The National

Got a drink dumped down the back of the shirt but waitress and wondered how many people were hired solely for their looks. Salmon was amazing. Overall the food was great but service was new and shaky (went first week restaurant opened). Will have to go back for another try.

Came here for lunch on a weekend. The hostess was very friendly and they have a TON of wait staff. The drinks were strong, but tasty– we had the connecticut derby. The food was very good, as well– we had the tuscan bean soup, the steak tartare and the dayboat cod. For dessert we had decaf coffee and the sticky toffee pudding. I would order all of the items again. My only complaint was that the service was VERY slow. We seemed to wait forever with our menus, even though it was clear we were ready to order. Each course took too long to come out, as well. For lunch, I do not prefer to linger. Maybe after they work out some of the timing issues I will come back.

Our new favorite restaurant. Amazing meal and dinning experience at the National. The food was extremely creative and delicious and the staff was very attentive. We were a party of 6 and everyone was raving about their meal from appetizer, to main course to dessert. Going to recommend to all of our friends.

Amazing service and food is outstanding. There is always a lively crowd even on a Monday night! I have seen Geoffrey several times while there. There were also some celebrity sightings!
For the food try the brussel sprouts, organic chicken, and the ugly burger.
For dessert the cookie board is a fun nostalgic experience.
Don’t forget to grab a fun cocktail at the bar, I had the Greenwich thyme which was great.
Make sure to make reservations!

Went in for dinner at a Wednesday night, from start to finish everything was great. Food is outstanding. I had the branzino and my girl had the octopus both were great. Lemon tart is a must for desert!

The food was excellent — be sure to order the Ugly Burger or chicken and waffles for brunch. Palm trees and floor tiles brought back long forgotten memories of somewhere wonderful. An ambiance which embraced dissolute preps, Hispanics, older women both with and without Botox and the Greenwich hedge fund crowd. Loved it.
My only issue was the light grey jackets worn by the service staff — they were all too small, (excruciatingly so, in some cases). If this happens for a consumer’s first visual experience, what else occurs behind the scenes?

This is a place to avoid.
Where should I start?
–Table by the a drafty door
–Slow service (3hr meal)
–Expensive food ($ 42 for a small piece of swordfish)
–Menu prices not matching what was billed
The food was ok, not good but not bad (a bit bland), but everything else was awful. Despite being seated right away, the meal took forever. My friends got a very small piece of swordfish for $ 39 (or $ 42 based on what they tried to charge us). We joked the restaurant must have run out and split one portion into two.
Everything was so difficult. It took an hour for the appetizers. Getting the dessert menus took forever. The ice cream was melted when I got it.
I’m not sure how this place could possibly survive. Maybe the service will get better as time goes on but I’d be surprised if people will continue to pay those kinds of prices for that food. It simply doesn’t square. There are far better options in Greenwich.

I was also sitting across from Zacharian et al. The free range scramble had nice flavor but came out barely warm and a bit over cooked with scarce ricotta. Our server was super slow and the «homemade» sausage links were reminiscent of Jones except wood grilled. The bacon and bread, however was just delicious. We ordered Pavlova for dessert which was supposed to be port zabaglione with grapefruit and pomegranate seeds to accompany the last of our $ 52 bottle of proseco. I don’t know what the dish was that came out but it certainly was not zabaglione. Today was my daughters birthday and the Pavlova was the dessert she ordered :(not sure when I’ll be back except to bar crawl.
*sorry for typo in photo, but I think you know what meant.

Update: after 2 hours we put our coats on and were about to walk out the door when a manager finally came over and informed us that our food would be on the house. He also gave us a gift certificate to use for a future visit. IF we ever go back I will gladly update my review.
The service here is absolutely terrible. I’m actually sitting at a table across from the owner (zakarian) and Martha Stewart and he’s completely oblivious as to what is going on in his own establishment. We have been waiting for our food for over an hour. But I’m so happy Martha and company are eating, God forbid you keep her waiting. Total lack of respect for your PAYING customers. This will be the last time I come here and I will not recommend. 2 stars for the deviled eggs.

Amazing addition to Greenwich Avenue. I have been here a number of times since it opened and it has always been top notch. Great Bar, amazing Food and the atmosphere is spot on. They just opened for lunch and it has already become a hot spot for the greenwich lunch crowd. This place is a Home Run!

I posted a review early in January, but it was well worth posting it again. Excellent addition to Greenwich Ave. Great venue, modern, light, vibrant! Excellent food, our table of five only had rave reviews. Definitely my new go to in Greenwich, if you can get a table to reserve well in advance.

We couldn’t be happier with our whole experience! My wife and I traveled up with NYC specifically for The National, because we love Geoffrey Zakarian and we wanted to try his new spot.
We started with the «schmeared deviled eggs» appetizer, and it was perfect. They had a delicate taste with pickled onions, everything-​bagel spices, lox, and velvety egg yolk.
I had the Fresh Garganelli pasta which had a simple elegance. Fresh and bright tomato flavored complimented the perfectly cooked pasta. My wife had the Scottish Salmon, and the cook on this fish was the best we ever had. It was a crispy, flavorful crust and soft, rich interior. We shared the Brussel Sprout special side which really surprised us. They were crispy and salty and aggressively cooked.
Then we finished off with the giant sundae for two! It was so decadent that we almost felt bad about ourselves. Our server even poured fresh hot chocolate over it at our table.
The servers and staff were extremely professional. The food came lightening quick, but we never felt rushed.
Prices are right where I’d expect them for a restaurant of this quality. You get what you pay for with this place: a first class dining experience!

The National was such an interesting place! I loved the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, the service, etc.
It was a great place for dinner — I’d definitely recommend it! I got the oysters for an appetizer and the salmon for my entrée. And they were both amazing!
The toffee pudding was really enjoyable too! I’ll be back soon!

I came here yesterday night for dinner which I thought was just okay. I had the Branzino which I thought was very fresh tasting. My boyfriend had the national burger with french fries (our waiter asked the chef to make french fries for us instead of giving us those nasty chips they serve), and we shared an acorn squash salad which we both enjoyed. The restaurant was just too crowded for my liking. Seemed like more of a night club instead of a restaurant. We had a reservation and was seated immediately-​which was great. Our waiter took care of us and recommended a delicious dessert which made the experience of coming to this restaurant worth it. I prefer the national in NYC– much more glamour and quiet!

I had a very nice meal at The National on a Thursday night with my wife. We came for an early reservation but it was already hopping. Very loud and lively with lots of staff running around in each direction.
Overall the only thing keeping me from rating it a 5 are the prices, which are ridiculous even for Greenwich, and the service, which was average at best. The food was excellent. We started with a very small raw tuna appetizer which was perfectly seasoned and garnished with avocado. Our main courses were a truffle pasta special and a NY Strip Steak. The main courses were executed well but no aspect of it was memorable.
The best part of the meal was dessert. Very memorable. The sundae was outrageously good and so was the lemon tart. By far the best desserts I have tried in a while, they must have someone special back there making the desserts.
Overall the pricing was high, but what gets you even more is the nickle and diming. When you sit down they ask if you want sparkling or regular water, and I suppose regular means an $ 8 bottle of Panna which is what we got without any clarification. I am always fine with tap water, these days it is well filtered. Bread is 1.50 $ which is kind of silly considering the cocktails are 15 – 20 $.
I won’t go often because I simply can’t afford it, but for a special meal and for a nice NYC late night dining feel it is a great spot and I hope they do well and keep trying new/​interesting desserts.

My wife and I had a fantastic dinner. The service was great and both the food and cocktails were delicious. I will definitely be going back.

All the hype was worth it. The folks at The National really executed last night!
The space is well thought out, elegant. while hip at the same time. The service was impeccable, from start to finish. Not the type of place where you are left wondering where your waiter went. you get up to go to the bathroom (and check out the kitchen) and you come back to your water filled and napkin folded.
The drinks were expertly crafted. The food.that’s why we are here! Prime beef tartar, scallop special, and fresh truffle topped polenta were all on point. Dessert was excellent as well. some of the best pecan pie I’ve ever had.
To top it all of, the one and only Geoffery Zakarian came to our table to introduce himself to us. Being a big inspiration for our cooking passion watching him on TV, this really made our night.
We will be back again and again.

Love, love, love this place. Truly a top notch experience from start to finish. The National’s team really go above and beyond to ensure a dining adventure. To start, the ambiance is a sophistic chill vibe, cozy with soothing lighting and upbeat music, but not intrusive. We were seated in what our group labeled the glass box, and it turned out to be the best seat of the house. We got a sneak peak of all the dishes, and felt like we had our own personal chef as some of our dishes were served by the chef himself!
So what to order? Here’s most of what our party of four ordered (we loved everything): Fresh Calamari, East Coast Oysters, Organic Amish Chicken (a must have), House Made Pasta (another must have), Day Boat and Caramel Dessert — I don’t remember the name but it was so good we ordered a second!

The National is one of the best restaurants I’ve had the pleasure of eating at. I have been to the Manhattan location and this definitely has met my expectations. The food is exceptional and service was amazing.
I went at 5pm with a group of 4. We ordered the chicken, lamb, pork chop and the pasta with clams. We also got some sides and I have to say the Brussel sprouts were my favorite. I normally don’t eat them but chef Geoffrey has made them so we’ll. Everything we had was perfectly seasoned. The drinks were amazing. We will be going back soon.

Simple no brainer to come to this place. These guys are pure professional. Food till 1 am on Friday and Saturdays? You’ll find me here often.