We have very exciting news to report today! A brand new, family run, Sri Lankan restaurant has opened in Cambridge! Not only that but it is by one of our very own Cambridge Foodies, Niroshi Mendis!
You may remember Niroshi from our Cambridge Foodies recipe page where she has previously shared her delicious Sri Lankan dishes.
Niroshi moved to the UK in 2015 after studying English at the ‘Colombo British Council’ and has a diploma in ‘Catering & Hospitality Management’. A few years later she got a job at Selwyn College in Cambridge, as a section chef. Here, she spent 8 years, where her cooking became very popular with the students and staff who encouraged her to open up a restaurant, which is where she finds herself today, at Coconut.
Replacing the old Chinese ‘Delight’ at 23 Barnwell Road, Coconut adds something a little different, therefore making the culinary choices in the area more interesting and diverse. We have needed another Sri Lankan place in the city for a while, with the only other one located on Milton Road.
Coconut offers traditional home cooking from the southern Sri Lankan style of the capital, Colombo. It also takes influence from British and European countries to add a fusion twist with some of its dishes. You may also notice other Asian (Chinese) influences on the menu.
Prices hover between £8-12, with a majority of the dishes at £10. Most dishes come with a free drink which consists of either water or a can of fizzy soda (coke, lemonade, etc). The menu will chop and change over time giving you a good reason to come back as Noroshi unveils more of her home cooking repertoire.
One of my favourite things about Coconut is the access. Located opposite the MC Donald’s next door to the Barnwell Road library, Coconut is perfect for people inside and outside the city to come and visit. A short walk/bus journey for Cambridge locals and no battling through the city for people coming in. There is free parking out the front and around the back with no limit or restrictions, so you can literally rock up, get out, and dine.
The restaurant is small and beautiful with a very laid back vibe. It is open, light, and has a lot of greenery. It doubles up perfectly as a restaurant but is also used as a takeaway, with all their food available in cardboard containers. This gives you the freedom to pick a selection of different dishes to put into the box and off you go. With the free parking, this makes it a great place to pop by for lunch or to take with you on the way to watch the football at the Abbey Stadium.
We started off with some papadums and fish cutlets, which came with side sauces and a salad. I must admit, the fish cutlets were one of the highlights of the evening, as they were perfect to share between two people, flavorful, and substantial. They were incredibly meaty and had a crispy outer shell with warm soft innards.
The cashew nut curry is fantastic. I have always been a big fan of cashew nuts and this was such a unique take on how they can be used. The nuts were smooth and creamy with almost zero crunch. They had clearly been cooked for a long time so they had simmered down into a rich, buttery sauce. The curry powder and chilli powder both gave it a lovely flavour but also a mild kick, that should not be enough to scare off the average diner but will be enjoyed by some of us hot heads out there. They accompanied some of the other dishes really well, making them a versatile option to accompany other dishes.
Next up, was a popular Sri Lankan street food dish called Kottu, which translates to “chopped”. This consists of chopped chicken, egg, and vegetables. This was delicious, light, and despite having no sauce, did not feel dry. It reminded me of a Pad Thai dish found in Thailand.
The fish curry was well presented in a bowl in a thin coconut broth. This is sail fish served with many of the bones still inside. The fish was quite tough but held together well in large satisfying chunks. I must admit, I found this slightly dry and struggled with the bones.
The chicken and the beef curry are some of my personal recommendations from Coconut. These are both Sri Lankan style curry cooked in coconut milk. The beef is slow cooked with a tangy flavour given off from the coconut vinegar, both delicious with a satisfying creamy texture. Marvellous!
We sampled a selection of her Chinese influenced dishes, which are ‘sweet and sour’ style sticky chicken and pork. These are best served with fried rice and are lighter and less sticky than the usual ‘sweet and sour’ dishes you would expect to find at a standard Chinese, making them less bloating. They are beautifully presented with green chillies and what I think is spring onion, giving them a nice colourful visual pop. These might be a good option for anyone still missing the old Chinese that used to be here previously.
Desserts are also available. We had honey and coconut ice cream in a bowl. This is a simple yet refreshing dish that was the perfect end to multiple savory courses and spicy dishes.
I had a wonderful time exploring the menu at Coconut. Niroshi has done a marvellous job turning an every day Chinese into something unique and interesting for the city. I truly feel that our foodie scene is richer for having Coconut open and I encourage everyone else who loves (or is interested in trying…) Sri Lankan food a go!
Tell them Simon sent you! 😉
Check out their website for more information.
Thanks for reading!
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