Restaurant Review: Hampton Chutney

This restaurant is really like no other. Its Soho outpost is adorned with pictures from India, and the place has a hippie/homey feel. It even seems yogic. A small handwritten sign next to the light switch asks employees to please turn off the lights in an effort to save energy and be mindful. Talk about good energy :)

The food is beyond good. The dosas (“large, crispy, sourdough crepes”) filled with seasonal fresh ingredients like butternut squash and roasted tomatoes are DELICIOUS. My favorite dosa is the #5 Avocado (with Fresh Tomato, Arugula & Jack Cheese). The dosas come with different flavors of chutney (hence the restaurant’s name) including cilantro and mango. I – ever the plain Jane eater – stick to no chutney. Other must-try menu options include the #22 Grilled Cheese with Tomato on Sourdough (with Avocado). My coworker and friend Brian – a more adventurous eater – loves the #2 Calamata Olives dosa (with Tomato, Roasted Onion, Arugula & Goat Cheese), the #9 Curry Chutney Chicken dosa (with Spinach & Balsamic Roasted Onion), the Thali special Indian Vegetable of the Day (which comes with Basmati Rice, Dal Soup, Grilled Naan Bread, Chutney & Yogurt) and the cardamom coffee. Speaking of beverages, the lassis are wonderful. They’re super smooth smoothies. I love the mango flavor but I have to abstain because non-dried mangos make my tongue itch.

I could go on and on about the food… Instead I’ll tell you to just try it! In addition to Soho there are Hampton Chutney locations on the Upper West Side and also in Amagansett. (Which has me thinking, if Amagansett has Jack’s AND Hampton Chutney, Justin and I just might need to win the lottery and buy a beach house there…)

P.S. Read the story of founders Gary & Isabel MacGurn here.

P.P.S. To save a few bucks, order off the kids menu. The options are just as delish and you won’t go hungry – the kids’ portions aren’t kiddie-sized at all.