FOOD REVIEW: Elephant’s Feast

By Mim Williams

Newly-opened and nestled away in a Huntington alley, Elephant’s Feast is one of the first Sri Lankan eateries in the York area. 

Providing a wide-ranging menu for both lunch and dinner service, Elephant’s Feast is a great place to sample authentic, tried and tested Ceylon classics like Kottu (a famous local dish of chopped roti, meat curry, onions and chillies), Watalappam (an indulgent spiced coconut custard pudding) and Lamprais (a curry and rice mix wrapped in banana leaves). Those new to Sri Lankan cuisine can also sample the much-loved Beetroot Curry, as well as one of the most famous national dishes of them all, Black Pork Curry! 

While the focus here is on Ceylonese cuisine, it’s not just Sri Lankan staples on offer at Elephant’s Feast – Roti, Jacket Potatoes and Fried Rice dishes are available, whereas breakfast options include more familiar classics like Omelettes and even a Full English!     

So, let’s get down to business: is the restaurant any good? Well, the fact that I’ve already been twice within a week should answer your question! On our first visit, we dined in – as we sat down, we were offered a complimentary Ceylon tea to enjoy while we waited for our meal. We both chose to eat curry with fragrant, fluffy yellow rice, three spiced veggies and a choice of meat (I opted for chicken and Pat had seafood). Delicious!

For my second visit, I treated our Your Local Link staff to the Lunch Special, which included fragrant Yellow Rice (golden and flavourful), Chicken Curry (rich, bold and luxurious), Dhal (creamy and moreish lentil curry), Beetroot Curry (already the biggest hit with repeat customers), spicy Tempered Potatoes, and crispy Poppadoms. It was definitely a hit with everyone in the office, and certainly beats your average meal deal!

There were a few things on the menu that I haven’t heard of before, and I noticed that all dishes (including their signature Beetroot Curry, Wild Boar Curry and Lasagne) can now be ordered to your door via Uber Eats. During both of my visits, I found the staff to be extremely attentive and helpful – a quick check of the recent reviews on Google confirmed that this restaurant certainly knows how to treat its guests. The food is freshly prepared right in front of you, so be warned that your appetite may amp up while you’re waiting for your meal! I had never tried Sri Lankan food until now, but I will certainly be a regular here in the future. 

Whether you fancy popping in for a sit-down meal or sampling some Sri Lankan delights from the comfort of your home, give Elephant’s Feast a try and get those taste buds going. 

You can find Elephant’s Feast at Unit 1, Derwent Walk, Huntington – alternatively, give the team a call on 01904 463431 and get some Ceylon magic delivered to your door!