Insider Pages Reviews for Sigiri

4 Stars: Great Sri Lankan food (by aronschor)

aronschor — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I had the chicken mulligatawny and it was great. It tasted like there were many different spices. It was also BYOB which is nice. Good service.

5 Stars: BYOW (by epicure222)

epicure222 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Uptownisis is a total b*tch. BYOWater next time wuss or maybe you can't handle the heat. Also, this is a BYOB, why would you be consuming water anyways.

3 Stars: Good, very spicy food--BYOB, but service was inacceptable (by uptownisis)

uptownisis — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I liked how small and intimate this restaurant is. It smells delicious and the food does match the smell. I especially liked the BYOB policy which really helped in keeping our bill affordable. What I didn't like is that we had to ask for everything, service-wise. It was relatively busy because pretty much all the tables were occupied but we literally had to flag down a waiter for menus, water (each and every fill up), to order, to get the bill, etc. Since the food is really spicy I think they should've been more attentive to our water level. Overall though I enjoyed it, the prices are reasonable and the food is really good.

4 Stars: good food at a great price (by jhartvu)

jhartvu — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Before eating here, I'd never had Sri Lankan food before, so I can't say if this is good Sri Lankan food or bad. What I can say, though, is that this food is amazingly tasty regardless. It's got wonderful spiciness and richness to it; everything I had was delicious.

The restaurant itself is cozy and intimate. The service isn't amazing, but it's adequate I suppose. Your server's not going to wait on you hand and foot, but the food comes out quickly, which is what's important.

Best of all, this place is amazingly inexpensive. Well worth the trip down to the East Village.

5 Stars: A Hidden Find (by missy2silly)

missy2silly — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I love eating trying out at different restaurants and we're glad we came across this one. The ambiance is casual and romantic, the service was pleasant and the food was delish! We highly recommend the appetizer sampler (great for sharing) and the kotthu roti (a traditional Sri Lankan dish). To finish the night off we ordered the Kiri-Peni (a must-try) and the sweet mango ala mode (to die for). The whole experience was a real treat and we'll definitely come back for more.

5 Stars: MUST TRY!!! (by wisebrain)

wisebrain — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This is AMAZING and deserves 5 stars (I rarely give 5 stars). The food is exquisite, the ambiance is great, and the price is too good to be true!

5 Stars: Great place (by mr_meursault)

mr_meursault — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This is a very good and inexpensive restaurant, just off the Indian block in the East Village. The food incredibly tasty, albeit spicy. Just trust the waiters as to their recommendations and you won't be sorry. If you come on a weekend night, you, might have to wait a bit, but they place will be pretty much empty on the weekend.

3 Stars: high in sodium and spices (by bajomono)

bajomono — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I thought that Sri Lankan food would be very similar to typical Indian food (which I love), but boy was I wrong. The spices are overwhelming and complex, which can usually lead to a good dining experience, but unfortunately that wasn't the case here. After the appetizer sampler (all the sampler pieces tasted the same), my tongue was getting dry and my taste buds were very sensitive to the spices. You know how your tongue starts hurting after eating too much sour candy? That's how my tongue felt after eating the appetizers. The main dishes came and all the spices started blending in together to make my tongue even more sensitive and make eating even more painful. I had to keep drinking water to cleanse my palate throughout the meal and even that didn't really help. To make matters worse, both my boyfriend and I got extremely sick after eating dinner there. In addition, the place was so small that only one person can stand up and walk around at the same time and they hired an overweight waiter who kept bumping into me (without ever apologizing).

5 Stars: Spice Up Your Night Out! (by fortunafilms)

fortunafilms — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Very great casual dining experience with a kick! Most people haven't had tried Sri Lankan food before, so it will be a treat when you take your friends to eat here! Not only is the food cheap, but everything is so delicious! Most of the items are very spicy, but in a very authentic way. No crappy hot sauce here. Just the real deal, peppers, spices, etc. The space is really tiny so I suggest you make a reservation. I did so just a few hours before dinner and they happily accomodated my party of four. I stopped by Trader Joe's first and picked up a few bottles of wine to bring in and they corked it for free, no problem. I suggest that you start off with a couple of the yummy appetizers, and when ordering entrees try to grab a variety of things so you can taste eachother's dishes. Overall, I had a great time here, the service was nice and it is a good spot to have a casual yet unique experience with some friends or even a date.

5 Stars: SOOOOOOOOOO great (by vkburr)

vkburr — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I went to Sigiri for the first time after trying 2 or 3 times before w/o reservations. You DEFINITELY need to make a reservation (at least on the weekend). Regardless, it is well worth it. Everything we tried (the pittu - coconut and rice "bread" with coconut sauce, the chicken lamprais, and the string hopper kotthu) was AMAZING. I've eaten at a ton of ethnic restaurants in NYC and this is definitely one of my favorites. Try it out - you won't regret it.

5 Stars: Great Place! (by aust798)

aust798 — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Hello, My name is Buffy. My fiance and I came down from Conneticut to shop for diamonds in the city. After fighting about 3 of 4 carats, we stumbled across this restaurant. I've never had Sri Lankan food before (nor could I locate it on the map) so I was somewhat aprehensive. Boy, was it delicious. The staff was very sweet, and the food was just lovely. The ambiance is nice as well. It's just a "feel good" type of place. I don't get out of Connecticut much, but this restaurant is certainly something that will bring me back to Manhattan often. Thank you, Sigiri. P.S. - I got the 4 carats!

5 Stars: Great Lankan Restaurant (by sowjana)

sowjana — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

This restaurant provides incredibly authentic Sri Lankan dishes, especially the devilled curries (i particularly love the devilled beef), lampreis and pittu. The staff are a Sri Lankan family which makes all the difference. You can tell they truly care about what's being served .. and it shows. For all you novices to Lankan cuisine, try the coconut milk hoppers with a little sugar sprinkled on top. All in all, excellent.

4 Stars: Great food, nice vibe (by azatuhi)

azatuhi — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend, who is South Indian, insisted that I write a review of this place. In his words, the food is just like home. (Sri Lanka and South India have a very similar cuisine, distinct from North Indian or Moghul food). We had the Dhal Vade as an appetizer, which to me seems like a Sri Lankan version of falafal, equally delicious. We also had the pork curry and dhal curry, both of which were great but the pork curry is definitely fatty. The juices are delicious as well. The dessert wasn't mesmerizing, but definitely interesting. Service was great, although the restaurant was not at all crowded on a Tuesday night at 9. It's very charming, and a good place to bring a small group of friends. The value is great too. With desserts, appetizer, two entrees, rice and appam and two drinks, and tip, we spent $45, a cheap date by Manhattan standards. On your way out of the neighborhood, check out the world music store and the Bollywood video rental place around the corner on 6th street .

4 Stars: Good food, small portions (by welovechula)

welovechula — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Although the food was very good, the portions were too small. It must be said that their prices were not high either. Afterwards, we thought that we probably should have ordered appetizers (and recommend you to do so). We had one of the puddings for dessert and it was quite tasty. There is a liquor store nearby on fifth street.

4 Stars: Very good food indeed, the value not to so good... (by poi098)

poi098 — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Agree with the other reviewers, the food is good no question and very authentic. One weird thing about this place is that their take-out is so sparse. They have these huge containers with itty bitty bits of food in them. Perhaps, it's a cultural thing, I am not sure, but the value is not so good. Would suggest to the management that they be a little less stingy with that takeout.

5 Stars: The Only Sri Lankan Restaurant in Manhattan (by sharm177)

sharm177 — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

As a Sri Lankan, I must say that the food met expectations of good Sri Lankan food. The main meals are all good, and so are the appetizers. A suggestion is to order the appetizer platter, which would give a first timer a variety of tastes. The curd and treacle was the best of the desserts. The Passion Fruit drink did send me back to being in Sri Lanka. The Iced Coffee was not that wonderful. The staff are accomadating that they will tone down the level of spice ar one's request. One probelm is that there is only one person who acts as the waiter, which means that there is a slight wait for his attention. The warm lighting and decor are very welcoming, despite the "steel staircase" leading up to the restaurant. Reservations are advisable for any day, judging by the number of people who were turned away, or were asked to come back in an hour or more. I had been weary of making the trekk to the restaurant, all the way from the Upper West Side. But it was a piece of cake by subway. The only major problem is the total lack of parking space, and one would be better off using the "F" train to get there.

5 Stars: A sure WINNER when it comes to food!!! (by romilla_karnati)

romilla_karnati — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I've enjoyed eating at Sigiri and have NEVER been disappointed. The must have are the appetizer samplers, the aapas, anything from the grill menu and the kothu roti. A great find in NYC!

5 Stars: Want to keep as a secret place, but... (by karo)

karo — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Our first time to try Sri Lankan foods, and turned out to be the superb experience! I imagined something similr to Indian cuisine, but it was different... especially from some Americanized, just super spicy curry or dry tandoori. All dishes we tried were excellent and their service wes hospitable and very well orgnaized. Very cozy, probably up to 30 or so seating.

I'll definitely go back this place and try other dishes.
No alcohol drink is served, so bring your own if you need.

5 Stars: AS GOOD AS IT GETS (by tlint)

tlint — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The food is excellent. It is the best Sri Lankan restaurant I have been to outside Sri Lanka. Even my mother who just got here from SL 3 days ago couldn't believe how good the food was. The service is also a perfect representation of Sri Lankan hospitality. I have take both Sri Lankan friends as well as those who have not had the luck to visit yet (and some who do not eat spicy food). Everyone loved it. The staff was very accomadating to cater to everyones needs. Since it is not a large place make a reservation if it is for a group

5 Stars: Lunch Specials are not to be missed! (by gg445)

gg445 — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Did a take-out of their lunch special and was very very pleased with the food!

5 Stars: Superb Sri Lankan Food !!! (by hanibelsz)

hanibelsz — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The food is authentic the service is great and it is a little taste of Sri Lanka in New York.
TOTALLY SUPERB !!!!

5 Stars: not to be missed (by sabrina02)

sabrina02 — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

where else in manhattan can you get hoppers?? food is delicious, perfect if you're in the mood for something adventurous... i came with 5 friends and we all loved it. BYOB guarantees for a fun night. it's about time a SL restaurant opened here!

5 Stars: Fantizzle (by zaasy)

zaasy — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Mix between fantastic and sizzling! Get the Dal extra spicy those guys doe some tricks with it to make you happy. Service was excellent and the Watalappam was ridiculous, like a Ceylonian Po de Creme. Get the pseudo Dosas in excess (aka hoppers).

5 Stars: The real deal! (by desi718)

desi718 — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Sigiri serves excellent Sri Lankan food in a warm friendly environment. The space is tight and the seating a little cramped but the service is cheerful and prompt and the food really makes it worth it. Not only is it authentic (I am Sri Lankan and a pretty good cook in my own right so I can say this with some authority) but attractively served.
I recommend the all the appetizers, hoppers, Kothu Roti and Lamprias. I have not tried anything else but plan to go back many more times to do so.

5 Stars: Authentic and spicy (by praneeth)

praneeth — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Great authentic Sri Lankan food. The restaurent is small and run by a family who provide excellent service with the customary Sri Lankan hospitality. The pol rotti and aappa (hoppers) here are excellent. Good value for money as well. The music was soft and unobtrusive, service was very accomodating.

4 Stars: Great little hole in the wall (by cl_foodie)

cl_foodie — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

This place is a great little hole in the wall Indian restaurant. The inside is decorated with all sorts of dime store items - flags, leis, etc. Food is very good and prices are cheap! Go to this one, make sure you don't go to the other Indian restaurant right next door.