I love Native Ken !!!!! Great customer services, friendly environment and great prices. Love his own brand glasses so many options to choose from and great style ,always there for my vacation shades . Definitely go check it out and now they have coffee too so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Native Ken - My new babies - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - New York, New York

There is no BETTER place in New York to buy glasses. The selection and the customer service are the best in town. Chris the owner and Abdiel, his talented assistant, have made picking out the right pair of frames easy and affordable. They have the latest styles and they have their own brand, which makes it all the more reason to shop here. Quick and reliable turnaround time is another reason why I have only positive things to say about Native Ken. They have added a wonderful coffee shop to the place with an amazing staff who all have a great sense of humor. Ask for George. Also, the Banana Bread and Carrot Cake will keep you coming in on a daily basis. You will never buy glasses anywhere else!! read more

Fantastic service and very nice selection of frames & sunglasses. Even if it seems a bit pricey, it is all worth it, especially if anything happens to your purchase. Also, worth mentioning, they can cut your lenses in 5-15 minutes. read more

I had the best experience in this store. Sad to say, it wasn't my pay week so I couldn't make the purchase, but the glasses are really cool. More importantly the guy Abby was so helpful and informative. I was impressed on how quickly he pulled styles and just knew where everything was. The fact that he was pushy and had conversations about something else rather than purchasing glasses was cool. Super Genuine. I've been to this store before and the service was always good but this time was amazing all to do with the guy Abby and another Hispanic guy serving the coffee. By the way the concept of coffee shop and and optical store is polarizing. Definitely check this place out the prices are pretty cool too... read more

I can't say enough amazing things about Native Ken. Christos is amazing and provides some of the best customer service I've seen anywhere. I've (very annoyingly) had several times where I've needed last minute exchanges, shipping, etc and he's been super helpful in making sure I got the glasses by going above and beyond to make it happen. Literally I overnighted him some glasses to get fixed and then he overnighted them back the next day right after coming back from vacation. Beyond the customer service, I get compliments everywhere for these glasses and the quality is so much better than any of the bigger brands like Warby Parker, etc. Many friends have asked where I got my glasses from and then went ahead to order glasses to California without even trying them on first. I have 2 sunglasses and 2 prescription glasses from Native Ken and I can't recommend them enough! Really great place and you support some awesomely creative dudes who are passionate about their work! read more

This review is for an experience I had almost 2 years ago that bothers me to this day. I made an appointment with Dr. Amanda Martin shortly before leaving the city to get a contact lens prescription. The store was within my network, and conveniently located around the block from my apt. Making an appointment was a breeze, and the receptionist was accommodating. I don't know if I caught her on a bad day in light of all the good reviews here, but Dr. Martin was oddly confrontational. After the exam, I asked for the prescription, but she wouldn't give it to me without purchasing lenses from the store, and she gave me pricing for a 1-year supply. This is illegal under the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act which protects my right to comparison shop. I don't think she was prepared for a patient to be well-informed. I caved, and asked to buy one box for each eye, which really bothered her. She pointed out that since I was moving, I might not have insurance for awhile so I should buy a longer supply. I explained that I clean and re-use daily lenses with solution, and this revelation made her irate. She demanded to know specifics of where I got this information, and when I wouldn't tell her any more than "a previous doctor in NY", she pressed further. A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson has said, "No physical property of 1-Day Acuvue limits its use to a single day disposable wear". I've been wearing contact lenses for almost two decades and never once had any sort of eye problems. Yes, it is cheaper, but the cost of lenses and eye wear really add up. It was an uncomfortable situation; I was bullied and coerced into a purchase I didn't want. The store was compensated for my exam by my insurance, but the doctor wasn't satisfied with just that. It is illegal to withhold a prescription until lens purchase, and unethical to pressure a patient to buy directly from one place. I would never recommend this place to anybody. read more

Getting my eyes checked was fine. But getting my prescription was a mess and it still isn't cleared up. I've been trying to order contacts and the contact sellers haven't been able to reach anyone at Native Ken to verify my prescription. I'm in desperate need of contacts and they've delayed it by almost a full week now. Also, TWICE they sent me someone else's prescription. read more

Really great place and friendly staff! Needed to get my glasses adjusted since they were falling off my face and Chris was really helpful and nice. Fixed my glasses no questions asked! Definitely recommend! read more

Wow! I went here after reading the 2 5-star reviews and my experience was no different. This is not a glasses factory like Cohen's or Lenscrafters - it is a boutique eyewear shop. I came in really late for my appointment due to a baby shower running late. They took me in with no problem. The ambiance here is amazing! I know it's weird to say that about a place that is not a hotel or restaurant but it feels very posh here. The doctor herself was so lovely and quick with my exam - my prescription had not changed much in 5 years so it was easy. The girls helped me pick a frame that I LOVE! I am really into the new nerdy chic look with the bigger, more prominent frames - see Victoria Beckham in Glamour Sept 2012 issue. The first pair she picked for me were exactly what I went with - looked very similar to Victoria's. The entire process was less than 30 mins - I also spent less $200 on exam, frames and lenses! Can't beat that!! The frames were ready 2 days later - I had some anxiety if I would still like them days later since they were different than the ones I've normally worn. But there was no regret - only love! I read more

Do not come here if you also need a restroom. You might, as we did, find restroom randomly "closed."

Tina Catherine is AH-MAZING! My boyfriend referred them after the leg on my 6 year old frames fell off. Needless to say, it was time for a new pair and an eye exam since it had been ages (clearly, I'm not a fan of eye exams). I went in on a Saturday and got my exam. The optician was lovely! She was gentle yet thorough and made the experience painless - and quick! The eyewear selection is very impressive. They only carry the best brands and the latest styles available. The customer service was also great. The sales staff is also very knowledgeable and honest - which is important if you're shopping solo. They also were very helpful with the insurance processing and answering questions about payment and claims. My glasses were ready in about 2-3 days (so fast!) and they came out perfect. I can finally see again -with two legs!! LOL Overall it was a great experience and I highly recommend Tina Catherine! Thanks guys - you ROCK! read more

Great/quality selection! They carry trendy unique pieces guaranteed to attract your interest. Chris, the owner, is a very cool dude and very helpful. read more

I got to say these guys have the best service especially the guy Chris his a great great help my glasses I purchased 3 years ago with a year warranty had broken and he got them fixed the same day gosh no payment at all ...what a great guy and great customer service...its from the heart with him ...go shop and get you a nice pair they have what you want....Thanks so much Chris I will tell all my friends about you guys.....P.S they also got great coffee there read more

After having the world's worst experience with Cohen's I remembered that the staff at Tina Catherine had been very nice when I stopped in to browse a few months before. While they were out of network for my insurance I felt they were worth paying out of pocket for. I had purchased some Tom Ford frames online (a brand they do not sell) and after Cohen's put lenses of the wrong prescription in (mind you I waited a whole week for them) I just wanted to see again! Tina Catherine's staff warmly welcomed me with my frames and prescription in hand. They admired my frames and said that they would be ready in a day or two. I stopped by as I passed later that week and my glasses were all ready to go. No fuss, no attitude. I would definitely recommend Tina Catherine to anyone who needs work done fast and likes to be treated like an adult (two things I cannot say about Cohen's). Well worth the extra money in my opinion. Oh, and their lenses were competitively priced. read more

Not just a place to buy glasses! Serving local For Five Coffee Roasters, this is one of my favorite places to feed my caffeine addiction. In addition to serving some seriously good coffee - all the people that work here are refreshingly friendly and fun to chat with. read more

They don't offer a full money refund for online ordering - so if you don't like the item you can get store credit for another item, but if that isn't possible you shouldn't order. some excuse by the customer servbice dept that it can't give your money back and only offers a store credit. These frames are extremely expensive - I feel that this isn't customer friendly - more like a hold up - Saw the boyfriend of the owner on Wendy williams show clouting tehm, but this isn't a worth the time - don't answer emails about this had to request several times. Which isn't right. Sad! read more

The level of service I received from TCEO is like no other. I misplaced my last pair of contacts and needed new contracts for a wedding this Sunday, but unfortunately I have astigmatism and use the Acuvue brand, which no optical store front has stock of for a moment's notice emergency. The owner called their distributer and within 24 hours I had a new pair of contacts as I waited for my new order of contacts to be delivered by mail. WOW. Thank you! read more

I have been going to Native Ken (which used to be Tina Catherine) for several years for eye exams, contact lenses, and glasses prescriptions. I am always impressed by the friendliness of the owner and staff. My kids are often in tow and no one minds that they are running around hundreds of expensive frames...they are just always so calm and courteous. Today I was seen by Justin, an optician who was super nice and took time to explain eye conditions to me that no one has in the past. The facility is spotless and modern. Not sure how price compares to others, but I don't care, I wouldn't go anywhere else. Thanks as always, Native Ken! read more

Pros: High-end boutique shop with a wide range of selected eyewear. Cons: Bad return policy- only accepts exchanges or store credit, so you're left with spending at least $400-500 minimum there, since all their products are in high price points. OK customer service (the people there can be rude if you are not willing to buy something!) All in all, I've experienced better shops with much lower prices and good customer service. read more

Great experience at this place. I was seen promptly and found the optometrist to be very personable and helpful. The store is clean and well-organized. I will definitely come back here for future fittings! read more

So i recently went to Tina Catherine, and was wearing my sunglasses i purchased there, and one of the owners was talking to me and noticed some scratches on a pair of Polarized Paul Smith sunglasses with a brownish gradient. At Tina Catherine, they have their own gradient and lense dipper ? Where they can take your lenses and make a gradient of any colors you like or even solid colors. I changed mine from brown to a gradient of grey. It was remarkable. Chris took my glasses and told me to come back in a couple hours and when i came back they are all ready to go. Glad You guys are doing well still! read more

Extremely helpful service and very happy with the unique styles. Have received a ton of compliments!

This place has gone downhill fast. The old optometrist was very good, but this new one has no idea what she is doing. They keep people waiting for 30 minutes after their appointment times and don't even apologize! Great frames and usually great service, but this place is in need of a reality check, it's a shitshow in there as of late, and that's very unfortunate as I've had so many positive experiences with TC up until lately. read more

Great collection of glasses. If you buy multiple pairs they'll work with you on the prices(doesnt get better than that). Friendly and knowledgable, you feel comfortable shopping. Will go again. read more

Concept = Amazing! Received the highest level of client service with these guys! Seriously! Even the doctor was well dressed, educated, and just made getting glasses really nice. The selection of brands I was introduced seem to be rare compared with other shops I've been too in the area and around NYC. Overall, Tina Catherine has a cool concept going on and I look forward to stopping in just to chat with the guys there. read more

This is a beautiful store, and they have have really nice frames, but you'll be paying full FULL retail here. You can buy Varilux lenses (high quality lenses which Tina Catherine--and many other opticians--offer) much cheaper online if you have your prescription handy. I bought frames and progressive Varilux lenses with anti-glare coating (anti-glare coating is a HUGE money maker for optical stores...they charge a lot for this, and it costs them very very little) online at 39 Dollar Glasses dot com for $155, no tax or shipping charge. This is a lovely optical store, and if you don't mind paying much more than you need to, I recommend Tina Catherine. read more

Came in here to get my glasses adjusted on Saturday. The person who helped me was great! Did an awesome job on the glasses. This place is really cute too. Fun idea to add a coffee bar. Will definitely be back! read more

This place is amazing. I needed to get my lenses replaced and had called a few places in the city and got some crazy expensive quotes. Not only did Chris give me a reasonable price, they had my glasses ready for me same day and he was as nice as could be. I'd absolutely come here for any pair of glasses. They have a cool selection of both sunglasses and eyeglasses, their service is great, and reasonably priced. read more

I've been going to these guys for my glasses for a while now . But I went in to have a lens replaced and the frame cleaned up .I was treated like I was buying the most expensive glasses in the store. I can't say enough about how great this store is and the guys who run It top class with a hit of caring . P.s. they aren't bad on the eyes either. Jeff B read more

Good News/Bad News...They have a great selection and the staff are very helpful. If you have the VSP Vision Plan , Tina Catherine is OUT OF NETWORK. Be warned that you will get ONLY A TINY FRACTION of what you would get back if it was in network. They don't bother to warn you about this. read more

I recently moved to the neighborhood and kept passing by Tina Catherine's. I finally went in and had the best experience. It was an all around 5 star experience! The staff, the decor and the selection are all unbeatable! The exam was great and the doctor was so nice and friendly. I will surely be returning there in the future!! read more