy and tasty, and the kebabs were the best part about the dish.
The cuttlefish was crispy and delicious when eaten hot-hot.
The chilly chicken wasn’t that impressive. Yes, it was saucy and spicy as promised but we’ve had better – the chicken kebabs that came with the nasigoreng were superior.
We washed it down with a glass of fresh orange juice (Rs. 200) and waited for the wattalapam (Rs. 100) – not really expecting much. Most restaurants serve wattalapam that’s kind of meh, but the wattalapam here was really good: milky, sweet and also slightly chilled so it was soothing after a hot meal.
Service & Ambiance
The service was fast – they brought me my three plates in 15 minutes, and the waiter was friendly. The space is open and warm – better to go after 4 so the heat doesn’t get you. Note that to sit inside you need to be wearing shoes.
You get a full view of the Lighthouse from your seat and the sweet smell of the sea – so this place doesn’t have to try much for ambiance. You’ll also see plenty of men and women in uniform heading out from Navy headquarters nearby.
Conclusion
Lighthouse Galley is a good place to stop by if you’re with friends or family in Fort or at Galle Face. The food is generally alright and not so expensive, the wattalapam and cuttlefish are worth tasting, and the by-the-beach location makes it a great place to relax.
