Ceylonta is a delightful oasis in the midst of Ottawa. I highly recommend the experience. The owner, Ranjan, and Tamara are welcoming, attentive and warm-hearted hosts. The food's aromas, textures, and spices are exquisite. And their chai is heavenly - bringing me back to my days in Rishikesh where I first tasted the delights of real chai peddled by the young chai wallahs. Their Sri Lankan coffee is also a delight. My home away from home!
One of our very, very favourite restaraunts in Ottawa. The food is delicious and the service is impeccable. We never fail to visit when in town.
There is a reason my partner and I call this our favourite restaurant in Ottawa...or anywhere. The food, atmosphere, service, and experience are all wonderful. 5+ stars.
Absolutely wonderful food and great staff. I have been going there for years
Food was excellent as well as the service. Love this place.
Great food as usual and the people working there are so nice. Love that place.
It's the best South Asian food in town. A must for anyone visiting Ottawa! Fantastic food. The devilled meats are to die for. The Biryani had a fantastic aroma and distinguished taste. The vegetables in caramelized sauce and other chicken dishes are delicious. The Sri Lankan tea is a must have to finish the scrumptious dinner. Very well priced for the portions as well.
The hotel is owned and managed by the couple who are extremely cordial and customise the food to suite your palate.
Don't miss it!
My first exposure to Sri Lankan cuisine was here at this restaurant, and I remember I loved it! The first time, I remember it being really spicy, but either my spice tolerance has gone up since 3 years ago, or they've toned it down, because there was still a kick but it wasn't too much when I visited recently. The appetizers are amazing - #1 (mutton) and #3 are must-tries if you're craving something fried. The menu is huge - it took an usually long time for me to decide what I wanted as an entree, because everything sounded so good! (And from what I sampled, it is:)) Entrees are small portions but if you're sharing with a group of friends it can be quite filling despite the size. Prices are decent, however a little high compared to other Indian places.
I visited this restaurant during my official trip to Ottawa. Great service. Excellent food. The fish cutlets were amazing. The dosas were tasty. I was also given some complementary fish curry to taste as it was my first time. I would surely recommend this restaurant for some awesome Sri lankan food..
Very good. Love that they offer their buffet for take-out. Great for a down-town lunch... or several (I was able to divide it up into about 6 lunches). Every single item was tasty and left me wanting more. Can't wait to go back!
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Tasty..... but Spicy. At first glance, Ceylonta is not appealing but once you enter, you are immediately welcomed by a feeling of comfort. I went with a group of friends over the weekend, to try Sri Lankin food for the first time. We called ahead to reserve, but we really didn't need to as the turnover was quick and consistent. To be honest, the service isn't the best. We met 3 different waiters who did not know what they were doing. Once we finally got the "main" waitress, things seemed to be in order. We weren't sure what to order so the waitress (who was funny and polite) recommended some dishes for us. The food was well seasoned, and very delicious. We had chicken Biryani, Chicken Palandi, roast beef, naan bread and mutton. The roast beef was not up to par because there was barely any beef on the plate. The majority of the plate was covered with onions, which to our group, was quite overwhelming. The only issue that I had was that that the food was quite spicy. If you love spicy food then this is definitely the place to go. Even if you do not like spicy food, there are many options that will satisfy the palate, without feeling the burn. Apparently if you bring a group of 20+ you can do an all-you-can-eat option, but don't quote me on that, ask your waiter/waitress. I will definitely be returning to this restaurant to sample other menu items from this great restaurant.
Great spot to find some unique flavours. Home to some very unique flavours. A must try if you're looking to try something new without breaking the bank
Was always reluctant about this place till I finally tried it...good food and good service...the mutton rolls were amazing and naan is different from other south asian restaurants..but good different.
Amazing. If you walked by this restaurant you wouldn't necessarily think it was much. Once inside, you'll realize how the outside is not accurate. We were welcomed inside promptly, meeting the owner who explained the menu and helped pair our dinner with our taste preferences. If you're new to Sri Lankan food, let him pick! He knows what he's doing! Our meal was excellent, the service amazing and the staff treated us like family.i only wish I lived closer or I'd be back more often!
The food was superb and really tasty. The love the "vegetarian kottu roti" and curry dishes. We also had Sri Lankan style Mutton rolls. Excellent value for money and really good service. The lunch buffet is so delicious . I really enjoy the variety of curry dishes. All in 10/10 and definitely worth going.
My favorite buffet!. I've been going here for years, it's my favorite lunch buffet in Ottawa. Not just Indian, but buffet period. Supper at night is completely different - it's even better!
I've had a lof of different Indian and I've had some pretty amazing a-la-carte's, but this place stands up with them. Technically it's Sri Lankan, so you won't find some things (example, Butter Chicken) that you do with some places.
I will say though (adressing some negative reviews I've seen), there have been a few times I've went at lunch where it was sub-par. They do have some consistency issues sometimes with the tastes, but I've probably been here 100 times and I'd say 9/10 times they are really good.
A sweet taste of India. More than enough in portions. Ordered the Veggie Thali (sample platter), Veggie Kothu Rotti, Naan, Veggie samosas and Gulab Jamun. All was devoured jealously with the exception of a couple of the dishes from the thali, which included six different curried seasonal vegetables.
I personally enjoyed the naan bread, but my girlfriend, being of south indian descent and therefore in a position to be more particular, was not impressed. That said, they normally serve gulab jamun cold and were perfectly willing to accommodate our request to have it heated up. The service was a little slow, but we went on New Year's eve and they had minimal staff working (I suspect it was the owner and son).
Definitely recommended
Wonderful food. Probably the best buffet lunch I have ever had. Each curry had a distinct flavor. Tasted like food made with a lot of love and care.
Fantastic dosa. The best masala dosa outside of India, so far as I've encountered (though they don't do paper dosa). Great curries and tandoori chicken. Tasty lassis. Decent atmosphere and friendly staff. One of our faves.
Downtown Ceylonta much better. For some reason the ceylonta on Somerset is much better than the Bayshore/Carling Ave. location. The spices dowtown are just right. I'm biased as I prefer south-Indian/Sri Lankan more than any other type of Indian. Great lunch buffet - nice and fast for a working lunch hour.
Always amazing. So much flavor and freshness. Friendly staff always willing to assist in choosing menu items. Maybe my favorite restaurant in Ottawa.
Excellent Sri Lankian food!. Been a few times, with friends. The service has always been excellent, the food likewise. Be warned though, you may need a reservation as at lunch it can be quite busy. If you are not a fan of "hot" or authentic, when a menu item is notes as being warm, it genuinely will be, unlike some other Indian restaurants catering to a more pedestrian palate.
A cornucopia of flavours.
Two great experiences. I went to the Ceylonta twice, the one on Somerset. The food was excellent and the service was friendly. It is not the cheapest Indian resto in town, but definitely worths a try!
Second time at Ceylonta on Friday and not let down. Pros; attentive and friendly service, great Chicken Palandi( would req that dish for sure).good portion size. Cons; over priced, crusty water glasses and cutlery....maybe their dish washer was broken? Cons;
Consistently Excellent Food. I've been coming to this restaurant for about 6 months now, I originally found it on Urbanspoon and completely fell in love with it. We come at least once a week now, some of the best Indian food in the city, with some really great Sri Lankan dishes that I haven't found anywhere else. Very well made food at a really great price. Be sure to try the Chicken Kothu Rotti, its definitely my favourite dish.
Really enjoy this restaurant, the food is inspired, generally consistent and better than most of the overpriced Indian restaurants in this city. The price is fantastic. Be ready to wait a bit for service as they tend to have less servers than most restaurants but it somehow works because the room has a great vibe. And in case you forgot from earlier... For the casual international resto, this is one of the best in the city.
Delicious. Actually Sri Lankan, not Indian. Their mix of spices is fantastic. I highly recommend the curried mutton and the curried green beans. My favourite food in Ottawa. Their staff is courteous, friendly, and helpful.
From the outside it looks like nothing special. Once inside the food is absolutely fantastic.
Belly busting buffet. Loved the lamb stew with whole boiled eggs. This buffet is great.
Pure delight from the moment you walk in the door when you are greeted by the wonderful owner, Reijin (spelt phonetically), or one of the friendly warm staff.
I and everyone who has accompanied me back to this heavenly oasis are in awe of the people, and food.
whenever I go to Ottawa, Ceylonta is the restaurant I am assured to visit several times.
to the next time I eat at Ceylonta I raise a glass...
Two words ... wow! An undiscovered treasure, if you don't like their food, I'll give you your money back. It's THAT good!!!
When I walked in, there was a simply amazing smell. So I knew I was at the right place. The meal was delicious, and the service and atmoshere were both great. But the best part was the tea. It is absolutely to die for.
The restaurant itself is rather small. Do not be put off by the dimly lit corner where the buffet is, the food taste and quality more than make up for the dim lighting (I suspect a few replaced light bulbs would remedy this). There were many items to choose from on the menu ranging from Tandoori chicken to curried beans to a wonderfully creamy squash cooked with the skin on. The squash was the best thing that I ate that day - butternut squash simmered in coconut milk and mildly spiced. The range of curries available was impressive. Many vegetarian options for those so inclined. I truly did appreciate the chickpea curry - not from canned - delectable. If you have not recently had soaked/cooked chickpeas, you don't know what you're missing. The spicy curried green beans were also flavourful and spicy.
My friend Zoya has a weakness for Indian food. Seeing as we were heading up to Tremblant for her birthday, I figured surprising her with her favourite food was a must. I would not say that I know much, if anything, about Indian food. I wanted to get he
A must try place for Tamil South Indian and SriLankan dishes. We tried Chicken Kothu porotta, and it was delicious. Worth every penny! The Kothu is soft and tasty, has more chicken pieces than any other place. We also tried the Devilish Chicken and it's an uncommon dish that you can try it out. The service is great, place clean and a pleasant ambience.
Absolutely the best food, let alone Indian food, we have ever eaten. The homemade sauces are packed with flavors. The bread is decadent and perfect for mopping up every drop of sauce.
Allow the owner to make suggestions for you. He will not disappoint. I can't thank him enough for our special meal.!
Happy 25th anniversary Ceylonta!
We came there for a takeout and were pleasantly surprised by the welcome. These are very friendly people and the made us feel welcome very fast. We know Indian food but not necessarily Skri Lanka, the proprietors created a mix for us that was delicious! Butter chicken, spiced shrimps and another chicken dish with various accompaniments that were all tasty and hot. We even have some leftovers! The portions are great and the taste is great also. Worthwhile visit and we are keeping this address for future visit in Ottawa, because we’ll have to try it again in the restaurant. For me it was as good as the best Indian restaurants that we have in Montreal.
Always friendly, always fresh and so flavourful. The staff is so amazing and kind. I’ve tried at least 10 different dishes on the menu and everything has been absolutely phenomenal. Dine in to enjoy the cute atmosphere. A must try!
One of the best restaurants I've been to in Ottawa. Amazing food, great value for price. Every dish, and surprisingly *especially* the vegetable dishes, was packed with flavor. Great variety too. Spent $31 and had too much food.
We visited Ottawa from Toronto & after a tiring day, we ended up having our dinner at Ceylonta. The food tasted amazing! We have tried soo many different dishes in Toronto, but I do have say that this was one of the best yet! If anyone visits Ottawa-Parliment Hill, don't miss this. The customer service & hospitality was excellent!
Mohammad Shaheedul Ameen
+5
This place is a gem for people who love spicy food! Price very reasonable. Excellent location, amicable service.
For downside, the place is okay for cleanliness, but that might be my flawed perception due to low lights.
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