Ella by Minoli
A contemporary Sri Lankan culinary journey by MasterChef's Minoli De Silva, set in a unique Darwin laneway.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Ella by Minoli
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A contemporary Sri Lankan culinary journey by MasterChef's Minoli De Silva, set in a unique Darwin laneway.
"One of my best dining experiences ever, not a single course did not stun me."
Start with Unique Flavors
Try the betel leaves or snapper in kiwifruit coconut sauce for an unforgettable flavor journey.
Trust Your Server's Guidance
Let the knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu for a delightful culinary experience.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Sri Lankan
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Innovative Sri Lankan Cuisine
Experience a modern twist on traditional Sri Lankan flavors, blending local produce with creative techniques.
Unique Alleyway Ambiance
Discover a charming dining experience located down an alley behind a car park, adding to its unique allure.
MasterChef Featured Flavors
Savor dishes inspired by former MasterChef contestant Minoli De Silva, showcasing exceptional taste and quality.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Start with Unique Flavors
Try the betel leaves or snapper in kiwifruit coconut sauce for an unforgettable flavor journey.
Trust Your Server's Guidance
Let the knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu for a delightful culinary experience.
Share to Experience More
Consider ordering multiple dishes to share and sample a wider variety of the restaurant's flavors.
Portion Size vs. Price
Be aware that portion sizes may be smaller relative to the prices, especially for certain dishes.
Tips
from all over the internet
Start with Unique Flavors
Try the betel leaves or snapper in kiwifruit coconut sauce for an unforgettable flavor journey.
Trust Your Server's Guidance
Let the knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu for a delightful culinary experience.
Share to Experience More
Consider ordering multiple dishes to share and sample a wider variety of the restaurant's flavors.
Portion Size vs. Price
Be aware that portion sizes may be smaller relative to the prices, especially for certain dishes.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Ella by Minoli garners significant praise for its exceptional and innovative Sri Lankan cuisine, with many highlighting the unique flavors and creative dishes. While the ambiance and service are frequently lauded as welcoming and attentive, some diners note that portion sizes can be small relative to the price. Despite minor concerns about value for some, the overall dining experience is considered unforgettable and highly recommended.
"Really great meal this evening looked after by the wonderful Astrid and the team. Marinaded raw fish, spicey prawns, eggplant and super Black Pork. Nice wines .. Australian Fiano and Tempranillo were enjoyed. Thanks to the team"
Pat Macken
"Hidden away in an unexpected location in Darwin City centre. Don’t let the location and carpark vibes put you off, this is a very special place. The food was impeccable, could not fault it. It was a warm night and we were happy sitting outside, undercover with a fan above us. We ordered a fish entree and vegetarian options for mains, the eggplant dish was to die for and the potatoes a close second. Service was friendly and prompt. Would recommend to anyone visiting Darwin."
Francesca Perino
"The Summary is - nice venue, efficient table service, but food very over-priced and over-rated
I ordered the Barramundi - as is often the case, it came cold. So I sent it back, the second time it came it was hot, but was sloppy and did not properly flake.
In the green sauce - see video - it looked (and tasted) like an unappetising mush. Nobody came to ask me if it was better than the first, and I left half, but the clearer made no comment on this - this is poor service.
I had asked for boiled rice and had been brought a quite large bowl, which I thought nothing of.
Pappadoms were very oily.
Overall, the food was nothing like any food I have ever tasted at multiple visits to Sri Lanka. It was fairly plain, under-seasoned and it felt almost dumbed-down.
Reap the marketing benefit of using evocative words like 'Sri Lanka', but actually don't really put much authentic flavours in at all.
The special white wine recommendation was very good.
When I left, I was disappointed to note that the restaurant was not interested if I was a satisfied customer or not - nobody asked. And I was presented with a bill for the full amount.
Also, I was charged for 'rice for two', which I politely pointed out was incorrect as I was dining alone. The cashier lady said she'd have to check with the server. I told her not to bother, as if that was the regard in which they held the customer's word over a $3 rice bill difference, which was obvious using common sense, I wasn't going to argue, so paid in full and left.
Like.... really ??... 🙄
A solo (valued?) diner's word on not having asked for a double rice portion could not be accepted ? For the sake of $3?
This restaurant has got caught up in its own froth and hype.
I have seen this before when restaurants go through good times - a sort of gentle arrogance, and lack of interest in 'lifetime customer value'. Milk them fully, as if it will keep on flowing. Hmm..
Well, life and business is rarely like that, especially when you serve sub-standard food, over-charge for it, don't check that matters have been resolved, then rip-off the client at check out.
Seen it so many times - usually at the froth of a restaurant getting a Michelin star, and they think they can ignore the customer.
Lots more much better value places in Darwin for a 1/2 or 1/3 of the price
Very disappointing."
S N T
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Ella by Minoli offers a unique experience with its innovative Sri Lankan cuisine, inspired by MasterChef's Minoli De Silva, and its charming location down an alleyway.
Yes, Ella by Minoli is noted for its dedicated gluten-free menu, making it a great choice for diners with dietary restrictions.
Standout dishes include the curry leaf cured snapper, jaggery lamb, and the twice-cooked eggplant moju.
Yes, the restaurant can get quite busy, especially on weekends, so booking a table in advance is highly recommended.
The cocktails are noted as being on the higher end in terms of pricing, comparable to Sydney prices, but are generally well-crafted and complement the meal.
The ambiance is described as cozy, multicultural, and warm, contributing to a memorable dining experience.
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Nothing can beat a great curry and few chefs can outdo Minoli De Silva’s jaggery lamb with spiced tomato salsa. The former MasterChef contestant has set up a city centre establishment that marries creativity with reverence for traditional Sri Lankan ingredients. Fill the table with spice-cured kangaroo tartare, spiced lamb ribs that are slow-cooked for 18 hours, and twice-cooked eggplant moju (a kind of relish-y curry).
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Former MasterChef contestant Minoli De Silva, who was born in Sri Lanka, has successfully curried her television fame into her Darwin restaurant, Ella by Minoli, named after a jungle town in Sri Lanka. I visit as part of a Darwin Gourmet Tour, a restaurant-hopping experience where guests visit three venues over three and a half hours. About 15 restaurants have been selected for this tour, and only restaurants that can prove their ingredients are sourced locally make the cut.
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Ella – by Minoli promises a well-balanced mix of flavours, which pays homage to Sri Lankan food’s Ayurvedic properties, as well as creative and original cocktails. For the menu, think mas cutlis fried meatballs with a chunky tomato tamarind sauce, crispy whitebait with curry-leaf mayonnaise, and wild-caught Australian king prawns slathered with Lankan butter, as well as black pepper pork belly served with tamarind coconut sauce and pineapple salsa and much more.
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For Sri Lankan fare, head to former Masterchef–contestant Minoli’s stunning venue in the heart of Darwin CBD: Ella by Minoli. Named for a beautiful jungle town in her family’s home country, Ella is a cosy find offering a contemporary twist on traditional Sri Lankan fare. Savour curry leaf–cured snapper, kiwifruit with mustard seed and turmeric and gothamba roti (which you should slather with pol sambal or the seasonal chutney).
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Offering the best contemporary Sri Lankan dinner in town, Ella by Minoli is a hidden gem in the Darwin CBD. It’s a modern interpretation of the beautiful Ella, a jungle town in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. The authentic Sri Lankan cuisine is designed to ignite your culinary curiosity, while the perfectly balanced Ayurvedic properties of the menu will leave your taste buds curious!. 20 West Lane, DarwinPhone: 0498 369 021
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Darwin’s first Masterchef Restaurant and Minoli De Silva’s debut restaurant takes diners on a culinary journey through Sri Lanka placing her modern spin on epic traditional flavours. On top of the some of the best food around, they have an amazing wine and cocktail list to match, excellent service, and an ambiance that stays true to the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality. Visit Ella by Minoli.
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Minoli De Silva was a crowd favourite on MasterChef Australia, now it’s her own restaurant which is receiving the applause. Opened in 2022, Ella by Minoli is tucked into an unassuming laneway in the CBD. Named after a jungle town in the hill country of Sri Lanka, Ella by Minoli showcases Top End produce blended with contemporary Sri Lankan flavours.
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Ella by Minoli stands out with its dedicated gluten-free menu, making it a great choice for travelers with dietary restrictions. Bella Darwin Restaurant provides various gluten-free pasta and pizza options for those craving Italian cuisine, while CHOW!. A Taste of South East Asia offers gluten-free dishes for Vietnamese food enthusiasts.
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Ella by Minoli is Darwin’s first Masterchef Restaurant, owned and operated by Minoli De Silva. This upscale dining experience will usher your taste buds on a journey through the traditional flavours of Sri Lanka. Some menu highlights include goat with spiced sticky figs, curry leaf-cured snapper, and black pepper pork belly.
Festival Food
Discover the heart and soul of Sri Lankan cuisine, where each dish is a tribute to Minoli’s family heritage. Using seasonal local produce, modern cooking techniques and balanced flavours, Ella by Minoli creates heavenly cuisine to activate your senses. Try their OG Sri Lankan curries – truly tantalising to the tastebuds!
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Tucked away in one of Darwin’s less camera-ready corners in the CBD, Ella by Minoli doesn’t rely on first impressions. But step through the door, and the outside world fades fast. What hits the table is bold and unapologetically original flavours that build and surprise without repeating themselves.
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For a sophisticated dining experience, Ella by Manoli delivers a modern Sri Lankan menu, with mouthwatering cocktails, combined with a chic, elegant ambiance. This foodies gem, aims to tantalize taste buds with its innovative dishes, offering an unforgettable fine dining experience in Darwin.
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Ella by Minoli is a culinary masterpiece in Darwin that brings the authentic flavors of Sri Lanka to the forefront. The restaurant is the culmination of decades of passion for food, flavor, and exceptional hospitality. At Ella, dining is not just about the food; it’s a holistic experience.
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