Blue Orbit by Citrus | Restaurant Review

Every bite comes with a 360° view!

There are stunning city views, and then there’s the view at Blue Orbit. Located at the iconic Lotus Tower, the Blue Orbit spoils you for choice with its wide range of cuisines for its lunch and dinner buffets, and the best part is, their menu changes daily! From traditional Sri Lankan to Indian, to Italian, Middle Eastern, Japanese and Chinese cuisine, there are up to 300 varieties to choose from, making sure that there’s always something for everyone. We can’t not mention the exciting food stations either, including ones for Cold Seafood, Peking Duck, Pancakes, and Pani Puri, and don’t forget to check out their wide range of drinks available at their bar. There’s even a dedicated kid’s station too, stocked with plenty of treats!  

The Blue Orbit claims bragging rights, being Sri Lanka’s tallest and only revolving restaurant, and while the nighttime view is mesmerising, many miss out on the daytime experience. The panoramic scenery combines the open ocean, Colombo’s cityscape, and the vast stretch of land leading to the central mountains—a unique sight for a lunch spot.  Add a wide variety of flavourful dishes, and you’ve got the perfect lunch spot.

Appetisers 

Offering a variety of appetisers, including soups, salads, cold cuts, seafood, cheeses, and canapés, there’s something for everyone. The key is pacing yourself to leave room for the main dishes. Here are some highlights. 

Cured Salmon 

Served in bite-sized slices, the soft, fatty texture of the salmon is delectable. The light seasoning enhances its natural flavour without overpowering it. Paired with your choice of mayonnaise, capers or mustard mayo, it’s perfect to start your meal on a high note. 

Smoked Chicken Tart with Quail Eggs 

This pairs a crumbly tart with a savoury filling, making an interesting mix of mild sweetness and savouriness. It’s also one of the most visually appealing appetisers to grab from the selection.

Sides

Sushi 

Blue Orbit offers an excellent variety of sushi, including salmon, prawn and chicken. The chicken and prawn variants maintain the savoury flavours of each protein. The standout is the salmon nigiri, combining the rich, fatty taste of salmon with the subtle depth of rice. Dipped in soy sauce, the umami notes complement the fatty salmon, creating a refreshing and satisfying bite. 

Pani Puri 

This was some of the best Pani Puri we’ve had. The puris, served cracked open, are stuffed with delicious spices and herbs that offer a gentle heat. It’s balanced perfectly with the refreshing puri water, served in a small cup covered by the puri for a personalised pouring experience!

Dim Sum (Vegetable, Beef, Prawn, and Chicken Dumplings) 

Neatly tucked in bamboo steamers, the visual representation is enough for you to cave in. Among the options, the vegetable dumplings stand out, offering a soft dough with a crunchy, spicy filling that pairs well with soy sauce. They’re best enjoyed piping hot, and we recommend trying the meatier options with a generous dipping sauce because they can turn slightly dry to the palate. 

Mains

The selection at the Blue Orbit buffet is vast, including Sri Lankan rice and curry, Peking duck, carved meats, shawarma and kebabs, a seafood corner and more. Here are some of our favourites. 

Lasagna 

It’s no easy feat to make a perfect lasagna, but Blue Orbit comes impressively close. The layers of pasta sheets, the mix of sauces and herbs, and ground meat all blend beautifully. The balance of ingredients, including just the right amount of cheese, delivers an authentic Italian flavour we all love.

Baked Mushrooms 

These are mushrooms at their full potential. The mushrooms are soft and perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of herbs and spices. Their earthy flavour blending with the soft and springy texture, unleashes all its flavours with every bite. You’ll likely return for seconds. 

Carved Meat and Baked Potatoes 

The carved meat selection includes chicken, pork, beef, and fish, paired with grilled and baked vegetables. We tried the pork with a serving of baked potatoes on the side, and wholeheartedly recommend the combination. The meat is tender and tastes great with or without sauces. 

Desserts

The dessert options at Blue Orbit are seemingly endless. From marshmallows or fruit dipped in a chocolate fountain to an assortment of puddings, cakes, and pancakes, there’s something for every sweet tooth. Here are two standout choices:

Chocolate Kottu 

Strips of gooey pancake diced in the usual ‘kottu’ style, then heated on a buttered pan and bathed in chocolate syrup, this chocolate kottu had us coming back for more. If you choose to add a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips, the deal is even sweeter. It’s likely that you’ll opt out of trying this one worrying it might be too sweet – don’t. We too were surprised to find that the sweetness was well-balanced and well worth the try! 

Raspberry Sorbet 

Refreshing, sweet, and light, this sorbet is an ideal palate cleanser to end your meal, and, it leans on the sweeter side. After tasting everything the Buffet has to offer, this might be the ideal closing note to the symphony of flavours you experienced. 

Ambience 

The Blue Orbit stays true to its promise of delivering a premium dining experience like no other. High up in the clouds, blue accents throughout the elegant and modern interior create a calming atmosphere. If you don’t want to miss any part of the iconic view from the tower, taking a seat on the revolving restaurant floor is ideal. Revolving once every hour, you can be sure to catch every angle of the cityscape. There are also options to sit stationary and enjoy the view right next to the window. The staff are helpful and friendly and only elevate the dining experience.