LOLLY’S | Restaurant Review

“Finally, a great café you can turn to when the city goes to sleep.”

Having been around since just after the pandemic, LOLLY’S has recently been getting some really good press and from what we understand now… we’ve really been sleeping on it.

Open 24/7, LOLLY’S is a café that prides itself as one that stands out from the rest of the cafes in Colombo. Why? Well apart from the obvious fact that it’s open 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, they are also 100% organic in their fresh produce. From fruits and vegetables to even meats, everything is bought fresh and made then and there in their in-house kitchen.

To me, this felt like a more sophisticated version of the Sri Lankan Pilawoos or Plaza experience. A place to come to when all else fails to hit just the right spot.

APPETISERS

LOADED BEEF FRIES —  LKR 2,500 (4/5)

Adorned with minced beef, and a delicious, creamy cheese sauce, vibrant and red, these fries hit just the spot. Golden, crispy, and everything a fry should be, they pair just right with the spicy beef topping. We do think this is a bit more on the pricier side when it comes to a portion of fries, but other than that, we really couldn’t complain about this one.

LOADED HALLOUMI FRIES — LKR 3,600  (2/5)

Now these were quite the opposite in comparison to the beef one we had just tried. But for the price tag, this portion of fries just didn’t hit the mark. And to clarify, we LOVED the fries themselves — it’s just that the halloumi wasn’t giving what it was supposed to give.

MAINS

ENGLISH BREAKFAST — LKR 2,200 (5/5)

The thing that got me most excited about the English Breakfast at LOLLY’S is all but one thing. And that is the simple fact that this was a meal available for me 24/7. Because who says having a full English breakfast at 3 in the morning is not breakfast? Now when it came to the meal itself, all the flavours came together beautifully on that little slice of toasted bread. Complete with all the essentials from sunny-side-up eggs, baked beans, mushrooms and tomatoes, to even hash browns (a contemporary American addition), this is happiness and warmth on a platter.

CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA — LKR 2,650 (4/5)

A one-of-a-kind for Sri Lanka, and definitely a meal for two, this creamy chicken pasta stuffed inside this massive garlic bread bowl was… an experience, to say the least. Creamy and gooey in the best way, this pasta had everything you’d look for in a pasta. And when it came to the garlic bread bowl, I was kinda expecting a soggy mess but was pleasantly surprised to find it had a nice contrast in texture to the creamy pasta. I would’ve loved it if there was some spice in this dish, so if you’re like me, remember to throw in a request for added spiciness if you end up ordering this.

TANDOORI CHICKEN PANINI — LKR 1,800 (3.5/5)

Personally, I feel like this could either be a hit or a miss. The tandoori chicken filling had that quintessential tangy and spicy kick to it that I love. The panini bread itself felt like it could have been a little bit on the softer side, but that, I think, is a personal preference since I’m someone who prefers a softer bread as opposed to one that’s a bit sturdier. Overall, it’s a pretty solid portion, great filling, and decently priced — I would say… don’t knock it till you try it!

PULLED BEEF BURGER — LKR 1,800  (5/5)

Out of everything we tried over here at LOLLY’S, I gotta say… this might just be my favourite! The pulled beef stuffed to the brim was sweet, spicy and so bloody juicy, I can’t shut up about it. The lettuce and onions helped bring in an element of crunch to the whole dish, and topped with a ‘lil bit of ketchup, it was, I want to say “perfection on all fronts”. That being said, if I were to give any criticism, it would again be the bread — because like the panini, I would’ve preferred a softer burger bun. But hey, that didn’t stop me from completely devouring this burger!

BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA — LKR 3,950  (4/5)

Topped with a hefty portion of BBQ chicken, this pizza was a pretty welcome change from the influx of thin-crust pizzas all across Colombo. And with the toppings being BBQ chicken, a tomato sauce base, and salty, stringy cheese, could anyone really complain? We did think the bread itself was a little too floury but we didn’t mind.

DESSERTS

CHOCOLATE CRÊPE —  LKR 1,800 (3/5)

Now to me, the Chocolate Crêpe didn’t really stand out. Don’t get me wrong, it was a pretty good chocolate crepe. But there was nothing that made me wanna yap about it — you know what I mean? Maybe a chocolate ganache filling, or something as simple as some good ol’ vanilla ice cream might’ve done the trick.

BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE — LKR 1,000 (5/5)

I’m usually not the biggest fan of no-bake cheesecake but this stood out to me for one very important reason — the texture. I rarely find a no-bake cheesecake with a consistency that doesn’t feel like jello, but this one turned the tables for me. Thick, rich and velvety cheesecake with a salty, buttery base, this would be the one no-bake cheesecake I could come back to without question.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE — LKR 950 (4/5)

This treat is complete with layers and layers of chocolate in all its gazillion forms. While undeniably tasty, I found myself craving a richer chocolatey flavour, and the combination of textures didn’t quite harmonise as well as I had hoped. This, too, I feel would have been an easy fix with a side of vanilla ice cream!

DRINKS

RED VELVET SHAKE —  LKR 2,000  (5/5)

I swear I will never shut up about this red velvet shake! I could taste everything from that balanced chocolatey, vanilla-ish flavour of red velvet cake, to even the cream cheese frosting! It was unlike anything I’ve tried, and I loved every sip. I will say no more because this one, you just have to take my word for it and try for yourself!

PASSION MINT BREEZE — LKR 1,500  (5/5)

Made with fresh, homegrown passion fruit and topped off with a lil’ bit of Sprite, this drink was without a doubt, one of the most refreshing drinks I’ve tried to date! Tangy, sweet and cold, this is the perfect drink for you to have during these sunny, sunny days.

AMBIENCE

All in all, LOLLY’S felt like a fresh take on the otherwise overwhelmingly large café culture here in Colombo.

From cosy nooks to friendly service, LOLLY’S is best experienced — I believe — when the city has gone to sleep. Late nights paired together with the comfort of their food is a vibe, to say the least. That being said, LOLLY’S also offers the perfect ambiance if you’re looking for a moment of peace and quiet while Colombo keeps doing what Colombo does best — hustle.

The post LOLLY’S | Restaurant Review appeared first on Pulse.