Aushi and Eroshan Meewella to open 2nd London restaurant ‘Kolamba East’ in Spitalfields this spring

Friday, 15 March 2024 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Aushi and Eroshan Meewella at Kolamba Soho – Credit: Tonic Studio

This spring, Kolamba founders Eroshan and Aushi Meewella will open ‘Kolamba East’, their second London restaurant, on Spitalfields’ Blossom Street.

Following the success of their first restaurant Kolamba – which opened in Soho in 2019 – the second outpost will showcase the duo’s modern take on Sri Lankan home-cooking, bringing the bold and vibrant flavours of Colombo to east London.

The menu at Kolamba East will revive dishes from Eroshan and Aushi’s childhoods spent in the city, highlighting the culinary diversity of Colombo’s heritage. Adapted by Eroshan from dishes handed down by family and friends, the recipes celebrate the communities of Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Burger (Dutch) and Malay descent that call Sri Lanka’s capital their home.

At Kolamba East, guests will be able to enjoy brand new dishes that bring to life more of the Meewellas’ memories of the island. These will include a new selection of larger feasting plates, ideal for sharing with friends and family, alongside Kolamba’s beloved ‘short eats’ snacks, signature hoppers and fragrant sambols.

The 92-cover restaurant will be located in the Norton Folgate development, a new destination that sits at the meeting point of Spitalfields, Shoreditch and the City, just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station. Kolamba East will include a dedicated central bar – a new offering for the Kolamba brand, serving cocktails made using Sri Lankan spirits and ingredients that reflect the food menu – as well as two private dining rooms.

The interior design of the space is led by Annie Harrison of London studio FARE INC., in collaboration with WhiteBox London, the property development and design company co-founded by Aushi and Eroshan. Echoing the design of Kolamba’s Soho location – which was awarded Best Interior at the GQ Food & Drink Awards in 2021 – the space will pay homage to the work of the celebrated Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The interiors channel the Tropical Modernism movement he pioneered, through plaster relief panels sporting leaf motifs and emerald marble paving, contrasted with timber panelling and original exposed brickwork.

Through Whitebox, Aushi has also worked closely with local artists and suppliers to champion emerging Sri Lankan talent and incorporate design elements distinctive to the island, including batik fabrics by designer Sonali Dharmawardena; a diptych drawing of water buffalo by artist Pragreeth

Manohansa, and bespoke dining chairs and lotus table lamps handcrafted by Colombo artisans.

Speaking of the launch of Kolamba East, Eroshan and Aushi Meewella said, “We are thrilled to be bringing Kolamba to east London this spring, and to be able to offer a brand new, elevated dining experience to our guests in this incredible space.”