postI ate at Semma. 3/570 pts
“The gunpowder dosa was the only “really good” item there. Even then, it’s not amazing enough to warrant the hassle to get a reservation to Semma.”
H3
All 905 rated mentions, most helpful first
“The gunpowder dosa was the only “really good” item there. Even then, it’s not amazing enough to warrant the hassle to get a reservation to Semma.”
H3
“Honestly think it was very validating for her to have “her” food being taken so seriously. I do agree that their meat dishes are the best — but my mom did enjoy their vegetarian options. Especially their paniyaram and gutti vankay. If you go during the summer, their mango dessert is also phenomenal.”
H3
“Semma has limited veg options imo - their meat dishes are their standouts and charging $30 for a (good!) dosa is criminal. If you’re vegetarian, I would say you can skip it.”
H3
“They tasted different (in a good way) than anything I've tried at the 30+ Indian restaurants I've been to, but the portions felt smaller with the bone. Perhaps slightly more flavor would have been great.”
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“When I dined at Semma, the real joy for me was in the variety of appetizers and mains like the Dindigul biryani, the kurma, the crab which were all imagined and brought to life just like back home and with the punch that is missing in most restaurants here.”
H3
“To me the Dosa was super crispy and the flavor of the potato masala was ON POINT! The Sambar and coconut chutney was great as well. I’ve only tried Saravanaa in the city to compare, and Semma’s Dosa was far better.”
H3
“It is simply not worth it. The food is decent, but not special; the service is well below par for a fine-dining experience, and overall, the price of the meal will leave you wanting.”
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“found the flavors to be a bit muted for the most part and the okra they served us was woody and inedible and had clearly gone bad.”
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“I didn't like Semma either. Dosa was ok, but I've definitely had better in the US for like half the price and the spice + flavors were dialed way down.”
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“Yeah, I liked the food, but it's not like the best meal I've ever had and our service was TERRIBLE.”
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“The dosa at Semma is buttery and crisp, the gunpowder podi is tasty, and the filling and chutneys are also well made. I would say the shops in Curry Hill don’t come close to it but they are decent at their price points as well.”
H3
“Honestly the best bites were the dosa and the lobster, everything else kinda made me question why they have a star. Skip the tiger prawn. They’re fine but expensive with a small portion. Not so good that its worth it imo.”
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“The dosa is absolutely incredible there, it tastes just like the ones I've had in India and even better than the ones my family from Chennai make. Everything else was just alright”
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“This is probably the best version I've ever had of it. The Valiya Chemmeen Moilee (lobster tail curry) is an elevated version of classic fish curry, and also very tasty.”
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“The food is executed incredibly but at the end of the day my mom makes food just as good without the price tag”
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“The Goanese Oxtail is one of the most expensive things on the menu and it tasted mid like gramma’s beef stew. Not what I expected from the top spot on the list!”
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“Solid restaurant, just didn't seem worth the wait.”
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“We all thought that the dosa and the fish were quite good, no question. The other mains were also good overall. The biryani was meh. However, the quality of the food didn't justify the hype or the price.”
H3
“I agree, semma was quite disappointing. Expensive, not as bursting with flavor as I was expecting, and they served straight up bad okra in one of our dishes that was woody and inedible.”
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“Went for my wife’s birthday recently. Excellent food, but I love spice.”
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“We went to Semma for my fiancee's birthday last year and honestly while the food was excellent, service was not great. It was really rushed - they definitely try to get you in and out in under an hour - so you're not going to linger over the meal if that's important to you.”
H3
“Semma overcooked our lobster so badly. And looking at google reviews, it seems they regularly overcook the lobster. Pretty inexcusable for a restaurant at that level. The rest of the food we got was... good, but not memorably outstanding.”
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“Nah. I thought it caricaturized South Indian food. Like overly spicy and a big push on presentation. Authentic, no. Balanced flavors, no. Unique meals inspired from the region, no.”
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“Semma is great for the ambiance and presentation but for South Indian food, Grandma's Tamil cooking style with raw curry leaves and direct mustard seed tempering is hard to beat at 3x the price.”
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“The dosa is great, but it’s a giant portion that is best with 3+. The stand out items to me were the tiger prawn app, and the lobster curry. You can get a delicious dosa elsewhere, but that lobster curry was unlike anything I’ve had before in an Indian restaurant.”
H3
“The food was fine, not memorable other than for the spice level.”
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“I thought the taste was ok, but not mindblowing.”
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“I just really felt this place watered down the flavors. We got the malvani chicken and the dosa and the biryani. The biryani was authentic but not my favorite and the malvani chicken was soooo bland and ordinary compared to what malvani chicken should really taste like. The dosa was 20 dollars and genuinely felt like an average dosa you could get at any stall so personally I don’t understand the hype with this place.”
H3
“The prawns were very expensive for 2 pieces.. and the onions were barely cooked. All I tasted were onions. The dosa is good but just as good as dosa spot in Newport mall.. I dunno man I feel like most of nyc top restaurants are just hype.”
H3
“As a South Indian, having that first bite of Gunpowder Dosa was truly my version of the “critic in Ratatouille” scene - took me back to when I was 5, having breakfast with my parents after church. Chef Vijay is incredible as he is kind. Must haves are: Dosa, Short ribs, Lamb Chops and Lobster.”
H2
“Absolutely blew me away. I’ve had South Indian food all my life but to see the creative presentations, the spicy aromatic flavors, and the unapologetic heritage on full display was amazing.”
H2
“The lobster moilee was incredible, one of the best lobster dishes I’ve had. Beef short rib was excellent. Overall we really enjoyed Semma”
H2
“I think Semma is the best Indian food I've ever had, bar none. Dosa, oxtail, lamb, you name it. Phenomenal.”
H2
“Overall, every dish was very tasty, some more so than others, but nothing truly stood out to me except for the super craveable dosa.”
H2
“Seriously? It’s fine but given its actual food, so overrated.”
H2
“I went there once and thought never again. Service was way too rushed and the food was extremely salty”
H2
“As a South Indian, semma is pretty good or should I say that it is semma (iykyk)! I say pretty good because the food is very home style.”
H2
“Semma dosa is definitely better quality”
H2
“Since when do restaurants not allow to order as you like? We never ate there before, so weren’t familiar with the dishes nor their sizes etc why can’t we just experience & enjoy it? Total turn off”
H2
“Dosa great, other stuff, not bad”
H2
“As a person who is not as high on Semma as others I will say the gunpowder dosa is FIRE”
H2
“South Indian style seeraga samba rice I would recommend at Anjappar or Semma.”
H2
“Semma (dosa / lobster / prawns / lamb shank)”
H2
“semma’s gunpowder dosa was so good I got take out the night I ate there. It was THAT good.”
H2
“Maybe went on an off day but my gunpowder dosa was too salty”
H2
“Semma or Dhamaka, they’re atypical and very much worth it.”
H2
“Semma and Kabawa both have incredible goat dishes, but are obviously on the more expensive side.”
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“Good but expensive for what it is.”
H2
“I think Semma is waaaaay overhated on this subreddit. My dad went to catering college in Southern India, I took him and he loved every bite. He got to meet the chef, asked about certain choices in some dishes. It was the best meal he had last year.”
H2
“I was so underwhelmed besides dosa. Didn’t have great service either. It’s def not bad but not up to the hype.”
H2