De Vos Café is located in the Talo Urban Boutique Hotel premises in Bambalapitiya and is managed by Prabath Senevirathne and Chathura Kotagama. According to Prabath, this fusion café incorporates a sense of Sri Lankan-ness or something “wacky” in their menu items. The atmosphere is very chilled and tranquil with plenty of seating with comfortable sofas and dining tables. They have partitioned the café into three areas; ‘In and Out’ where you can grab a quick go-to, ‘Sit and Chill’ for peaceful dining and chit chats and the ‘Outdoor Area’ which has been dedicated to smokers and the Instagrammers, just because of the decorations on the wall. The cafe has a meeting room and is also open for small private parties. Almost all the products on the menu are made in their own kitchen unless it comes from a home baker, which then is clearly mentioned in the menu, something we really appreciated about De Vos Café. The café has wheelchair access and baby chairs, giving everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy the unique menu. Item 1: Colombo’s blackest coffee [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="13297"] We were told by Prabath that only the daring would try this coffee, because it is the darkest coffee in town and not many like to try it. So being the daring selves we are, we decided to go ahead with it. Though the expectation was a hot coffee, we were mildly surprised when a cold black coffee made its way towards us. Beneath the ice there was a thick layer made from the charcoal of coconut flesh mixed with whipped cream and some rich Sri Lankan spices, something we have never experienced before in our food expeditions. Underneath was black coffee made with a blend of Harischandra and Soul coffee: The Harischandra coffee taste was prominent, giving it a feeling of home. When we inspected closely, the thick black layer turned out to be actually green. When everything was mixed together, the coffee tasted slightly like iced coffee with a nice and balanced hint of spices. It was a very unique and exciting experience and we specifically loved the fact that it turned the tongue black. Item 2: Naked chicken penne alfredo taco [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="13299"] Turning to the mains, we decided to go with the Naked chicken penne alfredo taco. The surprising thing about this was that the pasta penne came on a layer of fried chicken which was shaped like a taco shell, a very thoughtful and interesting way of presenting the food. It came with a side of salad which consisted of salad leaves, bell pepper, carrot, and onions. The pasta was creamy with pieces of onions and tomatoes added to the cream with black pepper. The chicken crust was crispy and the meat was well baked and complemented the meal very well. Coupled with the salad, it was a very filling main dish with a touch of excitement about it. Item 3: Dark temptation brownie with nutella [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="13298"] We decided to go with the brownies. Brownies though simple, can be tricky and we are happy to say that De Vos Café serves quite delicious brownies. The brownie had a layer of nutella and was topped with whipped cream and a piece of fresh strawberry. The first bite was magical and the second was definitely heavenly, because the brownie melts in the mouth. It was rich in chocolate underneath the thick layer of nutella and very gooey, the much needed chocolaty heaven in life! Opening hours: 7am – 10pm on weekdays and till 11pm on weekends. Address: 34, De Vos Ave, Colombo 04. Contact number: 0112 550 033 Quality and the quantity of the food, service by the staff and the atmosphere of the cafe justifies the price. · A person can afford a hearty and filling meal at Rs. 1500. · There is ample parking space, washroom facilities and Wi-Fi. · They do deliveries via Uber Eats! De Vos Café management has done an amazing job with a short time span and our heartiest wishes goes out to them to keep up the awesome work! Cheers to a good meal! Photos Indika Handuwala