Semma has racked up plenty of praise, from the Michelin Guide to the New York Times, and we arrived genuinely excited for our 9:30pm reservation, booked weeks in advance with a $200 deposit. But from the moment we got there, the experience never quite matched the reputation.
We were seated around 9:40 and immediately told that the kitchen would be closing at 10. The rush to place our full order felt abrupt, especially for a restaurant that offers these late-night slots. It’s hard not to wonder why they exist at all if they can’t be accommodated properly.
The dining room was already loud and busy, and one of our chair's base was broken, a detail we might have overlooked if the response hadn’t been a flat refusal to replace it. “There are no extra chairs,” we were told. That’s a surprising thing to hear at any level of dining, let alone one with a Michelin star.
The food was a mixed bag. Some dishes hinted at promise, but others just didn’t land. The prawn dish was heavily oversalted, the dosa and moong dal appetizer was fine but forgettable, and the passion fruit dessert, while striking to look at, lacked depth. A scallop dish we ordered never arrived, and there was no mention or follow-up from the staff. By that point, the rhythm of the evening had clearly unraveled.
The service was warm in tone but strained under the weight of the night’s end. Cocktails, unfortunately, lacked finesse and complexity.
Semma may well have moments of brilliance earlier in the evening under less hurried circumstances. But the experience we had, rushed, uneven, and oddly indifferent, suggests a restaurant resting a bit too comfortably on its press clippings.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Shekhar Deshpande
Our colleague is a fan of this restaurant so as I was visiting from London, she suggested we go there for a team dinner. An absolutely fabulous place - like most Indians I am fussy about Indian restaurants abroad, it needs to be really good fur is to like it. Semma is an outstanding place, bringing alive the flavours of Kerala. You can smell the class and authenticity even as you wait for your food to arrive. As a veggie I can’t comment on the meat dishes but we all loved the food. The gunpowder dosa, the Paniyaram, and also the Payasam at the end were delightful.
Finally, our host Shashi Preetham was outstanding. Special thanks to him for organising a “surprise” birthday candle for our colleague!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marvin Patel
The food is fantastic. Gunpowder dosa, roadside kalan (mushrooms), kaikari kurma and gutti vankaya (eggplant curry) are class apart, 💯 recommended these dishes. Cheaper than other michelin star restaurants, superb service and nice ambiance.
it was a solid spot for indian food but it wasn’t outstanding or mind blowing. good for shared plates and attentive staff!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Caleb Kellicutt
I took a while to review this place which can be good and bad. The bad is I don’t remember all the specifics I like to talk about, but the good is I’m left with my fully brewed feelings:
This place was awesome. Each dish we had was great, and the price was not unreasonable. I remember the feeling that unlike many great restaurants this one would certainly live up to my expectations over and over again. Each dish tasted great and ended tasting just as good. The other side of this compliment is that there was nothing that really wowed me. I don’t have a single distinct memory of an incredible bite, just the knowledge that each bite was great. I remember when we were talking about the meal later that night we kept saying how surprised we were that this place got the number one spot on New York Times. I’ve had much better meals in the past year, but several I’ve gone back to for a second time and not enjoyed it as much - I’m positive I would like Semma just as much the next time I go.
Also I remember that the service was incredible, getting out of my way each time I went to the bathroom and refilling my water quickly etc.
I recommend going to have fun and a great fancy meal, but don’t expect it to overwhelm you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Curtis Traveling
Authentic Neapolitan pizza with a perfect crust—classic and casual.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
heena punjabi
I had a disappointing experience with Anastasia at this restaurant. She was incredibly rude and unwelcoming from the moment we arrived. Instead of greeting us politely, she seemed annoyed and dismissive, making us feel like we were an inconvenience rather than guests. First impressions matter, and unfortunately, hers set a very negative tone for our visit. I hope management addresses this, as the front-of-house staff should reflect the hospitality expected at this kinda restaurant
Brian Campbell
Had a great experience at Semma. Food was awesome and the service was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gunpowder Dosa, Passion Fruit Pudding, Mulaikattiya Thaniyam
Jake Byman
Overall very good experience at Semma. We were lucky enough to snag a 5:00pm reservation. The dosa was my personal favorite, but honestly the drinks were a close second. The Badtameez Dil drink was unreal. The service was really great as well; they were super kind and always checking in on us. We loved the passion fruit dessert as well. The plates were beautifully presented and, while I can't personally comment on their authenticity, my friends have reported they are remarkably like the dishes they grew up with. I see the hype!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Abhisek Jena
Average food that is overpriced. Decent food if you ever had South Indian food. Otherwise, a major let down.
You’ll get better dosa in the Temple Canteen in queens or even Sharvana Bhavan in Kips Bay.
Finally made it to Semma, and after hearing so much hype — especially after being named the #1 restaurant in NYC by the NYTimes — I was really excited to check it out. I snagged a reservation for 3 at 7:30 PM, which felt like a win in itself given how hard it can be to get a table here.
Overall, our experience was good, but not quite 5 stars, and I wouldn't put it at #1 based on what we tried. That said, I know a lot depends on what you order, so I’m going to give it a solid 4 stars.
We were seated promptly, but I’ll say the table setup could use some rethinking. It felt a little awkward, especially since we were in the middle of the room. We had to move our chairs around to avoid blocking the flow of customers and staff, which seemed a bit cramped. I get it — they’re likely trying to accommodate more guests given the demand — but it did affect the overall experience.
A really cool touch was that the Chef was walking around the restaurant and checking in with guests. He even came over to our table to ask how our experience was and what we liked the most. It was a nice, personal touch that made the meal feel more special.
Our waiter was nice but a little overwhelming with recommendations. Instead of narrowing it down, he listed almost everything on the menu, which made it a bit tricky to decide, especially with only 3 of us. But we went for it and started with the Mulaikattiya Thaniyam (a dish Pete Wells highlighted). It had a spicy kick and an interesting texture, but it wasn’t a standout for me. In hindsight, I think it would have been better paired with Parotta.
Next, we tried the scallops and gunpowder dosa. The scallops were beautifully cooked, but the flavors didn’t pop as much as I hoped. They were good, just not exciting. The gunpowder dosa, though? Hands down the highlight of the meal. It lived up to its reputation — bright, flavorful, with the right balance of spice. I could have eaten several of these!
For our entrees, we shared the Goanese Oxtail and Kaikari Kurma. The Kaikari Kurma was a little forgettable, though it did have some flavor. It felt a bit one-note compared to the other dishes. On the other hand, the Goanese Oxtail was stunning. Fall-off-the-bone tender, smoky, juicy — a real standout. Soaking it up with Parotta made for some seriously memorable bites.
All in all, Semma is great, but it didn’t quite meet the lofty expectations set by the hype. I’d definitely consider coming back to try other dishes, but I’m not running back. Still, I’d recommend giving it a go if you’re curious and want to see what the buzz is about.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Gunpowder Dosa
Rashid Khan
I booked a reservation for July 14th night. Unfortunately, that night was flash flood all around the city and I couldn’t go for reservation. These folks are so insensitive that they still charged me $100 for cancellations. I did email them as soon as trains and all stopped working in Westchester where I live but no response from them and they just charged me. Insensitive as hell
Mychel Alam
all good and good service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dindigul Biryani, Passion Fruit Pudding
muthappan Muthupalaniappan
Pretty bad treatment by the front desk folks on denying people entry and chasing them off. No take outs and not enough tables to accommodate the crowd and they don’t service out even though they have tables out . Horrible experience
Semma has racked up plenty of praise, from the Michelin Guide to the New York Times, and we arrived genuinely excited for our 9:30pm reservation, booked weeks in advance with a $200 deposit. But from the moment we got there, the experience never quite matched the reputation.
We were seated around 9:40 and immediately told that the kitchen would be closing at 10. The rush to place our full order felt abrupt, especially for a restaurant that offers these late-night slots. It’s hard not to wonder why they exist at all if they can’t be accommodated properly.
The dining room was already loud and busy, and one of our chair's base was broken, a detail we might have overlooked if the response hadn’t been a flat refusal to replace it. “There are no extra chairs,” we were told. That’s a surprising thing to hear at any level of dining, let alone one with a Michelin star.
The food was a mixed bag. Some dishes hinted at promise, but others just didn’t land. The prawn dish was heavily oversalted, the dosa and moong dal appetizer was fine but forgettable, and the passion fruit dessert, while striking to look at, lacked depth. A scallop dish we ordered never arrived, and there was no mention or follow-up from the staff. By that point, the rhythm of the evening had clearly unraveled.
The service was warm in tone but strained under the weight of the night’s end. Cocktails, unfortunately, lacked finesse and complexity.
Semma may well have moments of brilliance earlier in the evening under less hurried circumstances. But the experience we had, rushed, uneven, and oddly indifferent, suggests a restaurant resting a bit too comfortably on its press clippings.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Our colleague is a fan of this restaurant so as I was visiting from London, she suggested we go there for a team dinner.
An absolutely fabulous place - like most Indians I am fussy about Indian restaurants abroad, it needs to be really good fur is to like it.
Semma is an outstanding place, bringing alive the flavours of Kerala. You can smell the class and authenticity even as you wait for your food to arrive.
As a veggie I can’t comment on the meat dishes but we all loved the food. The gunpowder dosa, the Paniyaram, and also the Payasam at the end were delightful.
Finally, our host Shashi Preetham was outstanding. Special thanks to him for organising a “surprise” birthday candle for our colleague!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is fantastic. Gunpowder dosa, roadside kalan (mushrooms), kaikari kurma and gutti vankaya (eggplant curry) are class apart, 💯 recommended these dishes. Cheaper than other michelin star restaurants, superb service and nice ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gunpowder Dosa, Paniyaram, Sambar, Coconut Dessert
it was a solid spot for indian food but it wasn’t outstanding or mind blowing. good for shared plates and attentive staff!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I took a while to review this place which can be good and bad. The bad is I don’t remember all the specifics I like to talk about, but the good is I’m left with my fully brewed feelings:
This place was awesome. Each dish we had was great, and the price was not unreasonable. I remember the feeling that unlike many great restaurants this one would certainly live up to my expectations over and over again. Each dish tasted great and ended tasting just as good. The other side of this compliment is that there was nothing that really wowed me. I don’t have a single distinct memory of an incredible bite, just the knowledge that each bite was great. I remember when we were talking about the meal later that night we kept saying how surprised we were that this place got the number one spot on New York Times. I’ve had much better meals in the past year, but several I’ve gone back to for a second time and not enjoyed it as much - I’m positive I would like Semma just as much the next time I go.
Also I remember that the service was incredible, getting out of my way each time I went to the bathroom and refilling my water quickly etc.
I recommend going to have fun and a great fancy meal, but don’t expect it to overwhelm you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Authentic Neapolitan pizza with a perfect crust—classic and casual.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had a disappointing experience with Anastasia at this restaurant. She was incredibly rude and unwelcoming from the moment we arrived. Instead of greeting us politely, she seemed annoyed and dismissive, making us feel like we were an inconvenience rather than guests. First impressions matter, and unfortunately, hers set a very negative tone for our visit. I hope management addresses this, as the front-of-house staff should reflect the hospitality expected at this kinda restaurant
Had a great experience at Semma. Food was awesome and the service was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gunpowder Dosa, Passion Fruit Pudding, Mulaikattiya Thaniyam
Overall very good experience at Semma. We were lucky enough to snag a 5:00pm reservation. The dosa was my personal favorite, but honestly the drinks were a close second. The Badtameez Dil drink was unreal. The service was really great as well; they were super kind and always checking in on us. We loved the passion fruit dessert as well. The plates were beautifully presented and, while I can't personally comment on their authenticity, my friends have reported they are remarkably like the dishes they grew up with. I see the hype!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Average food that is overpriced. Decent food if you ever had South Indian food. Otherwise, a major let down.
You’ll get better dosa in the Temple Canteen in queens or even Sharvana Bhavan in Kips Bay.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Swell.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally made it to Semma, and after hearing so much hype — especially after being named the #1 restaurant in NYC by the NYTimes — I was really excited to check it out. I snagged a reservation for 3 at 7:30 PM, which felt like a win in itself given how hard it can be to get a table here.
Overall, our experience was good, but not quite 5 stars, and I wouldn't put it at #1 based on what we tried. That said, I know a lot depends on what you order, so I’m going to give it a solid 4 stars.
We were seated promptly, but I’ll say the table setup could use some rethinking. It felt a little awkward, especially since we were in the middle of the room. We had to move our chairs around to avoid blocking the flow of customers and staff, which seemed a bit cramped. I get it — they’re likely trying to accommodate more guests given the demand — but it did affect the overall experience.
A really cool touch was that the Chef was walking around the restaurant and checking in with guests. He even came over to our table to ask how our experience was and what we liked the most. It was a nice, personal touch that made the meal feel more special.
Our waiter was nice but a little overwhelming with recommendations. Instead of narrowing it down, he listed almost everything on the menu, which made it a bit tricky to decide, especially with only 3 of us. But we went for it and started with the Mulaikattiya Thaniyam (a dish Pete Wells highlighted). It had a spicy kick and an interesting texture, but it wasn’t a standout for me. In hindsight, I think it would have been better paired with Parotta.
Next, we tried the scallops and gunpowder dosa. The scallops were beautifully cooked, but the flavors didn’t pop as much as I hoped. They were good, just not exciting. The gunpowder dosa, though? Hands down the highlight of the meal. It lived up to its reputation — bright, flavorful, with the right balance of spice. I could have eaten several of these!
For our entrees, we shared the Goanese Oxtail and Kaikari Kurma. The Kaikari Kurma was a little forgettable, though it did have some flavor. It felt a bit one-note compared to the other dishes. On the other hand, the Goanese Oxtail was stunning. Fall-off-the-bone tender, smoky, juicy — a real standout. Soaking it up with Parotta made for some seriously memorable bites.
All in all, Semma is great, but it didn’t quite meet the lofty expectations set by the hype. I’d definitely consider coming back to try other dishes, but I’m not running back. Still, I’d recommend giving it a go if you’re curious and want to see what the buzz is about.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Gunpowder Dosa
I booked a reservation for July 14th night. Unfortunately, that night was flash flood all around the city and I couldn’t go for reservation.
These folks are so insensitive that they still charged me $100 for cancellations. I did email them as soon as trains and all stopped working in Westchester where I live but no response from them and they just charged me.
Insensitive as hell
all good and good service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dindigul Biryani, Passion Fruit Pudding
Pretty bad treatment by the front desk folks on denying people entry and chasing them off. No take outs and not enough tables to accommodate the crowd and they don’t service out even though they have tables out . Horrible experience
Service: 1
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