By Sandaru Munasinghe
The Maharaja Palace is illustrious for the rich legacy it holds in serving the most delectable Indian Cuisine in Colombo. The restaurant has widened its scope on the menu by introducing an authentic selection of Thai dishes cooked exclusively by well-known Chef ‘ Mama’ – Masterchef Thailand. We got a chance to experience our very own expedition into Thai Cuisine offered by the Maharaja Palace located in Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 07.
Ambience
The restaurant provides a smooth transition from the busy and buzzing rush hour, Colombo, to a calm and tranquil setting. The architecture depicts the vibes of Historic India and gives a feeling of comfort and warmth. The restaurant is very spacious and can host a good amount of company. The dining area is fitted with tinted glass windows that give a kaleidoscopic view of the exterior while gearing yourself up for a luscious lunch.
The Appetizers
- Steaming chicken balls served with lemon chilli sauce
A crispy and succulent dish that oozed with flavor, the chicken balls were accustomed to the soft tenderness of the juicy chicken and topped with a tangy and spicy chili lemon sauce which hit the spot by providing the dish the explosion of flavor it deserves. The dish was also fitted with thin fresh-cut pieces of cabbage and carrot that provided it with texture. This dish is highly recommended if you want to start out the lunch with a bit of spice and tang that sets up your appetite perfectly.
Price: LKR 1000/-
- Glass Noodle Salad
Well if you are looking for healthier options on the menu, you don’t have to look far from the Glass Noodle salad. With an ample amount of veggies to provide texture and spice from the onion and fresh-cut green chillis, the glass noodle salad is a fresh way to start your lunch. The salad itself is very filling and also contains a good amount of fresh prawns making it more palatable.
Price: LKR 1150/-
The Mains
- Crispy lamb fried rice with kailan
When it comes to Thai cuisine, the rice dishes always steal the show, this fried rice did just the same. Filled with crispy lamb pieces to bite on, the rice was infused with pepper and spices that gave it the inherent tastes of an authentic Thai dish. The Kailan (Chinese broccoli) gave it texture while pieces of cucumber provided a cold refreshing kick to the rice. The rice was well cooked and moist which made it go well with the Green curry that we will discuss next.
Price: LKR1650
- Beef green curry with young Jackfruit
Thai Curry be it red or green is essential to have a good Thai lunch. The Beef Green Curry was the perfect combo for the rice. The coconut cream-based curry provided a good base for the rice with pieces of meat and young jackfruit (polos) being able to suck in the flavors and provided a good thickness to the curry making it very satisfying to eat. The curry was able to act as an adhesive to all the flavors of the rice and the beef fused into one whole flavorful extravaganza.
Price: LKR 1650/-
The Dessert
- Thai dhan with coconut cream
This is a very uncommon and unconventional dessert that showed the authenticity of Thai Cuisine. The Thai Dhaan is a dessert made with rice and lentils cooked together infused with sugar and then bathed in coconut milk. This was my first time trying it and I can’t say I am the biggest fan of it but it was a new culinary experience for me. The dessert was hot and filled with a lot of flavors that you normally don’t expect from a dessert making it very unique and a must-try for all the food enthusiasts out there.
Price: LKR 750/-
Conclusion
The Maharaja palace is a restaurant with a rich history that is reflected in its delicious food and loyal service. We also had the honor of meeting Chef Mama who personally took reviews for the food on location. The Maharaja palace has a well-curated menu that now includes Thai cuisine. Even though we didn’t try the Indian Dishes, the restaurant also serves a wide range of Indian Delicacies.
