Headquarters by W15 | Restaurant Review

“Aluth Kade, but make it boujee… and a 100x better!”

Headquarters by W15 is the newest addition to Colombo’s vibrant rooftop scene. Inspired by the lively streets and the cultural heritage of the city it is home to, Headquarters by W15 is a one-of-a-kind experience, and that’s an understatement. From the food to the vibes to the staff to the views… this place has it all. And if you’re spending your next Friday night out anywhere but here, then boy are you missing out!

 

APPETISERS

Chicken Cutlets — LKR 650 (03 PCs) (4/5)

The Sri Lankan croquet. Coming in either the chicken version or the polos (jackfruit) version, this was the quintessential cutlet. And who could go wrong with that? These were everything you’d look for in a cutlet – crispy and flavourful. And the spicy mayo it was accompanied with? Let’s just say we could not stop dipping these cutlets in at every bite (yes, we did very shamelessly double dip too)! 

Prawn Vadai — LKR 600 (03 PCs) (5/5)

A modern take on the Sri Lankan classic Isso Vadai, this one was to die for — and that’s an understatement! A portion coming with just three vadai, we just weren’t left feeling satisfied (in a “can-I-please-have-a-lifetime’s-supply-of-these?” type of way that is)! The prawn was sweet and oozing with flavour and the vadai itself was crispy and took us right back to the OG ones over at Galle Face Green. 

Wings of Fury — LKR 1,800 (3.5/5)

These wings are NOT for the faint of heart. Now don’t get us wrong, we love a spicy chicken wing, but these wings were a tad too spicy to let the flavours shine through. It just felt like a coating of spice over an otherwise big and juicy chicken wing. Perhaps it would be better paired with a mild dip to tone down the spice, but we think the wings are a few adjustments away from being a solid appetiser!

Isso Puchchala — LKR 1,800 (4/5)

Seeing “Isso Puchchala” on the menu, we were half expecting charcoal black prawns to show up on our table but these were an obvious pleasant surprise. These plump, juicy grilled prawns were so full of flavour that they left us craving for more. While this was already pretty great, we couldn’t help but imagine how much better this could have been if it was accompanied by maybe a warm, buttery sauce. It’d be an “Isso Puchchala Butter Daala“, but everything’s better ‘butter daala’ right?

Ash Plantain Chips — LKR 450 (5/5)

Now these are as good as they come. While we’re used to biting into “kade packets” thinking we might possibly break a tooth given how hard they are, these were quite the exception. Crispy to bite into, but soft enough for us to actually taste the flavours of ash plantain and garnished with curry leaves — these chips were pretty darn perfect!

 

MAINS 

Kalu Pol Chicken — LKR 1,700 (4.5/5)

Made with roasted coconut (the “Kalu Pol”), and a combo of raw rice and spices, this was truly an amazing take on the Sri Lankan classic — the Kos Ata Kalu Pol Maluwa. While Indian Butter Chicken has taken the rest of the food-enthusiast-world by storm, it was a welcome change to see that Sri Lanka too had its own special dish that we could call our own — which W15 really took to the next level!

Prawn Yellow Curry — LKR 2,100 (5/5)

This Prawn Yellow Curry was exquisite — very simple, very light but packed with flavour. While the big, juicy prawns were the obvious hero here, a key supporting role was played by the lemongrass. Its fragrance was undeniable, and it added so much to the curry in terms of flavour. If you’re ordering the crispy parata, make sure to get it with a side of this! 

Tempered Dhal — LKR 650 (4/5)

Ahhh… the quintessential Sri Lankan can’t-do-without. 

The “Ammi-I-won’t-have-my-dinner-without-it”. 

The “Ayyo-why-have-you-cooked-it-with-spinach?!”. 

The foundation of our very  e x i s t e n c e. 

Did I make it obvious that we love our parippu? It’s not everyday we walk into a restaurant and quite literally be salivating just looking at the parippu they served the table next to us, but this was just one of those times. But after trying it, we found the flavour to be a little underwhelming. It really was the little things that could have brought this to the next level — like a little more salt, a little more coconut milk and a little more spice. And this isn’t to say we didn’t enjoy it, because we most certainly did, especially with the Karapincha Roast Paan.

Crispy Parata — LKR 250 (1 PC) (4/5)

They say that a warm, crispy, buttery parata is the key to a happier life (they don’t) but that’s exactly what this felt like! We tried it plain as well as with two of W15’s signature curries — the Kalu Pol Chicken and Prawn Yellow Curry — and with the all-time Sri Lankan classic, Parippu ‘Thel Daala’ (tempered dhal), and boy were we a happy bunch!

Karapincha Roast Paan — LKR 250 (1 PC) (5/5)

Now after the buttery parata, our hopes were sky high for this Karapincha Roast Paan. And it did not disappoint! This was crispy and flavorful on the outside, and immensely soft and fluffy on the inside! Once again, we paired it with two of W15’s signature curries — Kalu Pol Chicken and Prawn Yellow Curry — and the all-time Sri Lankan classic, Parippu ‘Thel Daala’. As good as they all were, we found out that this was best enjoyed by itself or with a simple curry like the tempered dhal.

 

DESSERTS

Chocolate Brownie — LKR 1,800 (4/5)

After what seemed like a never-ending meal, this brownie was a more than welcome treat and one that was beautifully presented! The brownie itself was not overwhelmingly sweet — just how we like it — but we did find the texture of the brownie to be a bit more on the cakey side than the chocolatey, fudgy side we expected it to be. 

Pandan Bibikkan — LKR 800 (5/5)

Now hear me out… personally, I’ve never really liked this Sri Lankan classic. The texture was always something that threw me off so I’ve just avoided it for much of my life. But THIS! My god was this good! The texture was soft and almost rulang-like and the flavours of the pandan, coconut and jaggery came through beautifully.

 

DRINKS

Coco Vibes — LKR 1,900 (4/5)

Think swaying palm trees, sandy shores, and laughter in the air — that’s exactly the vibe “Coco Vibes” gave at every sip. The Coconut Rum and coconut water together with the ambarella and pineapple played a genius combo, which brought sunny beach vibes right to your glass. 

Colonial Arrack — LKR 1,900 (4/5)

Having the “Colonial Arrack” made us feel like we were transported to an old-timey verandah when Sri Lanka was Ceylon. The taste of the strong arrack and the smell of the dark chocolate placed on top of the glass all came together which gave us an overall sensory experience to this drink. 

Fiery Passion — LKR 1,900 (3/5)

The “Fiery Passion,” was definitely all about passion. This little shot of red rum and W15’s signature chilli vodka were both subtle in the best way. But we did think the price was a bit much for just one shot.

Rambusteen Martini — LKR 1,900 (5/5)

Who knew this whimsical twist on the classic martini could be such a showstopper? The “Rambusteen Martini”, made with W15’s signature Rambutan Vodka, was definitely one of our favourites on this lineup of cocktails! 

Hard Day’s Work — LKR 1,900 (3/5) 

Made with a clarified whiskey which was prepped for over 6 hours, this drink is sure to impress with its blend of rich whiskey notes, paired with a zesty lemon twist and topped with a pour of Merlot.

Island Barbie — LKR 1,900 (5/5)

Talk about timing! Now if you’re planning on going out with the girls (or guys — we don’t judge) to watch the latest Barbie movie, then make sure to go over to Headquarters by W15 for a post-movie cocktail party because the Island Barbie was ITTT! This coconut rum based drink was subtle because the stars of the show were definitely the dragon fruit and the ginger beer. 

Thrice Men — LKR 2,200 (4/5)

The “Thrice Men” was definitely one of the most whimsical cocktails in the lineup. It was creamy, boozy and all-things-coconutty. Made with W15’s signature coconut rum and coffee liqueur and topped with a silky smooth coconut cream, we were in love with this drink. The coconut cream happened to be our favourite part, so much so that by the end we were just dipping coconut flakes into the cream and having it by itself. But beware this cocktail means business, because we kid you not, this will get you boozy FAST. Bottoms up!

 

AMBIENCE

Ah, the ambience at the Headquarters by W15 is simply an experience like no other. And that’s an understatement. Just like every other property within the W15 Collection, the attention to detail was out of this world. From the captivating murals showcasing quintessential Colombo scenes to a cleverly rigged lobby and washrooms with sounds of Colombo’s traffic, it’s a true ode to the city’s spirit. The welcoming and friendly staff add to the delightful experience. Plus, being open till 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays make it the ideal new spot to go to for a night out with the ladies or the lads.

So what’s more to say? Headquarters by W15 is just one of those experiences you should go try out for yourself because no matter what we write, nothing beats being there to experience the food, the vibes, and the views… for yourself.

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