Delights on the Road to Nuwara Eliya

Publication: Sunday Leader, Colombo, Sri Lanka  
Published: 08-May-2011

Nestling in the misty hills of the superb Glenloch tea estate and in the shadow of the century-old Glen Loch Tea Factory (still producing fine teas) was the Glen Loch Restaurant.  For a while we stopped there on our regular journeys to the hill stations and enjoyed the free cup of tea that was offered to all visitors.  About three years ago we stumbled on the fact that they served the most delicious Chinese rolls outside Colombo and watched patiently as the old café was transformed into a wonderful oasis of tranquillity complete with a large ‘tea lounge’ and that has now manifested itself as a ‘pukkah’ restaurant too in which one can have full meals.  And well made fruit juices  And cakes.

We opted to have the buffet which looked very inviting with its steaming curries and the salad bar.  The waiter perhaps sensing some trepidation on my part, was quick to produce a menu saying, ‘a la carte is also available’.  There was little need actually for that as my momentary hesitation was caused by the variety of the food on display and nothing more sinister than that.

Our guest that afternoon was in a unique position to comment on the service aspect:  Pamela Spruce was in Sri Lanka on a fact finding mission and just so happens to be the principal of the Australian Butler School.  Pamela declared the food to be ‘wonderful’ and she really was not being simply nice.  The service was attentive and not overbearing though we did notice that Chef Danushka formerly from the Galadari Hotel, was doing some paperwork on a table in the restaurant.

Perhaps that was a good thing not.  Mrs Spruce from Australia thought he should have had an office instead.  Joe Berger thought is was a good advertisement to have the Chef so very visible.  The supervisors were not immediately noticeable as they were not dressed in any identifiable uniform but the food remained absolutely first class.

The ‘a la carte’ menu we noticed had a full selection of Sri Lankan and Eastern dishes including that all time favourite, nasi goreng in a few variations.  Most of the guests we noticed had gone for the buffet which, at a price of Rs 650 was extremely good value.  Others who opted for the full monty, which meant visiting the Tea Factory too, paid Rs 850.  In an ambience where all the prices had gone up and where everything in Sri Lanka continues to cost more, Glen Loch’s buffet was keenly priced.