Michelin-Starred Semma Faces Sexual Harassment Lawsuits Amid Social Media Uproar

Three former hosts of Semma, the acclaimed Indian restaurant in the West Village, have filed sexual harassment lawsuits against Unapologetic Foods, the group behind the city’s only Michelin-starred Indian eatery. The legal actions—brought by Tessa Tookes, Charlotte Swett, and Nina Zhuo—have gained renewed attention this week after a TikTok video posted by Tookes’ spouse went viral, sparking conversation across New York’s tight-knit restaurant and hospitality circles.

On Tuesday afternoon, outside Semma’s West 8th Street entrance, regulars paused to discuss the allegations, the mood notably somber. Staff, some in crisp aprons, ushered in guests for early dinner seatings, while a handful of neighbors debated the challenges women face in the city’s high-pressure restaurant scene. Within hours of the TikTok post, comments flooded Semma’s social pages, with diners voicing support for the plaintiffs and sharing their own stories.

The lawsuits, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, allege repeated instances of harassment and retaliation during the plaintiffs’ time at Semma. Each suit details claims of inappropriate conduct by management and an environment where complaints were allegedly dismissed or ignored. Semma, which earned its Michelin star for chef Vijay Kumar’s South Indian menu, is among the crown jewels of Unapologetic Foods—the group also runs Dhamaka and Masalawala & Sons. As of Wednesday morning, neither the restaurant group nor its legal counsel has issued a public statement addressing the lawsuits.

Industry reactions have been swift. The New York Hospitality Alliance called for a “transparent and thorough investigation,” while several restaurant workers staged a brief demonstration outside Semma late Tuesday night. The timing is particularly sensitive, as the city’s hospitality sector contends with renewed scrutiny over workplace culture and increasing demands for accountability heading into the busy fall dining season.

For now, the three plaintiffs are pressing forward with their cases, seeking damages and policy changes. As the story unfolds, Semma’s reputation—and the broader conversation about workplace safety in New York’s restaurants—hangs in the balance.