NEW YORK: Sigiri

91 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Hours: 12:30PM-11PM Mon-Sat/ 12:30PM-3:30PM 5:30PM-11PM Sun
212 614 9333

PRICE: Cheap for Manhattan (approx $9-13/dish)
RATING: Love it.
DIRECTIONS: 6 to Astor, RW to 8th Street.  Then walk.
RESERVATIONS: You don’t need them, but this place is tiny.  Not good for big groups.
MUST GET: appas with eggs, watalappam

Sigiri is Manhattan’s only Sri Lankan restaurant. The curries you find here are different from your standard Indian flair of tikka masala, vindaloo, etc. But definitely worth a shot if you have never tried Sri Lankan cuisine. I’ve been to this restaurant four times now; I’ve never been disappointed and neither has Joe, my Sri Lankan, born and raised in Australia boyfriend. He says it tastes just likes his mom’s cooking.

My favorite dishes here have been their beef cutlets, dhal, appas (especially with the egg), deviled chicken, and watalappam (a hardened desert similar to flan). For first timers, I highly recommend you come on Sunday for their all you can eat brunch at just $15/person. It’s well worth it to try a variety of what the cuisine has to offer. This morning they had: pol sambol, dhal, beef curry, fish curry, deviled chicken, khokal (a green bean dish), curried carrots, red rice, pappadoms, salad, and watalappam.

Early warning though, this place is small so don’t bring ten friends. It’s a perfect place for a group of up to 4 people; beyond that, prepare to wait. The perk is it’s byob and there’s an Indian deli downstairs with a great selection of beers.