The Fat Crab
Overview
With a wall decked with popular movie posters giving a groovy outlook for the visitors, Fat Crab offers a wonderful view of the sea, which lies opposite the rustic, sea sprayed buildings. Amidst the sound of the sea waves lapping on the shore you might catch a view of a train whooshing past as a railway line runs along the coast.
You will find the Fat Crab restaurant just at the beginning of Haig Road when you drive along Marine Drive. This is a restaurant that is focused mainly on sea food and particularly crustaceans. The restaurant is on an upper floor and the interior of the restaurant is minimal and simplistic. The restaurant also has a section for Mongolian food which is called Genghis. However the main attraction being crabs the must try are the crab dishes.
To get a taste of Sri Lankan cuisine you can order the crusty baker’s bread that is accompanied by butter and pol sambol (coconut salad) and this can be paired with a fiery treat like the Negombo crab curry, the Lankan murunga leaf crab curry or the black pepper crab. You can enjoy these dishes with steam rice, pol sambol and dhal (lentils) as well.
The crabs are fresh lagoon crabs and each person is served 400gms of the crab. The pricing is dependent on the size of the crab. For a medium sized crab with a full meal consisting of crusty bread or steamed rice one would have to pay about 2400 in Sri Lankan rupees. It is not exactly cheap but it is reasonable compared to the high end places that specialises in crab based dishes and also it is worth the price as the curries are flavourful and delectable.
Fat crab also offers a baked crab dish which is mouth watering and enticing. The baked crab in the shell is an absolute delight when you taste it. You will have nothing to complain about the dish as the baked golden cheese covering that hides the creamy filling can’t be resisted. It is a must try if you happen to visit the fat crab. The crab cakes were also yummy with a slightly crusty covering running into the tenderness of the crab cake. It is served with a fresh papaya salsa.
Apart from crab dishes they have the most delectable sea food options like fish and chips, grilled seer, lobster thermidor and chilli prawn pasta. We tried the chilli prawn pasta which gives an interesting twist to the usual creamy pasta. The thick ribbons of pasta mixed with creamy prawn sauce are filling and the chilli flakes that are scattered in generous portions makes your taste buds come alive.
All in all it is one of the few places that offer good seafood dishes especially mouth-watering crab dishes. The only complain that we have is the service aspect as the waiters are not attentive enough even to fill the water goblets when they are empty. They were also very slow to take the order and serve as well. But apart from it, Fat Crab is a sensible choice if anyone prefers good seafood.
More Info
Venue Details & Map
The Fat Crab
53 Haig Road, Colombo 04
Tel: +9411 2055606
Bambalapitiya (Colombo 04)
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