King of the Mambo

Let me start with the decor. From the minute you step into the restaurant makes you feel like you’re going dancing in Havana. Vibrant colours, vintage posters, and tables under the stars with a view of the sea, bartenders, and waiters in classic Cuban hats, tossing cocktails and shimmying through the tables on a tiled floor that’s so vivid it looks like it’s already mamboing away.

The music was live almost all nights of the week until 2 am (that’s right Colombo – 2 am!), not too loud that you can’t talk over it, but loud enough that you feel that you’re all of a sudden out of Sri Lanka and smack in Cuba. From any part of the restaurant, whether it’s the playful bar or the lux sofas overlooking the beach, the beat happily reaches you.

Perhaps the best part of the evening though was the food…and drinks…and Chef Riccardo Dell’Ascenza himself. We were greeted at the start of the evening by Dell’Ascenza, who, alongside his staff, mambos up to tables and guides guests through the menu to ensure they feel comfortable ordering from choices that are unique in Sri Lanka. We were asked if we’d ever been to Cuba (yes), and informed on what dishes were the best on that day. Later in the meal, Chef Riccardo again did a round at the tables, shaking hands with guests like they were old friends, chatting about inspiration from his travels that infused the dishes on offer, and again providing suggestions on later courses.