Location: 54 Thompson Street
Cuisine: Eastern Mediterranean Gourmet
Items: 2 appetizers, 2 Entrees, 2 Desserts
Cost: $94 with 20% Tip (Price based on Prix Fix Option results may vary A la carte)
Best Dish: The fresh seafood is one of the highlights of this SoHo gem.
Overall: The mood lighting and soft strains of jazz evoke a romantic atmosphere ideal for a great new date or a date night with your significant other.
Pera Mediterranean Brasserie is one of the top-rated restaurants in New York City. It was one of the top 5 rated Newcomers in 2008 according to the infamous Zagat survey. The venue was so successful that they spawned a second location in one of New York’s most artistic neighborhoods, SoHo. Entering Pera Soho is an experience in and of itself. The sophisticated atmosphere and chic surroundings mirror its famed Soho neighborhood. The well-dressed host greets guests and ushers them into the bright airy dining room. The beautiful space is dressed in earthy tones and cushioned seating. On any given Wednesday a live Jazz band plays standards and popular renditions for the diners. We took our seats and perused the menus; we hardly knew where to begin. Our helpful and knowledgeable server offered his help and with him, we took an amazing journey into Mediterranean cuisine. We began with a round of specialty cocktails. I tried the “Adams Apple Martini” and my companion opted for the blood orange martini.
As our beverages arrived so did our first course. We found ourselves staring intently at a plate of Charred Spanish Octopus. The well-prepared delicacy is spiced and served on a bed of chickpea ragout and sweet artichoke puree. It was almost too pretty to eat. The warm morsels of octopus were amazing and the puree a perfect polar balance of flavor. The chickpeas added another level of texture and starch.
Along with the octopus we ordered the Trio of dips. The threesome was made up of smoked eggplant, warm hummus, and spicy muhammara, the dips were served with house-made pita chips and toasted flatbread. The palate warming dishes had our moths watering fort he next round of appetizers.
Next was the lamb “Adana” cut roll. The roll is an interesting mix of cuisine, it is like the offspring of a gyro and a sushi roll. Warm tender bits of lamb and sauce is rolled in soft dough and cut to resemble bit-sized sushi rolls, simply delicious!
The Para Soho salad was up next and it was a colorful feast for the eyes and a welcome palate cleanser after the rich round of appetizers. The salad is made up of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chopped onions, parsley and peeled walnuts in a refreshing pomegranate – lemon dressing.
Though nearly stuffed with incredible gourmet treats we soldiered on and into tasty seafood entrees. In order to ensure freshness, the seafood items are subject to changes and the menu may differ. I was lucky to be able to order the braised snapper and my companion had the salmon. The snapper is pan-seared and served with veggies and nutty bulgur pilaf.
I usually am not a fan of Salmon but the preparation and flavor were divine. The flesh was moist and tender but the skin was lightly charred and crispy. The fish was served with a shallot puree and sauteed French lentils.
Our amazing meal ended with a trio of desserts. Rice pudding, pistachio encrusted Baklava, and vanilla bean custard with liquor-soaked cherries. The trio ended a great meal filled with fresh ingredients and savory spices.
One of the hallmarks of a great restaurant isn’t its decor or location but its food! Though its location is ideal and its decor beautifully chic, the food and service is the reason you will want to spend your evenings here. The knowledgeable staff is ready to assist with everything from food items to wine and beverage pairings. There are many restaurants in New York but not nearly enough that will offer you the service and presentation you can enjoy at Pera Soho. For restaurant week you can drop in and enjoy a pixe fixe menu of some of there most delectable dishes. If you can’t make it there before February 8th you can always take advantage of its various specials throughout the week. Some of there specials include the Wednesday night blues and Jazz seafood Dinner and Give Back Saturdays. The Saturday special gives 10% of its bar proceeds to a rotating list of charities. For more information on Pera Soho please visit www.peranyc.com
All Food Images were taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note II.