The food here makes my husband very happy. This is a really cute restaurant that almost has an apartment vibe. We were seated in nook. The waiter was really nice, really personable. I got the dish with the roti mixed in. And my husband got something on a smoking sizzling plate. And it was delicious. Many years ago we had a meal here and sat in their outdoor area. Maybe we will make it back on a few years. read more

I came here on a Sunday evening and it was pretty quiet. Staff were extremely friendly and gave an explanation of the food they make and recommendations based on what type of food I wanted. I eventually ordered a mango lassi($6) ,gobi honey cauliflower($8), and dhal goat curry with roti($19). The fried cauliflower was surprisingly really good, freshly fried with a nice sweet honey glaze. The goat curry was also quite good and had a nice amount of heat. It dipped really well with the roti! Overall a fantastic experience here, staff was super nice and the food was also amazing! Definitely worth checking this out ! Food(50%): 8.6 Staff/service(25%): 9.5 Value(25%): 8.5 Overall: 8.8/10 read more

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I hardly review anything these days, and perhaps people will just pass up this review, but they shouldn't pass up this restaurant. I still love eating out, but it's fairly rare that I'm actually surprised by a dish that I ordered. The honey inflected cauliflower dish with just a hint of garlic was the marked improvement on Gobi Manchurian that I didn't know I needed in my life. It's Gobi Honey Garlic on the menu. Order it. I know I plan to once more before I leave Connecticut. This dish is great because it carries a number of flavors I would expect to contrast and somehow marries them perfectly. I've been eating cauliflower dishes for years with fried Lebanese cauliflower and an absolutely decadent version in a random Mexico City restaurant being my favorites. This one lands directly squarely between those preparations as my second favorite all time (Tetetlan is still the overall winner). I only ordered the blackened pork curry as a main dish and it was tasty in its own right. On another visit, I'd like to savor even more dishes and possibly try their crab curry. Everything coming out of that kitchen was absolute fire. So far, this has been my favorite dining experience in the entire state of Connecticut. Sure, it's not as fancy as Olea, or maybe as iconic as a lobster roll at Captain Scott's, but it's definitely the best rendition of Sri Lankan cuisine I have found in the States. I'm so glad I went here. read more

Wow wow wow! Set in a nondescript building, I did not expect such a great experience. Stopped in for dinner after a day on the sand, we were the only ones dining in but a few takeout orders were happening. The staff was beyond excellent, taking time to explain the menu, give us some insight as to what dishes Sri Lanka is known for and answer our questions. We started with the Lumpia Roll.... made with shrimp and pork, very tasty especially with the dipping sauce! We tried the Kottu Roti and Spicy deviled sizzling chicken platter. Both dishes had so much flavor! Portion was excellent, presentation was well done. The side of yellow rice had a unique flavor.... we asked.... cardamom! If you are curious about Sri Lankan cuisine as we were, you will not be disappointed in checking this place out. The setting is decorated with lots of interesting pieces, is very clean and comfortable for eating in. Give it a try! read more

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The aroma when you first open the door draws you all the way in. The server made sure we understood Sri Lankan food so we ordered dishes we would enjoy. The food itself matched the aroma. My wife got butter chicken. We've had it at many other places but this butter sauce was better than most. I ordered chicken 'stew'. It's not what we consider a stew but so very good. The 'gravy', coconut milk and some magic spices. One of my favorites I tried. This is over an hour away for us but I'd gladly go again. read more

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Let me just say the food here is outstanding. The staff working here were also very, very nice. There's a reason why they have nearly a perfect five stars on Google. We ordered the chicken rolls, the Gobi cauliflower, roti, the Ceylon tea, the deviled sizzling platter and the butter chicken. Everything was chefs kiss. You can tell they really care. They also brought me out this biscuit cake for my birthday with a lit candle and it was phenomenal. I was so full but couldn't stop eating it. Thanks so much Cinnamon Grill, can't wait to come back and try other stuff! read more

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I am honored to be the 101st review for this place. I cannot believe that I haven't tried this place out sooner. We came here with zero planning. I typed Indian food in the Yelp search and Cinnamon Grill came up. It's rare to find a place with a 4.9 rating on Yelp. Was totally expecting some sort of Asian fusion but this was the best thing that could have happened. We parked a few store fronts down from the restaurant on Bank Street. There were 2 doors with another door that seemed to be for an apartment. So we tried the right door. Hmm. Opened but maybe liked like the bar entrance. Tried the left door and it looked almost the same but luckily the server Ravi waved us in from all the way in the back. Apparently there's another side door. Nice sized bar, very exceptionally clean bathrooms, beautiful decor. Let's start with Ravi. He welcomed us and throughly explained the whole menu to us. Super friendly. His helper (older gentleman) was constantly refilling water glasses, bringing our dishes and taking away the finished ones. For drinks we tried their ginger beer and the Sri Lankan wood apple nectar. Ginger beer was good. More on the fizzy refreshing side. Not much spicy bite (compared to goslings or Goya). The wood apple nectar came with ice and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's a bit sour. Tasted like a mix between Haw and Tamarind. Ordered the fried chicken wings. Very simple. Super Crispy. No seasoning or batter but the sauce that it comes with was very tasty. Also got a side of roti paratha (4). Comes with a side of raita. Hubby ordered the goat biriyani. He loves spicy food. So he asked for it hot. But please don't. lol. He was sweating profusely. Comes with a small salad plate I got the Lump Rice. Not really an appealing name but it reminded me of Chinese joongs/zhong zi because it is served wrapped in a banana leaf so I took a chance and ordered it. This was a home run. It has so many fillings like a cashew stew, eggplant, plantain curry, caramelized onions, a deep fried boiled egg (whhhhattt?!!!?!) and a fish cake that didn't look like a fish cake or taste like a fish cake. What ever it was- it was amazing. Tasted kind of like stuffing and a hushpuppy. I wonder if I can order a whole bunch of that lol they were so good. You also choose a protein curry so I opted for the goat as well. Every thing in the Lump Rice was fantastic. We also ordered a butter chicken to go. Maybe 10 large chunks of chicken and a swimming pool of delicious sauce. Rice smelled good and tasted kind of like chai. But a small portion of rice for the size of the entree. It was maybe like a 6oz container of rice. Dining in might have a bigger portion of rice. At the counter they sell various Ceylon teas, coffee, Sri Lankan cinnamon sticks, mugs, and more. I picked up a bag of the tea that served here (although I didn't order any tea while dining). They add a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk. They had whole leaf ($8) tea and fine cut tea ($11). I asked which Ravi thought was stronger and he recommended the fine cut tea. You will need a fine strainer or teabags to put the tea in. All in all we were stuffed and very very very pleased eating here. The service was great- no -- phenomenal!! Very clean, spacious, good location. 100% will come back Our bill came out to almost $100 Chicken wing app Roti paratha side Wood apple nectar Ginger beer Goat biriyani Goat lump rice Butter chicken Ceylon tea package read more

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Cinnamon Grill is the only Sri Lankan restaurant in New England & I feel SO lucky that it's close to me! This restaurant is just spectacular in every single way. The cuisine is exquisite, the service is so kind & helpful, & the restaurant is comfortable. The food holds up excellently as takeout, as well. I decided to order the hoppers, which are a type of pancake made from rice flour - a classic Sri Lankan street food. They came with a chutney, a sauce, & a curry. The hoppers are totally gluten-free! This meal was so full of delicious spices (cardamom, nutmeg, turmeric, curry, & more) & textures that I'm still dreaming about it, days after. The staff was amazing. It seems as though they're very accustomed to having to explain the menu - probably because many people are unfamiliar with Sri Lankan food & Cinnamon Grill is the only spot to try it for miles & miles! But they still seem happy to explain the menu, answer any questions, & make requested modifications when they can. They even fried the cauliflower in a gluten-free almond flour batter instead so that I could eat it. I truly can't wait to come back. I write a lot of Yelp reviews & recommend a lot of restaurants on here, but Cinnamon Grill is definitely near the top of the list. read more

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Fantastic Sri Lankan cuisine. We stopped by on our drive back to NY from Rhode Island. Can't wait to come back

My first time ever having Sri Lankan food and it was delicious! The owner was the sweetest man. He took the time to explain the menu to us and describe some of the dishes before we ordered. It looks like he does this spiel for all new customers which is great. They have a mixture of Sri Lankan food and other Southeast Asian cuisines. My partner and I decided to get the most popular Sri Lankan dishes like the dhal & goat curry and blackened pork curry. They were both delicious! Super flavorful and filling. We will definitely be back. read more

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First time having Sri Lankan food and I really enjoyed it. The waiter explained everything to us and even though we arrived close to closing time, they didn't rush us. The food came out quickly and was all very different flavor profiles. Great first experience and certainly won't be our last! We will be back! read more

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Loved every bite. We actually emptied our plates. I had this place on my list for a long time. Finally I had time for an adventure and made it to the restaurant. We were seated immediately. The waitress was very nice and although the restaurant was very full he did pretty good keeping up with everyone. We had the Cinnamon Grill sampler and Lump Rice. I can't wait to return and try more meals out. read more

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This is the ONLY Sri Laken restaurant in New England. It certainly did not disappoint! The food is extremely flavorful and like nothing I've tried before. The servers were extremely helpful in explaining the menu and the service was quick. The location is smaller than I anticipated but it gives it a more intimate feel. I absolutely need to go back to try more menu items! The coconut roti was my favorite and I LOVED the faluda drink with is subtle rose flavor. read more

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It's rare to find a restaurant rocking all five star reviews, by wow, this doesn't disappoint! The flavors are memorable and well balanced with plenty of menu options. Service is very attentive with a focus on helping customers unfamiliar with Sri Lankan cuisine find just the right dish. This is an unexpected gem of a find in New London and well worth the stop! read more

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Food was so good and the Gluten free options are awesome. We ordered takeout and I normally don't look for awesome food from take out but the food was amazing and the kitchen called me to make sure my options were made gluten allergy safe and satisfactory. Amazing place. read more

Drinks were amazing, food was great. Chef came out to ensure our meal was good and even re made one of our entrees. Then made us a free desert. Very satisfied. Very comfy inside. read more

I don't know where to start! It was absolutely mouth watering delicious!!! You must must come here if you are in New London!!! We had the the honey gobi was perfectly sweet with a hint of spice, crispy and just delicious! You will not believe it's cauliflower! The creamy chicken curry was absolutely perfect, and the cheese chicken was something like we've never had before! If I could give them 10 stars, I would! read more

Cinnamon Grill - Butter Chicken Curry Cheese and Choice of Meat Kottu Roti - Asian Fusion Near Me - New London, Connecticut

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Checked this place out for the first time and the food was soo good! Everything we tried was well flavored and amazing quality. We got mild spicy because I took my three year old with me, but I definitely could have gone a little spicier if it was all adults. Portion sizes were amazing as well. We had to take some additional items to go for the week. They make most of their spices in house as well and everything else is freshly made. The first thing we ordered was a Falooda and it was gone in seconds, it was soo good but we probably should've waited until the end because it had ice cream in it which my little one finished before the food came out. The customer service was amazing as well, the staff was very friendly and happy to help or explain/ suggest anything. The ambiance was very nice as well adorably decorated with Sri Lankan decor with soft Sinhala music playing in the background. Im vouching for this place as a Sri Lankan who makes Sri Lankan food at home 10/10 lol read more

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Delicious food! I was pretty unfamiliar with Sri Lankan food but our server explained everything on the menu when he came to our table and answered any questions we had. We ended up with a filling, yummy meal. The portion sizes were great! I highly recommend the Coconut roti and curry. read more

Cinnamon Grill - Asian Fusion Near Me - New London, Connecticut

This is the most incredible food you'll have. Were in town for a race and my husband suggested we go here. I've been dying to try hoppers for a decade plus, so it was a no brainer! The food here is so good. The owner will happily explain the Sri Lankan dishes to you. My husband had the lump rice with king fish and I had hoppers with black pork curry. I had a ton of allergies and they were incredible in making sure everything was safe for me to eat and did substitutes with no questions. The hopper was so light and tasty, like a sweet sourdough bread but lighter and more delicious. The pork was just melting in my mouth and the pumpkin curry reminded me of my mom's. If I could give this a million stars I would, but yelp has its limits. If you're in New London you must come here!! read more

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Very delicious!! So many tempting choices on the menu, I kept it simple with the lumpia and curry goat and it was amazing. Service and ambiance simply wonderful. I definitely recommend. read more

Went here last night and got takeout. It was delicious, I got the chicken chop suey! All of the ingredients tasted wonderful and the broth was yummy. I wish I lived closer, I'd go here more but I'll make sure to go if I can when I'm in the area. And of course I will continue to spread the good word! Also, I have to mention the service was great. Something simple but when I was standing waiting for the takeout, one of the workers provided me a chair to sit on. He didn't have to do that. It's the small details & thoughtfulness. read more

The waiter explained the entire menu after finding out I was a first-time customer. I normally don't like sweet foods but the gobi honey garlic was really good. Overall, enjoyed getting to try Sri Lankan specialties at a nice restaurant! read more

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First time in the doors, such a nice place to eat! Service was great , food was great, place was very clean....we will be back! read more

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Delicious, cheap meal that's great to share with friends. I came on a Monday night with a group of 4 and was seated immediately. We ordered the lump rice, butter chicken, vegetable broken roti, and coconut roti with goat. Everything was flavorful (we got everything in mild spice and it was not spicy at all). My favorite dish was probably the broken roti. Friendly staff too! read more

A wonderful selection of Asian food. Love the sizzling platters. Excellent lamb stew. Also a good selection of vegetarian. Attentive, friendly service. read more

Cinnamon grill was recommended to us by a friend from the New London area n on our way to Boston we stopped by for late lunch. Less than 5 mins from I 95 in Groton/ New London waterfront. Lovely clean restaurant with a nice ambience. Friendly staff. We tried the cinnamon grill sampler which had the 2 fried chicken rolls, 2 fried veg rolls, 2 fish cutlets n 2 lumpia. They were all fresh hot( temp) n delicious, we also tried the fried squid which was so good - spicy w onions n peppers. For entrees we had the hoppers - 4 plain hoppers w one egg hopper chicken curry n dhal, paratha roti w dhal curry n goat curry , pol sambol and fried red snapper special w a spicy sauce n carrots, broccoli n potato . Was delicious. The hoppers n roti were very good n so were the curries, hoppers good for 3 n very filling. On our way back home stopped by n picked up food for home, the seafood noodles , veg fried rice, kottu roti - chicken n goat, king fish curry n spicy devil chicken, they were all delicious n generous portions. The wattalapam was so good. Yum yum. Have 2 more trips to Boston before 2023 ends n guess where we will be stopping again !!!' Ravi was v helpful n packed all our takeouts in a box for us so it wouldn't spill for the 3 hr ride back. Tx u for a great meal n take outs. read more

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Great experience! The waiter was very friendly and took the time to explain the menu. The wait for the food wasn't long at all and it was delicious. The decor was very appropriate as well. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! We stopped in for lunch today. I've heard nothing but great reviews about this restaurant- and they're all true! It's Sri Lankan/Southeast Asian cuisine. The lovely host greeted us immediately and we told him it was our first visit. I told him I wanted authentic Sri Lankan food and he took his time reviewing every menu option. He was very thorough and offered his suggestions as we were stumped on what to order. We started with a cauliflower appetizer that was crispy, sweet and spicy! The Roti (grated coconut & flour rounds) with blackened beef, lentils and onion chutney hit the spot. The Lump Rice with chicken, topped with onions & garlic, was cooked in a banana leaf, was sweet & salty, and left beautiful hints of all the spices they used. It really was delicious. Check out this little gem - you won't be disappointed and it's the only Sri Lankan restaurant in the state of CT! read more

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The service is absolutely wonderful! The two guys working are always so welcoming and the food is great. It's one of me and my wife's favorite places to go. read more

A unique opportunity to try Sri Lankan food in an intimate dining space. I am not sure I have ever seen a Sri Lankan spot! Our server was super helpful in describing the traditional dishes and making recommendations based on our preferences. We ordered three dishes to get a fair sampling of the cuisine and also the benefit of having great leftovers for the next day as well. We got the Kottu Roti, Lump Rice, and the Stew all with a spice level of mild, which was perfectly enjoyable. Everything was delicious but the Stew was the favorite. I cannot wait to stop back again. We saw a few platters pass by that we added to the mental list for next time! read more

Great food... I'm so glad we took the detour on our way to Boston. We tried Lump rice and Coconut roti with curry. I'm absolutely coming back here . Highly recommend. read more

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Great service and food! For first time customers you get an overview of the menu to help guide your choices. The food and presentation were great. Get the mango lassi and fried cauliflower and you won't regret it!! read more

Great Sri Lankan food, very friendly staff. It is decoration is very Sri Lankan which looks fantastic. After very detailed help of menu introduction, I had Lump Rice and Ceylon Sweet Hot Tea Pot. Everything was great. read more

We were met by Ravi, who seated us and explained the menu to us. We were not familiar with cuisine of Sri Lanka. He was so gracious and helped us choose a great lunch. Gobi was so flavorful and definitely our favorite. Pork curry was very tender but portion was small. We ordered Butter Chicken and Shrimp curry for dinner. Both were quite tasty. Since it was my birthday, Ravi treated me to a birthday cake that was so light and delicious. Such a nice addition to the New London culinary scene. read more

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Went today for the first time. Here are my thoughts: Location: Parts of New London can be sketchy; Cinnamon Grill is in a nicer waterfront area near nice apartments, beachfront, and businesses. Pfizer and Electric Boat have large offices near here, and the area is reasonably nice. Service: We were met at the door by a friendly gentleman who likely is an owner or has a vested interest. Hardworking, professional, quick to make sure you are getting a good experience. He asked if we had ever eaten at Cinnamon Grill before, and when we said "no," he grabbed a menu and started explaining Sri Lankan food. He would explain how it compares and contrasts to Northern and Southern Indian food since there are both overlaps with the mainland and many dishes unique to Sri Lanka. Food: We ordered three items, Cinnamon Grill Sampler, Goat Lump Rice, and Mixed Seafood Spicy Deviled Sizzling Platter. The grill sampler contains fried chicken rolls, fried veggie rolls, two fried fish rolls (Sri Lankan hush puppy), plus two lumpia (oddly enough). It was all tasty, although a touch pricy at fourteen dollars. Lump rice is a combination of cashew curry, fried eggplant, green banana curry, stir-fried onion, fish cutlet & egg, wrapped in a banana leaf. It is almost four related dishes in one, and likely enough for two people (we brought half home). Finally, the Mixed Seafood platter can jokingly be called Sri Lankan fajitas; a wicked hot cast iron skillet with your meat of choice, plus fried tomatoes, onions, peppers, and so on. Almost everything can be made to your desired spicy level. Price/Value: Cost was in line with the post Covid average, about 55 dollars for a large appetizer with two full meals, plus tip. Considering that a fast food value meal pushes fifteen bucks nowadays, I call that a good value, plus you're supporting an obvious mom-and-pop. Give it a try. read more

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Look at me in my eyes. Now, I am an honest, sensible person not prone to exaggeration or drama. Please do keep this in mind when I tell you that this was one of my favorite meals in a hot minute. If there were a fountain that spewed out kottu roti, I would move in next door to said fountain. Thank you for your attention. read more

Cinnamon Grill - Goat Kottu Roti and Lump Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - New London, Connecticut

We had a delicious dinner! We ordered the chicken curry and lump rice. What a treat! Truly an amazing dinner.

This place is a gem, the service was very friendly and the restaurant features decor from Sri Lanka that's very cool to look at. Then there is the food... wow was it fantastic. Our server Ravi walked us through some traditional dishes, we ended up thoroughly enjoying the lump rice with goat and seafood kottu roti. Finished strong with a homemade coconut custard that featured jaggery. Excellent experience. read more

Cinnamon Grill - Goat Lump Rice and kottu roti - Asian Fusion Near Me - New London, Connecticut

Around a year ago, my boyfriend and I went to this restaurant on our first date. We were drawn to this place due to our mutual love for food and due to the fact that we are both adventurous eaters. The restaurant was quiet, clean, well decorated, and romantic. One thing that stood out was how accommodating the service was. The owner of the restaurant even came out to read us the menu and explain what everything was (which was amazing since I have sensitivities to gluten and dairy). Once the food came out, I was hooked. We ordered a curry sampler, the king fish lump rice, and the goat biriyani. Everything was seasoned to perfection and melted in our mouths. Some of the flavors were unfamiliar to us, but everything blended so well, I never wanted the plate to end. We ate everything and had to hold ourselves back from licking the plates. We continued (and continue) to go out to this restaurant most times we want to go out for a romantic dinner. On our second visit, the owner recognized us and sat us in the original seats we had during our first date. We have gone more times than I can count, and the host still continues to sit us there. It is little details like this that make this a restaurant that I will forever return to and these details are a testament to the owner's and staff's love for their food and restaurant. We have since moved across state, but continue to visit this restaurant because it is well worth the drive. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone, adventurous eater or not, because the menu is diverse and has something for everyone. I think the lump rice is the best thing I have ever eaten, especially because I know I would never be able to create that dish in my kitchen to the same level of deliciousness and care. read more