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‘Sizzle’
your taste buds
A
scintillating experience in Colombo
By
Nizla Naizer
There’s something exciting about a sizzling
dish; maybe it’s the sparking, sizzling sounds
that emanate from the wooden platter, maybe it’s
the plumes of steam that warn you that the meal is piping
hot or maybe it’s the tantalizing aroma which awakens
your senses even as you wait for the meal to cool before
you take that first bite. Either way, a sizzling dish
is not your ordinary meal as I found out for myself
at ‘The Sizzle’.
Situated at Walukarama Road, Colombo 3, ‘The Sizzle’
brought this unique experience to Sri Lanka in April
2007 with their menu exclusively devoted to sizzlers.
The meal is sent on a sizzling platter and the customer
receives the food while it is in the final stage of
cooking. The Sizzle has become popular among the food
connoisseurs in Colombo who seek a unique dining experience.
Meal with a punch!
“Our sizzling dishes have become a favorite among
those who dine out in Colombo looking for a unique,
value-for money dining experience,” says proprietor
of the restaurant, Tushar Amalean as he points out the
sumptuous items on the menu. “We have something
for everyone on this menu.” The menu itself is
an action packed affair with the meals named after famous
boxers and wrestlers with some combining their signature
moves into the unique names.
“Our Holifield Buster and Bruno’s Chops are
favorites,” he explained. The Holifield Buster
is a delicious grilled steak topped with baby corn,
mushroom, cheese and fresh cream while Bruno’s
Chops is a succulent Australian lamb chop. “We
realized that our Sri Lankans love their carbs and their
starch so every sizzler is accompanied by a choice of
rice, noodles, pasta or spaghetti and with a choice
of French fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes or
potato wedges.” The Sizzler has quickly and quietly
gained repute for their excellent service and consistent
quality, which Amalean assures, is the most important
factor any restaurateur must consider. “Our chefs
are equally committed to create dishes that are beyond
compare.”
Amalean’s inspiration for the restaurant is linked
to his College days in Mumbai India where a small venture
near his college served the most amazing steaks and
sizzlers. When he decided to venture out of his family
garment business and start his own restaurant his first
thought was the restaurant in Mumbai. He flew down and
recruited the very same chefs who prepared the sizzlers
there and that is his biggest asset he claimed. “They
have over ten years of experience and ensure that the
sizzlers are just right.”
The ambience of the restaurant is earthy and warm and
compliments the wholesomeness of the meal which Amalean
explained is a whole package. “Our sizzling meal
is not only about the meats; the accompanying vegetables,
carbs and starch ensures a wholesome combination.”
From cocktails to brownies
The experience of dining at The Sizzler is a unique
and adventurous one. I was taken by surprise as I was
exposed to my first ever ‘Sizzling Cocktail’
where the freezing drink is daringly combined with a
smoking, sizzling surface.
Next came my main meal, the Mohamed Ali’s Choice
and I’m sure the legendary boxer himself would’ve
approved of the deliciously done boneless chicken topped
with vegetables and cheese. As instructed I had to wait
for a few minutes for the sizzle to fizzle out and the
meat to absorb the flavour before I could take the first
bite, but the wait was well worth it. The sauce and
the meat were a dynamic combination.
The Sizzler’s signature dessert however stole the
show, and as their sizzling brownie topped with Vanilla
Ice Cream came my way, I witnessed a bit of chocolate
heaven. “We have some customers who wait for hours
just to have the Sizzling Brownie,” Amalean told
me and I could understand why. The Sizzling Cheesecake
and Lemon Meringue Pie are favorites in the large dessert
menu.
‘The Sizzler’ has also introduced a range
of ‘Express Lunch’ dishes, aiming at the busy
corporate executives who do not have time for an elongated
sizzling lunch. “We guarantee the Chinese or Mongolian
dishes in the Express Lunch category within 45 minutes.”
The Sizzler’s menu also contains a wide variety
of steaks, mutton, lamb, chicken, sea food, vegetarian
and Indian dishes such as the sizzling biriyani which
is fast catching up among the masses. “We also
have an interesting variety of combos like the Bret
Hart’s Cycler where steak and chicken are accompanied
by modha fillet, jumbo prawns and grilled pineapples.”
At the end of a dining experience at ‘The Sizzle’
you feel like you’ve entered the ring and emerged
a winner as the smiling faces take away your sizzling
plate.
The Sizzler has a take away service and provides delivery
through Hot Wheels and Room Service facilities. Orders
and reservations can be made through the sizzling Hotline
0716888777. The restaurant is open for business from
12.00 pm to 3 pm and from 7 pm to 12 midnight.
Pix By Ravindra
Dharmathilake
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