Coastal South Indian & Sri Lankan fare w/ standout dosas & hoppers. A true neighborhood gem serving bold flavors.
Sonal Shah reviews Lungi, an Upper East Side spot for coastal South Indian and Sri Lankan food, praising its crisp dosas and fluffy hoppers as a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
This Upper East Side gem brings the vibrant flavors of coastal South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine to Manhattan. Renowned for its textbook-perfect masala dosas and fluffy hoppers, it's a must-visit for those seeking authentic regional specialties. The restaurant also offers a delightful "Banana Leaf Special Meal" on Sundays and an array of flavorful short eats perfect for sharing.
Specializing in coastal South Indian and Sri Lankan dishes, the restaurant is frequently praised for its authentic flavors. Standout items include the 'textbook-perfect' masala dosas and 'fluffy hoppers,' which are ideal for scooping up rich curries like the fiery Sri Lankan prawn curry or the Kerala-style beef. The 'Banana Leaf Special Meal' on Sundays offers a generous sampler, though some note the gravies can be a bit heavy. Other recommended dishes include jackfruit curry, pol sambol, and seeni sambol, celebrated for their bold spice and savory profiles. While generally highly regarded, one review noted the kothu roti was a bit mushy.
"Standout dishes include the 'textbook-perfect' masala dosas, fluffy hoppers, jackfruit curry, pol sambol, seeni sambol, and the seafood thali platter. The 'Banana Leaf Special Meal' on Sundays is also a highly recommended sampler."
Customers rave about the authentic and bold flavors of South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine, particularly highlighting the quality of dosas and hoppers. The restaurant is considered a valuable addition to the neighborhood's dining scene.
Important Note
The banana leaf service is noted to be available only for Sunday brunch, and some reviews mention that certain curries can be heavy-handed or that the gravies in the thali special can become repetitive.
"This user was "blown away" by Lungi, especially the jackfruit curry, pol sambol, and seeni sambol, noting the restaurant's fearlessness with heat and spice and its savory flavors."
Positive"This user was "blown away" by Lungi, particularly the jackfruit curry, pol sambol, and seeni sambol, noting the restaurant's fearlessness with heat and spice and its savory flavors."
Positive"This user was "blown away" by Lungi, particularly the jackfruit curry, pol sambol, and seeni sambol, noting the restaurant's fearlessness with heat and spice and its savory flavors."
Positive"This user mentioned Lungi on the UES, suggesting it serves South Indian-Sri Lankan cuisine. They also noted it's pretty good and offers a good deal on the thali special."
Positive"Lungi on the UES specifically offers Sri Lankan and Tamil food, although the user has only tried the thali there and is not certain if it is Tamil."
Positive"Lungi offers fantastic South Indian/Sri Lankan seafood dishes. The commenter loves their red snapper curry and recommends the seafood thali platter for lunch."
Positive"This restaurant is mentioned as an Indian establishment that typically serves halal food."
Positive"The user recommends Lungi on the UES as an easy place to get reservations last minute."
Positive"This user mentioned Lungi as a fancier Sri Lankan restaurant option in Manhattan, suggesting it as an alternative for Kerala-style food. Sigri was also mentioned as a similar option."
Neutral"Lungi on the Upper East Side was recommended as a local and lesser-known Indian restaurant, suggested as a better alternative to trendy or expensive Indian dining options."
Positive"The user had a good Thali at Lungi, which offers seafood, meat, or vegetable options. The comment was in response to a query about Indian lunch buffets or Thali combos."
Positive"Lungi is recommended as a restaurant option that can cater to both vegan and non-vegan diners, fitting the user's general cuisine preferences."
Positive"Lungi is mentioned as a place in Manhattan that, if their spicy offerings aren't enough, the user might be out of luck for spicier options in the borough."
Neutral"This commenter clarifies that the banana leaf service at Lungi is only available for Sunday brunch."
Neutral"This commenter suggests Lungi for a proper thali served on banana leaves at a reasonable price."
Positive"The user mentioned Lungi as a preferred spot for South Indian cuisine, but noted it's not ideal for mid-week takeout."
Positive"Recommends Lungi, clarifying that it serves Sri Lankan cuisine, not Indian. This was suggested as it could fit the original poster's request for a banana leaf style meal."
Positive"Strongly recommends Lungi for the banana leaf dining experience sought by the original poster (who was looking for Indian options), assuring they won't regret it. Lungi is known to serve Sri Lankan cuisine."
Positive
