Golden Palace (Hotel Sapphire).

Amidst the noise and activity in Wellawatte, you’ll find tons of ‘hotels’ that have stood the test of time. Covered in the city’s telltale kiss of grime and smoke, Hotel Sapphire is where many a midnight romp is conducted.

Unbeknownst to many, they’re actually home to a really good Chinese Restaurant called Golden Palace. We dropped in to check them out and had a fairly positive experience.

Ambience

The restaurant is up on the 3rd floor. It’s like a set out of an early 90s movie and seems like it’s been frozen in time since then. The walls and curtains are a deep shade of maroon and the furniture is scuffed and scratched, which only added more character.

The place is maintained extremely well with fresh flowers in little glasses on all the tables and neatly folded napkins all around.

Food

They’ve got an extensive menu with a range of dishes from pasta to naan with their primary focus being Chinese cuisine. 
After much debate Vishvi and I settled on a small portion of the Singapore Seafood Vermicelli Noodles (Rs. 740), a portion of Hong Kong Style Chicken (Rs. 595) and a portion of Sweet and Sour Crispy Pork (Rs. 620).
*Note: the prices mentioned above are exclusive of taxes.

The Hong Kong Chicken was okay at best, but only because we’ve tasted better. We got a plateful of large chunks of chicken steeped in sweet and sour sauce. A small helping of shallots, garlic and chillies were sprinkled for added flavour.

As a whole I’d say this was the perfect accompaniment to a plate of rice or noodles but I wish the chicken had more crunch to it. It seems like it had been left to soak up the sauce for way too long resulting in a soggy albeit tasty dish.

The pork, according to Vishvi, was brilliant. The chicken had lowered expectations for the pork but surprisingly the latter had an excellent crisp to it. From what I could see, it was served with a colourful assortment of vegetables and large slices of pineapple here and there.

It certainly looked a lot more appetising than the chicken. Vishvi reports that the pork was good, juicy meat with only one or two fatty bits. The sauce it was served in was every bit as sweet and sour as promised, so this sounds like a great dish overall.

The Singapore Noodles looked and tasted more like idiyappam but neither of us were complaining. It was full of cuttlefish bits, shrimps, and cubes of fish. You get an adequate amount of seafood with every bite.

The noodles were spiced lightly which allowed for more flavour to pass through from all other elements and the few sprinklings of leek bits here and there made for a nice crunch.

Service

Service is excellent. The waiters were smart chaps who displayed such interest in taking our orders, you'd have thought we informed them of a review being conducted beforehand. We didn't.

They were quick to top up our water glasses and served our food for us which wasn't necessary but was a nice touch. Our orders were taken swiftly and brought out in about 10-15 minutes.

Conclusion

I'm giving this place a big thumbs up. You're getting full value for money with large portions and good service. They've also got an extensive drinks menu with suspiciously cheap prices, so all the more reason to book a table. Or a room. We're not judging. 
If you're not keen to eat here though, you can just get it delivered to your doorstep via YAMU delivery.

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