Let me start by saying the food is excellent, though this isn't a positive review. I've eaten here many times and never been disappointed by the quality of the meal, but there are some consistent issues with the service and I feel like it's a good idea to forewarn people. The short version is this: if you're here for lunch, double check your bill. For the long version, I present two stories of Friday's experience.
I ordered a sweet tea and my friend ordered unsweet. The server accidentally mixed them up and we each got the wrong drink, which is obviously not a big deal. We didn't see her again for a long time, but when she came back we told what had happened. She brought replacements, but mixed them up again. We let her know what had happened and made it clear which of us was supposed to get which drink. She asked if we'd like new straws so we could just swap the glasses. Now, I understand that not everybody objects to drinking after someone else, but suggesting to customers that maybe they'd rather enjoy each other's saliva for lunch so you won't have to bring new drinks is pretty inappropriate. She seemed baffled by our saying no, so we explained that we needed fresh drinks because we both tasted them. She said, "Oh, you drank out of them?" and reluctantly took them away. As she walked back to the kitchen, she apparently gave one of her coworkers an exasperated look. This was pretty typical of the service for the rest of the meal.
Okay, that's lousy, but it's not a big enough deal to merit an online review, it's just kinda gross and weird. The second experience is, though. Several times after I've eaten lunch here I've been struck later by how high the bill was. Once, a few months ago, I noticed before I left and checked the menu. It turned out they'd charged the dinner prices rather than the lunch prices. After some confusion, they sorted it out and adjusted the tab. I'd forgotten all about it when I went in the next time, but after I left I was shocked by having spent almost $50 for lunch. Today I was prepared for it, and confirmed the prices before I ordered. Sure enough, when the bill came, they'd charged for dinner again.
I want to think it's a recurring mistake rather than a deliberate policy of the restaurant, but here's the most worrying part: when I explained what had happened, the server didn't know how to fix it in the computer and had to get the manager to do it. Since this is the same server who overcharged the previous time, it seems likely that she does it consistently, and that customers don't usually notice. The first time I caught it, though, it was a different server, so it's not just an issue of a single person in need of a refresher.
I'm not suggesting avoiding the restaurant. Again, the food's great, and the service is often just fine. It just might be a good idea to check your ticket for the right prices, as it's not a cheap place at the best of times and the lowest suggested tip on the bill is 18%.
ETA: I went to Nama for lunch last week, and the manager approached and mentioned that she'd seen the review. I wouldn't have thought I was enough of a regular for anyone to know me by sight, but the person I was dining with apparently is! The manager was very nice, and said she was sorry to hear about the issues we've had in the past. She presented us with a gift card for a future meal, which was very thoughtful, and definitely not something we expected! read more