Amro Vegetarian Cafe

Where’s good to eat in Nugegoda? There’s a McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut and Domino’s, but that’s basically it; the culinary highlight of Nugegoda seems to be their Fab outlet.

But today we discovered that all hope might not be lost. At the point where Jambugasmulla runs into Old Kesbewa Road lies Amro Vegetarian Cafe, a little oasis of calm amidst the hectic Nugegoda soundscape. Run by four charming aunties, Amro serves up your basic kade style Sri Lankan food – except not in a kade.

They have a strangely large space – ample parking, cut cement floors, wooden chairs and tables and even a white picket fence. Red and yellow flowers and a water fountain line the entrance and if you can ignore the traffic nearby, it’s almost peaceful. The food, while not as good as our favourite veg joint Dunhinda, isn’t bad and it has the wonderful benefit of actually tasting and feeling quite healthy.

At lunch time they have basic vegetable rice and curry for Rs. 140. They also have a good selection of juices, Rs. 130 for papaya, and interesting rolls (Rs. 60 for a green gram filled one). There is a menu, but the juices are really the fruits they have that day and you can’t order specific items during lunch. But then who doesn’t eat rice and curry for lunch?

The kitchen seems incredibly clean as are the chairs and tables. What really stands out is that the aunties working there seem to run and have ownership – they really care. Seriously, if you don’t have relatives in Nugegoda and yet somehow find yourself in Nugegoda, this is the place to go.

Tips:  If you’re in Nugegoda, eat here.