Sri Lanka is an island nation located in South Asia. While its dishes share similarities to other Asian countries, it has its own unique flavors and recipes. Sri Lankan food includes lots of spices and herbs, curries and rice. As an island nation, fish and seafood play a significant role in the Sri Lankan diet. I love trying new cuisines and had never eaten Sri Lankan food prior to our recent visit to the Red Pepper Diner.
Just recently I discovered a Sri Lankan restaurant in the Hudson Valley. While new to me, this family run restaurant, owned by Chef Saman Munaweera has been operating for years in Wappingers Falls. You have likely driven by the Red Pepper Diner’s location on Rt. 9 but didn’t realize, based on the restaurant’s name and appearance, that it’s a Sri Lankan restaurant. The unassuming faded, yellow building does not hint at the deliciousness that can be found inside.
My husband and I recently visited on a Sunday for lunch. It was pretty quiet, with only one larger party already seated. Although the restaurant has several tables adorned in bright and colorful tablecloths, we were seated at one of the few booths.
We started with the appetizer sampler which included 2 samosas, 2 fish cutlets and 2 vegetable spring rolls for $6.95. The “cutlets” are round fish croquettes that have a crunchy exterior and a spiced, fish mixture interior. The samosas were bite-sized and much smaller in size than the Indian samosas that we are familiar with. The vegetable spring rolls were similar in size and taste to other veggie spring rolls that we’ve eaten in other restaurants.
For our main dishes we shared a Kothu Roti: a “roadside specialty that is prepared by shredding flat breads that are stir-fried with an assortment of vegetables, spices, onion, eggs and finished with a curry sauce.” This is a popular street food in Sri Lanka.
We also ordered a vegetarian rice and curry: “Served at lunch or dinner in Sri Lanka, this dish includes a meat curry, two vegetarian dishes with pickle. Traditional curries are made with a special house blend of spices and coconut milk and served with white or Chef’s special fried rice.” Rice and curry is a Sri Lankan staple, however, there are lots of different curry varieties.
All of the main dishes can be made with chicken, beef, pork, goat or shrimp (currently priced at $16.99). Main dishes can also be made vegetarian/vegan for $13.99, which is the option that we chose for both the rice and curry and the Kothu roti.
Our server was making hoppers for another party and served us one with our Roti. The menu describes hoppers as “crispy bowl-shaped pancakes made with rice flour. These often come in different varieties and can be sweet or savory. A variation of the hopper has an egg added in the middle while cooking. A hopper meal includes 3 plain hoppers and 1 egg hopper with a choice of onion sambal and curry.” The Red Pepper Diner serves hoppers only on Fridays and Sundays. The hopper had crispy edges but a soft bottom. It was delicious and now we know it’s a must-order item.
There are only two desserts on the restaurant’s menu: Watalappan and Kiri Pani. Kiri Pani translates to curds and treacle. In Sri Lanka, traditionally the kiri is made from buffalo’s milk and the treacle (syrup) from the fishtail palm. Watalappan is another traditional Sri Lankan dessert that is a spiced custard similar in texture to a flan. Unfortunately, we were too stuffed to sample either of these. However, it just gives us another reason to go back!
Red Pepper Diner
1458 Route 9D
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
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