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Pera Mediterranean Brasserie
Categories: Restaurants Turkish Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Turkish, Mediterranean, Breakfast & Brunch
303 Madison Ave(between 41st St & 42nd St)
New York, NY 10017
Neighbourhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill
(212) 878-6301
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand Central - 42 St (S)
Grand Central - 42 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
5 Av (7, 7X)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
131 reviews for Pera Mediterranean Brasserie
Review Highlights
-
"Must try: Fried Calamari, Lamb Adana." In 13 reviews -
"Apps - Fried Artichoke Hearts." In 5 reviews -
"All were YUM-especially the hummus." In 35 reviews
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131 reviews in English
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Review from Sabin C.
Scarsdale, NY
5/3/2012
It's plain and simple. The food here is top notch. I always eat at the bar since it's pretty casual and the service is quick. It's also close to Grand Central which is a huge plus for me. I have been there a lot of times to tell you that these are the things that are just amazing and you must try plus a little secret!
Lamb Adana - well balanced flavors with mild spices and a touch of olive oil. You can have it plain or with some flat bread.
Hummus - ask for a super spicy hot sauce, made in house with grilled habaneros and mix it in, you have never had anything else like it.
Lamb Chops - a bit on the small side but really good tasting
Sirloin Steak - you won't find this cut of meat cooked better than this anywhere else. And the sauce is perfect with it. This one should be bottled and sold as a bbq sauce, not that crappy A1 stuff.
Fried Calamari - this is probably the best calamari dish I have ever had. It has a combination of chorizo, grilled peppers, and a nice aioli sauce. A must add is lemon juice and the combination of flavors is explosive!
The decor is really nice too. It's simple rustic old/new world architecture with soft yellow tones, but then again who goes for the interior right?! There are very very very few places I have been to where I even look at the walls or ceilings, I just want good food people! And if the food sucks then the X million dollar investment that went into making the restrooms look good was a total waste!
The Good:
- Food Food Food
- Good open floors
- Live music on the weekend nights
The Bad:
- Can get a bit pricey
The Ugly:
- The lonely hearts club!Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 5/9/2012
Sabin, We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed yourself.… More » -
Review from Stephen B.
Northport, NY
5/17/2012
Although the name says Mediterranean, my Turkish business associates say the food is primarily Turkish. They picked it so that says something about the authenticity.
This is a very nice place and the food was very good. To start, they serve a plate of hummus and other dips with a crispy Turkish bread. It may be authentic but the bread was a bit too hard in my opinion. If I find myself there again, I'll ask for a softer bread to dip with.
I had the Lamb Adana that was served with a very soft flat bread and some grilled vegetables. Very good. I used the bread to finish the dips. Ahhhh, much better. -
Review from Joanne B.
Updated - 3/27/2012
Pera: Take 2
Still not impressed. Only ended up coming back due to logistics in planning a catch up session with an old friend.
Food is lackluster but they do serve excellent stuffed grape leaves. Perhaps I am partial to more authentic Turkish food rather than a corporate/mainstream interpretation. (The bar and dining room was definitely filled with an older, corporate crowd.)
Service this time was the complete opposite of my last visit, rather annoying and pushing us to order when we hadn't even begun to review the menu. Catching up over $18+ glasses of wine and cocktails does not need to be rushed. I just feel that they hire an inexperienced staff that fail to properly read the customers.
Again, decent location to catch up over drinks and apps but not a destination restaurant.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/27/2012
This place was pretty much a let down.
Since we couldn't get a seat at Taboon...settled on checking… Read more »
Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 2/13/2012
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with… More » -
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Review from Shane D.
Theater District, Manhattan, NY
5/24/2012
We had a great table and that was as good as it got. The Waite staff were not attentive by any means, the shortest Waite we had was when I called for the check, I do not expect to pay $31 for a steak kebab which had poor quality meat, the hummus was oily and not seasoned, I will never be back here, while it looks the part it falls very short of anything more than a rip off restaurant.
-
Review from Lilli L.
Manhattan, NY
5/17/2012
My boyfriend and I were there last Sunday, we picked the " mother's day special boundless BBQ", also we have noticed there was 2 hours seating limit.
Without being informed the kitchen was going to close in 15 minutes when we placed the order, so we ended up only getting one plate of fried calamari, one plate of BBQ meat consisted of "beef slices, small lamp rib, chicken pieces, and shrimp" and two small deserts, and a small bowl rice pudding. I voiced up my opinion about not getting what I have paid for, which was unlimited BBQ, and I wanted something done to correct THEIR mistake. The manager came over and trying to talk me off and gave me some lame excuses.( NOT BEING APOLOGETIC AT ALL...not a very good way to do business) which really got on my nerve...When I persisted, she walked away and came back saying she had spoken to the restaurant owner and was directed to serve me more if I wanted. After 10 minute of waiting, the waiter came back with 4 piece of overly burnt lamb rib. I was totally disgusted.
Despite of what happened, my boyfriend still tipped 20% on the bill of $110. I think he was too nice!
WE will never go back. If you want to be have a nice dining experience for your money, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE -
Review from Harper S.
3/17/2012
This is a very challenging neighborhood to have a good business lunch that is not your typical salad/sandwich place or somewhere super high end. I really love the ambiance and decor here. The service is great.
My lunch partner and I shared the hummus (YUM) and each got a salad. Mine was beyond excellent, as was hers. We were really pleased with our overall meal.
It's just a bit overpriced, but I guess they can get away with this because there's no place quite like it in the hood and most lunches/dinners are expensed.Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 3/26/2012
Thank you for the thumbs up. We will be launching our… More » -
Review from caroline k.
Fort Lee, NJ
4/22/2012
Totally empty on a Thursday night. Hopped in for some late eats/drinks when nearby madison & vine was packed. Decor is beautiful but food is mediocre -- we had a bunch of tapas (flatbread, lamb tacos, meatball sliders, crostini) and the ground chicken entree and for dessert the semolina dome -- nothing was memorable.
Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 4/27/2012
Dear Caroline - we are sorry you did not have a properly… More » -
Review from Sarah C.
New York, NY
4/22/2012
I've never been a big fan of dining near Grand Central. I find the area to be boring and the restaurants mediocre and crowded. Pera is one of the few exceptions.
I walked in with two friends at 7:00 and was seated promptly with no reservations. The dining room is spacious and when I dined there last they had a jazz trio. The decor is mostly forgettable. Sound is lively but not ear splitting.
Best dishes were the lamb chops which were tender and flavorful; the okra and peppers which were spicy an perfectly seasoned; the swordfish and the stuffed grape leaves.
The chickpea spread was good but a little salty for my taste. Wine selection was extensive but I'd have liked more rose and champagne choices.Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 4/27/2012
Hi Sarah - we will most certainly be adding more bubblies… More » -
Review from Brian C.
4/9/2012
Popped into Pera without a res on a Saturday night and was seated immediately. The ambiance is very cordial and the decor Is quite nice with a view of the open kitchen. The menu is quite extensive with lots of Mezze options. We opted for their $29
All u can eat BBQ mainly because it simplified navigating the extensive menu. We were served some warm breads straight from the oven and then onto some nice mezzes of babaganoush and houmus varities although I don't recall their Turkish names. Next a lovely salad, a kind ofTurkish Ceasar, and then Fried Calamari nicely done. At this point we were almost stuffed. The all you can eat BBQ grilled items were yet to appear, and when th spicy chicken skewers, lamb, and beef arrived along with some nice fries they were all very flavorful. With so much food only one helping from the grill was necessary. A dessert was also offered, a just ok baklava. The bottom line on this place is the bottom line! The $29 BBQ special was a great deal. The food was very good. Go with a group to really indulge. A word of caution: you may find Pera's regular menu expensive for this type of cuisine . It's closer to 4 stars, but, for value, with out the BBQ deal, it's not there.Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 4/9/2012
Brian, thanks so much for your feedback. We are glad you… More » -
Review from JennyKayt C.
New York, NY
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm a little surprised this place has such a low rating. The service was great, food was tasty, they had last minute availability on a Friday night, and the restaurant setting is beautiful. I will say that I got a little sick after eating the food, but it very well could be that I gorged myself on the lamb adana. I also noticed that they had this really economical buffet special when I was there.
Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 4/4/2012
Jenny, We are so glad that you enjoyed yourself! We… More » -
Review from Kurt R.
New York, NY
4/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excellent service; super seafood salad appetizer, chock full of mussels, shrimp, scallops and more; great hanger steak and eggs. And they know how to make a perfectly dry Hendricks martini.
Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 4/20/2012
Kurt, Glad you enjoyed yourself we hope to see you again… More » -
Review from eve a.
1/6/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Cok guzel. that's means "So great" in Turkish. from outside it seemed a bit snobby ( well, those dudes in custom made business suits all over the place make it look like one) but its actually not as stiff as it seems.
So lets starts from A- service was great,very nice hostess;bartender fixed nice glasses of Madison for me-girly drink for a girly girl; our waiter was very knowledgeable (even thou,im a pro in Turkish food-at least in eating it).
Food- amazing,very flavorful yet not overpowering the natural taste of the ingredients.
They serve Warm hummus with slices of pastirma, and the dates stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in pastirma as well (its a Turkish cured meat) Omg, those are to die for. i had mackerel which was a sassy little dish that teases your palate. Warm chocolate cake with apricot marmalade perfect for two since its dense and very rich.
special paragraph to Adana kebab- i don't like adana kebab since i find it too spicy and meaty for my taste but here its spiced to perfection and its sooo juicy and moist that i think i have to cross Adana kebab from my hate list.
I will be back, how lucky they are ;))Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 2/23/2012
Eve, thanks so much for the positive feedback! We look… More » -
Review from Jacob Y.
So it was a colleague of mine's birthday (yes, the same colleague that came here for my birthday during restaurant week) and we opted to go back to Pera, due to convenience and its good food.
First things first. I did receive a clarification after my original yelp on Pera from the owner, who did note to us that we were mistakenly overcharged for our matinis the first time around.
Therefore, we agreed to give it a go again. The owner personally took care of our reservations, and they paid every attention to detail regarding our second visit.
What stood out?
- The obvious was the martinis. Delicious as always.
- The service. Impeccable this time. Spot on.
- And for my friend's birthday...you MUST try the baklava. MUST!
I must definitely keep this place in mind for future outings!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2011
It's my Birthday, and everyone in the office has known for a week. Yup, I don't just celebrate one… Read more »
Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 8/12/2011
We are glad you enjoyed Pera for your birthday over… More » -
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Review from walter o.
New York, NY
3/25/2012
I have dined here several times. both weekday evenings and weekends. but will never go again. The service is always uneven. But this saturday evening was the worst. during the middle of our dinner a wedding party of over 70 people came in! We are seating in the middle of the Wedding party! jostling my chair at least a dozen times, i even had to get up to let people pass, it was so crowded. YET THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY, we could have been seated in the front were it was quite and not crowded. . we had chosen to go on a weekend because it is usually very quiet.
Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 3/26/2012
Dear Sir, Thank you for sharing your experience with the… More » -
Review from Anne H.
11/1/2011
Eh. Maybe my palette isn't sophisticate enough for this restaurant, but I'm a foodie who rarely fine dines. I was expecting for the price and decor, this place would blow me away.
The calamari was good. But everything else I tasted (shrimp tabouleh salad, hummus, roasted whipped eggplant) were good but not outstanding.
Oh, and don't get the roasted vegetables as your side. Ours came burnt and no one ate them. -
Review from Ambreesh K.
Edison, NJ
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have had 2 dinners and 2 lunches here over the last year or so. My most recent meal was last week, a business lunch.
The ambiance is nice, albeit a tad stuffy, and the food is good. A decent wine selection. The hummus and grape leaves are well made, the soujouk was a tad oily and heavy. The favourite undoubtedly is the Adana, which is very good - lamb marinated in spices. I have had this entree for dinner and as a lunch wrap, and both have been well made. I did try the whole barzini fish as an entree once, it was OK - I would have expected something more. For dessert, the baklava is very good. And yes they do make a turkish coffee too.
I just want them to expand their menu. If you have eaten here twice, you are kinda done with the place.
A good place for business meals, not sure I would take the family here though.Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 2/13/2012
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. While we… More » -
Review from Rima C.
Manhattan, NY
8/4/2011
The food at Pera was bursting with flavor, through and through - so much so that I often start craving some of their dishes! Do be sure to try the hummus, chicken adana roll, meatball sliders, and soujouk lollipops. Guarantee you won't be disappointed.
This is the perfect place to share delicious tapas with friends, and enjoy a good bottle of wine. Highly recommend. -
Review from Allison K.
Baldwin, NY
7/15/2011
I came here for restaurant week with a few friends, and I would say that we were all pretty satisfied with our meals. Let's go down the line, shall we?
Fried calamari: a solid standard. They served this appetizer with a few pieces of hot cherry peppers, that could be a bit overpowering and hot. However, if you get the tentacle-y pieces of calamari and eat them with the pepper, the combo is pretty delish.
Meze trio: stuffed grape leaves, eggplant dip and hummus. I've had better eggplant dip, so this was pretty underwhelming. It was the least popular of the trio amongst my friends as well. On the other hand, we were all singing the praises of the hummus. Warm, flavorful, and simply tasty.
Accompanying our two dips was a lone pita chip, thoughtfully placed in the center of the eggplant dip. Although the chip was good, we wished it had siblings or friends; we hadn't been given any more pita to eat our dips with! Thankfully, we had been given table bread, so we finished off our hummus with that, although more pita would have been nice.
We had the pan roasted king salmon, chicken brochette and lamab adana for entrees, and they went from best to good in that order.
The lamb adana was a bit gamey and earthy for my taste, but my other friends liked it. The chicken was delicious, flavorful and very tender. But who ruled the night? King Salmon! (Sorry, I had to...)
At first, our waiter approached the friend who ordered it and apologized that the salmon didn't come out with everyone else's dish, and comped him with free hummus and pita chips. (Hello, pita friends and family!) The waiter explained that the chef just wasn't satisfied with the way that the salmon had turned out.
It was worth all of the next couple of minutes that it took for the dish to come out. King Salmon arrived in all of its glory, a dish garnished with blackberry gastrique. Wow. It was absolutely perfectly cooked; I've never had fish that melted in my mouth. King salmon, indeed. It was fantastic. The skin was crusted over, creating a wonderful contrast of textures, and the haricot vert (a very skinny, baby asparagus) was the perfect compliment to the fish.
For dessert, we ordered baklava and rice pudding; the rice pudding outshined the baklava for sure. The baklava was tasty, but having eaten amazing baklava at Persepone a few weeks ago, I was just meh about it. The rice pudding had a creme brulee-esque burnt crust that made the dish very interesting, but the pudding itself was good too. Not too sweet, not too milky, just right.
Overall, it was a great meal. Great service, up until the end when we waited for a long time to get our check, but we also probably should have flagged the staff down earlier. If I am ever craving hummus and king salmon, this is the place you'll find me from now on. -
Review from Allison C.
New York, NY
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
WHAT the what WHAT? When my co-worker invited me out for a "Boundless BBQ" at a restaurant near Grand Central, I'm thinking, "Dallas BBQ-esque. Good. I can look chicly slovenly in my cut-off jean shorts and tank top." Then I got to Pera, was surrounded by opulence and wine bottle-filled walls, and felt like walking over to H&M to buy myself a little black dress.
But the food...THE FOOD. Where to begin?
A mere $29 dollars bought me my share of, indeed, a boundless barbecue. First off, the appetizers, all served family-style, included a tomato and onion salad with pomegranate vinaigrette, roasted whipped eggplant and bread with feta cheese, and hummus and chips. The BBQ platter included Mediterranean meatballs, baby lamb riblets, marinated hanger steak, grilled shrimp, and chicken brochette. Side dishes included Mediterranean fries, Mediterranean cole slaw, and bulgur pilaf. Finally, dessert included strawberry shortcake and rice pudding with a caramelized crust.
Folks, I did not dislike a single damn thing I ate, and I DID eat more than one of everything. I sat there, feeling full almost to the point of discomfort and delightfully hedonistic.
Delicious. Sexy. I'm ready to go back and have another boundless meal of ANYTHING at this fine establishment! -
Review from Pooja V.
Edgewater, NJ
2/4/2012
We went there yesterday to try out for the restaurant week. The cod fish my husband got had to be sent back because it was under cooked and was RAW in the middle, yuck!
Rest of us had the Adana lamb -- have had much better at smaller turkish restaurants. The food was served luke warm but you could see it coming off the grill hot and sizzling. Maybe they are understaffed cause we waited for drinks 10-15mins after we finished a round. So the food must be sitting and waiting to be picked up to be served.
I would probably not visit this place again and spend non-restaurant week prices for similar service...
Best part was the live Jazz band that was playing in the front of the room.Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 2/23/2012
Pooja, thank you for your feedback. We are sorry that your… More » -
Review from Alan s.
Manhattan, NY
2/7/2012
Went for Restaurant Week and was completely underwhelmed. Ok, the day before I had been to Gotham Bar and Grill where the Restaurant Week lunch menu was AMAZING. But even forgetting the comparison, Pera was barely OK.
First, while the decor is nice, the chair I was sitting in was so beat up that the springs were almost coming through. Talk about uncomfortable....
Food: I asked the waiter what he'd recommend to start and he said that their signature dish was the salad. When it came, it was basically chopped up romaine with some feta and while not a bad salad, I could have made the same thing at home with no effort, so not at all special, let alone a "signature dish". The person I went with had the cauliflower soup and he said it was bland.
Then for the main course, we both had the cod sandwich which was tasteless and came on a plain roll with a slice of tomato and piece of lettuce. Again, while not bad, I could have gotten the same quality in a much less expensive restaurant.
For dessert, the waiter recommended the baklava. What a let down! I love baklava and this was bleh, both in taste as well as in texture. The person I was with ordered coffee and grains of the coffee grind were floating in the cup!
As for service, I'd say so-so. The waiter was nice enough, but not very attentive. When it came time for the dessert, we sat for probably 20 minutes before it came out - and this was for something that took no preparation at all. And it wasn't that busy, so no excuse about him being overwhelmed.
So bottom line: at least the Restaurant Week menu was a HUGE disappointment. I'll never go back!Comment from Nicole N. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 2/23/2012
Alan, we are so sorry to hear that your visit was a… More » -
Review from Sam P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/22/2012
I'm writing to point out that Pera was a bit of a let down. It's true that there aren't many good restaurants in this particular neighbourhood, so it does have plenty of redeeming qualities.
Pera serves Turkish food by Turkish staff.
They got off to a rocky start with us -- they refused to honour a restaurant-week coupon which, even though I don't really need to save the twenty bucks (on a $175), just makes them seem cheap.
From there the service was pretty lousy.
Also I'm particular fond of Turkish deserts and felt that they have a ways to go.
For what it's' worth, the decor was reasonably nice and our main courses were expertly prepared -- I just wishwhiched the service was a bit better. It's a bit of a challenge in this economy to fork over a thirty-five dollar tip to a crew of people who only took our orders and then bussed our food out to us.Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 1/26/2012
We have been participating in Restaurant Week 5 years… More » -
Review from Fikre D.
New York, NY
1/8/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Date: Sunday 12-18-2011
Time 10:30am
Party size: 2
Drinks: Sour Cherry Mimosa and the regular Mimosa
Meal: Mediterranean Brunch with a French flare
Menu price:
Pera-Style French Toast - $14
Smoked Lamb Hash - $17
Roasted Red Potatoes side - $5
Sour Cherry Mimosa - $8
Regular Mimosa - $8?
Service - 5 Stars
Food - 5 Stars
Drinks - 2.5 Stars
Ambiance: 5 Stars
Desserts - Didn't have any
Price of food - $$$
Price of drinks - $$
Price of sides - $$
Pros
Food - Very good and unique for brunch
Pera-Style French Toast ($14 pistachio jam, halloumi cheese) - unique and slightly sweet pistachio spread.
Smoked Lamb Hash ($17 two eggs, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomato broth, Turkish paprika hollandaise) - Excellent
Roasted Red Potatoes sides - Very good.
Portions - Smaller than other brunch places and reasonable
Table - Large and you had plenty space around
Staff - Very attentive and allowed us to charge our iPhone with their cable.
Location - Close to Grand Central (couple of blocks away)
Cons
Drinks - Sour Cherry Mimosa and the regular Mimosa ($8) were not very good, but I would pass even if it they were free.
Would I go back:
Yes -
Review from Lincoln H.
Jackson, MS
3/24/2012
Food was good, not great. Server was dis-interested in our table, liked the young women at the other tables much more. We could see he explained and helped them much more, consequently we didn't order their best food nor did we get prompt service.
Comment from Burak K. of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie 3/26/2012
Our signature dishes are the most popular ones on the menu,… More » -
Review from Joanie K.
4/20/2011
Came here for a business lunch and it was fantastic. Food was delicious and service was on point. I came a few years back and I don't remember it being this great. I will try it out one more time to see if it can get 5 stars, but for now, still a fan!
We ordered an assortment of apps:
Thought these were going to be great, but wasn't amazing: Grape Leaves, Fried Artichoke Hearts
Must try: Fried Calamari, Lamb Adana
The lamb was so flavorful
For my entree, I got Baby Lamb Chops which were delicious. They were perfectly seasoned and well 'browned'. A few people at the table ordered salads + sides of the lamb adanas and it was fantastic.
I also ordered a pomegranate puree as a juice - it was awesome! -
Review from Maya B.
Manhattan, NY
7/26/2011
Came for restaurant week:
The appetizers off the regular menu were good... the sliders were some of the best i've ever had... the pre fix apps didn't really appeal to me except the calamari... altho ppl were happy w. the mussels and the gazpacho was alright.
The wine selection is awful... we had to send back two bottles... they were all wrong... the manager was distraught... the waiter never came back to check on us after that.
The sides were awesome definitely get the fries and the rice it was tasty.
The main course... Salmon was unimpressive...The Adana was good... and the Steak would have been great had they not brought it out cold...then reheated it until it was well done and waited to bring it out lukewarm yet again.
The dessert: baklava was old and unimpressive and the rice pudding was not edible.
Overall perhaps with better staff a wider range for the wine selection and not restaurant week this place has great potential. -
Review from Mindy B.
Manhattan, NY
2/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really disappointing service. My friend and I (2 women) were there last night at 6:30, there were few people there. We ordered appetizers and salads and drinks. Got the drinks but not the food. We finally called over another waiter who tried to help us and told us the food would take a while. When leaving we told the manager who was sweet and asked us if he could make up for it at the bar. We sat at the bar, ordered and got our food but he never came back over to check on our experience. We were not expecting anything in return but we were clearly unimportant customers.
Shame as the food and drinks were great and we work near this restaurant. -
Review from Sarah G.
3/17/2011
Word to the wise: do not order the vegetarian sandwich for lunch! It is basically a bunch of lettuce stuffed in a huge puffed pastry. Not only is it impossible to eat politely in front of your colleagues at work lunch, but it's just not good. The plate was loaded with some sort of mayo so anything spilling out of the sandwich was drenched in this icky stuff. That dish was enough to override the ok small plates and really good bread basket.
On a positive note, it is a classy restaurant and the service was fine. -
Review from Geoff Y.
2/12/2011
One of my colleagues was leaving the company, so a few of us took her out as a sort of last lunch event. Having just come out of an underwhelming experience at Fig & Olive the previous weekend, I was hoping this place would be better.
I started with the Pera's Dip Duo - hummus with basil pesto, roasted eggplant with feta cheese, baked lavash chips. The dips were excellent. The eggplant had a nice texture to it, and the hummus is way better than anything you can get in a supermarket jar. It was smooth with no hint of grittiness from the chick peas. My only complaint was that it didn't come with enough of the lavash chips, but all we did was ask for more. The dips went well with the bread they put out on the table as well.
I thought the lamb "Adana" was a bit strange when it first came out. I thought it was something I could easily have gotten off a street cart outside. Granted, it tasted better and didn't leave me with an unsettled feeling at the pit of my stomach afterwards, but I was expecting more out of it.
For dessert (and by this time I was getting pretty full), I went with the baklava with Turkish pistachios in light syrup. Even if I haven't had a lot of baklava before, this is easily the best I've tried. I'm not sure what was between the phyllo sheets, but it tasted sort of like apples, which went well with everything. Overall, a good meal! -
Review from mstori ..
Los Angeles, CA
12/20/2010
We went in for the Weekend Lamb Roast Menu, which is served family style. We enjoyed the food, especially the Hummus with Lamb Bacon, and the Lamb Sausage.
The service was a little slow, but relaxed and decent. The waitress poured us some tastes of a couple of the available wines by the glass, which definitely made our wine decision easier.
We reserved through Open Table, and at the time, there was a deal offering a coupon for a future purchase. The waitress and hostess did not know what we were referring to, but took down an email address so they could get info from the manager and make sure we got the coupon. However, they never followed up.
I'm sure we'll go back again at some point, at least for more of the sausage. -
Review from Namrata A.
New York, NY
1/24/2011
I really wanted to like this place and went for brunch. We were a big group and it wasn't even packed, but the service was horrible. My vegetable frittata was just ok. Their bread basket with feta cheese dip was really good though. The apricot bellini wasn't too bad.
I think the place needs to sharpen up its service. It has potential to be a better place. Good for drinks and big dinners. -
Review from Kathy E.
Salem, OR
10/26/2011
Rather mediocre for what they could have achieved with dishes. The bread accompanied with cheese and ganoush were good and really the only memorable dishes. Salmon salad could have come from an appleby's- decent piece of grilled salmon on shredded iceberg with no discernable seasoning. Lamb hash was a mash up of food items but once again no distinct flavors. Reminded me faintly of BBQ sauce. Service was adequate but nothing was explained. They'd just put something down and quickly leave. No excuse for not explaining the plates you are putting down when there are only 3 tables filled. We had to call them back to explain to us what the cheese and that grey sauce that comes with the bread. Lots of missed opportunities here.
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Review from S M.
New York, NY
5/2/2011
Fairly decent for a nice, sit-down lunch in Midtown.
Very good Mediterranean food. If you love feta cheese as much as I do, this place is a must. Their salad (which came with pomegranates) was amazing. Some dishes can get a bit heavy so I would recommend just getting appetizers and sharing if you aren't very hungry. I would especially recommend the roasted eggplant dish. I think lamb is tricky to cook, and while their lamb wasn't as gamey as what I've tried in some places, I do think they could have done a better job with it. Their baklava is pretty good too and not too heavy as portion are small. Service has also been pretty good here. -
Review from Kevin L.
11/4/2010
I went here for restaurant week over the summer and it has taken the place of the worst restaurant week choice so far. The food was okay but nothing spectacular. Only points I'll give it for is the presentation and the nice little mini fry basket they serve their fries in. The lamb, appetizer, and dessert were all average at best in my book.
The worst part about my experience was the service time. I understand some places like their guests to stay for a while but I ended up sitting at my table for 2 1/2 hours and it wasn't because we were all talking and having a good time. It took forever for food to be delivered and cleared from our tables. Waiting for the entree alone took half an hour after they cleared the appetizer from our table. Although our table was mostly okay with it, there's only so much a group of people can talk about over a dinner table before the awkward silences start sneaking in. I understand its restaurant week and they're busy but 2 1/2 hours is way too long to stay at a restaurant unless it's for a party or everyone is drinking. -
Review from Asuka N.
12/3/2010
I came here for a business lunch a few months back. It definitely gets crowded around lunchtime, so I'd recommend making a reservation if you're looking to eat around that time during the week. I didn't get a chance to really take in the atmosphere given the more serious nature of the meal, but at the least I got to experience the food. The lamb tacos were absolutely delicious; the lamb was so tender and was smoked perfectly to add a rich flavor. I ended up being a bit unoriginal and ordering the hickory grilled salmon for the main course. You literally get a nice slab of salmon and very little else, but you get a fish that really has the smoky depth and flavor of hickory embedded in it. I've had 'wood-grilled' fish before, but this is the first time I felt like I was really eating something that had been properly prepared in that manner of cooking.
My only complaint is that the prices are a bit high relative to where I think they should be given the menu. However, the quality of the food is very good, and I'd love to go back again and try their dinner menu as well. -
Review from Dennis R.
Harrison, NJ
7/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Its a very nice place the food is kind of bland for my palate. The drinks are excellent. did not really taste like Mediterranean food.
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Review from Michelle H.
New York, NY
5/27/2008
Review for drinks only.
Calling all Ladies - come on a Tuesday night. Drinks are half off!! You can get a nice glass of wine for $5 - $6 and they are generous with the pourings. They even allow half glasses if you want to share with a friend.
Great wine selection. Lots of wines that I've never heard of and from regions I had no idea that made wines (ie Turkey). Also good place to meet up w/friends b/c it's not packed and you can actually converse without screaming at one another.
Potato chips are slightly spicy but tasty.
Tab for 5 glasses of wine for 3 gals was $27. Now that's a steal for a place like this. Just be sure to double check your bill. They forgot to give us half off.
I will def be back (at least for drinks)!!! Looks like the reviews for the food is only so so. What a bummer.... -
Review from Melodie M.
NY
2/2/2007
Pera is as good as an upscale Turkish restaurant you can find.
I'm surprised the other reviews are not better, I thought the food was quite good.
I went as a group of five on a week night and we were ALL Turkish. The atmosphere is nice, it has the best design out of all the Turkish restaurants in the city. It was on the pricey side, we ordered a LOT of food and Raki (Turkish anise-flavored alcoholic beverage) and ended up paying $100 per person with tax and tip. I think that on average most people end up paying about $80 per person with drink. I have noticed that most people don't want to shell out this amount of money for an ethnic food experience and I totally get that. But if you want upscale Turkish, I think this place has a lot to offer.
The grilled meats were all good. Definitely try the chicken and lamb kabobs and the Adana. The chicken was sooo juicy and tender, definitely my favorite. If you are adventurous, try the bulgur and minced meat tartare, this is actually the first Turkish restaurant I've seen that makes this dish in New York. The hummus wasn't all that. I think the best option is the tasting menu which I think was $45 per person. You get a selection of apps, entrees and dessert.
Oh and watch the Raki intake, you WILL get plastered. I was HURTING at work the next day. -
Review from Kristin M.
New York, NY
1/29/2009 1 photo
I would be willing to pay for dessert for someone to come with me again to this place. That's how much I loved it (well the dessert at least was my all time fave!)
The vibe is fantastic and while it's located in the middle of business lunch central midtown, I felt like I was in a fancy restaurant with stylist people looking to enjoy a good meal. Looking at the menu filled with Greek and Mediterranean food we decided on a few small plates to share between my friend and I. Mini ribs, meatballs, hummus, baba ganoush and fried artichoke (we skipped the diet friendly that night---it'd been 6 months since my friend and I got together) add 2 glasses of wine to the mix and you have yourselves an amazing dinner. When we asked if we should get anything else, he told us to save room for dessert. But not just any dessert, the CHOCOLATE NIRVANA. Well, if you tell me a dessert is named that before I get through my first glass of wine---I'm sold!
Everything was great. Our waiter was friendly and the atmosphere just added to it. The only complaint was that they rushed all of our plates out. When you're with a friend and looking to catch up, rushing is not what you want to do. If they had spaced out the orders I would have definitely been a bit happier but I'm sticking with my 5 stars.
Then. Came. Dessert. Chocolate Nirvana doesn't even DESCRIBE what we had. Chocolate gooey with powder sugar plus 3 side toppings of Pistachio ice cream, chocolate sauce and whip cream. As my friend said, "I have no shame scraping this plate" if I need to.
If you go to Pera, throw the diet away for a day and get the Nirvana. You WON'T be disappointed. -
Review from Katie Z.
New York, NY
2/12/2009
Pera is a great option for a midtown business lunch. The food is on the pricey side, but it's very tasty.
I got the lunch salad with chicken and it was divine. The chicken was tender and well seasoned and very flavorful. It's served with chopped mixed vegetables, tulum cheese (I don't know exactly what that is, but it was kind of like feta, I thought, but maybe creamier), walnuts, and a nice vinaigrette.
I also like the vibe of the place - it's less stuffy than many of its midtown counterparts. The entrée menu was, for me, a bit heavy for lunch but they also have little Mediterranean pizzas (which I think they call papettes, or something like it). I highly recommend as a place to go with clients or colleagues.Listed in: Diamonds in the Midtown Rough
