Acclaimed South Indian cuisine w/ Michelin star & #1 NYT ranking. Known for bold, authentic flavors & standout dishes like Gunpowder Dosa & crab curry. Reservations are tough!
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-starred restaurant in NYC, offers an acclaimed South Indian dining experience inspired by Chef Vijay Kumar's childhood in Tamil Nadu. Praised for its authentic and bold flavors, the restaurant has received significant recognition, including being named the No. 1 restaurant on The New York Times’ Best NYC Restaurants list and a James Beard Award for Best Chef. Dishes like the Gunpowder Dosa and Kanyakumari Nandu Masala (Dungeness crab) are highlights, though reservations are notoriously difficult to secure.
Semma specializes in South Indian cuisine, drawing inspiration from Tamil Nadu. Dishes are celebrated for their authenticity, bold flavors, and use of traditional ingredients, with the Gunpowder Dosa, Lobster, and Kanyakumari Nandu Masala (Dungeness crab) frequently recommended. Some diners, however, find the food to be too spicy, bland, or overpriced, with mixed opinions on whether it lives up to its acclaim.
"The Gunpowder Dosa is frequently highlighted as a must-try, with other recommended dishes including the Kanyakumari Nandu Masala (Dungeness crab), Lobster, Short Rib, and Lamb Chops."
Customer reviews are sharply divided, with many praising Semma's authentic and bold South Indian flavors, particularly the dosa and crab dishes, and calling it a top-tier dining experience. However, a significant portion of diners find it overhyped, overpriced, and note issues with rushed service or inconsistent quality.
Important Note
Reservations are extremely difficult to obtain, often requiring booking far in advance. Some diners have noted issues with rushed service and a 'B' health rating.
"Regarding Semma, the reviewer acknowledges its Michelin star but notes that the reviewer is primarily interested in vegetarian dishes and found limited options. They recommend the dosa, which is large and reasonably priced."
Neutral"Semma is listed as a good option for halal meat, with the commenter considering it the best among the mentioned Indian restaurants, although it's more casual than fine dining."
Positive"For Semma, bar seats are typically offered to walk-ins or those waiting when seats become available. The turnover can be quite rapid depending on the time."
Neutral"In response to needing a phone number for a new Resy account, this commenter suggests using Google Voice to obtain a free number as a potential solution."
Neutral"This commenter asks if Resy requires a phone number for new accounts, indicating a potential workaround for the original poster's ban."
Neutral"Responding to a query about Resy's bot detection, this commenter states Resy has been strict about bots for a while and has heard of them cancelling Amex cards for users caught using them."
Neutral"This commenter directly states they are not sorry for the original poster's situation, implying disapproval of their actions."
Negative"This commenter simply states 'Good', indicating approval of the situation the original poster is in."
Positive"This user expresses satisfaction that the original poster faced consequences for using bot services to book a reservation, stating they are happy this happened as they do not use such services themselves."
Positive"This commenter expresses concern about tech startups and apps promoted on Reddit, highlighting potential risks to the community regarding data collection and breaking terms of service."
Neutral"This commenter notes that Amex benefits can be used at Resy restaurants without needing a reservation and expresses approval of Resy taking action against bot usage."
Positive"This commenter reassures the original poster that they can still get their Amex credit even without a reservation for Semma."
Neutral"This commenter questions Resy's effectiveness in combating bots and suggests the original poster create a new account with a different email address to bypass the ban."
Neutral"The original poster was banned from Resy for using a third-party service (Tableturn) to secure a reservation at Semma, a popular NYC restaurant. They were unaware this violated Resy's terms of service and are now seeking to recover their account."
Neutral"Semma was included in a list of restaurant recommendations."
Positive"This user questions why Semma would be suggested for delivery, implying it's better suited for dining in."
Neutral"This user lists Semma as a high-quality option for dining out, implicitly contrasting it with delivery options like Taco Mahal."
Positive"Semma is listed as an example of a restaurant that generally stays busy year-round in NYC."
Positive"Semma was suggested as a venue for a private elopement dinner, with the user stating it was a lovely experience."
Positive"Regarding Semma, bar seating management can vary greatly between restaurants. It might be through reservations, a self-seating system, or a waitlist managed by staff."
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