Spring seems to have finally hit Manhattan, and this Jet Setter is getting out and about and, savoring the almost-balmy weather and checking restaurants off his must-visit list. Tonight I decided to take a spin to Turkish climes and joined a pal for a sublime meal at Midtown’s very stylish Pera restaurant, a transporting experience that carries the diner from Madison Avenue to the Sea of Marmara.
Named for a very cosmopolitan neighborhood in the heart of Istanbul, Pera has a global panache and style, all rich woods, contemporary lighting and an open kitchen that dominates the rear of the restaurant. Grab a group of friends and settle in at the up-front communal table, the perfect spot for sharing Pera’s signature meze, or small plates. Standouts include the soujouk lollipops, spiced Turkish sausage slices on a stick; the eggplant and tomato timbale; fried artichoke hearts with a smoked paprika yogurt sauce; and the pidettes, fresh baked mini flatbreads with toppings that include spinach and pine nuts.
Main courses include signatures such as hand-chopped and marinated lamb paired with lavash flatbread; oven-roasted monkfish with tender calamari and black olives; and fire-roasted, marinated chicken, aka chicken brochette. Sip a cool house cocktail such as the blood orange gimlet, packed with blood orange puree and Tanqueray Rangpur gin, or the potent apricot margarita rich with Don Julio Blanco tequila. Finish your meal with the warm semolina dome, ice cream and pine nuts punched up with cinnamon.
Best of all, Pera truly seems to truly care and puts an especial attention on service and providing its guests with a warm, attentive experience that reads anything but canned. If you’re in Manhattan anytime soon and seek some Bosphorus bliss, head for Pera. It’s a delicious find.