Semsom
“Semsom is a solid fast casual restaurant that offers pretty healthy and good tasting Mediterranean food.”
“I have no idea what authentic Med food is, but it was delicious) tastes and complimented the proteins provided.”
“Chicken Taouk is my fave, both on a bed of rice or in a wrap.”
Semsom
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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If you're in the mood for middle-eastern/mediterranean, this is a solid spot. They have good food that comes in a Chipotle-style assembly line. That being said, whenever I've eaten here, I've felt really tired and sluggish afterwards, which is a sign that they're not using the best kinds of ingredients.
I don't go here anymore just because there are so many other great spots around.
It's like the Chipotle of Mediterranean food… you think I'm kidding but seriously. I don't have a lot to say, basically it was aight. If you're on the run, this is a solid place to load up your stomach.
I (sort of) fell in love with Semson last summer during its Yelp event–amazing lemonades, scrumptious, overwhelming Mediterranean bowls that were out-of-this-world delicious. The "Make Your Own Hummus" was also a plus that made this place so easy to fall in love with. This place seemed so perfect at the time.
I've been meaning to return and finally give this place my business. I was prepared to turn the cries of my rumbling stomach into a bloated one of these days. Cue last Thursday night, when I figured Semson would be the best cure to my immense hours-long hunger, I rushed my way to this conveniently located eatery. About 30 minutes left until closing, they sure were ready to wrap containers of food up, but there was still plenty of food left. I got the Taouk Chicken Bowl with salad, yogurt, and cabbage salad. Very skimpy portions of everything (roughly about a fifth- to a sixth cup-sized portions) that left for plenty of views of the bottom of the bowl. Maybe because I was a bothered with my portions but I wasn't blown away with this meal this time around. The chicken was good, the cabbage salad was average and the mint yogurt was standard, but paying over $10 for the amount of food that I got didn't help how I felt.
Granted it was near closing but plenty of food was left and I'm sure they toss out leftovers, so why they were so skimpy on portions, I don't know. I guess it'll pass for a Mediterranean Diet of small portions.
Semsom is a great place for healthy Mediterranean food in a rustic, colorful eatery. I came here for the first time today, and everything about this spot was on point: my server welcomed me warmly and accommodated my dairy restrictions (I'm lactose intolerant and didn't have my lactaid pills with me today), and there are couches / loveseats as options if you eat in.
Food wise, I got the Touka Chicken bowl, with sweet and sour eggplant being the most distinctive add-on. I mostly enjoyed this dish, and the chicken was tasty since it was well seasoned on the outside, but it was rather dry on the inside. The eggplant was uniquely prepared (I've never seen it in a sweet and sour style before), and it was definitely to my taste, since I enjoy sweets.
The mini grocery store / goods shelves add something interesting to this eatery: there are cookbooks, small jars of several spices/seasonings, tea leaves, and other items on the shelves to your right as you walk in the door: definitely nice to check out if you're ever waiting in line at this place.
To be honest, Semsom was just okay. Nothing particularly stood out to me.
I ordered a bowl with the Taouk Chicken with rice and chose the eggplant and hummus as my sides (you get two). And, you can add cucumber, tomato, and spinach for free. I thought the chicken was kinda dry and weirdly chewy. The eggplant had an interesting flavor: not the biggest fan. The best part was definitely the hummus.
I also ordered a mulberry lemonade and that was very bitter and set me back 3 bucks. By the end of the bottle I got used to it though.
I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again.
It's all about the hummus and the roasted cauliflower here. You get great healthy alternatives at a good value at Semson.
I have long tried to emulate hummus in my own kitchen but to no avail. Quite simply, it's nowhere near as good as Semson's. Semson's is creamy and smooth, with just the right amount of flavor. Plain is great, but if you want something different try other flavors like sriracha. An order costs about $4 and comes with a bag of Brooklyn Baked Pita chips.
Note that when I visited in March 2016, Semson gave out a complementary hummus after checking in with the Yelp app. Check it out to see if it's still active!
Roasted veggies are all the rage these days, because they mellow out the flavor of vegetables and make them slightly sweet and crispy while preserving their nutritional value. Semson actually marinates their cauliflower with spices like sumac for lemon-like and splashes on pomegranate molasses for a deep, tart finish. Roasted cauliflower is a basic dish, and I make it often, but like my hummus, it pales in comparison to Semson's.
There are two things I wasn't sold with at Semson.
The beef shawarma is very different from traditional shawarma I've had. The flavor profile is different and the meat was not as juicy. It was still enjoyable in its own right, but I would have much prefered the cauliflower. Unlike Chipotle, Semson doesn't do half and half, meaning you have to commit to just one protein selection. With so many different options, I wish that they offered this (I could have gotten the cauliflower if I selected the "double meat" option and paid $2.75 extra).
The to-go containers are flimsy. The cardboard top doesn't really lock in tight, meaning you have to be careful when doing take-out. I wish they'd have another option, because given its proximity to NYU and the 6 Astor Place subway I anticipate on stopping by a lot.
I'm glad that Semson brings in authentic flavors without at all sacrificing health benefits.
This was my first time trying Lebanese food and I really liked it! I had chicken, eggplant and cucumber salad over rice with yogurt sauce. I also got a free hummus and chips with my Yelp check in – it's actually an amazing deal because it's a huge tub of hummus. Everything was delicious!
It's like a healthy, Mediterranean Chipotlé.
The food here is great, everything tastes fresh and is put together right in front of you. The people who work behind the counter are great and very helpful.
The story of how the restaurant came to be is interesting (I won't spoil it for you, it's painted on the walls). I also chatted with both owners who were there and they were extremely friendly.
Semsom is a great addition to this part of town and I look forward to returning soon.