Great experience here! This place is a cute, simple and a must try when looking for dinner on the west side. I really enjoyed it ALL!! Service was prompt and the waiter was informative, this is always important when visiting a new spot! Pastas were all very tasty. Drinks had good presentation and mixed nicely. Wine list was on point, I had a great sancerre! Experience was 10 out of 10, would definitely recommend to my foodie friends. read more

did a friday night walk in spontaneous after passing this spot a ton of times- was very intrigued by italian japanese fusion my friend and i split everything: 1 entree, 1 main, 1 app. we did the miso ceasar it was a good salad & easy to pull apart and share. crunchy w a chip on top the coconut curry salmon had an amazing sauce but the salmon was slightly overcooked. the grain this came with was delicious the vodka pasta was my favorite - cooked perfectly al dente and was actually kind of spicy! service was great def would recommend and return read more

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Came here for their Valentine's Day prix fixe. Right off the bat I liked that there wasn't a *huge* Valentine's Day mark up (although of course there was some) in the $120 pp Valentine's Day four course prix fixe versus their normal $95 pp four-course prix fixe, as the Valentine's Day one came with a complimentary cocktail and a rose. The food was amazing. The beef tartare came with this amazing bread, and the arancini was great. Both noodle dishes (carbonara and cacio e Szechuan) were cooked really well. The duck and filet mignon were also delicious--the farro the duck came with and the mushrooms the filet mignon came with were amazing, despite just being sides. I wasn't as into the dessert flight--the matcha cheesecake didn't taste that matcha-y, but the panna cotta and strawberry cheesecake were good. Now, for the cons: there was almost no Asian influence to any of their dishes. Which is fine--the did Italian food very well--but just kinda weird given the marketing. For example, the cacio e Szechuan was supposed to come with Szechuan peppercorn, but there was no taste of that at all (and you can see in the photo there was just no peppercorn). I'm not sure if this was just a mistake in the way ours was cooked, but it meant both our pastas had basically the same taste. Also, I couldn't really taste miso in the carbonara (although I will grant the pork belly was extremely delicious). And again, the matcha cheesecake kinda just tasted like regular cheesecake. Also, our four-course meal took 2.5 hours, with an extremely long wait between our pasta dish and main course. This was likely because they were overwhelmed with Valentine's Day couples--the place was packed--but it felt a bit weird that it wasn't acknowledged. Service and ambience were very nice, and overall I'd like to come back on a normal day to see if this was a one off! read more

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I'm surprised this place wasn't more crowded--it definitely deserves more attention. The pastas here are some of the best I've had in the city. The Japanese influences on the menu make the dishes interesting. The uni tagliolini and miso Carbonara are absolute "chef's kiss" perfection. The service was prompt and very friendly throughout our lunch. Plus, they accept InKind, which made the payment process a breeze. If you're looking for high-quality, creative pasta, you need to check this place out! read more

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I have been wanting to come to this cozy and inviting spot for a while as I always crossed it during my neighborhood walks. The food lived up to the expectations that I've had. the food was phenomenal. The service was prompt, friendly and accommodating because we did have a last minute addition. Definitely don't miss the lobster ravioli, the airline chicken and octopus. I would have given this spot 5 stars but had to take one off for the salmon (which looked pretty but not flavor profile we were looking for) and the super strong drinks (which is okay if you're looking to get sloshed quick - maybe on a bad date?!?) read more

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This place was such a gem! I'm so glad I found it. We did the Sesamo experience and it was a lot of great food for the value! Pasta is all house made. The octopus was the most tender we've ever had- we didn't even need a knife to cut it. Best octopus we've had around the country. Great flavors and fusion. Highly recommend for romantic dates or a great dinner before a show. Ambiance was super chill and jazzy. read more

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One Menu / Two Ways. Pre-Fix or A La Carte. We went the Pre-Fix route, so we could try 8 things, but in smaller size. Started with a Hibiscus Mockarita. I've kinda given up on the N/A Mocktails, but this one was pretty good. My wife had a Pink Pony Vesper that turned into a Libation-Obsession; Vodka & Gin Martini...plenty of razzle dazzle and a cotton candy garnish. {Find her review for the full story} And now...the meal. THE SPARK - Crispy Salmon Nigiri & Arancini (Rice Balls). Wise choices to start. ROOTS & WAVES - Crispy Calamari was crispy, hot and crunchy with great dipping sauce. Miso Caesar was not good at all. Flavorless dressing with a crispy thing on top, (see picture). Hard pass CRAFTED BY HAND (Mid Course) - Miso Carbonara was ok. Some sort of sour taste was buried in the dish, that even the strong pancetta couldn't cancel out. Forest Ravioli was the winner here. We even finished the sauce with a spoon ! ELEMENTAL (Mains) - Black Cod & Miso Demi was quite nice. Loved the Taro Mash. Tempura Chicken Parm was a huge portion. I think they may have given us the A La Carte version by mistake, which was fine. We took some home . Ube Cheesecake was ok. A bit dry and heavy. "Italian Roots Asian Soul" is the motto at Sesamo. But I'd think they need to lighten up on the miso and concentrate more on the Italian. read more

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Starting off strong with a Pink Pony Vesper--huge fan of a martini 2.0 and of this. With gin AND vodka, it's a cute sleeper cocktail, especially looking so innocent in a frosty nick and nora glass. I'm assuming the "pink pony-ness" is the peachy vodka, clipped cloud of blue cotton candy, and edible glitter...And for the pop-culture fans, this drink is equivalent to Chappell Roan being a Bond girl. 10/10, make that movie! The hibiscus mockarita with the messy black lava salt needs to GO. We opted for the Sesamo experience (for the fall 2025 menu) which was 4 courses for $99 PP. With some hits, like the crispy salmon nigiri, and some confusing misses, like the miso Caesar crunch, we enjoyed the variety of Asian Italian fusion--mild puzzlement included. What was also confusing were the sizes of the last course--the tempura chicken parm was Italian dinner size, enormous!...While the black miso cod was small and seemed ornamental nestled on the edge of a whipped taro mash...thing. We ended with ube cheesecake and that was tasty, a standard cheesecake slice beautifully purple with strawberries ontop. We loved the service, we weren't constantly bothered and someone came by to wipe off our little crumbs and spills in between courses. It's a cute little restaurant, it's obviously a little loud during dinner service on a Friday night, but I'm still glad we got to experience it--it's worth the 3 Benjamins (gasp!) Cheers! read more

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Italian with an Asian flare - who wouldn't want to try! The ambiance was inviting and very Hell's Kitchen vibe! Hints of red and wood decor set the scene. Service was prompt and they very knowledgeable! The food - omg the food It was simply delicious! I would recommend starting with the sesame bread with their home made butter- it's whipped and almost to die for! The oysters were fresh and well balanced We also had the octopus - very well done with the whipped purple potato ! The pasta was well balanced with just enough heat and truffles! The steak- a must try ! Melted in your mouth almost like wagu! If you have room for dessert ask the waiter for their recommendations they won't lead you wrong! Will come back for sure! read more

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Sesamo has been on my list for the longest time, and I finally got a group of friends to go with me. Upon entering (arriving early for our reservation), we were greeted kindly by staff. The attentive service continued throughout the night. The restaurant wasn't too loud, so our group was able to easily converse. Everyone at our table got the meal set. The Caesar Salad was the most unique I've ever had. I loved the crisp, savoriness, and saltiness of the dish because of the rice chips and furikake. The rice chips made the salad taste more like a fun snack than just vegetables, which I loved The 50 Shades of Earl Grey mocktail was the most complex-tasting mocktail I've ever tried and quite possibly the best mocktail choice I've ever made. The Duck Ragu Rigatoni tasted exactly like it sounds except with a slight guru masala twist. The twist works, making the flavor feel a little deeper and richer than a typical ragu rigatoni. The Chocolate Katsu Bread was a bit of a letdown because it sounded unique but didn't taste as unique as I thought it would. I did try a bit of a friend's tiramisu, which was delicious. read more

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We stumbled upon this place and loved the eclectic take on Italian cuisine with an Asian inspired twist. The service was great, and the host was extremely friendly. Highlight of this place was the matcha tiramisu. It is to die for, and I would definitely come back to Sesamo for the food, especially the tiramisu. read more

Sesamo - Matcha Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Italian food with Asian influences, perfect for a pre-theater meal Location One the corner of 52nd Street and 10th Avenue, we walked early on a week night, we were warmly welcomed and sat at a window seat. There is a beautiful red seat in the back. The bar is quite large and the spacing is nice. This location is popular with the theater crowd but it is quite far west but worth the walk Food and Drink Everything was great from the cocktails and main courses. We went with the pre-theater three course to try some different items, Duck Ragu Rigatoni, Agnolotti, Arancini, Bluefin Tuna Nigiri, and finished with the Matcha Tiramisu, Chocolate Katsu Bread. The Agnolotti was very flavorful with the ginger scallion pesto. The duck dish was very feeling and full bodied too. Service We were there early so everything was quick and smooth. I liked the pacing of the service and felt overall a relaxed energy. Overall This is a great spot with a unique fusion dishes which has a glossary of Asian food terms for those less familiar with different items. Next Broadway show, we are coming back to Sesamo. read more

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Food and service were excellent and we all enjoyed it very much. Orange burrata small plate was really outstanding

Had a lovely pre-theater experience dining at this beautiful restaurant! We had fried artichoke to start our meal. It was beautifully prepared and the sauce was very light. The light lemon flavor really made it delightful without any sauce. For entrees, we had four very different options and all hit the mark. We had the fennel salad, homemade papperdelle,miso black cod and the angus strip lion steak. All were perfectly prepared and unique in their own way. Service staff was wonderful and very mindful of showtime performances. We were only a 15 minute walk to Bernard B. Jacobs Theater. Great choice and definitely would recommend! read more

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Loved this place! Came right before a Broadway show with a large group of friends. Everything we ordered was as delicious as it looks. Our server was super friendly and helped us get hype for our show. The Cesar Salad was so cool and was so yummy! read more

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Was seeing a show last week at MCC Theater and looking for a place to eat quickly before the show with a friend. Sesamo is diagonally across the street so we decided to check it out. They list themselves as asian inspired italian food. We were in crunch for time and had to skip appetizers and dove right into the food. I had the Agnolotti pasta dish ($28) which was homemade ricotta filled agnolotti with ginger scallion pesto, carrots, parsnips, and topped with a wedge of crispy parmesan. This dish was so special with the combination of flavors, the pasta itself light and delicate. So good! I could have ordered a second serving. My friend ordered the Duck Confit Rigatoni ($29). Normally I avoid duck as the few times I have tried it, it's been chewy. My friend insisted I try saying it wasn't chewy at all. He was right - it was tender and falling apart. Loved the bite I had. We both had one of the seasonal cocktails. I don't recall which, but both were different from the usual cocktail menu and we really enjoyed them. Our waitress was kind and patient while giving us suggestions and constantly checking in on us. Due to the prices, I would say they are a little more on the upscale side. Portions were a little small for the price. On the way out two people working the door asked how everything was. They informed us the menus are seasonal and change often so we will have to come back to see what else they have in store. All in all its a charming restaurant with great service and food in Hell's Kitchen! read more

Sesamo - cocktails - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I've had this place bookmarked for a long while and finally tried it a few weeks ago. It's a cute place with a nice menu. Hostess was friendly upon arrival. What we got and what I thought: Calamari Fritti - very good Duck Ragu Rigatoni - amazing, must order! Matcha Tiramisu - very good tiramisu but the espresso is so strong, the matcha gets lost in it. I was hoping it was just matcha without the coffee. Matcha is such a delicate flavor, it gets lost in most things. But still a good dessert nonetheless. Yuzu Honey Gelato - good flavor, not too sweet but was a bit icy Around the Izakaya cocktail - good Service was attentive and friendly. Will definitely return to try more things. One minor critique is the restroom is cute but stinks. Need some sort of diffuser in there. read more

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Delicious pastas with gluten free options!! If you're looking for a Hell's Kitchen date night or a pre-theatre bite, definitely check this restaurant out. The portions are perfect and the service is attentive. The duck ragu is an incredible flavor combination and I can't recommend it enough. The mushroom pasta was creamy but not too heavy. The cocktails were fine, but a little sweet for my liking. If you're coming here on a weeknight you might be able to walk in, but I'd make a reservation just in case since the place has gotten much busier. read more

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We found Sesamo several years ago and it quickly became our go to restaurant in the city. We only come to NYC maybe once a year but the owner and staff make us feel like old friends when we show up. It's close enough to the theater district to enjoy a pre-show dinner but has a friendly neighborhood vibe. The people, the delicious food, the innovative cocktails and the cozy atmosphere make you want to take your time and enjoy a 'slow food' experience. We ate 2 nights in a row this trip and that says a lot about Sesamo considering all the restaurant options in the city- but when you find a gem you stick with it. read more

Been here many times and there are so many items I love on the ever changing menu. The place has a great vibe and an extremely creative and delicious menu. Don't hesitate to visit Sesamo as you won't be disappointed. read more

My partner and I celebrated our anniversary dinner at SESAMO and couldn't have asked for a more romantic setting. We started with the Charred Octopus, followed by the Lobster Tortellini, which was rich, indulgent, and absolutely perfect. The vibe here is cozy yet upscale--a hidden gem for a romantic date night in Hell's Kitchen. SESAMO is now firmly on our list of "special night" spots read more

There were some interesting dishes and taste overall was okay but not sure I would return. The best dish was the calamari appetizer. I wasn't a huge fan of the textures in the arugula endive salad - didnt mix well - but overall it wasn't bad. For entrees, we got the angel hair ramen with pork belly (it lacked flavor and the pork belly was not the Asian type I'm used to and overcooked) and the tagliatelle (amazing fresh pasta that was cooked perfectly but in a really strong but bad sauce). For drinks, got a glass of the French Pinot and it was great. Made a same day reservation for a Friday night at 7:30 but probably could've walked in without one as there were plenty of tables available (it was only a quarter or so full). Given we weren't in love with any of the dishes and left still feeling hungry (despite two entrees and two appetizers for two people), we thought it was pretty expensive (entrees were in the mid 30s). Probably won't return but glad we tried it as it was something new and different from our usual. read more

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We went to Sesamo for the three-course prix fixe meal before a Broadway show and were not disappointed! The portions were a good size, the food was delicious, and the server was really friendly. Someone in our party did the wine pairing with the prix fixe dinner, and the server adapted the offerings to fit her preferences. Another did the mocktail pairing, which was really fun. Every dish we ordered was great, but the meatballs are a must-order. read more

Sesamo - The Pompeii Sunset Margarita with tequila bianco, yuzu, lime, hibiscus syrup, blood orange cello, aquafaba, and lava salt - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Long time customer, first time reviewer... Sesamo is such a treat: a neighborhood gem in the heart of Hell's Kitchen, on an unassuming corner on tenth avenue, it brings together the flavors and styles of Italian cooking with Asian influences. Almost everything we've tried has been nothing short of delicious, from the drinks to the mains, and the dessert, too! On our most recent visit, we tried the specialty cocktails: the Bangkok Blossom and the Memoirs of a Geisha. Bangkok Blossom was a spiced highball cocktail made with tequila and aperol, yuzu, Thai basil, finished off with orange bitters. Memoirs of a Geisha is a staple on the Sesamo cocktail menu, made with Japanese whisky, yuzu sake, jasmine tea syrup, egg whites, and cherry bitters to top it off. The memoirs of a geisha was [chef's kiss] easily our favorite of the night. We also got standard "skinny" margaritas, which were also made well. As we jump into the food, the oyster and pearls for one was very, very good. It appears small as it's only two oysters - but given the flavor profile, it's truly a decadent starter well worth it. We also got the wild mushroom vegan lasagna as a starter to share, which may be one of the best items on the menu. This red sauce dish, served in a sizzling hot skillet , had one of the most multi-layered red sauces I've ever had - the truffle is a perfect addition. For mains, we got the hanger steak (simple and fantastic) with turnips and mushrooms, and the coconut miso salmon with black rice. For what it's worth, the salmon was okay - it was cooked perfectly, but the dish as a whole didn't match up to the variety of amazing flavors we'd had in our meal so far. The chocolate katsu bread was the perfect finish to the meal, too, lightly breaded and fried small chunks of chocolate cake warmed to perfection, served with a small side of whipped crème and drizzled with miso caramel. Service was solid and you know we'll be back soon. read more

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Italian with an Asian twist. So....basically every Italian restaurant? As any discerning foodie can tell you, Asian "influences" are a baked-in part of any Western restaurant more upscale than McDonald's. A little soy this, yuzu that, curry here, wasabi there--you get the drill. Pasta with Asian touches is hardly novel. So I didn't have high hopes for Sesamo when I came here, and sadly, those expectations were pretty on point. The Branzino Crudo was fine but forgettable, without any Asian touches I could see. The Duck Ragu Pappardelle was okay as well, but I've had better noodles and sauce, and definitely more tender duck. The Matcha Tiramisu--can we stop adding matcha to everything already? I mean, it's really just used as a natural coloring agent half the time, and in the case of tiramisu, it adds nothing of value to an already tried and true classic. At least we got to partake in happy hour before they shut it down. Though I'd skip the boba cocktails like the watered down Peach White Tea I had. These drinks don't contain any actual tapioca, which is what boba is supposed to be. More like juice-filled pearls that don't taste like anything but sugary syrup. Not great. read more

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LOVED IT!!! Definitely a must try!!! Everything was amazing. I could have passed on the salad but only because there was so much food in the prix-fix menu. read more

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Amazing bar with artisanal drinks, they accept InKind payment, amazing service Alison atmosphere is so so so nice read more

Sesamo - Bar Menu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I'll start with the food. It's good. The place is cute but very loud. It was hard to hear each other. As for service, boy do they rush you. It feels like they start a time as soon as you sit, and they are trying to get you out ASAP. It was quite stressful read more

Everything was amazing here from the meal to the wonderful hospitality of Sabrina and her staff. We had a group for the Theater prix fixe dinner on a recent Friday evening before a show and it was the perfect way to kick off the night. The coconut miso salmon was particularly excellent and their Tokyo hot toddy hit the spot on a chilly evening. Hope to stop by again on my next trip to New York. read more

Sesamo - Coconut miso salmon - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Sesamo Is one of the best hidden Gems in the city. Let's start with the food! The take on oysters with a citrus sauce is amazing! My wife and I dined there and could stop eating them! Order 2 dozen! The cocktails made by the bartender were all well balance. We had amazing mushroom truffle Lasanga with tons of Truffle and the Cacio Pepe for with even more truffles, the flavors and smell was amazing. The we shared the Tempura chicken Parm, this is by far the best Chicken parm I have ever had outside of Italy! Over all the food and the drinks were amazing. The staff was standout and the ambiance was beautiful. Thanks so much for such an amazing dinner! Best date night spot in Hell's Kitchen. read more

Cute spot with a creative menu. We stumbled across this restaurant for dinner & were drawn to the menu items. Food was good but lacked the wow factor. Cute date night spot read more

Sesamo - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Just had our anniversary dinner at Sesamo, and we're still talking about it. We tried the Uni Tagliolini and the Strip Loin & Wild Mushrooms--both beautifully cooked and plated. The service was attentive without being pushy. This is our new go to for special occasions or whenever we want a little romantic escape in Hell's Kitchen. read more

Great wine bar with friendly staff. Heard the chicken parm was good. Would go back to try food!

The food, service and ambiance were superb, They offer a 3 course special that can't be beat..I had the fennel salad, agnolotti with a ginger pesto and chocolate bread pudding all out of the ballpark! We also ordered the truffle lasagna, tempura chicken parm, duck ragu..OMG, is all I can say !! I'm loving this Italian/Asian fusion thing! Justin was the icing on the cake, such a lovely human!!! Definately coming back for our next Broadway show! read more

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Sesamo Italian restaurant located on the Southeast corner of 52nd Street. This restaurant scored 100 in every category. From ambiance, cleanest, service and quality of food. The thing I enjoyed the most is that they wait for you to finish your first course before they serve the next course. The food was amazing and delicious. Believe me I know I may be Puerto Rican but my stomach is Italian. If you visit just one restaurant in Hell's kitchen this year make it this one. There was only one thing missing and she knows who she is read more

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Went on a recommendation from a friend and this spot didn't disappoint. I was traveling solo, so I sat at the bar. Had a glass of wine and some pasta. Service, food and ambiance were all great. read more

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My daughter and I went to Sesamo for lunch after going to The Drew Barrymore show. I had read some reviews online beforehand. It sounded like a great spot to check out. There were 2 folks at the bar and about 8 tables. The bartender, Jack was running the whole floor and the bar. He was very apologetic when taking our order, because he was by himself and quite busy. We were in no rush so it was ok. Jack made us the best cocktails. He was so friendly and attentive to not only us, but to all of the patrons. As a server/bartender I know how hectic it can be. So, we had phenomenal service, amazing cocktails and delicious food. My burger was cooked to perfection and my daughter loved her Ricotta Stuffed Agnolotti with ginger scallion pesto, carrots, parsnip, crispy parmesan. I tried it and it was light and delicious. I would definitely go back again, if not for the food by definitely for the service. Again, Jack was great. read more

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Everything is great about Sesamo! Unique food, great drinks, great atmosphere!! We come here often!!! read more

Sesamo - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great all around. Three course menu rocked. Tempura chicken Parm? Yum. Gelato pretty good too.

The restaurant is cozy and inviting. I love Asian food, and my husband loves Italian so it made perfect sense to come here, and I found my experience to be very pleasant. We started with drinks, I opted for the Pearfect Negroni and my husband got the 50 shades of earl gray. My drink was perfect, from the flavors, to the dried pear garnish, I wholeheartedly enjoyed it, my husband's drink I thought was great but a little sour for his liking. This was our first and last meal for the day so we did go overboard a bit. For apps: 1. kissing god (bread and butter app). The bread had a nice hint of sweetness but for me the butter was a bit more citrusy than I'd like 2. Tuna nigiri (since they were out of oysters we tried this) and this appetizer was done almost 2 minutes it being out. We enjoyed the flavors, although I think I'd enjoy it more if the rice was crispier? But either way it was really tasty... 3. Arancini we didn't order this but the chef sent out since they were out of oysters and this was another surprisingly good dish. Their tomato sauce had the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness. 4. Fried artichokes, this was my favorite. The artichokes were the right amount of crispy, and that gochujang aioli was a very nice touch. For entrees: I chose the tempura chicken parm, per the recommendation of our server, and it didn't disappoint. The panko they use to make the chicken cutlets really holds up to the sauce and cheese and maintains its crunch. The bucatini side with vodka sauce was excellent-I could have had that as its own entree. I didn't try the duck breast but my husband enjoyed it, but the braised endives that came with it was delicious! read more