Came here after work and was blown away by how great this restaurant was. The ambiance is very chic and up scale. The servers were very attentive and great at explaining the menu. We started out with drinks. I had the Nami drink and it was UNBELIEVABLE. Definitely worth the 20 dollar price tag. I had to share it with 2 other people because it was just the largest drink ever. The couple we were with didn't like some of the combinations for drinks, so the bartender made them a custom drink. It was also great! For our main course, we shared a toro scallion roll (very fresh), eel avo (always a classic), and the passion roll. The passion roll was definitely the star of the night! thinking of it makes me salivate! My goal was to find a sushi restaurant since I moved from the New Jersey/ New York area. This will definitely be my go to sushi restaurant. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Debbie A.
Beautiful place, food was awesome and the staff was super friendly. The ONLY reason I'm giving it four stars is because the prices were a bit steep for what we got. I'm from CT - so maybe it's just because it's in Federal Hill... But my sushi roll was 4$ more than the same exactly thing I get in CT. Just bring the extra 20$ I would say - definitely worth going to though!
(4)
Ingred S.
If homegirl believed in reincarnation, Nami's spicy scallop roll would positively be my NEXT life. Delicate yet robust, spicy and fresh, homegirl obviously fits the bill. Homegirl has got to pay homage to Nami's customer service. I had called in my reservation and inquired about birthday celebrations and was given plenty of options regarding cake, singing etc. When the special time had arrived the birthday homeboy was so very surprised. The birthday cake of choice was the chocolate torte. If Michaelangelo had tasted this back in the day we would have had ourselves a very different picture above our heads in the Sistine Chapel. The Hand of God would have been dippin his pointer finger into some some velvety chocolate torte.
(5)
Eric C.
The BF and I had been searching for a new restaurant. Since we finally had a night together to explore something new, we opted to find a new Japanese restaurant that we haven't been to yet. We have our favorites already around the Providence area but we wanted to see what else the town had to offer. Sushi Yama was closed so we went for the next highest rated place and that was Nami in Federal Hill. I have seen this place many times before. It's brightly lit and always had people inside which is always a good indication that this place must have good stuff. When you walk in you'll notice that there is the bar area and another section that is partitioned off for Teppanyaki. I asked about their entertainment dinners and unfortunately they don't have a chef that does that right now so that section remains closed for the time being. They have an extensive menu of things that you normally expect from a Japanese restaurant including seaweed salads, gyoza and your common sashimi/sushi choices. We tried our usual which includes the sashimi mixed platter with assorted maki. The food came quickly and nicely decorated on interesting looking platters (fresh flowers from your neighborhood markets and lights). They had toro sushi so naturally we ordered that. The salmon was spectacular but the toro which usually is an easy winner did not taste particularly fresh. In general the maki and sashimi were fine. I also ordered the nabemono which is vermicelli noodle soup in a large clay pot. It actually tasted pretty good but for $24? If that were $10 then I would come away saying that wasn't a bad meal but I don't think that my overall experience there was worth a total of $90. That's where the numbers got docked. If you are looking for my favorite places to go for Japanese food around here then I would say: 1. Sashimi: Ran Zan (Providence), Sushi Yama (Providence) 2. Japanese Noodle Dishes: Ken's Ramen (Providence), Ebisu (Providence) 3. Fancy over the top: Oishii (Boston)
(3)
Dominic W.
Nami is a great sushi place down town and the service was incredible. Seriously, on the point. The waiter was super nice, gave each of us extra eel sauce and spicy mayo, and made the entire experience excellent. The rolls were also quite delicious - the fish was very fresh, and the amount wasn't too skimp-y either! My only critique is the spider roll, which is very well-priced, but the fried soft shell crab was soggy. This makes me think it was fried perhaps in the morning or the night before. Other than that roll, everything else was amazing. We got the passion roll (super spicy!), yellow tail, salmon (our basics for fresh fish), etc. They also have $6 drinks - can't go wrong with that! ;) I would definitely come back here for sushi, and hope that next time the spider roll will be fried fresh so we can bump this to five stars!!
(4)
Arezu M.
The place looks pretty and has very good reviews and that's why me and my partner on our way to cape cod stopped by at Nami for a sushi lunch (as we both love sushi). We ordered Samurai and Butterfly bento boxes. To make the long story short two hours after leaving the restaurant we started to feel sick in our stomachs. And we have been sick for two days during our vacation now which is very annoying. I had never got sick before from eating sushi in other places. I believe serving bad food to people by a restaurant is the ultimate irresponsibility by the management and the kitchen staff. I called them and talked to the manager (her name was Linda) she made all the excuses to avoid this responsibility! I am very disappointed and will file official complaint with the health department (not for me as I won't go back there. To prevent other people from getting sick by eating at this restaurant!)
(1)
Rafael A.
Great environment, excellent service, good food. Try the Fire Island Roll, is very unique!
(5)
Queenie L.
I love this place... a lot! They have the best omakase in town, quality food with good price. And don't be shy to tell them if you prefer more sashimi, which is more authentic but i know it's not for everybody, or more rolls, if you are not a fan of raw fish. Love the idea of being spontaneous! My husband and I love to sit on the sushi bar enjoying our omakase, watching the chefs preparing food, every single plate is a piece of art. The presentation is awesome, food is delicious, sashimi is so fresh and well prepare, we always have a great time dining there.
(5)
Aaron K.
We were looking for something other then Italian in Providence (just our luck huh?) and found Nami through Yelp. The complimentary valet was convenient as there is a little alley next to the restaurant you can just pull in to. The food and drink was quite good. We ordered a pitcher of sangria to start (34$!). While expensive there was almost 8 glasses worth in there. The pitcher was more like a tub. It was refreshing and tasty. The sushi was great. Rolls were packed with fish and had just a small amount of rice, yet the rolls were still LARGE. Bigger than most sushi places. The combinations were all good, our favorites being the passion and samurai rolls. The octopus ceviche was also pleasing with fruit which paired surprisingly nicely. The service was also great, fun to talk to and checked on each course and drink. If we get back to Providence and are craving sushi we'll be back.
(4)
Amar G.
The atmosphere here is great! Almost unparalleled here in RI. The sushi is wonderful as well. Enjoyed live music as we ate. Very nice place
(4)
Neha S.
Nami makes a great first impression. It's classy (even the bathrooms are nice!) and clean, with great servers. They also have great starter salads. The avocado salad with sesame dressing is THE BOMB. I'd ask for extra dressing on the side because I felt there wasn't enough of it, but this was a delicious salad that cost very little! Unfortunately, Nami didn't finish out strong for me, which is why I have to give it a two-star rating. While I enjoyed my "rock" shrimp, it was really nothing you couldn't make yourself out of a package of breaded shrimp from Costco. I also didn't enjoy my spider roll: the crab was supremely mushy, implying that it had been sitting for quite awhile after frying. I might come back for a second try, especially as this place is so popular on yelp. I confess that I'm not a fan of crazy rolls like the kind Nami specializes in, so maybe that had something to do with it?
(2)
Margaret G.
I had heard a few horror stories in the past about the service at Nami. I figured there would be a certain element of snobbery being a new restaurant on The Hill but I finally stopped in to watch a friend perform (check out Becky Bass on facebook y'all shes awesome) and have a little dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite of those stories. We started with some cocktails which were very tasty and strong. Our server was very friendly and made suggestions that were helpful in making dinner decisions. I decided on a teriyaki chicken dish which was well priced with a huge portion and sooo flavorful. One friends entree was going to come out a little late because the server forget to put it in after his appetizer and she offered the table a round of drinks on her, we politely declined (which now that I think about it, what was wrong with us?!?) because we understand these things happen and it came out literally 4 minutes later. The ambience is very nice. A fully stocked bar with lots of fun cocktail specials. I would visit Nami again.
(4)
Kristen M.
Providence doesn't have traditional happy hours (I'm still coming to terms with this after living here for five years) and although they are advertised by many restaurants, the happy hour only applies to discounted food. Listen, I'll take what I can get. Nami has a decent selection for their "happy hour," $1 oysters, $3 rolls, $5 apps so a few friends and I went in last Tuesday to check it out. Synopsis? The sushi we ordered from the happy hour menu was mediocre, crab rangoons were ah-mazing and the oysters were really fresh. I guess my disappointment came from the sushi since it's a Japanese restaurant. If that was better I would be there weekly. I wouldn't not come back for happy hour here but might try out a few other places before making my return.
(3)
Abby C.
We came on a quiet Monday night to Nami. As soon as we walked in you could tell that the owner truly cares about this restaurant. The detail in the decor is gorgeous. There is a large bar, 2 hibachi tables and a small sushi bar. It's cozy without feeling too tight. The booths are very roomy too. We opted to sit at a booth. Our server (I believe Jonathan) was great. He was professional, knowledgeable and timely. He gave us enough time to review the menu, without pushing us. We ended up trying the crab rangoon. OMG so flavorful! The combination of parmesan and the filling was out of this world. I would definitely order these in the future. We then ordered the passion roll, crunchy tuna and bowl of udon noodles. The noodles were super filling and the rolls were pretty big compared to other places we've been to around RI. All in all, it was a great, quiet meal. I would definitely go again.
(4)
J. L.
I love sashimi and very particular about it. That says the qaulity and freshness of fishes, the size and shape of each piece (the size can be too big or small and the cut cannot be thick or thin) The sashimi dishes (Sashimi Dulex and Chirashi) were right in all my spec. The presentation was the extra .5 star. We also had the specials: the roll with lobster and avocado and Toro tartai ($12). They are all good. I will go back for sure.
(5)
Jessica T.
This place is one of our favorite restaurants. Their sushi quality is pretty amazing. I have been to many sushi restaurants in Rhode Island, and their service and food never disappointed us. I have tried many different dish at Nami and they were all great. Try happy hour, their fresh $1dollar oysters and $3 dollar rolls will not let you down. We go here weekly and will continue to do so. Their balance and favors are top notch (4-5 star).
(5)
Oki P.
Coming from Boston, Nami is one of my favorite restaurants ever and better than most japanese restaurants in boston. Ive tried alot of dishes on the menu and they never fail to disappoint. Every bite is a suprise which keeps you coming back for more. I find it rare to come by a good japanese restaurant which serves innovative sushi rolls with the perfect punch and crunch. Exciting nirigi and sashimi choices with the avaliability of uni, toro, live scallops although the restaurant fares better with the sushi rolls and main choices such as steak taste wise. The steak is a gem which took me by complete suprise because i would never expect it to taste better than most steakhouses. Nami also has one of the best mashed potatoes ive ever had in my life!
(5)
Gregory B.
Ay least in my opinion...best sushi in providence. For the second time I've eaten a platter of sushi and sashimi with warm sake. It was prefect. My friend and I weren't thrilled with the live music, but that's more personal taste than a reflection on the restaurant. I encourage everyone to try it. Plus, they're occasionally on Groupon so weather you're a first timer or a regular there is always a reason to go.
(5)
Richard H.
Providence is known to house some of the best food in New England. For a restaurant to stand out among this crowd of the bests says something about the restaurant. Nami has met and exceeded these expectations as their decor and ambiance is luxurious with fair prices that could meet the average budget. I've tried all of the Nami rolls so far and they're all unique, flavorful, and packed with fresh fish that melts gloriously in your mouth. Their happy hour specials are even more affordable and still as delicious. Their mixed drinks are also at the top as they serve high quality Asian liquors with sweet additions like lychee which is hard to find around here. Is this place worth a try? Yes go check it out and get hooked like I am!
(5)
Kevon T.
Just a quick follow-up to my previous review. I give it 5 stars now because the service was MUCH better these past two times I've gone. The food has remained consistently outstanding (best crab cake in RI. Period). My only critique now is that the specialty martinis are just okay. I'm steering clear of those from now on and just getting a Sapporo beer. I'm looking forward to our next visit to Nami, though!
(5)
Sonia G.
I had a Groupon for Nami, which is why I decided to venture out of my Providence sushi-comfort zone (Sakura on Wickenden). Short story: Meh, not worth it. Long story: The interior of Nami is lovely, but the music is played quite loudly. Perhaps because our table was next to the bar? We were seated quickly at a table by the window, which was nice. The place is huge and beautifully decorated into smaller sections, including a two-grill hibachi table. Perhaps I'd consider venturing back for the cooked food, but the appetizer and sushi my boyfriend and I split left a lot of be desired. We had the pork belly sliders which were just boring. Steamed bun with pork belly and some lettuce. Meh. I expected a little more effort, maybe a sauce? Or some pickled vegetables? The pork was as bland and boring as the steamed bun. I expect boringness out of a steamed bun, but it's accompanied by the hope that what's inside will be delicious. This was just...like I said: meh. The seaweed on the sushi was chewy. I hated sushi for a long time because of chewy seaweed - imagine my surprise when I had good sushi for the first time and lo and behold, you didn't have to gnaw and gag over it! We split the samurai roll and the passion roll. The scallop in the samurai was nice and tender and tasted very fresh, but the seaweed! The rolls were $14 each, which is far more than I pay for any sort of special roll at the sushi place I usually go to. Taking a look at the menu, I also noted that the miso soup is $6, and so is the edamame. That struck me as a bit high - when we got the bill, we realized that we had spent as much as we would have at our regular spot, for probably half as much food. I'm not one much to venture to Federal Hill anyway, and I certainly won't be making the effort to go there for overpriced mediocre food. Service was perfectly fine, our waitress was nice and attentive, offering suggestions when asked, and checking back in frequently enough for us to know we weren't forgotten, but not excessive or intrusive. So I guess one star for a nice interior, one star for nice service, and three stars off for mediocre yet expensive food, and noise.
(2)
Rachel P.
I think Nami is fantastic for a date or a night out with friends. The decor of the restaurant is clean and modern. The front doors face Atwell's Ave and open up to provide an outdoor dining feel, with great people watching benefits. Nami provides unique specials, fresh fish, and a fantastic bar. I consider it a treat to go there, and it is open late so if you work nights it is a great late night dinner or drink option.
(4)
Casey S.
Delicious rolls and good service. I would recommend this place to others who like the simplistic classic rolls and also to those who like to stretch and get the special rolls.
(4)
Gigi P.
Food and service was great. Large portions on the sushi rolls that were expertly made. Udon noodles were very tasty. The fried ice cream was different and tasted fantastic. Service was what you should get in a restaurant. Spot on. Decor was nice and the booths were comfortable.
(5)
Neal F.
My friend had a Groupon so a group of us went today. None of us were expecting much but we were all really impressed with the food. The fried rice was great, and wasn't greasy. The sushi was very fresh and the service was great. I will definitely come back here and I think I found a new place for take out when I want sushi and fried rice at home.
(4)
Shelly E.
Absolutely amazing. I had the best crab rangoon and the best scallops I've ever had here. I also had sake sangria, which was fantastic. The other four people I was with all had amazing food as well. One of my friends ordered a drink that he didn't like and the waitress had no problem taking it back and taking it off the bill. This place was perfect.
(5)
Neal D.
Very cool looking ambiance, great and interesting maki rolls, attentive service and reasonably priced. Don't be scared off by the fact that it's on Federal Hill and not Italian. We went with a Groupon and will go back without one.
(4)
suzy m.
Great service & food. The eel sashimi is to die for!
(5)
Amy O.
So I saw an ad for Nami and my husband and I decided it looked like it was worth checking out. we decided to order takeout including their version of crab Rangoon (which came in a much harder outer shell than the traditional kind) and was a little disappointed. the tuxedo roll, however, was delicious, and the fried rice with chicken was pretty good too. to be honest, I probably would have given this more stars if not for two crappy experiences: while waiting in my parked car for my husband to grab the takeout the first time, I was apparently parked in a way that blocked someone from getting into a parking space behind the restaurant. rather than politely motioning for me to move, he proceeded to scream profanities at me that I was in his "****ing" way and stared me down as he walked through the rear entrance of Nami. I assumed he was a guy having a crappy day and going in for a drink....until the second time I ordered takeout but went inside myself..this is when I saw the man with the temper was actually the manager, and him and the hostess were arguing with each other at the hostess stand rather than tending to me wanting to pay for my takeout. it's a shame that we will never patronize this restaurant again because we have seen the type of person who runs the place and don't want them getting a penny from us. you're better off going to Ichiban in Cranston for people who truly care about your business and your experience at their restaurant.
(2)
Jamy L.
I am absolutely amaze at how beautiful this restaurant is. Honestly too beautiful for fedhill. They have so many selections of wines and sake. Their bar is so lovely with windows that open up and the breeze flows into the restaurant. " Ideal for summer". I am also at awe at how beautiful their food presentation is, and for the price? Its so worth it, when you receive great service and great food. Their shrimp tempura batter was just exquisite. I've eaten many shrimp tempura's and the batter is normally mediacore and pale yellow, but their shrimp tempura batter was golden and crispy. Mmm i can still taste it while writing this. Also their beef negimaki is so delicious and different. The presentation was so pretty i was afraid to eat it. They also serve bread with this tangy yummy yogurt sauce and green curry on the side for dipping. I know bread at a Japanese restaurant? Lol, But it was good and i can't complain. My only real complaint is how dim the lights were and there weren't any candles to help us see. If the lighting is going to be dimmed. I think they should invest in some candles. It would create a more romantic atmosphere. However, overall this place has so much potential. We will be coming back Nami!
(5)
Wendy S.
Great sushi, ambience, and tasteful interior design. The Tuxedo and Passion Nami rolls I had were delicious. Would definitely come here again!
(5)
B M.
Went to Nami because we were looking for a late-night dinner on a Thursday (wish late-night eating was easier in PVD during the week!) I'm glad we tried this place, even though the Federal Hill vibe isn't really our scene. The decor for the most part is really lovely. They could put a bit more attention into the bar area, which is a bit tacky compared to the rest of the place, and I'm not a fan of sports games playing in a restaurant. If I want to watch tv while I eat, I'll order take out. Service was attentive. The fusion concept isn't terribly well executed- for starters, they bring you bread with curry sauce. You can also get a side of mashed potatoes with your sushi. That's not fusion, that's just random. BUT, the gyoza starter is crispy and very flavorful, and the rolls (we ordered a bunch from the standard roll selection, not the pricey ones) were really nice, and very reasonably priced. I especially recommend the spicy salmon crunch and the tuna avocado. Absolutely worth trying for a different kind of sushi experience, not totally sure I'd come back and less I get a craving for their gyoza!
(4)
Betha L.
Eh.. I wasn't blown away. The sushi was good.. The drinks were good. The service was good. But nothing special?! It's a very pretty place. A bit overpriced for no wow factor however. I have to keep it real. I keep hearing friends rave that they love it here- I just don't get it.
(3)
Laurie B.
I went here with my two friends for dinner after they had just opened. The waiter switched my friends sushi and we didn't realize till they finished eating. The waiter neglected to edit the bill for HIS mistake. My miso soup and sushi rolls were good but overall the service was poor.
(3)
David W.
The prime rib here is the best on the hill. I love the mashed potatoes too. Who knew that you could go to a Japanese restaurant and get a great steak that will make your mouth water. Everything about this place is amazing from the Decour to the food to the experience with the staff five stars all the way
(5)
Tony G.
very good. I cant wait to go back. food and service was excellent.
(4)
Laura A.
YUMMY!!! We were there for a wedding reception so I don't remember all the appetizers that were floating around.. but they were all delicious, the fried rice was too, as was the surf and turf. The wine was flowing, too. Definitely come here!
(5)
Bethany S.
Right in the heart of the land of Italian restaurants, this is a gem of a sushi restaurant! They have a great happy hour menu where the food is cheap, but the quality is still top notch. They also frequently have groupon deals that a good on weekdays. The sushi is delicious with great quality and portions and the presentation is always fun and interesting. The appetizers and drinks are awesome too. The sangria is delicious, but don't try to finish a pitcher with only two people! They also have complitmentary parking, so don't worry about trying to find a spot on Federal Hill (which can be a nightmare in itself). They also have hibatchi, although I have never tried it here. I have only been on weeknights, so I'm not sure how busy it gets on the weekend, but I imagine making reservations would be a good idea.
(5)
Andrea T.
Nami was absolutely delicious! Found them on Yelp and could not be happier that I ended up going. The service was phenomenal and the sushi was even better. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Lisa D.
What a wonderful place! After a tough morning at work, a colleague said, "I need sushi." Off we went to try Nami based on Yelp reviews. I loved everything from the sophisticated decor to the fine quality food. I will surely be back
(5)
David S.
Overall very solid. Went on a friday night and was surprised that it wasn't more busy. Atmosphere is pleasant and a bit on the trendy side. Waitor was excellent. Very courteous, explained the menu, and made some good recommendations. The rolls were pretty large. My wife and I are big eaters and we couldn't finish 4 rolls. Cocktails were very good. Would definitely recommend this place for just drinks. Sushi was good, but not amazing. Would definitely go back.
(4)
DJ Micaiah M.
We strolled into this place before a concert at the Providence center. There was a couple playing smooth Pop and Jazz music which sounded great. The Pork belly sliders had too much fat connected to the meat. But every time we got up off of our seats we came back to find our napkins nicely folded into an origami-like hat! The soft shelled crab was great and I had the special Poseidon sushi which was excellent as well!
(5)
Alexandra O.
Nami is beautiful inside! Would be a great place for a large group. We sat in front of the sushi bar - sushi chefs are very talented. Everything was delicious ! We tried some hot appetizers and sushi rolls. Beautiful presentations, chefs were engaging and server was very friendly. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Yaretsy J.
First of all I want to say I have never written anything negative about any restaurant, coming from that industry myself I always try to understand that things happen. Me and my friend have been coming here for a while. Dinner and lunch, we have been here so many times! Our waitress was great and willing to grab the manager for us the FIRST time we found a hair on top of my sushi roll. I proceeded to order another roll and we decided to get more oysters to share. That's when we found the second hair. To find hair twice in your food is almost unheard of. Me and my friend both have long hair, mine blonde hers red. The hair found in our food was short and black. Long story short the manager came over screaming and said the hair didn't come from their kitchen and we were trying to get food for free. As stated previously we work in restaurants, fine dining to be exact, we would NEVER do anything of that nature. To even imply that we had such intentions is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. We didn't eat our food, out of disgust and disappointment so what would be the point of "getting it for free". We just wanted a manager to talk about it and to let her know what was going on. We never said we wanted anything for free. The way she approached the situation was immature, unprofessional and straight up rude. We had no cash so we left without paying but still made sure we came back the same night and tipped our waitress. Needless to say we will never be coming back here.
(2)
Mark D.
One of my favorite sushi places in the area. I've been all over trying to find good sushi from Newport r.i to taunton ma. This is second in my opinion only better place is Turks in Mattapoisett. Great atmosphere and Great wait staff.
(5)
Jordan A.
I really enjoyed Nami- everything about it. If you love sushi and a great atmosphere then this place is for you. The interior is GORGEOUS. Nice leather furniture with bamboo walls surrounding the dining room. In addition to the dining room, there's a bar area and sushi bar. Everything I had was amazing including drinks. Nami has a great menu. I've only had a few rolls and an appetizer here but the menu offers more than that and it all sounds appealing including hibachi. I've had the calamari appetizer, heartbreaker, firecracker, and king's throne rolls- all excellent and very unique. A nice bonus is with your sushi you're served a side of eel sauce and spicy mayo. The service was good too. My friend and I sat at the bar. It was her birthday and since she didn't have room for cake, the bartender gave us each birthday cake shots! Tip: Dont make the mistake of paying to park- there's even a free lot in the back!
(5)
Hilary H.
Nami is a fantastic addition to the PVD sushi scene. With a bit more style and sleekness than the other options in town and a modern menu, this sushi and habachi restaurant has filled a void that's been missing for a long time. As I always am when trying a new sushi place, I had my reservations - freshness and taste are crucial for me, so I tend to get nervous when trying new places that serve raw fish. But my fears were totally unnecessary as these rolls were not only fresh as could be and delicious, they were beautiful, generously sized and reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. The Passion Roll ($15) in particular was the scene stealer, although the tuna pepper avocado ($5) was fabulous, as was the crunchy salmon ($5). We also ordered the Heartbreaker ($15) which featured a lot of wasabi, which I'm not too keen on but my husband loved. I started with the house salad which is $7 and HUGE - I mean, at least four times the size of what you normally get at a sushi restaurant. Amazing portion aside, the salad was loaded with fresh greens, sprinkled with mellow pinenuts and dressed in an amaaaaaaaaaay-zing sesame dressing. The avocado salad is the same thing for the same price, just topped with sliced avocado - a lot of it. You can also opt to get either with a ginger dressing, but you'd be missing out if you didn't try the sesame. Seriously. The service was perhaps the best I've had at a restaurant on Federal Hill, in a sushi restaurant and maybe on the West Side. OUr server was warm, helpful, friendly and happy to make suggestions - she's actually the one who recommended the sesame dressing and I knew I had to try it when she admitted she thought about that dressing even when she was at home. I can understand why. Nami itself is gorgeous and reminds me so much of the sushi restaurants you find in California - sophisticated, elegant and modern. The music was a tad loud, but it went along with the slightly clubby theme. The dining room is lovely, warm and dim, but we sat in the bright, bustling bar area in a booth that was comfy and pretty, too. I look forward to going back to Nami, as I am certainly adding it into the rotation of go-to dining spots around the city.
(5)
Michael M.
This was by far one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to. Sangria was served in one of the fanciest pitchers I've ever had the pleasure of holding. We also got a mini tree served with our plate that looked like it was placed in a carrot...unfortunately we couldn't take it with us. The general manager Manny stopped by to check on us and was very courteous. 5 stars
(5)
Stephanie R.
I really thought I already wrote a review for my favorite sushi place, but I guess I didn't yet. I'm absolutely in love with Nami. I visit probably around once a month. The sweet potato tempura & dragonfly rolls are the best! Really good Avocado salad with ginger dressing & miso soup as well. Nami is freakin delicious!
(5)
Nicole R.
After giving Nami two more tries I have become a convert. The sushi I've gotten has been fresh and tasty. The lychee sake is now officially my favorite and the service is friendly and attentive. Keep up the great work Nami!
(4)
Shirley Stephanie P.
My second time here...INCREDIBLE sushi..crab rangoon to die for...tasty drinks...clean decor. Next time I'll use valet or find street parking rather than pay for the lot across the street.
(4)
Austin K.
Best meal I've had in a long while. The sushi is solid, but not otherworldly. I recommend the spicy crab roll. Absolutely delicious. Big winner was the fried cheesecake. Not as filling as you'd think and a great contrast to the light and salty asian flavor.
(5)
Dayna M.
Excellent atmosphere, great food, excellent dining experience. I would recommend it highly!
(5)
J. Charles S.
This place is delicious. If you are in Prov and want sushi.... Go here. Nice ambience, delicious food and good service. A little pricy but worth it. I'll be back
(5)
Jennifer H.
I was really between four and five stars on this review, but I decided on four simple due to selection. Sushi is one cuisine where I like overwhelming options, because sometimes I like to be adventurous and try something I've never seen before. Nami has options, but they it is a reserved selection. What they do offer is a beautiful setting with quality food. The service is seamless from beginning to end -- starting with the complimentary valet (although, I did go on a Wednesday night, when the Sox were in the World Series, so this could vary on a busy weekend night). Then, as soon as I walked through the door, I was struck by the streamlined but stunning space. I'm a sucker for trendy yet classic decor, and that is the perfect description for Nami. I was a little miffed that my chopsticks had splinters, however! We started with the yellowtail ceviche appetizer and were startled at the presentation: pieces of yellowtail sashimi laid in soy sauce and topped with a jalapeno and roe. As a selective sashimi consumer, I actually really liked this dish. The yellowtail was fresh, and the jalapeno added just the right amount of spice. The portion is generous enough to share between two to four people depending on your appetite. For my entree, I ordered the spicy tuna crunch maki and the salmon and avocado maki. I always order spicy tuna when trying a new sushi restaurant because it gives me a nice comparison standard. The crunch aspect was certainly different, but I did like the roll. It wasn't overly spicy or oozing with that bright orange spicy mayonnaise like a lot of spicy tuna rolls. The salmon and avocado roll was simple and fresh, as you would expect. At $5 a piece, I thought the pricing was reasonable as well. I think Nami is a great date spot or a place to chill in the bar area with a drink and some sushi. Definitely take advantage of the valet because the location is right in the middle of the Federal Hill madness.
(4)
Daryl H.
Some of the best sushi in providence. The owner is very friendly and is always around, food is always more than you can eat and as fresh as it gets! Different sushi specials all the time.
(4)
Katie J.
Everything was really good and their sushi portions seem bigger than most places I've seen. They have more vegetarian rolls than I've ever seen anywhere else. The booths are little couches that are very comfy. I definitely want to go back again soon!
(4)
Ian J.
After one trip to Nami, I've paid over $100 for $80 worth of food. Groupon makes sense for new restaurants. Easy marketing tool. Restaurant gets a ton of cash upfront. But management refused to honor our Groupon ($30 cost for $60 of food) because our bill did not have four diners, just two. What is the difference if we have four people or not --- all Groupons offered by Nami were for 50 cents on the dollar. I thought Nami was trying to attract a client base that would promote its restaurant and entice us to come back for more? Nami screwed me for $30, assuming I'd come back again to use the $30 credit and spend more of my money in their restaurant. But I'm not going back. If Nami were the only sushi place in town, I'd get it. But it's not. Take the $30 I paid you (and the $60 you owe me) and shove it, Nami.
(1)
Alex A.
Delicious!!! The omakase family style was great. Brought out plenty options. My family and I enjoyed it all. My one complaint is that everything wasn't brought out all together. Will be back again!!!
(5)
Claudio B.
This restaurant was pretty amazing. The service was exceptional and the atmosphere was very relaxed and eclectic. We were able to relax, talk and have some of those amazing drinks and the sushi was just exquisite. This is definitely a place that I will be returning to and trying new things off of their menu.
(5)
Diane M.
My daughter and I went here,on a groupon I had purchased. We were greeted immediately and given a choice of whatever table we wanted, as the restaurant was not full at that time. Because we are not a fan of raw sushi, the waitress gave us some options, which we took her up on her. I ordered the tempura shrimp and my daughter ordered the king's throne, with a side of sauteed asparagus. Everything was so yummy. The combination of mango,avocado and lobster had us fighting each other for the last bite. And the asparagus was so good, we got an order to go. Additionally, the decor is eye candy. We loved our waitress,Cindy, and she aimed to please. This place is a keeper!
(4)
Shari W.
On federal Hill, this Japanese sushi restaurant is trendy and highly staffed. There were more people working in the restaurant than eating in the restaurant; 2 at the front,1 bar tender, 2 at the sushi bar, 3 waitresses, 1 bus boy, 1 lady over seeing the whole thing. I have no idea how many more were in the kitchen. And a valet. Love the complimentary valet! We had calamari to start. Nothing special; a little too spicy for me. Then we had a Nami tune tartar. This was the best thing of the night! Followed up by a tune and avocado roll, a spicy crunchy tuna, a sweet potato roll, a masago and a tamago. The tuna was a deep red. The reddest tuna I have ever seen. While it was excellent in the tartar, it was not a smooth in the tuna and avocado roll. The tamago was a little rubbery. The masago was excellent. All in all they get an extra star for comfortable chairs and they lose a star for their pretentious airs.
(3)
Mark P.
Great quality food. I go here frequently for lunch or happy hours since I work one block over. Personally, I think they have the best happy hour on the hill...particularly the $1 raw bar that is really high quality. They also seem to add an extra touch to the food (delicious mushrooms in the miso soup for instance). The servers are very nice too. The place is extremely clean and well presented. You can tell that they take pride in their establishment.
(5)
Melanie J.
Came here with my boyfriend and another couple this past weekend. The scorpion bowls were on point. The Crab Rangoon is to die for and unlike any I've had before. They top it with a creamy sauce and what looked like grated Parmesan cheese. DELICIOUS. We all split the $75 sushi platter. It had a little bit of everything and gave us the opportunity to try new things we otherwise probably wouldn't have ordered. I can honestly say, this is the best sushi I've had in Rhode Island so far. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable on what each roll was. You could tell that the sushi chefs put a lot of time and effort into not only making it delicious but also making the plate pleasing to the eye. Delicious! The atmosphere was also classy and clean. I will be back!
(4)
Andrew V.
Terrible service. Server forgot several things we ordered then lied about it trying to convince us to trust him that he had it right. Then he didn't bring back our credit card. These people will hire anyone?
(2)
Amy L.
The sushi is good, the service is good and the amount/frequency of water refills is obnoxious. Just leave me a pitcher and stop interrupting my meal. I never go here without a Groupon because there is always one to offer so why spend the extra money.
(3)
Steve S.
This is a restaurant where the style of the building builds upon the presentations of the meals as they are delivered to the table. Knowledgeable staff is willing to go the extra step to make the customer happy. The only thing needing managements input is the existing Japanese steak tables that are currently out of service due to a faulty back draft exhaust system. Portions are large and the have an extensive bar to make the common Manhattan (wonderful) to a copious list of speciality drinks. They have great specials between 3:30 and 5:30 with $1.00 oysters and great drinks offers. This was my second time to this establishment and I will highly recommend it to my friends
(4)
Gregory W.
I want to say thank you to the owner, management and staff for accommodating the needs of my party on such short notice... The event was a huge success and left a lasting impression on all that attended. If you have not tried this restaurant, you are missing a true diamond in the ruff. The food, preparation and professionalism are the best. Thank you again.
(5)
Kat K.
Absolutely awesome! Nami is a beautiful restaurant and the food was just fantastic. The sake-sangria was lovely, but the sushi was even better! We will definitely be back again and again!
(5)
Xiao Z.
Groupon Review: I really enjoyed the overall decor and the interesting and unique specialty Nami Rolls at this establishment. Given that today was a beautiful summer's day, I actually enjoyed my meals outdoors, and was quite impressed by the frequency and curtsey of the service. The fish were fairly fresh [given we came on a Sat], but the toro and yellowtail with scallion rolls were just a bit bland and tough to chew. That being said, the Pink Lady was very well decorated and had a very subtle, yet enjoyable texture. Overall, this place would have been a 3 star, but with $15 off, it's hard to beat! Food: 3 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Price: 3-4 stars
(4)
Shar A.
Ladies and gentleman, there is FINALLY a Japanese restaurant on Federal Hill worth talking about. Coming from Cali, I have been waiting for a sushi place in RI to spark my interest. Nami recently opened last week right on Atwells. The exterior begs upscale and the inside delivers. Great interior design, modern, fresh, and great for groups. There are only two hibachi tables which some may find odd but I found to be just enough to be exciting. Staff is courteous and eager to please. Owner is on site and very sociable. Great back story, just ask. Food....very satisfied with the rolls. The BEST roll was a $5 pepper tuna avocado roll. The cuts of tuna were huge and the pepper added such an amazing smokiness to the roll. I could eat that roll for days. Another $5 roll included the spicy salmon roll. Yummy! We also ordered the specialty Tuxedo roll with tempura shrimp and spicy tuna. Very tasty and filling at around $14. One of the distinctive characteristics of the sushi was the thin layer of rice used on each roll as well as the presentation (very artsy). Edamame was $6 and so was the garden salad with ginger and the miso soup. I always assume these to be the fast and easy, low cost items to make me happy before I start a sushi dinner. I would have definitely added them to my tab if they were a bit more reasonably priced. Overall, get ready to shell out since most of the specialty apps and rolls are from $10-17, but they are beautifully presented and tasty. As for drinks, a large warm saki was a steal at $7, while flavored cold (thanks for carrying!) run around $17+ per bottle. Pair that with some beer and you should be all set. There are also a lot of interesting saki-tinis worthy of attention. Great place for a date, groups, business, or friends in town. Glad to see a real sushi restaurant on Fed Hill. We look forward to going back and trying more dishes!
(4)
Breanna E.
Standard American Japanese food. The miso soup is over priced and they charge you for hot tea! Craziness!
(1)
Amanda B.
This place is PRETTY, the decor stops you in your tracks for sure upon entering. The server we had was great, nice, attentive and knowledgeable. However we ordered gyoza and noodles from the kitchen to start that came out cold. The gyoza were still good but the noodles were so bland. Absolutely no taste to them or the chicken in the dish...no good. The sushi however was awesome, fresh and creative. We got the heartbreaker and the tuxedo roll, both really eye catching and delicious. Out of the two the tuxedo was our favorite, worth a try for sure and probably a second try again soon! The sushi bar looked clean for sure, I threw a few buck in their tip fish n owl on the bar and checked it out, no complaints here. Then for dessert, we tried the flour less cake from Pastiche (duh amazing) and the green tea friend ice cream (side note this is my fav and try it everywhere, big disappointment). The fried part was so soggy it was just not edible so I picked around it for the green tea ice cream which was good. I think they have too thick a batter or something because I've never had one so soggy! Very strange, but also the waitress noticed I ate around the friend and didn't comment? Observant table of...? oh not you, whoops! Idk I've worked in several restaurants and if I noticed that i would have asked "oh how was it or was think ok for you ?" But whatever's no big deal, overall the place was good. With a few tweeks they could be a really great, fresh, creative sushi spot in a meatball and mozzarella dominated area.
(3)
Lizz W.
I bought a Groupon for Nami the other day and went for dinner last night. They definitely put a lot of money into this place, it is gorgeous on the inside! The booths are legit leather couches, so coool! They even have pretty heavy-duty leather menus, I don't know why but I liked them a lot lol The sushi was great. We tried a shrimp tempura roll, philly roll and california roll. Came out quick, tasted fresh and presentation was on point. The shrimp fried rice was really good also... I only got a glass of wine, but my friend got the lychee-tini. OMG so delicious, you should give that a try!
(4)
Morgan W.
I have been here a few times and I always get the chicken teriyaki. The 4 times I have purchased it I have never been disappointed. I myself am a chef so it take a bit more to impress me and they do it every time. The best way I can describe the teriyaki sauce it's like god came down and kissed it. I highly recommend this dish. It's a great place even for a guy like me who isn't into seafood. Although I will give them credit while I was there I saw them clean the sushi station 2 times. I was there for about 2 and a half to three hours. That's more than I can say for other sushi places I've been to.
(5)
Joyce A.
Late review but this is one of my fave sushi place in RI. Nice decor, great selection of drinks and yummy rolls. I love the tuxedo rolls
(5)
Amanda M.
Been here a couple of times and the sushi is always good, but not memorable. Overpriced in my opinion, but that may be for the ambiance, which isn't really my scene. Went there on a weekend night and they had a terrible vocalist that really killed the mood. We were sitting the furthest away from him we could be but they had the speakers up so high we had to raise our voices to communicate at the table. The servers have always been super friendly though.
(3)
A A.
Nami and no other. Love you, thank you for a being a go to place for dates, dinner with my kids, take-out... sashimi sampler appetizer is amazing. There is a GREAT happy hour menu for food at the bar between 4ish and 6ish. Enjoy!
(4)
Leslie C.
Ordered Hibachi shrimp for lunch and was disappointed on how tasteless it was. The soup and salad were great. The decor is really trendy along with the music played.
(3)
Lex A.
Kinda overpriced, in my opinion... Service can be a bit slow especially on the weekends (typical federal hill circus)... The sushi is about the same as most other providence places... The atmosphere and layout if the restaurant is nice, but that's not quite enough to keep me coming back. Overall, kind of "meh".. Mostly due to price
(2)
John L.
Been here quite a few times now and always enjoyed the atmosphere. Always ask for the booths near the liquor or sushi bar since the tables near the host area has a really strong A/C vent that is loud and cold when it kicks on. Besides the booths are so comfortable! It has plenty of leg room and space between you and the table. The decor is something you would find in a sushi restaurant in Vegas. So kudos to Nami! Sushi is excellent and fresh. We always get the fried brown rice dish to go for lunch the next day for work. Definitely one of the best sushi restaurants in RI.
(5)
Christine S.
It was my first time at Nami's and I must say I love it! the atmosphere, the service, the menu, the quality of the sushi was overall wonderful. I was quite impressed by the variety of maki rolls in the menu and the 2 types of large scorpion bowl type drinks. They even offer 2 types of dressings for the salads which include sesame and miso. Get the sesame! I look for variety and quality whenever I dine out at sushi spots because I know my "stuff" and I have to say, Nami has all the right "stuff" going on! Many different sushi rolls ranging from $6-18. I enjoyed dining here, *cue terminator voice* "I'll BE BACK!"
(4)
Anita B.
I decided to try a new sushi place and Nami had great reviews on Yelp. I found a Groupon which was perfect for a date night with my boyfriend. Walking in, the ambiance was perfect considering the other tacky sushi restaurants around Providence. Our server, Katy, was friendly and engaging all while training another waitress. I ordered a drink that the staff was not familiar with but after telling them the ingredients, they made it perfect. Overall, the sushi was amazing and the quality of the fish was obviously fresh and great. Sashimi tends to weird me out but after trying my boyfriends, I will definitely have it again. I would suggest Nami to anything thinking about going.
(5)
Rob K.
Dropped by Nami for dinner with a friend. 'Sushi on Federal Hill?' he said. 'Sushi on Federal Hill', I replied. We're both old sushi pros so it takes quite a bit to impress us and very little done wrong to swear off a place forever. Nami did everything right and is going to be here for the long haul. Every little piece of raw fish was memorable and automatically rated in my top 5 of places I've been from East to West coast. After grazing through the usual miso soup, hamachi, sake, toro and ebi sushi plus a spicy tuna roll, I decided on the fresh scallop sashimi for 'dessert'. Out-of-this-World! It was shucked from a large shelled scallop, sliced into 1/8" slices and laid out in it's own shell for presentation. Ambiance was conversational, stylish with music loud enough to hear but not overpower table conversations. Service was excellent(!) and very attentive. All I had to do was look up for more water, food or the check and the waitress saw me and came right to our table. I would highly recommend Nami and will be back very, very soon for my raw fish fix.
(4)
Kevin F.
I am not one for handing out 5 stars but I had one of the best experiences at this place. The bartender is one of the best! Very engaging and entertaining with the crowd. The food is priced fair and fantastic. I strongly recommend the firecracker roll and duck entree.
(5)
Ellen G.
I thought this place was great though their menu is a little sparse, and it took a little long to get our sushi (considering the restaurant was only half full on the Wednesday evening we were there). Food was delicious, drinks were okay. I felt like the specialty rolls at this place were pretty interesting, I actually never ordered a specialty roll anywhere because I'm not super adventurous with my sushi, but I got the Celebrity and Tuxedo rolls and they were so good. I'd definitely come back, especially for the happy hour specials everyone else has referenced.
(4)
Chan P.
My first time here.. Decor: The restaurant is freaken beautiful. It really took me by surprise at how beautiful it was. The atmosphere is superb! A++ Food: I feel like I can find better sushi at some of my other favorite spots like Haruki or Sakura. For me the sushi rolls were on the larger size..if your like me ..you like your maki rolls to fit in your mouth without having to break them apart ..you just lose the whole sushi experience in my perspective. The rolls were good though but nothing impressive, favors were mediocre, quality was fresh. Appz were good. A friend of mine did recommend I try the entrees. ..next time. Price: Specialty rolls range from 10 to 15 bucks (which I think is normal). They do offer their classic maki rolls at 5 to 6 dollars. Appz were on the pricey side.. Overall, nice spot with mediocre food..Give the place a try. Its worth a try. happy eating! :)
(3)
Pauline T.
Where to start about this place! Customer service is by far the worst except for the owner in which actually had some sympathy for for a issue that we had with our food. We had ordered some sashimi and there was either a piece of "fish scale" or plastic, who even knows. So obviously if your eating something raw you expect it to be precise with out any problems. Our server was not pleasant and welcoming. I'm sorry are you in the customer service field since you do work at a Restaurant! Or did you just crawl out of the streets of the not so fortunate, where a YOUR WELCOME is almost graduating you to an advanced grade! I do not usually yelp unless it's terrible.
(1)
James M.
The food, service and presentation were all excellent. The decor is also very nice. Our only issue was, the exterior presents itself a bit more as a bar/club. We almost didn't go in and when we did, we were the only people in the dining room. Maybe a slow night, but I think a change to the entrance layout would make the restaurant more welcoming.
(3)
Karobi C.
Great sushi and the staff were so nice!!! We will definitely be back. For the marketing side, I have a few suggestions. On the sandwich board put a different description...best sushi in town or sake bombs, whatever to get attention. Lighten up the windows so you can see inside and lose the crystal light at the entrance. Lastly chafe the sign. Black and green to red and black!!! You guys need more business...this place rocks!!!!!
(5)
Jose M.
i went for the first time today and it just got put on top of my favorites restaurants. our server Jonathan went above and beyond of what is ask of a waiter. had the crab Rangoon and the calamari for an app is it was very very good, the nami salmon is just out of this world. prices are reasonable. i was so impressed with the service we got. our waiter actually went out of his way to obtain an item that was not on the menu that one of us wanted they just gained a customer for life.
(5)
Jacki A.
Well, it is my first time here in Rhode Island. My dad and I are on vacation together and we decided we wanted to eat something that wasn't Italian (like majority of the restaurants in the area). Upon entering, we sat ourselves at the sushi bar. Our waitress came and did the usual drink order, yada yada. While we were deciding, one of the sushi chefs surprised us with a little salad for the both of us (on the house) and it was delicious. It was apples, pears, a little crab meat, a hint of wasabi, and whatever else made it absolutely delicious. Finally we came to a conclusion, we decided to split two rolls of sushi: the tuxedo roll (shrimp tempura, tuna on outside with wasabi sauce, spicy mayo, unagi sauce, and masago), and the pepper tuna roll. Both were probably some of the BEST sushi I've ever had...and sushi is my fave, I eat it a lot. Now to top it off, I decided I was feeling a little adventurous. So for $1, I got a quail egg. It came kind of like a piece of sushi. Sticky rice, masago, and the quail egg on topped... All wrapped in seaweed. Since I had never tried it before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I went all in and it really wasn't anything anybody should be afraid of... Unless the masago freaks you out. I do love the idea of being able to say that I've tried a quail egg! I wish there was somewhere like this around me in the suburbs of Chicago.
(5)
Jen G.
I came here for girl's night out with a couple of friends and couldn't have been happier with the experience. First off, complimentary valet is a must for this area so I was thrilled they had it. The decor was awesome and the seats were extremely comfortable. Our waitress, Katie I believe, was knowledgeable and we were impressed how great they were with substitutions. The dips that came with the bread, especially the yogurt dip was ridiculously good. We all opted for classic rolls since they had such a great selection. I've been to several sushi places in the area and I honestly think this was the best AND the most reasonably priced. We each had 3 rolls and drinks and our bill was around $65. We noticed later that there are hibachi tables and a private room, I'm assuming for a large party (20ish people) . I'm glad those options are available. The food and service combined with the great service and atmosphere will make me return really soon.
(5)
Raj L.
Unlike our first experience, our second experience to Nami was not quite the same. The food is of good quality. But the manager/owner is extremely rude. She does not have the ability to explain herself properly, or courteously. It's almost as if we were bothering her to come here to eat. Everybody has bad days but this is the second negative experience we have had just particular person. For our part we will not be returning because of her. If somebody from Nami reads this, you should take appropriate actions. She is driving away business.
(1)
J K.
Our server Vincent was great, the food was pretty good; however, our overall experience was terrible! The customer is never right when it comes between the manager and her money. She was argumentative when we wanted to split our check. We came in on a sweet jack deal and one of us wanted to use the certificate and the other wanted the happy hour special. The manager said if we had come in separately then it would have been okay then changed her mind and said it didn't matter because you need two people to use a certificate. It just left us with a bad taste in our mouth and with that kind of customer service, the food wasn't worth it.
(2)
Ed B.
So here is my story and experience at NAMI ... When they first opened I tried the place out. The food was just OK and the service OK... A year went by and I recently tried it again to have one of the best experiences of all time. I was pleasantly greeted by a gentleman who said he was knew to Nami. After conversing with him about the menu and some of his favorites he seemed proud to be managing such an establishment. After we completed our dinners he came back with a card for our next visit. ( Complimentary Coffee and Dessert). Such a nice gesture. Here comes the disaster. I made a reservation for Mothers Day and immediately notice a bad vibe as I walked in the door. The staff was huddled in a corner and not excited at all to greet us. After being seated we asked for the gentleman that made us come back. He did tell us his name. After describing him to the waitress said " Oh he got fired"... The vibe was gone. The music was low. I felt so uncomfortable on such a special day. Fired????? Maybe they should have let him do his thing because Nami is nothing like the day.... He was so professional. Just to let you know customer service is 100% of the game and this gentleman had it. For sushi try Jackies Galaxy and pass by Nami.
(1)
Vanessa O.
The sushi is delicious and the oysters, ugh forget it, you'll love the Japanese oysters! Small and flavorful. Not really a mushroom fan but the miso soup has mushrooms AND clams in it! Can't go wrong with clams in my book.
(5)
Tina Z.
I loved the modern and stylish setting of Nami. I also enjoyed the yellowtail and jalenpeno roll as well as some of the standard items we ordered. My only complaint was the missing items I would have expected to find. My daughters tend to order eel and there really wasn't any on the menu. We did substitute with some of the specialty rolls but they were a bit disappointed. The food was incredibly fresh and everything we ordered was tasty and well made.
(4)
Joe M.
Always great atmosphere and friendly staff, from owner Wendy, manager Minda, bartenders Joe, Nady, and Nick, and chef Mikoto. The presentations are just as amazing as the sushi! Try the filet and ribeye, you will be surprised at how well prepared they are and flavorful too! If you are not sure about dinner, try coming during Nami hour between 3pm-6pm M-F and try many of the best items at very good prices!
(5)
Julie Y.
Wow! Nami really impressed me. It can easily get blended in with the other restaurants on Federal Hill. However, once you're inside it will blow you away. The food was delicious, we ordered sushi and also had a side of rice. My boyfriend tried a Japanese wine, which was a great surprise and tasted like cherries. The attention to detail is phenomenal from the leather bound menus and to the sturdy bamboo-esque place mats. I'll definitely be coming back!
I was admittedly excited to try Nami after hearing about the recent opening because I love rolls and a nicely stocked bar. I stopped by with some friends last night for a light dinner, and we were warmly greeted by the owner and quickly seated and served. I had a rum drink (the something zombie) and a sake sangria. I also tried the pomake and red dragon thanks to friends. The rum drink was sweeter than I wanted, but still good, and the sake sangria was a nice, light, combo with lychee, oranges, limes, and cherries. The cocktails are delicious and creative - the combo of raspberry sake, pomegranate juice, and champagne made the pomake stand out... Not too sweet and well mixed. That'll be my focus for next time! For food, we started with shrimp tempura (nice to split between two), and I had miso soup, a sweet potato tempura roll, and a California roll. I also tried the passion roll, tuxedo roll, and firecracker roll through some trades. Specialty rolls ranged in the teens, and basic rolls hit around $5. The miso soup was $6 (see the reason why below), and the shrimp tempura was $12 (split between two). The miso soup was amped up in presentation and content-specifically, the little neck clams and enoki mushrooms made it more flavorful and filling, and the taste matched the beautiful presentation. Of my rolls, the California was standard and good, but I loved the sweet potato tempura (simple wimpy choice, I know, but no regrets). The passion roll was my favorite snag from my neighbor's plate, and I'd consider focusing on the passion roll next time (and probably the sweet potato tempura roll... at $5, it'd be hard not to grab it too). We paired them with a decently priced gewurztraminer from their list, which was reasonable at less than $30 and did the job nicely. Decor definitely helped us have a relaxed dinner, the wait staff was friendly and learning, and (given the quantity of alcohol we consumed) the price tag was reasonable. I would like to go back and try the hibachi with a larger group, because the set up is gorgeous, but I didn't have a chance to see it in action. I also can see the bar being a nice place to catch a baseball game now that the season is on, as well as to enjoy a pomake and a roll on a summer day... looking forward to giving that a go as well. Regardless, I know that I'll definitely be back there soon!
(5)
Holly S.
Sushi great, wine great, atmosphere great, but I got the soft shell crab, it was fried and I don't eat fried food, wish it said that on the menu, but it did look good!
(4)
James K.
I've never written a Yelp review before, but I had to give it a shot for Nami -- it's that good. My friend and I devoured four Nami rolls: the Passion, the Tuxedo, the Firecracker, and the Pink Lady. They were fresh, light on rice, and delightfully plated. He also had some soju cocktail (I forget the name) while I had a fruit saketini; both were delicious, and again, well-presented. The decor and ambiance are wonderful: classy yet cozy, perfectly themed, and romantic (if you'd like). Finally, the waitstaff was extremely friendly and comfortable making recommendations, should you suffer from sushi indecision syndrome as I do. Conclusion? Definitely check this place out -- you'll definitely be back for more.
(5)
Becky F.
One might not normally associate Federal Hill with a sushi restaurant, but Nami might be able to make some inroads in to changing that perception. For me though? Unless I am having a serious sushi craving, I might stick with Italian when I'm on the Hill... I came here with a friend one night for a drink and we decided to also try out some rolls once we sat down at the spacious bar. The restaurant is modern and clean in its appearance, and it uses well-designed but not over the top finishes and fixtures. The bar has some seriously comfy seats, and the booths in the bar area look equally spacious and luxurious. Part of the bar opens up to the street, which just invites in potential diners and also lets a light breeze and a good view of the street scene to those sitting at the bar. Many of Nami's cocktails seem to feature sake, so I instead chose to order the Gin-Tini (Tanqueray, sloe gin, and grapefruit juice) which I enjoyed. My friend opted for a gin and tonic but found the tonic water to be a bit off in taste and more akin to club soda. Tiny details in the scheme of life, but big details in a drink with only two ingredients. The bartender tried to help out but sort of had her hands tied since there was no tonic water to be found. The menu didn't feel nearly as overwhelming as those offered by some other sushi establishments, which was a bit of a welcome change. For eats, we ordered the Celebrity and Pink Lady rolls. I enjoyed the Pink Lady (denoted as a chef specialty), however would probably order it without the ikura next time. The ikura was a bit too plentiful which made the roll overly salty. It was an easy enough fix though to scrape it off to the side. The Celebrity was good with just the right amount of crunch. I would come back to try Nami again as the location and trendy vibe are just right and there are other food and drinks on the menu that caught my eye.
(3)
Katie W.
LOVE!! My best friend and I love sushi and were looking for a new spot to go. We saw the groupon so we decided to try it out. We were not disappointed. The ambiance and decor is beautiful and very intimate. They also had complimentary valet service which was great. It's a perfect date spot (candlelit tables, dim lighting). Like I said, I went with my best friend, and the whole time we were saying "we need to bring our guys here soon!". They had private rooms in the back which I'm sure are awesome for big parties, but overall I would highly recommend it for a romantic date night. Now the best part: the food! They start off with warm bread and sauces. Then we decided on sushi. I had the pepper tuna avocado roll and the King crab California roll. My friend had the spicy tuna crunch and the sweet potato tempura. We shared and tried each other's. All were so delicious! We also indulged in the french kiss martinis. Phenomenal! Overall I would highly recommend this restaurant. It is a great alternative to the rest of the places on Federal Hill. The staff was friendly and prompt, the food was awesome, and the overall feel was great. Try it out, you won't regret it!
(5)
Jesse C.
I really hope this place doesn't go out of business. I'm writing this review after eating at a few other sushi restaurants in the area, and New England. I have not yet found anyone that does nearly as good at making sushi than Nami. The rolls are awesome, big, fresh and full of flavor. The ambiance is nice, and the price is very reasonable. It doesn't make sense to me that this place isn't filled up. Last time we came for dinner there was only one other party there, and it was just kind of depressing. This weekend we were driving back from NH and went to a packed 4.5* Yelp rated sushi place on the way back and the food and service were terrible, and made me miss Nami and write this review. I hope business picks up there, we'll be doing our part :)
(5)
Andrew M.
The GF and I have now been to Nami twice and can say this is some of the best sushi we've had in the area. This review is only for sushi, as we have ventured onto other menu items. Very nice decor and atmosphere tucked away on the Hill. Valet is nice and saves time trying to find a space. We haven't had any real issues with restaurant noise, temperature or wait staff as other reviewers. Each time we have been there, the vibe was intimate with mood lighting, and comfortable surroundings. Our drink orders were prompt and refilled accordingly. We did use Groupons on each visit, and encountered no problems, or dirty looks that you sometimes get when you say those magical words at bill time - "oh and by the way, we've got a Groupon." Our first time we got the Sushi and Sashimi for two. There are so many different types included, I can barely recall any of them. I don't think I've ever been so full on sushi. On the second visit, we went with Tuxedo and Heartbreaker rolls. The tuna and shrimp tempura was delicious. The pepper on the tuna (Heartbreaker Roll) along with hints of wasabi, not to mention the extra wasabi I use, gives it a real kick. We've had sushi at a lot of restaurants (Ichigo, The Q, Shabu Shabu) and this is up there with the best of them. We did decide to go with a scorpion bowl on our second visit to celebrate our anniversary. I'd stay away from this. It tasted horrible and we begrudgingly forced ourselves through the $20 bowl of torture. Maybe it was just a bad bartender but the blend of fruit juices for flavor were non existent, and it tasted more like rubbing alcohol with Dimetapp. Other than that, a fantastic change of scenery on the Hill and a place we will surely return to.
(4)
Anna B.
The vibe is Asian Fusion, not traditional Japanese. It had sports bar, sushi bar, hibachi table and fourth dining area. They brought bread and a curry dip with drinks, which I've never seen in a sushi place, but maybe its a fusion thing. felt weird to be tasting curry, watching a game, and drinking sake at the same time. Guess my personal preference is to watch sushi masters, not baseball, in a sushi place. Great miso soup. Ordered 4 sushi for the 2 of us, which was the right amount. Sushi ingredients were very fresh, but not inspired. Derek the valet guy was actually notable, doing a darn professional job and pulling our car up before we were even out of the restaurant. Probably wont go back, we prefer the traditional Japanese scene. But had a good evening overall, and I could see this place appealing to a wide variety of folks. 3 stars it is.
(3)
Andrea M.
I've been to this great little restaurant about 4 times and every time I eat there, I am beyond impressed! Everything from the food, to the service is awesome. The avocado salad is to die for, the rolls are handmade to perfection, the oysters are incredible and everything is extremely fresh. The owner Wendy is a sweetheart and a great business owner. She is extremely knowledgable on her product and lovely to talk to. I particularly enjoy sitting with Jason at the bar, he's not only a great bartender, but he certainly makes for a comical evening! I would highly recommend anyone looking for a amazing cuisine, great atmosphere and an overall wonderful dining experience to check Nami out. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Kel S.
This review pains me to write, as I was so looking forward to my Nami experience, especially after readying the reviews of my fellow Elite Yelpers, who's opinions I value highly. Well, I will start w/ the call in to see if we could come in for dinner that evening (a Saturday). I imagined they wouldn't have anything until late, but the restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, so that was great. Perhaps because it is new, but what follows may more likely be the reason: We'll start w/ the valet service. It took forever to pull over as they use the side alley as an "in" and an "out" so I would opt for street parking next time if I could find it. Next, I'll discuss the one cocktail I tried. I almost never send drinks back. Well, I asked the server if the "Wasabi martini" was "hot" expecting a "yes" but I did not get that. If it had been, it would have been better than what I received. It was sickeningly sweet. I asked the server for a glass of ice/soda water to cut down the flavor. The unexperienced (perhaps not even legal-drinking-aged) boy brought me a glass filled to the brim. I politely asked him to dump half so I could use it to help make my drink drink-able. He obliged. I still couldn't drink it. He offered to bring me something else to which I opted for a glass of wine. By the time our entrees arrived, I realized it wasn't coming. So, that was the beverage debacle. I will say the food (most of it, anyway) was good. We had the spring roll, which was lightly fried w/ shrimp, avocado and crab and served w/ a tasty dipping sauce. Next, we shared the highly recommended avocado salad, which was rightly so. There was a ton of avocado and it was a huge portioned salad. The only thing I would request next time would be the dressing on the side, as there was a ton of the sesame dressing sitting at the bottom leaving the end un-edible. We shared the pepper tuna & avocado roll, which was good, too, and very reasonably priced. The final straw, which made me very sad was we opted for a "chef's choice" roll, some type of lobster "king" roll. It was overpriced ($17) and not at all good. It was way too sweet, and the sauce that came w/ it was also too sweet. It was very disappointing. We also had to request side plates for each new course (due to the over use of dressings/sauces on each dish it would not be advisable to use the previous plate), but again, we had to ask each time. In conclusion, I would go back not expecting great service, and would choose items carefully. If we stick w/ sushi that is safe, I'm sure I would have a much better experience next time.
(3)
Jessica S.
As much as I love Namis salads, I'm just not sure I feel a need to return anymore. Failing 2/3 times isn't a great number. The salad is very good but there was some red purplish round pate in mine this time that was vile. I bit into something disgusting and I found something in the salad later that was the same texture so there must have been more. For one, it was gross and also if it is not on the list of ingredients, it should not be in the salad. I asked for the dressing on the side after the last dressing incident, and it of course came on the salad, though better dressed this time. The beef negimaki has good flavor but was not cooked well, overcooked steak is tough and not pleasant, would not get again. The sushi we got was good but the rolls are still obnoxiously big. They must really want to find out if they know the heimlich when people start choking on what is intended to be one bite. If someone asks you what's in a certain dish, the answer is I will find out, not just I don't know. Our waiter was very nice but also very new, though these are common sense things really, getting the order right, answering questions. They also tried to overcharge me for my salad by $2. My issue here is that it is the manager who was actually trying to overcharge me. The waiter made a mistake, fine I get it, but then he returned to say the price is correct but she took off $1 to be nice. Um no. I said get me a menu. Salad $7, shrimp added $5. It's not rocket science. I said it is $12 and she needs to fix it and handed it back to him. What sorry excuse for a manager not only does not know the prices, but doesn't even bother to check the menu before disregarding a customers complaint about being overcharged?? And she never came over to speak to me herself. 2 out of the 3 times we have been they have failed in major ways so goodbye Nami salad, just isn't worth dealing with the incompetence.
(2)
Jonathan L.
Beautiful restaurant and great atmosphere. I went in for restaurant week and the food was delicious. I love how they give you so many options. I started with the beef appetizer. Excellent. Moved on to the sushi plate. Very fresh and satisfying. Lastly, I got the cheesecake. The bomb! No complaints about the service. I will definitely be back. It's a very young adult restaurant. I gotta try the hibachi next time!
(5)
Noreen W.
What a pleasant surprise! I usually tend to stay away from the Federal Hill restaurant scene, it's just not my cup of tea but I will have to break that rule because of Nami. I wasn't expecting much to be honest. It seemed like an average run of the mill sushi place after looking at their website. I like my sushi more on the simple side with not too much frou frou. Service upon entry was very friendly. I ordered the shrimp gyoza, passion roll, toro maki and salmon sashimi. The passion roll was fantastic especially if you like it spicy. The toro roll was simple but really nice with a touch of scallion. I loved the shrimp gyoza, homeade and great. All the sushi was super fresh and delicious. Great attentive service and it's really nice to see a new sushi place around town. Will be back!
(4)
Michelle J.
Great sushi! We had a friendly waiter and he was verrrry patient with us. My new favorite cocktail: Cucumber Collins. I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)
Sarah K.
I have been to Nami at least four times, now. The atmosphere is refreshingly different from any other restaurant in Providence. It is classy and very laid back. Their bar is clean, tidy, and beautiful. The tables have couches for seats and are oh so comfortable! Whenever I have gone, I have ordered at least 8 different dishes (apps, sushi, entree) on each visit! The portions are far from filling, but I love the variety of flavors and I know when i go to eat I will be spending a minimum of $150 for just two people. Of course, many people may not order as much. But I've ordered about 1/2 the items on the menu so far. My first two visits were great and my servers were personable and made great suggestions. And they knew their food! The real disappointment occurred upon my last two visits. These servers had virtually no knowledge of the menu, no one looked over the dishes being sent out, and no one knew how to handle the tiny problems. My last two servers had no idea what I was ordering, even when I was reading dishes' names verbatim from the menu. Then, when some of my dishes arrived, I kindly pointed out to the server that there were ingredients missing, NOT garnishes, that were clearly written as part of the dishes in the menu. Mistakes and oversight happen, but my server looked at me with confusion instead of taking my dish to the chef. She stalled for a while before bringing what she Thought was missing, on a side dish. And it wasn't right.. The chef didn't complete some of my dishes and the server did not even notice. My best example is the Smoked Salmon Roll that consists of only 3 main things - salmon, cheese, and the greens (spinach/microspring) and then they drizzle some sauces on the dish (different all the time but that's alright). The greens add a crisp taste and texture to the wonderfully, simple dish, but the server was very confused as to what I was asking for. And this happens far too often at this point. The dishes are very inconsistent and the servers lack proper knowledge. And then the patron looks crazy for asking why the dishes don't match the description. For the size and price of the dishes, they NEED to pay attention and respond appropriately. This place has so much potential and they need to pay attention to their menu and dishes. One server even gave me an attitude at our table of 3. Great food on majority of occasions. . Service Either great or atrocious. Better service and menu knowledge at their Bar, but sometimes we just want a table. Dishes I recommend: Any of their chef special rolls Duck wrapped in apple and bacon with mash potato entree Chilean Sea bass entree
(3)
Wow K.
Nami is perhaps not the most authentic Japanese restaurant, but nonetheless is one of the better ones in Providence. Their a la carte menu is not very impressive, featuring "fusion" dishes. The hibachi, however, was quite superb - definitely the highlight of the experience and a reason to return. There was a good variety of meats and seafood, which were very fresh, tender, and well-cooked. It also came with fried rice and sauteed vegetables, which complimented the entrees well. The service was also good and friendly.
(3)
Jonathan H.
Went here for drinks this past weekend and was very impressed, the restaurant is very well designed, high end finishes everywhere, great ambiance. Drinks were good, I had the Red Dragon. The red sangria was the best I have ever had, would definitely recommend that drink. We sat at the bar and the two bartenders were very attentive and quick. Also had an eel and avocado roll that was delicious and the others with me had fresh oysters which they said were great. Will definitely be returning to try out the entrees sometime soon.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Iris S.
Came here after work and was blown away by how great this restaurant was. The ambiance is very chic and up scale. The servers were very attentive and great at explaining the menu. We started out with drinks. I had the Nami drink and it was UNBELIEVABLE. Definitely worth the 20 dollar price tag. I had to share it with 2 other people because it was just the largest drink ever. The couple we were with didn't like some of the combinations for drinks, so the bartender made them a custom drink. It was also great! For our main course, we shared a toro scallion roll (very fresh), eel avo (always a classic), and the passion roll. The passion roll was definitely the star of the night! thinking of it makes me salivate! My goal was to find a sushi restaurant since I moved from the New Jersey/ New York area. This will definitely be my go to sushi restaurant. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Debbie A.
Beautiful place, food was awesome and the staff was super friendly. The ONLY reason I'm giving it four stars is because the prices were a bit steep for what we got. I'm from CT - so maybe it's just because it's in Federal Hill... But my sushi roll was 4$ more than the same exactly thing I get in CT. Just bring the extra 20$ I would say - definitely worth going to though!
(4)Ingred S.
If homegirl believed in reincarnation, Nami's spicy scallop roll would positively be my NEXT life. Delicate yet robust, spicy and fresh, homegirl obviously fits the bill. Homegirl has got to pay homage to Nami's customer service. I had called in my reservation and inquired about birthday celebrations and was given plenty of options regarding cake, singing etc. When the special time had arrived the birthday homeboy was so very surprised. The birthday cake of choice was the chocolate torte. If Michaelangelo had tasted this back in the day we would have had ourselves a very different picture above our heads in the Sistine Chapel. The Hand of God would have been dippin his pointer finger into some some velvety chocolate torte.
(5)Eric C.
The BF and I had been searching for a new restaurant. Since we finally had a night together to explore something new, we opted to find a new Japanese restaurant that we haven't been to yet. We have our favorites already around the Providence area but we wanted to see what else the town had to offer. Sushi Yama was closed so we went for the next highest rated place and that was Nami in Federal Hill. I have seen this place many times before. It's brightly lit and always had people inside which is always a good indication that this place must have good stuff. When you walk in you'll notice that there is the bar area and another section that is partitioned off for Teppanyaki. I asked about their entertainment dinners and unfortunately they don't have a chef that does that right now so that section remains closed for the time being. They have an extensive menu of things that you normally expect from a Japanese restaurant including seaweed salads, gyoza and your common sashimi/sushi choices. We tried our usual which includes the sashimi mixed platter with assorted maki. The food came quickly and nicely decorated on interesting looking platters (fresh flowers from your neighborhood markets and lights). They had toro sushi so naturally we ordered that. The salmon was spectacular but the toro which usually is an easy winner did not taste particularly fresh. In general the maki and sashimi were fine. I also ordered the nabemono which is vermicelli noodle soup in a large clay pot. It actually tasted pretty good but for $24? If that were $10 then I would come away saying that wasn't a bad meal but I don't think that my overall experience there was worth a total of $90. That's where the numbers got docked. If you are looking for my favorite places to go for Japanese food around here then I would say: 1. Sashimi: Ran Zan (Providence), Sushi Yama (Providence) 2. Japanese Noodle Dishes: Ken's Ramen (Providence), Ebisu (Providence) 3. Fancy over the top: Oishii (Boston)
(3)Dominic W.
Nami is a great sushi place down town and the service was incredible. Seriously, on the point. The waiter was super nice, gave each of us extra eel sauce and spicy mayo, and made the entire experience excellent. The rolls were also quite delicious - the fish was very fresh, and the amount wasn't too skimp-y either! My only critique is the spider roll, which is very well-priced, but the fried soft shell crab was soggy. This makes me think it was fried perhaps in the morning or the night before. Other than that roll, everything else was amazing. We got the passion roll (super spicy!), yellow tail, salmon (our basics for fresh fish), etc. They also have $6 drinks - can't go wrong with that! ;) I would definitely come back here for sushi, and hope that next time the spider roll will be fried fresh so we can bump this to five stars!!
(4)Arezu M.
The place looks pretty and has very good reviews and that's why me and my partner on our way to cape cod stopped by at Nami for a sushi lunch (as we both love sushi). We ordered Samurai and Butterfly bento boxes. To make the long story short two hours after leaving the restaurant we started to feel sick in our stomachs. And we have been sick for two days during our vacation now which is very annoying. I had never got sick before from eating sushi in other places. I believe serving bad food to people by a restaurant is the ultimate irresponsibility by the management and the kitchen staff. I called them and talked to the manager (her name was Linda) she made all the excuses to avoid this responsibility! I am very disappointed and will file official complaint with the health department (not for me as I won't go back there. To prevent other people from getting sick by eating at this restaurant!)
(1)Rafael A.
Great environment, excellent service, good food. Try the Fire Island Roll, is very unique!
(5)Queenie L.
I love this place... a lot! They have the best omakase in town, quality food with good price. And don't be shy to tell them if you prefer more sashimi, which is more authentic but i know it's not for everybody, or more rolls, if you are not a fan of raw fish. Love the idea of being spontaneous! My husband and I love to sit on the sushi bar enjoying our omakase, watching the chefs preparing food, every single plate is a piece of art. The presentation is awesome, food is delicious, sashimi is so fresh and well prepare, we always have a great time dining there.
(5)Aaron K.
We were looking for something other then Italian in Providence (just our luck huh?) and found Nami through Yelp. The complimentary valet was convenient as there is a little alley next to the restaurant you can just pull in to. The food and drink was quite good. We ordered a pitcher of sangria to start (34$!). While expensive there was almost 8 glasses worth in there. The pitcher was more like a tub. It was refreshing and tasty. The sushi was great. Rolls were packed with fish and had just a small amount of rice, yet the rolls were still LARGE. Bigger than most sushi places. The combinations were all good, our favorites being the passion and samurai rolls. The octopus ceviche was also pleasing with fruit which paired surprisingly nicely. The service was also great, fun to talk to and checked on each course and drink. If we get back to Providence and are craving sushi we'll be back.
(4)Amar G.
The atmosphere here is great! Almost unparalleled here in RI. The sushi is wonderful as well. Enjoyed live music as we ate. Very nice place
(4)Neha S.
Nami makes a great first impression. It's classy (even the bathrooms are nice!) and clean, with great servers. They also have great starter salads. The avocado salad with sesame dressing is THE BOMB. I'd ask for extra dressing on the side because I felt there wasn't enough of it, but this was a delicious salad that cost very little! Unfortunately, Nami didn't finish out strong for me, which is why I have to give it a two-star rating. While I enjoyed my "rock" shrimp, it was really nothing you couldn't make yourself out of a package of breaded shrimp from Costco. I also didn't enjoy my spider roll: the crab was supremely mushy, implying that it had been sitting for quite awhile after frying. I might come back for a second try, especially as this place is so popular on yelp. I confess that I'm not a fan of crazy rolls like the kind Nami specializes in, so maybe that had something to do with it?
(2)Margaret G.
I had heard a few horror stories in the past about the service at Nami. I figured there would be a certain element of snobbery being a new restaurant on The Hill but I finally stopped in to watch a friend perform (check out Becky Bass on facebook y'all shes awesome) and have a little dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite of those stories. We started with some cocktails which were very tasty and strong. Our server was very friendly and made suggestions that were helpful in making dinner decisions. I decided on a teriyaki chicken dish which was well priced with a huge portion and sooo flavorful. One friends entree was going to come out a little late because the server forget to put it in after his appetizer and she offered the table a round of drinks on her, we politely declined (which now that I think about it, what was wrong with us?!?) because we understand these things happen and it came out literally 4 minutes later. The ambience is very nice. A fully stocked bar with lots of fun cocktail specials. I would visit Nami again.
(4)Kristen M.
Providence doesn't have traditional happy hours (I'm still coming to terms with this after living here for five years) and although they are advertised by many restaurants, the happy hour only applies to discounted food. Listen, I'll take what I can get. Nami has a decent selection for their "happy hour," $1 oysters, $3 rolls, $5 apps so a few friends and I went in last Tuesday to check it out. Synopsis? The sushi we ordered from the happy hour menu was mediocre, crab rangoons were ah-mazing and the oysters were really fresh. I guess my disappointment came from the sushi since it's a Japanese restaurant. If that was better I would be there weekly. I wouldn't not come back for happy hour here but might try out a few other places before making my return.
(3)Abby C.
We came on a quiet Monday night to Nami. As soon as we walked in you could tell that the owner truly cares about this restaurant. The detail in the decor is gorgeous. There is a large bar, 2 hibachi tables and a small sushi bar. It's cozy without feeling too tight. The booths are very roomy too. We opted to sit at a booth. Our server (I believe Jonathan) was great. He was professional, knowledgeable and timely. He gave us enough time to review the menu, without pushing us. We ended up trying the crab rangoon. OMG so flavorful! The combination of parmesan and the filling was out of this world. I would definitely order these in the future. We then ordered the passion roll, crunchy tuna and bowl of udon noodles. The noodles were super filling and the rolls were pretty big compared to other places we've been to around RI. All in all, it was a great, quiet meal. I would definitely go again.
(4)J. L.
I love sashimi and very particular about it. That says the qaulity and freshness of fishes, the size and shape of each piece (the size can be too big or small and the cut cannot be thick or thin) The sashimi dishes (Sashimi Dulex and Chirashi) were right in all my spec. The presentation was the extra .5 star. We also had the specials: the roll with lobster and avocado and Toro tartai ($12). They are all good. I will go back for sure.
(5)Jessica T.
This place is one of our favorite restaurants. Their sushi quality is pretty amazing. I have been to many sushi restaurants in Rhode Island, and their service and food never disappointed us. I have tried many different dish at Nami and they were all great. Try happy hour, their fresh $1dollar oysters and $3 dollar rolls will not let you down. We go here weekly and will continue to do so. Their balance and favors are top notch (4-5 star).
(5)Oki P.
Coming from Boston, Nami is one of my favorite restaurants ever and better than most japanese restaurants in boston. Ive tried alot of dishes on the menu and they never fail to disappoint. Every bite is a suprise which keeps you coming back for more. I find it rare to come by a good japanese restaurant which serves innovative sushi rolls with the perfect punch and crunch. Exciting nirigi and sashimi choices with the avaliability of uni, toro, live scallops although the restaurant fares better with the sushi rolls and main choices such as steak taste wise. The steak is a gem which took me by complete suprise because i would never expect it to taste better than most steakhouses. Nami also has one of the best mashed potatoes ive ever had in my life!
(5)Gregory B.
Ay least in my opinion...best sushi in providence. For the second time I've eaten a platter of sushi and sashimi with warm sake. It was prefect. My friend and I weren't thrilled with the live music, but that's more personal taste than a reflection on the restaurant. I encourage everyone to try it. Plus, they're occasionally on Groupon so weather you're a first timer or a regular there is always a reason to go.
(5)Richard H.
Providence is known to house some of the best food in New England. For a restaurant to stand out among this crowd of the bests says something about the restaurant. Nami has met and exceeded these expectations as their decor and ambiance is luxurious with fair prices that could meet the average budget. I've tried all of the Nami rolls so far and they're all unique, flavorful, and packed with fresh fish that melts gloriously in your mouth. Their happy hour specials are even more affordable and still as delicious. Their mixed drinks are also at the top as they serve high quality Asian liquors with sweet additions like lychee which is hard to find around here. Is this place worth a try? Yes go check it out and get hooked like I am!
(5)Kevon T.
Just a quick follow-up to my previous review. I give it 5 stars now because the service was MUCH better these past two times I've gone. The food has remained consistently outstanding (best crab cake in RI. Period). My only critique now is that the specialty martinis are just okay. I'm steering clear of those from now on and just getting a Sapporo beer. I'm looking forward to our next visit to Nami, though!
(5)Sonia G.
I had a Groupon for Nami, which is why I decided to venture out of my Providence sushi-comfort zone (Sakura on Wickenden). Short story: Meh, not worth it. Long story: The interior of Nami is lovely, but the music is played quite loudly. Perhaps because our table was next to the bar? We were seated quickly at a table by the window, which was nice. The place is huge and beautifully decorated into smaller sections, including a two-grill hibachi table. Perhaps I'd consider venturing back for the cooked food, but the appetizer and sushi my boyfriend and I split left a lot of be desired. We had the pork belly sliders which were just boring. Steamed bun with pork belly and some lettuce. Meh. I expected a little more effort, maybe a sauce? Or some pickled vegetables? The pork was as bland and boring as the steamed bun. I expect boringness out of a steamed bun, but it's accompanied by the hope that what's inside will be delicious. This was just...like I said: meh. The seaweed on the sushi was chewy. I hated sushi for a long time because of chewy seaweed - imagine my surprise when I had good sushi for the first time and lo and behold, you didn't have to gnaw and gag over it! We split the samurai roll and the passion roll. The scallop in the samurai was nice and tender and tasted very fresh, but the seaweed! The rolls were $14 each, which is far more than I pay for any sort of special roll at the sushi place I usually go to. Taking a look at the menu, I also noted that the miso soup is $6, and so is the edamame. That struck me as a bit high - when we got the bill, we realized that we had spent as much as we would have at our regular spot, for probably half as much food. I'm not one much to venture to Federal Hill anyway, and I certainly won't be making the effort to go there for overpriced mediocre food. Service was perfectly fine, our waitress was nice and attentive, offering suggestions when asked, and checking back in frequently enough for us to know we weren't forgotten, but not excessive or intrusive. So I guess one star for a nice interior, one star for nice service, and three stars off for mediocre yet expensive food, and noise.
(2)Rachel P.
I think Nami is fantastic for a date or a night out with friends. The decor of the restaurant is clean and modern. The front doors face Atwell's Ave and open up to provide an outdoor dining feel, with great people watching benefits. Nami provides unique specials, fresh fish, and a fantastic bar. I consider it a treat to go there, and it is open late so if you work nights it is a great late night dinner or drink option.
(4)Casey S.
Delicious rolls and good service. I would recommend this place to others who like the simplistic classic rolls and also to those who like to stretch and get the special rolls.
(4)Gigi P.
Food and service was great. Large portions on the sushi rolls that were expertly made. Udon noodles were very tasty. The fried ice cream was different and tasted fantastic. Service was what you should get in a restaurant. Spot on. Decor was nice and the booths were comfortable.
(5)Neal F.
My friend had a Groupon so a group of us went today. None of us were expecting much but we were all really impressed with the food. The fried rice was great, and wasn't greasy. The sushi was very fresh and the service was great. I will definitely come back here and I think I found a new place for take out when I want sushi and fried rice at home.
(4)Shelly E.
Absolutely amazing. I had the best crab rangoon and the best scallops I've ever had here. I also had sake sangria, which was fantastic. The other four people I was with all had amazing food as well. One of my friends ordered a drink that he didn't like and the waitress had no problem taking it back and taking it off the bill. This place was perfect.
(5)Neal D.
Very cool looking ambiance, great and interesting maki rolls, attentive service and reasonably priced. Don't be scared off by the fact that it's on Federal Hill and not Italian. We went with a Groupon and will go back without one.
(4)suzy m.
Great service & food. The eel sashimi is to die for!
(5)Amy O.
So I saw an ad for Nami and my husband and I decided it looked like it was worth checking out. we decided to order takeout including their version of crab Rangoon (which came in a much harder outer shell than the traditional kind) and was a little disappointed. the tuxedo roll, however, was delicious, and the fried rice with chicken was pretty good too. to be honest, I probably would have given this more stars if not for two crappy experiences: while waiting in my parked car for my husband to grab the takeout the first time, I was apparently parked in a way that blocked someone from getting into a parking space behind the restaurant. rather than politely motioning for me to move, he proceeded to scream profanities at me that I was in his "****ing" way and stared me down as he walked through the rear entrance of Nami. I assumed he was a guy having a crappy day and going in for a drink....until the second time I ordered takeout but went inside myself..this is when I saw the man with the temper was actually the manager, and him and the hostess were arguing with each other at the hostess stand rather than tending to me wanting to pay for my takeout. it's a shame that we will never patronize this restaurant again because we have seen the type of person who runs the place and don't want them getting a penny from us. you're better off going to Ichiban in Cranston for people who truly care about your business and your experience at their restaurant.
(2)Jamy L.
I am absolutely amaze at how beautiful this restaurant is. Honestly too beautiful for fedhill. They have so many selections of wines and sake. Their bar is so lovely with windows that open up and the breeze flows into the restaurant. " Ideal for summer". I am also at awe at how beautiful their food presentation is, and for the price? Its so worth it, when you receive great service and great food. Their shrimp tempura batter was just exquisite. I've eaten many shrimp tempura's and the batter is normally mediacore and pale yellow, but their shrimp tempura batter was golden and crispy. Mmm i can still taste it while writing this. Also their beef negimaki is so delicious and different. The presentation was so pretty i was afraid to eat it. They also serve bread with this tangy yummy yogurt sauce and green curry on the side for dipping. I know bread at a Japanese restaurant? Lol, But it was good and i can't complain. My only real complaint is how dim the lights were and there weren't any candles to help us see. If the lighting is going to be dimmed. I think they should invest in some candles. It would create a more romantic atmosphere. However, overall this place has so much potential. We will be coming back Nami!
(5)Wendy S.
Great sushi, ambience, and tasteful interior design. The Tuxedo and Passion Nami rolls I had were delicious. Would definitely come here again!
(5)B M.
Went to Nami because we were looking for a late-night dinner on a Thursday (wish late-night eating was easier in PVD during the week!) I'm glad we tried this place, even though the Federal Hill vibe isn't really our scene. The decor for the most part is really lovely. They could put a bit more attention into the bar area, which is a bit tacky compared to the rest of the place, and I'm not a fan of sports games playing in a restaurant. If I want to watch tv while I eat, I'll order take out. Service was attentive. The fusion concept isn't terribly well executed- for starters, they bring you bread with curry sauce. You can also get a side of mashed potatoes with your sushi. That's not fusion, that's just random. BUT, the gyoza starter is crispy and very flavorful, and the rolls (we ordered a bunch from the standard roll selection, not the pricey ones) were really nice, and very reasonably priced. I especially recommend the spicy salmon crunch and the tuna avocado. Absolutely worth trying for a different kind of sushi experience, not totally sure I'd come back and less I get a craving for their gyoza!
(4)Betha L.
Eh.. I wasn't blown away. The sushi was good.. The drinks were good. The service was good. But nothing special?! It's a very pretty place. A bit overpriced for no wow factor however. I have to keep it real. I keep hearing friends rave that they love it here- I just don't get it.
(3)Laurie B.
I went here with my two friends for dinner after they had just opened. The waiter switched my friends sushi and we didn't realize till they finished eating. The waiter neglected to edit the bill for HIS mistake. My miso soup and sushi rolls were good but overall the service was poor.
(3)David W.
The prime rib here is the best on the hill. I love the mashed potatoes too. Who knew that you could go to a Japanese restaurant and get a great steak that will make your mouth water. Everything about this place is amazing from the Decour to the food to the experience with the staff five stars all the way
(5)Tony G.
very good. I cant wait to go back. food and service was excellent.
(4)Laura A.
YUMMY!!! We were there for a wedding reception so I don't remember all the appetizers that were floating around.. but they were all delicious, the fried rice was too, as was the surf and turf. The wine was flowing, too. Definitely come here!
(5)Bethany S.
Right in the heart of the land of Italian restaurants, this is a gem of a sushi restaurant! They have a great happy hour menu where the food is cheap, but the quality is still top notch. They also frequently have groupon deals that a good on weekdays. The sushi is delicious with great quality and portions and the presentation is always fun and interesting. The appetizers and drinks are awesome too. The sangria is delicious, but don't try to finish a pitcher with only two people! They also have complitmentary parking, so don't worry about trying to find a spot on Federal Hill (which can be a nightmare in itself). They also have hibatchi, although I have never tried it here. I have only been on weeknights, so I'm not sure how busy it gets on the weekend, but I imagine making reservations would be a good idea.
(5)Andrea T.
Nami was absolutely delicious! Found them on Yelp and could not be happier that I ended up going. The service was phenomenal and the sushi was even better. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)Lisa D.
What a wonderful place! After a tough morning at work, a colleague said, "I need sushi." Off we went to try Nami based on Yelp reviews. I loved everything from the sophisticated decor to the fine quality food. I will surely be back
(5)David S.
Overall very solid. Went on a friday night and was surprised that it wasn't more busy. Atmosphere is pleasant and a bit on the trendy side. Waitor was excellent. Very courteous, explained the menu, and made some good recommendations. The rolls were pretty large. My wife and I are big eaters and we couldn't finish 4 rolls. Cocktails were very good. Would definitely recommend this place for just drinks. Sushi was good, but not amazing. Would definitely go back.
(4)DJ Micaiah M.
We strolled into this place before a concert at the Providence center. There was a couple playing smooth Pop and Jazz music which sounded great. The Pork belly sliders had too much fat connected to the meat. But every time we got up off of our seats we came back to find our napkins nicely folded into an origami-like hat! The soft shelled crab was great and I had the special Poseidon sushi which was excellent as well!
(5)Alexandra O.
Nami is beautiful inside! Would be a great place for a large group. We sat in front of the sushi bar - sushi chefs are very talented. Everything was delicious ! We tried some hot appetizers and sushi rolls. Beautiful presentations, chefs were engaging and server was very friendly. Will definitely be back.
(5)Yaretsy J.
First of all I want to say I have never written anything negative about any restaurant, coming from that industry myself I always try to understand that things happen. Me and my friend have been coming here for a while. Dinner and lunch, we have been here so many times! Our waitress was great and willing to grab the manager for us the FIRST time we found a hair on top of my sushi roll. I proceeded to order another roll and we decided to get more oysters to share. That's when we found the second hair. To find hair twice in your food is almost unheard of. Me and my friend both have long hair, mine blonde hers red. The hair found in our food was short and black. Long story short the manager came over screaming and said the hair didn't come from their kitchen and we were trying to get food for free. As stated previously we work in restaurants, fine dining to be exact, we would NEVER do anything of that nature. To even imply that we had such intentions is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. We didn't eat our food, out of disgust and disappointment so what would be the point of "getting it for free". We just wanted a manager to talk about it and to let her know what was going on. We never said we wanted anything for free. The way she approached the situation was immature, unprofessional and straight up rude. We had no cash so we left without paying but still made sure we came back the same night and tipped our waitress. Needless to say we will never be coming back here.
(2)Mark D.
One of my favorite sushi places in the area. I've been all over trying to find good sushi from Newport r.i to taunton ma. This is second in my opinion only better place is Turks in Mattapoisett. Great atmosphere and Great wait staff.
(5)Jordan A.
I really enjoyed Nami- everything about it. If you love sushi and a great atmosphere then this place is for you. The interior is GORGEOUS. Nice leather furniture with bamboo walls surrounding the dining room. In addition to the dining room, there's a bar area and sushi bar. Everything I had was amazing including drinks. Nami has a great menu. I've only had a few rolls and an appetizer here but the menu offers more than that and it all sounds appealing including hibachi. I've had the calamari appetizer, heartbreaker, firecracker, and king's throne rolls- all excellent and very unique. A nice bonus is with your sushi you're served a side of eel sauce and spicy mayo. The service was good too. My friend and I sat at the bar. It was her birthday and since she didn't have room for cake, the bartender gave us each birthday cake shots! Tip: Dont make the mistake of paying to park- there's even a free lot in the back!
(5)Hilary H.
Nami is a fantastic addition to the PVD sushi scene. With a bit more style and sleekness than the other options in town and a modern menu, this sushi and habachi restaurant has filled a void that's been missing for a long time. As I always am when trying a new sushi place, I had my reservations - freshness and taste are crucial for me, so I tend to get nervous when trying new places that serve raw fish. But my fears were totally unnecessary as these rolls were not only fresh as could be and delicious, they were beautiful, generously sized and reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. The Passion Roll ($15) in particular was the scene stealer, although the tuna pepper avocado ($5) was fabulous, as was the crunchy salmon ($5). We also ordered the Heartbreaker ($15) which featured a lot of wasabi, which I'm not too keen on but my husband loved. I started with the house salad which is $7 and HUGE - I mean, at least four times the size of what you normally get at a sushi restaurant. Amazing portion aside, the salad was loaded with fresh greens, sprinkled with mellow pinenuts and dressed in an amaaaaaaaaaay-zing sesame dressing. The avocado salad is the same thing for the same price, just topped with sliced avocado - a lot of it. You can also opt to get either with a ginger dressing, but you'd be missing out if you didn't try the sesame. Seriously. The service was perhaps the best I've had at a restaurant on Federal Hill, in a sushi restaurant and maybe on the West Side. OUr server was warm, helpful, friendly and happy to make suggestions - she's actually the one who recommended the sesame dressing and I knew I had to try it when she admitted she thought about that dressing even when she was at home. I can understand why. Nami itself is gorgeous and reminds me so much of the sushi restaurants you find in California - sophisticated, elegant and modern. The music was a tad loud, but it went along with the slightly clubby theme. The dining room is lovely, warm and dim, but we sat in the bright, bustling bar area in a booth that was comfy and pretty, too. I look forward to going back to Nami, as I am certainly adding it into the rotation of go-to dining spots around the city.
(5)Michael M.
This was by far one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to. Sangria was served in one of the fanciest pitchers I've ever had the pleasure of holding. We also got a mini tree served with our plate that looked like it was placed in a carrot...unfortunately we couldn't take it with us. The general manager Manny stopped by to check on us and was very courteous. 5 stars
(5)Stephanie R.
I really thought I already wrote a review for my favorite sushi place, but I guess I didn't yet. I'm absolutely in love with Nami. I visit probably around once a month. The sweet potato tempura & dragonfly rolls are the best! Really good Avocado salad with ginger dressing & miso soup as well. Nami is freakin delicious!
(5)Nicole R.
After giving Nami two more tries I have become a convert. The sushi I've gotten has been fresh and tasty. The lychee sake is now officially my favorite and the service is friendly and attentive. Keep up the great work Nami!
(4)Shirley Stephanie P.
My second time here...INCREDIBLE sushi..crab rangoon to die for...tasty drinks...clean decor. Next time I'll use valet or find street parking rather than pay for the lot across the street.
(4)Austin K.
Best meal I've had in a long while. The sushi is solid, but not otherworldly. I recommend the spicy crab roll. Absolutely delicious. Big winner was the fried cheesecake. Not as filling as you'd think and a great contrast to the light and salty asian flavor.
(5)Dayna M.
Excellent atmosphere, great food, excellent dining experience. I would recommend it highly!
(5)J. Charles S.
This place is delicious. If you are in Prov and want sushi.... Go here. Nice ambience, delicious food and good service. A little pricy but worth it. I'll be back
(5)Jennifer H.
I was really between four and five stars on this review, but I decided on four simple due to selection. Sushi is one cuisine where I like overwhelming options, because sometimes I like to be adventurous and try something I've never seen before. Nami has options, but they it is a reserved selection. What they do offer is a beautiful setting with quality food. The service is seamless from beginning to end -- starting with the complimentary valet (although, I did go on a Wednesday night, when the Sox were in the World Series, so this could vary on a busy weekend night). Then, as soon as I walked through the door, I was struck by the streamlined but stunning space. I'm a sucker for trendy yet classic decor, and that is the perfect description for Nami. I was a little miffed that my chopsticks had splinters, however! We started with the yellowtail ceviche appetizer and were startled at the presentation: pieces of yellowtail sashimi laid in soy sauce and topped with a jalapeno and roe. As a selective sashimi consumer, I actually really liked this dish. The yellowtail was fresh, and the jalapeno added just the right amount of spice. The portion is generous enough to share between two to four people depending on your appetite. For my entree, I ordered the spicy tuna crunch maki and the salmon and avocado maki. I always order spicy tuna when trying a new sushi restaurant because it gives me a nice comparison standard. The crunch aspect was certainly different, but I did like the roll. It wasn't overly spicy or oozing with that bright orange spicy mayonnaise like a lot of spicy tuna rolls. The salmon and avocado roll was simple and fresh, as you would expect. At $5 a piece, I thought the pricing was reasonable as well. I think Nami is a great date spot or a place to chill in the bar area with a drink and some sushi. Definitely take advantage of the valet because the location is right in the middle of the Federal Hill madness.
(4)Daryl H.
Some of the best sushi in providence. The owner is very friendly and is always around, food is always more than you can eat and as fresh as it gets! Different sushi specials all the time.
(4)Katie J.
Everything was really good and their sushi portions seem bigger than most places I've seen. They have more vegetarian rolls than I've ever seen anywhere else. The booths are little couches that are very comfy. I definitely want to go back again soon!
(4)Ian J.
After one trip to Nami, I've paid over $100 for $80 worth of food. Groupon makes sense for new restaurants. Easy marketing tool. Restaurant gets a ton of cash upfront. But management refused to honor our Groupon ($30 cost for $60 of food) because our bill did not have four diners, just two. What is the difference if we have four people or not --- all Groupons offered by Nami were for 50 cents on the dollar. I thought Nami was trying to attract a client base that would promote its restaurant and entice us to come back for more? Nami screwed me for $30, assuming I'd come back again to use the $30 credit and spend more of my money in their restaurant. But I'm not going back. If Nami were the only sushi place in town, I'd get it. But it's not. Take the $30 I paid you (and the $60 you owe me) and shove it, Nami.
(1)Alex A.
Delicious!!! The omakase family style was great. Brought out plenty options. My family and I enjoyed it all. My one complaint is that everything wasn't brought out all together. Will be back again!!!
(5)Claudio B.
This restaurant was pretty amazing. The service was exceptional and the atmosphere was very relaxed and eclectic. We were able to relax, talk and have some of those amazing drinks and the sushi was just exquisite. This is definitely a place that I will be returning to and trying new things off of their menu.
(5)Diane M.
My daughter and I went here,on a groupon I had purchased. We were greeted immediately and given a choice of whatever table we wanted, as the restaurant was not full at that time. Because we are not a fan of raw sushi, the waitress gave us some options, which we took her up on her. I ordered the tempura shrimp and my daughter ordered the king's throne, with a side of sauteed asparagus. Everything was so yummy. The combination of mango,avocado and lobster had us fighting each other for the last bite. And the asparagus was so good, we got an order to go. Additionally, the decor is eye candy. We loved our waitress,Cindy, and she aimed to please. This place is a keeper!
(4)Shari W.
On federal Hill, this Japanese sushi restaurant is trendy and highly staffed. There were more people working in the restaurant than eating in the restaurant; 2 at the front,1 bar tender, 2 at the sushi bar, 3 waitresses, 1 bus boy, 1 lady over seeing the whole thing. I have no idea how many more were in the kitchen. And a valet. Love the complimentary valet! We had calamari to start. Nothing special; a little too spicy for me. Then we had a Nami tune tartar. This was the best thing of the night! Followed up by a tune and avocado roll, a spicy crunchy tuna, a sweet potato roll, a masago and a tamago. The tuna was a deep red. The reddest tuna I have ever seen. While it was excellent in the tartar, it was not a smooth in the tuna and avocado roll. The tamago was a little rubbery. The masago was excellent. All in all they get an extra star for comfortable chairs and they lose a star for their pretentious airs.
(3)Mark P.
Great quality food. I go here frequently for lunch or happy hours since I work one block over. Personally, I think they have the best happy hour on the hill...particularly the $1 raw bar that is really high quality. They also seem to add an extra touch to the food (delicious mushrooms in the miso soup for instance). The servers are very nice too. The place is extremely clean and well presented. You can tell that they take pride in their establishment.
(5)Melanie J.
Came here with my boyfriend and another couple this past weekend. The scorpion bowls were on point. The Crab Rangoon is to die for and unlike any I've had before. They top it with a creamy sauce and what looked like grated Parmesan cheese. DELICIOUS. We all split the $75 sushi platter. It had a little bit of everything and gave us the opportunity to try new things we otherwise probably wouldn't have ordered. I can honestly say, this is the best sushi I've had in Rhode Island so far. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable on what each roll was. You could tell that the sushi chefs put a lot of time and effort into not only making it delicious but also making the plate pleasing to the eye. Delicious! The atmosphere was also classy and clean. I will be back!
(4)Andrew V.
Terrible service. Server forgot several things we ordered then lied about it trying to convince us to trust him that he had it right. Then he didn't bring back our credit card. These people will hire anyone?
(2)Amy L.
The sushi is good, the service is good and the amount/frequency of water refills is obnoxious. Just leave me a pitcher and stop interrupting my meal. I never go here without a Groupon because there is always one to offer so why spend the extra money.
(3)Steve S.
This is a restaurant where the style of the building builds upon the presentations of the meals as they are delivered to the table. Knowledgeable staff is willing to go the extra step to make the customer happy. The only thing needing managements input is the existing Japanese steak tables that are currently out of service due to a faulty back draft exhaust system. Portions are large and the have an extensive bar to make the common Manhattan (wonderful) to a copious list of speciality drinks. They have great specials between 3:30 and 5:30 with $1.00 oysters and great drinks offers. This was my second time to this establishment and I will highly recommend it to my friends
(4)Gregory W.
I want to say thank you to the owner, management and staff for accommodating the needs of my party on such short notice... The event was a huge success and left a lasting impression on all that attended. If you have not tried this restaurant, you are missing a true diamond in the ruff. The food, preparation and professionalism are the best. Thank you again.
(5)Kat K.
Absolutely awesome! Nami is a beautiful restaurant and the food was just fantastic. The sake-sangria was lovely, but the sushi was even better! We will definitely be back again and again!
(5)Xiao Z.
Groupon Review: I really enjoyed the overall decor and the interesting and unique specialty Nami Rolls at this establishment. Given that today was a beautiful summer's day, I actually enjoyed my meals outdoors, and was quite impressed by the frequency and curtsey of the service. The fish were fairly fresh [given we came on a Sat], but the toro and yellowtail with scallion rolls were just a bit bland and tough to chew. That being said, the Pink Lady was very well decorated and had a very subtle, yet enjoyable texture. Overall, this place would have been a 3 star, but with $15 off, it's hard to beat! Food: 3 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Price: 3-4 stars
(4)Shar A.
Ladies and gentleman, there is FINALLY a Japanese restaurant on Federal Hill worth talking about. Coming from Cali, I have been waiting for a sushi place in RI to spark my interest. Nami recently opened last week right on Atwells. The exterior begs upscale and the inside delivers. Great interior design, modern, fresh, and great for groups. There are only two hibachi tables which some may find odd but I found to be just enough to be exciting. Staff is courteous and eager to please. Owner is on site and very sociable. Great back story, just ask. Food....very satisfied with the rolls. The BEST roll was a $5 pepper tuna avocado roll. The cuts of tuna were huge and the pepper added such an amazing smokiness to the roll. I could eat that roll for days. Another $5 roll included the spicy salmon roll. Yummy! We also ordered the specialty Tuxedo roll with tempura shrimp and spicy tuna. Very tasty and filling at around $14. One of the distinctive characteristics of the sushi was the thin layer of rice used on each roll as well as the presentation (very artsy). Edamame was $6 and so was the garden salad with ginger and the miso soup. I always assume these to be the fast and easy, low cost items to make me happy before I start a sushi dinner. I would have definitely added them to my tab if they were a bit more reasonably priced. Overall, get ready to shell out since most of the specialty apps and rolls are from $10-17, but they are beautifully presented and tasty. As for drinks, a large warm saki was a steal at $7, while flavored cold (thanks for carrying!) run around $17+ per bottle. Pair that with some beer and you should be all set. There are also a lot of interesting saki-tinis worthy of attention. Great place for a date, groups, business, or friends in town. Glad to see a real sushi restaurant on Fed Hill. We look forward to going back and trying more dishes!
(4)Breanna E.
Standard American Japanese food. The miso soup is over priced and they charge you for hot tea! Craziness!
(1)Amanda B.
This place is PRETTY, the decor stops you in your tracks for sure upon entering. The server we had was great, nice, attentive and knowledgeable. However we ordered gyoza and noodles from the kitchen to start that came out cold. The gyoza were still good but the noodles were so bland. Absolutely no taste to them or the chicken in the dish...no good. The sushi however was awesome, fresh and creative. We got the heartbreaker and the tuxedo roll, both really eye catching and delicious. Out of the two the tuxedo was our favorite, worth a try for sure and probably a second try again soon! The sushi bar looked clean for sure, I threw a few buck in their tip fish n owl on the bar and checked it out, no complaints here. Then for dessert, we tried the flour less cake from Pastiche (duh amazing) and the green tea friend ice cream (side note this is my fav and try it everywhere, big disappointment). The fried part was so soggy it was just not edible so I picked around it for the green tea ice cream which was good. I think they have too thick a batter or something because I've never had one so soggy! Very strange, but also the waitress noticed I ate around the friend and didn't comment? Observant table of...? oh not you, whoops! Idk I've worked in several restaurants and if I noticed that i would have asked "oh how was it or was think ok for you ?" But whatever's no big deal, overall the place was good. With a few tweeks they could be a really great, fresh, creative sushi spot in a meatball and mozzarella dominated area.
(3)Lizz W.
I bought a Groupon for Nami the other day and went for dinner last night. They definitely put a lot of money into this place, it is gorgeous on the inside! The booths are legit leather couches, so coool! They even have pretty heavy-duty leather menus, I don't know why but I liked them a lot lol The sushi was great. We tried a shrimp tempura roll, philly roll and california roll. Came out quick, tasted fresh and presentation was on point. The shrimp fried rice was really good also... I only got a glass of wine, but my friend got the lychee-tini. OMG so delicious, you should give that a try!
(4)Morgan W.
I have been here a few times and I always get the chicken teriyaki. The 4 times I have purchased it I have never been disappointed. I myself am a chef so it take a bit more to impress me and they do it every time. The best way I can describe the teriyaki sauce it's like god came down and kissed it. I highly recommend this dish. It's a great place even for a guy like me who isn't into seafood. Although I will give them credit while I was there I saw them clean the sushi station 2 times. I was there for about 2 and a half to three hours. That's more than I can say for other sushi places I've been to.
(5)Joyce A.
Late review but this is one of my fave sushi place in RI. Nice decor, great selection of drinks and yummy rolls. I love the tuxedo rolls
(5)Amanda M.
Been here a couple of times and the sushi is always good, but not memorable. Overpriced in my opinion, but that may be for the ambiance, which isn't really my scene. Went there on a weekend night and they had a terrible vocalist that really killed the mood. We were sitting the furthest away from him we could be but they had the speakers up so high we had to raise our voices to communicate at the table. The servers have always been super friendly though.
(3)A A.
Nami and no other. Love you, thank you for a being a go to place for dates, dinner with my kids, take-out... sashimi sampler appetizer is amazing. There is a GREAT happy hour menu for food at the bar between 4ish and 6ish. Enjoy!
(4)Leslie C.
Ordered Hibachi shrimp for lunch and was disappointed on how tasteless it was. The soup and salad were great. The decor is really trendy along with the music played.
(3)Lex A.
Kinda overpriced, in my opinion... Service can be a bit slow especially on the weekends (typical federal hill circus)... The sushi is about the same as most other providence places... The atmosphere and layout if the restaurant is nice, but that's not quite enough to keep me coming back. Overall, kind of "meh".. Mostly due to price
(2)John L.
Been here quite a few times now and always enjoyed the atmosphere. Always ask for the booths near the liquor or sushi bar since the tables near the host area has a really strong A/C vent that is loud and cold when it kicks on. Besides the booths are so comfortable! It has plenty of leg room and space between you and the table. The decor is something you would find in a sushi restaurant in Vegas. So kudos to Nami! Sushi is excellent and fresh. We always get the fried brown rice dish to go for lunch the next day for work. Definitely one of the best sushi restaurants in RI.
(5)Christine S.
It was my first time at Nami's and I must say I love it! the atmosphere, the service, the menu, the quality of the sushi was overall wonderful. I was quite impressed by the variety of maki rolls in the menu and the 2 types of large scorpion bowl type drinks. They even offer 2 types of dressings for the salads which include sesame and miso. Get the sesame! I look for variety and quality whenever I dine out at sushi spots because I know my "stuff" and I have to say, Nami has all the right "stuff" going on! Many different sushi rolls ranging from $6-18. I enjoyed dining here, *cue terminator voice* "I'll BE BACK!"
(4)Anita B.
I decided to try a new sushi place and Nami had great reviews on Yelp. I found a Groupon which was perfect for a date night with my boyfriend. Walking in, the ambiance was perfect considering the other tacky sushi restaurants around Providence. Our server, Katy, was friendly and engaging all while training another waitress. I ordered a drink that the staff was not familiar with but after telling them the ingredients, they made it perfect. Overall, the sushi was amazing and the quality of the fish was obviously fresh and great. Sashimi tends to weird me out but after trying my boyfriends, I will definitely have it again. I would suggest Nami to anything thinking about going.
(5)Rob K.
Dropped by Nami for dinner with a friend. 'Sushi on Federal Hill?' he said. 'Sushi on Federal Hill', I replied. We're both old sushi pros so it takes quite a bit to impress us and very little done wrong to swear off a place forever. Nami did everything right and is going to be here for the long haul. Every little piece of raw fish was memorable and automatically rated in my top 5 of places I've been from East to West coast. After grazing through the usual miso soup, hamachi, sake, toro and ebi sushi plus a spicy tuna roll, I decided on the fresh scallop sashimi for 'dessert'. Out-of-this-World! It was shucked from a large shelled scallop, sliced into 1/8" slices and laid out in it's own shell for presentation. Ambiance was conversational, stylish with music loud enough to hear but not overpower table conversations. Service was excellent(!) and very attentive. All I had to do was look up for more water, food or the check and the waitress saw me and came right to our table. I would highly recommend Nami and will be back very, very soon for my raw fish fix.
(4)Kevin F.
I am not one for handing out 5 stars but I had one of the best experiences at this place. The bartender is one of the best! Very engaging and entertaining with the crowd. The food is priced fair and fantastic. I strongly recommend the firecracker roll and duck entree.
(5)Ellen G.
I thought this place was great though their menu is a little sparse, and it took a little long to get our sushi (considering the restaurant was only half full on the Wednesday evening we were there). Food was delicious, drinks were okay. I felt like the specialty rolls at this place were pretty interesting, I actually never ordered a specialty roll anywhere because I'm not super adventurous with my sushi, but I got the Celebrity and Tuxedo rolls and they were so good. I'd definitely come back, especially for the happy hour specials everyone else has referenced.
(4)Chan P.
My first time here.. Decor: The restaurant is freaken beautiful. It really took me by surprise at how beautiful it was. The atmosphere is superb! A++ Food: I feel like I can find better sushi at some of my other favorite spots like Haruki or Sakura. For me the sushi rolls were on the larger size..if your like me ..you like your maki rolls to fit in your mouth without having to break them apart ..you just lose the whole sushi experience in my perspective. The rolls were good though but nothing impressive, favors were mediocre, quality was fresh. Appz were good. A friend of mine did recommend I try the entrees. ..next time. Price: Specialty rolls range from 10 to 15 bucks (which I think is normal). They do offer their classic maki rolls at 5 to 6 dollars. Appz were on the pricey side.. Overall, nice spot with mediocre food..Give the place a try. Its worth a try. happy eating! :)
(3)Pauline T.
Where to start about this place! Customer service is by far the worst except for the owner in which actually had some sympathy for for a issue that we had with our food. We had ordered some sashimi and there was either a piece of "fish scale" or plastic, who even knows. So obviously if your eating something raw you expect it to be precise with out any problems. Our server was not pleasant and welcoming. I'm sorry are you in the customer service field since you do work at a Restaurant! Or did you just crawl out of the streets of the not so fortunate, where a YOUR WELCOME is almost graduating you to an advanced grade! I do not usually yelp unless it's terrible.
(1)James M.
The food, service and presentation were all excellent. The decor is also very nice. Our only issue was, the exterior presents itself a bit more as a bar/club. We almost didn't go in and when we did, we were the only people in the dining room. Maybe a slow night, but I think a change to the entrance layout would make the restaurant more welcoming.
(3)Karobi C.
Great sushi and the staff were so nice!!! We will definitely be back. For the marketing side, I have a few suggestions. On the sandwich board put a different description...best sushi in town or sake bombs, whatever to get attention. Lighten up the windows so you can see inside and lose the crystal light at the entrance. Lastly chafe the sign. Black and green to red and black!!! You guys need more business...this place rocks!!!!!
(5)Jose M.
i went for the first time today and it just got put on top of my favorites restaurants. our server Jonathan went above and beyond of what is ask of a waiter. had the crab Rangoon and the calamari for an app is it was very very good, the nami salmon is just out of this world. prices are reasonable. i was so impressed with the service we got. our waiter actually went out of his way to obtain an item that was not on the menu that one of us wanted they just gained a customer for life.
(5)Jacki A.
Well, it is my first time here in Rhode Island. My dad and I are on vacation together and we decided we wanted to eat something that wasn't Italian (like majority of the restaurants in the area). Upon entering, we sat ourselves at the sushi bar. Our waitress came and did the usual drink order, yada yada. While we were deciding, one of the sushi chefs surprised us with a little salad for the both of us (on the house) and it was delicious. It was apples, pears, a little crab meat, a hint of wasabi, and whatever else made it absolutely delicious. Finally we came to a conclusion, we decided to split two rolls of sushi: the tuxedo roll (shrimp tempura, tuna on outside with wasabi sauce, spicy mayo, unagi sauce, and masago), and the pepper tuna roll. Both were probably some of the BEST sushi I've ever had...and sushi is my fave, I eat it a lot. Now to top it off, I decided I was feeling a little adventurous. So for $1, I got a quail egg. It came kind of like a piece of sushi. Sticky rice, masago, and the quail egg on topped... All wrapped in seaweed. Since I had never tried it before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I went all in and it really wasn't anything anybody should be afraid of... Unless the masago freaks you out. I do love the idea of being able to say that I've tried a quail egg! I wish there was somewhere like this around me in the suburbs of Chicago.
(5)Jen G.
I came here for girl's night out with a couple of friends and couldn't have been happier with the experience. First off, complimentary valet is a must for this area so I was thrilled they had it. The decor was awesome and the seats were extremely comfortable. Our waitress, Katie I believe, was knowledgeable and we were impressed how great they were with substitutions. The dips that came with the bread, especially the yogurt dip was ridiculously good. We all opted for classic rolls since they had such a great selection. I've been to several sushi places in the area and I honestly think this was the best AND the most reasonably priced. We each had 3 rolls and drinks and our bill was around $65. We noticed later that there are hibachi tables and a private room, I'm assuming for a large party (20ish people) . I'm glad those options are available. The food and service combined with the great service and atmosphere will make me return really soon.
(5)Raj L.
Unlike our first experience, our second experience to Nami was not quite the same. The food is of good quality. But the manager/owner is extremely rude. She does not have the ability to explain herself properly, or courteously. It's almost as if we were bothering her to come here to eat. Everybody has bad days but this is the second negative experience we have had just particular person. For our part we will not be returning because of her. If somebody from Nami reads this, you should take appropriate actions. She is driving away business.
(1)J K.
Our server Vincent was great, the food was pretty good; however, our overall experience was terrible! The customer is never right when it comes between the manager and her money. She was argumentative when we wanted to split our check. We came in on a sweet jack deal and one of us wanted to use the certificate and the other wanted the happy hour special. The manager said if we had come in separately then it would have been okay then changed her mind and said it didn't matter because you need two people to use a certificate. It just left us with a bad taste in our mouth and with that kind of customer service, the food wasn't worth it.
(2)Ed B.
So here is my story and experience at NAMI ... When they first opened I tried the place out. The food was just OK and the service OK... A year went by and I recently tried it again to have one of the best experiences of all time. I was pleasantly greeted by a gentleman who said he was knew to Nami. After conversing with him about the menu and some of his favorites he seemed proud to be managing such an establishment. After we completed our dinners he came back with a card for our next visit. ( Complimentary Coffee and Dessert). Such a nice gesture. Here comes the disaster. I made a reservation for Mothers Day and immediately notice a bad vibe as I walked in the door. The staff was huddled in a corner and not excited at all to greet us. After being seated we asked for the gentleman that made us come back. He did tell us his name. After describing him to the waitress said " Oh he got fired"... The vibe was gone. The music was low. I felt so uncomfortable on such a special day. Fired????? Maybe they should have let him do his thing because Nami is nothing like the day.... He was so professional. Just to let you know customer service is 100% of the game and this gentleman had it. For sushi try Jackies Galaxy and pass by Nami.
(1)Vanessa O.
The sushi is delicious and the oysters, ugh forget it, you'll love the Japanese oysters! Small and flavorful. Not really a mushroom fan but the miso soup has mushrooms AND clams in it! Can't go wrong with clams in my book.
(5)Tina Z.
I loved the modern and stylish setting of Nami. I also enjoyed the yellowtail and jalenpeno roll as well as some of the standard items we ordered. My only complaint was the missing items I would have expected to find. My daughters tend to order eel and there really wasn't any on the menu. We did substitute with some of the specialty rolls but they were a bit disappointed. The food was incredibly fresh and everything we ordered was tasty and well made.
(4)Joe M.
Always great atmosphere and friendly staff, from owner Wendy, manager Minda, bartenders Joe, Nady, and Nick, and chef Mikoto. The presentations are just as amazing as the sushi! Try the filet and ribeye, you will be surprised at how well prepared they are and flavorful too! If you are not sure about dinner, try coming during Nami hour between 3pm-6pm M-F and try many of the best items at very good prices!
(5)Julie Y.
Wow! Nami really impressed me. It can easily get blended in with the other restaurants on Federal Hill. However, once you're inside it will blow you away. The food was delicious, we ordered sushi and also had a side of rice. My boyfriend tried a Japanese wine, which was a great surprise and tasted like cherries. The attention to detail is phenomenal from the leather bound menus and to the sturdy bamboo-esque place mats. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Linda C.
Love the modern decor and the sushi is absolutely delicious! My fiancé and I have been a couple of times for dinner already and have yet to be disappointed. We have tried the salmon sashimi, eel and avocado, shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, calamari and teriyaki beef appetizer - - all of which were really tasty and fresh. Service has been great - - attentive, yet not over the top. It's a great addition to Federal Hill and they offer valet parking. A must try!
(4)Sarah K.
I was admittedly excited to try Nami after hearing about the recent opening because I love rolls and a nicely stocked bar. I stopped by with some friends last night for a light dinner, and we were warmly greeted by the owner and quickly seated and served. I had a rum drink (the something zombie) and a sake sangria. I also tried the pomake and red dragon thanks to friends. The rum drink was sweeter than I wanted, but still good, and the sake sangria was a nice, light, combo with lychee, oranges, limes, and cherries. The cocktails are delicious and creative - the combo of raspberry sake, pomegranate juice, and champagne made the pomake stand out... Not too sweet and well mixed. That'll be my focus for next time! For food, we started with shrimp tempura (nice to split between two), and I had miso soup, a sweet potato tempura roll, and a California roll. I also tried the passion roll, tuxedo roll, and firecracker roll through some trades. Specialty rolls ranged in the teens, and basic rolls hit around $5. The miso soup was $6 (see the reason why below), and the shrimp tempura was $12 (split between two). The miso soup was amped up in presentation and content-specifically, the little neck clams and enoki mushrooms made it more flavorful and filling, and the taste matched the beautiful presentation. Of my rolls, the California was standard and good, but I loved the sweet potato tempura (simple wimpy choice, I know, but no regrets). The passion roll was my favorite snag from my neighbor's plate, and I'd consider focusing on the passion roll next time (and probably the sweet potato tempura roll... at $5, it'd be hard not to grab it too). We paired them with a decently priced gewurztraminer from their list, which was reasonable at less than $30 and did the job nicely. Decor definitely helped us have a relaxed dinner, the wait staff was friendly and learning, and (given the quantity of alcohol we consumed) the price tag was reasonable. I would like to go back and try the hibachi with a larger group, because the set up is gorgeous, but I didn't have a chance to see it in action. I also can see the bar being a nice place to catch a baseball game now that the season is on, as well as to enjoy a pomake and a roll on a summer day... looking forward to giving that a go as well. Regardless, I know that I'll definitely be back there soon!
(5)Holly S.
Sushi great, wine great, atmosphere great, but I got the soft shell crab, it was fried and I don't eat fried food, wish it said that on the menu, but it did look good!
(4)James K.
I've never written a Yelp review before, but I had to give it a shot for Nami -- it's that good. My friend and I devoured four Nami rolls: the Passion, the Tuxedo, the Firecracker, and the Pink Lady. They were fresh, light on rice, and delightfully plated. He also had some soju cocktail (I forget the name) while I had a fruit saketini; both were delicious, and again, well-presented. The decor and ambiance are wonderful: classy yet cozy, perfectly themed, and romantic (if you'd like). Finally, the waitstaff was extremely friendly and comfortable making recommendations, should you suffer from sushi indecision syndrome as I do. Conclusion? Definitely check this place out -- you'll definitely be back for more.
(5)Becky F.
One might not normally associate Federal Hill with a sushi restaurant, but Nami might be able to make some inroads in to changing that perception. For me though? Unless I am having a serious sushi craving, I might stick with Italian when I'm on the Hill... I came here with a friend one night for a drink and we decided to also try out some rolls once we sat down at the spacious bar. The restaurant is modern and clean in its appearance, and it uses well-designed but not over the top finishes and fixtures. The bar has some seriously comfy seats, and the booths in the bar area look equally spacious and luxurious. Part of the bar opens up to the street, which just invites in potential diners and also lets a light breeze and a good view of the street scene to those sitting at the bar. Many of Nami's cocktails seem to feature sake, so I instead chose to order the Gin-Tini (Tanqueray, sloe gin, and grapefruit juice) which I enjoyed. My friend opted for a gin and tonic but found the tonic water to be a bit off in taste and more akin to club soda. Tiny details in the scheme of life, but big details in a drink with only two ingredients. The bartender tried to help out but sort of had her hands tied since there was no tonic water to be found. The menu didn't feel nearly as overwhelming as those offered by some other sushi establishments, which was a bit of a welcome change. For eats, we ordered the Celebrity and Pink Lady rolls. I enjoyed the Pink Lady (denoted as a chef specialty), however would probably order it without the ikura next time. The ikura was a bit too plentiful which made the roll overly salty. It was an easy enough fix though to scrape it off to the side. The Celebrity was good with just the right amount of crunch. I would come back to try Nami again as the location and trendy vibe are just right and there are other food and drinks on the menu that caught my eye.
(3)Katie W.
LOVE!! My best friend and I love sushi and were looking for a new spot to go. We saw the groupon so we decided to try it out. We were not disappointed. The ambiance and decor is beautiful and very intimate. They also had complimentary valet service which was great. It's a perfect date spot (candlelit tables, dim lighting). Like I said, I went with my best friend, and the whole time we were saying "we need to bring our guys here soon!". They had private rooms in the back which I'm sure are awesome for big parties, but overall I would highly recommend it for a romantic date night. Now the best part: the food! They start off with warm bread and sauces. Then we decided on sushi. I had the pepper tuna avocado roll and the King crab California roll. My friend had the spicy tuna crunch and the sweet potato tempura. We shared and tried each other's. All were so delicious! We also indulged in the french kiss martinis. Phenomenal! Overall I would highly recommend this restaurant. It is a great alternative to the rest of the places on Federal Hill. The staff was friendly and prompt, the food was awesome, and the overall feel was great. Try it out, you won't regret it!
(5)Jesse C.
I really hope this place doesn't go out of business. I'm writing this review after eating at a few other sushi restaurants in the area, and New England. I have not yet found anyone that does nearly as good at making sushi than Nami. The rolls are awesome, big, fresh and full of flavor. The ambiance is nice, and the price is very reasonable. It doesn't make sense to me that this place isn't filled up. Last time we came for dinner there was only one other party there, and it was just kind of depressing. This weekend we were driving back from NH and went to a packed 4.5* Yelp rated sushi place on the way back and the food and service were terrible, and made me miss Nami and write this review. I hope business picks up there, we'll be doing our part :)
(5)Andrew M.
The GF and I have now been to Nami twice and can say this is some of the best sushi we've had in the area. This review is only for sushi, as we have ventured onto other menu items. Very nice decor and atmosphere tucked away on the Hill. Valet is nice and saves time trying to find a space. We haven't had any real issues with restaurant noise, temperature or wait staff as other reviewers. Each time we have been there, the vibe was intimate with mood lighting, and comfortable surroundings. Our drink orders were prompt and refilled accordingly. We did use Groupons on each visit, and encountered no problems, or dirty looks that you sometimes get when you say those magical words at bill time - "oh and by the way, we've got a Groupon." Our first time we got the Sushi and Sashimi for two. There are so many different types included, I can barely recall any of them. I don't think I've ever been so full on sushi. On the second visit, we went with Tuxedo and Heartbreaker rolls. The tuna and shrimp tempura was delicious. The pepper on the tuna (Heartbreaker Roll) along with hints of wasabi, not to mention the extra wasabi I use, gives it a real kick. We've had sushi at a lot of restaurants (Ichigo, The Q, Shabu Shabu) and this is up there with the best of them. We did decide to go with a scorpion bowl on our second visit to celebrate our anniversary. I'd stay away from this. It tasted horrible and we begrudgingly forced ourselves through the $20 bowl of torture. Maybe it was just a bad bartender but the blend of fruit juices for flavor were non existent, and it tasted more like rubbing alcohol with Dimetapp. Other than that, a fantastic change of scenery on the Hill and a place we will surely return to.
(4)Anna B.
The vibe is Asian Fusion, not traditional Japanese. It had sports bar, sushi bar, hibachi table and fourth dining area. They brought bread and a curry dip with drinks, which I've never seen in a sushi place, but maybe its a fusion thing. felt weird to be tasting curry, watching a game, and drinking sake at the same time. Guess my personal preference is to watch sushi masters, not baseball, in a sushi place. Great miso soup. Ordered 4 sushi for the 2 of us, which was the right amount. Sushi ingredients were very fresh, but not inspired. Derek the valet guy was actually notable, doing a darn professional job and pulling our car up before we were even out of the restaurant. Probably wont go back, we prefer the traditional Japanese scene. But had a good evening overall, and I could see this place appealing to a wide variety of folks. 3 stars it is.
(3)Andrea M.
I've been to this great little restaurant about 4 times and every time I eat there, I am beyond impressed! Everything from the food, to the service is awesome. The avocado salad is to die for, the rolls are handmade to perfection, the oysters are incredible and everything is extremely fresh. The owner Wendy is a sweetheart and a great business owner. She is extremely knowledgable on her product and lovely to talk to. I particularly enjoy sitting with Jason at the bar, he's not only a great bartender, but he certainly makes for a comical evening! I would highly recommend anyone looking for a amazing cuisine, great atmosphere and an overall wonderful dining experience to check Nami out. You will not be disappointed!
(5)Kel S.
This review pains me to write, as I was so looking forward to my Nami experience, especially after readying the reviews of my fellow Elite Yelpers, who's opinions I value highly. Well, I will start w/ the call in to see if we could come in for dinner that evening (a Saturday). I imagined they wouldn't have anything until late, but the restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, so that was great. Perhaps because it is new, but what follows may more likely be the reason: We'll start w/ the valet service. It took forever to pull over as they use the side alley as an "in" and an "out" so I would opt for street parking next time if I could find it. Next, I'll discuss the one cocktail I tried. I almost never send drinks back. Well, I asked the server if the "Wasabi martini" was "hot" expecting a "yes" but I did not get that. If it had been, it would have been better than what I received. It was sickeningly sweet. I asked the server for a glass of ice/soda water to cut down the flavor. The unexperienced (perhaps not even legal-drinking-aged) boy brought me a glass filled to the brim. I politely asked him to dump half so I could use it to help make my drink drink-able. He obliged. I still couldn't drink it. He offered to bring me something else to which I opted for a glass of wine. By the time our entrees arrived, I realized it wasn't coming. So, that was the beverage debacle. I will say the food (most of it, anyway) was good. We had the spring roll, which was lightly fried w/ shrimp, avocado and crab and served w/ a tasty dipping sauce. Next, we shared the highly recommended avocado salad, which was rightly so. There was a ton of avocado and it was a huge portioned salad. The only thing I would request next time would be the dressing on the side, as there was a ton of the sesame dressing sitting at the bottom leaving the end un-edible. We shared the pepper tuna & avocado roll, which was good, too, and very reasonably priced. The final straw, which made me very sad was we opted for a "chef's choice" roll, some type of lobster "king" roll. It was overpriced ($17) and not at all good. It was way too sweet, and the sauce that came w/ it was also too sweet. It was very disappointing. We also had to request side plates for each new course (due to the over use of dressings/sauces on each dish it would not be advisable to use the previous plate), but again, we had to ask each time. In conclusion, I would go back not expecting great service, and would choose items carefully. If we stick w/ sushi that is safe, I'm sure I would have a much better experience next time.
(3)Jessica S.
As much as I love Namis salads, I'm just not sure I feel a need to return anymore. Failing 2/3 times isn't a great number. The salad is very good but there was some red purplish round pate in mine this time that was vile. I bit into something disgusting and I found something in the salad later that was the same texture so there must have been more. For one, it was gross and also if it is not on the list of ingredients, it should not be in the salad. I asked for the dressing on the side after the last dressing incident, and it of course came on the salad, though better dressed this time. The beef negimaki has good flavor but was not cooked well, overcooked steak is tough and not pleasant, would not get again. The sushi we got was good but the rolls are still obnoxiously big. They must really want to find out if they know the heimlich when people start choking on what is intended to be one bite. If someone asks you what's in a certain dish, the answer is I will find out, not just I don't know. Our waiter was very nice but also very new, though these are common sense things really, getting the order right, answering questions. They also tried to overcharge me for my salad by $2. My issue here is that it is the manager who was actually trying to overcharge me. The waiter made a mistake, fine I get it, but then he returned to say the price is correct but she took off $1 to be nice. Um no. I said get me a menu. Salad $7, shrimp added $5. It's not rocket science. I said it is $12 and she needs to fix it and handed it back to him. What sorry excuse for a manager not only does not know the prices, but doesn't even bother to check the menu before disregarding a customers complaint about being overcharged?? And she never came over to speak to me herself. 2 out of the 3 times we have been they have failed in major ways so goodbye Nami salad, just isn't worth dealing with the incompetence.
(2)Jonathan L.
Beautiful restaurant and great atmosphere. I went in for restaurant week and the food was delicious. I love how they give you so many options. I started with the beef appetizer. Excellent. Moved on to the sushi plate. Very fresh and satisfying. Lastly, I got the cheesecake. The bomb! No complaints about the service. I will definitely be back. It's a very young adult restaurant. I gotta try the hibachi next time!
(5)Noreen W.
What a pleasant surprise! I usually tend to stay away from the Federal Hill restaurant scene, it's just not my cup of tea but I will have to break that rule because of Nami. I wasn't expecting much to be honest. It seemed like an average run of the mill sushi place after looking at their website. I like my sushi more on the simple side with not too much frou frou. Service upon entry was very friendly. I ordered the shrimp gyoza, passion roll, toro maki and salmon sashimi. The passion roll was fantastic especially if you like it spicy. The toro roll was simple but really nice with a touch of scallion. I loved the shrimp gyoza, homeade and great. All the sushi was super fresh and delicious. Great attentive service and it's really nice to see a new sushi place around town. Will be back!
(4)Michelle J.
Great sushi! We had a friendly waiter and he was verrrry patient with us. My new favorite cocktail: Cucumber Collins. I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)Sarah K.
I have been to Nami at least four times, now. The atmosphere is refreshingly different from any other restaurant in Providence. It is classy and very laid back. Their bar is clean, tidy, and beautiful. The tables have couches for seats and are oh so comfortable! Whenever I have gone, I have ordered at least 8 different dishes (apps, sushi, entree) on each visit! The portions are far from filling, but I love the variety of flavors and I know when i go to eat I will be spending a minimum of $150 for just two people. Of course, many people may not order as much. But I've ordered about 1/2 the items on the menu so far. My first two visits were great and my servers were personable and made great suggestions. And they knew their food! The real disappointment occurred upon my last two visits. These servers had virtually no knowledge of the menu, no one looked over the dishes being sent out, and no one knew how to handle the tiny problems. My last two servers had no idea what I was ordering, even when I was reading dishes' names verbatim from the menu. Then, when some of my dishes arrived, I kindly pointed out to the server that there were ingredients missing, NOT garnishes, that were clearly written as part of the dishes in the menu. Mistakes and oversight happen, but my server looked at me with confusion instead of taking my dish to the chef. She stalled for a while before bringing what she Thought was missing, on a side dish. And it wasn't right.. The chef didn't complete some of my dishes and the server did not even notice. My best example is the Smoked Salmon Roll that consists of only 3 main things - salmon, cheese, and the greens (spinach/microspring) and then they drizzle some sauces on the dish (different all the time but that's alright). The greens add a crisp taste and texture to the wonderfully, simple dish, but the server was very confused as to what I was asking for. And this happens far too often at this point. The dishes are very inconsistent and the servers lack proper knowledge. And then the patron looks crazy for asking why the dishes don't match the description. For the size and price of the dishes, they NEED to pay attention and respond appropriately. This place has so much potential and they need to pay attention to their menu and dishes. One server even gave me an attitude at our table of 3. Great food on majority of occasions. . Service Either great or atrocious. Better service and menu knowledge at their Bar, but sometimes we just want a table. Dishes I recommend: Any of their chef special rolls Duck wrapped in apple and bacon with mash potato entree Chilean Sea bass entree
(3)Wow K.
Nami is perhaps not the most authentic Japanese restaurant, but nonetheless is one of the better ones in Providence. Their a la carte menu is not very impressive, featuring "fusion" dishes. The hibachi, however, was quite superb - definitely the highlight of the experience and a reason to return. There was a good variety of meats and seafood, which were very fresh, tender, and well-cooked. It also came with fried rice and sauteed vegetables, which complimented the entrees well. The service was also good and friendly.
(3)Jonathan H.
Went here for drinks this past weekend and was very impressed, the restaurant is very well designed, high end finishes everywhere, great ambiance. Drinks were good, I had the Red Dragon. The red sangria was the best I have ever had, would definitely recommend that drink. We sat at the bar and the two bartenders were very attentive and quick. Also had an eel and avocado roll that was delicious and the others with me had fresh oysters which they said were great. Will definitely be returning to try out the entrees sometime soon.
(5)