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    Native

    3.4 (99 reviews)
    Closed 1:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

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    NATIVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Native

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    Reviews With Photos

    Entryway
    Rosemond S.

    The decor of the restaurant made me feel like I was transported to Lagos lol. The esthetics of the restaurant were beautiful and I loved that the servers were also diverse and provided good service. I made a reservation for a party of 4 on a Friday night and we were seated promptly. The drinks were strong and everyone loved their food. One star was removed for the suya wings because they were salty and the jollof rice was really spicy, not for the faint of heart. The venue definitely has a lounge feel to it and made me curious to see how it is later in the night. This was a great birthday dinner experience.

    Arielle D.

    This place is so underrated. The vibe is actually amazing. It is right on Broadway and every time I go it is never crowded, which blows my mind because it deserves a packed house. They have themed nights Monday through Friday, the food is on point, and the drinks are strong and good. It is a West African restaurant and they also have a location on 125th Street. Mondays are karaoke night and it is always a good time. More people need to put this spot on their list.

    Christina L.

    Visited for the second time over a year apart. First visit I came purely for vibes, this time dinner and vibes. While a few minutes late, I was still able to be seated after my entire party arrived. Parking in this area is rough so I suggest planning accordingly. Live DJ was present, playing new tunes, old school hits and ofcourse afrobeats. Black owned Nigerian spot and the menu, decor and vibes reflected so. Lots of good energy, dancing and music. Definitely a loud environment more geared towards a good time versus intimate conversation but it was also getting to be late night. Might be more tame before 10pm. No complaints with waiter service. Drinks came out within reasonable time and she was polite and attentive. The Jallof rice is what we came for and it did not disappoint at all. Cooked to good temp, seasoned well and appropriately spicy. We also ordered the suya beef which was just alright, not spicy like we expected but seasoned well. While the jallof rice outshines the suya beef, the pairing made for a great meal. I'm not one for left overs but I took some home and ran back to it in the morning. We took our time eating, drinking and chatting and did not feel rushed at all. Will likely be back if I'm ever in the mood for Jallof rice and it'll be on the recommendation list should anyone ask where to get some jallof. SN: Hookah also available for purchase.

    Jazmine P.

    Stopped in for food and drinks after exploring the city and we had a great time. We had a table in the back and the service was amazing from the time we walked in to the time we left. The wings were great, the drinks were shaken well, and that was some of the BEST hookah I've ever had. (I love hookah so that means a lot) They also came and sung happy birthday and gave me a slice of delicious red velvet cake (my fav). I would honestly go here every week if I lived in NY. Can't wait to explore their menu more next time I'm in town.

    Smokey Jollof Rice w/ Grilled Salmon
    Janae H.

    I didn't get a chance to visit the actual restaurant, but I ordered this through Uber Eats, and it was absolutely amazing! I added a side of chimichurri, and it was so good. I'm the type of person to look at reviews and review pictures, 1000 times over, so I was hesitant before I ordered from this place since I didn't receive any recommendations. I just had to write a review for those who, like me, check reviews. I'm pretty familiar with Nigerian food so this review is authentic I promise. Lol

    Pan Seared Salmon and Smokey Jollof Rice
    Janae H.

    I didn't get a chance to visit the actual restaurant, but I ordered this through Uber Eats, and it was absolutely amazing! I added a side of chimichurri, and it was so good. I'm the type of person to look at reviews and review pictures, 1000 times over, so I was hesitant before I ordered from this place since I didn't receive any recommendations. I just had to write a review for those who, like me, check reviews.

    Native Receipt

    I visited this establishment yesterday and was automatically charged an 18% "gratuity," which was described as company policy. I asked the waiter about the charge, and his response was that I would need to speak with the manager. At no point before ordering or being seated was I informed that an automatic 18% gratuity would be added. I was dining with my daughter and wanted to show her a good time, as it was her last day in NYC before returning to college. The following day, I called the restaurant, spoke with the manager, explained the situation, and requested a refund. I was told that the wait staff mentions the charge before seating guests and that it is listed on the menu. The wait staff never mentioned an automatic gratuity, and I did not see this disclosure on the menu. Because transparency matters, I have filed reports with the appropriate New York City and New York State agencies. No customer should be subjected to undisclosed mandatory charges.

    Native pasta with salmon
    Yvonne D.

    Ehhh. It was decent but nothing extraordinary. Pepper soup was ok. Jollof with mixed meat was ok. Definitely not authentic. Pasta was good. They didn't have the frozen colada I wanted. Service was a bit slow...

    Sharron P.

    The food is delicious, it's always great to have a taste of home. Every time I've gone there, I've had an issue with the bouncer at the door because of a water bottle in my purse--he acts like a TSA agent with a chip on his shoulder. It's a huge turn off before even getting inside. The dining room is lovely, but the music is a little too loud for just a dinner. Perfect for a turn up, though!

    Dinner at Native is done.
    Tanya R.

    I have seen Native posted in a few friend's stories online and I've also heard good things about it. A few nights ago, I made reservations for a Galentine's dinner for a party of three. Native is a beautiful, trendy style restaurant that serves Nigerian food- DELICIOUS Nigerian food. Neither of us girls had much experience with food from that part of the African diaspora. We decided to mix things up by ordering familiar dishes alongside the unfamiliar. After our very patient, super cool server Femi, answered all of our questions regarding spice levels and textures, we placed our orders. Suya spiced chicken wings, a chopped goat appetizer, grilled beef with Suya spice, saucy red snapper and sweet plantains. Excluding the goat, which was more fatty than lean and wings that didn't excite us, every dish was PERFECT! The plantains were a hit. I have never tasted plantains that were so flavorful. I ordered Jollof spaghetti with chicken as my main course and it was scrumptious. The angel hair spaghetti was seasoned to perfection and prepared with the best parts of a half roasted chicken throughout. Food was great. The restaurant is beautiful and it was decorated pretty for Valentine's/Galentine's day. The DJ was amazing, spinning all my fave hip hop and r&b sing-alongs. I mentioned that we had a bday girl at our table and a group of gorgeous ladies came out with all the glitz and glamour and a slice of decadent, dark chocolate cake to share. Overall a near flawless experience. When a friend asked to wash her hands, she was presented with a wooden bowl with fresh water and towels to dry. We were impressed and excited to be treated to that part of the authentic Nigerian dining experience. My only NOPE with Native, was the hookah portion of the night. The hookah is pricey, refills are expensive and they will not fire up your coals once they've gone cold. Overall, Native was a top tier night out. I will be back!

    Jollof rice
    Anika A.

    Native Restaurant and Lounge is a vibe! This is my second time here, but first time actually trying food. They have plenty of options for Nigerian cuisine and a pretty decent drink menu as well. I ordered a Moscow mule type of drink as well as the suya chicken quesadilla which I enjoyed (nice presentation). I was also able to try other food items that my friends ordered including the chicken wings. The wings were nice and hot but a bit overly salty in my opinion. I also tried the jollof rice and red stew with beef. The beef tasted pretty tender however the actual rice was hard and very crunchy which I was not expecting. I'm not much of a hookah smoker but I do think there hookah equipment is very unique where you can blow smoke toward the tower and glows as holographic images.

    This was supposed to be Goat Egusi ....
    Stacey G.

    I was looking for a really good Egusi and was highly disappointed. My egusi consistency was horrible and there wasn't an abundance of goat for the 33.00 plus dollars spent and portions were smaller than many places. The paste was flavorful but the flavor wasn't quite right and there was absolutely no soup/broth. The service was fast and the pounded yam was great - but that's about it.

    Andre O.

    Service from the bartender was amazing, got us a table to eat at when the food came out. The jollof was great had a nice smoky and spicy flavor to it. Will definitely be back

    Brunch burger with wrong rice

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    1 year ago

    Food was great and drinks were amazing. Second time going there and I would go back. Music is a tad bit too loud at times.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Experiencing The Food For The First Time Was Excellent. Staff Members Were Professional.

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

    David was such an amazing bartender! Great conversation and great drinks. Will definitely be back.

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    1 year ago

    Great service! Really good food! Very nicely decorated and inviting. It's a very cool spot to have a unique brunch food experience!

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    2 years ago

    First time going to this restaurant and I really enjoyed myself. The food and staff were great, definitely will be back.

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    Cafe Balearica - Comedy Thursdays!

    Cafe Balearica

    (46 reviews)

    Williamsburg - North Side

    I absolutely love the vibe here. Upstairs is a bar, with string lights and disco balls. It's laid…read moreback but still has a fun, lively feel. You can bring outside food and the cocktails a fantastic. Downstairs is a proper dance floor that usually opens at 11. You can effortlessly switch between hanging out upstairs and living it up in the basement which I love. If you can early enough you can even skip the cover charge!

    You can choose from two main vibes at Cafe Balearica. Upstairs, you have a spacious, somewhat…read morerelaxed bar and lounge area. The music is at a low enough volume that you can hear your conversations, it doesn't get too crowded so you can spread out, even if you're in a large group. Downstairs, it's a lot tighter, with a DJ, dance floor, lounge seating area, and a much more packed and busy atmosphere on the weekends. I like ping ponging between both vibes when I'm with friends. Admittedly I've found the music both times to be too experimental for me. Confessing that makes me feel like an old person shaking my fist or at least shaking my head, misunderstanding what makes the youth tick. But I had no trouble twirling around the dance floor to this weird experimental music after throwing back a few tequila sodas upstairs. A few times while here my friends have split up into the group that wants to go downstairs to dance and the group that wants to stay upstairs and chill. It's relatively easy to navigate between both vibes, which I enjoy about this spot very much.

    Water Tower - Inferno Paloma

    Water Tower

    (79 reviews)

    Williamsburg - North Side

    Came here on a quiet weeknight by a total mistake!…read more We came to grab some drinks at the rooftop bar and catch the sunset and gorgeous views. When we saw "Water Tower" on the elevator we decided to press it. SO GLAD WE DID. We landed at the Water Tower and walked into a fairly empty space decorated with art all the way to the ceiling, filled with natural light coming in and the views of the skyline were out of this world. We had to try their drinks of course to enjoy with the incredible view. Though the drinks are $21 and served in a plastic cup that evening, I was NOT expecting my drink to be this insanely delicious. I ordered the inferno Paloma which they infuse themselves with- and it was true perfection. By the way, each bar has their own menu which is pretty awesome and makes it even more fun. Also, Axel is the most incredible bartender and we absolutely loved his creations. Later that night we ordered a custom mandarin margarita, with a spicy twist, and WOW. He's truly talented and absolutely made us some awesome drinks that we can't stop talking about. Sunset with a view and a spicy mezcal drink? Yes and YES. We had this place all to ourselves and can't wait to be back. Friday nights they have DJ nights and you can also book the Water Tower for your own private events which is pretty cool!

    Chill bar, cool view, NYC rooftop drink price. I was here when it wasn't that busy, so nice to get…read morea seat. Tips is included automatically in your bill, and i appreciate they're not asking for more tips when you pay.

    Bee's Knees & Honey Lounge

    Bee's Knees & Honey Lounge

    (42 reviews)

    Williamsburg - North Side

    5 star solely on their drinks and hospitality. This spot is a bit off the main path of Bedford Ave…read morebut its definitely worth the few minutes walk over. All cocktails are made to perfection with the best music playlist especially if you're gen X. No doubt I will be back to try more cocktails and some of their small plates. Highly recommend with easy street parking.

    Stopped by Bee's Knees Honey & Lounge recently and had a really enjoyable time overall. The vibe is…read morecozy and a little upscale without feeling pretentious--great spot to relax with a drink and some shareable plates. To drink, we ordered a hot toddy and a mulled wine. Both were perfect for a chilly night and nicely spiced. The hot toddy especially hit the spot. For food, we tried a few things. The Sweet Potato Beignets with hot honey & parmesan were definitely interesting--sweet, savory, and a bit unexpected. Not my favorite item of the night, but still worth trying if you like unique flavor combos. The BK Sliders (3 pc) were solid: thick applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, Russian dressing, and pickle on mini brioche buns. Simple, satisfying, and nicely done. The real standout though was the Calamari with shichimi pepper, jalapeño, lime zest, and herbal dipping sauce--absolutely amazing. Crispy, flavorful, and the seasoning had just the right kick. Easily the best dish we ordered. Service was friendly and the atmosphere made it easy to linger. Overall a great experience, and I'd definitely come back--especially for that calamari and another hot toddy.

    Kokomo

    Kokomo

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$$

    Williamsburg - North Side

    I will start by saying I love the ambiance of Kokomo. Staff here is always friendly and music is…read morealways great during service and after hours. Food took entirely too long to come out. 40 minutes for an appetizer is crazy... Once they arrived, they were all tasty. I wish I took photos of the food. We ordered the curry crab gyoza which was so flavorful and the ackee and saltfish shumai. The oxtail flatbread is very large and lots of meat. They don't skimp out. Biang biang Rasta noodles is served with oyster mushrooms (so good) and peppers. I added shrimp to mine. Very tasty and filling. But keep in mind that the noodles are not penne and they are I think fettuccine They must do better on their serving time. The restaurant was crowded. But it would be nice to have the expectation set that there will be a long wait.

    Went here for brunch with friends because the vibes looked great and reviews were solid. We had a…read morereservation right when they opened, but they were running about 20 minutes late -- not the best start. Once seated though, the space is beautiful. We were in a sunlit room and it really set the mood. Our server was great, and we ordered family-style. Just a heads up, they have a separate "Sunday drunch" menu so options are a bit limited. For apps, we got the curry crab gyoza which was a very small portion (6/10) and the roasted mushroom truffle flatbread which was the highlight of the meal (8.5/10). For mains, we tried the biang biang Rasta noodles with salmon (6/10) and the sofrino roasted chicken (5/10). Both were a bit underwhelming. I've heard their drinks are great but we didn't try any. Food-wise, I was a little disappointed, but still had a great time catching up with friends.

    Native - lounges - Updated May 2026

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