At Semma in the West Village, James Beard Award-winning chef Vijay Kumar highlights the edible bounty of South Indian cuisine, rooted in his own upbringing in the southernmost state of the country, Tamil Nadu. With flavorful, elegant dishes that are pricy yet ample, it’s among the notable restaurants of the Unapologetic Foods portfolio because of the team’s groundbreaking, successful efforts to showcase Indian cuisine in its full, flavorful glory, matched with quality hospitality; that’s why the chef and the restaurant have garnered so many accolades and awards through the years.
Semma is a buzzy scene: the front room with the bar is lively and more open. Opt for the less rambunctious back room if you’re looking to have conversations.
Take advantage of the Indian whiskeys on the after-dinner drinks menu. The single malt options include Karnataka distillery Amrut and Goa-based Paul John Distilleries.
The southern Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu — where chef Vijay Kumar is from — are the menu focuses of the award-winning Unapologetic Foods restaurant in the West Village. It’s a really wonderful West Village spot from the team of Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya. It wows with dishes like the Goanese oxtail and the paniyaram, little rice and lentil cakes. The gunpowder dosa is one of the best in town.