Nikolaos Dimos, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The conversation around the Upper West Side restaurant scene is often marked by openings and closings, so it’s always refreshing when neighborhood spots make the news for a greater achievement.
The recently updated Michelin Guide includes the addition of 16 New York City restaurants, including an UWS establishment that opened in March 2024. Michelin-starred restaurants in the neighborhood include Per Se (three stars), Masa (three stars), Jean-Georges (two stars), and Essential by Christophe (one star). There are now 15 UWS restaurants recognized on the Michelin Guide.
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“Order the rigatoni for a plate of house-made pasta interlaced with crispy guanciale and sauteed onion in a roasted tomato sauce, then for dessert, go classic tiramisu for an on-point iteration in all of its fluffy, creamy delight.”
Sempre Oggi’s menu changes daily; the restaurant prioritizes seasonal ingredients and market availability. The owner, Robert Guarino, spoke to ILTUWS shortly before the 2024 opening and called his vision for the establishment “hyper seasonal” with a focus on “ingredients at the height of their season.”
Current menu highlights include Almond Crusted Halibut (with parslied little potatoes and salsa di mandorle), Tortelloni Cacio e Pepe, Pork Coppa (with roasted turnips, swiss chard and jus), and Veal Cotoletta alla Milanese.
The restaurant’s executive chef is Nick Griffo, a CIA graduate who worked at Maialino and Lupetto prior to taking his first executive chef position at Sempre Oggi. Guarino is partnered with Simon Oren and Chef Driven Hospitality, which owns several of the neighborhood’s most recognizable spots in Playa Betty’s, French Roast, 5 Napkin Burger, Dagon and Nice Matin.
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“Almost Crusted Halibut” — What stopped them? PETH – People for the Ethical Treatment of Halibut?
Okay, that’s funny. Thanks for catching :).
Actually it was PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Almonds….at the point that I read the article it was clearly printed “Almond Crusted Halibut” so some may not enjoy the humor behind the “almost” (auto-corrected, perhaps?) version you received. As much as I generally love Italian, there’s something about the menu items listed above that leaves me totally uninterested in venturing out to Sempre Oggi. Not that you asked, but I thought it worth mentioning. Does anyone recall what restaurant was in that space prior to SO opening?
Cesca