12 Fantastic Indian Restaurants in NYC | Condé Nast Traveler

"I’ve followed chef Vijaya Kumar’s journey from a paddy farm in Tamil Nadu to New York, and at Semma in the West Village he remains unwaveringly true to his South Indian roots—playing Tamil hits while serving home-kitchen dishes that read like elevated comfort food: annasi padam scallops in pineapple sauce, a luscious lobster tail moilee, pillowy paniyaram, and a gunpowder dosa I’d vote the best in the city, capped off by a seasonal mango dessert that transports you straight to summer in India; Semma’s accolades include a Michelin star, being named the city’s best restaurant by the New York Times, and Kumar’s James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York." - Sarah Khan