Chama Mama

We had a fantastic lunch on our last day visiting the city. This was our first time trying a Georgian restaurant. Our waiter helped make sure we understood the menu, helped with substitutions when they didn't have a particular drink, and did a great job preparing our bread dish to begin the meal. It was beautiful, fresh food. It was so good we took the leftover bread/cheese bowl on the flight and all the way back home to enjoy later.

This was my first time eating Georgian food.

Having said that, below are my thoughts:

1) food was tasty. Everything (except for the pickles, obviously) was done in real time and portions were abundant

2) service was fast and respectful. The manager apologized in person for the delay in our dumplings. The waiter explained the wine offerings in a very knowledgeable yet easygoing way

3) the space is clean and very lively. The tables could have a bit more space between each other

A very interesting Georgian restaurant that matched the taste of the dishes to what Manhattan likes without losing the uniqueness of Georgian food.
The small plates were the best, we loved them more than the main courses.
I think you can enjoy a meal at Chama Mama only with a lot of small plates and salads.

Had Georgian cuisine only once before and so in discovering Chama Mama before a trip to NYC, we were eager to try it again. Based on the reviews, our expectations were high and they did not disappoint! From the friendly service to the laid back atmosphere to the exceptional cuisine, we loved it!

Delicious food! Never had Georgian food before and loved it, reminded me of libanese but with a touch of different flavor. Plates are shareable and big, so keep that in mind. The place is also cozy and they have some table outside too