#23 Food Garden

#23 Food Garden

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#23 Food Garden is fairly new in its present location, but the fast talking owner Hanifa and previous locations have been a land mark at Arugam Bay for a long time.

Hanifa learned to speak good English and acquired his brilliant cooking skills somewhere in the Middle East. On his return to Sri Lanka he opened a very small hut on the sandy beach front, in the middle of the Bay.
Thereafter, in 2003 or so the old Food Garden shifted to a more permanent location just in front of what is now #22 Rocco’s Hotel. Here business was brisk. A good name was established and many guests from Purchase trazodone hydrochloride Order lozolla #20 Aloha came to dine, as the Swiss owned cabana park had no kitchen facilities in those days.

Indeed, Hanifa even branched out into the small guest house business and build some some small rooms, right on the beach front. This was a brilliant location, but bad timing: On 26th December the Food Garden ceased to exist.
However,as far as the writer is informed nobody died or was seriously injured.
Although immediate assistance and new building materials were supplied to Haniffa,A?A? he decided to shift again,away from the unpredictable sea front to a location on the land side of the road, opposite #22 Rocco‘s.

Clever Hannifa sold the property to Roccos (who incorporated the sea front cabanas into their establishment) and business went down.
Not because of the quality of his food and service – but because of the war andA?A? few proper visitors in the Bay (NGO’s used to dine at other places).

Not contented, in 2008 the legendary Food Garden moved again!

Now, in Mid 2008 a new Food GardenA?A? is located somewhere near #32 Tristar and #37 Hidaway Hotel, on the land side of the main road.
Again, the reputation speaks for itself and Hannifa is one of the very few Dine-out Restaurants which manages to attract enough business away from all the hotels, which normally like their guests to eat in at all times. Competition is sharp, but good old Hannifa always seems to manage to get on top of them all, with an ever changing menu and innovative, good food.

6 Responses to “#23 Food Garden”


  • Hello there, simply become aware of your blog via Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I will be grateful if you happen to proceed this in future. A lot of other folks will likely be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  • mr.hanifa,we will come nextwednes day or thursday tour place to have ur delicious meal with my family members.

  • Thanks so much for the update. Good to know that Hanifa is still doing well. Cheers from Awstralia. Jo

  • yes i was wondering too about hanifa hes a very good food maker all around arugamaby .he was lost all the hotel because of tsunami he did sold only the land to Rocco’s now he on rent a land mad small shop staying there for a hes family life

  • Hi Jo!
    Prompted by your comment, we added a long overdue description; see above!

  • Just wondering how Hanifa and family from Food Garden are going since the tsunami? Any news? Cheers
    Jo Kennett

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