MEAMA Georgian Kitchen
East Village, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
MEAMA Georgian Kitchen is a practical East Village pick for a relaxed dinner when ease matters more than ceremony. Use it for a casual small-group meal or low-pressure date, and cross-shop Sinsa or ShabuShabu GEN if the night calls for a more clearly defined format.
About MEAMA Georgian Kitchen
For a first-timer considering MEAMA Georgian Kitchen in New York City, the planning details are direct: it is open daily, with evening hours Monday through Friday and earlier openings on Saturday and Sunday. The dress code is smart casual, so plan for a neat but not overly formal meal.
For details such as specific dishes, prices, seating, chef information, dietary accommodations, takeout, delivery, or awards, check the venue's official channels before making plans around any of those points.
Use it for a New York City meal with simple planning details
The right expectation matters here. Focus on the basics that are useful for planning: MEAMA Georgian Kitchen is in New York City, it keeps daily hours, and the dress code is smart casual.
Timing is the clearest part of the decision. Monday through Friday, the venue is open from 4–11 PM. On Saturday and Sunday, it is open from 12–11 PM. If your plans depend on a particular menu item, dietary accommodation, price point, or service format, confirm directly before arriving.
Who should visit, and who should cross-shop
Consider it if the priority is a New York City meal where the basics fit your schedule: daily hours, evening availability throughout the week, and smart casual dress. Cross-shop if you need a venue with more specifics around menu format, price, service style, or special-occasion details.
If you are still comparing options, consider MEAMA Georgian Kitchen alongside Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar, Risotteria Melotti, ShabuShabu GEN, Sinsa, or The Black Ant. Choose based on the most current details available from each venue rather than assuming similarities in cuisine, format, or price.
Planning details
- Location
- 78 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- meamanyc.com
- Phone
- +13322688384
The take
The Take
The Vibe
MEAMA Georgian Kitchen presents Georgian cooking as an intimate, domestic practice rather than a culinary spectacle. The room feels warm and grounded; aromas of walnut paste, spices and hot dough form the restaurant’s sensory identity. Service and preparation lean toward the immediate—hisses from the stove and the rhythm of hands shaping khachapuri replace tableside theatrics—so the atmosphere reads as charming and rustic in the best sense: unpretentious, tactile and rooted in old-world traditions that feel storied and historic even in the East Village setting.
Best For
This is a place for exploratory dinners and group-focused meals where sharing is central. With the Georgian table as the focal point, MEAMA suits gatherings that want to work through plates family-style—groups of friends or couples who enjoy tasting many small-to-medium dishes together. The kitchen’s warm, domestic energy also makes it a relaxed choice for evenings when you want flavors that are aromatic and unfamiliar to many New Yorkers, rather than a slick, modern tasting-menu experience.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the cuisine’s hallmark flavors: order khachapuri and khinkali to understand the backbone of Georgian comfort food, and try the Pear & Roquefort Khachapuri and eggplant rolls with walnut to experience the house use of walnut paste and layered spices. The menu rewards shared ordering—the walnut-spiced dishes and churchkhela-inspired sweetness are best discovered across a few plates. Given the description’s emphasis on traditional winemaking, consider trying any Georgian or acid-driven wines on the list to cut through the richness.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy, warm, and inviting atmosphere with modern design that feels welcoming for date nights, group dinners, or casual gatherings.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Pear & Roquefort Khachapuri
- Khinkali
- Eggplant rolls with walnut
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 78 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar, Notable alternative
- Sinsa, Korean, $$$
- Risotteria Melotti, Notable alternative
- The Black Ant, Notable alternative
- ShabuShabu GEN, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares in New York City
MEAMA Georgian Kitchen is the lower-friction choice in this set: better for a casual East Village meal than for a polished splurge. Sinsa is the clearer pick when diners want a Korean restaurant with a stated $$$ price tier and a more defined night-out feel. Choose MEAMA when flexibility and ease matter; choose Sinsa when the group wants to commit to a higher-spend dinner.
Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar and Risotteria Melotti are better cross-shops when the table wants a narrower specialty format. That can make ordering simpler for groups with a clear craving, but less useful if the goal is a relaxed neighborhood dinner with broader appeal. MEAMA is the easier recommendation for a casual first visit to the area.
For ambiance and format, The Black Ant and ShabuShabu GEN are the better comparisons if the group wants the venue itself to drive the evening. ShabuShabu GEN, in particular, makes sense for diners who prefer a structured hot-pot style meal. MEAMA is the safer choice when booking difficulty and a laid-back mood matter more than a tightly defined dining format.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full MEAMA Georgian Kitchen guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare MEAMA Georgian Kitchen
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEAMA Georgian Kitchen | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| Sinsa | New York City | Korean | $$$ | No published awards |
| Risotteria Melotti | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| The Black Ant | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| ShabuShabu GEN | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
How MEAMA Georgian Kitchen NYC compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MEAMA Georgian Kitchen handle dietary restrictions?
If you have strict restrictions or allergies, contact MEAMA Georgian Kitchen directly before visiting and confirm what the venue can handle.
Is lunch or dinner better at MEAMA Georgian Kitchen?
Hours are Monday through Friday from 4–11 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 12–11 PM. Weekday visits are evening-only based on those hours, while Saturday and Sunday allow for earlier plans.
What should I wear to MEAMA Georgian Kitchen?
The dress code is smart casual. A neat, comfortable outfit is the safest choice; formalwear is not part of the stated dress code.
Is MEAMA Georgian Kitchen good for a special occasion?
It can be considered if the basics fit your occasion: New York City location, daily hours, and smart casual dress. For more detailed planning around menu, price, seating, or service style, confirm directly with the venue first.
What are other venues to compare with MEAMA Georgian Kitchen?
Other venues to compare include Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar, Risotteria Melotti, ShabuShabu GEN, Sinsa, and The Black Ant. Check each venue's current details directly before comparing menus, prices, or service formats.
