Pera Turkish Cuisine

"Hummus, baba ganoush, soft bread—this is what you'll find at Zahav and at this charming Turkish BYOB in Northern Liberties. When you walk in, you’ll get a whiff of the fresh baked goods behind the counter—like the baklava oozing with honey, and sweet cheese kunefe. That might inspire you to skip straight to dessert, but stay the course with their spicy cold mezze eggplant dish and some crispy calamari." - candis mclean

"Pera is a Turkish spot that delivers one hit after another. Inside, there are a handful of long tables where you should post up with a couple of friends, along with cozy two-seaters near the massive windows if you want to people watch on a casual date. No matter where you sit, though, you’ll probably get a view of their baked goods behind the counter—where flaky baklava get stacked into rows, oozing with sugary honey. That might inspire you to skip right to dessert, but stay the course with their spicy cold mezze eggplant dish, some of the crispiest calamari in town, and a citrusy whole dorado that’s juicy enough to deserve its own banner in the rafters at Wells Fargo." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"We know couples who plan their Amalfi Coast vacation two years in advance. We also know couples who can’t decide what they're doing this Thursday. If you’re in the latter camp, go eat Turkish food at this useful and quaint BYOB in Northern Liberties. It’s fun to watch the smoky fish, chicken kebap, and juicy grilled lamb action go down in the kitchen, plus the people who work here are always friendly and knowledgeable. Even the most indecisive duo will agree that Pera’s flaky baklava is great. Because it is. " - candis mclean, alison kessler

"Come to this Turkish spot in Northern Liberties to share things like perfectly charred, citrusy shrimp, lamb kebabs, silky babagannoush and humus, and fluffy pita. The juicy and lemony grilled dorado will be a favorite with everyone at the table. The corner restaurant is also a BYOB (there’s a wine and spirits store up the street) so you can take over any of their large tables with a few friends and a couple of bottles. " - candis mclean, team infatuation

"This Turkish restaurant in Northern Liberties has lamb-filled manti dumplings covered in yogurt and chili oil and a menu filled with other flavorful, inventive dishes. Although this place doesn’t take reservations, it’s worth the trip for their Istanbul-style kebabs alone." - Ernest Owens