Finally impressed my son from Montreal

This was the third restaurant in my neighbourhood that I took my son to on his recent visit. He lives in Montreal and the restaurants there are often very good.
We arrived after a short walk from my apartment to find that the restaurant is covered in construction material - looks like the apartment building above is having some work... more

Not bad

Been there a few times with colleagues from work. We usually have the lunch buffet. The food served is good, no doubt about that. Service is friendly. My only problem is the cleanliness of the buffet area. The floor feels very greasy and kinda looks yukky. Still worth going in for lunch. It's reasonably priced as well.

Not far from the real thing

I have been to a lot of Indian restaurants both in Ottawa and all over India and although this falls under more Sri Lankan style food there are a lot of similarities with respect to ingredients and how they are prepared. I have frequented this restaurant on many occasions and have always had a great experience. The food is great... more

Excellent food and service

I live one block from the Carling Avenue location of this restaurant and I really like it. I am originally from South India, and Sri Lankan food is the closest thing to South Indian food that I can find in Ottawa. Mind you it's not really hot, like Sri Lankan food in Sri Lanka, or South Indian food for the... more

Flavourful, heart warming food

If you are not seasonned enough to order plates in an Indian food restaurant, Ceylonta is the place to go! They offer what I consider the best Fix-price Group Diner in Ottawa. For 25$/person, you and your guests will indulge in a Sri Lankan feast comprised of a mix of appetizers (Mutton Roll, Ulunthu Vadal, Kadalai Vadai and vegetable Samosa),... more

authentic and hearty flavors

We've been to Ceylonta Restaurant a couple times and always liked their buffet there. This time we decided to go to another location: 2920 Carling Ave. Ottawa, ON (613) 828-7812
It was very satisfying. They offered weekend brunch, which was a very delicious dosa, fresh and crispy. I loved the soup of the day, (that day, anyway) Tamarind Rasam, I... more

Authentic but not for all dishes

I've had the chance to try almost all their dishes through out the year. I've found the taste to be unique when compared to other south asian restaurants in the city. Ottawa is mostly occupied with north indian style serving restaurants and Ceylonta isn't among one of them. It's Sri Lankan cuisine and most of the dishes I've ordered had... more

Limited selection with only some good dishes

To be fair the dishes that were good were very good however sadly the nan was dry and tasteless, the tandori chicken dry etc... The sag paneer was superb and incredibly creamy the curries were nice and the somosas were spicy and delicious.
The service is inconsistent but always friendly and the decor is dated and boring but functional

Just the best Curry

Sri Lankan curry house of the highest order. Forget what it looks like from the outside it is the best curry I have ever had - nuff said

Amazing. Can't get enough of that sauce in the curried shrimp. Getting hungry just thinking about it. Always get the roti/paratha bread on the side. Unreal

I went for the Buffet. This is the worst Indian buffet I have ever seen - although the price was $12.95 (16.65 with tax and tips). For meat and fish, there was dry tandoori chicken and tough fibrous beef curry. I found no Naan and all the vegetables were cooked beyond recognition probably simmering for hours. I went there after reading the Google review. Very disappointed.

I love this place and make a point to eat there several times a month. The owner is usually on the premises and is a great host, although a bit on the quiet side. The lady server is vivacious and wonderful. Between her and the food, your mood is guaranteed to improve.

The buffet actually has flavour, unlike most Indian restaurants which seem to dull their food down to the point of boredom. And... more

truly special

last sunday we had our dinner at the restaurant....when some of my collegues insisted..that this was too good.....it wasnt too busy......we were treated...really well by mr. Jignesh ...wei have never tasted srilankan food....we jz loved it.....wasnt spicy....but it was so delicious....the chicken was melting in our mouths....i came home with some take outs....for the next day.........we cant... more

Great dinner

We had dinner at this place and food is great and the staff are very friendly. We had long chat with the owner. It will be a place we will visit when we go to Ottawa and recommend it to friends.

Great dinner

Pleasant atmospehere (music isn't too loud) and helpful staff. We are ordered 2 dosai and the staff recommended we try a vegeterian thali and a dosai instead. It worked out very well, as the dosai were quite large. The meal wasn't too spicy/hot at all, which is good for first timers, and very tasty.

Very good food and service

This is a restaurant that has warranted a repeat visit. The food was tasty and the waitress made excellent suggestions. The only downside was the bread, which smelled of old oil and was immediately deducted from the bill. Everything else was super tasty!

one of the best Sri Lankan/Indian dinners I've had

The friendly owner recommended I try the vegetarian Thalis (6 different vegetable dishes with rice and papadum), and I was quite impressed. The squash-coconut curry was to die for, and the other curries (particularly the one with eggplant) were delicious as well. Dishes weren't particularly spicy, which was probably my own fault, I forgot to ask for extra spice.

I ordered the veggy thali and was very disappointed. I figured that as my first order there I would try the simplest "meat and potatoes" of south Asian cuisine. It came with about 8 individual cups of different foods. 5 of which were not good at all, I could only eat about 2-3 fork fulls. I've eaten at dozens of south Asian restaurants and this was the worst one I've ever tried. The main... more

Delicious Sri Lankan food

We were guided through our choices by the very friendly owner. Delicious curries with good service. We particularly enjoyed the assortment of vegetable dishes where you try a sample of each on rice. The spiced coffee at the end of the meal was better than dessert!

Nice lunch buffet

After reading reviews on Tripadvisor my wife and I went for lunch. They had a reasonable selection of items on the $12.95 buffet, and all tasted good. The tandoori chicken however was a little dry. The restaurant was quite busy but not full. The owner and our waitress were very friendly and gracious and service was good.

A real disappointment

We went there for dinner a few weeks ago. The quality of the food was margingal at best. The philosopy seemed to be that so long as the food was heavily spiced tiwould do, and then the taste could be kiled with yogurt afterwards. Not only was the meal marginal, but the ambiece was little better than the rest of... more

Authentic Sri Lankan Restaurant

In Ottawa this place is unique in offering very authentic Sri Lankan food. The owner is charming, gracious and demonstrates the cultures true sense of hospitality. Other staff members have a lot to learn yet. Unlike many local Indian restaurants with large self serve buffets that leave many people feeling sick - this restaurant is family style service for dinner.... more

Excellent supper

Had supper there with hubby. Excellent food, pretty spicy, as we like. Reasonable price. The interior decor much nicer than the exterior. Very good service. Would definitely go back.

A favourite for the family

This refers to the outlet on Carling Road as our regular Restaurant on Somerset St. is closed on a Saturday afternoon. The food was good but not up to the usual standard. The selection for the buffet was also limited.

Fabulous lunch buffet

Craving for Indian food? Stop by the Ceylonta Restaurant for the lunch buffet. I've come many times to this restaurant and have never been disappointed. Come early or after the lunch rush to be sure to get a table. The main seating area is very small although there are more tables upstairs.

The service is amazing. They gave us a free sauce to accompany the naan bread after they forgot to serve us on time. The food is great. The butter chicken is AMAZING

I go here all the time. Food is incredible. Whether its a la carte for dinner or buffet for lunch, Ceylonta is consistently very good. I'll admit I've had comparable a la carte, but this is by far the best Indian lunch buffet (or any buffet for that matter). My favorite thing about Ceylonta is they have a nice level of spice, they aren't bland like a lot of others, cooking for people who... more

Best Sri Lanka Food in the City

I went with my family to celebrate my daughter's birthday on a Sunday night. The staff were very attentive and provided fantastic service. Every dish we ordered was done perfectly. The tandoori chicken especially was amazing. I'll be back soon!!!

Good south indian food

I went with my wife and son on a weekend evening.
The staff was helpful in getting us seated. They even got a high chair for my pre-schooler son. The service was good. They attended carefully to our needs.
The food was good. I had a thali. It was good. My son had dosa (he loves them). he liked this... more

The best Tandoori chicken, period

This is a marvellous restaurant, serving Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon, the island South of India) food. Their Tandoori chicken is the best we have ever had anywhere. The best in town without a doubt.
There is a very affordable (~$13.50) buffet at lunchtime, which is not to be missed. The buffet is a choice of 2 soups (both spicy!), vegetable... more

Dinner at Ceylonta

Good meal. So-so service. I'm certain they attempted to overcharge us until we pointed it out to them.

Try this for south indian food

Try the plan dosa here with the cocunut chutney. Awesome.
I ordered egg curry and veg thali with it and they were decent too.
The best restaurant nearby ottawa downtown.

Bring the heat

Went recently for the lunch buffet - the dishes are all phenomenally cooked and spiced. It really helps when you can peek into the kitchen and see the chefs chopping garlic and sauteeing vegetables, then you know its real. And all for 11.95.
All the vegetable dishes are well done, I particularly recommend the squash and the curried chicken- the... more

Great authentic food

Independently owned and run, making service a genuine concern. Suggestions on our selection were based on serving size and not an up-sell :) A little concerned when "curry chicken" was on the menu - BUT it was really great! Chai tea and Indian coffee were made traditionally! Definately a good choice.

Delicious lunch buffet

I have been going to Ceylonta for years and have always found the food to be delicious. The lunch buffet is great value for the amount of food you could eat, and for the variety - especially for vegetarian items (though they have meat too). The regular menu is also amazing - try the coconut sambal to go with any... more

Amazing South Indian / Sri Lankan food in the heart of downtown

My mouth is watering just thinking about Ceylonta. Their menu is taken from South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine. When I go with my partner, we usually order one thali (an assortment of delicious vegetable curries and one meat or fish curry), a second meat or fish dish, and samosas or other such appetizer. Then we feast until we can... more

If you like it hot

This Sri Lankan restaurant serves delicious Indian food at a relaxed pace. Be warned, however, even their traditionally mild dishes (like Tandoori Chicken) are quite spicy.

Best restaurant in Ottawa

I love Ceylonta. If you like Indian food, you will love Sri Lankan food. The dishes here are absolutely amazing and they are great value for money. The menu is varied and every item I have tried has been mouthwateringly good. I have been going here at least five times a year for the past 4 years and I have... more

If you like Sri Lankan fodd then this is it

Wonderful buffet at lunchtime. the food is very authentic and beautifully presented in this family run restaurant.

No "Western Style Spicy" Here

Amazing food! They have a great range for vegans, veggies and meat eaters alike! I recommend the Veggie Thali, Potato Dosai and Khotu Roti if you go in the evening. Their lunch buffet is really amazing as well. The staff at the Somerset location (I have only been to the Carling location for dinner) always point out the vegan dishes... more

Nice Srilankan vegetarian food

I went to this restaurant with a friend first and went back alone a day later. From the outside you might not expect such a nice restaurant. The food is excellent and the service and the interiors are nice too. Will certainly return the next time I am in Ottawa.

Looks like nothing in the front but definitely worth discovering

Very good food, service and value.
Looks like nothing in the front but definitely worth discovering

Different, but not worth the trouble

Lets start with the service, invisible comes to mind. Interesting dishes, but all the same. I realize that this is the style of cooking, but I'll pass.

Wonderful food and service

I ate her yesterday with my 2 year old and husband, and the service was just wonderful and thoughtful. The waiter brought my daughter a plate of plain noodles and pappadum right away because it was late and she was hungry, and then when he saw me offering her some of my food pointed out a few things on the... more

Great food, but sometimes slow service

I live right around the corner from this south indian and srk lankan restaurant. I got there quite often. I recommend their lunch buffet. You can get excellent dosas and kottu rotis at this restaurant. The service staff is very nice but there are only a few of them so service can be slow. Since they now recognize me it... more

Unusual South Asian Food

This place serves both South Indian and Sri Lankan dishes with a few North Indian offerings. A lot of the food is meat oriented which I found a bit surprising. The flavors are delicious. I had the house special chicken dish and my partner had the biryani (spelled buryani on the menu). Both were very generous portions and very well... more

Yummy and different

Yummy and different

Delicious food. Excellent pick for food with flavour

Delicious food. Excellent pick for food with flavour.

Authentic southern Indian food. Great lunch buffet

Authentic southern Indian food. Great lunch buffet.

One of my favorite places - Deviled beef is great

One of my favorite places - Deviled beef is great

Fantastic! Thanks for the referall Bettina

Fantastic! Thanks for the referall Bettina!

Best Dosas in town

Best Dosas in town..... more

quite good

quite good

Delsih

Delsih

I love Ceylonta, the decor is nothing fancy, but it's reasonably priced, service is great and the food is always

I love Ceylonta, the decor is nothing fancy, but it's reasonably priced, service is great and the food is always amazing. My friends and I come here as much as we can!