The Coconut Tree Reading

Adjacent to the River Kennet, this award-winning Sri Lankan street food is made up of small & larger traditional tapas-style dishes embracing plants, fish and meat; it's a menu that offers something for everyone. With the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality and prices that are incredibly friendly their mantra really does ring true, ‘everyone is welcome to the table’. 

Choose from dishes rich in Ceylon spices, must try: a traditional egg Hopper, Kotthu or devilled dishes. 

Pair dishes with their brilliantly crafted cocktails (Cocotails) with incredible Sri Lankan spirits, and other premium spirits they source from new up & coming independents, such fanatical servesthat taste great and make you smile. This is a great place to bring a crowd or simply grab a table for two, it’s all about the vibe.

Channel 4’s Come Dine with Me: The Professionals winners Rodrigo and Shamil of The Coconut Tree, an authentic family and friends-run Sri Lankan restaurant group, are hitting the road and celebrating their winning menu, by taking Sri Lankan eats to the masses. Starting on Thursday 6 October and running until Thursday 24November, Rashintha Rodrigo (known as Rodrigo) and Shamil will be taking their winning menu to eight The Coconut Tree sites across the country, bringing their Hopper Station – Hoppers being bowl-shaped coconut milk pancakes. Guests can try some authentic and delicious Sri Lankan cooking for themselves.

Following its “improbably affordable” mantra, tickets cost just £19 per person for the full menu or £38 per person for food paired with The Coconut Tree’s famous Cocotails. Hopper kits will also be sold at the event to give participants a chance to become expert Sri Lankan chefs in the comfort of their own homes. Tickets can be reserved on the website - Book a table — The Coconut Tree (thecoconut-tree.com)

Scoring an incredible 38/40 on the show which aired on 11 July 2022, the dishes have been passed down from parents and grandparents. Highlights from the menu include Egg Hoppers (a type of pancake made from rice flour and coconut milk), Crispy Fried Lamb Balls and three different Sri Lankan classic curries: Dhal, Mango, Chicken or Cashew. Rodrigo, The Coconut Tree Co-Founder, comments “This is a chance to invite people from all over the country to join us at our table and enjoy the uniquely Sri Lankan flavours we're so passionate about here at The Coconut Tree. The best way to understand Sri Lankan flavours is to try them – and you can even take them into your own home with our Hopper kits. “Come Dine With Me: The Professionals was such a brilliant experience. We're really proud of this menu, and the other contestants gave us such fantastic feedback! Now everyone can try our winning dishes for themselves. We look forward to sharing our authentic Sri Lankan eats with communities far and wide.” Started by five friends in 2016, The Coconut Tree prides itself on its authentic Sri Lankan small plates served in a relaxed ‘island vibe’ setting, with unrivalled hospitality and upbeat music.

There are now nine locations across England and Wales with most playing host to the Roadshow.

Dates & Locations:

6th October - Cheltenham

13th October – Oxford

20th October - Bristol Triangle

27th October - Cardiff

3rd November – Bournemouth

10th November - Bath

17th November - Reading

24th November- Birmingham

Ticket Costs: £19 per person for food or £38 per person with paired Cocotails

Menu: Starters paired with two Sriki Tikis

2 x Egg hoppers – or Vegan hoppers

Isso wadey or Vegan option without prawns

Lamb cutlets or Vegan cutlets

Mains - two Drunken Sri Lankans

Black pork or Fat Sister (Vegan - pumpkin curry)

Coconut sambol (Vegan)

Chicken Kotthu or Vegan Kotthu

3 Sri Lankan classic curries to accompany the kotthu – Dhal (Vegan), Mango (Vegan), Chicken or Cashew nut (Vegan)

Pudding 2 x Sri Lankan Espresso Martinis

Finish off with a treacle hopper, vanilla ice cream and crushed candied cashews (Or Vegan Ice Cream)

We can cater for any dietary requirements – please specify when making the booking. Decaf and non-alcoholic options are also available.