(212) 665-2525

161 Lenox Ave (at 118th St.)
New York, NY 10026 40.8034 -73.9488

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Neighborhoods: Harlem, Uptown

Hours:

Mon-Thu, 11:30am-11pm

Fri, 11:30am-midnight

Sat, 11am-midnight

Sun, 11am-11pm

Last updated 4.14.11

Category:

Restaurants

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “What really make sthe place tho' is the ambience and that you always meet the most interesting people there.”
  2. “But it's such a fun, friendly place that this has never bothered me too much.”
  3. “recently met a friend for dinner, while it's on the small side, we loved the decor/ambiance of the place.”
  4. “Interesting decor and the bar floats like a wave across the space with a bright mash of magazine picutes pasted across the front.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “But go in on the nights when Ari the bartender is working and you get great cocktails, eye candy and a friendly smile all in one!”
  2. “The cocktails are great too!”
  3. “We love Native, our neighborhood bar/restaurant in Harlem.”
  4. “Nice neighborhood bar”
  5. “The food is delicious, simple and inexpensive- cocktail and wine list great for the restaurant size (about 20 tables)- and the music is always great.”
  6. “Interesting decor and the bar floats like a wave across the space with a bright mash of magazine picutes pasted across the front.”
food quality
79.8199987411499% positive
  1. “Also, the salmon & jasmine rice is superb!”
  2. “Decent food, good prices, horrible service”
  3. “Another dish was cold.”
  4. “The sangria is great (and a bargain), as are some of the cheap starter dishes that you can actually make a meal out of--the mac & cheese and the red beans & rice, in particular, are amazing.”
  5. “The food at Native was really good!”
  6. “It was always packed and the food was great!”
  7. “tasted my friend's grits delicious!”
  8. “The food was good, not great, the service was horrible but the price was unbeatable for a group of 25 people.”
  9. “My wife and I had a wonderful meal at Native, which really welcomed us to the neighborhood.”
  10. “Although the food was good, the service was extremely poor.”
  11. “It is a great little spot with nice abmiance and really yummy , slightly upscale comfort food.”
  12. “The food is good (my fave is the basil curry chicken dish) and the prices quite affordable.”
  13. “You can easily eat a full meal for less than 12 bucks.”
  14. “It has great soul food and some Caribbean food.”
  15. “The food is delicious, simple and inexpensive- cocktail and wine list great for the restaurant size (about 20 tables)- and the music is always great.”
  16. “The food is just okay, but the poor service and inability to get things right keeps me from going back, even though it's right in my neighborhood.”
  17. “Great food, good service and high hopes for a neighborhood spot to call my own!”
  18. “Catfish sandwich was excellent.”
  19. “The food tasty--the basil chiken dish had just the right kick and my friend really enjoyed her vegetarian no meat dish.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a nice local place with a cool downtown vibe.”
  2. “The food is delicious, simple and inexpensive- cocktail and wine list great for the restaurant size (about 20 tables)- and the music is always great.”
service
58.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Great food, good service and high hopes for a neighborhood spot to call my own!”
  2. “The major con is that the service is always slow, even when the dining room is nearly empty; I understand that the restaurant still isn't turning a profit, so maybe that explains why they seem to be understaffed.”
  3. “But go in on the nights when Ari the bartender is working and you get great cocktails, eye candy and a friendly smile all in one!”
  4. “ended up at Native after a series of bad service at restaurants in the South Bronx (Don't ever go to Sweetwater's).”
  5. “Prices are pretty good (but that goes for the whole area), but service is pretty bad.”
  6. “Although the food was good, the service was extremely poor.”
  7. “The food is just okay, but the poor service and inability to get things right keeps me from going back, even though it's right in my neighborhood.”
  8. “What really make sthe place tho' is the ambience and that you always meet the most interesting people there.”
  9. “have been going to Native for 2 years and I think the service is decent, and VASTLY improved since last winter.”
  10. “But it's such a fun, friendly place that this has never bothered me too much.”
  11. “It was a greatlaid back vibe and the staff was friendly.”
  12. “The service was really good as well.”
  13. “My guest and I were disappointed by the rudeness and unprofessionalism of the staff.”
  14. “We paid the full bill, but left only a 15% tip because the service was not deserving of 20%.”
  15. “The waitress proceeded to storm out of the restaurant and accost us on the sidewalk demanding the full 20%, a difference of about $4.”
  16. “The waiters were not very professional and could not get our orders right.”
  17. “The servers are always friendly although they seem a bit harried at times.”
  18. “Decent food, good prices, horrible service”
  19. “The food was good, not great, the service was horrible but the price was unbeatable for a group of 25 people.”
  20. “The service has been poor some other times too.”
value
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “Decent food, good prices, horrible service”
  2. “The sangria is great (and a bargain), as are some of the cheap starter dishes that you can actually make a meal out of--the mac & cheese and the red beans & rice, in particular, are amazing.”
  3. “You can easily eat a full meal for less than 12 bucks.”
  4. “The food is good (my fave is the basil curry chicken dish) and the prices quite affordable.”
  5. “The food was good, not great, the service was horrible but the price was unbeatable for a group of 25 people.”
  6. “The food is delicious, simple and inexpensive- cocktail and wine list great for the restaurant size (about 20 tables)- and the music is always great.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “The major con is that the service is always slow, even when the dining room is nearly empty; I understand that the restaurant still isn't turning a profit, so maybe that explains why they seem to be understaffed.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/12/10

Two dollars to use the bathroom

by hgj1

It was marathon sunday,i was out supporting runners

after hours of cheering -cold,tired,i remembered lots of people i know go to this place. I walked in asked if could use the bathroom, a very rude person said it would cost two dollars. I dress well and have a good outlook on life soooo...i couldn't understand why this manager (owner) was being so hostile.I walked out upset ,wanted a drink,food etc. I would never even look at that place much less spend a dollar there.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/21/10

Good relaxed weekend brunch

by changmino200

We've had a good experience the two times I've been there for brunch, although the chairs are not the most comfortable. The staff is friendly, the menu is interesting, the food is good, and it's a nice relaxed atmosphere. It's never too crowded, so I don't feel crushed or rushed. Just what I want for brunch.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/12/10

Nice neighborhood bar

by st204

We love Native, our neighborhood bar/restaurant in Harlem. This place mixes young, old and all races. Its a little gay and a little straight and a little something else. It has great soul food and some Caribbean food. But go in on the nights when Ari the bartender is working and you get great cocktails, eye candy and a friendly smile all in one! If you want to experience the new Harlem renaissance, pay native a visit.

  • Pros: Great drinks, good food, great atmosphere
  • Cons: A little noisy at times
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/08/10

Pleasantly Surprised

by Petite Miss

I ended up at Native after a series of bad service at restaurants in the South Bronx (Don't ever go to Sweetwater's)... Anyway I expected the prices to be a little lower so my grumpy mood didn't get better after we got to Native.

However, the servers were very pleastant, patient and hospitable. I ordered a falafel meal that was $11.95. BUT, it was worth every penny because it came with so many different foods. I was pleased with the taste, the service, and it ended my night on a good note!

  • Pros: Good service; well prepared food
  • Cons: prices, however you do get what you pay for!
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/10/09

Horrible Service, Subpar Food

by sobeautiful

I was excited when Native opened because it was a new addition to the neighborhood. I took some friends who were visiting for the weekend there for brunch. Our waitress was unattentive, seemed harried and rude. She got several of our orders wrong and seemed annoyed when we asked her to fix them. Then, she automatically added a 20% tip to our bill when there were only 4 of us dining. We paid the full bill, but left only a 15% tip because the service was not deserving of 20%. The waitress proceeded to storm out of the restaurant and accost us on the sidewalk demanding the full 20%, a difference of about $4.

Of course we complained to the restaurant manager who offered us to come back and have dinner on the house. We did and again dealt with staff who could not get orders right, forgot to put the alcohol in our cocktails, and acted annoyed at having to serve us.

This place is just not worth it. The food is just okay, but the poor service and inability to get things right keeps me from going back, even though it's right in my neighborhood. I much prefer Chez Lucienne at Lenox & 126th

  • Pros: None
  • Cons: Rude, unprofessional waitstaff, subpar bland food

The Details on Native

Place Categories:

  • great soul food
  • poor service
  • nice local place
  • great native
  • back vibe staff
  • really yummy upscale comfort food
  • great cocktails
  • always great music
  • good prices
  • great sangria
  • good restaurant
  • great little spot
  • great local option
  • great caribbean food
  • wonderful cheese
  • wonderful mac
  • great eye candy
  • cool downtown vibe
  • strongly recommend catfish
  • favorite local spot
  • interesting decor
  • cold dish
  • full meal
  • nice neighborhood bar
  • really enjoyed vegetarian
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