Authentic South Indian fine dining w/ bold, regional flavors. Michelin-starred, but resv. are notoriously tough to snag.
Discover the rural cuisine of Southern India at Semma in the West Village, a Michelin-awarded restaurant where chef Vijay Kumar's James Beard Award highlights his acclaimed approach to Indian flavors.
Semma, a Michelin 1-star restaurant in Manhattan's West Village, is celebrated for its authentic and innovative South Indian cuisine, spearheaded by Chef Vijay Kumar. The restaurant masterfully reimagines traditional flavors from Tamil Nadu, offering a unique fine-dining experience that has earned it widespread acclaim, including the #1 spot on The New York Times' Best NYC Restaurants list. Dishes like the Gunpowder Dosa and the Kanyakumari Nandu Masala (Dungeness crab) are frequently lauded, though securing a reservation is notoriously difficult, adding to its allure.
Semma specializes in authentic, regional South Indian cuisine, with a particular emphasis on flavors from Tamil Nadu. While many commend the bold and unique dishes, such as the highly recommended Gunpowder Dosa and Kanyakumari Nandu Masala (Dungeness crab), a minority find some dishes overly spiced, bland, or overpriced. The restaurant is noted for not compromising on traditional flavors for American palates.
"Highly recommended dishes include the Gunpowder Dosa, Kanyakumari Nandu Masala (Dungeness crab), Lobster, Short Rib, and various seafood preparations like the Banana Leaf Branzino. Many also praise the unique and flavorful curries."
Customers generally praise Semma for its authentic and unique South Indian flavors, particularly highlighting dishes like the Gunpowder Dosa and crab curry. However, some find it overpriced or question its high rankings, while reservation difficulties are a common point of discussion.
Important Note
Reservations are extremely difficult to obtain, often booked weeks in advance. Some diners have reported issues with rushed service or found the food to be overpriced or not meeting expectations. The restaurant has a 'B' health rating, which has been a point of discussion among some patrons.
"This restaurant in the West Village is suggested for team dinners and provides good vegetarian options."
Neutral"This commenter responded to reservation difficulty at Semma by saying they keep trying on Resy and hope for the best."
Neutral"This commenter expressed difficulty in getting a reservation at Semma, asking for advice."
Neutral"This commenter humorously suggested that a lower health rating might correlate with higher taste, referencing a 'chinatown method'."
Neutral"This commenter expressed surprise about Semma's health rating and stated they ate there last month and it was incredible."
Positive"This commenter confirmed Semma received a 'B' health rating in Feb 2024, noting it wasn't new information."
Neutral"This commenter mentioned Semma's 'B' health rating with a heartbroken emoji, implying concern."
Negative"This commenter stated Semma is their favorite restaurant and they plan to return soon, despite hearing about a recent 'B' health rating."
Positive"The user cross-checks subreddit recommendations on Google Maps and has found the NYT top 100 restaurants to be consistently good. Semma was mentioned as one of these incredible recent experiences."
Positive"The user recommends Semma as a great choice, but cautions that it's more South Indian focused on dishes like dosa and beef fry, suggesting Dhamaka or Bungalow might be better for a general birthday dinner."
Positive"The user also really liked Semma, along with other popular recommendations. They noted it serves great Southern Indian food with interesting seafood options."
Positive"The user recommends Semma, highlighting its South Indian focus with dishes like dosa and beef fry. They also note it's their favorite restaurant but less ideal for a general birthday dinner seeking variety."
Positive"The user questions the availability of reservations at Semma."
Neutral"Semma is part of a restaurant group that focuses on different regions of India. If Semma reservations are unavailable, Masala Zone, Adda, and Dhamaka are suggested as easier-to-get-into alternatives."
Neutral"The user suggests Dhamaka as an alternative to Semma, noting that Semma reservations can be difficult to obtain."
Neutral"This user recommends Kebab Aur Sherab, Dilli Dilli, Chatti, and Kanyakumari in Manhattan for South Asian cuisine."
Positive"This user found Semma to be "mid" and suggested that if it moved to Queens, its popularity and perceived quality would decrease due to its high prices."
Negative"This commenter clarifies that the review in question did not suggest all Indian restaurants should have tikka masala, but rather noted its absence in Semma, which serves South Indian cuisine."
Neutral"This commenter suggests that the entire "Unapologetic food group," which includes Semma, is overrated."
Negative"This commenter notes that Semma employs significant marketing efforts and is frequently featured in media "puff pieces.""
Neutral
