The Mango Tree.

Mango Tree is a hugely popular Indian restaurant on Dharmapala Mawatha serving mainly North Indian cuisine. The food is very rich, and while standards do seem to have slipped, it can still be good. Order wisely.

Mango Tree. This is the restaurant that really popularised Indian cuisine in Sri Lanka. While there had, of course, been forays into the ghee-laced world of naan, paneer and butter chicken before – Navaratnam, Amaravathi – none of the island’s Indian restaurants really reached the wild popularity of the North leaning establishment on Dharmapala Mawatha. At least not that I remember.

I’ve been to Mango Tree on countless occasions; I have eaten more naans than is necessary and I have waddled home after uniting a bowl of warm gulab jamun and a icy kulfi into a single sweet and staggering dessert. These have been good, albeit rather uncomfortable, times.

But lately, the Tree seems to be withering – while the food certainly isn’t bad, it just isn’t as good as I remember it to be. The curries all seem to have blurred into a single dish – a creamy concoction so viscous it oozes off the spoon and so rich that it can wind up sickly. This isn’t to say that Mango Tree is bad – it isn’t. It’s popular, and the food can be tasty. They have an extensive menu and a cocktail list that almost matches in length and variety. A smoky murg tikka (Rs. 800) can offset the treacly richness of a paneer makhani (Rs. 695), and opting for a plain naan over the butter (Rs. 195) will definitely help you through a couple of creamy curries. But I still think the success of the early days is what keeps them coasting – that and a pleasant, well-designed location and space.

The service, however, is appalling. While the main manager is helpful, his surrounding battalion of waiters are gormless at best and are incapable of attending to a customer in any way that may stretch beyond the learned line of duty. For example, when specifically citing a peanut allergy linked to one of their chutneys, the condiment we wanted to avoid was blankly placed in front of us. When an actual allergic reaction took place (previous visit), we were told we couldn’t cancel our order – despite it being placed less than 5 minutes ago – and payment was demanded for the two drinks we had ordered but not touched. No concern was expressed and we weren’t asked if we were okay – our departure, which needed to be swift, was just delayed by unnecessary quibbles over cancelling the order, etc.

But Mango Tree is a business beast. Almost every other leaf of the menu includes a full page advertisement (!) and on one of their walls is a television cycling through a string of jarring banners and slogans; they’re siphoning the rupee out of every squeezable cranny, so whether you like them or not, they’ll do just fine. And all that being said, the food can be good if you order wisely. Just don’t expect top notch service and smiles.

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