The Samurai Room
Olive oil kake tai cha
Spicy prawn soupless ramen
Plates: Sri Lanka’s finest Japanese restaurant – and Chef Dharshan Munidasa’s flagship restaurant – Nihonbashi turned 30 on Tuesday (24), marking three decades of spotlighting authentic Japanese cuisine in Sri Lanka.
Since its inception in 1995 at Galle Face Terrace, over the years Nihonbashi has not only realised its vision of bridging Japan and Sri Lanka through food, but also earned global recognition, including being the first Sri Lankan restaurant on ‘Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list.
For a man who never studied under a chef or went to any culinary school, Dharshan has certainly done Sri Lanka – and Japan – proud.
“Thirty years since opening day… I never thought we would be here 30 years later. This land was the Indian Ocean back when I started Nihonbashi,” recalled Dharshan, reflecting on his journey at a press conference held to mark the anniversary at Nihonbashi’s new home at Port City.
“The evolution of Nihonbashi has been critical to our longevity. In the last 30 years, we never stopped trying to improve and we have always served real Japanese food, never any adulterated offering. To do this, we had to keep evolving and introducing different aspects of authentic Japanese cuisine,” added Dharshan, whose journey was born from passion, commitment to authenticity, and respect for ingredients.
Resisting trends, Dharshan refuses to serve fusion adaptations at Nihonbashi and is unreservedly committed to maintaining the purity of the cuisine. In fact, he has even been criticised for Nihonbashi’s food being “too authentic”!
As for ingredients, the restaurant sources most of them locally from the best fish markets and only imports what is not found in Sri Lanka. “I did not rely on the easy way out and chose to find the best of the catch here. Today, having opened restaurants elsewhere, I realise how blessed we are to have this harvest of the ocean,” he explained.
“We reached this milestone because of so many positive factors, despite all the hardships. This is a celebration of the restaurant and all those who work for and worked for me and a celebration of what this country has to offer. Through Nihonbashi, we celebrate Sri Lanka,” he added.
His next dream is to bring his unconventional and avant-garde steakhouse Carne Diem Grill, which he opened in the Maldives, to Sri Lanka.
Nihonbashi at Port City features eight private dining rooms with a mix of Japanese tatami style seating and Western style seating, along with an outdoor bar and possibly the largest yakitori grill in the world. The menu features a combination of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine, along with some of Dharshan’s original dishes.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch from 12 noon to 2.30 p.m. and dinner from 6-10.30 p.m. Nihonbashi also has branches in Kandy and the Maldives.
Tip: a new menu that offers a fun, interactive, and flavour-packed experience will be available at Nihonbashi from 2 July to mark this special anniversary. Titled ‘Sushi Sen,’ it reimages the traditional hand roll experience and allows guests to create their own sushi rolls, choosing from a selection of 10 mains, 10 vegetables, and 10 sauces.
Inner Vision
Benjy Ranabahu
Performances: ‘Beatles Mania’ is on at The Hut at the Mount Lavinia Hotel (MLH) tonight (27) from 7 p.m. onwards, with a night of rock ‘n’ roll, pop, and ’60s nostalgia on the cards, featuring Inner Vision with Benjy Ranabahu and Lelum Ratnayake.
The Hut – originally known as The Little Hut – is a piece of musical heritage in Colombo and was grooving to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, and more, long before the rest of the city caught on.
Tonight’s ‘Beatles Night’ isn't just about ‘The Fab Four,’ says MLH, asserting that it will celebrate a golden age of music, “when guitars were raw, harmonies were tight, and lyrics told stories”.
“You’ll hear not just the anthems of Lennon and McCartney, but also tunes inspired by their contemporaries and collaborators. Expect moments that channel the soaring melodies of The Hollies, the easy-going groove of The Byrds, the storytelling charm of Johnny Cash, and the soulful sway of Dusty Springfield. It’s a full-circle return to the music that shaped not only a generation, but Colombo’s musical identity,” the hotel promises.
“This ‘Beatles Night’ is just the beginning; we have a full calendar of musical nights lined up to make The Hut the heartbeat of Colombo’s entertainment scene once again,” asserted MLH Chief Operating Officer Anura Dewapura.
‘Beatles Night’ will also feature a specially curated selection of beverages and food inspired by the spirit of the ’60s, making for an unforgettable evening, so put on your dancing shoes and turn up early to be transported back in time to relive the magic and the music at The Hut!
Poet Gina Myers
Poem: today’s poem, ‘For N & K’ by Gina Myers is a love letter to – and a celebration of – friendship.
Otis on vinyl
carries from
the barn. Blessed
is this day. The camera
captures us youthful
& triumphant.
Blessed be this day,
a celebration
of friends coming
together. Last night,
surrounded by
those I love, I had wanted
to read Berrigan’s
‘Words For Love,’
but I didn’t want to say
the heart breaks, even though I know
it’s true & the breaking
can be a good thing
sometimes, like the way
my heart shatters
a little each time
I think of my friends
& how lucky in life
I’ve been to get
to know them, to have
had the time to laugh &
drink & dance & to argue
& feel hurt too.
How can one possibly
say everything
that should be said?
These feelings
just feelings, not
defined by words.
To be overwhelmed,
caught in a whirlwind
& up to one’s
ankles in the creek
as lightning bugs
polka-dot the sky
& Otis, again Otis,
always Otis in my
memory, provides
the soundtrack.
Not every day
can be a good day
but this is one
of them, one
of the best days.