Zephyr Restaurant & Bar

Inventive dishes in a laid-back setting!

Situated on the scenic, sandy beaches of Mirissa, Zephyr is an airy, artfully decorated restaurant with inventive dishes that are a treat to your taste buds. With their myriad of different seating options, upbeat music and welcoming atmosphere, Zephyr makes for a great place to enjoy a fun night with some good company.

Drinks

Zephyr’s drinks menu ranges from cocktails to teas to fresh juices and has something for everyone. It being a Friday night, we decided to try a few of their funky-sounding cocktails.

Chili – LKR 800
Though this cocktail could have been presented in a better manner, the flavor combinations really made up for it. The delicate punch of chili combined with the tequila made for a crazy gastronomical experience. It has a very different flavor profile from most cocktails though and whilst I loved it, it may or may not appeal to your palette.

Blush – LKR 800
More along the lines of a customary cocktail, the Blush was a combination of crushed strawberries, vodka and lemonade. The drink was very pretty in terms of presentation – served in a tall glass with lots of strawberries, lime wedges and crushed ice. In terms of flavor, the Blush was quite strong, with copious amounts of vodka leading the way before any of the lemonade can hit – not that we’re complaining, we loved it!

Appetizers

Mozzarella with Fresh Tomato, and Basil Pesto Melt – LKR 700This dish came under the ‘Melts’ section and upon reading the name, we expected a Caprese salad of sorts but ended up with a cheesy sandwich – silly us! It was presented well, 4 mini sandwiches with a coleslaw-like salad in the middle, and the filling was pretty great. As promised, the tomato was fresh, the pesto divine and the mozzarella gooey. Definitely works well as a light snack.

Mains

Freshly Grilled Calamari, Prawns and Tuna Fish Salad – LKR 850The dishes at Zephyr refuse to have short and sweet names. Instead, every ingredient is displayed proudly in the titles and we loved it. We knew exactly what to expect and were still beyond impressed at the presentation and flavors. The seafood in the salad tasted fresh and it was served with orange slices, garnished with parsley and tossed in a sweet and tangy vinaigrette – an overall guilt-free yet filling and wholesome dish.

Chili Jaggery Beef Tenderloin with Coconut Gravy and Mash – LKR 1200A massive serving of meaty goodness, this dish was an absolute treat! The chili and the jiggery in the beef pulled through confusingly well, and the meat was so tender, it was ready to fall off the bone. The mash potatoes were just a little lumpy, the way I like it, and the salad was great for that fresh bite needed between the heavy foods. The flavors of the coconut gravy unfortunately weren’t as strong as we would have liked it but nevertheless, it was an innovative and delicious dress that we would definitely order again.

Zephyr was busy the day that we stepped in with rains having put the staff in a bit of frenzy but they were still attentive and fast with their service. The music was still upbeat and the atmosphere cheerful and was a great dinner experience all in all.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to try the quirky and different things on their menu – their salads are usually great!