Adam D'Sylva is a highly acclaimed Australian chef, celebrated for his innovative approach to modern Asian and Indian cuisine, often infused with his Indian-Italian heritage. He is the co-owner and head chef of...
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Last updated: 7/15/2026, 4:22:19 AM
Key Information
Pearl by P&D is a family-owned restaurant in Dandenong South, Australia, offering an elevated Sri Lankan fusion dining experience. It's known for its beautiful, luxe setting with moody lighting and an ocean theme, including unique pink shell-themed plates. The concept revolves around sharing the rich heritage, vibrant spices, and heartfelt hospitality of Sri Lanka.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise the beautiful ambiance, describing it as a classy interior with a perfect vibe for date nights or family dinners. The food is highly regarded for its authentic Sri Lankan flavors and excellent fusion options, with many dishes described as delicious and packed with flavor. Service is often highlighted as tremendous, attentive, and genuinely warm. While food delivery is noted as very quick, some reviewers found prices to be on the higher side, with additional weekend surcharges and card payment fees. Specific dishes like the lamb shank curry roast pan, corn ribs, and crab and crust receive high acclaim, though some found the bone marrow less impressive or certain dishes a bit salty.
Additional Details
The restaurant is located in a modern industrial estate in Dandenong South, making it a somewhat 'hidden gem' according to some patrons. It aims to bring the essence of Sri Lanka, often called 'the Pearl of the Indian Ocean,' to its culinary offerings.
Vegetarian options available (e.g., vegetarian kottu, deep-fried mushrooms)Accommodates various dietary preferences
Best Times to Visit
Reservations are recommended, and booking slots may be limited to 1.5 hours. Weekdays might offer better value as there is a 10% weekend surcharge and an additional fee (about 1.6%) for card payments.
We visited this restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and everything was absolutely top-notch. My husband and I are both Sri Lankan, yet the food still managed to surprise and impress us.
The highlight was the Woodapple Mocktail, which had a beautiful smoky cinnamon touch that was simply amazing. We ordered the Coconut Roti with Pork Curry and Lunu Miris, Seafood Kottu, and Watalappam for dessert. Every dish was delicious and full of flavour.
A special mention goes to the fried crab served with the Seafood Kottu. It was unlike anything we had tried before, similar to KFC-style fried chicken, but with crab instead. The outer layer was warm and crispy, while the inside remained incredibly soft and tender.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was also wonderful and added to the overall experience. The only suggestion I would make is to add some ambient background music, which would elevate it into a perfect fine-dining experience.
Overall, we had a fantastic anniversary dinner and would highly recommend this restaurant.
We visited Pearl by P&D on my wife’s birthday after a Sri Lankan friend recommended it, and it completely exceeded our expectations. From the moment we walked in, the warm atmosphere and attentive service made the evening feel special.
The standout dish was the Limeburnt corn bite—crispy, tangy, and full of flavour. It was easily the best thing we ordered. The chilli garlic prawn pasta was another winner: perfectly cooked prawns with just the right amount of heat and garlic. We also tried the kotthu and pol roti, both of which brought different, authentic Sri Lankan flavours to the table and were thoroughly enjoyable.
Drink options were excellent too, with a good selection that complemented the food perfectly. Everything felt well-balanced, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared.
Overall, Pearl by P&D delivered a memorable birthday dinner. The combination of friendly service, standout dishes, and genuine Sri Lankan flavours made it a place we’d happily return to. Highly recommended for anyone looking for quality Sri Lankan food in a welcoming setting.👌👍🙏
5
Pearl by P and D was such a beautiful experience. The ambience and whole set up was stunning — loved the ocean theme they had going on, especially the gorgeous pink shell-themed plates.
We tried the bone marrow, which seemed to be a crowd favourite, but surprisingly it ended up being our least favourite dish of the night. The real star for us was the corn on the rib — SO flavourful and the sauce was honestly magic. The chicken kothu with chilli oil was absolutely delicious too. That chilli oil was so good we literally asked the waitress if we could buy some.
For drinks, we had the Ceylon Sunset and the Smoked Wood Apple Sour, and both were amazing. Ended the meal with the wattalappan, which was the perfect dessert to finish everything off.
Such a great experience overall and would definitely go back again.
4
Came here for dinner and ordered a number of dishes to try:
- Ceylon chilli calamari (full size): the stir fried squid was tender, coated with a fragrant chilli and a familiar sweet and sour flavour which was tasty
- Garlic popcorn chicken: the chicken was battered and fried, served with fried curry leaves, fried garlic cloves, and chilli aioli dip. Flavour was good especially with the garlic cloves but the meat was a little dry
- Lankan lime softshell crab: the crab was pretty big with a nice crispy batter that didn't feel greasy. Not sure if I enjoyed the sauce which taste diluted
- Chilli garlic prawn pasta: the pasta included a few prawns and cherry tomatoes with grated cheese on top. Linguini was cooked well, not too soft and the sauce was creamy with a bit of heat
- Crab and crust: a whole blue swimmer crab is included in the curry. The curry was mild but fragrant and paired well with the thick cut crispy bread brushed with garlic butter and some coconut sambol which was sweet and not too spicy
- Pork pol roti: pork meat was tender but the spiced gravy was too salty and the coconut roti was hard and dense rather than having a crispy exterior and soft centre. The side of sambol chilli was very spicy
- Beef kotthu: the kotthu has a similar texture to stir fry rice noodles, also quite salty but tasted pretty good with the diced beef and a little bit of chilli paste. The chilli oil on the side was very spicy
Overall a pretty decent meal; enjoyed some dishes more than others. Highlights were the crab and crust, chilli garlic prawn pasta, and the ceylon chilli calamari.
5
If you’re craving authentic Sri Lankan food in Melbourne’s south-east, then Pearl By P&D is an absolute must-visit. Tucked away in the suburbs, this hidden gem delivers an unforgettable dining experience from start to finish. The food is packed with authentic Sri Lankan flavours, beautifully presented, and every dish feels like it’s been made with real passion and care.
The atmosphere is warm, cosy and inviting — perfect for date nights, family dinners or catching up with friends. What truly elevates the experience is the humble and attentive staff who make you feel genuinely welcomed from the moment you walk in. Their cocktail and mocktail selection is also fantastic, with plenty of refreshing and creative options to pair with the bold flavours of the menu.
Some standout favourites that are an absolute must-try include the Beef Bone Marrow Roast, which is rich, indulgent and full of flavour, the Ceylon Chilli Calamari with its addictive spicy buttery sauce, and the Lamb Shank Kottu that’s packed with authentic Sri Lankan comfort and beautifully tender meat.
Everything about this place just works — the food, the ambience, the drinks and the hospitality. Pearl By P&D has truly brought a modern yet authentic Sri Lankan dining experience to the burbs, and it’s easily one of the best spots around for anyone who appreciates flavour-packed food and genuine hospitality. 
