Seppia is a new Italian restaurant in Hamden and I am so glad we decided to try it out. We had an absolutely amazing meal from start to finish. The space is really big and has an upstairs and downstairs. The tables are nicely spaced so that you're not crammed in next to another party and it wasn't too loud. The staff were all friendly and welcoming and knowledgeable. Of course the highlight was the food. We had some mocktails, which were really delicious. Then we had the burrata, snap pea, raw tuna, focaccia, and beet salad appetizers, which were all fabulous. The burrata comes as a platter with a variety of accompaniments and some small pieces of bread and it all blended really well together. The portions are quite large so be ready to be pretty full. Then we had three pastas: the tagliatelle with guinea fowl ragu, the mushroom ravioli and the pesto pasta as well. All of them were really delicious. We tried the semifreddo and cheesecake for dessert, both of which were also delicious. All in all I would say this was a fabulous meal, five stars for sure, and I would definitely go back. read more

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Had a really nice dining experience here. Parking along the avenue can be a bit tricky, and while they do offer valet, it's $15, so that's something to keep in mind. The interior is absolutely beautiful and creates a great atmosphere for dinner. The service was also fantastic. Our servers were attentive, friendly, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the meal. The food was excellent. Both the prosciutto di parma and the squid ink spaghetti were standout dishes. My only downside was that it was pretty noisy inside, which made it difficult to hear the other people at our table at times. Aside from that, it was a great experience overall, and I'd definitely come back. read more

I came here with my family recently just after they opened. I was excited to try it out because I loved 5 and Dime which was in this building before so I hoped this place would be a good replacement. I like what they have done with the place with the renovations and for such an open space the sound is managed well especially with how busy it was when we went. Keep in mind parking can be difficult in this area especially at dinner time. I will say this place has a great price point and I think this place has potential but is not yet where it needs to be in order to be a 5 star from me in the Baltimore food scene. We tried a range of things on the menu. The apps were okay. My favorite was the beet salad for sure. That was great. We also got the bread, which was flaky and light and I enjoyed the olives with it. Then we got this plate with charcuterie meat, like three pickles, some Asian kinda sauce, and these like wanton crisps. It was just a little disjointed. You know you come here for Italian food, and there's wanton. Like okay but why not like cheese? It wasn't bad though. For main I got the beef ragu. This was fine. Just not spectacular. A little dry. And my family felt the same way about their mains as well. What I did find spectacular and delicious was the crab entree special we had as well as the giant white asparagus we had as a side. I actually did really enjoy dessert! The astronaut ice cream vibes one was my favorite. The chocolate cake thing was great too. The almond one was like way too almondy. Everything was almond flavor on the plate. Gelato was good. My one other note for this place is that we came in spring, May 1 right after they had opened. But the menu was very warm and cozy and autumn flavors. This also just felt disjointed or out of place. I do see their menu has changed a bit since, and I hope to see this place continue to develop and get better. Also, great service, very attentive, maybe almost too attentive, but great. read more

Great Italian restaurant in the heart of Hampden area. Parking is hard to find here so I recommend getting a paid parking spot across the street. We were here to celebrate my friend's graduation. Host the staff members were very nice. We started with some cocktails which were very good. I stuck to classic smoky old fashioned. Loved it so I got another. They had the charcuterie going on at the table. We kept munching on some cheese, olives etc while we were catching up until the dinner time. For entree I ordered duck raggu. It was very good. Hope the quantity was better. Overall, we had a great time here. Nice ambiance and service. read more

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Seppia is a new restaurant from Ben Lefenfeld and his team from La Cuchara (which sadly has been closed as a result of a kitchen fire for some time). It's right in the heart of the Avenue in Hampden in the space which was formerly the Five and Dime. I checked it out with some friends last weekend and had a good dinner. First off, the space is really stunning. The Five and Dime had its own charm, but I was curious how the team would renovate the space and make it their own. They did a great job. It's beautiful without being over the top and very comfortable. The tile at the downstairs bar is really stunning. And the service was great throughout - something I expected having eaten at La Cuchara multiple times and being wowed by their service. From our server to the food runners, everyone was helpful and friendly. The drinks were great. The front of the menu has a whole section for martinis - dry, dirty, wet, perfect, and reverse. I started with a dry martini, and two of my friends went with their dirty. We were all happy with our choices. Then, with dinner, we moved on to wine, and they have a great wine list. A friend got a glass of a natural Malvasia, while two of us chose a glass of unfiltered Arneis. With wine, martinis, other cocktails, NA selection, and beer, they have everything you might want with your dinner. We shared two dishes from their "Vegetables, Bigger Fish, and Mollusk" section: their green salad (lettuces, basil, mint, 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano, and shallot vinaigrette) and their tuna crudo (with Calabrian chile crunch, fermented chiles, and an orange emulsion). Both of these dishes were very good. The tuna crudo was light and bright and fresh but it was also creative (I eat a lot of crudos and this one didn't bore me or feel like 100 others I've had lately). The salad is a must. You're about to eat plates and plates of pasta. You want this bright and simple salad made from great ingredients. Then we shared four pastas: their bucatini (with basil pistachio pesto, roasted tomato, and Stracciatella); their mafaldine al nero (with saffron mussels, clams, white wine, tarragon, and pecorino); their rabbit agnolotti (with butternut squash, sage, hazelnuts, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a natural reduction); and their mushroom ravioli (with ricotta, morel mushrooms, cream, ramps, and asparagus). Two were hits and two were just misses for us. The bucatini is simple and delicious (two of us chose it as their favorite), and the mafaldine was great as well - tons of seafood flavor and very bright and delicious (the other two chose this as their favorite). The mushroom ravioli had a filling that we found quite flavorless, and we couldn't find any ramps (unless they'd been put in the filling? but I can't imagine that since we found the filling sort of bland and ramps are anything but). We did enjoy the morels in cream and the asparagus on the dish, but the pasta itself didn't do it for us. The rabbit agnolotti also didn't work for us. The filling of the agnolotti was also a mousse-like texture, which I wouldn't mind except I'm not sure I want my rabbit mousse-d? I didn't taste the rabbit at all, and I found the texture strange for a meat-filled agnolotti. The butternut squash, sage, and jus were fine (I did wonder if they were going for a play on an agrodolce, I didn't find the reduction very balanced), but I wouldn't order this dish again. (One of our group had had it a few weeks before on a prior visit and it had been her favorite that night, so maybe something was a bit off the night we visited). And thankfully we'd saved room for a dessert to share amongst the four of us, because the dessert we ordered was one of my favorite dishes of the night: Sbrisolona (rustic almond-cornmeal tart, rosemary roasted grapes, and mascarpone). The menu description didn't give us much of a heads up that we had ordered something deconstructed, but picture a plate with mascarpone topped with tons of the most delicious roasted grapes, then with shards of crispy tart dough sticking out around the dish. It was simple but absolutely delicious. If you haven't roasted grapes before, run to try it. I didn't love every dish we tried at Seppia last weekend, but I really enjoyed almost everything! And between that and the great service, great drinks, and great vibes, I wholeheartedly recommend you check it soon for dinner! read more

Seppia - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I had the pleasure of trying Seppia for the first time on Sunday and for a place that's only been open for 9 days, I thought it was good. I've heard some critical feedback from other fellow diners which after dining there myself, I can understand a bit, but I think it's all a normal part of a new restaurant just finding its footing. The good: - Service the entire night was fantastic. The server/bartender marked up a menu for gluten free options for me and did his due diligence double checking dishes as we put them in. - The wine list is strong with quite a few by the glass options plus plenty of bottles (50% off bottles $100 or more on Sundays!), with some great natural wine options too. - The interior is gorgeous and HUGE. The bar is massive and there's even more seating upstairs. I think the artwork felt a little disjointed but I'm sure the character of the place will only continue to build as they remain open. - We loved the duck ragu and the pesto pasta. We ordered both with the gluten free fusilli and it was perfectly al dente! The OK-ish: - I really think the menu needs some work. Not even just refining dishes, but the overall formatting. It was difficult to read and even a bit confusing. I think of myself as someone who knows food and there were items I was confused about simply because of how the descriptions were written. Maybe dumb it down a little? - I wish they'd mark items for common dietary restrictions, especially since they already offer GF pasta anyway. - The burrata dish felt unfocused. There were sooo many moving parts and elements to construct yourself. I wish it was just the cheese, pesto, confit tomato, and maybe the garlic. The shallot, anchovies, pepper, and olive tapenade felt unnecessary and overcomplicated. - The seafood pasta was SO salty. We actually sent it back. I ordered it thinking it would come in a white wine sauce but it was actually a squid ink pasta. Again, that menu was confusing to read. Once I bit into it, it was like a salt bomb. The staff was SO sweet and offered to remake it but we ended up ordering the pesto pasta instead which again, was fabulous. Overall, I think Seppia is quickly finding their footing and I can't wait to see how they continue to grow! Go give them a shot and give them some grace. read more

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(5.21.2026) My first visit to SEPPIA. While roaming the avenue in Hampden I discovered a new place where the Five & Dime used to be (before the COVID). I decided to stop in and have a drink to check out the menu. The cuisine being served is not within my liking but I did appreciate a perfectly made Manhattan with high end taste. I decided to stay and have a second. I ordered a dirty martini and again was not disappointed. The bartenders were very personable and conversed with me. All was nice with one note, be aware of the high-end price on the drinks and they add a 22% gratuity to the end of the check. All that considered, this is a nice place to visit, if you haven't already. read more

Seppia - Menu - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We went here excited, heard it was great and were very disappointed. First, the good news; the decor is wonderful, great looking bar and banquettes, but it is so noisy. Second, food was good and bad--good fritto miso, boring salads with too much vinaigrette, pasta was drenched in sauce and branzino too salty. One of us had a good dessert. There's a 22% service/gratuity charge. And when we needed boxes for food not consumed, we were told you must do it yourself, yet no utensil provided, and the wait person had an attitude! Also, valet had no parking so we had to go to a lot in back, which was a hike in the dark. We wish this new restaurant well and maybe we were there on an off Saturday night, but we don't expect to return. We also think it's for a younger, hipper crowd; we're in our seventies and prefer a different vibe and choices. read more

Great ambiance, amazing service, decent prices. Management found us a seat at the bar, server was great, owner Jake was amazing. Food was soo good. Definitely coming back! read more

Seppia - Wagyu Marubini - Italian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Seppia is a true elevated dining experience on The Avenue in Hamden. If you are looking for refined Italian dining uptown, this is an excellent destination. This evening, we started with a charcuterie platter featuring tapenade, pesto, burrata, shallots, sardines, and roasted garlic. For the pasta course, we enjoyed the casarecce prosciutto carbonara with English peas, black pepper, and Pecorino Romano. We then finished the savory courses with a whole roasted branzino served with sautéed spinach, charred red onion, and salmoriglio. Dessert was a refreshing pistachio gelato. We paired dinner with a glass of Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, vintage 2024. Downstairs offers a far more festive atmosphere, centered around an open bar with beautiful seating and a team of seasoned mixologists who truly know their craft. Upstairs, the ambiance shifts to something more intimate and relaxed. Altogether, the aesthetic strikes what I would call a perfect balance of rustic elegance, warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed from top to bottom. Seppia has successfully brought a bit of Harbor East uptown, conveniently located on The Avenue at Elm Street in Hamden,. Valet parking is available, and for those who prefer not to valet, there is also a large Scan to Park lot just steps away across from The Wine Source. This restaurant gets five stars from me. The menu is outstanding and changes weekly, the service is excellent, and every detail feels impeccable, from the atmosphere to the food. Special thanks to Patrick behind the bar and Austin, one of the managers, for helping make the evening such a pleasure. I'll be back again and again! Damon Downing PS. Friday Saturday and Sunday definitely make a reservation however, if you're a barfly like me, you will not be disappointed. read more

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Seppia is an excellent addition to the avenue! The food was delicious, and the service was some of the best I've ever experienced. Only critique I have is it was loud inside but it is an open room so not surprising. read more

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We had a delicious meal at Seppia! Both pastas we ordered (basil pistachio pesto and lamb shoulder ragu) were delicious and the burrata plate was a highlight. The staff were knowledgeable about the wine menu and made excellent recommendations. We will be back! read more

Beautiful atmosphere. Distinctively different upstairs from downstairs makes the setting cozy but also modern. Excellent service Small menu but very well done read more

Amazing food. Not tapas, not full plate, somewhere in between. Like family share portions. The quality, presentation and tastiness were superior. Excellent ambience, pleasant people, not too noisy. An old F.W. Woolworth store remodeled into a beautiful restaurant. Definitely will return! read more

The food was incredible! The soup was the best thing I ate. We sat at the bar, and Patrick's service was great. He is well informed and eager to serve his customers. The restaurant is beautiful and has great decor. We'll be back soon! read more

Was able to snag bar seats on a Saturday around 6 pm sans reservation. The venue is nice but sound bounces off the very high ceilings so be ready for a loud atmosphere - I don't even think there was background music playing, if there was, patrons could not hear it. Our bartenders were great - one in particular was witty, making for enjoyable banter - and the cocktails were satisfying. As for the food, the focaccia was a miss (I can make better at home) - it was flat, not fluffy and lacking salt; the lettuces salad was big enough for 2-3 people, light and refreshing; the duck casarecce was tasty but the ragu needed more pieces of duck and I didn't see one porcini mushroom (you mostly get pasta and peas in every bite); the star of the show was the pesto bucatini, no notes. For the price (which includes an automatic 22% service charge), I would give the food 3 stars and the overall experience 4 stars. Will return, but hope they step it up on the food front. read more

Incredible food, service, and atmosphere. Also best martini I've ever had! Can't wait to go back. This team is in a league of their own.