"You know when you’re driving for a while, blink, and realize you’ve been spaced out for the last 10 minutes of your ride? That’s how you’ll feel at Pera, except instead of a dangerous traffic situation, you’ll be in a baklava-scented daydream about a vacation on the Black Sea. You’ll snap out of it when your dishes arrive–most only have a few elements but create a parade of flavor. Start with the smoky baba ganoush and silky hummus before heading for heartier dishes, like the slow-cooked lamb shank. The casual BYO in Northern Liberties will likely have a wait, but you won’t mind when you’re at one of the wooden tables, admiring rustic clay sculptures and colorful murals of Turkish sunsets between bites of charred eggplant and chewy manti dumplings." - alison kessler, candis mclean