The Best Pizza in Sri Lanka

One of the first restaurants I visited when I arrived in the Southern Sri Lanka some four years back is the “Spaghetti & Co”. It happened when we treated a Chinese visitor to a dinner and our Japanese manager brought us to the place. I can vividly remember his first words describing the place as “the best pizza house in Sri Lanka”. I initially laughed off his declaration and considered it as a bit of exaggeration. But when I tasted the home-made pizza in the said restaurant I thought there might be truth to it. Other restaurants here (at least the ones we have tried) serving pizzas are short of even equalizing the pizza they serve at “Spaghetti & Co”. Of course there are “Pizza Hut” and “Domino Pizza” outlets in the capital city but they are in a different category.

Since that day on, we regularly return to the restaurant for their pizzas and pasta. Even our company parties are sometimes held there so that all expatriate staff can fully enjoy their specialties. This month alone, our group has dined there for at least 3 times that I decided to make a post of the restaurant and their amazing pizzas. I will do a separate post on their equally good pasta some other time.

“Spaghetti and Co” is located in the land side of the famous Hikkaduwa Beach Resort area which I have posted earlier. It is said to be owned by an Italian couple who chose to live in the island. We were told by the waitress that the husband is the one actually preparing all the pizza and pasta dishes. Just from the looks, one can easily identify that the foods are really prepared the Italian way. Unlike the typical Filipino style pizza, the crust is thin and the toppings are minimal.

Frequent visitors of the beach are sure to have knowledge of the restaurant since it became the favorite dining place of most tourists of Hikkaduwa. It opens at six every night and is always full during peak seasons. The place is cozy, comfy and set inside a relaxing garden. Eating delicious pizzas in such a pleasant place is really a pleasure after a tiring day in the beach or in our case, from the office.

To give you an idea of the type of pizzas they serve, let me delight you once again to a photo tour of their sumptuous creations. Here are just some of the many entrees which we have tried and tasted. Drool and enjoy. :)

New Millennium – made from fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, streaky bacon, mushroom, egg, sausage, onion and green pepper

Hikkaduwa – made from fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, shark meat, tuna meat, calamari, onion and oregano

Mare & Monti – made from fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, salami, mushroom, calamari and prawn

Gamberetti – made from fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, prawn, garlic and olive oil

Calzone – made from fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, ham, mushroom and egg

Calzone Monti - made from fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, ham, salami, mushroom, egg and eggplant

All of the above pizzas are a knock out. You can add some drops of olive oil and hot sauce and a dash of ground pepper and chili pepper flakes if you like. Gamberetti, Mare & Monti and New Millennium are my personal favorite. Really mouth-watering. Italian pizzas at its best. I have re-created the Gamberetti several times in our kitchen and will do a post next time. c“,)

When we are full and extremely satisfied (we should be, after that quite heavy meal), we can just enjoy the romantic setting of the surroundings……….while slowly sipping our drinks……… feeling the cool sea breeze as it soothe our faces………listening to the calming sounds created by birds and insects………..as we plan our next return.

After all, with superb pizzas, the fun never ceases. :)