When being behind ‘Bars’ is a good thing

By Nizla Naizer

Rustic and hip, airy and contemporary, the ambience at Bars Café imprisons you in an urban atmosphere that you are quite reluctant to leave, even after you finish a scrumptious meal that is a treat to the senses.
Since November 2007, the Duplication Road and Deal Place corner has never been the same. With the opening of the Bars Café, there has been curiosity, there has been interest and there have been plenty of happy and content diners at the restaurant, including myself.

The café is that rare combination of great cuisine at reasonable prices, centrally located with ample parking and an unimposing, cozy set up that draws you in and provides the ideal setting for a wholesome dining experience, with family, friends or colleagues from work. From the dark wooden deck that lines one side of the building providing the perfect setting to stare at Colombo in action on a busy evening, to the wide limbed trees that provide ample shade and romantic lighting on a balmy evening, the Café is an ideal retreat at any time of day.
But what keeps me and many others rotating back to the restaurant is the wholesome and truly global cuisine that takes presentation to another level with its artistic white porcelain dishes and arrangement. “We are very proud of the presentation of our dishes,” Perera and Sons Business Development Manager Ruvini Kariyawasan explained and as colourful bread sticks and dishes garnished with parsley headed my way, I could see why.
The Culinary Bars
The restaurant was named Bars after the various work stations or ‘bars’ that cater to a specific meal. However, Ruvini explained that the speculation about the name has led to some interesting developments. “No, we do not sell alcohol here,” she explained, “But the interest the name generated has brought us many loyal customers.”
From the Asian Bar which serves spicy Sri Lankan dishes or sizzling Mongolian dishes after 6 pm to the Salad Bar which serves health conscious combinations of fresh vegetables and ingredients like the ever popular Chef’s Salad or the Caesar Salad; from the Rice Bar that is the focus of attention for many diners who frequent the restaurant during lunch for a flavour filled traditional Rice and Curry or multi-faceted Nasi Goreng to my favorite, the Dessert Bar where a mouth watering range of desserts including the Sticky Date Pudding and the German Chocolate Cake, tempt and tantalize as they await you to finish your meal and begin to indulge, Bars truly lives up to its name in more ways than one.

“We like to think that you are behind bars with great food when you enter the restaurant,” Ruvini informed with a smile, “And that’s not a bad thing.”
But I’m not done yet. Move on the Coffee Bar where a range of cold and hot coffees including the BARS Mocha Cappuccino could cater to the mood of the day while the Juice Bar brings the flavour of the season in the form of a chilled Watermelon juice or a wholesome Mango juice.
My meal that day however, was one of the seven new items in their diverse menu, the Chicken and Mushroom Pie under the Pot Bar, where all items are prepared in Pots. The filling was a creamy delight of button mushrooms and chicken which melts in your mouth along with the soft pastry around it. Pure heaven in a bite and nicely complemented by a fresh melon juice.
New and improved
With new items entering the menu in June from Hot Butter Cuttlefish to Chocolate Brownie Mousse with Sautéed Peaches, Ruvini explained that BARS keeps catering to the changing tastes of the Colombo diner with an international flavour in most their dishes.
Excitement was in the air as Ruvini informed me about the new Biriyani promotion and Skewers Week during the last week of June along with a special tea promotion with 'pani appa', pancakes with coconut and treacle and ginger tea, all July.
Bars' location and conveniently fast meals have also ensured that the restaurant is the ideal choice for executives and students in the area. While the restaurant provides catering and take away services, those who want an exclusive meal can avail of the opportunity to “dine under the stars with a customized menu to suit the occasion”.
Head to BARS and experience an urban dining experience in a cozy, rustic setting yourself.
The restaurant which is Halal is situated at 24, Deal Place, Colombo 3 and is open till 11 pm on weekdays and till midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Pre-holidays. Call 2575157 for more information.

Pix by Ravindra Dharmathilake