Chama Mama - Chelsea

incredible staff and food! was such a great experience and some of the most interesting food in new york city

One of my favorite brunches yet!!

Highly recommend the outdoor patio if you can get seating, was very cute and perfect for the nice weather when we went. In general I don't love traditional American brunch, so was super excited about the variety of interesting options available here and it did not disappoint.

The khachapuri was tasty, definitely as can be expected a bit cheese heavy (so would recommend splitting with others). LOVED the mushroom dumplings (were like a soup dumpling and super flavorful) and the Chiji-piji (a must for shakshuka lovers like myself.)

Incredible. Sandro was an excellent waiter and gave great recs.

We got the dumplings which were tasty just like Asian dumplings. Similar broth inside. The dough was particularly tasty.

We got the seasonal chama mama dish and then an individual dish with meat inside. The seasonal was unbelievable. Like Georgian cheesy pizza. Super good. The herbs were incredibly tasty. Crazy fresh flavors.

Inside was clean and welcoming. Love the plants. Love the chill music playing the whole time to create a vibe.

I've been meaning to try Chama Mama after seeing their viral khachapuris. Finally tried it out, and while the khacahapuri was good (I mean who can go wrong with bread and a shit ton of cheese), it's not anything special. I can't say the same for their kebab. This was a total letdown. Very meh imo. Sausage roll with kebab flavors?

That said, the place is pretty. Good for larger groups cause they have a big space including outdoor terrace seating (that's heated!) and long tables.

If you want bread with cheese, sure, come on over. Otherwise idk it's not anything special. The amber wine was nice. Maybe their other stuff's a bit better.

We enjoyed the khachapuri and it the egg and cheese was mixed in front of us. I would definitely get it again since i love cheese and the bread boat was perfectly toasted. We also got the kubdari which was bread with meat, but I felt like it was a little too much bread when also getting the cheese boat dish. Would have wanted to try the lamb chops instead. I made a reservation the day of. Love the ambiance and there are many seats in the back and a cute outdoor area.

OMG! I love this place. I am craving it right now as I write this review.

Food:
If I could live off of Adjaruli Khachapuri I would. A traditional dish that is open-faced khachapuri with a blended cheese, topped with raw egg. The egg is mixed into the cheese tableside. SOOOO GOOOOD!!!! It was so good that I had one as an appetizer and one for dinner. I also enjoyed Mushroom Khinkali (Georgian Dumplings) - another delicious dish. Lastly, I had one of their spreads - Spinach Pkhali: Spinach, walnut paste, onion, garlic, coriander and topped with Pomegranate Seeds. Super fresh and delicious.

Drinks:
For cocktails, we had a Sassy Tangarine: Cachaca, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, tangerine, and orange bitters and an Espresso Mama: A rich and indulgent chilled espresso cocktail with Georgian Brandy, Mr. Black, fresh espresso and simple syrup. And then with dinner, I had a flight of their famous wines - I had the Amber Wine Flight - Three different amber wine styles from different grape varieties.

Service:
The service was super friendly, helpful, and attentive. We sat at the bar and had a great time.

Vibe:
I loved sitting at the bar. I took a tour around the restaurant and if I sat at a table, I would probably want to sit in the front room or at the bar.

This was a great find and I would highly recommend a visit.

Date of Visit: 16 March 2024

Really tasty! Went by myself on Sunday night and no wait. Service was super fast and nice, and loved that there were several sections.

Only complaint is I felt the food was a little salty - the Georgian cheese was really salty and wish I had some leafy greens to balance it out

Whisk me away to Georgia now! Like other reviewers, this was my first time having Georgian food and I absolutely loved it. The cheese, butter, and egg bread is a must! The combination of flavors was heaven in my mouth. They mix it at the table to gooey perfection.

My party of two also ordered the trio of pork and beef dumplings (khinkali) which were juicy and fresh tasting. The cauliflower in a flavorful curry was another standout. Our server recommended ordering extra bread for the curry (which we did), but we felt it wasn't exactly needed and would skip next time. The olive oil dressing that came with the extra bread was chef's kiss. We had Georgian wine and the honey cake to cap off the night. The honey cake could have maybeee been a tad more moist but we enjoyed it! Despite having just a few dishes and sharing everything, we were stuffed!

This place was decently packed on a Monday. Would definitely make a reservation. The service was excellent and efficient. The lighting was perfect. Wasn't too noisy in the front- perfect for a catch up or date night. Seemed a bit louder in the back. Fully recommend chama mama and looking forward to being back if I don't take the next flight to Georgia before then!

Chama Mama is a very good Georgian restaurant in the heart of Chelsea. The ambiance is cozy and friendly. The food is very good with an extensive menu. The wine -- all from Georgia -- is very good as well. The service is excellent and the servers are happy to make recommendations. All and all a positive experience.

This was my first time trying Georgian food (other than making kachipuri at home). This experience reminded me why I live eating in New York so much. I recommend getting the taste of georgia which is a variety of phkali which remind me of bengali bhartas. They are each a mixture of veggies with walnuts. My least favorite was the smoked cheese which I found to be strong. Also definitely get the honey cake!!

The service staff was very attentive, checking in frequently and turning down the speakers that were too loud because we were right next to them. This restaurant is HUGE which was really unexpected for me. I definitely have a had my eyes opened to Georgian food and would bring others here!!

Excellent food, excellent service, not bad prices. There's a garden in the back of the Chelsea location, I was inspired to make an inquiry for a birthday event. If you haven't had Georgian food (and no, not Georgia USA) come to Chana Mama first. Check out the oven that makes the magical bread .