Spice level warning — Fish Ambul Thiyal is not what I expected

I underestimated Fish Ambul Thiyal. The tangy from goraka and tamarind description didn't prepare me for the reality. pandan brings a heat or pungency that builds steadily rather than hitting upfront. By halfway through I was sweating but couldn't stop eating.

Maldive fish is a uniquely Sri Lankan ingredient with no close equivalent elsewhere. The a Jaffna Tamil restaurant setting means locals eat this with ease while visitors like me reach for water. Ceylon tea cut through it better than water would have. Don't order the mild version out of caution — the full version is the point. I'd go back. Three stars only because I wasn't warned.