If there’s something Chethika Karunaratne Seelanatha loves as much as eating, it’s feeding people. In fact, she has made a business out of it at 82 Barnes Place, a restaurant which she opened in April last year. Specializing in European, specifically Italian cuisine, the menu at the restaurant is the work of Chef Kolitha Wijethunga – whose 30 years in the business have helped him turn out a particularly promising menu.
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| Chethika |
When we walk into the restaurant at 3:30pm, it’s to find the place all but deserted. The hours between 3pm and 5pm every day afford the staff a kind of recuperation as they prepare for the evenings onslaught of customers. It’s a convenient time for Chethika to give us the tour. Just off the entrance is a pizza bar where customers can watch a chef turn out thin crust pizzas in a wood fired oven.
They use cinnamon wood and Chethika says it transfers a subtle flavour to the pizzas themselves. Next is Raffela Giovanni’s – the main dining room and off to the side is Sophia Loren, a private room which offers an intimate dining experience. Then there’s the bar itself – Barcode – complete with the T.V for sports aficionados. “Everything has been chosen with care and attention,” she says, obviously proud of the result.
She is very excited about what the future holds for the fledgling business. Later this year, Chethika says she’d like to open a Deli in the tradition of a Parisian street café. They have plans for the large lawn at the back of the house and for their second floor, which is being renovated. They’ve also begun taking on outdoor catering and cocktail functions
The house that Chethika has converted into her restaurant was once a Kindergarten, but she says its abundance of rooms served her purpose, allowing her to create multiple unique spaces. This is for her, a labour of love – only made more so by it being her first venture into the restaurant business. “We did everything,” Chethika says, explaining that no interior decorator was involved in the process.
She chose the textures, colours and fittings herself after a many a trek through Pettah. She’s been involved in every detail, including the food. At home, she loves to cook Sri Lankan dishes, experiment with flavours (“food just fascinates me”) and ply her family with generous proportions. Though the menu here couldn’t be more different, she’d like to ensure the warmth carries over. It’s why she has placed a great deal of emphasis on service.
But taste comes first. Aside from the vegetables, all their ingredients are imported, says Chethika, explaining that this helps them ensure they’re serving authentic flavours. Despite what must be an expensive process she says they’re determined to keep their prices affordable – on average an appetizers, salads and soups fall into the Rs.300 – Rs.500 range, main courses in the Rs.600 – Rs.1000 category and pizzas are between Rs.800 – Rs.1,200. They pride themselves on their range of Australian meats, which they keep chilled instead of frozen (a little trick known to enhance the juiciness of steaks) and promise to turn out a medium rare on request. These cost between Rs.1100 and Rs. 2400.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant offers specials. If you’d like to check out the full menu, it is up on: http://82barnes.com. |
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