Colombo has quite a few cafes nowadays and a new one keeps popping up every week. With the busy lifestyles that we live, most people want a place to grab a quick bite on the run. Then there are some who want a place to get away from the mad rush and relax and unwind with a good cup of coffee. We also have highly active social lives that requires regular meet ups with friends and colleagues to try out what’s new in town.
Whatever your reason may be “The Cauldron” is a new café in town located on Stratford Avenue, Colombo 06 that culminates as all this and more. The café was founded by a young entrepreneur couple who share not only a mutual interest for Harry Potter (they assure us that this has nothing to do with the name!) but also for great food and creating a space for dreamers like themselves.
A cauldron is generally a large metal pot for cooking over an open fire but for Dushanthi Wimaladasa and Tharanga Perera, the name has two connotations. One is that like in a cauldron something is brewing inside signifying the idea hub that they hope to create with their café. Two is that from inside the cauldron comes warmth which is how the duo wants every customer to feel when they walk in to this “curated space”.
The Cauldron is a place where youngsters (and those young-at-heart) will be encouraged to dream big dreams. Portraits of people who attempted to change the world adorn the walls of the space paying tribute to their efforts and acting as inspiration to anyone who wants to follow suit.
The first item off of the menu that we tasted was the Hot Chocolate topped with Marshmallows and the strong taste of the cocoa that comes through will definitely give you a good kick of energy. When it comes to hot chocolate, it is easy for the beverage to be too sweet but here it was perfectly balanced and ideal for a rainy day. We also tried a unique drink on their menu called a “Kiwi Crush”. Made from high quality kiwi puree imported from France, this is ideal for those who need a sugar rush. The drink is very thick and extremely sweet which may not go down well with some people though. Our drinks also included a “Very Berry Smoothie”, a concoction of strawberry, raspberry and yoghurt. Served in a tall glass with swirls of bright pink on the inside this drink is as pretty sight. Be warned that the drinks at Cauldron are quite large and for some may be a complete meal in a glass. We were happy with all three that we tried out but thought the Hot Chocolate was the sure winner!
To start off with the food factor, we tried a “Pol Sambol, Sausage and Cheese Sandwich”. The pol sambol, cheese and sausage combo works together perfectly and compliments each of the ingredients in perfect harmony. We also tried the “Rosemary Grilled Chicken Wrap”. The highlight of this dish is definitely the lightness of the wrap itself. These guys use actual tortillas instead of flat bread which we think is great. We also love the BBQ sauce that is used to keep the filling together.
One of the key things about eating at “The Cauldron” is getting your hands dirty so our next food option required us to use our bare hands. Taking our good ‘ol pol rotti, the team here have created a “Pol Rotti Burger” which consisted of two round pol rotti stacked on top of each other and a tuna patty in the middle with a generous serving of seeni sambol lathering the flavorful patty. The seeni sambol was just amazing but we felt they could opt for something other than tuna as the patty on this one.
“The Cauldron” loves their pol rotti and the next dish we tried is a clever spin on Sri Lanka’s favourite fast food. Instead of godamba rotti, they use pol rotti cut up in to chunks for their rendition. Served on top of an omelette and with a side serving of chicken, the kottu has generous chunks of veggies in them as well. What makes this dish the greatest though is the vegetarian gravy that is served with it. We tried our best to get them to reveal their secret ingredient but they just wouldn’t! Whatever is in it though is just awesomeness!
After a hearty meal that filled our hearts and stomachs we were urged to try their “Pol Pani Pancakes” for dessert. The fluffy pancakes served with “apey” pol pani and jaggery instead of maple syrup is best eaten warm and is the perfect way to end a tough day.
The only down side in our whole experience is the fact that there isn’t enough parking and if you miss the place on the one way street it can be cumbersome to go around full circle to get back. But once you do, The Cauldron certainly has some “magic” in it that just won’t let you leave.
So here’s our review…
Location *** (Convenient but limited parking)
Ambiance **** (Very artsy and comfortable but a tad bit too cold!)
Service **** (The staff are super sweet!)
Food **** (Love the innovation!)
Overall *** ¾
Address: 68 Stratford Ave, Colombo 06
Telephone: 0719 922857
Opening Times: 7am – 12 midnight daily
Reviewed by #Foodies SL