I first ate at Pera with a Turkish friend fifteen years ago and have frequented it both up and downtown. I hadn’t returned to the midtown one in ages. This time, I went with a friend after the fabulous multi-media event at the Morgan Library about the life of Bella Costa Greene.

Safa, our server, offered us a sip of the medium-bodied Greek Assyrtiko Moschopolis ($58) before we ordered a bottle to accompany our trio of dips ($19). Pita chips accompany the hummus, smoked eggplant and spicy pepper muhammara. Pita bread costs extra.

The skewered marinated chicken breast shashlik arrived overcooked yet flavorful ($26). The fries, though, were perfectly crisp and salted  ($11). We had requested them

I’d recommend Pera as a convenient location to meet near Grand Central.

Pera Mediterranean Brasserie
Midtown
303 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212.878.6301
peranyc.com/