CLOSED: Savor the flavor of Singapore and Sri Lanka in Provo
The ceylon savory rice with chicken potato coconut curry, chutneys and sambals is a traditional Sri Lankan dish available at Provo's new restaurant, The Banana Leaf. Photographed on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
Chilli crab is a famous Singaporean dish and is available at Provo's new restaurant, The Banana Leaf. Photographed on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
Banana Leaf is a new restaurant on University Ave in Provo that offers authentic cuisine from Sri Lanka and Singapore. Photographed on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
Even Indiana Jones or Carmen Sandiego might need to check Wikipedia before pointing to Sri Lanka or Singapore on a map, but you don’t have to be a world traveler to find The Banana Leaf Restaurant in Provo, where the (respectively) South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, separated by thousands of miles geographically, come together in the kitchen.
I don’t know enough about either country’s native cuisine to tell you whether The Banana Leaf is a fusion restaurant that follows a recipes-without-borders ethic, or more of a combination cookery that serves distinctive dishes side-by-side. What I do know is that The Banana Leaf, located inside a remodeled historic home, combines an upscale, exotic atmosphere with a taste experience that’s worth seeking out.
We walked in without a reservation on a Thursday night and were seated immediately, but don’t expect that to be the case for long. If even half the clientele enjoys the food and the dining environment as much as we did, then the word will spread in a hurry. The plush decor and elegant furnishings at the restaurant are almost like an appetizer, giving off a hint of something different and fresh.
Entrees at The Banana Leaf are served, fittingly, on a banana leaf, which adds a dash of cultural sizzle. We got some actual sizzle when we ordered the Malay Sizzlin’ Beef, which combines strips of tender beef with onion and red bell pepper in a special banana sauce. The meat was cooked just right and the taste was terrific.
We love a good curry, so we also tried Garlic Pa’an with Chicken Potato Curry. The pa’an is a soft, warm flatbread sort of like a tortilla, only flaky like a croissant and with a light, delicious seasoning. The curry is a sweet curry with a hint of spice, and generous chunks of tender chicken breast. There was just enough pa’an to get us to the bottom of the curry, although I almost wouldn’t have minded eating the pa’an without dipping it in anything.
To round things out, we tried the Sri Lankan Kothu, which offers you a choice of chicken, beef or shrimp — we chose chicken — cooked in a thick sweet onion sauce, and served with a sautee of leeks and carrots. The sauce has a distinctive flavor and is thick like a curry, and we also enjoyed the sautee.
We also got small servings of chutney and sambal with our entrees. These can be eaten separately, though we found that they went well with Singaporean fried rice that came with our order of Malay Sizzlin’ Beef.
For drinks, you have the option of ordering soda or raspberry lemonade, but you can get that anywhere. You should absolutely take a chance on the specialty drinks. There’s a very adventurous blended juice drink that mixes apple juice with 13 different fruits and vegetables, but we especially enjoyed what the menu called Avocado Juice. It’s more like an avocado milkshake (though not quite that thick), with a delicious blend of rich avocado flavor and something sweet.
More than a few Utah Valley diners may never get any closer to Singapore or Sri Lanka than a chance conversation with a returned LDS missionary. If your travel budget can’t accommodate the real thing, then definitely drop in at The Banana Leaf. The menu promises, “More exotic dishes coming soon,” and after tasting what’s already there, you’ll be anxious to sample any future new additions.
Where: 409 N. University Ave., Provo
Prices: Entrees $10.49-$18.99
Hours: 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Info: (801) 636-0596, www.facebook.com/pages/The-Banana-Leaf-Restaurant/137766066312357