The Kingsbury’s poolside restaurant, the Waterscape, offers a pretty great view (for now) and al fresco dining. If you’re looking for a decent grill or a bit of fun fondue and have a bit of cash to spare, this place is worth it.
Food
We ordered a marinated cuttlefish fillet and jumbo prawns served with wok fried vegetables and garlic rice from the “fish magic grill” selection, and a fresh Cajun spiced chicken breast and leg from the “signature black rock grill”, which came with penne pasta in creamy alfredo sauce and garlic bread.
The quantity and quality of both dishes were commendable, as was the presentation. The seafood dish came with a bed of saffron spiced rice and nice fresh buttered vegetables which rounded it off well. The prawns were cooked to perfection, while the cuttlefish was well seasoned but a little tougher (bordering on slightly rubbery).
The Cajun spiced chicken was rather interesting as it came semi-cooked and sizzling on a hot slab of black rock and we got to help cook it to the extent we liked whilst nibbling on the garlic bread and vegetables. The penne it came with was really delicious, superbly creamy and delicately spiced. Both dishes were about Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 each, which is normal 5 star fare but quite steep nevertheless.
Their drinks selection is essentially the same as the rest of the hotel, pretty extensive and well marked up.
Ambience & Service
Al fresco in Colombo is almost always nice. We have great weather and generally pretty spectacular views – might as well utilize them. The poolside café is no exception, and the laidback ease of watching two water bodies while you eat is nice. Unfortunately the upcoming port city is being built on land that’s being reclaimed down the entire strip, including right in front of the Kingsbury. So this is probably going to kill the view very soon with a bunch of haulers and cranes and assorted construction ugliness.
The furniture and vibe aren’t really much to write home about, nothing stood out in terms of music or ambience. I did find the bright blue techno-clubby lights around the pool a little disturbing but the open kitchen and pizza oven made up for that a bit.
The service was what you’d expect from a 5 star hotel – polite, efficient and friendly.
