Cocooned in Sulaiman Terrace, ISSO, a restaurant dedicated to serving just prawns lays dormant on a rain-filled day. The bright orange facade stands out like a welcome beacon for not just the whole inner road but for my empty stomach that desires some spice.
Sadly, I’m not a huge seafood fan. The only seafood I devour would be hot batter-fried prawns or hot butter cuttlefish. Frankly, the only two places that serve the best iterations of the latter two dishes (for me, at least) happen to be The Lagoon located at Cinnamon Grand.
But ISSO didn’t disappoint. I opted for the Rich & Red (prawns in Thai Red Curry), and it was certainly delicious. I requested it extra spicy, and it certainly was made quite spicy indeed. The place doesn’t skimp on the quantity of prawns either: I counted ten prawns! Try getting this type of value for money from other restaurants. There were other styles that you can choose from: The Salsa, The Homemade Secret, The Local Favourite, and Northern Twist.
The whole experience was flavor some for sure. However, I had my reservations about the place. There’s a saying amongst the foodies I associate that in Lanka, it’s always best to check out a restaurant before it become 6 months old. The truth is that consistent quality does become an issue, and it is something that is worrisome for customers.
Although ISSO is geared more towards a takeaway concept, it is an idea that works well. The microwave box that your meal comes in is quite large, and after you’re done with your meal, you know you’re brimming with satiation. The ambience is warm and cost with the seating arrangement being adequate. The interior is brightly lit, and appears cheerful. As mentioned, the place is geared for takeaways, while there usually are many people who do sit and enjoy themselves.
The menu itself is quite simple and easy to decipher. You can choose the size of the prawn you desire while choosing a carb. A salad is added on for good measure. But these are just additions since the main star of whatever you do choose is the prawn. ISSO is by no means cheap, but given the fact that you’re digging into a meal full of prawns makes the price seem very reasonable.
