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    Nerai

    4.4 (755 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Nerai Takeout or Delivery

    Nerai Photos

    NERAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Nerai

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lobster Pasta
    Mikka V.

    Went for the second time to take my sister out for dinner. We ordered the hummus and tzatziki to start which was absolutely delicious. There were a couple pieces of pita bread which seemed like an amount that was on the smaller side. I had to order more pita for the table and was surprised that it came with an extra charge. Other than that, the lobster squid ink pasta was delicious. I had it the first time I went and absolutely loved it. It's on the sweeter side which suits my palate.

    Saragli:  baklava, pistachio ice cream, tahini parfait
    German B.

    In the city for Christmas, we opted for a change of pace in cuisine, and are so glad we walked into Nerai on East 54th St. Marketed as "refined Greek cuisine", we now know what they mean! A beautiful interior with clean lines and subdued lighting, this is visually a gem. Our waitress Marina was delightfully bubbly and helpful as we navigated the menu. We took the hightop tables by the bar, which were booth-like with amply sized oval tables. The bar served up two excellent margaritas and Old Fashioneds, just the way we like them. We started with the thinly-sliced fried zucchini chips, which were some of the best we've ever had: feather light & crispy. Our mains were seared salmon, cooked perfectly to temperature, served with a rice/spinach mix that was such a nice pairing; and the diver scallops, grilled with porkbelly - so savory and delicious! - served with corn and red pepper were amazing! For dessert, we thoroughly enjoyed their hand-rolled baklava served with pistachio ice cream, plus cappuccinos. Overall, the restaurant had a very upbeat vibe that was supported by a super friendly staff (Marina, plus hostess Kristiana among the stars). We will return after the holidays to sample more of the menu and spend time with our new friends!

    Josie T.

    Came to the city for a concert and decided to try this restaurant. We enjoyed every dish we ordered - grilled octopus, duck, fish, etc. are all delicious. The service is A+. Great place for date night. The bottle of wine the waiter recommended is on point!

    Aram L.

    Came here to celebrate Valentine's Day with my wife. Had a dinner reservation and had our coats checked and seated promptly. The folks working at the front were friendly and personable. Service after we were seated was friendly with check ins done routinely. Food was overall good. It was the V-Day course menu. My favorites were the lobster pasta and the steak which were well prepared. There was some variability between the courses coming out including times when it was almost immediate and then when it took quite a while before the steak was served. I do understand that the kitchen was probably busy with the special day but was something we noticed. Vibes were cute for V-Day with pedals and intimate lighting. Would be curious to come back to try their menu on a typical day.

    Meatballs
    Alathea B.

    Overall, solid experience. For the price, I thought the food could have been a little better. The service was really good but the wine wasn't to par and the bread that came with my meatballs was too charred. It had some char caked on it and maybe other people like it that way but it wasnt for me. The tuna tartare was excellent and very fresh. Overall, decent meal but I liked most everything else I ate in NYC better....

    Yan B.

    This place is really good. From the ambiance and decorations to the food, everything was top notch. The pasta was incredible as was the fish. Appetizers of tuna tartare and crudo were great as well. Would definitely return.

    Scallops
    Madeline A.

    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!

    Trio of Spreads
    Aejah T.

    Jumped in here on a whim and really glad we did! Service was excellent, dishes came out fast and fresh, and food was amazing. Super cute for a date night or girls night!

    Chocolate cake
    Abiba S.

    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!

    Bill T.

    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.

    Orzo and lobster pasta
    Jonghan L.

    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.

    Gregg R.

    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.

    Lobster Pasta
    Amy W.

    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.

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    15 days ago

    Great food great service by TJ. Loved this place will come back again with all my family

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    Nerai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nerai

    Is there heaters for outdoor dinning for covid?

    Yes we do have heaters outdoors

    Is there a dress code for men?

    Business Casual.

    Is it BYOB?

    This is from a while ago but I might as well post. You should call prior but they have a beer/wine/alcohol menu so I assume not.

    Do they have a full bar?

    Yes, full bar in terms of alcohol carried, but not a big bar seating area. Just meant for a small party to be able to get drinks while waiting for their table to be ready I think.

    View All 9 Questions

    Kiki's - Grilled Octopus / IG @mwy.eats

    Kiki's

    4.1(1k reviews)
    3.3 miChinatown, Lower East Side
    $$

    what they serve: authentic (tapa-sized) Greek dishes located inside an old Chinese printing press…read morein Chinatown highly highly recommend checking this place out if you're craving greek food. they don't accept reservations so your best bet is to secure a table at an off hour weeknight what we ordered * lamb chops: perfectly grilled and seasoned. served with the FRESHEST fries * shrimp: currently hyperfixated on shrimp and the orzo cream sauce is s-tier * spanka: dude the feta and spinach and phyllo dough combo is goated * calamari: they said they ship in their calamari fresh everyday. this was GOOD TOO but prob my least favorite * cheesecake: GET THIS ONE. OH MY 10/10 IT WAS CREAMY BUT NOT OVERLY CREAMY. THE CRUST WAS GIVING BROWN BUTTER. IT WAS SO GOOD. OH MY I LOVE. NOT TOO SWEET service: EVERYONE WAS SO NICE & GENUINE. I LOVE IT HERE.

    Kiki's has been on my list since I moved to NYC ~5 years ago and it was finally time to try it out!…read moreI went with a group of 4 on a Friday around 6:45pm. Unsurprisingly, there was a long line to put down our names on that gloriously warm and sunny spring evening. We were told the wait time was 1-1.5 hours which honestly went by so fast because there are so many fun places around the area. We got our table at around 8pm in the restaurant area right across the street. I can definitely see the timeless appeal of this place-- the vibes are so fun, the energy is young and vibrant, lights are dim, the music is loud, the smell of sizzling grilled meats and fries fills the space -- all of this hidden behind the facade of a printshop in Chinatown. It's a one-of-a-kind place. The food was pretty good and reasonably priced. We shared: - bottle of orange wine: very generously priced which we easily split amongst us 4. The wine was bright, refreshing and had a lot of body. - dips: we ordered the tzaitziki and the fava bean dip. They accidentally gave us the tirokafteri (or spicy feta) initially which was ironically my favorite dip out of the ones we tried, with the perfect creamy and spicy balance. The tzaitziki was also delicious, refreshing, and cool. The fava bean dip eventually came and it was a bit flat in flavor and texture compared to the other two. It tasted like blended fava beans with some capers on top and no other flavor elements. It was also a bit dry and I was expecting a texture more similar to hummus. The dips came with very delicious pita/regular bread and we also asked for cucumber slices for our gluten free friend (didn't know this was an option but cool!). - octopus: pretty small portion for 4 people but amazing! The octopus was super tender and flavorful. Considering how busy this place is, I was surprised at how well made this was. They have the dish mastered. Highly recommend! Would order again. - gigante beans: tomato bean stew, pretty good and filling! Good to share if you want something a bit more hearty and warm. Also gluten free! Perfect for colder months. - saganaki: I think I would come back exclusively for this alone. It's the perfect dish: the salty and melty cheese is packed inside layers of crispy, flaky, buttery phyllo, with sweet honey on top. This had the perfect balance of flavors and textures. I would order one for myself next time. Definitely a crowd favorite. - mixed grill: the menu said this was for 3 but it was actually a very generous portion for us 4. Delicious meats: it had lamb chops, some chicken and pork souvlaki, Greek sausage, and ground beef patties, all over a bed of well seasoned fries and pita. Truly a stellar dish. Perfect to share and super satisfying. - desserts: we tried the baklava and cheesecake. The baklava came completely without structure and was not that good (too heavy on the cinnamon for my taste and not enough filling), however the cheesecake was rich and creamy with a tangy flavor that perfectly balanced the sweet strawberries and delicious crust! Very well made. My major critique is that the service was quite disappointing. I felt like our waitress was not very kind/ helpful/ was annoyed at us perpetually for no good reason. Additionally, items in our order were messed up or came out too late (which is usually acceptable because we all make mistakes but flagging down anyone for help was virtually impossible). Ultimately, I would probably come again with a group of young people because the food was so good and affordable. The vibe is also pretty unique. However, Kiki's could certainly benefit from polishing its service a bit/ hiring more staff so there is enough attention to customers. While they understandably manage tremendous volumes of people, especially over weekends, that should not come at the expense of the customer experience.

    Photos
    Kiki's - Interior

    Interior

    Kiki's - Lamb

    Lamb

    Kiki's - Exterior. Outdoor seating

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    Exterior. Outdoor seating

    yasouvlaki

    yasouvlaki

    4.3(261 reviews)
    1.7 miYorkville, Upper East Side
    $$

    Came here when I first moved to the neighborhood and I'm not sure why it took me so long to come…read moreback. This is such a yummy upper east side spot! You can come here for any occasion. Portions are all perfect to share as well. The staff were super friendly. Greeted us as soon as we walked in, explained things on the menu, made suggestions, and constantly checked in on us. The octopus was truly amazing!!!!!

    How does this place have a 4.5 star rating?…read more We've been here many times as it's close to home. The food is always a solid 3/5, at best. It doesn't matter if you're getting a horatiki salad, pikilia, souvlaki of any kind, or a piece of salmon. The pita is bad, but everything else is just fine. Then you'll get the bill and ask yourself how you just dropped $250+. $18 for two pieces of halloumi? A 25% tip? And why does my stomach hurt? The servers are kind enough. The hosts are oblivious. Maybe you'll be blessed with a table by the bathroom or a door tonight? Maybe you'll get your delivery within the next hour? Do not ever order delivery from here. Ignore the delay for a moment. Everyone makes slips. $80+ got us 1) a chicken platter 2) two small soggy slices of halloumi 3) a salad with a single lukewarm chicken kebab on the side. The food was fatty, greasy, cold, and looked like it had been leftover and reheated from someone else's plate. Perhaps the delivery kitchen is different than the dine-in one? We were starving, so please pray for us - hopefully no one starts feeling sick tonight. Yasouvlaki is an awesome place to take your parents visiting from the suburbs or another state. Don't go here because you want real Greek food. And don't bring your Greek friends here, either. They'll be mad at you. 2 stars is generous.

    Photos
    yasouvlaki - Inside dining

    Inside dining

    yasouvlaki - Chicken breast platter and Mythos lager

    Chicken breast platter and Mythos lager

    yasouvlaki - Moussaka ($25)  Zucchini Sticks ($16) Kefta Skewer ($7) Tzatziki

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    Moussaka ($25) Zucchini Sticks ($16) Kefta Skewer ($7) Tzatziki

    Nerai - greek - Updated May 2026

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