Dolce Vita is a quaint little coffee shop and restaurant on the Poruthota
Road in Negombo. They have a nice view, plenty of shade and generous portions.
It made us quite happy.
Food and Drinks
We were there in late in the morning, around brunch time, though the place
is open from 8 AM. This was a comfortable time because we could order pretty
much anything off the menu regardless of it being a breakfast or lunch
dish.
It was a hot, dry, windy day though (pretty much like almost every other day
in Sri Lanka), so we went for drinks first. Being a cherry and coffee fan, I
went for a Wildcherry (Rs. 450), which was was an interesting mixture of
espresso and cherry syrup with whipped cream, sprinkled with a dose of
spherical red candy atop. It looked delicious, and had an interesting flavour
thanks to the combination of the bitter espresso and ultra-sweet cherry
flavour.
We didn’t have to wait long for our food, which followed shortly after. My
guide (aka my Negomboid friend Niroshi) ordered a crepe with ham and cheese
(Rs. 380), and I ordered a beef sandwich.
Just before the food came, the fairy-like girl who took our orders suddenly
came to our table in a flurry. What happened? I wondered. Are they
out of beef? Oh no!
They weren’t out of beef. She just wanted to make sure about our crepes,
because “”The ham – it isn’t chicken ham. It’s… actual ham,”” she told my
friend while shooting looks my way. It was nice of her to be concerned over
what was haram without being asked, so ten points to Hufflepuff for that (she
seems nice enough to be in Hufflepuff).
Since we’re on the subject of ham, let’s talk about the crepes
first.
They looked pretty delish, but I wouldn’t know. So let me quote Niroshi
here, she took her food-tasting/ reviewing duties very seriously.
“”The ham is very soft. They’ve been very
generous with the cheese, but I’m not too happy with the crepe because it
tastes a bit too much like a dosai. Crepes are generally much more softer, but
duuude, they’ve really been generous with the ham and cheese, total value for
money here, ah,”” she said as she dug into it. She even offered me a
bit of cheese which was drizzled on the plate, but I declined.
Being a potato person, I was really happy with the beef sandwich because it
came with a super generous side of french fries which disappeared in
seconds.
The bread it came in was very fresh, with a nice, crisp crust and soft
insides. The beef was also really crispy, and there was plenty of meat in it as
well. It’s hard to find anything to complain about when you’re presented with
such a nice sandwich.
The portion was quite large, and at Rs. 500 it’s a totally worth the buck.
The meat had flavour and was seasoned well, and there was a light smattering of
mayo; just the right amount, it wasn’t slathered on and it was definitely not
overpowering as it generally is in most of the popular joints in Colombo.
Our final sampling was of their homemade gelato (Rs. 200). It’s not pictured
here because it melted too fast and we ate it even faster, but alas, not fast
enough. We ended up drinking the rest (it was a scoopful of mauve-colored
ice-cream in a nice, clear glass cup), but that’s alright because it was pretty
damn awesome. We picked the Forest Berry Sorbet, and were once again very
satisfied. It was tangy and very strong, and we were able to taste a mixture of
blueberry and raspberry flavours. If, however, you’re a person who goes for
subtle flavours, this isn’t for you.
Location and Service
Dolce Vita has a very homely
feel to it as soon as you step in, and you’re instantly at ease. The seating
arrangements are outdoor, and it overlooks the Indian Ocean. It’s a small, cozy
space, with enough of space between the seating arrangements, so that you don’t
feel crowded in regardless of there being a full house.
The staff are a lot like
their food. Really nice. They’re pleasant, helpful, and remember little things
about their customers based on their religious identity. They’re also pretty
fast with the food, and help you charge your electronics when your battery dies
out.
Conclusion
The food is good value for money, and it
comes in generous portions. More importantly, they don’t
disappoint. If you’re hitting up
Negombo and want a not-too-expensive place to hang out with a great view of the
sea and plenty of shade, check into Dolce Vita.
