Red Pepper Diner

Absolutely amazing Sri Lankan cuisine you can experience in NY. The Kottu is much more flavourful and way better than Sigiri in NYC. The new location feels welcoming, pleasant and Saman is like family to us so will continue to come here more often. Thank you and keep up the great work :)

Red Pepper Diner is a true hidden gem in Beacon, NY! As a Sri Lankan, I couldn’t be more proud to see Mr. Saman bringing our island’s rich food culture to the USA. The food is absolutely authentic , just like eating back home in Sri Lanka! You can taste the real spices, fresh ingredients, and perfect balance of flavors without any artificial additives or heavy oils. Every dish felt home-cooked and full of love. Mr. Saman is incredibly humble and passionate about keeping our heritage alive through food. Highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to experience genuine Sri Lankan cuisine , you’ll leave with a full heart and a happy stomach! ????????

We were driving from NH to WV and found the Red Pepper via Googlemaps. With a 4.8 review average and just two miles off the interstate, we decided to go for it - and were rewarded! We didn't know it was a Sri Lankan diner, so this was a bonus. The restaurant is laid back and cozy with culturally eclectic elements.We liked the backdrop of a single massive monitor playing silent videos of Sri Lankan landscape, cities, and cultural sites. The owner, Saman, is a trained chef and an outstanding ambassador for Sri Lanka - he is proud of its history and candid about its contemporary challenges. Since we had a long drive ahead, we shared a main course rather than each getting our own and easily agreed on the black curry with goat that comes with two sides including roasted eggplant plus rice. We added the appetizer sampler, two additional sides, the watalappan dessert (perfect for sharing) and perfect Sri Lankan tea with milk. The curried beets were amazing - do not skip these! We were invigorated, not stuffed. I drove for hours afterwards and didn't get sleepy. Our meal was $55 before tip. We arrived to the Red Pepper around 11:30 on a Saturday morning and were the first customers - I called out and found Saman in the side yard planning a small garden to utilize compost. By the time our meal was over, a party of eight had arrived with three young children and Saman's wife and kids were on hand, refreshing water and bringing out dessert. We will travel the WV to NH route again and would make a point to come to the Red Pepper again. I also purchased a gift certificate for a family member who lives about an hour from the Red Pepper, which was very easy (the amount was added to our bill).

Delicious Sri Lankan food and wonderful service from friendly staff. Everything was served promptly. The hot tea was delicious- served with a dark brown-sugar like nugget that you are encouraged to suck on in between sips of tea. Loved it! Dessert was also delicious- I forgot to take a picture. It was like a creamy flan. Very tasty. On a cold day (12 degrees) it was a bit cold in the restaurant. Not sure if their heating was not working that day. But it was fine, we just ate with our coats on and they set up heaters and made everyone comfortable. I found the dishes to be a little bit over priced ($18 for rice and eggs), but that also might just be par for the course in Beacon, NY. It was such a delicious and lovely experience that I would still come back even at those prices. Always happy to support local businesses.

The owner Saman was delightful with our table explaining how Sri Lankan food is different - less oil, more spice. He is very lively and he was absolutely right. I had the curry and it was truly delicious. This is the best after hiking food I’ve ever had. Charming environment, friendly and yummy.

First time trying Sri Lankan food — and I did not expect to have this kind of experience in Beacon, NY! From the outside, it feels like you’re walking into someone’s home, and the inside has that same cozy vibe. We came on a Sunday around 1 p.m. after hiking for some fall foliage and were happy to find seats available. There was just one person taking orders, so it took about 5–6 minutes to place ours, but that gave us time to really look over the menu. Here’s what we tried: * Appetizer Sampler – 2 fried fish balls, 2 spring rolls, and 2 small veggie samosas. (7/10) * Deviled Pork – Must try! Perfectly crisp edges with a slightly chewy texture, full of flavor — sweet, savory, not greasy — all over fluffy yellow rice. Absolutely delicious and not that spicy. (10/10) * Hopper with Goat – The hopper itself was so interesting! It’s a thin, bowl-shaped pancake to pair with the goat. (8/10) * Sri Lankan Tea with Milk – As a milk tea lover, I was so happy. The ginger and spice blend gave it such warmth, and they even serve it with a piece of brown rock sugar if you want it sweeter. (10/10) * Watalappan – A spiced coconut flan with cashews for crunch — rich, fragrant, and perfectly balanced. (10/10) * Kiri Peni – High-quality yogurt drizzled with a light sweet syrup — simple but so good. (9/10) The food came out fairly quickly, and we were done by 2 p.m. The portions are on the smaller side, but with an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, we left feeling satisfied and not bloated. This makes sense since they take pride in using just spices to cook without oil. Prices are a bit high for the portion size, but I would still consider it a gem in Beacon. I’d definitely come back to try more entrées in the future and check out a spot in the city! IG: Jubes111 Youtube:JujubiFam

Great Sri Lankan restaurant. I had the goat curry at the suggestion of the host and it was delicious. Delicious spices. Good for people who are gluten free as well.

My wife who is a terrific cook and Sri Lankan said ‘this is the best Sri Lankan meal I had in America’ after eating Saman’s Nadi Goreng and black pork curry. Dessert was Watalappan (below).