Sigiri Sri Lanka Restaurant - New York.
I was in the wrong place at wrong time. I happened to be in New York Last week. Tourists, Refugees, Homosexuals, Terrorists, Italians, Chinese or Heat-Waves – New York can’t escape from any thing coming through it’s boundaries. This time it was undeliverable heat-wave boil up New York up to 100 to 101 digress (around 38-39c) all around the clock – whole last week. I was inside an oven.
At the end of all that torture, I decide to treat myself with something nice. Looking for an idea, I came cross the web site of the Sigiri Restaurant. That is the only Sri Lankan restaurant operates in Manhattan as far as I know.
There was 10 minute walk from the Subway to the restaurant - may be less than that. But still remaining heat in the atmosphere make me feel like it was long walk. But I have no regrets; food was worth the walk.
Sigiri Sri Lanka Restaurant is a small restaurant – Nothing fancy - But very friendly, calm place – felt just like I’m in a friend’s house for lunch. Expect the well known Sri Lankan Hospitality.
I was accompanied by two New Yorkers – so I decided to surprise them with Hoppers & Ice Coffee first. It was 8.50$ for three plain Hoppers and one egg hopper. For my surprise, my company loved it more than I did. Hoppers are not as good as my grandmother’s hoppers – but I don’t expect to find grandmothers hoppers other side of the world. But it came with very tasty ‘Coconut Sambol’. When the Hopper joins Sambol, it was top of the class.
If you visit Sigiri Restaurant with New Yorkers – I suggest getting extra ice with the Ice Coffee - New Yorkers tend to use lot of ice in their drinks – also order 4 plain Hoppers instead of Egg Hopper.
Next we tried String Hoppers and Dhal Curry. I should not have ordered Dhal Curry since String Hoppers came with delightful ‘Kiri Hodi’ dish.
But String Hoppers were not able to surprise me or my company as much as Hoppers did. Two reasons – String Hoppers are not very Fork Friendly dish – also they were not top of the class as Hoppers. But my company really enjoyed eating it with Coconut Sambol white I enjoyed Kiri Hodi.
Next time I will order Kottu instead of String Hoppers.
For the Dessert we settled with Watalappam instead of Curd & Treacle. I hope Watalappam was decorated little bit more to make it look good as much as it’s taste – look can fools a first timer very easily – specially New Yorker. Watalapam here was better than some of them I have even tasted in Sri Lanka.
Food was so good – I decided to take-out a Lamprais. Again for my surprise it was one of the best Lamprais I have tasted.
I wish if there were more traditional Sri Lankan items around - like pleasant looking masks, paintings, or some Sri Lankan visuals – so I can explain about them to my company until food served - Just to spice up the true Sri Lankan experience.
I’m pretty sure any Sri Lankan stranded far away from home in Big Apple, will be able to find much needed comfort in Sigiri Restaurant.
New Yorkers – expect the surprising Sri Lankan taste ~ totally deferent form Indian or Chinese cuisine.
Expect the excellent Sri Lankan Hospitality ~ totally deferent from Indian or Chinese.
Labels: Cuisine, New York, Travel
07 August, 2006
