The Avenue starts off with a bang

Charith, Shanika and Vindika

Minister John Amaratunga with guests

Gishanka, Minoli, Ramona, Dinesh and Mahela

Magic Banda

Guests enjoying the food at the launch

Colombo’s latest entrant into the casual fine dining space, The Avenue, was launched at an exclusive evening event on Wednesday night, replete with food, drinks, music, and, most importantly, good company.

The restaurant, conceptualised and managed by Charitha Sham, Vindika Oshan Jayasundara and Shanika Nanayakkara, who collectively have over 10 years of experience in the restaurant and catering industry, offers diners a wonderfully warm and inviting space that offers freshly-prepared dishes in a cosy atmosphere with a laidback fusion feel. 

The décor features wood accents, slick cemented walls and hints of greenery. The Avenue sits on 20 perches and is located on Alfred House Avenue, which is an easy and convenient location with access from both Galle Road and Duplication Road, Colombo 3.

The uniqueness of The Avenue is how the venue brilliantly combines a classic café vibe with a thoroughly modern twist, as well as its ability to serve fresh, unprocessed food in a city setting that offers a pervading sense of charm.

The launch event, which was attended by a who’s who of Colombo’s socialites, saw The Avenue strut its stuff so to speak, providing would-be diners with a taste of what they can expect on future visits.

The menu promises big flavours, with comfort food like juicy burgers, sandwiches, pasta and a great array of cocktails, spirits and beers all incorporated. But if you want to splurge a little, there is also large steak menu on offer, while vegans aren’t left behind either with plenty to choose from in the meat-free arena. 

At the launch, guests were taken on a journey through The Avenue’s varied offerings, starting off with the simple, yet delicious, Mac and Cheese Balls. These mouthfuls of fried goodness, while seemingly straightforward, were nevertheless made with the precision expected of a Head Chef with experience in a Michelin Star restaurant. Perfectly salted, not too cheesy, exquisitely fried, and not too oily, it was all we could not to stuff ourselves on those from the outset.

Taking it up a notch were the excellent beef sliders. The homemade patties were as juicy as advertised, while there was also a beautiful charred-ness, which really did elevate the dish considerably. It says something about the quality of a burger when the dependence on any kind of sauce or condiment is minimal.

And then finally as the evening wore on, we were treated to the undoubted highlight, the humble steak and mash. Served to guests straight from the pan at a food station, the steak was drizzled in a delightful sauce consisting of rosemary, thyme sauce, garlic confit, herb butter, and arguably the secret ingredient, beef fat. The steak itself, a thick Australian Porterhouse, was fatty, smoky and perfectly medium rare, as it should be, while the mash was velvety smooth.

There were several other bites served up throughout the evening, but for the purpose of this brief review we only have room to discuss one more, and that has to be the Double Chocolate Cheesecake. Even served in a bite-sized rectangular portion, the richness of the chocolate positively shone through. It’s definitely not one to be missed.

Verdict

On the whole The Avenue offers fast, casual food made out of fresh ingredients under the concept of “farm to table”.

The farm-to-table philosophy embraces a sustainable approach to agriculture and dining. At its heart, the concept is simple: there is value in eating locally. The movement, which gained traction during the first decade of the 21st century, touts the benefits reaped by those who both produce and consume local food – as well as the environment as a whole.

The restaurant is also well-priced when considering the quality on offer; guests can expect to spend anywhere between Rs. 3,000-Rs. 10,000 – or more, if you’re going for the biggest steak – depending on what they order.

Able to seat up to 120 guests, The Avenue has positioned itself as the perfect place to catch up with friends, business colleagues or for family dining, something accentuated by its gorgeous outdoor space, that also works wonderfully to host events, parties and fun gatherings.

All this paired with expertly executed food and dynamic and exciting chefs, all things point towards The Avenue becoming one of Colombo’s go-to spots for a truly satisfying meal.

Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya