San Rasa

Tompkinsville is the locus for Staten Island's sizable Sri Lankan population, so the food you'll find in the neighborhood is authentic, not watered down for American tastes. At the pleasant San Rasa the curries can be spicy but not overwhelmingly so. One of the best dishes is lamprie, a combo of a little bit of everything that includes a choice of meat or fish plus rice, eggplant, caramelized onions, legumes, broccoli, carrots, cashews and a browned vegetable patty, all tucked inside a giant banana leaf that's folded over and pierced by a paper umbrella. Lined up under a thatched overhang in back are steam tables for the Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet—the other six days of the week it's à la carte. For chowhounds seeking cheap and interesting international eating experiences, San Rasa is a 15 minute walk from the St. George ferry terminal.