The Hottest Buttered Cuttlefish (YAMU’s Top 5 for 2014).


Hot buttered cuttlefish is more than Colombo's most glorious seafood nibble. It's also a massive bone of contention for the good people of the city. Which god-sent establishment invented it? Should we favour the classic dish over these upstarts putting it in Kottu and dipping it in cheese? Most importantly, who does the best HBC? We decided to add fuel to the flames with a definitive HBC taste-off.

Methodology


Our methodology included identifying the places that got lots of votes and comments on our site, and refining it to the top 20. We then ordered boxes of the good stuff, made some questionnaires, and got collating.

We decided to gauge based on a couple of simple factors: quantity, price, spiciness, presentation, crunchiness and an overall score. We did a pretty legit blind taste test at a party, removing any indicatory branding, and providing about 20 guests with cards with the scoring criteria. We then added, averaged, and graphed.

Additional Notes

 

 

  • In the spirit of fairness, the criteria included that the restaurants be accessible to the general public, which meant clubs couldn't be included despite popular demand (especially swimming club and the MCA)
  • We grouped together the chains like Shore by O! and Floor by O!, and R&R Racecourse and Taphouse.
  • The intention was to make the test as fair and methodical as possible, but democracy provides plenty of room for error. So we've included the test scores, our personal favourites, and the opinion of our Chief Security Officer and arguably furriest member of staff.
  • Honourable mentions include: 7 degrees, Keg (Excel World), Lion Pub (Mount Lavinia), Shanghai Terrace, Cafe Asiana, and Eastern Wok.

 

 

Conclusion (Our Top 5)

 

The Barracuda bites

It's pretty clear that the old order has made way for the new, with relative freshers like Barracuda and Floor/Shore by O! dominating the scoreboard.

It's also clear that beer goggles go a long way in setting us up for disappointment – places like White Horse (which we voted for ourselves too) were just plain depressing in the light of day (much like everything else you'd generally else you'd pick up at White Horse).

Flower Drum, hanging out the window at YAMU HQ

There were a few stalwarts that squeezed onto the leaderboards for sheer straightforward flavour and consistency, like Flower Drum and China Doll. The majority battle was really between the Chinese restaurants and the Marine Drive beach bars, barring a couple of outliers.

Bottom line is it's pretty hard to define what makes a perfect HBC. It's such an intrinsic part of our culture and consciousness we felt intimidated even approaching the topic. One thing we can confirm is that the variation is pretty stunning, from colour to size to taste.

TL;DR: Finding good HBC is like finding a good woman – it takes experimentation, determination and a fair number of bar crawls. But when you get there, it's beautiful and you stand by it even when it's a bit soggy. Try Barracuda, Floor/Shore by O!, or the Station.

You can see Merc's tasting below:

 

 

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