Lakruwana Restaurant

I've passed by this restaurant many times, but it wasn't on my radar enough for me to want to try it. Now that I have finally dined here, I feel like slapping myself across the face due to the regret of not having tried it sooner. This Sri Lankan restaurant is located in a neighborhood that is on the edgy side, but once you pass through it's unassuming doors, you enter a world fully immersed in Sri Lankan decor and ambience. After closing the front door, my visual senses were in overdrive experiencing all the details put into this space that made it feel as if I entered a sacred buddhist temple. As I was seated at the table by the waitress, I noticed a sign promoting a $15.95 buffet with a stack of clean plates at the end. I grabbed a plate and scanned the buffet from end to end. About one-third of the buffet offered meat options while the other two-thirds were vegetarian. There were three kinds of rices at one end and a plethora of many colorful and savory offerings going towards the other end. Everything looked so good that I just had to drop a spoonful of every item onto my plate. There were a huge pile of papadams which are a kind of Indian tortilla chips that can be eaten with your dish. With each different food item that I sampled, a burst of flavor shot through my taste buds. Some of the items were mild while others had a spicy kick to them. By the end of my visit, I had polished off three platefuls of food, a record at my tender age of 54. There was another area in the restaurant that was dedicated to Sri Lankan desserts. Again, I had to sample each dessert so that I could get the full Sri Lankan gastronomical experience. I was so enamored by the warmth of the overall ambience of this sanctuary and the tastiness of the food that I plan to visit this place again soon. For those who are sensitive to spicy foods, I recommend that you first try a small sample of each food item before committing to larger portions. Also, the vegetarian dishes are vegan and one of the dessert items is vegan too.

This place is an absolute GEM! I never could have expected it to be as good as it was. buffet was 10/10. atmosphere was 10/10. tea was 10/10. I also loved how they gave everyone a glove & mask to wear when picking out food. It honestly made me feel really comfortable about the level of cleanliness they expect in their resturaunt. Everything was to such a high standard it blew me away.

Well worth the long trek from anywhere in New York. The large golden doors and authentic exterior is just a hint of the experience you’re in for inside. Chaotic, colorful, and a bit mystically beautiful, the food and variety of south East Asian flavors are a highlight. Lakruwana pulls no punches and is worth every dollar. Be sure to get the buffet, you’ll be coming back for thirds!

I absolutely loved the ambience of this Sri Lankan restaurant. The buffet had varieties of authentic curries, rice , condiments and desserts. They also have a menu, if you prefer to order some other traditional items and you choose not to opt for the buffet. The staff was courteous and welcoming. Definitely worth the money!

Amazingly decorated cozy spot.
Food is great and very well presented. Nothing is too spicy or too hot. Some outdoor seating. This would be a great place for a date.
Weekends they do a dinner buffet which is nice if you haven’t had Sri Lankan food and don’t know what to order or simply want to try everything.