(212) 967-4392

513 W 27th St
New York, NY 10001 40.7504 -74.0027

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

NAIMANYC.COM

Hours:

LUNCH Mon-Fri: 12:00pm-4:00pm DINNER Thu-Sat: 5:00pm-2:00am

Price:

$$

Last updated 4.14.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Notable Wine List, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Italian

What People Are Saying About Naima

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The Scene – The restaurant's haute interior plays up its closeness to the clubby street's bling. Soaring ceilings, back-lit wood accents and a scene-y front bar set the stage for tables of glammed up girls, dressy dates and groups out to celebrate. Beat-driven music pulses through the space, making it difficult to catch your waiter's recitation of specials. Service is erratic but friendly. – – The Food – The menu, inspired by the regional cuisine of Campania, is most inventive with appetizers. For a fresh start, try the salmon, thin strips marinated in lemon juice and…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The Sant'Elena cabernet/merlot mix from Ros Di Rol is a well-balanced wine that works well with both pastas and meat entrees.
Where to Sit:
Request the tables at the back of the restaurant for a more subdued dining experience.
ambiance
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. Im New Yorker and I know how difficult is to find genuine Italian food combined with amazing ambiance.
  2. This place must be new they scored with the great location.
  3. fabulous service, excellent food, great wine selection, beatiful decor - an easy place to enjoy an evening with friends
  4. great food, great atmosphere
  5. have never imagined that on this block, which is well known for all trendy night places, would I be able to spend such a quality time with my friends in a very relaxed atmosphere complemented by wonderful food and drinks.
  6. The place has a very cool atmosphere but the service is slow, the food not that great and overpriced and the wine list is too pricy.
  7. The service is good, the atmosphere is great for both romantic couples or small or large groups.
  8. excellent food, wine & atmosphere and friendly staff.
  9. The decor and service are impeccable, and the food is indescribably good.
  10. The restaurant is cozy (think hardwood) and has a a great ambience - warm, not snobby, but still really nice decor.
  11. 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.
  12. The space is very cozy, great customer service and the food is absolutely amazing!
drinks
91.18000030517578% positive
  1. The prices were really reasonable, about $40 per person and that was with wine and apps and sharing four dishes among 6 people.
  2. Food is great, the wine excellent and the service very warm and personal.
  3. have never imagined that on this block, which is well known for all trendy night places, would I be able to spend such a quality time with my friends in a very relaxed atmosphere complemented by wonderful food and drinks.
  4. This is the perfect spot to meet up with friends and have a drink at the bar or stay a while and enjoy the scene and savor the food.
  5. On one of the first chilly nights it was great to warm up with a glass of wine and the mouthwatering salmon.
  6. Definitely try an assortment of traditional appetizers and the homemade ravioli- paired with a wine suggested by the friendly (and all-to handsome) staff.
  7. There were staff running around everywhere, but not one stopped at our table to take our orders or bring out food - only to dump other people's dirty plates on the end of our table - they were too busy drinking at the bar.
  8. found it a great pleace to come to before hitting clubs for either food or drinks.
  9. excellent food, wine & atmosphere and friendly staff.
  10. The wine list is well picked with interesting southern Italian wines.
  11. The place has a very cool atmosphere but the service is slow, the food not that great and overpriced and the wine list is too pricy.
  12. We were offered to choose from their new summer menu which contained a wonderful combinations of filling yet light and refreshing food and wine.
  13. Things only kept on getting better, from tasty appetizers and great wines, onto great food and very relaxed service.
  14. We liked this place so much that we decided to stay after dinner and sit at the bar for drinks.
  15. This continued late into the night, with us drinking some of their yummy cocktails, and just enjoying ourselves with the rest of the flirtatious crowd.
  16. fabulous service, excellent food, great wine selection, beatiful decor - an easy place to enjoy an evening with friends
  17. 'll go back just to get one of those great glass of wine.
food quality
79.27000045776367% positive
  1. Im New Yorker and I know how difficult is to find genuine Italian food combined with amazing ambiance.
  2. Every dish was delicious and it was clear that they used high quality ingredients.
  3. Finnaly, there came a restaurant with everything included (great food, great service (ladies, they are also very cute, especially the owner!)
  4. found it a great pleace to come to before hitting clubs for either food or drinks.
  5. excellent food, wine & atmosphere and friendly staff.
  6. fabulous service, excellent food, great wine selection, beatiful decor - an easy place to enjoy an evening with friends
  7. worst pasta dish I never had in my entire life.
  8. My friend and I started with a sophisticated octopus salad dish with a wonderful flavor of fresh olive oil.
  9. The chairs were uncomfortable and the only reason we noticed was becuase we waited HOURS for our food to come out.
  10. 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.
  11. The place has a very cool atmosphere but the service is slow, the food not that great and overpriced and the wine list is too pricy.
  12. The service was disgusting and the food was even worse.
  13. We were offered to choose from their new summer menu which contained a wonderful combinations of filling yet light and refreshing food and wine.
  14. One of the worst pasta dishes I have ever had.
  15. The prices were really reasonable, about $40 per person and that was with wine and apps and sharing four dishes among 6 people.
  16. The tubes had a nice crisp to it and the sauce was simple enough to not overwhelm it.
  17. The space is very cozy, great customer service and the food is absolutely amazing!
  18. the best pasta
  19. The food is simple yet bursting with wonderful flavors without being pretentious or overpriced!
  20. Finally, it is very rare that you can find such a good value in terms of the price and quality of the food, especially for the lunch.
  21. Shame because the food was good, although not fantastic.
  22. The menu choices were spectacular and the food was superb.
  23. great food, great atmosphere
  24. went to Naima for the first time tongiht with 3 girlfriends, and it was an excellent meal!
  25. Pretty good food, but AWFUL service.
  26. The server was rude, the service was slow, and the food was unimaginative and bland.
  27. 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!
  28. This is the perfect spot to meet up with friends and have a drink at the bar or stay a while and enjoy the scene and savor the food.
  29. Things only kept on getting better, from tasty appetizers and great wines, onto great food and very relaxed service.
  30. An art dealer in the street highly recommended this restaurant, great vibe,great food and the service is fantastic.
  31. All our questions were answered by the knowledgeable Italian waiter, and according to him the food was prepared and presented to us the way the "real Italian cuisine was suppose to be
  32. The food was absolutely delicious, and the owner was cute too.
  33. On one of the first chilly nights it was great to warm up with a glass of wine and the mouthwatering salmon.
  34. It is nice to have delicious Italian food with nice looking crowd.
  35. have never imagined that on this block, which is well known for all trendy night places, would I be able to spend such a quality time with my friends in a very relaxed atmosphere complemented by wonderful food and drinks.
  36. delicious affordable elegant italian!
  37. The decor and service are impeccable, and the food is indescribably good.
  38. This continued late into the night, with us drinking some of their yummy cocktails, and just enjoying ourselves with the rest of the flirtatious crowd.
  39. Food was very mediocre and two dishes came very late.
  40. The food was delicious but the staff seemed uninterested in answering questions regarding the food and only wanted to correct bad dish name pronunciation.
  41. There were staff running around everywhere, but not one stopped at our table to take our orders or bring out food - only to dump other people's dirty plates on the end of our table - they were too busy drinking at the bar.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. fabulous service, excellent food, great wine selection, beatiful decor - an easy place to enjoy an evening with friends
  2. The menu choices were spectacular and the food was superb.
  3. We were offered to choose from their new summer menu which contained a wonderful combinations of filling yet light and refreshing food and wine.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Definitely great to share, since their portions are nice, and a solid Italian restaurant that is great for larger parties.
  2. There is nothing good about this place and would never ever recommend it.
  3. What a great place.
  4. Food was great, service was terrific, and the place got packed as the evening went along.
  5. fabulous service, excellent food, great wine selection, beatiful decor - an easy place to enjoy an evening with friends
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. 'll go back just to get one of those great glass of wine.
service
73.21000099182129% positive
  1. The server was rude, the service was slow, and the food was unimaginative and bland.
  2. The food was delicious but the staff seemed uninterested in answering questions regarding the food and only wanted to correct bad dish name pronunciation.
  3. excellent food, wine & atmosphere and friendly staff.
  4. There were staff running around everywhere, but not one stopped at our table to take our orders or bring out food - only to dump other people's dirty plates on the end of our table - they were too busy drinking at the bar.
  5. The place looks really good estetically,but the core is pour, lacks of dining room presence, and the service was very disappointing.
  6. The place has a very cool atmosphere but the service is slow, the food not that great and overpriced and the wine list is too pricy.
  7. Tables are set with a good distance so that I don't have to hear other people's conversation.
  8. Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive.
  9. Great service.
  10. The space is very cozy, great customer service and the food is absolutely amazing!
  11. fabulous service, excellent food, great wine selection, beatiful decor - an easy place to enjoy an evening with friends
  12. Food is great, the wine excellent and the service very warm and personal.
  13. Finnaly, there came a restaurant with everything included (great food, great service (ladies, they are also very cute, especially the owner!)
  14. While the staff at this restaurant are extremely friendly, the service is painfully slow.
  15. Definitely try an assortment of traditional appetizers and the homemade ravioli- paired with a wine suggested by the friendly (and all-to handsome) staff.
  16. The prices were really reasonable, about $40 per person and that was with wine and apps and sharing four dishes among 6 people.
  17. An art dealer in the street highly recommended this restaurant, great vibe,great food and the service is fantastic.
  18. Food was great, service was terrific, and the place got packed as the evening went along.
  19. Things only kept on getting better, from tasty appetizers and great wines, onto great food and very relaxed service.
  20. All our questions were answered by the knowledgeable Italian waiter, and according to him the food was prepared and presented to us the way the "real Italian cuisine was suppose to be
  21. The service is terribly slow, with over 30 minutes of dead time between each course.
  22. The service was friendly but casual.
  23. The decor and service are impeccable, and the food is indescribably good.
  24. The service was disgusting and the food was even worse.
  25. Pretty good food, but AWFUL service.
  26. Terrible customer service.
  27. Impeccable service ?
  28. The service is good, the atmosphere is great for both romantic couples or small or large groups.
value
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. The place has a very cool atmosphere but the service is slow, the food not that great and overpriced and the wine list is too pricy.
  2. delicious affordable elegant italian!
  3. The food is simple yet bursting with wonderful flavors without being pretentious or overpriced!
  4. Finally, it is very rare that you can find such a good value in terms of the price and quality of the food, especially for the lunch.
  5. The prices were really reasonable, about $40 per person and that was with wine and apps and sharing four dishes among 6 people.
  6. Definitely great to share, since their portions are nice, and a solid Italian restaurant that is great for larger parties.
wait time
20.0% positive
  1. The service is terribly slow, with over 30 minutes of dead time between each course.
  2. Service was a bit slow, but again, NYE, so quite busy.
  3. While the staff at this restaurant are extremely friendly, the service is painfully slow.
  4. The place has a very cool atmosphere but the service is slow, the food not that great and overpriced and the wine list is too pricy.
  5. The server was rude, the service was slow, and the food was unimaginative and bland.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/01/09

tasty and fun!

by redbaron123 at Citysearch

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.

I can tell you that I was delighted with the menu and fed properly for the lunch. The food was absolutely delicious, and the owner was cute too. I decided to come back with my friends for the dinner the next day and we enjoyed it thoroughly. The staff was courteous and always ready to assist. Our meals were perfectly prepared and we all send the empty plates back to kitchen.

Finally, it is very rare that you can find such a good value in terms of the price and quality of the food, especially for the lunch. Naima you will definitely see me again!

  • Pros: great atmosphere and food
  • Cons: none
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/31/09

Great if your a stuffy food conniseur

by ojoyous1 at Citysearch

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
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/30/09

Good Food, Snobby Service

by lee337w at Citysearch

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
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/07/09

quality over quantity!

by atlwahoo at Citysearch

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
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/19/08

Top-notch meal

by coygrier at Citysearch

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

If you don't have the Raviolli before you die, then you can't say that you really lived.

The Details on Naima

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • great service
  • slow customer service
  • great easy place
  • great atmosphere
  • fantastic solid italian restaurant
  • wonderful flavor
  • recommended naima
  • friendly staff
  • knowledgeable italian waiter
  • excellent wine
  • worst pasta
  • unintimidating environment
  • very cozy space
  • delicious dish
  • great customer service
  • delicious elegant italian
  • excellent evening
  • perfect spot
  • impeccable decor
  • honor reservation
  • beautiful faces
  • excellent meal
  • enjoy scene
  • yummy cocktails