Authentic South Indian & Sri Lankan flavors. Crispy dosas, fluffy hoppers, and unique regional specialties. Great for vegans & non-vegans.
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.
Discover the vibrant flavors of coastal South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine at this Upper East Side gem. Praised for its authentic dishes, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience with highlights like crispy dosas and fluffy hoppers. While some dishes might lean towards richer flavors, the specialty 'short eats' and the Sunday Banana Leaf Special Meal provide excellent value and taste.
Specializing in coastal South Indian and Sri Lankan fare, this restaurant is lauded for its authentic flavors. Highlights include "textbook-perfect, crisp-brown masala dosa" and "fluffy hoppers." Other well-regarded dishes are Chicken 65 and Kerala-style beef. The Sunday Banana Leaf Special Meal is noted for its generous portions, though some find the curries a bit heavy. A caveat is that the Kothu Roti can be too mushy. The restaurant is also accommodating to both vegan and non-vegan diners.
"Highly recommended dishes include the "textbook-perfect, crisp-brown masala dosa" and "fluffy hoppers," which are perfect for scooping up curries. The Sunday "Banana Leaf Special Meal" is a generous sampler, and other standout items include Chicken 65 and Kerala-style beef."
Customers generally have a positive sentiment, praising the authentic South Indian and Sri Lankan flavors, particularly recommending dishes like dosas and hoppers. Some feedback notes that while many dishes are delicious, the banana leaf meal's gravies can become repetitive.
Important Note
The banana leaf service is only available for Sunday brunch, and some find the gravies in the Banana Leaf Special Meal can become repetitive. The Kothu Roti was noted as being too mushy in one review.
"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"Commenter finds Lungi delicious and clarifies its location is E 62nd St/UES, not technically upper Manhattan."
Positive"Commenter recently visited Lungi for the first time and enjoyed it."
Positive"Recommends Lunghi in (incorrectly identified as) Upper Manhattan for Sri Lankan and South Indian food, relevant to the original post's request."
Positive"For Kothu Paratha, try Lungi, a South Indian/Sri Lankan restaurant in uptown."
Neutral
