So, I have a new obsession: Dosas. But not just any dosas. I like--no, scratch that--CRAVE the ones at Hampton Chutney Co. on Prince Street in SoHo.
Like so many of the restaurants I try nowadays, Hampton Chutney was a find via Google search (It is result #3 when you search "gluten free SoHo NYC.") And, as the Google Local (or Google Places or Google Whatever-the-hell-they're-calling-it-this-week) reviews attest, its menu is filled with tasty dishes made with fresh, organic ingredients, many of which are inherently gluten free, or can be altered ever so slightly to render them completely gluten free.
What you'll also glean from these reviews is that the cuisine is not exactly "authentic." Although, I wouldn't go so far as the bitchy reviewer who deemed it "faux Indian made by yuppies." (Ouch. Harsh much?) In reality, Hampton Chutney takes big cues from traditional Indian food and then throws in Americanized touches, occasionally dialing down the heat for Western palates without sacrificing a lot of flavor. For me, this equals a perfect marriage and perfect lunch fare.
First time visiting Hampton Chutney in SoHo (they also have an outpost on Amsterdam Ave on the UWS), I went around 2pm on a Saturday. Even at this late lunch hour, there was a sizable line poking out the front door and down the sidewalk. A great sign at any time of day.
Also, I have to mention how cool it was to see everyone from elderly grandparents with rugrats in tow to gay couples standing in line for the place. Granted, it has to do with the neighborhood it's in, but it's the vibe of the place itself.
Inside, the décor is trendy in a nondescript way, but the atmosphere is cozy. Tables are huddled together in a communal kind of way. I found myself sharing a tiny tray table with a chatty Australian couple.
For an extra touch of hipness, menu items are written in chalk on a blackboard that dangles precariously from the ceiling above the cashiers.
On that note, nothing strikes fear in my gut like walking into a restaurant that claims to accommodate gluten-intolerant patrons, only to notice that nothing on the menu is labeled to indicate the presence of allergens. I did, however, spot a sign at the counter that blithely stated: “Have Questions? Ask!”
Ask? As in, hold up the line of thirty hungry New Yorkers behind me to quiz the college kids behind the counter about their knowledge of gluten?
I envisioned myself being hogtied and ridden out on a rail.
Approaching the counter, I apprehensively asked the skater punk kid taking orders what was safe for me to eat. Without hesitation, he gestured to the chalkboard.
“Everything on our menu is gluten free, except for our deli-style sandwiches, and those are prepared on a separate grill.”
It might as well as have been Puccini coming out of his mouth. He even knew that gluten-free foods prepared on the same grill as foods containing gluten can result in cross-contamination. A+ for the skater punk and for Hampton Chutney Co. for properly prepping its wait staff.
After a few more questions—and no one throttled me for my inquisitiveness, by the way—he recommended I order a seasonal specialty of theirs: A butternut squash, mushroom, spinach, and cheddar-filled dosa—which for the uninitiated is a crêpe-like pancake made from lentil flour and water, and grilled golden brown.
The satisfying and flavorful dosa was savory but not spicy, which, as I noted above, might have disappointed someone seeking Calcutta-in-August-type heat; however, it was perfect for my palate.
The one thing that the skater punk and the eatery’s many web reviewers neglected to mention is the sheer size of the dosas at Hampton Chutney Co. They are more than a foot long. They overhang your plate and the orange plastic cafeteria tray beneath. They tastily invade the space of others sitting next to you and tempt them to steal stealth bites of its cricket bat-sized goodness.
They’re pretty big, in other words.
Despite my dosa’s eye-popping dimensions, its deliciously light consistency made wolfing down the entire thing (yeah, I ate the whole damn thing), accompanied by an equally tasty side of subtly sweet pumpkin chutney, feel not so gluttonous.
Gluten free food bigger than your head and sharing a table with a pleasant couple from Australia, all for under $10?
Win.
Hampton Chutney Co.
68 Prince Street
(212) 226-9996
www.hamptonchutney.com
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