Surf N Spice

We spent a week here and really loved it. The team were kind, courteous, and happy to help, and Surf and Spice, run by a group of friends with resident dogs, ticked all the boxes for supporting a local business. It’s a five minute walk to Dickwella beach and ten minutes to bustling Hiriketiya. The tidy rooms are good value, with hot water, a fan, and air con. Bring your own toiletries and beach towel. Waking to a peacock on the roof and cheeky monkeys on the balcony was magical. The food was delicious, with traditional and western dishes, good coffee with oat and almond options, and coconut water.

David at Aether Hilltop Villas recommended this restaurant to us. His place nearby is really nice too, and I recommend staying there for at least a couple of nights. Both places are gems, with impeccable service. We had grilled jumbo prawns and tuna with drinks on our first evening. The Spicy Margarita and Coconut Margarita are must tries. The bartender explained the process behind them, including coconut cooking syrup and the chili flavor after cooking Jalapenos. It’s quite a process, and the drinks have lots of layers. The food was really tasty too, with complex sauces full of flavor. We came back tonight for something lighter after a late lunch. The Margaritas were an obvious choice, the enchiladas were super tasty, and if you like sauce, spaghetti, and prawns, this is the place. The rich homemade prawn sauce comes in a generous amount. We’ll see you for an early lunch tomorrow before heading to our next destination. The small platters menu looks so good that we have to try a couple before we leave... 🥹 Great staff.

The grilled food was delicious and worth the wait, though it takes a little time to make fresh. That pace suited a long, relaxed evening with good conversation. Warm atmosphere, lovely service. A great spot to slow down and enjoy dinner as it unfolds.

The pancakes were the main reason we ordered breakfast, but after waiting over an hour in a quiet restaurant, they arrived burnt and we couldn't eat them. The waiter said another order wasn't possible because the dish was difficult to make. We ended up choosing something else and waiting again, then paid even more than we would have for our original order, with no discount for the trouble. We came in with good expectations, so this was disappointing. If they can't prepare the dish properly, why keep it on the menu?