Naima

I was visiting galleries in chelsea and friend of mine, quite a foody, recommended me the Naima as the perfect spot for the lunch in that area, especially when you get hungry after all the walking I did that day. Pros: great atmosphere and food more

We got conned into buying $7 bottles of water, then they refilled it w/o asking. (if they ask if you want flat or sparkling, say TAP) I asked the waitress which of 2 entrees was better, she said the penne was more popular, so i ordered that, and she gave me a disgusted look. She was such a food snob, even correcting one in our party for not pronouncing the meal correctly. My meal was by far the best of 6 (everyone tasted) but it tasted like it had enough salt in it for a weeks worth of sodium intake. (from the procuitto). It also took forever to get our meal even though we were one of the only tables in there. I wouldn't go back. Hope this helps someone else! Pros: We sat right down Cons: Food was salty, Waitress was a food snob more

The food was delicious but the staff seemed uninterested in answering questions regarding the food and only wanted to correct bad dish name pronunciation. ""Food Snobs"" Pros: Food was diverse, well prepared, and tasty Cons: Waitress seemed uninterested and stuck up more

Picked Naima off a list of Italian restaurants in Mahattan and found a jewel. Went to Naima for dinner on NYE and was not disappointed! The neighborhood is a bit off the beaten path - on a very quiet street, but still safe. The restaurant is cozy (think hardwood) and has a a great ambience - warm, not snobby, but still really nice decor. Service was a bit slow, but again, NYE, so quite busy. There were actual Italians sitting at the table next to us, which I guess was a good sign off the bat. The zuchinni appetizer was amazing - like a zuchini lasagna, nothing like I've ever eaten before; also the caprese salad in a crispy cheese pocket, perfection! The main courses were a bit on the smaller side for American portions, but still enough food for normal people... Every dish was delicious and it was clear that they used high quality ingredients. We ordered the ravioli, rigatoni, third pasta dish I can't remember, and the chicken - all were great! The waitress had recommendations for the wine and appetizers and they were right on. The prices were really reasonable, about $40 per person and that was with wine and apps and sharing four dishes among 6 people. If you value quality over quantity, this is your place. Would definitely go here again the next time I am in NYC. Pros: Food, Ambience more

Another absolutely top-notch meal from Naima, as expected. The decor and service are impeccable, and the food is indescribably good. more

I love Naima! It reminds me of some Italian restaurant in New Jersey in the 70's...I hope they never change the decor. And the food....mmmmmm! So good...one of the few good Italian restaurants in the city, in my humble opinion. Try the Ravioli Capresi....you won't be disappointed. And the wait staff is the real deal. Great service. Pros: staff,service,ambiance more

Celebrated a friend's birthday, the staff was very accomodating because we had people who were unable to make dinner but came out for the afterparty. Food was great, service was terrific, and the place got packed as the evening went along. Definitely great to share, since their portions are nice, and a solid Italian restaurant that is great for larger parties. more

We ate early so there weren't many people there. So clearly, service was not an issue. more

It is nice to have delicious Italian food with nice looking crowd. It is a hot spot to have dinner. Pros: ambiance, music more

My friends planned a bachelorette party for me. We were going to start the evening's activities with dinner at Naima at 6:30. We made the reservation, for a group of 12, three weeks in advance. Two days before the party Naima's manager called and said that we'd have to leave his restaurant before 8pm because he has a private party that is starting at 8. We told him that there is no way we'd be done with dinner by 8, and besides, we reserved our table three weeks in advance and were never told we'd only have 1.5 hours for dinner. He really didn't care. We ended up having to find another restaurant that could accomodate a group of 12 on a saturday night. Bottom line: if you want a restaurant that will actually honor your reservation, Naima is not the place. Cons: They don't honor their reservations. more

An art dealer in the street highly recommended this restaurant, great vibe,great food and the service is fantastic. I 'll go back just to get one of those great glass of wine. more

A friend of mine recommended Naima so I went for the first time last night. The space is very cozy, great customer service and the food is absolutely amazing!! We liked this place so much that we decided to stay after dinner and sit at the bar for drinks. My only complaint would be that there should be more seating at the bar because it does get crowded. I will definitely be going back. Pros: great food, ambience, prices, food portions Cons: crowded bar area more

I've dined art Naima twice now and each time was impressed with the quality and originality of the dishes. Service was fastidious and very courteous, though both times we ate fairly early when there were few other guests. The wine selection was excellent. The only problem I encountered the second time was that the desserts were served too cold (a fruit tart and a creme brulee) although they were very tasty. Pros: Excellent menu, very high quality and originality of true Italian dishes more

Had a reservation for 8 people at 9pm. We sat down at 945. No one apologized. Food was very mediocre and two dishes came very late. Told the owner that we were not happy with the service and he was very defensive. Never going back. You can't treat customers like that if the food is sub par. more

My husband and I had dinner at Naima last night, and from start to finish, it was a wonderful experience. Pros: The lentils in olive oil served with the bread; The attentive and kind service more

I love this place, i stumbled upon it one evening when i decided that i could not wait in line at Pink Elephant and was so happy i did the atmosphere was great and the food was phenomenal.. I look forward to making this a weekly stop Pros: the pasta with mushrooms.. yummmmm Cons: need more seats at the bar more

I've been to Naima several times. Food is great, the wine excellent and the service very warm and personal. I've never felt rushed to order and eat my dinner, as in other NYC eateries- I suppose it's the layed back Italian vibe that the owners want their guests to experience. They accomodate large parties (had a my-b-day there w/ 15 people). It's a cool place to have a great time, if you are not into the the Mega, Super Size Club scene that surrounds the area. For those into REAL NYC night spots, Naima hosts a party once a month with guest DJs. They play real music here, so if the top 40 Mash-Up / 80's/ watch the DJ play records on a stage is your thing- stick to your Ipod or walk yourself down the block to the Pros: Food, Ambiance, Music more

We went to this restaurant, which looks quite cozy, with a large party. The service is terribly slow, with over 30 minutes of dead time between each course. What's worse was that despite the long wait the pasta was completely undercooked and inedible. Pros: Cozy atmosphere. Cons: Extremely rude manager. Long waits. Sub-par food. more

Naima in Chelsea is hands down the quintessential Italian restaurant in a completely inviting and unintimidating environment. Definitely try an assortment of traditional appetizers and the homemade ravioli- paired with a wine suggested by the friendly (and all-to handsome) staff. Simply scrumptious! more

The food was comparable to top restaurants in Italy. The service was phenominal without being disruptive. Pros: Nothing can compare except maybe Cibero In Florence! more