For those old enough to remember the hippie era The Naam represents a trip down memory lane. You know the VW vans, long hair, marijuana smoke prevailing through the air in Kits, at least according to my old man thats how it was in the “good old days”. The Naam is a constant reminder of this city’s hippie roots (well those banners on 4th avenue are a reminder as well I guess) in an era that has transformed Kitsilano into an upscale neighbourhood, its great to see some remnants of the hippie past. So is the evolutionary cycle of a city.
Alright, let us get the bad stuff out of the way, shall we. The service at this place is downright brutal, the waiters come across as really “slow”. Possibly they are stoned, who knows? I guess there is nothing more to be said about the service at The Naam. Further, it can be a tad too loud for some, however, it is understandable since it is always pretty busy. None of these factors seem to be detractors to its loyal customers. The atmosphere is given a daily jolt as they have live jazz, folk or blues playing in the evenings.
If you forget about the poor service, the food is actually pretty good. Oh and did I mention that this place serves only vegetarian dishes. The Urban Dweller is on a strict chicken and turkey diet and a meal without some sort of meat seems incomplete. However, after trying the Dragon bowl I was amazed by the quality of food (even without actual meat).
The price range is good, it is definitely not expensive. The portions that you get are satisfying. This place is open 24 hours a day (we need more of that in Van) and if you are a vegetarian than this place is a must visit. Meat eaters tread carefully. Overall it was an enjoyable first experience and I’ll visit again some time soon.
The Naam
2724 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
604.738.7151
Food: B
Atmosphere: B
Price:A
Service: D-
(photo courtesy of igougo.com)
