The National

You know when you have a meal and you can’t stop thinking about it the next day?
I did. Here. And it was a burger. Just a burger. But I guess even simplicity can be spectacular.
Had the «ugly» burger and really, it was just a burger on a roll. But the meat was cooked perfectly, the roll was toasted to just the right consistency, and the onions, home made pickles, and other burger accessories made it just great.
The fries were done perfectly and seasoned well.
All the other food I saw go by LOOKED delicious — but we’ll have to go back to make sure! (One dining companion also had the burger, my wife had the wedge salad, which she enjoyed.)
Only thing I didn’t like is a personal pet peeve: a Diet Coke in one of those little 8 ounce bottles. C’mon, give me something to drink! But on the second round, I had their iced tea, which was not only delicious, it came with ice cubes made of iced tea, so no dilution! It’s the little things.
It’s priced upscale, yes, but the service and food were both wonderful. We’re going back.

Nice vibe :)

I had walked past The National and thought «now that looks like it’ll serve cracking food — probably pricy, but great’.
And that’s what I got. And it wasn’t even *that* pricy!
I had lunch there, and I can say that I was delighted with everything: atmosphere, food, service, the lot. I was looking to dine in one of those «buzzy New York spots» — slightly upscale, lots of power business folks doing their thing, with snappy service and interesting food. This was perfect. I ate at the bar. Lunch was busy! I had soup, and their «ugly» burger (I think it’s called ugly because it has the propensity to make a mess). Top notch fare across the board — burger still brings back fond memories :-)
I will be back.

I love this place.
The fella’ and I stumbled in here one Saturday afternoon, hoping to grab a small bite and a cocktail or two (and after determining that we didn’t want to deal with the scene at Peels or the insane prices at Saxon + Parole). Lucky for us the bloody marys at The National are $ 9 (unbelievable, I know) and they’re terrific and they come with a pickle! And they use Tito’s Vodka! Excellence all around.
We also enjoyed the grits (I have Southern roots and love a good grit, but they are hard to find) and they were the real deal — creamy, cheesy, super-​duper deliciousness. $ 5! But what I really went zha-​zha for was the Black Kale Tuna Nicoise ($ 15). It was fresh and outstanding — with cannellini beans, poached green beans, a bit of egg, kalamatas, and of course that delectable black kale. And it was huge! Which is good. Because I can never get enough kale.
We rocked out to the musical stylings of Frank Sinatra while we ate. Normally I’m not much for ol’ blue eyes, but it hit the spot on a sunny Saturday.
It’s a small, but very charming space — maybe only 5 or 6 spaces at the bar. We were there at a totally off hour, so it was quite empty — but I imagine it’s crowded at peak times. I get nervous if I’m hungry and in a crowded place (like, I need to know exactly when I am going to get my food), so I’m an off-​hours person. Anyway, probably better for a date or a lady-​friend dinner than a big group outing.
Overall, it’s an intimate, well-​priced spot, with a bunch of tasty, interesting menu items. Can’t wait to go back!

I need a place for 5 people to eat dinner on a busy holiday weekend. Not wanting to stand around for an hour hoping to get a seat at a place that doesn’t take reservations I was able to make a reservation for The National on Open Table for 9:45 pm. We were 15 minutes late (you try organizing 2 groups coming from 2 different parts of the city) but they still graciously accommodated us.
The interior of the place was very charming. My group immediately felt comfortable. They have a fun cocktail menu and we each tried something we normally wouldn’t. Champagne and Gin mixed together– who knew that would taste so good!
The food was excellent. I had the pork tacos, a very generous portion and they were delicious. My friends had the mussels (liked), Lobster Roll (liked), Ribs (liked). We shared Brussels Sprouts (delicious), and sun chokes (we tried because none of us knew what they were — not that interesting after we tasted them.)
I would come back again. The food and service and atmosphere were spot on.

Hi, we just want to have a couple of drinks. Can we just sit at the bar?
We don’t have any seats at the bar right now.
Thinking… really? I see three! LOL
Oh well, not in the mood to argue, we grab a table. A wheat beer & rose later, and we are chilling, enjoying our early Saturday evening, post Unilocal festivities. This place is off of Freeman’s Alley on Rivington, and carries more and more foot traffic every week it seems. Good people watching if you’re in a manhattan kinda mood.

Total letdown. My boyfriend and I went with another couple last Friday night.
The boys ordered the ribs, my gf had a fish taco, and I had the burger. Upon ordering, we learned that no substitutions could be made, such as potato salad for french fries. Lame. The waitress described the size of a taco to be pretty decent. When it came, it was more like an amuse bouche. (My gf ended up filling up on fries that night.) I asked for my burger to not come with tomatoes and onions, and well sure enough, it did. Bummer.
The sauce on the ribs was pretty sweet. Almost too sweet for an entire order of ribs. The burger was a good burger, and the bun it came on was pretty solid. A very rich brioche. And, well, the only comment on the fish taco was just how small it was.
The National’s décor was pretty cool — they have a motorcycle in the dining room and some fun mirrors.
Overall, The National was okay — not great, not horrible. There are other places in the area that are better.

I came here for dinner with two friends on a Saturday night. We had reservations at 7pm. The restaurant was fairly empty when we walked in, but within 30 minutes, every seat in this place was taken.
We each tried a drink from their cocktail menu. Neither of us really liked the drinks. I thought that my drink was good, but it wasn’t anything that I would ever like to order again. I don’t really blame the restaurant for it, because it was a good quality cocktail. My not liking it had nothing to do with the preparation, ingredients, or service. I just didn’t like it, mmmkay?
The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the burger with fries, and it was incredibly flavorful. I was nervous about ordering a burger since I had just eaten the same meal for lunch the day before, but this burger beat that one by leaps and bounds. The meat was cooked to perfection, tasty, and came with a generous portion of crispy fries. We also shared a side of their crispy Brussels sprouts. My friends were not at all thrilled about that selection, but by the end of the meal, we all agreed that it was the best dish at the table. You must give the Brussels sprouts a try!
Great restaurant; I hope to go back there again soon.

After doing my research and reading various reviews I was really hoping to like The National as much as everyone else. But I just can’t look past the under-​seasoned food, which weighed heavily in my rating.
If I were scoring just on service then The National would get all five stars. I’ve never seen a server work as hard mine did that Thursday night. She was the only server and the place was slammed but she was prompt and attentive and kept her composure despite the rush of customers. I was also impressed with the bartender too — these were two lovely women who were in command of the restaurant and taking care of the customers.
To note, I had the fish tacos and fries and both were really just kinda meh. (Full disclosure I’m biased to the Taco Truck’s tacos and compare all tacos to theirs.) My friend had the hamburger and seemed okay with it but again, it was nothing special considering the prices.
We ordered a few cocktails and the hit was the Dark n Stormy as well as an off menu hot toddy (made especially for me because the whether that night was an absolute rainy, gusty terror). Misses included a drink called War Days (?), which was undrinkable and had to be returned.
To conclude the meal we ordered a hot chocolate and cappuccino, also, both meh. Nothing wrong, nothing special but not worth the restaurant prices.
Normally I’d be willing to give a restaurant a second chance but there are just too many similar restaurants to explore.

I have a new favorite restaurant in Manhattan.
We had 45 minutes before a Fringe show and were wandering the streets in a panic trying to grab a bite before the show. It was 7:45 and we had not had breakfast or lunch and knew we would not survive till afterwards.
Spotted the National and on a whim went in and laid our cards on the table. «We have 30 minutes – can we sit at the bar and get something quick?»
Not only did they deliver some of the best fish and pork soft tacos, burrata salad and frites I have EVER had, but they mixed a wonderful Tarragon Gin Martini, which also has a splash of Pernod. The bartender made sure we made it out on time, and is one of the nicest, most pleasant waiters I have encountered in the City.
We will be back for a relaxed meal to sample their entrees really soon… can’t wait!

Returning eagerly to a restaurant I once considered my favorite, The National sits tucked away on Rivington just around the corner from the alley-​famous Freemans. Excited to see what chef Zoe had in store for me 2 years after my first visit, to my dismay, I learned the ever-​fabulous lady chef is no longer setting the kitchen on metaphorical fire.
Nevertheless, for brunch, our huevos National style were delightful offering a unique array of atypical items: pickled onions, pinto beans, freshly pulled pork, 2 eggs covered with tomatillo salsa.
The cocktails remain crafty and ambiance similarly Lower East Sideish (ie. Tastefully hip and kitschy). Great spot if you’re looking for an intimate dinner.

Great food and service. The waitress was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the food. She was able to recommend apps and entrees, and both were good choices.
I had the farafalle cream pasta and it was really good. Several people at our table had the fish tacos and really enjoyed them. Drinks were good too, but overpriced in my opinion. However, I thought the price of the food was pretty fair (mostly, some dishes were on the expensive side).
The atmosphere was good… we were there super early since we had participated in an event earlier in the day but the place filled up pretty quickly with people enjoying happy hour drinks and food. Small but fun place and very nicely decorated. Would definitely recommend.

The food is 3 stars. I have bumped it up a star because of this…
Yes, Saturday night at 8 is THE worst time to grab good food without a reservation in the city. It is nearly impossible to find a good food spot without a more than an hour wait esp with a party of 6. Originally, we went to Meatball Shop, they said for us to wait for 2 ½ hours… which was out of the question. I started to call various places what the wait would be and most told me more than an hour wait. Except! The National was very kind to say they can seat us at the moment. (FYI, Unilocal Iphone app was so helpful with all the search! What would I do without it.)
Ahhhhh, luck IS on my side! Being crazy, super, really excited, we speed walked to the restaraunt. And, truth me told they did seat us pretty right away even if our whole party was not there. Smiles! Ordered drinks and food pretty quickly. I got the Vesper drink– it was absolutely delicious, light and fragrant but had definitely that alki kick to it. I got the farfalle cream truffle pasta– it was pretty thick and filling. Nice to have greens mixed in really cut the creaminess to the pasta.
The atmosphere was great, had that rustic, classy but still casual feel to it (Similar to restaurants in the area). The service was fantastic, so happy to have been able to get seated right away. It is a bit pricey so make sure to come with your wallets full.

We came here for dinner… the space is very tiny and intimate, perfect for a quiet date as the noise level wasn’t too bad. The food, on the other hand, left both of us struggling through our meals and hungry after we left. I also heard the table next to us complaining about the food as well…
I ordered the braised rabbit and browned gnocchi and it came to the table in a pitiful presentation that looked thrown together — even more random were the inclusion of peas throughout the plate. No sauce, very dry, the rabbit was chewey and even had some bones still in the smaller pieces. Disgusting — I should have sent it back because it really was on of the worst meals I’ve had in New York. My fiancée had the fish, which was OK but they didn’t give him a fish knife and the dim lighting made it very hard to debone the fish.
Needless to say our napkins ended up feeling more love from the food than we did by the end of the night … strongly recommend never going to this place, for dinner at least.

Enjoyed a solid dinner here last Friday at the behest of a date who claimed to like their morning coffee. I was initially apprehensive –maybe it’s just me, but I don’t tend to pick restaurants based on their baristas.
House cocktails were creative — mine was a gin-​based, tarragon inflected cocktail. We shared a lovely duck confit/​blue cheese/​frisee salad appetizer. I ordered a roasted cornish game hen which arrived perfectly cooked and seasoned and sufficiently crisped atop a generous bed of oyster stuffing. My date had a whole striped bass which he polished off fairly quickly (and so I assume it was more than serviceable) I was too involved with my chicken and forgot to take a bite of his fish. Dessert was a chocolately smores chocolate confection — not particularly creative or refined, but it felt just right.
Service was relaxed and friendly. Perfect, as I didn’t want to be rushed. The antique bike in the corner was a nice touch. Overall, a cozy place for dinner for small groups or a date. My only complaint would be that the lighting could be dimmed a notch.

What is this… a [restaurant] for ants!!!
The tables are super close together and the space is quite small, which I may not have noticed if they kept the wine flowing like water. Unfortunately our waitress stopped by exactly three times, once to take our order, once to drop off food and drink, and once to drop the check.
There was a 30 minute wait to get a table and the hostess was kind enough to take my number and give me a call, very cool. My lobster roll was simple, chunky and delicious served on a doughy piping hot roll.
An ok experience, but the meh service and super tight space will keep National off my list of regular haunts.

I came in from the damp here last week and it was the perfect place to be when one is slightly wet and irritated by rain. The atmosphere is summed up in one word: relaxed. OK, maybe more than one word: homey, cheerful, warm.
I perused the menu and grew more and more excited by the options. Rabbit? Lamb? Red meat I can eat! And here you *can* accept substitutes because when I asked to have the Lamb with gnocchi, but apprised our waitress of my non-​consumption of pork, she easily had the gnocchi substituted with egg noodles and the dish was still absolutely fantastic. I love lamb with Moroccan spices and preserved lemons, and this dish was the perfect complement to a drizzly evening.
Not to mention the service was fantastic — our waitress was cute beyond words and really helpful without being awkward or overbearing. Great service is always a plus in my book.
The bathroom was just as quirky and cute as the rest of the place, with mirrors everywhere (but they were not uncomfortably placed as it might sound). I like a lot of mirrors in a bathroom because then I can make sure I haven’t spilled anything on my person. Sometimes food has ended up parts of my clothing that you wouldn’t think — so mirrors help.
I think that this place is destined to become a regular stop for those who like good food, good atmosphere, good service and bathrooms with lots of mirrors.
Love it.

The first time I found myself at The National was at a dinner party of sorts, and I had the distinct pleasure to sample the the scallops, the jerk ribs, the mussels, the lobster roll, the chorizo croquetas… nearly the entire, wonderful menu. Everything blew me away. Especially the ribs.
However, it is also true that I was completely whammered, and as we all know, everything tastes delicious when you’re drunk. Consequently, I did not trust myself to write an accurate review. (You might be saying to yourself, «But he’s always drunk! That never stopped him before.» Well, you can just shut your mouth. This is my review, not yours.)
So I waited.
Having returned to the National in the light of sobriety, I am happy to report that I was not only enamored due to inebriation; I did not imagine the cute, knowledgeable server; the bartender does indeed make a mean martini with Tito’s Handmade Vodka; and most importantly, my tastebuds do not need beer goggles to love this fantastic food.
This time, I ordered the burger. Served on a fluffy, buttered brioche roll, topped with a ripe slice of tomato and a cube of melting bleu cheese, with caramelized onions hidden under the perfectly juicy, medium rare patty, this burger was essentially perfect.
I had to fight my date off. She offered things I cannot mention (for decency’s sake) in exchange for a few bites. Her farfalle was not bad, but it wasn’t even in the same league as the burger. In fact, this was the best burger I can remember eating in Manhattan.
(I must note that the fries, although tossed in some garlic oil for additional flavor, are McDonald’s cut, and in my opinion, merely passable.)

I feel for any new restaurant that has to serve a dozen Unilocal employees because we’re a picky bunch, but The National was up to the challenge just 3 weeks after opening their doors.
With a cozy atmosphere, stellar service, tasty drinks and orgasmic food… it’s safe to say they passed with flying colors.
Our doll of a waitress (no NY attitude here) brought out enough food to feed a frat house and everything was incredible. My favorites included:
Mussels– guilty of eating an entire bowl of them myself
Scallops– the corn souflee like side complimented them perfectly
Green beans– who knew green beans could be so tasty
Ribs– and this is coming from a girl who doesn’t usually like/​eat meat
All that delish food, a capriana drink, and lots of glasses of wine made for quite an enjoyable food. The only thing that didn’t blow me away was dessert (pineapple cake– eh), but there wasn’t much room left in the tummy for sweets anyway.
One of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at in NY and like I said… I’m a picky one.

The National is just a few weeks old but you’d never know it from the seamless service and perfectly prepared food coming out of the kitchen. I was so stunned the first time I dined there that I had to make a return trip to ensure that my recollections were correct and not unnecessarily clouded by the VG cocktails I consumed.
Speaking of the VG cocktail — Tito’s vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon, bitters, club soda, simple syrup — it immediately endeared me to this pocket-​sized LES restaurant and instantly brightened my evening. Drink one and you will definitely want another.
Now on to the food! Chef Zoe Feigenbaum condensed the offerings at The National down such that only superb stars make it on the menu. With main dishes like jerk pork ribs, cast iron seared rib-​eye steaks and lobster rolls, almost everything’s crave-​worthy. I can say this with some authority as I’ve now tried nearly every item on offer.
The butter basted scallops on sweet corn purée were terrific the first time I tasted them and just as good when I ordered them again last week. I could guzzle the gazpacho, it’s that good! All of the vegetables are sourced locally so don’t miss the interesting side dishes like sugar snap peas or green beans with purple basil and flash fried fushimi peppers.
If the fruit crumble’s available, get it! With the accompanying homemade yogurt, this dish is as sweet as summer gets!
The National is my new favorite restaurant for several reasons:
— The size is perfect. With room for only about 20 or so folks to dine, it never gets too overwhelming.
— The cocktails are expertly prepared. Yes, the cocktail snob in your life will approve.
— The menu is well-​edited and has only winners. You literally cannot go wrong ordering anything from it!