Rare at Residence has always been synonymous with  top notch, delectable food, impeccable technique, beautiful presentation… and a hefty price tag. Unsurprisingly, patrons reserved rare as the go-to spot for special occasions, rarely (pun not intended) dropping by on a whim to just enjoy the good food there. Hoping to change that notion, rare recently introduced their new breakfast menu - a casual, laid back affair that's actually very affordable. The most expensive item on their breakfast menu is Rs. 900!

Food

If you feared that the reduced price meant a reduction in quality or service, let me be the one to tell you it definitely isn't. The ingredients used are freshly sourced, organic where possible, and everything you see on the menu is made by the culinary team at rare. The chefs continue to proudly showcase their mastery over technique in food preparation and presentation that you know you will get your money's worth and more! Service is still great, but since it's a more casual affair, the waitstaff will give you more space. However, they were always on hand when we needed them.

The Latte “di lusso” - hazelnut (Rs. 600) was indeed a luxurious start to what would be an incredible breakfast at rare. A delightful balance of espresso, steamed milk and hazelnut flavour, the latte was prepared with just the right amount of sweetness.

I started off sampling a platter off the Bakers Corner comprising an assortment of Croissants - plain (Rs. 300), pain au chocolat (Rs. 400) and almond (Rs. 500), Muffins (Rs. 300) - pineapple and cinnamon, wild berries, chocolate chip and Doughnuts (Rs. 300) - salted caramel and chocolate. The perfect croissant makes for delightfully messy eating - the puffy, flaky and buttery goodness. I have always had a soft spot for croissants, however, I wouldn't be lying if I said they tasted amazing! The almond croissant especially felt like Christmas in my mouth and I highly recommend you try it when you visit rare! The Muffins were, as expected, moist inside with just the right amount of inclusions as to not overpower the taste buds. The doughnuts too wowed, especially the salted caramel, which was excellent.

Porridge (Rs. 700):
A blend of oats, barley, almonds, organic quinoa, flaxseed, cashew nut, walnut, cinnamon, served with honey and necto-poached pear. I'm not usually someone who likes porridge, but consider me a convert. The porridge was served warm, and comprised a hearty portion that will easily fill you up. The melange and interaction of textures and flavours was executed perfectly, with each element bringing something different to the dish.

Cinnamon and Oatmeal Pancakes (Rs. 600):
A breakfast staple, the pancakes were topped with “pani” apple compote, making for a sinfully* sweet eat.

French Toast (Rs. 600)
French Toast with cinnamon and passionfruit, caramalised banana, pure honey, lovi and “pani” apple compote. Browned and crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside, the French Toast was delicious and lip smackingly good! I also loved that they had incorporated lovi, a seldom used fruit, as part of the dish.

Bare Benni (Rs. 800) 
The Bare Benni, comprising classic florentine, toasted english muffin, capers, pickled shallots and hollandaise sauce, was another yummy offering at rare. At my behest, smoked salmon was used as a substitute for the otherwise typically used ham (considering that the menu specified a florentine). The theatrics as a result of the chefs having nailed the poached egg was definitely a plus; cutting open the solidified egg white to reveal the runny yolk.

Crispy Eggs (Rs. 800) 
Soft boiled eggs coated in local spices, asparagus cream, on a toasted english muffin. It is rare (my apologies for the barrage of puns) for restaurants to continually perfect eggs in various iterations, but at rare, they got it right every single time. It is easy to not appreciate the amount of technique required to ensure a runny yolk when the egg also needs to be fried. Eaten in combination, the dish was utter perfection.

Mannar Crab (Rs. 900) 
The Mannar Crab with poached eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and microgreens was served on sourdough toast. A satisfactory heap of crab was served atop the sourdough, and like the dishes before it, was incredibly tasty.

Cured Wild Salmon (Rs. 900) 
The Cured Wild Salmon with avocado, pickled onions, dill creme fresh and potatoes was perhaps the prettiest dish, thanks to how colourful the ingredients were. Each element eaten alone tasted good, but together, made for a great gustatory treat.

 

It may seem like I have been waxing poetic about rare, and I have (while also running out of synonyms for perfect). But from beautiful presentation to technique and everything in between, rare proved yet again why it has continually been a top tier restaurant. I was told that 800 eggs were sacrificed in order to a achieve this level of perfection and mastery (Hold your horses - No eggs were thrown away during the perfecting of poached eggs. But let's just say the staff have consumed enough eggs to last them a lifetime). I must also mention the sausages which are made specifically for rare.They were incredibly juicy and tasty, and I was assured that this is definitely healthier than your average sausage. The dishes all had many elements in them that helped tie the dish together, so make sure you combine them with every bite to enjoy a full sensory experience. 

 

Rating: 5 stars. I have yet to come across a restaurant I have reviewed to warrant 5 stars, but rare certainly deserved that honour!

What I recommended: I loved everything I tried!
Would I go again? Most definitely and I suggest you do too!
Notes: All prices are subjected to 10% service charge and applicable government levy. 

 

Pics: Damith Wickramasinghe