Scrumptious Sponge!

Sponge stakes a pretty strong claim to being the best short-eat supplier in the city. Their selection of pastries, patties, rolls, cakes and other assorted finger-food is really impressive. While a purist might say they veer a little too strongly towards the Europeanised – quiches, asparagus, mushrooms and away from the Creole essence of the short-eat, it’s hard to deny that Sponge has a better range, better presentation and just tastier food than its competitors.

They also combine superior food with a comfortable and recently refurbished premise off the Galle Road in Colpetty. There’s a new lounge area with plush sofas and a little mezzanine, so where Sponge was previously more a functional eat and run sort of place a bit of lingering as you digest your chocolate-mousse cake is now possible.

Just about everything is good and they seem to invent new delicacies all the time – on my latest visit I observed fried, stuffed crab claws, spinach and pea tarts. I tried an asparagus, chicken and mushroom pastry (Rs. 120) and while this verges on pretentious (I mean asparagus? What’s wrong with seeni-sambol?), it was excellent. Light with a generous amount of bacon and slightly crunchy well-cooked asparagus this was pretty superior finger food.

Tips

Prices for short eats are Rs. 100 – 200 so relatively expensive. Their cakes are also pretty good, competitive with upscale bakery and five star hotel cakes but at a lower price. The chocolate mousse cake and the nut and fudge cake are recommended.