Chic Greek venue offering updated specialties & seafood priced by the pound, in an airy setting.
At a glance
#26 of 77 Mediterranean restaurants in New York #10 of 41 Greek restaurants in New YorkLocalGuideWorld score: 4.50
Rating breakdown
-
5 ★69%
-
4 ★19%
-
3 ★6%
-
2 ★3%
-
1 ★2%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Nerai?
- Nerai is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 853 reviews.
- How does Nerai rank in New York?
- Nerai is #26 of 77 Mediterranean restaurants in New York by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Nerai located?
- 55 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022 — 1.5 km from the center of New York.
- How can I contact Nerai?
- Phone: (212) 759-5554 · Website: nerainyc.com
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Nerai, a Greek restaurant located in the heart of the city. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and friendly atmosphere that immediately made me feel at home.
The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, with a modern twist on traditional Greek elements. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the design, from the elegant lighting fixtures to the comfortable seating arrangements. It's clear that the owners have put a lot of thought into creating a space that is both visually appealing and inviting.
Now let's talk about the food. The menu at Nerai offers a wide variety of traditional Greek dishes, all made with the freshest ingredients. From the classic moussaka to the mouthwatering souvlaki, every dish I tried was bursting with flavor. The presentation of each plate was also impeccable, with vibrant colors and artistic arrangements that truly showcased the culinary skills of the chefs.
One standout dish that I have to mention is the grilled octopus. It was perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful, with a smoky charred exterior that added a depth of flavor. The portion sizes were generous, ensuring that I left the restaurant feeling satisfied and content.
The service at Nerai was top-notch. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable, providing recommendations and answering any questions I had about the menu. They were also efficient in their service, ensuring that my dining experience was seamless and enjoyable.
To complement the delicious food, Nerai offers an extensive wine list featuring both Greek and international selections. The sommelier was helpful in guiding me towards the perfect wine pairing for my meal, enhancing the overall dining experience.
Overall, my experience at Nerai was exceptional. From the beautiful ambiance to the delectable food and impeccable service, every aspect of my visit exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend Nerai to anyone looking for a memorable and authentic Greek dining experience.
The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, with a modern twist on traditional Greek elements. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the design, from the elegant lighting fixtures to the comfortable seating arrangements. It's clear that the owners have put a lot of thought into creating a space that is both visually appealing and inviting.
Now let's talk about the food. The menu at Nerai offers a wide variety of traditional Greek dishes, all made with the freshest ingredients. From the classic moussaka to the mouthwatering souvlaki, every dish I tried was bursting with flavor. The presentation of each plate was also impeccable, with vibrant colors and artistic arrangements that truly showcased the culinary skills of the chefs.
One standout dish that I have to mention is the grilled octopus. It was perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful, with a smoky charred exterior that added a depth of flavor. The portion sizes were generous, ensuring that I left the restaurant feeling satisfied and content.
The service at Nerai was top-notch. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable, providing recommendations and answering any questions I had about the menu. They were also efficient in their service, ensuring that my dining experience was seamless and enjoyable.
To complement the delicious food, Nerai offers an extensive wine list featuring both Greek and international selections. The sommelier was helpful in guiding me towards the perfect wine pairing for my meal, enhancing the overall dining experience.
Overall, my experience at Nerai was exceptional. From the beautiful ambiance to the delectable food and impeccable service, every aspect of my visit exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend Nerai to anyone looking for a memorable and authentic Greek dining experience.
Food and service were top notch! Staff was really knowledgeable and attentive which Gia a huge plus in my opinion. Delicious dishes we tried the Lavraki & Salmon both were exquisite and the drinks were amazing so overall great experience! Tried a few drinks old fashioned was great, smoked banana was exotic and strawberry Basil all were winners. Appetizers were also delicious we had the saganaki and zucchini chips! Definitely worth trying, highly recommend!
Nerai is amazing- elevated Greek food in NYC. From the moment you enter the doors, you're greeted with warmth and kindness. I dined with my family including my elderly mother, and the service was so helpful and accommodating while not being stifling. We ate inside, but the outside seating looks magical, definitely would have opted for an outdoor table if I was with friends. The food was incredible. This might have been one of the best lamb chops I've had in NYC. The whole roasted fish was fresh and cooked perfectly, I could eat it for every meal. Thank you Nerai, we will be back!
The most delicious pasta I've ever eaten. Highly recommended!!! However it is too slow and the service is not so good.
An place for an intimate or business need. Unassuming from the outside, but upon entering you transform into a charming and upscale atmosphere where the food and service is to match. The menu has a modern flare while embracing the origins of traditional Mediterranean basics. Don’t pass up this great place
I came to Nerai for dinner on a Friday evening. I made reservations online the same day and they had a lot of availability making the process seamless.
Service: Upon arrival, I was immediately seated on the second floor. Throughout the meal, the staff was very attentive and friendly. The food and drinks came out quickly.
The restaurant: The restaurant is beautiful in general, but the second floor is stunning. The decor is well thought out. I dined here during the winter and found the top floor to be a little drafty and chilly. There does not appear to be a dress code - people were dressed from very casual (sweats) to dressed up (cocktail attire).
The food: The food was a mix of good and not great. I ordered the Apple of My Eye Mocktail (pear purée/ apple cider/ lemon juice / cinnamon) and it was outstanding - one of the most delicious mocktails I’ve ever had. For a starter, I ordered the Pikilia (tzatziki, hummus, and spicy whipped feta). The hummus was a little bland but mixed with the tzatziki, it was delicious; the spicy whipped feta was outstanding and not overly spicy. For my main, I ordered the Pastisada (braised short rib, Paccheri, smoked metsovone cheese, horseradish gremolata) and I was incredibly underwhelmed - I ended up leaving the majority of the food on the plate. The meat was soft and tender but the dish overall lacked flavor.
Overall, the entire experience, was good but not great. The prices are little high for the offerings, the second floor of restaurant was drafty, and the main dish was underwhelming. The ambience, decor, staff, and ease of making a reservation, and mocktail / starter were the highlights.
Service: Upon arrival, I was immediately seated on the second floor. Throughout the meal, the staff was very attentive and friendly. The food and drinks came out quickly.
The restaurant: The restaurant is beautiful in general, but the second floor is stunning. The decor is well thought out. I dined here during the winter and found the top floor to be a little drafty and chilly. There does not appear to be a dress code - people were dressed from very casual (sweats) to dressed up (cocktail attire).
The food: The food was a mix of good and not great. I ordered the Apple of My Eye Mocktail (pear purée/ apple cider/ lemon juice / cinnamon) and it was outstanding - one of the most delicious mocktails I’ve ever had. For a starter, I ordered the Pikilia (tzatziki, hummus, and spicy whipped feta). The hummus was a little bland but mixed with the tzatziki, it was delicious; the spicy whipped feta was outstanding and not overly spicy. For my main, I ordered the Pastisada (braised short rib, Paccheri, smoked metsovone cheese, horseradish gremolata) and I was incredibly underwhelmed - I ended up leaving the majority of the food on the plate. The meat was soft and tender but the dish overall lacked flavor.
Overall, the entire experience, was good but not great. The prices are little high for the offerings, the second floor of restaurant was drafty, and the main dish was underwhelming. The ambience, decor, staff, and ease of making a reservation, and mocktail / starter were the highlights.
Honestly i was disappointed. This place was in my saved to visit places in Google and i was so excited about it. However doesn't really matching the pictures in internet to start from there.
Drinks was nothing to excited. I tried ginger margarita and was ok.
Food - menu doesn't offer much authentic Greek dishes. Some of the dishes was really weird... you can not find them in Greece.
I guess they start you with bread - not us personally. We try bunch a appetizers and desserts. The one that tasted great and remind me of Greece was the octopus.
We try meatballs, pita, lamb, traditional greek stuffed dessert, pinna cotta, baklava.
We sit on the bar and service was not as expected - just not enough attention. Bartenders was busy on their phones.
Overall i am disappointed.
Drinks was nothing to excited. I tried ginger margarita and was ok.
Food - menu doesn't offer much authentic Greek dishes. Some of the dishes was really weird... you can not find them in Greece.
I guess they start you with bread - not us personally. We try bunch a appetizers and desserts. The one that tasted great and remind me of Greece was the octopus.
We try meatballs, pita, lamb, traditional greek stuffed dessert, pinna cotta, baklava.
We sit on the bar and service was not as expected - just not enough attention. Bartenders was busy on their phones.
Overall i am disappointed.
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.
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.
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