My husband and I arrived at this nice warm modern contemporary restaurant for dinner, and we were greeted and seated right away. We were there the day before Valentine's Day, so the menu was limited. I had one of there margarits's and that started my great evening. Our server was attentive and checked in on us. We enjoyed the crab cakes with shrimp on top and dirty rice stuffed mushrooms for starters and then we had spinach salad which was delicious. About another hour or so we enjoyed our main meal which was Tuscan chicken with creamy risotto and lobster and shrimp etouffee served over wild rice, very delicious. We also had for dessert, banana CHEESE cream pudding and I actually wanted to Lick the bowel it was so good. We also enjoyed the strawberry shortcake. I was hesitant about making a reservation because of all the negative reviews after restaurant week. I must say we were happy with our decision to dine at this restaurant. Yes, the food took a little extra time but it was worth it. I can't wait to go back for their weekend brunch. read more

I'll start with the positives - The food for the most part was really good. I finally had actual catfish, something I haven't had in a while since maybe going to Virtue (keep that name in your pocket for later), we had calamari, which was ok, and my entree came with mashed potatoes which were good once I added a pinch of salt (at home because they didn't have salt or pepper on the table). Now for everything else- We waited a little bit to be seen and then be seated. We made reservations in advance, as it was my mom's 86th birthday so we were all excited that there was a place nearby to dine that didn't involve going to Hyde Park. Anyway, once seated we waited close to 20 minutes for water. There seemed to be one server with someone shadowing him in our section, so my sister asked him if he could get us water. He told us our server would be with us shortly in a pretty dismissive way. My sister then asked the host if someone was going to come and take our order, by this time we had been sitting for over 20 minutes, in bright light with Afro Beats blasting too loudly over the speaker (yall can't make a mix of different genres?). The host ended up taking our order and then our server came over, taking our order again until we told her we had already put in everything. The food came out pretty quickly but that was it. The servers kind of were also runners. Once the food was on the table that was it, nothing else. No one asked us about anything, you were on your own. My mom did ask for a dessert that sold out and after we told the server it was her birthday, she went to the kitchen and they did us a solid. And she said the bread pudding was good. We watched folks nearby sit just as long for food leave after an appetizer. Honestly it's no surprise because after getting the bill I realized this is Virtue pricing without hardly any of what makes that restaurant successful. I would come back, but maybe on a slower evening. Hopefully things will work out and get better, at least dim those lights and turn the music down a bit. read more

It was my first time and I think it'll be my last. This was the worst restaurant experience I've had in quite some time. We waited for over an hour after ordering, before finally leaving. We arrived after Sunday Service, around noon. With only 4 occupied tables we figured it wouldnt be a long wait. It took quite some time to receive our drinks, and they arrived watered down - a tell-tale sign that they're been sitting for a while. After some time of conversing, we realized it had been over an hour - no acknowledgement from staff or management. Wait, I take that back... The server did apologize for the wait. Speaking of the server, the young man was pleasant. But a word of advice to management... Make sure your servers are well-groomed, and matches the atmosphere of your establishment. Our server looked very dishoveled, his attire was unkept, hair not combed, and he needed a serious shave. Add to that he had dirt under his fingernails. So gross! This is why black-owned restaurants fail - not for lack of trying, but when service is subpar to downright deplorable, management lacks the skills of service recovery. Whoever was running today's service should've been smiling and talking to tables, apologizing for the poor service, and comping any juice/tea orders. read more

Overall not a good experience. The quality of the food is not great especially considering how much they are charging. staff is friendly but not attentive, Had to request anytime we needed somthing. Definitely would not recommend read more

For years, I lived in South Shore. I never bothered going to South Shore Cultural Center, although it was in walking distance. Only after being gone from South Shore for almost 20 years did I even know there was a restaurant in it. Albeit not the Parrot Cage of old, Nafsi is the new restaurant. I met a friend for a late lunch. For the first landing, I ordered charred Caesar salad, and my friend ordered creamy chicken bisque soup. The Caesar salad did not look charred, but there was a hint of smoke that made it pop. My friend commented that the bisque was delicious. For the second landing, I ordered their peri-peri chicken with dirty rice and asparagus, and my friend ordered the shrimp and lobster pasta. Per restaurant week, the rice was supposed to be jollof rice. Being half Ghanaian, it was better that the dish came with dirty rice instead because I would have been comparing it to Ghanaian. The server said the chicken was like at Nando's Peri-Peri. The chicken was very good, but it was nothing like Nando's. My friend stated that the pasta was outstanding and full of shrimp and lobster. The atmosphere is nice and vibrant. It's also loud, louder once the lights dim for the evening. There is a high price point. I won't complain about that. However, it is something to note because some people may expect Cheesecake Factory portions for the cost. Add to that paid parking, you may shell out more than expected for the entire experience. I may get back later in the year during the summer so I can enjoy patio seating while watching the waves on the beach. read more

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Dope semi-new joint located in the South Shore Cultural Center!!! Came by not too long ago for a late lunch/early dinner with my mom and it was very good! Staff is really cool and attentive and are good with breaking down the goodies on the menu. We had Syeda as our server. I started out with the Happy Hour mezcal margarita and it was really good. I heard the Happy Hour Honey Hot wings were good also so i went with that and yeah they were on point. Oxtail Empanadas were decent. Southern Butter Cake for dessert was fire! My mom got the Artichoke Dip and the Rosemary Lamb Chops and they were all very good also. There is an outside seating area for those warmer al fresco months. Check this place out as it's worth the trip if you dont live south. read more

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This was my first time visiting the restaurant as a customer. I came for happy hour on June 25, 2026. While the atmosphere was pleasant and we were warmly greeted by the hostess, the overall dining experience was disappointing due to the service and food quality. The patio was quite crowded, so we were seated in the main dining room. I didn't mind being seated inside, especially if it meant receiving faster service. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. We ordered our drinks shortly after being seated, but they didn't arrive until after our food had been served. When I asked about the delay, I was informed that there was only one bartender. While I understand staffing challenges can happen, the wait was still excessive. The food was also underwhelming. It lacked seasoning and overall flavor. I understand that not every dish needs to be heavily seasoned, but the meal was noticeably bland. The oysters were fresh, but they were far too salty. Our server never returned after our food was delivered to check on our meal, ask if we needed anything else, or offer another round of drinks. By that point, we were ready to request the check and leave. I would have ordered another drink, but I didn't want to wait another 20 minutes. As someone who has worked in the service industry for more than 20 years, I understand that no restaurant operates perfectly every day. However, proper staffing, planning, and attentive service are essential to providing a positive guest experience. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with my visit and don't feel compelled to return. Ironically, there was a beach party taking place behind the restaurant with better food and drinks. Had I known about that option beforehand, I would have chosen to spend my time there instead. read more

Beautiful restaurant signing south shore cultural center. I wish there was an entry point near the parking lot but you have to enter through the front of the building. The decor and artwork were beautiful and the hostess, our server and the person cleaning the table were all very nice. However, service was a little slow but not horrible. It took awhile for a server to come to us but we were forewarned that there was only one server. I'm not sure why when the restaurant was nearly full. We just had drinks, wings and brussel sprouts to share. The wings were overcooked unfortunately so not the best. The Brussels were great but some had more flavor than others. I wish they were evenly coated with the glaze they had on them but I would definitely reorder them. My friend had the lavender mocktail and said it was delicious. I had an Arnold Palmer. Overall, 3/5 experience but I'll go back and try more items next time. I enjoyed it here. read more

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Been wanting to try this spot for a while since it's literally a stone-throw away from where we live. We came in to a Taco Tuesday menu and the food is very disappointing. We paid $100+ for food that should have been $10 elsewhere. The $15 taco plate, literally have a tortilla with few pieces of chicken, a ring of onion, little drops of cream and a little cheese x 2. Cilantro and onion on the tacos is an extra dollar!!! It's like a kids meal that wasn't even good. The "loaded nachos" is supermarket-bought nacho chips with cheese sauce that I am sure is from the canned isle as well. The $10 Hibiscus lemonade is a tiny glass full of grenadine syrup. And on top of it, 18% service charge that is automatically charged on a very cold meal is wild! This is really sad because we always want to support local businesses and restaurants here at the south side but I really cannot recommend this. read more

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I gave 1 star because I can't give 0 stars. My first and last time being at Nafsi and it was a horrible experience. I had a party of 6 and our reservation was at 7:00 PM. Our order was taken 20 minutes after we sat down. This is where everything went left. The restaurant did not have half of their menu available. After 30 minutes, only 2 people got their full meal. 2 people got their entrees, but no sides, and I did not get ANY food. After another 20 minutes, they gave me my side of cornbread and it was as hard as a BRICK. It was extremely dry, which is an understatement. My cousins never got their sides and I never got my entree. We only saw our waitress 3 times and the third time we had to flag her down to complain. The customer service is poor and management was never seen until we had to demand her presence to takes our concerns directly to her. It is highly unfair to have another server take all of our concerns when a manager is on staff. Even when we finally spoke with the manager, Kia, she looked like she did not care the entire conversation. After all this, they finally made my food, and gave it to me to go. The picture is the horrible result of a 2 hour wait. The food did not even taste seasoned or well made. I DO NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone. Until major kitchen and management changes are made, they should not be open. read more

Nafsi - Catfish dinner with a side of grits - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is lovely! Located inside the Chicago Cultural Center is the beautiful restaurant Nafsi. It's very intimate but spacious at the same time. Loved the decor and recognized the art of the artist on the walls. Noted the beautiful floral installation on the ceiling. A vibe. We came on a special DJ night so it was kinda busy and loud. The drinks were great! We had a lemon martini, mezcal margarita, truffle fries and spinach artichoke dip. Everything was delicious. I tried the oysters and octopus compliments of the owner. They were delicious! Highly recommend. I will come back for dinner! read more

Nafsi - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was great and I liked the ambiance of the restaurant. We ordered our food thru our phones, the first orders came out within 30 minutes. (The waiters didn't always know who ordered what) Because we enjoyed certain dishes we ordered more, it was my Mom's bday. The waiter told us there was a big party and some of the orders weren't correct or got messed up. It took over an hour and a half for us to get the 2nd round of orders. It was inconvenient because I wanted to cancel the food and leave. We couldn't do that b/c everything is ordered thru the phone and was already paid for. After a while, the waiters just walked past us, they didn't really give us updates or anything. I hate this because I liked the menu a lot! read more

Nafsi - This catfish slider was absolutely delicious - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was surprised and happy when I found out there was a new restaurant in town...Nafsi! I put it on my to-do list and when my cousin's birthday came up, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to see what the hype was all about. Nafsi is a beautiful restaurant located inside the South Shore Cultural Center inhabiting the space that was once the Parrot Cage (backstory; PC was the training restaurant for students attending Washburn Culinary Institute). My cousin and I came on a Wednesday for the happy hour from 4-7 and to groove to the sounds of the popular house music djs who were performing on the patio. We arrived about 6:45 and were immediately seated with no reservation. We wanted to dine on the patio, but unfortunately, that area was full. The friendly host took us to the area to check it out anyway and we observed a grown and sexy crowd enjoying themselves in a chill atmosphere. The host instructed us to view the menu via a QR code and said our server would be right over. Our server sauntered over and asked about our drink orders since happy hour was over at 7. We placed our orders (2 mezcal margaritas) and then about 5 minutes later, she came and slapped down paper menus saying that was the real menu with way more menu items than the digital version. It was kinda confusing, but we figured out we'd share several apps. When I tried to get her attention to place the order before 7, she conveniently didn't notice us, but then magically appeared at 7:01 to take our orders. When I inquired about the happy hour menu she said it wasn't available anymore. Yeah, ok...anyway. We ordered several apps: the garlic wings, cabbage, jollof rice and the oxtail empanadas. I just HAVE to say this: I've worked as a line and prep cook in many restaurants and I know if prep work is done correctly, I know how long it takes to produce any dish. Yes, the drinks were strong and delicious, we were deep in conversation, catching and cracking up so we weren't looking around impatiently demanding to know where our food was. But there is no reason why it should take 30 minutes for apps to be delivered to our table and not be perfect. The wings and cabbage were WAY too salty and the jollof rice was dry. The oxtail empanadas, however, were a standout. These fritters were seasoned and fried to perfection and we to' those suckas up! The ambience at Nafsi, is warm and inviting, with light and airy colors, soft lighting and groovy, relaxing music. However, midway through our meal, they blasted this loud, unfamiliar birthday song through the speakers and the servers came marching out with sparklers and a cake. Kind of a vibe-killer, but it was...cute. Nafsi is a much-needed and welcome addition to the area and the fact they have house music DJs on Wednesday is a definite draw . I'm hoping they work on creating a more cohesive menu with a distinct cuisine. It was Chicago Steakhouse, but oh yeah, here are a couple Southern/African dishes to appease its demographic. However, I like the vibe and will definitely be back. read more

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This restaurant does not disappoint with food, ambiance and decor. I went during happy hour and I really enjoyed myself. The playlist of music was fun and a great atmosphere if you want to stop by after work. The food was good. I had the shrimp bucatini, roasted carrots and lavender spritzer with pineapple. I absolutely loved the shrimp bucatini. The sauce was full of flavor. The carrots were good too, but a few of mine were burnt at the very ends. The spritzer was just okay. The reason I didn't give it four stars was it was a little loud at the bar - which I understand they couldn't control. There was also a few fruit flies or some sort of flying insects around that I had to swat away. One even landed on my face. I think this is a great place, with immense potential. I still would highly recommend stoping by to support this new business. read more

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Great food and beautiful decor. The truffle fries were delicious. I got the salmon and it was a hearty portion size. So I have leftovers. We got the marg flights and they were delicious. Our waitress was nice but service was a little slow (our apps came out only a couple minutes before food so we rushed to finish them) and it was flies/nats that kept hovering. While we did enjoy our food it was a little on the salty side. I do want to try them out for brunch and on a cooler day. read more

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Terrible, terrible dining experience! I made reservations for a party of 9 for the Saturday before mother's day two weeks prior to the date on open table. The day before we were to dine at Nafsi I received two confirmation text messages. One from open table and one from Nafsi. I confirmed our reservations on both platforms. We arrive at the restaurant at 6:20 for our 6:30 reservations. When we check in the young lady tells us that it would be a 10 minute wait. 10 minutes became 20 minutes. I go back to the desk and inquire about our table. She tells me that they don't have a table available to us because they gave our reserved table to walk ins. She went on to say that a table would be available in another 30 minutes. We got seated at 7:45. Once seated nobody came to our table to take our orders until 8:10. When the food arrived the food came out staggered so some people were eating while other's waited. Oh I forgot during our wait for a table I actually talked to the owner of the restaurant. He explained that he'd lost capacity in his establishment and that he was also providing food for a wedding next door. I explained to him that that has nothing to do with me. Just a terrible experience. I'll never go back. I try to support businesses in the community but many of them seem to take our patronage for granted. Nafsi y'all gotta do better our your door won't be open much longer. read more

Was there after my cousins wedding. The ambience was everything. The aesthetics was very pleasing to the eye. The service was impeccable. The food was seasoned to perfection. The drinks were made just right. The highlight of the evening was our server/hostess Mahogany. It was a huge table , but her service was top tier. She was attentive, friendly, detail oriented and took care of us the entire time. She exemplifies exceptional customer service and hospitality. Her service alone is a 10/10 I highly recommend. read more

Nafsi - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So impressed! Food was good. Appetizers: Fried green tomatoes and sliders. Dinner: Peri-Peri chicken. With various sides: sweet potato cornbread, mashed potatoes, Cabbage. Drinks: WONDERFUL! Peaches & herb and Lemon drops. Dessert: Bread pudding was really good as well. Service: Amazing! Our server was classic! She was a class act! She made the special occasion SPECIAL! Real customer service. I appreciated the waitress that showed appreciation to us as guest! Ambiance:unmatched! We sat outside with the lakefront as the backdrop! It was great!! I definitely will recommend! I love this for the SouthShore area. read more

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I would not recommend. The goodness just ik. Nothing to rave about. I ordered the vegan plate with rice, greens, and tofu. The food she no seasons and was very bland. And it came lukewarm. I don't think they are set up to accommodate large parties woth varying orders. Also the server brought the French fries out to the table in a hole that he held in his hand...a fry fell out and he put it back in with his hands. Gross. I won't say any more but for the prices they can do better read more

This is A LONG READ so get yourself a beverage and settle in... I am ALL about supporting and patronizing our Black businesses in the community and I don't ever remember posting ANYTHING negative regarding the various businesses that we have and continue to support over the years but a recent experience on May 9th IS ONE FOR THE BOOKS AS IN A TRAINING MANUAL! All I wanted to do was celebrate the BD of My King who unfortunately shares his BD every year with the highly celebrated and the notorious "Mother's Day Weekend". This is how it went... After arriving on time and not "CP time" either; for a 7pm reservation, we "Waited" in the "Waiting Room".The music in the "Waiting Room" was extremely loud and we were shouting to the other 4 patrons who were also in the "Waiting Room" for a reservation that they too were on time for. We had to ask our host, Sky, who was very apologetic and attentive to the situation, to please turn the music down, which she did immediately. So, as we "Waited" and "Waited" so long that we established future plans for the following week with the 4 patrons who we had just met. Yes, we had "Waited" enough time to establish a relationship with complete strangers and by the time we said goodbye to one another we were "Cousins". After a little over an hour, we, as well as "Our Cousins" were finally led to a cute little booth, in the back, in a corner, with a view... A wonderful view of cases of pop and water for a wedding/reception on the other side of the cultural center. This group seemed to have the majority of the staff's attention for the entire evening. After being seated at the cute little table with the view of the cases of water and pop for the wedding/reception "dignitaries"; we "Waited" an additional 30 minutes before were given 2 glasses of water...that's it no napkins, no silverware, no Waitress/Waiter just two lonely glasses of water that were brought to the table after I approached a wait staff to inquire about "Waiting" an additional 30 mins at the table before being addressed...at all. After "Waiting" an additional 15 to 20 minutes a waitress (I don't know her name because she never told us) appeared:; so we placed our complete order from start to finish.... Drinks Appetizer, Entree and Dessert; thinking it would alleviate additional "Waiting". Now I need to pause here... to say that after careful observation, it is clear that the majority of the customers, supporters, patrons in this establishment are experiencing the same "Waiting" that we are. There are people "Waiting" for their orders to be taken. There are people complaining of receiving the wrong order. There is a whole table of about 20 people who are having issues with their bill... When our appetizers arrived we were disappointed because the BBQ Shrimp had a sharp fishy smell and taste. We ordered coffee, a Hibiscus Lemonade and a Margarita Flight that was listed on the menu for $11. They didn't have coffee, the lemonade was luke warm and the margaritas were suspiciously large for flight status so I refused to touch them until I got some clarity on the cost. There is no way all this alcohol is only $11 which is what the menu clearly states. ` When I questioned about it I was told that each glass was $11. The menu was quite misleading and I told them that I no longer wanted them only to be told that the owner said that they could not take them back. I asked to speak to the owner and was told that he was not going to come and talk to me but that I could speak to the manager. I agree to speak to the manager. When she comes to the table she doesn't introduce herself either but inquires about the situation and I tell her of our horrible experience from start to finish. I told her that we were completely disappointed with the establishment, the service and the food thus far and did not want to continue the evening. She was quite apologetic and agreed to us leaving without any repercussions. NO BILL. I left out a few things that occurred like the fact that "Our Cousins" had already left without being served because they had other plans and couldn't "Wait" any longer! The music was absolutely wrong for dinner and too loud to enjoy. All I can say is that this was the absolute worst dining experience we have ever had and we go out A LOT!! Training is essential in the food service business. Ownership should not hide from their customers but be up front and responsible for the mishaps, shortcomings and misconceptions of their establishment. We have got to do better. Simply Unacceptable. read more

My cousin wanted to celebrate her birthday here and we are glad she did, the food was great as well as the drinks. The service was phenomenal and the ambiance was magnificent. We thought the macaroni was a bit salty and the chief came out and apologized and offered to replace with something else, he was grateful for the feedback and offered our party oysters. ( Excellent Customer service). The owner happened to be there that night and was super friendly and welcoming he even took a photo with the birthday girl, at the end of dinner they brought out dessert and we sang happy birthday. I recommend this place ten times over! Loved everything about it! read more

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Gorgeous lakeside restaurant! Delicious food. Service was great if a little slow for 7 PM on a weeknight. Our servers were friendly and knowledgeable. read more

The food was not as expected. I spent around $100 and I tried a lot of things on the menu. The best thing about this restaurant was the parking and also the atmosphere and the serve the service. read more

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I've been trying to make it to Nafsi for a year since I've seen it on social media. Let me start with the water tower cocktail, it was delicious and provided a nice buzz. The fried green tomatoes were sliced too thin and they used a short cut and didn't use the egg to better coat the cornmeal which was falling off. They were overcooked, greasy and not good. We ordered the lamb chops with dirty rice, mashed potatoes and greens. It took a minute to get our food and we were getting a little ansy. When the food finally came they were redeemed. The lamb chops were tender, flavorful and heavenly. The mashed potatoes; divine, the dirty rice; outstanding and the greens were like grandma. The cutie pie staff including host (Shalease) and server Miro were wonderful. The Ambiance is eclectic soulfulness. I love the clean lines decor and the special decorative touches. Overlooking the lake adds an extra layer of elegance. Overall, don't waste money on the fried green tomatoes but order everything else. read more

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We came here to celebrate Easter. This was our first time here since the Parrot Cage closed. Brunch is not cheap, my party was smart to give up eating out for Lent! This was economical compared to some places, but still. I studied the menu online before arriving, only to order 2 things that were not on the menu, but special for Easter. We arrived after our reserved time but sat right away. The outside terrace was full, and it was cool and rainy out but they had a covering and heat lamps. Next time I go I will see about sitting outside, even if for just drinks. The coat rack outside is very helpful, but I kept mine with me. I like to see my coat unless there's a coat check. We got flavored mimosas (passionfruit and lavender) and crawfish hushpuppies. They were so good moist but not greasy, and with some creamy-spicy sauce. Our waitress was informative and friendly. For my brunch entree I got salmon with grits and eggs (egg whites). My party got the Creole Shakshuka with poached eggs, a kind of African dish like stew with eggs, tomatoes, spices and herbs. She requested non-runny eggs but they were kind of runny anyway. A side salad and toasted bread came with it. It was good, and my salmon was big so I took some of it home. 2 things I did not care for: a photographer went around asking to take our picture, and after a while, she would frame them and ask if you want to buy any. Now they were in cute frames, and they were nice pictures, but $25? If you really want to capture an occasion, you can pay for it but otherwise I'd say no. The other thing was wine. We ordered white wine with the entrees and paid $13 for barely a half glass or mediocre wine. It tasted ok but the brands were not what I would select. We wanted the vegan chocolate cheesecake listed but they only had fruit flavor, so we got the chocolate layer cake! OMG it was so good; I declined coffee, but my party ordered tea which took 10 minutes to arrive. We had given up, but the waitress explained that the kettle was not working well. I hope they fix it, there are a lot of cool days/nights between now and July. There is a small tasting room off the dining room made for private wine tastings and dining. I may consider that, check out the picture. I'd go again for lunch. It has a romantic menu, but the setting is not very romantic or intimate unless you sit outside alone, away from the bartender. read more

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Lovely and amazing building with convenient parking. Everyone we interacted with was super kind, but service was unfortunately very uneven. Some food came quickly, some slowly. Drinks took forever. But everything was very very tasty and portions plentiful. The booth table for 4 we sat at was way too small for 4 people to have plates and drinks and I noticed the plates had a lot of large chips in the edges which was surprising as it's a new restaurant. The one big miss for us was the live saxophone player. It's a nice idea, but him walking around playing so loudly you can't speak to each other and awkwardly making laps felt very disruptive. Maybe leave him in one spot and give guests the option to sit nearer or further away. Or play music later in the evening and not during prime dinner time. I'm not sure if we'll go out of our way to come back, but we did enjoy it. Extra star for the people. read more

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The total experience was incredibly underwhelming last night. I was there with my sister, Mom and my 4 Aunties as it was one of my Aunt's birthday. My sister had reservations for us at 6:30pm. I live nearby so i arrived right then but the rest were a few minutes late. I stood out front waiting for a host/hostess to greet me for over 5 minutes. Finally,. a staff person came out I informed him about the reservation, and he checked it and I told him the rest of the party will arrive in 5 minutes. When they arrived, we still had to wait for our table for another 10 minutes. Mind you the place was not even half full(why wasn't the table set up when I first arrived?). We waited a while for a wait staff to take our order. The young lady, who was pleasant and friendly took our order and brought beverages immediately. we ordered the collard green /spinach dip appetizer and that came out in about 10 minutes. Absolutely delicious. The entrees then took over an hour and they all didn't come out at the same time. My Mom ordered the peri chicken and it came 10 minutes after everybody else's food. The birthday Aunt ordered the fried catfish. She asked the waitress for tartar sauce and she said ok. After a wait for it, I stopped another staffer and asked again and that person said they didn't have any. Wow! I myself ordered the Nafsi burger that I've heard amazing reviews on(The Black Foodies especially) and while it tasted really good, the burger meat was smaller than a quarter pounder or Whopper burger. The burger should not be invisible between the bun! Not for that price. Then I pulled the waitress to the side after we were just about done and reminded her it was my Aunt's bday and requested to give her some bread pudding. She said sure. We waited another 15 minutes and she came back out and said they were out. Unbelievable. To make this even worse, while we were waiting the extended time for our entrees, a man who looked like he was the manager or owner was standing in the kitchen door, directly where we could see him, eating chicken wings. Unprofessional at the least. Weare paying and waiting but you are letting us see you devour food. I hate doing these type of reviews to Black owned businesses but the patrons you should be most attentive to should be your own people that are trying to support you. Not going back. read more

We visited Nafsi during Chicago Restaurant Week for my Mom's Birthday. We were super excited to support this new Black-owned business, especially because it's housed within the South Shore Cultural Center - a facility that was off-limits to Black people when it was initially established. Drinks: Since we arrived early enough to catch happy hour, I ordered a Whiskey Sour. If you're a fan of whiskey sours, note that this one doesn't have sour mix, so it doesn't actually taste like a whiskey sour. It was very sweet and syrupy - I didn't finish it. My mother ordered the Nafsi Punch (non-alcoholic). It was also very sweet and syrupy - she didn't finish it. My sister ordered the Metra Express Martini, and my dad ordered a beer. Neither 1 of them ever received their drinks. They were told the bar was backed up, but we noticed that the party behind us received 3 rounds of drinks during the time we were dining in. Food: For appetizers, we had 2 orders of the calamari and 2 orders of the glazed carrots. This was the best part of the meal. The calamari was fried and seasoned well. The glazed carrots; though incredibly sweet, were pretty good. For entrees, we had 2 orders of the salmon with purple sweet potato puree, 1 order of the Herb & Curry Roasted Cauliflower Steak, and 1 order of the Pan Seared Herb Roasted Chicken. Salmon: the salmon was tender and cooked well, but un/under seasoned. The purple sweet potato puree overpowered the entire dish. It was way too rich to be paired with the delicate salmon. The dish ate incredibly heavy, and the charred lemon didn't provide enough acidity to give the dish some relief. Cauliflower: this was the only vegetarian dish on the menu. When I asked my dad how he liked it, he simply said it was "alright." Chicken: my mom said the chicken was pretty well-seasoned, but the rice was a throw-away. She actually said it tasted like it was from a box. The carrots were the same as the appetizer carrots, so they were sweet, but tender and tasty. For dessert, we had the Vegan Raspberry Cheesecake, the Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake, and 2 orders of the Banana Foster Bread Pudding. Both cheesecakes were incredibly rich, and after having super rich entrees, it was impossible to finish them. The bread pudding was hard/crispy and lacked flavor. Location & Ambiance: The space is absolutely beautiful! The décor is bright and inviting. They even have what looks like a private dining booth right outside the entrance of the restaurant, and they have a heated patio that was open despite the cold weather. I'm sure it's an awesome dining space during the summer. The only downside was the music was loud, which made everyone's conversations loud. There is ample parking available - just be sure to pay. At the end of the evening, we noticed crumbs galore in our chairs though. It's important to vacuum fabric chairs between parties to ensure they stay clean (either that or opt for a different style of chair). Service: Our reservation was at 6:30pm, but since I live so close, we arrived closer to 6:15pm. Thankfully, they were willing to seat us right away. Unfortunately, no one came over to the table until to greet us, drop off water, or even take our drink orders until 6:45pm. At that point, a server came over and informed us that she wasn't our main server, but was helping her out while she "got caught up on her tables." FYI: we NEVER met our main server, and the server who did come to the table only came over twice (once to drop off 2 of our drinks and once to bring the bill). No one ever came to the table to ask if we were enjoying the food or to even see if we needed anything. No one even came by to clear off our table, so when dessert came, we had to eat it while surrounded by all the dirty dinner plates as you'll see in the photos. Dessert was dropped off without any new silverware, and we waited for about 5 minutes before seeing a server we could ask for some. It took a while for us to get the bill. Once we paid and prepared to leave, still no one came to the table to ask about our dining experience, and no one was at the hostess stand when we left to thank us for coming. It was almost like everyone was purposely avoiding us. While I am an advocate of Black-owned businesses, especially those in my neighborhood of South Shore, I won't return. If you do decide to try it, I encourage you to try the oysters. I didn't have them, but it seems to be the 1 dish people rave about. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad #ChicagoRestaurantWeek read more

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Lovvveeeed everything about this experience! We were a party of two, and we had a great time exploring the menu at a new, spacious and culturally sound restaurant in South Shore! The ambiance is clean and inviting! The staff were beautiful, attentive and helpful with explaining the details of every drink and meal! We ordered and loved everything we tried off the menu! We're already planning to return when the full menu is released! We enjoyed the potato croquettes as an appetizer. I love a good chef special so we took full advantage and tried the Shrimp bucatini, Fish & Grits and New Orleans style oysters. Lastly but surely not least, I love a cute, fresh and boozy cocktail and they were serving them UP! We had The Mule, Peaches & Herb Sidecar, Chicago Fire and... the Metra Express Martini, which was a nice spin on an expresso! As previously stayed, we will be back! It's great for a ladies outing, date and large group! Just Do It and Visit! read more

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I came here after a photoshoot at the beach. I love the South Shore cultural center & its classy esthetics. My date and I, didn't make reservations but were seated right away in a cozy booth. I love the mixed media artwork on the walls. The place felt like an escape, like I'm at a resort. Our waiter was super friendly, and explained the menu. We started with fresh oysters & our usual celebratory beverages. We also order our entrees at the same time. The oysters were super fresh and tasty. They are pretty generous with the lemons and the sauces also. I enjoyed the truffle fries. Can't go wrong with truffle fries. But my creole pasta was divine. I had the option to chose a protein to accompany it, and I chose lamb chops. Excellent choice! The pasta was creamy and delicious. It was very flavorful and unique, unlike the usual Alfredo type pastas I've had. The lamb chops were perfection also. I'm glad we saved room for dessert. We shared the bread pudding with ice cream. For a warm Friday eve, this was the perfect dessert to end things off with. The bread pudding was warm and the cinnamon and other flavors felt so cozy. This is easily one of my favorite meals I've had this year & I will definitely be back with the family soon. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place so I finally stopped by during happy hour right when they opened it was super chill in there. It wasn't busy really until I was about to leave so I'm glad I got there early. I didn't have to make a reservation but at this probably is a place that you should make a reservation once they start getting busy. The staff was super nice. I forgot the waiters name, but she was very attentive. I got whiskey sours with lavender and it was so good. I do wish you happy hour prices was a little bit better, but it was OK. I got the Jollof rice, which it was pretty good. I was shocked that it was as good as it was because a lot of people's jollof can be a hit or miss. I first ordered the mushroom steak. I was very disappointed by it because it said on the menu that it was had lions mane and then when they brought it out, it didn't have Lions mane on it. Also, there is no type of sauce on it and it was just like super dry portobello with salt on top so I didn't eat it and I have to take it back because it wasn't what it described on the menu. And I really love lions mane so I was excited to have it when they brought it out. It didn't have it on the plate. It had a different type of mushroom on it and I wasn't about to eat that so I ordered a veggie burger instead of fries, which turned out to be pretty good But after that mistake, I was kind of skeptical about eating the burger just because I'm like if you're gonna mess up a mushroom, then you might mess up the fact that I ordered the veggie burger and give me actual meat, but I try not to let that discourage me because I looked at the cheese on the burger and I can tell that the cheese was vegan cheese, so I decided to eat it anyway And I probably should've just ordered that to be in with because I didn't like the mushroom steak. they definitely need to put some sauce or something on it. Because just put in salt is crazy. Lol. Overall, I will come back with a friend who's been wanting to try it probably during happy hours and just get the veggie sliders but other than that it was OK Experience. read more

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The worst ever. No one greeted us for several minutes. Another group with a reservation left after someone finally showed up and told us nothing was available but appetizers/starters. We ordered from the starter menu and they returned and said the Seafood Tower was unavailable and there was no seafood or soup. We settled on salads and a burger and wings. After waiting quite a while and asking, "when will the salads come?" The waitress said, I'll check. We just left. Poor management. Hopefully they'll improve. read more

Nafsi - Nafsi sign - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I make this review in hope that this establishment will improve. The operation is young and needs to mature for its cost. My meal was delivered in pieces: one dish then another 10 minutes later making a awkward dining experience. The wait staff, although courteous, is inexperienced: ice in drink when asked for no ice, first dish served with no utincles and "honey" sesame brussel sprouts with no honey. For $100+ check to pay these are simple management trades to improve on. The good side was the attitude of the staff. It knew it was young and worked to make things better without a bad attitude. I was also advised that the staff earns a living wage, not confirmed, that brings value to the expense but the little stuff matters. They will need to entice me to consider coming back. Do Better.... read more

Service was excellent. The food was amazing. Everyone should try the lamb chops and the bread pudding. The atmosphere is pleasant, and the staff is attentive. I have been there four times for different occasions. I have no complaints, and I am happy it is located at the South Shore Cultural Center. read more

I enjoyed my time at Nafsi. We went for happy hour and had the wings (so good I took a pic when we were down to the last two). We also had truffle fries. They were really good, the vibe was chic and communal. Music was great with a DJ. The wait staff was quick and knowledgeable. The server informed me that Nafsi is Swahili for Soul. Their branding mark is the outline of the south shore community indicating that Nafsi is the soul of south shore. LOVE! I had a classic margarita- very good, and my guy had an old fashion - he liked his drink very much. I will definitely be back to try other menu items. read more

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Went with a friend for brunch the oysters are def something to order. The grits were good but the catfish was not really seasoned well. However the crab cake was great I would get the crab cakes and grits if I were to go back. Overall the staff and service was good and it is a nice place to go for Sunday brunch. read more

Nafsi - Espresso martini oyster Rockefeller - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There a new restaurant walking distance from my house, I had to run to try this out. It's inside the south shore culture center so you know it's legit. The food was decent you're paying for the location I'll say that. Their espresso martini comes with cinnamon on top which was new. The ambiance is very nice inside, they have two dining areas with a bar in the back I will definitely be back during the summer. read more

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I really wanted to love Nafsi, especially as a Black-owned establishment that I genuinely wanted to support. They were initially accommodating when I increased my reservation from 15 to 25-30 people without requiring a deposit, and I appreciated that flexibility. Unfortunately, the experience went downhill from there. When I arrived, I was told there is a 90-minute seating limit. This was never communicated beforehand and is not advertised anywhere. For a large party, that is critical information. Once seated, our group was split up instead of being accommodated together. When we asked about rearranging, there was noticeable hesitation. We were also assigned only one server for a party of nearly 30 people. The server himself was not the issue, but that setup was unrealistic and set everyone up to struggle. The menu was inconsistent and disappointing. Items listed online and on the television outside were either unavailable or removed entirely. Portions did not match what was advertised. For example, shrimp empanadas were listed as three but only two were served. When we asked about it, we were told, "That's just what we're doing now." That response was dismissive and unprofessional. The kitchen was extremely slow. Food came out one by one instead of together, and one person in our party never received their meal at all. For the price point, the portions were shocking. One small piece of catfish for that cost feels unreasonable. The macaroni was bland. Overall, the pricing does not match the value. To add context, the table of 11 people that I was responsible for had a bill of $650+, plus an automatic $100 gratuity. Taxes alone were $55. For that amount of money, the experience and execution should have been significantly better. I will say, the drinks were good. And I do want to thank our server for the birthday shot, which was a thoughtful touch and appreciated. Again, the server himself was not the problem. The atmosphere is decent, but the bathrooms are not located within the restaurant. You have to walk out and down the hall to use the women's restroom. Keep in mind that when there are events at South Shore Cultural Center, the bathrooms are shared with the entire building, which can be inconvenient. I truly want to see Black-owned businesses thrive, and the food has potential. But the lack of preparedness in the kitchen and the disorganization in the front of house are very apparent. I likely will not return, and I definitely would not recommend this spot for large parties. If you go, keep it to one or two people. read more

The food was good, but the service could use some work. The online qr code ordering system was kind of confusing if you're ordering altogether for a big group so you're probably better off paying seperately. The ambiance of the place was nice and it looked well put together. read more

Nasty nasty nasty. Overly priced for what looks and tastes like 5 day old left overs. Never going. And word of mouth is powerful, my people are urged to say away. read more