A SRI Lankan food restaurant will be opening its doors in Reading at the end of the month.

The Coconut Tree has confirmed plans to open its new site in Reading town centre on Thursday, August 26 and customers will be offered 50 per cent off all food for the first 10 days of opening.

Located on Kings Walk, Reading, the restaurant will replace the old Zizzi unit, boasting a new ‘indoor outdoor’ dining area for warm summer days.

There will be huge windows at the back of the restaurant which overlooks trees on the riverbank, making a picturesque backdrop for photos.

READ MORE: FIVE new restaurants and bars coming to Reading town centre

Anna Garrod, brand director, said: “We are excited to introduce even more people to our unique dishes, stripped-back style and relaxed, island vibe - so we will offer 50% off all food Monday - Wednesday.

"Sri Lankan food hasn’t yet been taken to the heart of British culture in the same way Indian food has, and we really want to be the ones to change that, we want to hear people in Reading say – ‘let’s go for a Sri Lankan tonight!"

The Coconut Tree in Reading will be its eighth restaurant in their portfolio - which follows hot on the heels of their Bath opening in May this year.

Other locations include Cardiff, two restaurants in Bristol, Oxford, Cheltenham and Bournemouth.

ALSO READ: GCSE results day 2021: News and reaction from across Berkshire

What’s on the menu at The Coconut Tree?

The menu at The Coconut Tree is made up of smaller tapas-style plates including ‘Hot Battered Spicy Cuttlefish’; ‘Hoppers’ – bowl shaped coconut pancakes served with sambal & Sri Lankan Salsa, ‘Cashew Nuts’ and green peas soaked and cooked in coconut cream; and ‘Cheesy Colombo’ – cheese cubes fried and mixed Colombo style.

The ‘Jaffna Goat Curry with potato’ is also a firm favourite, as is the ‘Black Pork’ which consists of diced pork belly cooked in 30 roasted spices.

Larger sharing dishes include their signature ‘Devilled Dishes’ - meat or fish cooked in spices, then stir fried with traditional banana peppers and finished off with crushed chillies (their own secret recipe!).

Finally, their ‘Kotthu’ is a fine example of a local hybrid and served all over the country as a luxurious street food. It’s made with finely chopped rotti and cooked with egg, vegetables and / or meat.

The Coconut Tree was originally founded by Five Sri Lankan friends living in Cheltenham: Praveen Thanginah, Dan Fernando and Shamil Fernando are the head chefs and oversee the food side of things; whilst the board of directors is made up of Mithra Fernando (financial director), and Rodrigo Rashinthe (operations director).