Sempre Oggi — Restaurant in New York

I came into Sempre Oggi with a friend and left absolutely blown away by the experience. As a vegan, I usually steer clear of Italian restaurants, but Sempre Oggi is a total game-changer.

From the moment we were seated, the service was top-notch. Our server, Connor, immediately asked about dietary preferences and allergies, then went above and beyond to consult with chefs Nick and Matt about what could be modified for me. Not only did they agree to accommodate my dietary preferences, Connor was able to walk me through the entire menu and offer creative, thoughtful suggestions.

We started with the fried artichokes (super crispy, flavorful, and served with the aioli on the side so my friend could enjoy it too) and the whipped ricotta bruschetta, which was incredibly fresh and delicious. For mains, I had the Strozzapreti with pesto alla Trapanese, made vegan without cheese. It was exceptionally unique and absolutely delicious, very different from any other pesto dish I had ever had. My friend had the Tagliatelle with blue crab, uni butter, and lemon parsley breadcrumbs, and said it was one of the most luxurious, unique, and flavorful pasta dishes she’d ever had. We also shared the crispy potatoes and broccolini (with cheese on the side), both of which were cooked to perfection and bursting with freshness. You can really tell the chefs care about using seasonal, high-quality ingredients.

As people who don’t usually dine at fine-dining restaurants, we were so impressed by how approachable and welcoming the entire experience felt. Connor was happy to answer all of our questions about the restaurant and menu with patience and clarity, making us feel completely at ease.

The bar and wine experience were also standout. The bartender, Kevin, brought over a brand new savory tomato-and-basil cocktail to enjoy alongside our pasta that was incredibly unique and refreshing. We also tried the new Strawberry Fields cocktail, an unexpected favorite, especially for someone like me who doesn’t typically enjoy gin- and a glass of Verdeca wine, which was crisp and paired beautifully with our food. Our sommelier, Luis, was fantastic- extremely knowledgeable and walked us through the wine list before giving us his expert recommendation, which was absolutely spot-on.

We finished off with two espresso martinis, which were the perfect ending to such an extraordinary meal. Just when we thought the evening couldn’t get better, the General Manager, Bryan, stopped by to check in and chat about our experience, genuinely showing how much they care.

Incredible service, inspired food, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Sempre Oggi is truly something special. A must-visit for anyone, whether you're vegan, carnivore, or simply in search of a thoughtful, high-quality meal in a stunning Upper...

We dined at Sempre Oggi on Easter Sunday, and it turned out to be a disaster. The food was relatively okay for New York standards; nothing really special given the abundance of Italian restaurants in the area, but tasty. The atmosphere was nicer, with a large space and tables not too crowded. Based only on these two, I'd give it three stars as just another slightly overpriced (but normal for the neighbourhood) Italian place.

However, the service was beyond terrible (it is a pity you cannot select zero stars here):

1st foul: Being vegetarians, we asked about Caesar salad and whether it contained anchovies. When told that this was the case, we opted for a leafy green salad (the taste was okay, but definitely overpriced given its size when compared to the other salads). The foul was that we were brought the wrong salad with anchovies (and, thankfully, we realized in time). Normally, I wouldn't protest that much about this, but see below. 2nd foul: our bill was about $100-110. I left 20% tip; however, when finishing the transaction, I was told that I paid 217$ (a bit over 100% tip). When I asked about this, the waiter simply told me, "Ah, we charged you for a different table! it's fine now; here's your adjusted bill." The indifference there was pretty infuriating, but even then, I assumed an honest mistake (I would hardly think a new restaurant would do this by practice). However, if that weren't enough, I went through the charges again and saw the waiter had charged me the tip as a percentage of the original (the other table's bill) and not my own, effectively nearly doubling their tip. I would say at this stage, this was an intentional mistake, which I cannot attribute to incompetence. In case the restaurant denies this in the comments, however, I took pictures of all the bills I got for proof. 3rd foul: their menu under brunch lists a "Focaccia." While the dish was pretty decent, I must admit (actually, the we've had there), its price is listed as $8 (both online and outside the restaurant). Looking back at the pictures of the three bills I got, the price was $12. Given everything, I would say it is another "minor"...

Wanted to love this place but after four visits, I have to be honest about the consistent issues. I really wanted Sempre Oggi to work out. The concept sounds great and the reviews had me excited. Unfortunately, after giving them four separate chances over the past year, I keep running into the same problems. The Food: The dishes that arrive are often inconsistent. During our most recent visit over Fourth of July weekend, my salad was so cold it literally hurt my teeth to eat. It tasted like it had been sitting in the walk in cooler for way too long. The other dishes were similarly disappointing, lacking the flavor and care I expected based on their reputation. The Service: This has been the most frustrating part across all four visits. The staff seems perpetually distracted and overwhelmed. We had to remind our server multiple times about basic parts of our order. Water glasses sat empty, requests were forgotten, and the overall experience felt chaotic rather than professional. I understand restaurants can have off nights, but when this happens consistently, it suggests a deeper issue with training or management. The Atmosphere: The dining room itself is nice enough, but the constant service issues make it hard to relax and enjoy the meal. Final Thoughts: I genuinely wanted to write a positive review for this place. The menu sounds promising and I know other people have had better experiences. But after four visits with consistent problems, I have to be honest about what I experienced. Maybe they were having staffing issues during my visits, or perhaps the kitchen was overwhelmed. Either way, for the price point and the expectations they set, the execution just isn’t there. I might consider trying again in the future if I hear things have improved, but for now I’d recommend looking elsewhere for your Italian dining needs...