It will be Singapore’s first full-service Sri Lankan restaurant when dine-in service eventually resumes, but fans of Kotuwa's cleverly curated takeaway menu can also look forward to a uniquely inspired showcase of indigenous flavours, cocktails included
It might surprise fans of Singapore’s diverse food scene, but even the most adventurous diner would be hard-pressed to recommend a favourite spot for authentic Sri Lankan fare on the island. And that had chef Rishi Naleendra thinking.
The Sri Lankan native has made quite a name for himself with his winning brand of mod‑Australian fare, having moved from Melbourne to Singapore to establish the Michelin-starred Cheek by Jowl restaurant (now rebranded as Cheek Bistro) and, more recently, Cloudstreet. Both are in partnership with hotelier and restaurateur Loh Lik Peng’s Unlisted Collection, and it’s at the latter that the enterprising 35-year-old feels he can explore his heritage further, while still proffering a refined cuisine style that’s grounded in modern European cooking.
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To properly indulge in his desire to champion the flavours he grew up with, Naleendra decided to launch traditional Sri Lankan restaurant Kotuwa, also with Unlisted Collection.
“It’s something Peng and I have been talking about for a long time, and when Ashish Manchharam, founder and managing director of 8M Real Estate, approached me, we felt like the Wanderlust hotel in Little India, which 8M Real Estate had purchased from Peng in 2018, would be the perfect location for this project,” he says. Kotuwa was slated to open in April before the Covid-19 pandemic brought the restaurant industry to a standstill.
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