Nai

Tapas restaurant · East Village

Nai

Tapas restaurant · East Village

4

84 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

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Highlights

Flamenco shows & creative Spanish tapas with seafood  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater
Featured in Grub Street

84 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 Get directions

nairestaurant.com
@naitapas

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

84 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 Get directions

+1 212 677 1030
nairestaurant.com
@naitapas

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

Features

wifi
Tap to pay
reservations
payment credit card
outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

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@eater

Order Your Thanksgiving Meal To-Go From a Restaurant This Year | Eater

"A New York tapas restaurant is leaning into global, nontraditional Thanksgiving fare by offering a Spanish-themed menu highlighted by a Catalan-style toasted paella as the centerpiece, reflecting the broader trend of restaurants providing multicultural and smaller-scale holiday takeout options." - Brenna Houck

https://www.eater.com/2020/11/23/21583099/do-a-takeout-thanksgiving-for-2020
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@infatuation

Nai Tapas Bar - Review - East Village - New York - The Infatuation

"The original Nai Tapas was in a long, narrow room on First Avenue between 10th and 11th. But that location closed, and now Nai is back in a bigger two-story space on Second Avenue. Other than the increase in square footage, this place is substantially the same. The food is still a mix of things like sautéed shrimp, patatas bravas, and pork belly with carrot purée, and ranges from perfectly decent to mildly disappointing. For $18.50, for example, you can get two very small pieces of sea bass wrapped in toast with a few twigs of asparagus on top. The dish itself isn’t bad, but it’ll probably make you wonder why didn’t just go to Huertas, a few blocks away, instead. Nai does, however, have live flamenco on Thursdays and Saturdays, and there’s a $55 prix fixe that includes unlimited sangria. So if you’re celebrating something with a group, and you all just want to drink a lot of sugary wine and share a bunch of things, this place is a solid option." - Bryan Kim

https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/nai-tapas-bar
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@eater

Smorgasburg and the Queens Night Market End the 2018 Season Saturday - Eater NY

"Nai Tapas is a Spanish fare bar that hosts flamenco shows. It has moved to a new, two-story location at 85 Second Ave., East Village." - Carla Vianna

https://ny.eater.com/2018/10/25/18022012/jj-johnson-brunch-lunch-breakfast-menu-henry-life-hotel-nyc
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@davidcho

Tapas restaurant with katsu sando

Things I want to eat in New York
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Vivian Chai

Google
Great food, great services! Whoever took our reservation seemed to miss our requests but they were quick to make amends and set us up in the front private corner for our group of 8 as we originally asked for. Everything tasted good and was very well-presented - especially loved their sea bass toast and fideua! This was our second visit and will definitely come back when we next visit NY! Thanks for making our family get-together a delicious, enjoyable experience!

jade

Google
Really really solid. Went for lunch at off peak hours. Not a huge fan of the ambience in the front of the restaurant, and felt like the servers were staring me down the whole time probably because they had nothing else to do as it was very empty, but it was just a bit uncomfortable. Croquettes and chickpeas are a must. Very good. Never had anything like the chickpeas before. Octopus was ok. beef cheek was good but wouldn't order again as the pea flavour was really strong against the salty beef.

Tiffany Chen

Google
LOVED this place! We ordered the Patatas Bravas, Portobello Carpaccio, Yuzu Cod, Duck Confit, and Scallop Crudo. Everything was sooo delicious and I would definitely come back again!

Brianna Parcell

Google
One of my favorite places in the city, experience, food, and vibe! Such good sangria and dishes. Love the curry chickpea, and the cod, everything was amazing. Show is great, it think they’re only about 30 mins so I recommend timing your meal accordingly around the 7:00 and 9:00 shows. For example we were 25 late to our 8:45 reservation so we missed some of the show!

s

Google
Simple menu. Some of the tapas are creative, in a way that out of my expectations, like the matching of the octupos and mashed potato, the combination of arbequina olive oil and the browny. It’s definitely a great place for small bites and be prepared to get surprised by the chef’s work.

Erum Miah

Google
Food was prepared perfectly and top quality. Service was excellent and personable. Our server, Anna, made a point to recall our names, which was very kind of her to do. Top items: portobello carpaccio, duck confit (unreal), fideau. The octopus didn’t have a ton of flavor but was worth trying because of the quality. We were celebrating my husband’s birthday and had a strict timeline for our next event and they stuck to it while allowing us to enjoy a leisurely meal. Dessert and cava on the house was the icing on the cake. Definitely check it out. We can’t wait to come back.

Bill Walsh

Google
My wife and I discovered Nai only recently, after they moved to their new location. We wish we had gone sooner, because the food is incredible - very refined, inventive and delicious. We also love the unique cocktails. The feel of the restaurant is elegant but comfortable and the chef Ruben is very welcoming. Come on Thursday or Saturday for a flemenco show.

Sofia Perez Wolfes

Google
We ordered a bunch of tapas and they were ALL dishes I would order again. Croquetas, bravas, octopus, chickpeas... everything was great! Some more typical from Spain some less... but all high quality. Serving sizes are "tapa" style so for sure 2-3 items per person minimum. Everyone was super nice, but the Spanish server made the experience so great and made us feel at home, I've already told other friends I want to take them to try it! The first time I find vermú in NY served as they would in Spain. This alone is already a reason to go back.
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Ruina Z.

Yelp
Nai is an incredible tapas spot in the East Village that's perfect for a flavorful and unique dining experience. One of the best things about this place is how easy it is to get a reservation, which is a rare find for such a gem in NYC. From start to finish, the food impressed with its bold flavors and creative takes on Spanish classics. --The portobello carpaccio was a standout dish--light, earthy, and beautifully presented. It was a perfect start to the meal. --But the real star of the night was the fideuà. This noodle-based version of paella was a total "wow" moment! Packed with flavor and cooked to perfection, it was unlike anything I've had before and an absolute must-try. --The octopus at Nai was perfectly tender and bouncy, with a hint of char that elevated its flavor. --The garlic shrimp was buttery, smooth, and bursting with garlicky richness. While the dishes leaned on the saltier side, everything was still absolutely delicious and left us wanting more. The service at Nai is warm and friendly, though it can be a bit on the slower side. That said, the relaxed vibe made it easy to sit back, enjoy the food, and savor the experience. Whether you're a tapas enthusiast or just looking for a great spot in the East Village, Nai is definitely worth a visit!
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Johanna L.

Yelp
We booked a 9 PM reservation at Nai specifically because their website clearly states that flamenco shows are at 7 PM and 9 PM every Saturday. My family, including relatives visiting from out of town, were so excited about this experience and had been looking forward to it for weeks. However, on the day of our reservation, the host called to inform us that the show was actually at 8 PM--completely different from what their website advertises--and they could not accommodate us at the time. This was extremely frustrating and disappointing. We chose this restaurant specifically for the dinner and show experience and planned our evening accordingly. It's unacceptable for a business to provide inaccurate information on their website, especially for something as important as showtimes, which people plan their entire evening around. To make matters worse, they made no effort to make it right or find a solution for us. We expected a special evening, and instead, we were left scrambling to make alternate plans. If you're booking here for a flamenco show, beware--their advertised times may not be accurate, and they don't seem to prioritize customer satisfaction.
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Cheryl L.

Yelp
I chose this for my birthday dinner date and was thoroughly impressed by the food and vibes. The restaurant feels upscale without being snobbish due to the friendly staff. What we ordered: 1. Prime rib katsu sandwich - so buttery and tender! Def a bit pricey but worth it. 2. Potato patatas bravas - good carb but not super memorable 3. Fideua - plenty of seafood and had a good texture! Basically a noodle paella 4. Sea bass toast - Unique and was not fishy at all 5. Pulpo a la gallega - was too oily for me and not too much flavor. I think it is the point of the dish but the octopus was almost too tender. Maybe it was a personal preference. Knocking off a star because the resy made it seem like there would be flamenco dancing at that time, but on arrival, our waiter told us it would start at 8pm, almost 2 hours after our original res time. We had reservations to something else afterwards so we were unfortunately unable to catch the show.
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Susan G.

Yelp
Delicious and creative tapas! This place fuses tapas with Asian flavors to create unique flavor combination. We came on a Saturday night around 7:30pm. It was easy to get a reservation and the interior wasn't too busy. The inside is enormous and we were hoping to see the flamenco show, but it did not occur when I was there. However, the interior was chic and minimalist while the food did not disappoint. We tried the patata brava, roasted carrots, sea bass toast, cod, and fideua. All were so delicious and I would recommend. We finished with a yuzu cream and an almond cake. Overall, we had a great experience here.
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Mary N.

Yelp
Stopped in for a Valentines meal. We opted to order off the menu instead of their prix fix option. The sea bass toast & patata brava were really good. The patata brava was a little more satisfying but the sea bass toast had a fun crunch. We shared the fideua which was like a paella with short cut noodles instead of rice. This was amazing and I would definitely come back just for the fideua. The staff was really awesome and they comped our drinks for the meal, plus an extra glass of champagne for the holiday.
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Victoria G.

Yelp
Food 7/10 Honestly everything was just relatively fine. We ordered four tapas, and only the cod toast really impressed me. Everyone was raving about the steak katsu sandwich, but ours just was not tender enough, even though it was a medium rare. Lacked seasoning too. The squash lacked flavor too. The cod toast was great because the fish itself was super tender, but the toast was very crispy. The roe on top also added to the combination of textures. Fideua was a paella thing except with really short noodles and not rice, a very unique dish that was fun to try but flavors were pretty much just salt. Atmosphere 9/10 Lovely minimalist interior design. It was empty for brunch on Sunday except for us though. Service 9/10 Sweet server.
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Mary P.

Yelp
The food was incredibly flavorful, each dish tasted deliciously good. Service was impeccable. The restaurant decor was very inviting with booth seating. We took our time dining and stayed for two and a half hours. We were never rushed. Highly recommend this place. Unique tapas dishes I've never tried before.
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Amanda M.

Yelp
Loved this spot! We came for an early dinner and the restaurant was fairly empty but filled up later during reg dinner hours. Food arrived quickly and was delish! The highlight for me was the portobello carpaccio (not pictured). The tapas are nicely sized for being tapas. We got sangrias but I'd probably try a cocktail or do a white wine next time. They did kindly give us complimentary white wine which was super sweet! Dessert was delish and I'd def try the chocolate mousse next time as well. We luckily got seated at the front of the restaurant so it was nice and private plus it made for great people watching. I'd def come back!
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Rob G.

Yelp
Absolute great ambiance in this spot! We were upstairs while the show was going on but it was definitely great flamenco sounds. The food was great. We all shared the food, it is tapas style. Had a great beer Hahou from Madrid. Our server Carlos was amazing, very attentive. He also helped us out with the ordering and amounts of food to order. Would definitely need to come back soon.
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Mike R.

Yelp
Nai is absolutely amazing! Every dish was spectacular and worthy of 5 stars! Definitely an outstanding place! We started with the Shrimp with Garlic and Pimenton. Next, my favorite the Scallops with Yuzu dressing and lime - thinkly sliced and sublime. (It went so quickly, only could take a pic of the last piece!) The Beef Tartare with Cilantro, Lime and Sherry was scrumptious. Patatas Bravas with Chipotle Aioli were another great choice. Following that, the Beet Salmorejo with tofu balls and blackberry was an interesting combination. Then, the smoked Octopus was a first for me I will always remember. Since it was my friend's birthday, they brought out a Yuzu dessert that was a perfect topper to the meal. Fine service to boot!
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Janice H.

Yelp
Classy but not pretentious ambiance :) High ratings for service, had to make a last minute addition to my reservation and it was very quick and easy. Made a note in my resy that we were celebrating my parents' birthday and they brought out this delicious dessert (not sure what it's called, but sort of like a yuzu ice cream with tart shaved ice) and sparkling wine for everyone at the table! My favorites were surprisingly the portobello carpaccio (more filling than expected for a veggie dish) and the dessert. If you're looking for instagrammable foods, this is the place. Seabass had more of a mackerel texture instead of a buttery one, and scallops were fresh but everyone commented on its small portion size. Katsu sandwich was good but not mind blowing. Paella was also interesting and tasted nice. There's a lot of aoli flavors going on in the heartier dishes if that's what you like. Overall the dishes were good, but their flavors weren't always as delicately balanced as they looked. Ambiance and service: 5/5 Food: 4/5
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Leonard S.

Yelp
Out of hundreds of reviews I've done, this is the first where I wish I could give 6 stars, not just 5! The tapas were outstanding, including superbly executed hot and crispy potatoes bravas, a garlic shrimp which had a mysterious and piquant touch of spice, a subtle fresh cold scallop crudo with crispy fried mint leaf, an incredible portobello and shaved manchego and truffle dish which even the cheese hater at the table loved, cod cheeks in a light savory cream sauce, and super fresh hot bread to soak up the juices. Raoul our server kindly brought three drinks for the table which we hadn't even asked for, and a free round of dessert which we turned back because we were so full. Raoul also moved us to a better view table for the flamenco performance, which started at 815 pm on a Saturday night and was stunning! The guitarist was unbelievably adept with the fastest melodies, the drummer/dancer (his son) was a dominating presence perfectly controlled in his spins on the small dance floor, the tap dancing of the two women was blindingly fast and elegant. At the end the dancers invited up three guests who happened to be celebrating their birthdays and joined them in a dance, much to the enjoyment of all. A festive and warm environment, with an intimate close view of the action by all in the room. My only modest suggestion is for the waiters to be cognizant that when they serve the front tables they may block the view of the dancing. With many plate and utensils changes due to the optional tasting menu, they may wish to wait for between songs to do their table clearing. Dinner and a show indeed, a truly remarkable and memorable experience with even higher quality food and comparable quality of dancing to a famous, century old Michelin starred flamenco restaurant in Madrid which we attended a year ago. If you're looking for an amazing, and surprisingly affordable, meal and entertainment, this is the place. Definitely will return!
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Roman K.

Yelp
After visiting grandma in the East Village, my son and decided to have dinner in the city. Came upon Nai, a Spanish Tapas bar/place/restaurant on 2nd Ave, OK, looked inviting. It was relatively early for our dinner 17:45 but ok. We walked in, besides the wait staff and one single dinner in the corner, the place was empty...no, no reservation, in any case we got a prime window table (window floor to ceiling) for two. In few minutes the host came to the table and said - we are a Spanish Tapas establishment. Do you know what tapas are?...yes we do. Now that was amusing. After perusing the menu for a few minutes we decided on: Braised Lamb in Garlic Oil and another dish, only to be told that they are not available :( So, we settled on: Grilled Octopus - Salsa Brava, Paprika Breadcrumbs. Forgettable, rubbery, not at all comforting. Fideua - Mussel Escabeche, Shrimp, Spicy Sausage, Alioli, Tobiko, Nori. Nice take on the paella with the pasta instead of rice, but, the nori & tobiko do not belong in a paella, leave that to the Japanese, saffron does. St. Louis Rib Confit - Cilantro-Chimichurri, Spicy Pepper Marmalade. Nothing to write home about - chimichurri & spicy pepper marmalade...forgettable For dessert we had a lemon something, something??? brûlée, probably the best course of the meal and Churro - when it arrived my response was where is the chocolate sauce...inside was the response. With the sauce inside, it was neither crunchy or crispy :( Asked the host why no Iberico ham on the menu. The response was more than amusing...the guy who brings it in from Spain did come this week, he missed his flight....I'm puzzled and more than amused now Had so many better tapas- ehhhh, find another place for tapas
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Sabrina P.

Yelp
Ate here less than 24 hours before and I already recommended this restaurant all over social media and to close friends. Highly recommend the katsu bites and patatas bravas - but the star of the show for me was the ham croquettes. Our group of 3 got 6-8 dishes and even stayed for the Saturday evening flamenco show which was super cool and entertaining to go with our dinner at no extra charge. I love the ambiance of the restaurant and I would definitely return.
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Yin Y.

Yelp
We had something previously but wasn't satisfied. Nai seemed like the perfect place to fulfill that gap. Haven't been back for a while. Food was as good as I remembered. This time we specifically chose items that were light and we never tried before. All of them did not disappoint, even the hot toasty bread came with beef tartare lol. Our waitress tried hard to upsale us at the beginning. Once we told her it was our 2nd meal of the evening, she instantly got it. The manager was super nice to give us couple complimentary cocktails to end our night. Not sure he remembers us or something else, but we definitely remember seeing him in Emilia before. Nai still remains our favorite tapa spots. It's refined but with a down to earth pricing.
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Mike T.

Yelp
I arrived late for our reservation but my family was already seated, they had drinks and had ordered a few dishes to start. The flamenco show was winding down. Our server came and took my drink order. Beer and wine only here. The first few courses were sardines in olive oil with julienne red pepper and charred avocado wedges. This was served with warm buttery, crusty bread. This dish was really good. The fried artichoke dish with a white sauce on top. The dish was fine but forgettable. The table liked the papas bravas. Fried cubed potatoes with spicy tomato chipotle aioli. The sauce didn't have any real heat or smokiness. The roasted carrots were soft on the outside and still had a slight crunch inside. Sesame seeds added a nice bit of earthiness. I would order this dish again. The ham croquettes didn't do much for me but my daughter liked it. I thought the croquettes were fried nicely but needed salt and the fell apart quickly. The ribeye slider was exceptional. The meat was tender and super flavorful. This is a must order. The beef tartare was really good. Nicely seasoned with a bit of citrus really made for a great bite. The bread served with the dish was thankfully just like the sardine dishes bread. The last dish was the octopus, the dish was my least favorite. The dish needed texture, salt or acid. Unfortunately it just wasn't that good. Overall some dishes were great, some were kind of a miss. The good thing is the small plates give you lots of options to try different dishes.
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Austin K.

Yelp
Came here for my bachelor party dinner and Raul was so charismatic and nice. We ordered a pitcher of the white Sangria, but he misheard us and comped us our glasses that he gave instead. The white was the best out of the 3 I thought - the red was fine too and the blueberry/cava was much drier if you prefer less sweet Sangria. The dishes here can be portioned into 4 people max. So we got 2 of each thing since there were 8 of us. The menu seems to change constantly: - Grilled octopus: maybe my favorite of the ones I ordered. It went well with the sauce and I wish I could have eaten more of it. - Fideua: sort of like paella but the rice is much thinner and very crispy. They had an interesting texture like tobiko added to it. I'd definitely get this again. - Ham croquettes: the best ones I've had in a while. Well seasoned but not too rich. Hot and crispy exterior. Someone asked how I thought it could be better and I couldn't think of anything. - 14 oz rib eye: this was cooked to actual medium rare, and all the friends appreciated it. - Semifreddo: this was like a light ice cream, and it had Spanish lime ice shavings on top. It was refreshing and light dessert.
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Katie C.

Yelp
I want to start by highlighting the customer service here as the staff were exceptionally pleasant and attentive. The service alone would bring us back for more. The food was great, and we enjoyed each dish we picked out. For two, we got the Croquetas De Jamon, Patatas Bravas, scallops, and lamb. The lamb fell off the bones, it was so tender. I probably wouldn't order potatoes again for tapas, but I liked the kick of the spice. We also got the Filipino Cover Band and Central Park Carousel cocktails which were delightful. Now, if they are still serving this dessert, GET IT!!! This is arguably the best dessert I've had in New York. It's tart and balanced with the sweet panna cotta. I forgot what it's called, but I've been thinking about it ever since.
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Cindy F.

Yelp
I initially was very excited for this Asian and Spanish fusion restaurant but I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. It wasn't necessarily bad it just wasn't super exciting / interesting. The pasta / paella dish was decent on first bite but got a bit repetitive. The octopus was quite normal -- not a dish I would necessarily order again. The wagyu sandwich was good as the meat was cooked well but it is not filling enough.
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Jake Z.

Yelp
After hearing about how hyped up this place is over social media, we finally decided to give it a try. We got the chilean sea bass and the pasta paella. Both dishes were creatively put together and not what you would expect on paper. The pasta paella was very light touch and had a delicate, addictive flavor. The chilean sea bass came in a cracker-like format that had a incredible umami taste. The only downside is that the service was lackluster and ambiance was very dark and gloomy. Also, I have to subtract another star because there was a giant hanging decoration positioned right above my head that I bumped into twice. You'd think it's common sense to get rid of it by now!
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Crystal C.

Yelp
Really creative spin on classic tapa items! The inside of the restaurant is big and really nice for a date night, but it was a little dark (we couldn't read the menu). the servers were really attentive & brought out an extra lamp so we could see better. They also gave us a complimentary dessert (yuzu semifreddo) and this was AMAZING. Really light, not too sweet and a really nice tartness. would absolutely order this dessert if you visit some standouts but we thought everything was a solid choice: -scallop crudo (8/10): love how big and generous the slices of scallop were. good pairing with the sauce -tomato (8/10): really creative dish, I liked how they peeled the skins on the tomato and the jelly served with the tomato was surprisingly a good play with flavor and texture -45 day aged prime ribeye katsu (8/10): the bread was toasted and buttered really well. The meat was solid.
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Casey W.

Yelp
- overall rating: 3.5 - we weren't sure what to order so we asked for recommendations from the staff: ended up with portobello carpaccio, seafood paella, and st louis rib confit - all were unexpected and interesting, not sure I'd order any of them again, but were enticing enough to come back to try other dishes - good for small groups or a date, intimate atmosphere
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Raphael P.

Yelp
Awesome restaurant and experience- 4 stars cause the food was excellent- get the lamb, the ribeye sandwich, and the seafood items and thank me later. What elevates this to 5 stars is the excellent service, and the Flamenco show! Yes, a Flamenco show. Book your reservation during the Flamenco show and you'll have a blast- it's a legit, authentic performance. Great restaurant experience.
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Juan K.

Yelp
Invited here by a friend who saw all the great reviews, just wished we had as good of an experience as everyone else did. The restaurant was nicely decorated and neat, it seems like the night was off to a good start. I ordered a Estrella beer and my friend ordered the red sangria. We got our drinks fairly quickly but waited a while to get our order in as we were seated in the outer section. Instead of the tasting menu we decided to go a la carte and got the Scallop Crudo, Cured Sardine, Grilled Octopus, Ham Croquette and opted for a bottle of wine. We also wanted the patatas bravas and the chicken liver mousse but they were not available. The food came out timely and it was great. Unfortunately we were brought the wrong bottle of wine, which was fine. We kept it as it tasted great when we tried it and paired well with our food. After finishing the bottle, I asked for another glass of the original bottle we ordered and the waiter brought back the very same bottle the incorrectly served us. Not only that the waiter had the audacity to tell us that it is indeed the bottle that we ordered and the vineyard on the label is not the vineyard but the grape... and when pointing it out to the staff they still insisted it was the correct bottle. Unfortunately, that did it for us. Totally killed the evening we got the check and never looked back. A shame as we really looked forward to enjoying other dishes. Not only did we leave unhappy but also hungry.
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Teresa C.

Yelp
I love tapas style dining. You get to try a little of everything. The seabass and the wagyu sammich were two of my favorite things. The broken noodle dish was also really good and I enjoyed all the different textures in it. Skip the octopus.
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Danni F.

Yelp
Loved the food here! We love a good Spanish tapas and was in search of one in NYC. Every dish in this place was a hit with the flavors. There were such interesting mix of flavors, especially the chocolate mousse. For some reason, it was so simple, yet so so good; the best chocolate mousse I've had ever. I want to go back just to eat the mousse again haha. But every other dish blew me away as well! The servers were very nice and the place was fairly quiet. We sat in a semi-outdoor area and it was nice and sort of isolated. I would 100% recommend this place if you want some great Spanish tapas!
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Bryan S.

Yelp
Second time I've been here and it's just as good at the new location. The paella is their signature dish in my opinion and it's so unique since they don't use rice. It's a must order dish. The rest of the dishes didn't blow me away, but they were also great. The semi frodo was exceptional, it had that nice crossover texture between ice cream, frozen yogurt and Panna cotta, but topped with a little bit of shaved ice. Even if you don't really want dessert, it's not a bad idea to order it anyway since it's very light and just a touch fruity. I'd go back for just those 2 dishes even if I was eating by myself.
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Mel T.

Yelp
I tried Nai years ago, and remember liking the food there. So I was excited to go back again when my friend suggested tapas for her birthday dinner. Our party of 4 had a 6:30 reservation on a Friday. For drinks, I had the Central Park Carousel (Yuzu sake, Moroccan black olive-washed vermouth, raspberry, lime, ginger, cava), which I really liked. It wasn't overly sweet, and it was refreshing. Overall, the food was only okay. It was kind of pricey for what it was. We ordered a bunch of plates to share: Portobello Carpaccio (truffle oil, marcona almond, manchego) - this was probably the best dish of the night. There were a lot of flavors but everything went well together. The marconas were a nice complement to the truffle Patatas Bravas (with chipotle aioli) - can't really go wrong with fried potatoes, but not the best patatas bravas I've had Sea Bass Toast (with tobiko and orange) - I liked the tobiko but I remember the sea bass being a bit dry Garlic Shrimp - this was very underwhelming. It tasted like they got the shrimp from the frozen section of a Shop Rite Octopus - this was actually pretty good but it was bland. Salt would have helped Fideua (similar to paella, with mussels, clams, shrimp, tobiko, nori, and aioli) - interesting take with the tobiko and nori Skirt steak - this was good. The dipping sauce it came with was nice I think the dishes are very well presented and very pretty. Unfortunately, they look better than they taste. I probably won't be back for a third visit.
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Shirley W.

Yelp
Cute restaurant and great food! Definitely on the pricier side and does get pretty busy for dinner, so make sure to get a reservation. Staff was great and attentive throughout the night. We were a group of 3 and we ordered: - Portobello Carpaccio - Brussel sprouts - Gambas (one of our favorites of the night) - Octopus (good but wish this was seared a bit more, texture was a bit slimy) - Chorizo (delicious! I liked the bread it came with too) - Croquette (another favorite of mine) - Oysters (very different and tasty, highly recommend) - Churrasco (cooked well but could probably skip) - Yuzu creme brulee for dessert (could also skip on this) We enjoyed all the dishes and were stuffed by the end. After 4 glasses of wine, the total with tip came out to around $320.
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Stacy T.

Yelp
The hostesses were very pleasant. Clean restaurant. But considering the price and the portions and the flavor, this was terrible. I was wondering why there were so many polarizing reviews. The glazed carrots were not glazed, they weren't even soft. These carrots were actually infuriating to me. There is barely half a carrot in this dish and it cost $16. There was no flavor. The boquerones were quite salty. At least the scallops were redeeming. The ribs eye milk bread sandwiches were tolerable but definitely not worth $39. One of the most disappointing restaurants I have been to.
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William Y.

Yelp
Excellent Spanish fusion tapas. Idk why I feel like this place got a lot of mixed reviews but at least I really enjoyed my time here. Service was excellent and they provided a lot of insight into their dishes. Ie double checked with us if we wanted the octopus because it is boiled rather than grilled and a lot of people usually don't realize the difference and get upset with their preparation. Also similarly with their drinks provided a lot of guidance on the flavor profiles. Went on a Monday and it was more calm and intimate than perhaps a busy weekend. They were nice enough to give us a free birthday dessert too.
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Veronica H.

Yelp
I just loveee tapas so was super excited about trying this place. It was a mix of classic and modern Spanish tapas. Nomz: We were told to order 4-5 tapas per person by our waitress. Definitely don't. Order 3 at most per person. We ordered 6 and it was too much food for us. We had: Croquetas: really enjoyed these, good size and good proportions inside as well as crunchiness on outside Gambas: sucker for gambas, very nice and flavorful although they didn't come with bread which was confusing Pan con tomate: very good, generous with the tomate and seasoned very well Carrillada: too sweet for us but very tender Presa ibérica: lacked in flavor, texture was off, would not get again Papas: a bit too salty for me Drinks: had a bottle of white wine, our waitress did not put in ice although couple next to us had theirs in ice, inconsistent - they were $45+ Service: Very young team, you could really tell they were inexperienced, left a lot more to be desired for a place at this price point. Ambiance: Modern and cool. Do not recommend sitting downstairs, ask for a table upstairs - very loud kitchen, coming and going and felt a bit dungeon-y. Nope or Dope: Nope, really wanted to like it, some dishes were tasty but not worth the price or experience in service. There are much better tapa places!
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Sanghita B.

Yelp
Best Spanish tapas I recently tried on NYC, hands down good service a small place, dim lighted hoping they could do some nice updates to the restaurant but the food is 5 stars. We tried the croquettes, the octopus, the paella, sea bass, potatoes, the pepper salsa kinda. The star dish was the paella, made with a special pasta and even seaweed amazing combination. Croquettes and the crispy sea bass were the next, the potatoes were the weakest. The orange wine we tried wasn't that great, but a coconut milk based drink we tried later tasted much better. This is an expensive restaurant but the food is worth it !
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Gabriel M.

Yelp
Where do I start with Nai. Started going when they were at the old location and been my favorite restaurant in NYC since. The aesthetic is perfect, food is perfect and staff and so friendly and nice. Will continue to go back for year and years and always make sure to let everyone know what my favorite NYC restaurant is.
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Kristina Z.

Yelp
wow the katsu sando changed my life it is sooo tender and the toast is soo buttery and delicious. my spanish friend said this is the best tapas she's had in the city! patatas bravas and ham croquettes were amazing
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Elaine W.

Yelp
Great service and food! Tapas size is just right, not too small. Excellent cocktails and wine! Loved the portobello and pork cheek. Definitely would go back again!

faye ..

Yelp
Amazing tapas - loved the fried artichokes hiding under ia creamy light Spanish cheese sauce, the portobello mushrooms soaked in truffle oil and topped shredded cheese and nuts, seafood Fideua
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Eveline C.

Yelp
Had an amazing meal here! The food was delicious and the white sangria was soooo good. Raul was so nice and made our night even better. Definitely coming back again!

Lori R.

Yelp
Although Nai has a somewhat small menu, everything we ate was divine. Nai offers a great spin on seafood paella and their mushroom tartuffo dish was fantastic. Both were so good we had to order seconds. Service was good and The Flamenco Show was the icing on the cake.
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Felicity L.

Yelp
We went here for a Saturday brunch and the place was not crowded at all. We sat by the window and the atmosphere felt nice. We ordered several dishes: - Bravas: many people recommended this, it was good but not like out of the world. - Croquetas: the sauce was yummy and the dish was solid - Lubina: this felt a little bit oily, probably because I just ate croquetas, but I was not too impressed either - Berenjena: many people here liked it, but not for me. The eggplant paste and the bread were cold, so it might help with other oily dish, but I would prefer them hot - Fideua: my favorite. It was a nice twist on paella Overall, some dishes were delicious and the food was on a pricier side. I would recommend the fideua.
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Austin S.

Yelp
I had a great experience at Nai's Flamenco Show! My group of three got a same-day Saturday reservation quite easily for the Flamenco show. Once we were seated it took a little while to get our initial service, but once we had our orders taken it was fine. We got about eight dishes and everything was delicious. The Flamenco Show was also very fun! It was great entertainment while we enjoyed our various dishes over about an hour and a half or two. I strongly recommend Nai!

Jackie G.

Yelp
It was a little hard finding this spot, but man are we happy we did. Our server, he must have been the chef or a relative or someone who has worked with this family centric restaurant for years, because he was SO passionate about everything. His eyes light up when he tells you about the food and its heritage. The artichoke I can't recommend enough, I want to bathe in the cheese foam. The beef cheek was outstanding. Loved every second of this place.
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Uyen N.

Yelp
Some dishes are okay, some are pretty lame. Everything is quite expensive tho, hence I don't recommend it. The sea bass is interesting, along with the mushroom. The octopus isn't that great. The steak sandwich is the most disappointing one -- the beef isn't that great and seasoning is pretty meh.
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Sophia S.

Yelp
great tapas restaurant with small plates that are good for sharing. very good vibe with excellent service and wine. At the front of the restaurant there were a lot of people on dates and the back area was filled with bigger groups so perfect for celebrating birthdays or also for dates! For more recs and photos follow @asgoodasitgets on instagram
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Yuna C.

Yelp
The interior is classy and ideal for dinner dates or small gatherings with friends. I would highly recommend the octopus and bravas - the paella had an interesting take with furikake and more Asian inspired flavors.
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Melody M.

Yelp
Pros: We went with a medium sized group and had a good experience with the hosts and waiters. They were mindful of our allergies and dietary needs and ensured that we knew what we could and couldn't eat. The restaurant itself is actually pretty big with packed seats. We made a reservation and were promptly seated. Cons: while some of the dishes were good, based on the prices of the dishes and the quality and taste, it simply wasn't worth the price. We liked the shrimp dish and the croquets but many others were just meh. What we did not like was the paella. It's a mixture of Spanish and possibly Japanese cuisine as it has nori and tobiko. Yet, the rice was possibly a rice-a-roni? One of those thin noodles cut into smaller pieces to mimic rice. If you google "Lipton Kosher Soup Secrets Noodle Soup" you'd see what was in the paella. The dish was overwhelmingly nori like and the texture of the "rice" simply did not work. Overall, considering the price and the location, I would not recommend. There are ton of amazing tapas restaurants that would live up to the location and the price.
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Tanya H.

Yelp
My top rec at Nai is the Fideua, it was our favorite! The sea bass was nice as well, although it was a small portion (understandable). The sangrias taste really nice- kind of just like a fruit soda, you can't taste the alcohol- but so don't expect them to get you anywhere close to tipsy. We also enjoyed the brussels sprouts, which were tossed in mayo and little apple chunks. Nai is great for a date night, a classy meal, or just with friends.
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Trish L.

Yelp
Food was just ok. We went there for a friend's birthday. The ambient was ok, a little on the dark side. Small plates and food was mediocre but expensive for small plates. The octopus was not good. Basically steamed and with some seasoning on top, 1/10 Ox tails were good, 7/10 Brussel specious, 8/10 Pasta paella 8/10 Portobello mushroom 4/10 Cocktail 2/10 I'd try other places next time.

Simran K.

Yelp
Sea Baas toast was a disappointment! Fried toast was not tasty and underwhelming! Will skip this place!