Negril Restaurant

Three years ago, I would have recommended this restaurant to anyone that wanted a nice time with some great food. That was then. The lounge used to be a comfortable, free space to enjoy some drinks in the company of like minded folks.\r Now, even after spending hundreds of dollars on the restaurant they want you to turn around and shell out $20 a person to sit in the lounge? That is ridiculous. They are alienating the loyal customer base that they once had.\r The restaurant was extremely to loud and the wait time for food was unnecessarily long. Pros: The food is still good Cons: The crowd, the ambiance and the lounge more

I went with a friend for an earlier dinner, and arriving just after 6 meant a pretty empty restaurant. Yet that just made it easier to appreciate the great physical set-up of the restaurant, from the funky chairs and lights to the supremely cool bar arcing into the center of the room. Our waiter was very personable and attentive [though it did take some time for us to get bread; far longer than it should have given the relative emptiness of the place]. We shared the Negril Nachos, which were some of the best nachos I've ever had -- especially the chips! My friend got the Tomato-Coconut Salmon with mashed potatoes while I ordered the Bacon-Wrapped Pork with sweet potatoes. Her fish was excellent, very moist and flavorful, and my sweet potatoes were fairly divine. The pork was a touch drier than I like, but not nearly enough to dissuade me from chowing down. While perhaps a touchy pricey for two college students, the meal was more than reasonable, and I can't wait to go again! more

We went to Negril Village on Sunday, July 22nd to celebrate my daughter's 21st birthday. There were nineteen family members in our group. Our waiter, Freddy was great! He was courteous and most of all patient, which I'm sure wasn't easy with a group this large. Freddy and Negril Village helped to make my daughter's birthday extra special. We ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees and we had a birthday cake for dessert. Everything was delicious - especially the red snapper dish! The drinks were also great - try the sorrel mojito! The ambiance was classy with a nice Caribbean twist. I would strongly recommend this restaurant. You won't be disappointed!! Pros: Food, customer service Cons: Parking more

On Friday night, we met up with some friends who highly recommended Negril Village. The ambience was comfortable and inviting, the temperature and lighting were perfect. Drinks were ordered and my companion was pleased to not have been cheated out of a decent amount of liquor in his drink. I had the everything pina colada (virgin), a combination of mango, banana and strawberry- very tasty. Appetizers were in full swing and those consisted of: coconut shrimp, cod fritters and salmon crabcakes. They were all delicious but my favorite were the crabcakes. The coconut shrimp was good, though I still prefer those from Red Lobster. The cod fritters were delicious and reminded me of an old favorite, the Puerto-Rican bacalaito. Dinner was served and I ordered the Rum flavored j. salmon with mac & cheese on the side. I'm a fan of spicy, so this was right on the money. My companion ordered the coconut salmon which was excellent and our tablemates ordered the rasta pasta with j. chicken and the seafood wrap. I sampled them all and everything was impeccable. Dessert came along and we ordered the drunken banana crepe and bread pudding. Again, presentation was impressive and the flavors were just the right mix of exotic and familiar. Overall, a pleasant dining experience and a great time with friends. Pros: Ambience, Food, Drinks, Dessert Cons: Service was not attentive enough more

Was there Sunday night. Waitress did not return to give me drinks. Called over Manager to complain.\r Manager apologized for bad service and bought us drinks. She was helpful in giving me information about\r giving a party there. Tall man with camera video tapping while customers where eating. How rude.\r Great food but needs to up there service. Will come back because of managers willingness to make us\r feel welcome and attended. Pros: Good location Cons: Service terrible, nasty waitress more

Negril is by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It is the only restaurant in Manhattan that I have found that offers true Caribbean Cuisine. The sultry atmosphere and attentive service by every staff member, gives it an exclusive VIP feel. The drinks are strong and tasty. The food comes in large portions with enough to take home for lunch the next day. \r \r If you feel the need to get your groove on after a meal, there is a lower level with a dance floor and dj. For us old heads they play old school Hip Hop/RB and Reggea. For the youngins, they have the latest hits.\r \r Negril is a one stop shop for good drinks, good food, good service and good music. Enjoy! Pros: Good food, good service Cons: Sometimes have to wait to be seated. more

I frequent Negril Village and absolutely love their food. The ambiance is great and the staff is very attractive. Clearly the people who complain about price are used to eating at their local diner. Try doing Morimotos or BLue Fin and then complain about price to portion ratio. The prices here are very reasonable and the food is sooooo worth it. I would recommend this place to any and everyone. Pros: Great Ambiance Cons: There should be more Negril restaurants more

I have dined at Negril Village a couple of times...enjoyed the food and drinks and the general atmosphere. I have also attended a party in the lower level which was certainly a good time. This past week, I went there dinner. I have noticed that the service has consistently been degrading. The wait staff rushes you to eat, doesn't come back and check on if you need anything and takes forever to bring the check. But to top it off...this past week...the people at my table, the people at the next 2 tables and people at a back table saw not 1, not 2, but 3 HUGE insects!!! The kind that, when seeing them, equates to pure nastiness. Now...this is NYC and more kitchens than not have them. We all know this. But to see 3 out on the dining room floor just brought the point home even more so. And the wait staff didn't even react!!! One party next to our table told the wait staff and they just had the ""Oh hum"" reaction and acted like it was nothing wrong. Another member of the wait staff acted like he couldn't believe it. After a group of ladies screamed and were standing up on their chairs and moving away from their table (no lie!), a member of the wait staff went over to investigate with a look of contempt...like he was doing them a favor by going over there. Needless to say, I will NOT be dining here again. Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: But not nice enough more

but that was 3 years ago. \r Since then, the lounge has been taken away for more dining space. Much better than the Chelsea location with regards to staffing, rum selection (or availablitly), and space. Highly recommended for brunch, though it can get crowded on Sundays. Rasta pasta is great for vegetartians and to this day, I love the tomato-coconut salmon. On paper it sounds questionable, but on your plate and in your stomach, you'll have no regrets. Drinks tend to be more pricer than the best lounges, and prices overall are quite high. You can get the same quality of food for cheaper in harlem. Pros: Tomato-Coconut Salmon, Service, Rum Selection Cons: Price of entrees and drinks more

I first came to negril village about a year ago, for my girlfriends birthday. i loved the place, the ambience was perfect, and the staff were friendly. i went back 6 months ago and had the same good time.\r \r i just recently went to negril last tuesday (oct. 10), and what a change. what was once a friendly, comfortable resturant has turned into a robotic, impersonal place. the waiters, who used to seem like they were having fun, all looked unhappy. i made a joke and my waitress smiled, relieved of some pressure but as soon as she left the table she went right back to looking down. the food came slow as usual, but what bothered me more was that the manager kept coming over to my table to talk to me. if my waitress had come that often maybe she wouldn't have looked so unhappy all night. \r \r i didn't go to negril to be bothered by the manager who didn't help me at all. even when i needed a drink she only told me she'd send my waitress over. why did she bother me in the first place??\r \r all in all, i used to love negril. now i have to find a new caribbean restaurant to frequent and spend my money. one of the biggest tells in how a restaurant is doing, is the looks on the staff's faces. if they don't want to be there, neither do i. Pros: the food and the service Cons: the ambience more

We spent over $400 and were asked to surrender our table to another group. The food was average (at best) and the drink service was slow. There are plenty of great places in the area . . . do not waste your time and money going to Negril. Pros: N / A Cons: Poorly managed more

I went here this past Friday night with 5 friends (white, asian, and indian). After spending almost $500 including a mandatory 20% tip, the host/manager (hair in dreadlocks pulled back in a light blue shirt) told us that we would need to get up because there was a party of 12 coming and that the tables were for those having dinner. We had finished dinner an hour and a half earlier but I think that the fact that we had spent so much on our meals and continued to drink deserved that we have a right to sit at the table downstairs where the music was playing. In any case, the host/manager pretended to be nice and explain to us that there was nowhere else to put these people and that he would make it up in some other way like buy us a round of drinks. We were still there for 10 minutes after leaving the table and he never attempted to give us a free drink. Additionally, I had asked two other friends to come meet me there (2 white girls) and they were told that there was no more room downstairs to even stand and that they weren't allowed in. Meanwhile, there wasn't any sitting room downstairs but there was plenty of standing room and that is where the host/manager asked us to stay in the first place! Well after finding them upstairs, I discovered that upstairs dining room had plenty of seating with several tables that could have accommodated the incoming party that supposedly had nowhere else to be seated. After confronting the host again, he said that it must have just opened up with his false pretense of still trying to accomodate us.\r \r The food was good and we liked our waitress. However, their overall discriminatory practices left a very bad taste in my mouth. Avoid this place if you are not black and it is a crowded night because they'll definitely treat you like a second class citizen. Pros: good food Cons: discriminatory practices more

I came here hoping to have good time with my BF for his BDay and was greeted by the most obnoxious hostess ever. I had been to the 23rd st. location and was not satisfied with the host over there and after reading the reviews here thought it might be different, boy was I wrong... I asked for a seat in the upstairs area and was told that there was nothing available up there. So ok I sat where she gave me. And no more then 15mins after we sat down a couple not of my complexion was greeted and without hesitation seated in the very area that I had requested. Not wanting to make a big deal out of it I said nothing to her. But I know one thing, I will never return to this place. \r My waitress was nice and the food was ok. BUT NEVER AGAIN.\r To the Owners of Negril I have heard many complaints about the Hostesses at your resturant and something has to been done. They whould learn that without customers there will be no one to greet. They should also learn that everyone coming to the restaurant deserves the same level of service\r NB:I came here to spend my money not hers and should get service within reason like very one else. Cons: Rude Host more

Negril is one of my favorite restaurants in NY. Service, especially for parties, can be difficult -- I do recall going for a friend's birthday, and they won't seat you until the last members of your party arrive (a trick to get you to buy more at the bar?) We were seated immediately once the other members of our party arrived. I guess I can understand the policy if it's a busy night with a lot of groups, but on a quiet night, it is ridiculous. But anyway, the food is delicious, and I've never had a problem with seating when dining with a friend. I love the Blue Mountain steak and yucca fries. Apps and drinks can be pricey, but there are sandwiches and smaller meals available. Pros: Great food, great atmosphere Cons: spotty service more

I recently had my 22nd birthday dinner at Negril with a group of my close friends. I had so much fun! I loved the ambience. All of my girls were happy with the drinks and loved all the food. If you are planning on having a group dinner, make a reservation and make sure everyone is on time! The Negril staff is picky about starting reservations on time! so my best advice is to get everyone there much earlier than your reservation. If people are late, you could lose your reservation and/or the staff does pressure you to start ordering even if your whole party hasnt arrived. I loved the restaurant and I'd love to go back again!!!!! Pros: great food, great music, great ambience Cons: lounge is small, waitstaff is okay more

Whenever I just stroll down to the village, I always end up at Negril.I introduce new friends to the ""hot spot"" and they get hooked with their macaroni and cheese and shrimp roti. Great spot for a date or even hang out with friend. The price is reasonable.Drinks are great too! Just writing about the food is making my mouth water.... Pros: Food, Atmosphere Cons: Sun serving time more

It was an amazing discovery, on a wet night walking through the west village;my friends and I were hungry and thirsty and decided to give it a try, even thou we are not familiar with Jamaican food....long story short, the experience was incredible, the food, service, ambiance....the mojitos....WOW!!!! Everybody in the restaurant made our evening....one to remember!!!! we are going back for sure!!! If u go....try the seafood creole...WOW Pros: Food, Service, Decor Cons: Music too loud more

Threw a surprise birthday party here. Had reservations for 13. They refused to seat the party of 11 because 2 ppl were missing. I told them that if seated we could order for the 2 people as to not hold things up but they refused. Waited over an hour after the 2 people arrived to be seated because according to them we lost our reservation b/c 2 people were late. Its extremely unrealistic that groups, especially a group of 13 will be there all at once especially w/ the bad parking. Plus they sat us downstairs while waiting b/c we were so large and even though none of us had to check coats-the guy refused to let the last 2 people in our group join us unless they checked theirs-it wasn't expensive- its more about the principle. I used to like Negril but I refuse to spend another penny there. Pros: Hostess Mary was nice Cons: reservation policy, guy running lounge, parking more

Negril Village provided the perfect ambience to close a week of events my company was involved in. The hospitality their staff extended towards our party (of over nearly 100 poeple), even going out of the way to fix two vegan plates for a couple of guests, was extraordinary. We all throughly enjoyed (and continued to talk about) the quality of the meals, the drinks, and the fun everyone had on the dance floor downstairs. more

I personally love Negril. I have been there about 3 times and I plan on celebrating my birthday there again this year. It is a very nice spot. The atmosphere is great and its good for large parties or one-on-one dates. The food is a little overpriced, but everytime I have gone, its been worth it. The drinks are strong, the service is pretty good and i recommend this place to anyone who wants an adult crowd, good music (althought a tad loud at times...) and excellent food. Pros: Great food, Mature crowd, Good drinks Cons: Loud music more