If you are someone who is serious about your coffee then we are almost a 100% sure that you have already been to Whight & Co. They opened for business last year in March and have made quite a name for themselves with their locally grown and brewed Ruby Harvest coffee.
Esteem frequents this cafe as it is spacious, serves amazingly good coffee and their breakfast is to die for. They commence business every morning at 7.30am and they close at 11pm. They aren’t just a breakfast café, they have a full menu and they serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, juices, alcohol, cocktails, desserts and of course coffee.
Loated at the corner of Aloe Avenue and Marine Drive, this is probably one of the most beautiful views available at any café in the city. We usually get a lot of work done here in the mornings while enjoying the view of the Indian ocean and the trains rushing by.
We have tasted everything on their coffee menu; espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, frappes, caramel lattes, cold drip coffees, Vietnamese iced coffee and their signature pour over coffee. The coffee is strong and gives you an instant caffeine boost. All their coffee is priced between Rs. 300 to Rs. 480. This is extremely affordable compared to other international brands in the city and sometimes if you’re there for more than a few hours you could enjoy a second cuppa joe without feeling too guilty.
Their breakfast menu is great. They’ve got Eggs Benedict, Croque Monsieur, Chili Scramble, Two Eggs Any Style, Sri Lankan Breakfast (String Hoppers and Chicken Curry), Ham and Cheese Croissant and a few other items. All their breakfast items are priced between Rs. 600 to Rs. 750 and the portions are very big. When we have breakfast here, we always skip lunch because that is how full you will feel after devouring your brekkie.
We love the Eggs Benedict, it is without a doubt the best Eggs Benny in the city. Two perfectly soft poached eggs on ham, served with a grilled tomato, rocket leaves, a large hash brown and two slices of thick cut toast. Eggs Benedict is traditionally served with Hollandaise sauce however here, they serve it with a Béarnaise sauce. We usually ask them to substitute the ham with bacon and it becomes the most indulgent thing you could ever eat for breakfast.
Another of our favourites is their Croque Monsieur which is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich coated in Béchamel and toasted till the cheese is melted and becomes gooey. It’s served with two grilled tomatoes and a generous helping of rocket leaves, we are partial towards rocket so it won’t come as a surprise that we love this meal as well.
In order for us to tackle the Chili Scramble we have to be quite hungry and work up an appetite as it is three eggs scrambled with chives, onions and red chili, a hash brown, three rashers of bacon, a beef sausage, tomato relish and two slices of thick cut toast. Absolutely indulgent and so tasty, fills you right up and you will feel a bit guilty for eating so much. Don’t let that stop you though!
If you want something healthy they do have a Fruit Platter for Rs. 300 which is a mix of mango, banana, papaya and pineapple. We have it on the rare occasion that we decide we want something healthy for breakfast.
Whight and Co have definitely made a name for themselves in Colombo and it is our favourite place for coffee and breakfast in the city.
The service is the only thing that is inconsistent here. It has been a problem since they opened almost 2 years ago and we really wish the management can address this. Sometimes we have to motion them over to take our orders, bring the bill or even request them to take away our mugs and dishes once we are done with our meal.
Our overall rating of Whight and Co is as follows:
Ambiance: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Coffee: 9.5/10
Service: 5/10
Portion Size: 9/10
Value for Money: 9/10
Words and pictures by Surovi Salgado