Elite (Wattala).

The Elite Indian Restaurant in Wattala has been around for about a year or two now. They seem to be run by, or in partnership with, Al-Maas, and this sort of guarantees it to have good food, because of street cred — Al-Maas barely disappoints. They have a huge menu as most of the Indian restaurants are wont to, and a section of Chinese dishes as well. We can't vouch for the veracity of the Chinese, but they're good for filling and flavoursome food.

Food and Service

We walked into a crowded restaurant which seemed to be a bit understaffed. We had to wait about ten or so minutes before a server came over. They're a bit slow, and the guy we got was quite unfamiliar with the menu. Placing our order took a bit more time, trouble and explanations than necessary. It also involved flipping through the menu numerous times and pointing the dishes out. After that initial hiccup, service picked up considerably well, as the staff were friendly and attentive.

Their food is quite good. We started off with the Paneer 65 (Rs. 400) which was crispy and spicy. The paneer was good, but a bit dry and chunky on the inside, and not as smooth as we're used to with the ones offered at Shri Vani Villas. Regardless, it was still a generously portioned and flavoured appetizer.

Their Tom Yum soup (Rs. 160) deserves applause as it was not only generous but also tremendously spicy and flavoursome. The lemon grass, chilli, and seafood really made an appearance, with generous portions of shrimps and squid laden within. This could almost be called a meal in itself, and a delicious one at that. For the price, this is an absolute steal.

Next up, Vegetable Noodles (Rs. 200). Enough for two, and peppered generously with baby corn, mushrooms, leeks and what not, this is really good to try out with any of their spicy meat dishes. I found it a bit too oily for my liking, but that's a personal preference. It was still soft, warm, and good.

I expected their Pepper Fried Beef (Rs. 340) to be a dry curry, but it wasn't. I'm not sure if it's fried at all, it looks and tastes more like it'd been cooked in currypowder, pepper, and onions for a reasonable amount of time, but was quite chewy despite that.

The dish had generous and large chunks of beef in it, but one piece was practically inedible — the chewy, rubbery part that you so often find in most beef dishes bought at any regular kade or restaurant. Other than that though, the dish was quite good overall. Generously doused with pepper and an onion sambol, this went hand in hand with my Butter Naan (Rs. 60).

Next up is their Calcutta Special Mutton (Rs. 480), a boneless mutton dish.

The gravy in this was THE BOMB. Spicy, tangy, lemony, with the right balance of lemon and heat, this was delish. The mutton was so well cooked that it practically fell apart as you tried to cut it. It was soft, and despite all the spices and condiments in the dish, the muttonny flavour came through quite strongly.

All in all, the food gets a clear 4 to 5 stars from me.

Service and Ambience

Honestly, the ambience isn't all that great. It's rather run down and crowded for dinner, with the crowds thinning out by 9.30 PM. The place is clean, but it's not a very comfy space. It's good for groups of people, loud friends and a fun day out.

The service is a bit weird. As in, after being almost non-existent at the begininng, the servers/manager just kept hovering around asking how things were every 10-15 minutes. It's great when proprieters and staff ask how the food is, but a bit uncomfortable when they ask it too much and hover around a lot. I mean, it kind of makes one feel self conscious. But that said, they're really friendly and try to keep you happy. 

Conclusion

Elite can work on their interior a bit and polish up their service, but there's no fault to be found with their food. Generous portions and reasonable prices will leave you full, full and happy. Check it out if you're in the vicinity.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Mad Dogs Bodega, Banyan

Highlights Kamu

Budget-friendly Iftar spots 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, In our previous article, we highlighted some exquisite and upscale Iftar

Highlights Kamu

Iftar Buffet Round Up 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya As Ramadan arrives, a warm feeling of reflection and community fills

Highlights Kamu

Discovering Pasta Paradise: The Pasta Factory, Galle Fort

In the historic Galle Fort, The Pasta Factory brings a taste of Italy to Sri

Highlights Kamu

A Home for Desi Dreams – Bombay Nights by Radisson Colombo

As we stepped into the ‘Dine’ in Radisson Colombo, our senses were immediately tantalized by

Highlights Kamu

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Trending.

Experience the Elegance and Excitement of RTC Tourism Race Day in Nuwara Eliya

RTC Nuwara Eliya will hold its RTC Tourism Race Day on 30th March 2024 at

Trending

“85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim” by SLASU held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach

The "85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim" organized by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union

Trending

Sheraton Colombo Hotel celebrates International Women’s Day with empowering insights

Sheraton Colombo Hotel, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, marked International

Trending

Anantara Kalutara Presents an Elevated Gastronomic Journey to Italy

Kalutara, Sri Lanka - March 14, 2024 - Anantara Kalutara Resort is delighted to announce

Trending

List of Party Venues 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Finding the perfect place to host a party can be a hassle.

Highlights Trending

LCY Unveils Debut ‘LCY for Her’ Collection, Redefining Women’s Polo Wear with Strength, and Sophistication

Thursday, 14, March, 2024, Colombo: LCY, a brand synonymous with manufacturing high-quality men’s polos of

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him

By Fathima Rukaiya Are you trying to find the perfect way to show your special

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her

Written by Fathima Rukaiya The season of love is upon us once more, and opinions

Highlights Yamu Guide

Romantic Dinner and High Tea date spots for Valentine’s Day  2024

Written by Shamrina C 1. Via Torino Indulge in a fine dining exclusive 3-Course meal

Highlights Yamu Guide

BYOB Bliss: 16 Places to you can Bring Your Own Bottle!

Written by Shamrina C 1. Giovannis Indulge in Italian flavors, grooving music, pet friendly, and

Highlights Yamu Guide

Unveiling Ramada’s Festive Christmas High Tea Extravaganza!

Written by Shamrina C Mark your calendars for the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of December,

Highlights Yamu Guide