Box Colony.

Box Colony is a recently opened restaurant in Battaramulla. I wouldn't say its worth a trip all the way from the center of Colombo, traffic can be terribly anal, but if you're in the area, this can be a really nice place to chill for a while. The ambiance is great, lots of greenery, fresh air and garden seating; and the service is friendly and welcoming. The food however, could use some improvement.

The Food

The roast paan and chilli sauce dip comes as a standard for dine-in customers. The paan was a little on the rough side, but the dip was delish, it had a vague kocchi/yaka miris flavor to it, and that's something hard to resist.

For starters we ordered the Basil & Tomato Salsa on Toast (Rs. 460) and got a Lime, Lemongrass and Mint juice (Rs. 320). The bread was crispy and the salad was fresh, but didn't exactly wow the tastebuds.

Apologies for the terrible bokeh in this shot

The juice was refreshing, but slightly too much on the bitter side for my liking. So neither were execeptionally good, nor were they exceptionally bad. So I suppose we can agree on 'average'.

The Chicken Burger (at Rs. 800) came recommended from the kitchen so we went for that as a main, neither of us being too hungry that night. The meat patty was firm and had a good texture, but it wasn't very flavorful. So pretty average there also. The bread and salad was a less than average, and the barbecue sauce that came along with it was a little too sweet. The ingredients in the burger were rather dull tasting and ended up not voicing themselves, nor were they too mutually complementary. 

Desserts

For dessert we got the parfait. It was a huge portion and we couldn't finish it. It had a nice coconutty texture, and chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. I am not much of a sweet tooth, so I found this rather too sweet. But still, if you like drowning your tastebuds in sugar this might be for you.

The Place

Is rather easy to find, just pass the Cool Planet if you're approaching from Thalawathugoda, and it will be on your left just a 100m afterwards. Avoid rush hour at all costs if you're going there from Colombo. Road rage will drive you half-mad. 

The Ambience

Box Colony has a large garden area with a nice green lawn and lots of trees, one of the advantages of being located in a leafy suburb. It also has contaner boxes for buildings. Some areas are a little cumbersome, and if you BYOB then watch out for the iron steps leading upstairs, they are rather small and can get slippery in the rain.

The place calls itself a cafe, lounge AND a salad bar. I think these are identities that are way too disperate to fit into the same space without some measure of schizophrenia, and Box Colony falls prey to this condition a little bit also. The EDM pumping out of the speakers was out of place on the quiet weekday evening we were there, and the trendy filament bulbs hanging over the tables upstairs was a little too in our faces for our liking.

The upstairs makes you feel rather boxed in

The upstairs section, being as it is within a metal box, has acoustics which will make you highly partial to your neighbors' conversations. Great if you're a private detective tailing a cheating husband, but not so good if you're just there for a quiet night out. I suspect the EDM was an attempt at fixing this problem, but it only ended up creating more noise pollution.

Service

Exceptionally good, fast and friendly. They went out of their way to make us feel at home.

Conclusion

Come here for the space and the garden area, also a good quiet place to BYOB and chill with friends. The food here doesn't exactly wow. 

 

 

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

The Sweetest Valentine’s Treat from The Sweet Room!

by Shamrina Carim February is here and love is in the air—So is the irresistible

Kamu

Sawan for Seven! A Gigantic North Indian Meal from Rosewood Ceylon

By Shamrina Carim If you’re craving an indulgent North Indian meal that brings together bold

Kamu

Culinary Adventure at Long Feng by Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo : The Chinese Food Festival 2025

If you’ve never journeyed to China, a  grand opportunity to immerse yourself in its true

Kamu

Cheers Pub at Cinnamon Grand Colombo: The Ultimate Spot for Great Vibes, Delicious Food, and Fun

By Sharon Nonis Looking for a place that blends great food, refreshing drinks, live music,

Highlights Kamu

Across Borders: A Culinary Bridge Between India and Sri Lanka Through Peshawri’s Timeless Flavors

By Vimasha Vishvadari Peshawri, a renowned restaurant chain, originated from the iconic Bukhara restaurant in

Highlights Kamu

Tenkū – a hidden Gem of the Japanese Cuisine

By Vimasha Weerawansha Ambience  The Kingsbury Rooftop offers a breathtaking panorama of the cityscape and

Highlights Kamu

Trending.

Heritance Hotels and Resorts Partners with Galle Literary Festival as Exclusive Opening Night Sponsor

Heritance Hotels and Resorts, the flagship brand of Aitken Spence Hotels, proudly announces its continued

Trending

A Night to Remember at Excel World’s Indian Food Festival

Excel World came alive on the evening of January 11th with the grand opening of

Highlights Trending

Dine as Much as Your Heart Desires this Chinese New Year at The Kingsbury’s Yue Chuan

Celebrate the vibrant traditions of the Chinese New Year with a culinary experience like no

Trending

A Glittering Start to 2025: Sheraton Kosgoda’s Spectacular NYE Gala

Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort welcomed the new year in grand style with its highly

Trending

MSI Unveils New Laptop Lineup Featuring NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series at CES 2025

Experience the Extreme Performance of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Across 5 Different MSI Laptop

Trending

Graze Kitchen Presents “Timeless Taste of India” – An Exquisite Indian Culinary Showcase

Hilton Colombo's renowned Graze Kitchen invites guests to indulge in India's vibrant and diverse flavors

Trending

Yamu Guide.

14 Romantic Places to Spend  February 14th – Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you're looking for the perfect place

Highlights Yamu Guide

Valentine’s Gift Guide for Him 2025

by Fathima Rukaiya Looking for the perfect way to show your special guy how much

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Valentine’s Day Picks for Her 2025

By Fathima Rukaiya, With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, hearts are filled with anticipation.

Highlights Yamu Guide

New Year’s Eve at The Kingsbury Colombo

Embrace the wonder of Christmas with a world of joy and togetherness this New Year’s

Trending Yamu Guide

Tea, Treats, and Tidings: The Christmas Menu of t-Lounge by Dilmah

By Vimasha Weerawansha t-Lounge by Dilmah is a sophisticated tea experience that blends tradition with

Highlights Yamu Guide

Festive Feasts: Top Christmas Buffets of 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Looking for the perfect spot to indulge in a festive Christmas buffet?

Highlights Yamu Guide