Stopping by at Chatz

Only seven months into operation, Chatz restaurant down Horton Place has risen to quick fame among those who likes a quick bite in a chilled out, quiet atmosphere.

With the Headmasters salon right next door, for many, the restaurant and salon seems to be one unit. But Restaurant Manager Rasheed Carim is quick to say otherwise.

The restaurant, Carim said is run independently from the saloon and is managed by CHM Holdings. However the initial plan was to build Chatz as a coffee shop to compliment the salon and its patrons. “But by the time the opening date came there were too many ideas being floating around. Therefore the end result was the culmination of all of this- a fully fledged restaurant.”

The restaurant, which has a both indoor and outdoor section, is decorated to suit any mood. Reds and blacks colour the inside of Chatz along with glass topped black tables bringing a sense of warmth to the atmosphere while the outside section is decorated with cane sofas.

The restaurant though small in size has some 96 dishes in the menu and covers a wide section of food from Mexican to Italian to Eastern, Far Eastern and international cuisine. With well qualified chefs who have previously worked in five star hotels in Colombo as well as the likes of Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Hilton in Dubai the restaurant is prepared to serve meals that are both appealing in colour and form and appetising in taste.

With such a comprehensive menu, what are the favourite picks, we asked. “There are a number of dishes that are regularly requested by the diners,” Carim said. “Among them the Mexican and Italian dishes take first place.” The fajitas and nachos from the former and prawn and garlic pasta and fettuccini chicken from the latter are the top hot picks of the restaurant. The fajitas come with chicken, beef, prawn, vegetable and if you are those let’s-taste-everything types, there is even a mixed fajita.

Their range of burgers served with French fries and coleslaw is also among the top favourites. The haystack burger (beef), the Cajun chicken burger – one of their specialities and the Hawaiian burger are recommended as must tries. The Cajun burger is made from a tweaked Latin American original recipe. There are six different sandwiches to choose from, two kinds of pizzas to order along with seven house specialities.

Adding the much needed Asian flavour into the mix, diners can try out nasi goreng, bakmi goreng, Chinese and Thai specials, chicken biriyani and kottu as well as mutton kottu. Their house specialities include grilled prawns, the classic fish and chips to more unique flavours with rosemary chicken, lamb shank and grilled lamb chops. There are also a list of starters and salads (we are told the chicken ham roll is to die for) and soups to try out. A range of side dishes which again includes the usual French fries, garlic bread and potato wedges as well as the Tarzan’s jungle nuggets, devilled prawns and hot butter cuttle fish.

The desserts are mouth watering. Their unique chocolate- chocolate mousse with brownie, Italian tiramisu, chox romance, caramalita and the list goes on. Their cheese cakes- blueberry and strawberry made with imported Philadelphia cheese is also a must-try here. A range of cakes are also on the menu. A range of beverages and mocktails are also in the menu.

Even though it’s been just seven months, the menu has undergone a few changes, Carim said. “After six months we examined in detail the dishes that were most popular and the least popular. Our chefs then went to work on finding newer dishes to add instead of the lesser demanded food.” With this came the chicken ham roll, prawn cocktail (which looks absolutely delicious) and chicken liver pate was introduced to the menu. “These dishes have been well liked by our diners here. The change was necessary and even in the future we will look at ways in which we can offer better deals to our customers.”

They are already engaged in outdoor catering and discussing the possibility of delivery within Colombo as well, due to high demand. “However we would like to extend our catering business further,” Carim added. The restaurant is open from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. on weekdays and 11.30 p.m. on weekends.

Text and pix by Cheranka Mendis