Cinnamon Grill — Restaurant in New London

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....

I tried Cinnamon Grill with a group of friends and we all ordered different things. The atmosphere was clean and friendly; we immediately knew we made a good choice. My server automatically knew we likely had not tried a Sri Lankan restaurant before and explained the menu items in detail to us. When we ordered, he paid attention to allergies and asked if egg was okay for vegetarian dishes or if it needed to be vegan. He even explained the drinks. Food was served within the hour and there were no abnormal wait times deposit every table being occupied on a Saturday evening. The food was all very fresh, not like it had been sitting and the flavors were full. Restaurants can be hit or miss and you can tell when a place uses packaged spices that have sat or spices things as they’re made. I worry sometimes about oil or getting an upset stomach but none of the dishes were oily, rice was fresh and not hard or crusty. All of the items are plated separately. The Gobi Honey Garlic was so good and didn’t last at all (I think it was $7 for an app and honestly that with rice alone would have made a decent meal)! The portions were great for the price. My main dish was the soy meat curry and I’m not sure what type of meat they used but it had good flavor and was cooked properly/not mushy. I couldn’t finish it all because I was full and had more than half of my dish left. I can’t wait...

Cinnamon Grill is a must in New London. You have to walk a little past the main part of bank street but I would swim across the whole of Long Island sound for whatever it is they put in that chutney. I bet Sri Lanka doesn't even make Sri Lankan food as good as Cinnamon Grill. Everything I put in my mouth at this place tasted like a choir of angels sounds. The coconut roti was incredible. I had it with chicken, my girlfriend had it with goat. I would have it with literally anything because I literally drank the sauce at the end the night. The curry was outstanding, the lumpia rolls were crisp, and if you're not sure what this stuff is, that's fine because 1) the staff will explain everything to you and are super nice and 2) it doesn't matter what you order, it's going to be good. Im pretty sure i ruined my date again because I said nothing to my girlfriend the entire night. All I did was eat what was in front of me and I don't regret it. For the price, for the portions, for the flavor, this place is sacred and I will probably be there again next...