The ‘Stache | Restaurant Review

We moustache you to dine in at The ‘Stache!

If you haven’t heard about them yet, you’ve definitely seen their mouthwatering dishes on every foodie’s social media recently because The ‘Stache is all the rage right now! 

In a short span of time, this small business has captured the hearts and taste buds of everyone with its fusion menu built on a breakfast brunch concept, but with a Sri Lankan twist to it! However, the owner, Tashya, is no newcomer to the food and beverage industry, as she also founded a sandwich and beverage business (that you might’ve heard of) by the name of Tosakanth’s Roast Paan eight years before the inception of The ‘Stache. Unwilling to relent one business for the other, she manages both businesses in one location. We were particularly delighted to hear this since we were able to taste a few dishes and beverages from Tosakanth’s well! Yet make no mistake in conflating the two restaurants because they are entirely different in their cuisines and their preparation styles, with Tosakanth’s being a home kitchen while The ‘Stache, a hot kitchen. 

There might also be new items added to the menu towards the end of the year, so definitely keep an eye out for The ‘Stache!

 

Mains

Siam Ceylon (Chicken) — LKR 2,000 (5/5)

Referred to by the owner as her “baby” on the menu, after trying this out you too will know the feeling because it’s filling and completely worth the price. This concoction born out of the owner’s love for both the Lankan ‘kiribath’ and lavish Thai cuisine, consists of a creamy milk rice base, surrounded by a pool of rich and perfectly spicy Thai red curry, and topped with fried seeni sambol and chilli jam with bacon ends! We totally understand why this dish stands out as one of The ‘Stache’s best-sellers, and for this reason, it’s also included in our list of ‘Must Have Dishes’ from the restaurant. 

Note: Various other proteins including fish and tofu are also available! 

Lankan Benny (Pulled Pork) — LKR 2,300 (5/5)

Keeping true to its niche, The ‘Stache gave us another extraordinary signature fusion dish by combining English and Lankan cuisines. Piggybacking off the all-too-famous Eggs Benedict, this dish introduces pol roti-inspired muffins topped with seni sambol, pulled pork, curry hollandaise sauce and of course, two perfectly poached eggs. In terms of flavour, it was juicy, rich and packed with flavour. We were also surprised to find a hint of sweetness from the seni sambol which added to the unique essence of the dish. 

Note: While we tried the pulled pork option, pulled chicken and even pulled polos variations are available! 

Pancakes ‘Stache — LKR 2,500 (5/5)

If you’ve ever craved pancakes that look and taste as good as the one’s that Matilda made for breakfast, the ‘Stache is the place to be because man… they have some killer pancakes! One portion of this dish gives you three fluffy and buttery American-style pancakes, lime yoghurt mousse drizzled with granola, kithul pani and a caramelised banana. We particularly loved the addition of crunchy granola, which added an earthy taste to the otherwise sweet dish. A single serving of the Pancakes ‘Stache is sufficient for two, or maybe even three people to comfortably enjoy. 

Ultimate Pol Sambol — LKR 700 (4/5)

It’s crunchy, savoury, with a sweet aftertaste and something all vegetarians are going to love! This signature dish we tried out from Tosakanth’s Roast Paan is a best-seller and is a by-product of the smoked salmon sandwich which was previously on their menu. While the fresh pol sambol mildly added in that Lankan spice we all love, the homemade date and tamarind chutney slathered inside added sweetness. This sandwich would be ample for a good snack or appetiser, but we’d recommend ordering another portion if you’re looking for a filling meal. 

 

Drinks

Masala Tinkiri Tea — LKR 500 (4/5)

Inspired by Vietnamese coffee and given a leg up with us Lankan’s never-ending obsession with milk tea, the Masala Tinkiri Tea will not disappoint. Akin to Vietnamese coffee which consists of double-layered black coffee and condensed milk, this hot beverage swaps out coffee for freshly brewed black tea. The result is a balanced sweetness-to-richness ratio that you shouldn’t miss out on! This is also a signature beverage of Tosakanth’s Roast Paan so it really is one-of-a-kind. 

Salted Chilli Tamarind Fizz — LKR 950 (5/5)

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to tamarind-flavoured beverages in Colombo restaurants, but ultimately it is The ‘Stache that takes the cake in the chilli tamarind beverage category! Playing on every flavour, this was packed with spice, sweetness, saltiness and a zing of acidity in the best possible way. Trust us when we say that this signature beverage from Tosakanth’s is not mild by any account, so have it if you dare! 

 

Ambience

With both indoor and outdoor seating, the interior of The ‘Stashe is cosy and inviting to all its customers. Upon entering the restaurant, you can tell that a millennial owns it because of its quirky and fun colour palate and furnishing. 

Despite their constantly busy restaurant orders, the staff was warm and friendly which we always appreciate. 

One possible hurdle you will face when dining in at The ‘Stache is a possible lack of seating because the space is quite small. While of course, this is understandable because The ‘Stache is a small business, the seating and atmosphere inside the restaurant may feel a bit compact when crowded. 

 

Tips!

• The ‘Stache does not take reservations and has limited seating, so we recommend calling them to check the seating availability before dining in! 
• Many of the vegetarian options for different dishes can be made vegan, so don’t be shy to chat with the staff to customise something you’d like to try out! 

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