The Tea Avenue Estate

The ideal BYOB spot for casual date nights!

We hit up The Tea Avenue Estate at One Galle Face, armed with bottles of wine and high spirits. It’s not often that you find the perfect BYOB spot. With its romantic-night-in-Italy vibe, cosy interiors and innovatory menu, The Tea Avenue Estate provides the perfect start to a boozy night out.

Keep reading to find out more about what we had! 

Starters

Pigs in Blankets (LKR 1,200)

PORK OVERLOAD and we aren’t complaining! A thicc, juicy pork sausage wrapped in ample amounts of bacon with just the right amount of crisp. This also went beautifully with the white wine that we bought, but it might be a better combination with a red. The garlic flavour of the sausage added a nice heat to the blend of flavours. If I could eat this for the rest of my life, I’d be one happy pig in a blanket.

Mains

Seafood Pesto (LKR 2,100)

A generous portion of penne coloured with the wonders of the sea. It was just the right ratio of protein to carb. Coated in the thick, herby pesto, it was reminiscent of a traditional seafood pasta, but with its own unique twist. Thick chunks of salmon, prawns and other seafood delights in every mouthful. It was also topped with fresh pieces of radish that added an interesting flavour and texture to the traditional pasta.

Chelsea Fish and Chips (LKR 1,650)

Being your friendly neighbourhood food snitch, I grabbed a thick cut chip and shoved it in my mouth before the photographer noticed one was missing. No regrets, it was the best chip I had in a long time. Cut to the perfect thickness and deep-fried to perfection, a healthy portion of these make the perfect accompaniment to the batter-fried fish. Each juicy piece of white mullet was coated in a thick batter that provided the perfect chewy, flavourful texture to the tender meat on the inside. The dish was served with mushy peas (which were good enough to eat on their own) and a garlic-ky dressing that added an unexpected punch of spice to every bite. A little goes a long way with this! The lemony herb flavour of the mushy peas however, I enjoyed with the fish, chips and even on its own.

Eggs Benedict Crab Meat (LKR 1,200)

The Tea Avenue Estate serves all-day brunch, and personally, I love the idea of having Eggs Benedict with wine. So I did, with the white wine complementing the crab meat perfectly. A runny poached egg on a bed of crab meat on an English muffin – cutting into this dish was pure bliss (I also had a couple of glasses of wine at this point). The sweetness of the fluffy English muffin kicks in upon first bite, followed by the tangy flaovur of the crab meat coated in egg yolk. I really enjoyed the mildly sour taste of the crab meat that was tender and cooked to perfection. The creamy Hollandaise sauce brought the whole dish together nicely.

Charcoal Waffles with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese (LKR 2,100)

This one had an interesting presentation. A rose of beautifully cooked, medium-rare salmon perched on a bed of cream cheese atop a black charcoal waffle. I didn’t know what to expect from this. It did take a few tries to cut into this, and it was a bit harder than I would have liked it to be. It also had a surprisingly mild sweet taste that went quite nicely with the cream cheese after a couple of chews.  A more generous helping of cream cheese and a softer waffle would have taken this dish to the next level. As a lover of all things black, it was quite a novelty to eat a pitch-black waffle.

Desserts

Double Chocolate Cheesecake (LKR 740)

A chocolate lover’s dream. Although the cheesecake flavour was subtle, its gooey, creamy chocolate-ness made it a decadent delight. Served on the same base of graham crackers like normal cheesecake with a piping of buttercream on the edge, the texture of the cake was divine. The slice was the perfect amount too, with enough cake to satisfy the craving but just enough not to give you a sweet hangover. 10 out of 10 for this one!

Tiramisu Cheesecake (LKR 740)

How this classic Italian dessert was adapted to cheesecake form completely wowed me. With alternating layers of cheesecake and coffee-soaked sponge cake, the cake paid homage to the Italian favourite. It was served with a ring of ladyfingers on the sides and topped with a generous amount of whipped cream and cocoa powder. Combined together, this cake was an irresistible fiesta of flavours!

Ambience

With an outdoor smoking area surrounded by lights and cosy, wooden interiors, The Tea Avenue Estate provides the perfect space for a casual date or predrinks with friends. Don’t miss out on this fabulous spot the next time you visit One Galle Face!

Tip – If nothing else at all, go for the Tiramisu Cheesecake. Thank me later!

 

The post The Tea Avenue Estate appeared first on Pulse.