TGI Friday’s.

After the first miserable experience at TGI Friday’s, we decided to give the restaurant another go. Given some time to train up and settle down, it’s actually doing pretty well.

Food & Drinks

The drinks menu was extensive, with a good range of cocktails. They had a whole range of Cargills brews on tap – 3 coins, Sando, Power etc but we decided to test their mixed drinks. The regular mojito at Rs. 350 was suspiciously large and had a fair proportion of alcohol. The Long Island Ice tea at Rs. 690 was also large and tasty albeit a tad weaker. I’m fairly confused as to how an international franchise offers such large cocktails for so cheap when any mid range to upscale restaurant/ bar in Colombo charges Rs. 700 upwards for much smaller volumes. So that’s a 10/10 for the drinks.

On the other hand, the food was frankly exorbitant. Sure, the portions were massive but each poultry main was Rs. 1500 upwards, and meat mains were Rs. 2500 upwards. That means you’re looking at a minimum of about Rs 5000 for a meal for two which is ridiculous for anything but fine dining in Colombo.

We ordered a Jack Daniels Ribs at Rs. 2500 and a sirloin steak with wild mushroom sauce and cheddar cheese mashed potatoes at Rs. 2500. Any fellow House of Cards fan in Colombo will attest to the craving for good ribs and the difficulty of finding them in town. The Jack Daniels ribs were perfectly done, and incredibly tasty. Not spicy enough for a Sri Lankan palate but had great flavor and the smoked JD sauce was delicious. It came with some oily fat fries that really just paled in comparison to the meat and we ended up ignoring.

The steak was alright, a sort of straightforward flavouring and done exactly according to my specifications (medium well done) but nothing to write home about. At Rs. 2500 plus taxes, “alright” is not really acceptable though.

Service & Ambience

In comparison to our last review, service was great. They were a little slow, but the restaurant was packed so I think they did very well given how busy they were. The staff was competent, quick, and friendly and (thankfully) knew their way around the menu. There was a table next to us with a bunch of preteens celebrating a birthday and the waiters milled over en masse with a free sundae and sang a dorkily adorable TGIFs birthday song which embarrassed the girl to no end. Pretty amusing and sweet and really hammered in the diner ambience.

It’s commendable that despite their initial teething issues, the place was completely full on a Saturday evening and we had to sit at the bar (which was actually turned out to be a lot more fun than a table). The crowd itself was very varied, and seemed to have a motley crew of families with kids, groups of friends, guys out for a drink and tourists. So they seem to be doing really well for now, which is great to see.

Conclusion

There’s been a massive improvement in service and food. Kudos to the restaurant for really working with all the criticism they got and fixing their glitches. The drinks prices are brilliant but the food is still way too expensive for a mid-range “casual dining” franchise.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Colombo’s best kept secrets – Date night spots 2025

Colombo might be known for its trendy cafes and fancy rooftop spots, but who says

Kamu Yamu Guide

Where Sunday Carvings Meet Sophistication – Kings Steak Bar’s Famous Brunch Buffet

By Vimasha Weerawansha  Nestled in the heart of Colombo, Kings Steak Bar by The Kingsbury

Highlights Kamu

A Luxurious Seafood Experience at Fat Crab Colombo

Fat Crab Colombo offers a wonderful dining experience that combines luxury, live music, and an

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Radisson Colombo’s Indian Night – Review

By Sahasni Gamage We recently had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful Indian Night at

Kamu Yamu Guide

Introducing Burger King’s New Premium Burger Range

by Jordain de Mel Burger King's Premium Range offers some of the most flavorful gourmet

Highlights Kamu

NH Collection’s Iftar Buffet: A Feast to Remember

A Warm Welcome: Exceptional Hospitality at NH Collection From the moment you enter NH Collection’s

Kamu

Trending.

Ministry of Crab opens in Melbourne

Sri Lanka’s award-winning crab restaurant, Ministry of Crab founded by chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa together with

Trending

Radisson Blu Resort Galle Welcomes Kedar Dighe as New General Manager

Radisson Blu Resort Galle is pleased to announce the appointment of Kedar Dighe as its

Trending

Excel World Launches First-Ever Ramadan Kareem Iftar Buffet

Excel World Entertainment Park in Colombo recently celebrated the launch of its first-ever Ramadan Kareem

Trending

A Trio of Radisson Hotels Gears Up for Markdown Mania 2025 at The World Trade Center

Radisson Hotel Kandy Radisson Hotel Colombo Radisson Blu Resort Galle Kristofer Quadros – Cluster General

Trending

An Exquisite Iftar Buffet Experience at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo

By Sahasni Gamage  Ramadan is all about reflection, togetherness, and, of course, enjoying some amazing

Highlights Kamu Trending

Embark on a Culinary Journey with Chef Riza Bhatti at Cinnamon Lakeside’s Ithar Promotion

Cinnamon Grand Colombo is thrilled to welcome the celebrated Pakistani chef, Chef Riza Bhatti, for

Trending

Yamu Guide.

8 Gift Ideas to Celebrate Your Mom This Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a special time set aside to honor the amazing women who shape

Yamu Guide

Colombo’s best kept secrets – Date night spots 2025

Colombo might be known for its trendy cafes and fancy rooftop spots, but who says

Kamu Yamu Guide

A Luxurious Seafood Experience at Fat Crab Colombo

Fat Crab Colombo offers a wonderful dining experience that combines luxury, live music, and an

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Radisson Colombo’s Indian Night – Review

By Sahasni Gamage We recently had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful Indian Night at

Kamu Yamu Guide

Iftar Deals for Great Value in 2025

By Fathima Rukaiya, Iftar doesn’t have to be expensive to be delicious! Whether you’re craving

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide

IFTAR Buffet List – 2025

by Fathima Rukaiya, As Ramadan 2025 approaches, food lovers and families are on the lookout

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide