Peri Ela

Critics' Pick

1361 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10128
nr. 90th St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-410-4300 Send to Phone

Price Range:
$$$
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
8.5 out of 10
|
2 Reviews | Write a Review
Cuisine: Eastern European, Turkish

Photo by Shanna Ravindra

Map Rate & Review

Official Website

periela.com

Hours

Daily, noon-11pm

Nearby Subway Stops

4, 5, 6 at 86th St.

Prices

$16-$25

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

Delivery
Dine at the Bar
Lunch
Take-Out

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Accepted/Not Necessary

Delivery Area

90th St. to 100th St., First Ave. to Fifth Ave.

Profile

If the jam-packed Sfoglia, up the street is any indication, denizens of Carnegie Hill are desperate for good food and cozy surroundings. Peri Ela delivers on both accounts, with its snug, wood-paneled, tin-ceilinged space filling up each night with locals tucking into platters of Turkish meze and kebabs. Owners Silay and Jill Ciner named the spot after their two daughters and have installed an all-Turkish kitchen crew. With only 35 seats and a bar, the onetime diner does get crowded, and so do the tables, especially when littered with multiple meze (creamy cacik, tangy bean salads, springy grape leaves, and several worthy eggplant variations) and a kebab or two. Our go-to Turkish litmus test, the yogurtlu kebab, was suitably rich and delicious, if portioned more for delicate Manhattan appetites than robust Gravesend ones, its succulent slices of well-done lamb arrayed over pita croutons drenched with thick, garlicky yogurt and tomato sauce. A very welcome addition, and let's hope the beginnings of a new restaurant row. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Food:	10

Service:	9

Décor:	10

Value:	10

We had been meaning to try this cute Turkish place since they opened, but for some reason, we hadn't made it to Peri Ela until last night. We happened to be walking by and the "Meze and Wine Special" ($30) caught our eye. We were in the mood for something light, so we ordered the special which came with a delicious meze platter of humus, smoked eggplant, fried eggplant, red bean salad, and ezme, with lots of yummy bread, and we got to chose between a bottle of red or white Turkish wine (we went with the white which was nice and crisp). It was delicious!! We shared an almond pudding for dessert and had a couple cups of thick Turkish coffee to go with it. Perfect ending to a perfect dinner. We loved everything about the place... the food was amazing and the decor was quintessential Istanbul. It wasn't decorated with Turkish carpets or copper pots like most Turkish restaurants in New York. Instead, the atmosphere is like you're in the middle of old Istanbul, or even in some far away place in Europe. This place is a hidden treasure!

Service a little slow, food definitely worth it..

charlieY from 10128 | Posted on 8/27/08

Overall Rating: 7 (Recommended)


Food:	8
Service:	7

Décor:	8

Value:	7

the zucchini pancakes are so delicious i wanted to make a meal out of them, but the slices of ground chicken with the yogurt sauce and rice pilav was just as delish. the 15 min lava cake (menu says 10 min...lies) was mediocre at best..ambiance and laid back appeal of the restaurant makes up for it. an upper east side gem. a great alternative if you don't want to wait in line for sfoglia across the way..

Read All 2 Reviews >>

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