Nerai

Business dinner for 6 on a Wednesday evening; early seating. Wonderful Greek menu and wine list. Friendly and attentive service. We elected for shared plate starters, and individual mains. Well selected Greek white and red wines, and Greek inspired desserts. Round table upstairs allowed for easy conversation. Popular night with a mix of groups and couples. Slightly tightly packed inside for discs, but I suppose that’s New York real estate for you. Recommended. David W, October 2024

Good experience with upscale, exquisite dining. Greek food is tempered with regional taste and very nice to pair with a good greek wine selection. Octopus came out no chewy! Very nicely done. Good experience and would recommend.

On our last night in the city, we came across Nerai. It was such a wonderful experience. We didn't have a reservation, but they accommodated us. The food was excellent! Sevice top notch

Have had multiple amazing Greek meals at Nerai now. The food all-around is outstanding, the service is great, and the restaurant during lunchtime gets packed during the weekdays. We had one of the best octopus dishes of all time. Nerai is definitely a great alternative to Avra, which is also a favorite Greek restaurant of ours. Highly recommended!

We had a really good dinner at Nerai today. All the dishes were really good, the service was excellent and the desserts were amazing! It was the best Baklava I have ever had!

During a recent visit to Nerai, a charming upscale Greek restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, I enjoyed an exceptional dining experience that beautifully blended traditional flavors with modern techniques. The ambiance was elegant yet inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening out. I started with the Pikilia platter, which featured three delicious spreads—tzatziki, hummus, and spicy feta—accompanied by warm, perfectly grilled pita. The balance of flavors was spot on, with the tzatziki being refreshing and creamy, the hummus smooth and rich, and the spicy feta providing a nice kick. It was a great way to open up the meal. Next came the Fluke Crudo, which was a visual and culinary delight. The delicate slices of fluke paired well with the subtle brininess of the American caviar and the brightness of the ouzo Meyer lemon purée. The crispy barley added a delightful texture to the dish, while the cucumber and chervil brought a fresh, herbaceous element. The dish felt light yet packed with flavor, perfect for seafood lovers. For the main course, I indulged in the Htenia, featuring seared diver scallops alongside honey-ouzo braised pork belly. This dish was a highlight for me—the scallops were perfectly cooked, tender and sweet, while the pork belly added a savory richness. The accompanying sunchoke purée and roasted peppers brought earthy and smoky notes that rounded out the dish beautifully. Every bite was a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. I also tried the Paidakia Sti Skara, which showcased succulent lamb chops cooked to perfection. The lamb was juicy and flavorful, enhanced by a rich lamb jus. The honey-glazed carrots added a sweet contrast, while the dolma was a delightful nod to classic Greek cuisine. This dish felt hearty yet refined, and I savored every bite. Overall, my meal at Nerai was a culinary journey through modern Greek flavors with a fine dining touch. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, making it a memorable dining experience. I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu!

Everything we ordered was quite delicious. The salmon was crispy and juicy. Desert was wonderful, the gelato that came with the baklava was so smooth and silky. The drink Aegean Sunset was perfect. Service was excellent. Price is easily 100+ per person. But it was a great experience.

We had an incredibly disappointing experience at this restaurant. First, we booked a table with a $1,000 minimum, and as we ordered, I asked the server how close we were to meeting that minimum. He responded that he didn’t know and would have to check on the computer, yet never provided an update. Later, we were charged $144 to meet the minimum without any warning. If I had been informed of the total, I would have ordered more to get our money’s worth rather than being charged without an option. Secondly, it was my friend’s birthday, and we had planned a surprise by dropping off a cake with the reception ahead of time. But instead of keeping it a surprise, the server spoiled it by mentioning the cake in front of my friend. This completely ruined the surprise we’d carefully planned. This experience left us very disappointed, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for quality service.

Had an early lunch/dinner with my best friend and the food was outstanding. The service and the ambience. The whole menu is made to perfection order a little of everything!

-First Impression- Very intimate environment, would be great for a date (or a so date like I did lol) -Food- Lots of flavor! I ordered the meatballs, which were so tender I almost didn't need to cut them. Also had the lobster linguine, which was delicious, and the sauce tiniest bit sweet. I ordered a dark and stormy to drink which had me a little tipsy after only half the glass, lol -Service- Miguel was very attentive and sweet :) -Price- It's a pretty fancy restaurant so it's priced according to that -Did Not Like- N/A -Recommend- For sure

Excellent Greek food, we had a holiday party there earlier in December in their private event space. They accommodated our dietary restrictions with ease, and the entire staff was friendly, prompt, and super helpful. Do not hesitate to consider nerai for a small dinner or private event!

My friend and I stopped by Nerai a while back for celebratory desserts. Their chocolate cake was rich and light!! There was more mousse than actual cake but we still loved it! From looking at their most recent menu it looks like they don't have the all the time. Definitely ask about it when you're there!

My boyfriend made a reservation for Valentine's Day. They had a prefix menu for $140/person for 4 courses. Each course had two options. The menu was heavily fish based with only one meat option in the 3rd course. They decorated beautifully with lots of lights, candles and rose petals on the steps leading up to the 2nd floor and on the tables. Our server was fantastic; very warm and genuinely wanting to make sure we had a great experience. He gave each female a rose at the end of the meal and a small box of treats to bring home! I loved the sea bass app, the lobster pasta dish and the strawberry mouse dessert. The scallop dish was good but I didn't care for the paprika sauce they were served in. The chocolate crepe for dessert was pretty average, not something I'd order again. We opted not to get any drinks (glasses of wine were pricey; more than $20 each) but they did have a som on site. Overall, lovely experience. Some of the dishes were better than others but I thought it was a good deal based on the price and the quality of the food. I'm not sure if I would come running back for their regular menu but they did a nice job for this occasion. This is definitely a spot for a special occasion dinner!

I had a vendor lunch here recently and it was a very nice experience, especially since it was going on their expense account! The restaurant itself is very nice...we sat upstairs and it had a light, airy almost tropical feel. Service was efficient and professional throughout. We felt well taken care of. The food was across the board excellent. We started with grilled octopus and kataifi shrimp. Both were great but the octopus was particularly great. For my main, I had the lavraki with a side of sauteed spinach. What a great, simple dish. The portion size was generous and it was perfectly prepared. I wish I could cook fish like this. We also got a side of lemon potatoes which were just okay. This is midtown and the prices reflect the location, so this is probably a place I wouldn't come by myself unless it was restaurant week. In short, great food, great service, nice atmosphere, but keep a fire extinguisher handy because your wallet may start melting after you pay for your meal.

Big fan of Nerai. We there a few times now but most recently did Christmas Eve dinner here with my fiance. Great ambiance for a date or a work dinner type place. Some of my favorite dishes include the two seafood pastas - one with lobster and squid ink and the other with calamari, mussels, etc. in orzo. Super fresh and tasty and filling. Other appetizers that were good include the Greek salad, zucchini chips, and grilled octopus. Pretty expansive selectionsof wine and main entrees. Big fan of the vidiano cretan white wine. Service was attentive and they brought out a Christmas cookie on the house. While this place may not be cheap, it definitely is a good spot to go for a night out if you're feeling on the fancier but not as crazy expensive as a Michelin restaurant side.

Came here on Valentines Day for their 4 course prefix menu. Between my girlfriend and I we got Black Bass Crudo, Warm King Crab, Squid Ink Pasta with Lobster, Scallops in Paprika Sauce, 28 Day Dry Aged Steak, Starwberry Mousse Cake and Chocolate Crepe Cake. The menu was $140/pp. The venue was decorated beautifully with rose petals and candles everywhere. We were seated right away and brought to the second floor. The waiter was fantastic. He had a smile on his face the whole time and helped make the night special. The black bass crudo was the best course. The fish tasted great and there was great acidity with the sauce. The lobster pasta was good. I thought the lobster may have been a tad overcooked but the pasta and sauce was delicious. The warm king crab salad was served with a blood orange sauce. If you love crab this was a great course. The scallops were cooked perfectly but I was not a fan of the paprika sauce. The sauce overpowered the scallops so we tried to remove some sauce from each bite. The steak was good as well. Overall for the special occasion I thought they did a great job. I don't know if I would come rushing back but I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Modern upscale Greek restaurant. I had the pleasure of dining here last night for dinner. The menu is your Greek favorites made to perfection. We had the zucchini chips and Greek salad for apps. The zucchini chips were so paper thin that they just melt in your mouth. The Greek salad was so fresh and delicious that it reminded me of when I visited Greece a few years ago. I had the Orzotto seafood pasta for dinner. The mussels and shrimp were soo tasty along with the Orzotto dressed in a lemon sauce. So light and delicious! The waiter was attentive and the restaurant is beautifully decorated.

I visited Nerai as part of a group corporate event. I should start by saying that I LOVE Greek and mediterranean food. Beginning with the positives, the interior is gorgeous, especially on the top floor where they have vines and leaves snaking around the walls and ceilings. I also appreciate how nice the bathrooms were. The service was efficient. Our table shared appetizers and each got our own entree. I ordered the lobster, squid ink pasta (sucker for pasta). The flavor of the sauce and noodles was mellow, and it tasted almost sweet and nutty. I was expecting something more tomato-y, so this dish didn't exactly do it for me. My boyfriend got the leftovers, which he really enjoyed so it's the right dish for the right person. I did enjoy the lobster, however. In terms of the negatives, my biggest gripe is definitely value. I thought that the appetizers were overpriced and not terribly impressive. I would only somewhat recommend this restaurant for corporate events, where you are not responsible for the check at the very end.

5 stars all around. Great food (lobster pasta, lamb chops, lavraki, appetizers, dessert), drinks and service. Good for groups as the noise level doesn't get very high. Very friendly and helpful service. Highly recommended.

Excellent Greek dining, especially for a business or friendly lunch. The Dover sole was outstanding; enough for two if you order some appetizers and/or the Greek salad - yum! Upscale and cozy, we sat at the bar to eat lunch and it was the perfect location. Highly recommended!

Second time here. The Fried Zucchini chips is sooo good! The paper-thin description isn't exaggerating! The thin chips make such a good balance of crispiness and not oily Grapes & greens - I love the addition of grapes in the salad Lobster pasta - it definitely deserves the signature dish!!! Tender pasta and right amount of lobster. After chewing a while, the pasta tastes slightly sweet. Duck breast - it's quite a surprise! The apricots on the side is such a highlight of the dish! Greek yoghurt trio - very smooth taste of yogurt! I personally love the one with cherry the most

I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at Nerai. Service was amazing, they truly ensure that customers are well attended to. The food was also delicious. Everything was cooked to perfection and although some dishes were simple, the flavors truly made them worth it.

I had another excellent birthday meal here in November! I loved all the food we had, especially the zucchini chips, seafood orzo and duck. The cocktails and mocktails are on point. They were super accommodating and opened up the outdoor patio for us though we were the only ones eating outside that night!

Had a wonderful time celebrating my dad's birthday here. Chris was super attentive and provided excellent service. The food and drinks are all so yummy. Will definitely recommend others to visit!

Amazing Mediterranean restaurant. We were looking for a brunch place near our hotel and came across Nerai. It didn't disappoint. First off, their terrace is beautiful. You should definitely pick a table here if weather permits. We ordered cucumber soup, haloumi and peach salad, and bifteki platter. Our server brought the food fairly quickly and everything tasted amazing. Very fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The restaurant is a bit on the pricier side, but you get high quality food and awesome experience. Highly recommend!

Everything here was fantastic!! The interior was decorated with some holiday decor and nice flowers throughout. The service was amazing. The food was so delicious. We tried the trio of spreads, roasted beet salad, grilled octopus, and lobster pasta. Everything was really tasty. The grilled octopus was so soft. The lobster pasta was perfectly seasoned and just a little sweet. I would totally come back! This place is perfect for a romantic date or special occasion.

This restaurant is top notch. Everything was excellent - food, service, and ambiance. The menu allows for a healthier dinner that makes you feel good and tastes exceptional. We would recommend everything that we ordered. This was the best dinner we have had this year. The best: -Greek salad was exceptionally well done. The fried capers were a nice and unique touch. -Lavraki (Mediterranean sea bass aka branzino) was exceptional both in quality and preparation. -Baklava dessert with pistachio ice cream. The sides we had of mushrooms with zaatar and spinach risotto were also fantastic.

We wanted to go to Monkey Bar to eat, unfortunately we didn't get a table and Nerai is right in front of Monkey Bar, it was a pleasant surprise because the place is very nice and cozy, the food was spectacular and the service was incredible, I definitely recommend it.

One of my favorite spots in midtown. Love the atmosphere inside, outside and upstairs. Three different vibes whether you are corporate, having date night or with the family. The spreads and nice and the zucchini chips are crispy and delicious. I love the fish selections especially the lavraki. Service is attentive and great Greek wines to select from. A+ experience!

If you're looking for a modern and elevated take on classic Greek dishes then you haveeee to try Nerai !! The flavors are incredible and will leave you in awe !! We loved everything we ate and couldn't get enough and the cocktails were soo fresh and delicious too. The place is stunning and very classy great for a date night. The staff is all super nice and smiles when you walk in.

All their food is definitely worth the price. Their food is always fresh and hot. Their ingredients have very high quality. Their staff is clearly well-trained. The energy matches with the interior of the place and it's just amazing. This place is very worthy of 5 stars. Highly recommended. I love it here and I will recommend it to my other friends too. I will definitely find time to come back here some time.

Loved loved loved my meal. See photos. Delicious appetizers, dinner and desserts one of the best meals I have had in a while. Service staff was also very pleasant

Nothing life changing. Classy joint. Lots of suits. Everything was solid but too expensive. I'll probably continue to make this same complaint about every restaurant in Midtown til I learn to stop going back hehe. Good service!

Good midtown location, relatively easy to park if you come early. Service is very good, workers are pretty good at getting you seated quickly and your food ordered and brought pretty quickly. The food overall very spot on with good presentation. Good dinner date place

100 out of 5 - definitely one of the Top 3 places I have ever eaten in my life. Please go try this place, I'm saying as a Foodie Desi New Yorker. You won't be disappointed. A bit pricy - I wish it was a little less pricy, they would have been packed at all times. I went there twice already and will go every now and then.

Great find for us while visiting the city. Food tasted great I got the seafood pasta and my wife got black ink pasta with lobster. We started with octopus and ended with a Greek Sunday. Staff was friendly, they all worked together to create a nice experience for us. If you're in the mood for Greek try it.

Very nice ambiance, sparkling silver and glass with a strikingly elegant bar in front, perfect for waiting out for friends or a table. Once seated, the setting is just perfect in every respect---lighting, noise level and decor all just right. Service was efficient, attentive and polite. Made you feel special. The Mediterranean / Greek food was excellent with many appealing appetizers. I especially enjoyed the classic Greek salad my only negative was the price. A couple of entrees were over $70! The least expensive was $29. So, we each stayed with an appetiser and a salad which was far more than enough, as portions are quite large.

This is an amazing restaurant for a luxury, high end atmosphere with good food. Their menu is delicious and offers good portions for the quality of the restaurant. The service is also very polite and attentive. I would definitely recommend coming here for a special occasion!

Food - the seafood was excellent! Scallops and octopus were both cooked perfectly. Definitely get the dessert platter if you're coming with a large group as well. Dinks - had a lot of variety and were great fun. The smoked banana was tropical without being overly sweet. Service - is great. Our host was friendly, knew the menu well, and made it a lovely time. Ambiance - I'd say the main dining room was a little dark, but didn't detract from the overall experience.

Wow We are amazed by how good Nerai is! Food: we had grilled octopus, grilled fish n lobster pasta. N their free bread along with its yogurt. Just amazing. We have had a surprising dinner for a while. Grilled octopus is so tender n it's purée is also amazing. Grilled fish also a must where I would recommend to eat it before lobster pasta so that you can taste the freshness of the fish, the unique smell of its grilling style n the lightly burned but still delicious fish skin. Lobster pasta is da Ace u need to order. I will not describe as you should really order it n understood why I said so. Overall, amazing. Would be great if you reserved first. Their bar looks amazing too (ps)

Everything was very delicious here. Hands down the best Greek food I've ever had. The lobster pasta was very good... My complaint was the lobster was obviously not fresh. It was on the mushy side and tasted like it was previously frozen. The meatballs were also very good. I love the sauce. I did not like the bread it came with... It was very burnt and I had to have it remade. The burnt parts smelled awful. The feta cheese was delicious on the Greek salad. I don't like olives, but my husband gobbled it up. The risotto was perfect! I love the mushrooms... And I love the bite the risotto had. Price was on the higher side. The service was great. I think lots of people come here for business meetings. Everyone around us was in blue suits lol

Modern Greek. Unusual menu, not traditional. Fish in particular was very,very good. Spicing of all brought out the best in ingredients. Not inexpensive, just watch how much you order in your enthusiasm. [You may have enough leftovers that you could add to a home-made salad for lunch!] Most fun was pairing glasses of unheard-of-till-now-by-me excellent Greek wines with courses. Especially as the 'affordable' Greek restaurants I used to frequent as a student in London back in the 70s only had retsina - which I always thought tasted like red wine that had gone 'off' - and ouzo as an aperitif. Ugh. The lighting and seating made for aesthetically pleasing, very relaxing, and comfortable surroundings. We ate indoors, not in their COVID-inspired outdoor adjunct seating. (I guess that structure probably will be coming down soon as per the City regs, but Nerai did a nice job creating some ambiance with theirs.) Oh, one last point -- you can overlook a weeknight crowd of finance bros crowded at the doorway as long as your table is ready! :-)

We went here a couple weeks ago on a visit to New York. It's a narrow spot and a little hard to find, but once you're inside, it's very intimate and cozy. It's not that big inside, and the acoustics are also good, so you can actually hear yourself talk. I had a duck breast with moussaka withduck confit and duck breasts with fig jus and black lentils, which was excellent. We also had delicious zucchini chips with tzatziki sauce and honey shrimp in katafi. Desserts were also wonderful, including a tahini, parfait with pistachio ice cream and pistachio walnut baklava. Service was excellent, never overbearing, never rushing us, but someone always available when needed. Definitely a go to for Greek in New York City.

I have been to Nerai, several times. Nice flowers and a Greek decor.Amazing food with particularly good appetizers with sauces and a complete menu that takes you to The Greek Isles. It's coincidently located in Midtown East, good for business lunches or a dinner with friends. I have tried several dishes, it's good for sharing. The service is good , but the prices can run high with a lot of dishes.

I feel completely welcomed and relaxed from the moment I enter Nerai. Paired with the friendly hostesses, the ambience (lighting and music) is just right. The seats are so comfortable. Sherpi, the wine expert, adds to the experience with his friendliness and is always a great listener for any questions. Did i mention the food? Perfectly cooked and seasoned, and I can't wait to try more dishes soon. Thank-you and happy holidays. N.

Excellent dining experience! Lunch was delicious! We dined outside on a nice afternoon. Everything we tried was a winner! Great service! I would love to come back for dinner.

A great dinner spot for seafood/greek inspo! I seriously enjoyed my meal so much and want to come back especially for the lobster pasta. I started with the salmon crudo which was so refreshing and zesty! The quality of seafood is especially good here!!! The star of the show is truly the lobster pasta. This dish is something I can't stop thinking about it. It was so filling so the price is very justified. The lobster was so buttery and juicy and the pasta melted in my mouth. Probably the best squid ink lobster ive ever had. overall i had a great experience with the food and service as i was served quick. i will recommend this to everyone i know and definitely be returning

Their squid ink lobster pasta was orgasmic. Typically I don't even like lobster much or squid ink but best pasta I've had in a long time and def best lobster pasta I had in nyc. Went there for Valentine's Day tasting menu and I definitely recommend. They created a romantic atmosphere. Service was great. They have us a rose at the end to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Ambiance is impeccable as is the waiting staff. Walking into a restaurant should very welcoming and accommodating and It was. But the Food was the best. One of my favorites. Congratulations

The beautiful interior environment sets the tone for an amazing dining experience with excellent Greek food and great service! Main courses: Lavraki ($42) - super tender and flavorful, with the skin slightly crispy; also expertly deboned, which was very nice Pastitsada ($36) - pasta had super tender braised short ribs and perfectly cooked paccheri pasta to be just the right amount of slight chewiness Desserts: Saragli ($15) - top notch baklava with pistachio gelato and tahini parfait Sokolatina ($16) - milk chocolate mousse was the perfect mousse consistency/richness and even had a gold flake on top Drink: Fall Frenzy Cocktail ($20) - fruity with a tiny bit of viscosity from the blackberry puree, which I liked All of this to say that the food was all great and well-presented. Even the complimentary bread to start was great and unique, as it was more of bread crisps rather than ordinary bread, and was nicely seasoned with some yogurt balls and olive oil. They even gave us a free fig cake for dessert to help us celebrate our anniversary, which was super nice and generous of them. The cake was also tasty, soft, and not overly sweet. On that note, the service was super friendly, from the hostess to the sommelier to the wait staff. They were also attentive and made sure we were enjoying our time. Lastly, the environment itself was just so beautiful with elegant, tasteful decor throughout. This included some nice tree branches/artwork along the walls and additional holiday season decor with holiday lights, wreaths, etc. Both the upstairs and ground level floors are super nice. There is also a different flower on each table. The noise level was very comfortable. This is definitely more of a classy, upscale, white tablecloth kind of restaurant, so as expected, the prices are a bit elevated. However, for all the reasons stated above, I think the cost is very much worth it for this overall incredible dining experience. Whether you are celebrating a special event/milestone or simply looking for a top notch dinner, Nerai is one of the best restaurants in NYC to visit. You won't regret it!

Had made reservations for a friends birthday for 8 pm on a Thursday evening, and we managed to get reservations 3 days before our preferred date. Reservation process was fairly straightforward for a group of 4 and a 2 year old. They had this amazing outdoor seating what they refer as Outdoor Courtyard... they were these 3, well lit beautiful booths, where we really wanted to seat, but weren't given those. From the time we entered to the time we left, 2 of them were unoccupied. Don't understand the rationale behind that especially when we were celebrating something special! Anyway, that however, isn't indicative of their excellent, and friendly staff that made us feel very welcome and were very attentive throughout our dinner course here. We ordered a few delicious cocktails, which average at about $18 each. Cocktails were great. We started off with Traditional Trio Spreads ($23) and Spinach Pies ($18) to share. Our server was kind enough to include an extra pie because it was the 4 of us. This plate typically comes with 3 pies. 1 star just for this kind gesture! Appetizers were good and quite tasty. Sadly those were the best dishes we had. We had ordered Pasta for dinner which included Seafood Orzotto ($36), Lobster Pasta ($46), and a Summer Risotto ($29). My risotto was really bland and did not nerai any standout flavor. All I could taste was cheese and I was hoping the snap peas and trumpet mushrooms along with mint would have added some refreshing taste... but no. It was just bland and no spice whatsoever! Service overall was excellent and their garden seating was very comfortable including a very fancy high chair for our little one! We had a decent experience.

surprisingly good restaurant! One of limitation of our group this time was one of my friend is vegetarain so restaurant we go has to have vegetarian option and Nerai has it. I have tried all food, vegie and regular and they were great! quality and service was professional and wonderful. We had salad, drinks, pasta, duck, coffee and dessert. There were a construction and smell near by so they moved us to sit in different table to avoid the unpresented smell. The vibe is good. I have a mix feeling between tourist spot and local spot because this place is in a tourist area but for me as a resident I still go because I was shopping in the area and just want to find some nice place to eat.

3.5* I had high hopes for this place. I wouldn't say I'm straight up disappointed but it didn't meet my expectations. Complimentary "bread" came with a dip of olive oil and yogurt. I like the caramelization of the bread which reminds me a bit of spring roll wrappers. Didn't like the dip as much. Food was mostly not exciting. Ordered: fried zucchini chips, spinach pies, squid ink pasta, and the baklava dessert. The fried zucchini chips were popular as practically every other table ordered it. I think there should be two sizes for this because it was a bit too much for the two of us to share. It came out hot but the batter still had moisture and a ton of oil. Perhaps it can be drained longer, fried at a higher temp, or add wax paper to absorb excess oil. Tastewise, the chips relied on the batter's seasoning and yogurt dip for flavor. The yogurt would overpower the chips but at the same time I need the yogurt for freshness to cut through the oil. Spinach pies were basic, flavorful but not memorable. I like the yogurt here. There's only three small pieces so it didn't feel worth. Squid ink linguine with lobster and lobster bisque. My friend said the pasta didn't have enough squid ink flavor. I personally am not familiar with squid ink to comment. I like the texture of the linguine being very smooth and chewy. They gave a big lobster tail sliced up for ease of consumption. There were tiny diced up lobster throughout as well. Texture was on point. The lobster bisque was exciting on the first few bites but afterwards felt monotonous. Maybe add teeny tiny rings of chive?? It was sweeter than I'd expect, reminds me of Chinese rose wine (it's for marinades not drinking). The consistency and quantity of bisque was just about right for the rest of the dish. This was the highlight of the night. Dessert, Saragli had baklava, pistachio gelato and walnut pudding(?) This wasn't bad but not outstanding. The baklava was too sweet and mushy for my friend. I think it was alright except not flaky enough. The pistachio gelato isn't the Italian type but is more muted. The pudding, my friend insisted it was walnut but I swear I tasted hints of chickpea/hummus in it. Food and ambiance wise, it was a comfortable dinner. I like the booth seating and blue glass cups. Lighting and volume was good enough for me. I don't like how our server wasn't attentive enough. Not sure what's the culture in this place but we were unsure about asking other servers but even when we tried, they seemed to ignore us. Also don't like how they only have one gender-neutral bathroom in the whole restaurant. The place isn't big but I think it'd be more practical to make it into 2-3 smaller stalls. Toilet paper was soft at least. Decided to round up to 4* because I'm open to giving this another chance and trying other main dishes.

I won't lie, the food here is very good--I enjoyed everything we ate. Having gone to to Greece for two weeks in July, I was looking for something to remind me of the amazing food I had there, and the food hit the spot. The prices, however, did not. Now I came in kinda knowing that, but that didn't take any sting out of the final bill. A Greek dinner wouldn't be complete without a nice glass (or bottle) of crisp Greek white wine, and this dinner was no different. Our bottle clocked in at $80, more than I had been hoping (again, compared to my time there where a bottle could be as little as €15) but it was still very good. There were far more non-Greek options on the menu than I would have anticipated, but I suppose that's to cater to folks that just don't know how good Greek wine is. The somm (yes, they had one) did provide this great recommendation, but only after trying to upsell us (as expected) to something in the triple digits. For starters, we got the zucchini chips with tzatziki, the three spreads, and the greek salad. Zucchini chips were on point, and the tzatziki was pretty good. A little cucumber heavy, but the yogurt was done well. The salad was very good, nice and vinegar forward like I like, but the three spreads...unfortunately, I was hoping for more based on the amount of pita they gave us. Tasty yes, but I literally wanted more. What a weirdly small portion size. Generous pita, though. For dinner I totally zoned in to the whole fish, and I thought it was extremely tasty. It came pretty much deboned, and the lemon-based sauce was excellent. I won't harp too much on it, but we did have to embark on several scavenger hunts to find our waitstaff and once or twice almost got up to pour our own wine (which was chilling just out of reach). Meh. It's easy to rack up a bill here, and given the location on 54th street, I am not surprised. Clearly there are pros and cons, but if you want to go ham on some upscale Greek food, come on in.

Amazing food! We had duck moussaka and duck breast with fig jus. Also braised short ribs with paccheri. On the side was creamy rice with spinach and tomato. All were excellent. Especially great was the braised short ribs paccheri. The braised short ribs were so tender and flavorful. Paccheri was cooked just right. This could have been the best meat dish I've ever had in my life. Waiting staff were all friendly. It was Thursday night and place was completely packed. All seats at the bar were taken and there were people still waiting at the entrance. Don't forget to make a reservation.

I went here for an early date dinner and food and service exceeded my expectations. This place specializes in Greek food with a heavier emphasis on seafood, and reservations are highly recommended although there is an above average amount of seating for a typical NYC restaurant. The ambience here is so aesthetic, and you can't go wrong with either indoor or outdoor seating, though we opted for indoor when we arrived. We shared a grilled octopus and lobster pasta. Grilled octopus is very chewy and fresh, with sweet fava contrasting the tangier onions and red peppers. It's hard to find places like this that can cook the octopus like this as most I have tried are usually overcooked. Lobster pasta was quite interesting. You get huge chunks of fresh lobster tossed in a bed of squid ink linguini, and the sauce is quite sweet and creamy to match the sweetness of the lobster. She likes sweet food so this was the perfect dish to conclude the meal. I personally enjoyed it, noting that the portions are way more than enough for 1, especially as this dish is a bit one dimensional in flavor - mostly just sweet. Service is great: they pushed the tables out for us to get seated and refilled our waters very frequently. Although we took our time eating and conversing, we were in and out in an hour just because they're so efficient in serving.

Nerai has such great food & desserts in a beautiful space! Service is really good as well.