I've eaten at this lovely restaurant a couple of times with family and have thoroughly enjoyed it every time. We generally order a few things and share, which is the best way to go because everything is so good that we want to try everything....Their grape leaves, grilled artichokes, and phyllo rolls are all great, as is their lamb Adana and their gnocchi. Prompt, friendly waitstaff and a mellow ambiance. This restaurant is conveniently located near Grand Central Station, which is handy for people coming into the city.More

It’s been ages since I’ve been to Pera. I walk past it twice a day several time a week and think fondly of the lovely lunches and dinners I’ve had there over the years. Last evening’s dinner falls right into place in that catalog of...fond memories. We lingered over our aperitifs, looking at the menu and catching up. Our waiter was handsome and pleasant. The restaurant was not crowded or noisy. It gets no better than that. For her first course, my friend ordered the Mediterranean Salad; cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives, beautifully presented, with a large block of creamy sheeps’ milk feta cheese on top. I ordered the watermelon feta salad, here served with a basil dressing. Squares of watermelon and feta are arranged in a geometric shape, the bright green dressing complementing the red and white of the salad. It was as pleasing to the eye as it was to the palate. For her main course, my friend chose the lamb chops; 5 little lamb chops, perfectly cooked, and served with roasted fingerling potatoes and bright red piquillo peppers. She shared a lamb chop with me; it was divine. And I shared my Signature Lamb Adana with her, a wonderful combination of ground lamb and spices. The sides of bulgur pilaf and pickled vegetables were nice, but the tasty lamb was my main focus and I finished it. We lingered for nearly two hours; another lovely dinner at Pera to contemplate the next time I walk past.More

My sister and I had dinner here after spending a full day in the city. We were looking for a restaurant before heading home by train from Grand Central. We attended a Broadway matinee and made our way to Pera, which was a relatively short...walk. It’s located on Madison between 41 & 42 streets, so if you’re coming from 5th, be sure to walk down 41st, known as Library Way, and enjoy the quotes on the sidewalk plaques. The restaurant is average size, the service was wonderful, and the food was excellent. We each had different options on the Sunday Supper menu, which was a good value. For the appetizer, the trio of dips, yogurt, hummus, and eggplant was better than the salad, which was a little heavy on the cucumbers for my taste. The salmon served on a bed of greens, beluga lentils, and quinoa was superb. The lamb chops were very tender and cooked just the way I ordered them. The baklava bites for dessert were just enough after a large meal. My only complaints were that there was no toilet tissue in the ladies room when we arrived, which was quickly rectified, and the restaurant was dark. I had to bring the menu to the bar area to read it, as there was not a light over our table. All in all, I highly recommend this restaurant, located a few steps from Grand Central.More