Robata Grill & Lounge
Unassumingly Asian
When we last dropped by Robata at the Mövenpick
Hotel, it functioned as a full fledged Japanese restaurant serving up quality fare by Chef Nobu. Robata recently diversified their repertoire to include Asian favourites in order to give diners at the restaurant more options.
Ambience
While the ambience is mostly the same - red and black theme, for instance - they have added both subtle and not so subtle (bamboo as decor) elements to incorporate an Asian theme and have also added booths and private dining spaces. We picked the booth, although we were a little apprehensive about the comfort afforded, but were in for quite the surprise as it made for very comfortable seating.
The Food
Since Robata has diversified beyond Japanese, they also offer Korean, Chinese, Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai cuisine. So without a doubt, you will be spoilt for choice. You will be given the menu card when you're seated and you have to tick all of your choices. We found this method rather convenient, and it also alleviates the issue of forgotten dishes when the food finally arrives.
We started off with Japanese and had their Philly Sushi Rolls that comprised salmon and cream cheese (3pcs Rs. 550). We were happy to note that although Chef Nobu is no longer at Robata, the sushi rolls were still pretty well done. The Hot Butter Cuttlefish (Rs. 690) and Kung Pao Chicken (Rs. 640) were two of the items we sampled next. Everytime we have visited Mövenpick, they have always gotten their seafood right, so we weren't surprised that the cuttlefish was fried to perfection. On the spicier side, this version of HBC was not the typical Sri Lankan one we have come to expect. But taste wise, we liked it. The Kung Pao Chicken however was absolutely fantastic and we kept going back for more! The crispy chicken coated in a spicy red chili sauce was a feast for the senses. Will definitely recommend.
The Nasi Goreng (Rs. 785) from the Indonesian lineup also leaned more toward the authentic form. Which meant no jazzed up flavours like you would to find in many restaurants. Instead, the flavours of the blachan paste made it an enjoyable dish. The chicken was succulent, and we would have loved if there was more peanut sauce on it. But that's a personal preference. The Nasi also came with prawn crackers and an egg sunny side up.
We also picked a Thai favourite, the Pad Thai - Prawn (Rs. 750). Another of our favourite dishes at Robata, the Pad Thai was a delightful melange of sweet, sour and spicy. The only downside was that it could have had more prawns in it. Otherwise, it hit all the right notes in terms of taste. The Bulgogi (Rs. 750) , a Korean dish, also came highly recommended, so we decided to give it a try. The bulgogi comprised juicy pieces of marinated beef in gochujang, that is, a thick red spicy paste. One bite in and we were sold. The best part was that we didn't have to violently butcher the meat since it was sinfully tender and, as promised, juicy! The sauce was definitely the not so sweet ingredient that made the Bulgogi a surprising favourite for us.
For dessert
For dessert they have a variety of Asian goodies, as well as their very own Mövenpick ice cream. However, we decided to pick the Coconut Creme Brulee (Rs. 525), which proved to be a good decision. Starting from the satisfactory crack of the hardened sugar on top, the creme brulee was infused with just enough coconut that the flavour wasn't overpowering. Usually not a fan of coconut in dessert, we were soon converts.
Overall
There's no doubt that diversifying the menu was a smart decision, especially since there are still many Sri Lankans who are not the biggest fans of Japanese cuisine. This becomes especially problematic when picking places for large groups and having to satisfy everyone. We thought the food here was pretty good and the prices are quite diner friendly.
Parking
They have parking on premises as well as valet parking.
“He was a bold man who first ate an oyster” - Jonathan Swift -