5 Alexandra Place Colombo 7
Closed right now
Colombo's biggest department store's upscale food court area
ODEL has been undergoing some refurbishing in the last couple of months. While its interior is pretty much untouched and is still the same, it looks great on the outside.
Overall, it's a massive upgrade and quite aesthetically pleasing. There's a spacious courtyard, with foodstalls bordering it and plenty of greenery. The furnishing is tastefully done — wickerwork with glass-topped tables — and there seems to be more seating facilities. A few of the stalls are still closed, but should be open soon since the signage and hoardings were all up.
You have about nine outlets to choose from:
Mabroc wasn't open as yet when we dropped in, and there were a few bare carts at the entrance. I'm not entirely sure if that's ornamental, or if they'll be vendoring food soon. The place is very well kept, and the staff clears out the tables quite fast. One thing I found a bit awkward was that they clear out your table while you're still seated and haven't completely finished.
We checked out Regent and Seafood Shack. The prices are a bit on the high end — just as expensive as if you're getting food at a proper restaurant.
Regent's food layout looked great: clay pots, rice and curry, completely Sri Lankan cuisine including lotus roots which you'd be hard-pressed to find easily in Colombo. Despite being aesthetically pleasing, the food was sadly underwhelming. A generous portion beautifuly presented (and inclusive of a really nice vambatu moju), a regular rice and curry portion is Rs. 500.
From Seafood Shack, we picked the Dory Fish and Chips. The fries were chunky, crispy, and tossed in chilli. A really well made dish, the fish wasn't disappointing either; it was coated in a crisp light batter, and the fish in itself was light and succulent. My one complaint would be that for Rs. 800, you get only 3 strips of fish and the portion is rather small in that sense.
We got a Narang and Starfruit juice (Rs. 330) and an Avocado Blast (Rs. 480) from Roots to wash the food down. The drinks were good actually, much better than most of Roots' other outlets. The Avocado Blast came mixed with bananas, dates, and coconut but the avacado and banana flavours dominant.
The Naarang and Starfruit was slightly (rightfully) acidic and very refreshing. The flavours melded well together and it's a great way to beat the heat. A plus point is that none of Roots' juices are overpowered by sugar.
This is definitely one of the better foodcourts to hang around in, especially if you're looking for something outdoors and pretty to sit in while you're grabbing a quick bite.
Closed right now
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Harpo's Pizza, like so many things Harpo's does, is pretty bad.
When the Odel Food Court opened, Casa Colombo had an outlet and they served fantastic items. Unfortunately they closed their facility there. Now we're stuck with this lackluster group of nobodies.
Inside the store, up to about 2007, Deli France did a good job but when Keells took them over, the prices soared and the quality of the food became insufferable.
Overall the food court & the rest of Odel is cramped & filthy. Wish they just demolish the entire thing and put up something more spacious and modern.
I am compelled to write here after reading LakshmanS review above from 10 February.
He is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!! His comments are spot on!
1. Harpo's pizza like almost everything Harpo does is terrible.
2. Casa Colombo's outlet was absolutely amazing and very reasonable. Casa Colombo's outlet at Odel was so good that it was worth the trip there just to eat there.
3. When Keells took over Deli France inside the store around 2007 the quality of the food declined dramatically to the point that some things are all but inedible and the prices skyrocketed.
LakshmanS, you know food! My compliments. I will look for your comments in the future.
Guys I checked on this place out again recently and they have a CIOCONAT over there. Its called CIOCO Express since they dont have the full menu and all. But the surprising thing is that their prices are much lover than their main outlet and also very very good. We had the chicken sand which, the hot dog and the Granita slush. Everything was perfect. Only wish ODEL good upgrade their seating area. :)
so basically another overpriced/poor quality eatery (if that finding dory dish was anything to go by). Exactly what we were looking for /sarcasm
3/5
Malinthe
Nice place to hang in the evenings. Not so much in the day time. Does get crowded quite a bit. Do try the Kottu at Chop Chop. Pretty good.