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

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I enjoyed visiting Nerai for an early dinner on a Friday with a friend. The service was fast and everyone was so friendly. My waitress took alot of time explaining the menu to me, and recommending the dishes that were most unique and popular. I ordered Pikilla (hummus, whipped feta and tsatziki with pita) and Spanakopita (artichoke, spinach and feta pies) to start. It was all fresh, the hummus was my favorite and the spinach pies were delicious. We decided to try the Duck Moussaka and ASTAKOMAKARONADA which includes poached Maine lobster with squid ink linguine and metaxa bisque. I absolutely loved my pasta dish, it was decadent and slightly sweet. My friend loved the duck, and the lentils it was served beside as well. I recommend trying their gelato for dessert, I got the Chocolate Mouse option which is called Sokolatina. I loved the chocolate flavor mixed with the raspberry jam on the plate. Overall, everything was so yummy and the beautiful decor made my meal feel really special. read more

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We enjoyed our meal at Nerai. The octopus app was tender and well seasoned My husband loved the zucchini chips. The complimentary bread and feta was even tasty. For entrees we really enjoyed the lamb chops. Dessert was magnificent. The yogurt sundae was not too sweet and the brittle on top had a different taste that makes you want to keep eating it to figure it out. read more

Nerai - Chocolate mousse - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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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 read more

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I went here with a few others for my birthday several months ago specifically for their $49 pre-theater dinner (along with an extra appetizer) which turned out to be a fantastic deal. Their service was excellent as well. I had a glass of their assyrtiko which was good. Someone had a glass of wine which was a nice pour. This is in short a fantastic restaurant and I recommend their lamb chops; ordered rare of course. My only issue is that the vegetarian main was not that good. Bread with white bean dip- This was served at the beginning. The bread was warm and good as expected. The dip reminded me of something from my local area and it had some nice flavors. Extra appetizer: Haloumi me Sika- grilled haloumi cheese- fresh figs, shaved fennel salad, toasted hazelnuts, balsamic glaze. We ordered this as an extra dish. The haloumi was well grilled ans the flavors were nice. The figs as well as the glaze added some sourness as well as some nuttiness. There was something bitter about it as well; perhaps from the fennel salad or something else; just as a note. Appetizers: Soutzoukakia- Meatballs, tomato ragu, herbed rice, crumbled manouri cheese. I ordered this as my appetizer. The meatballs were very tender and overall the dish was good. The sauce reminded me as expected of kokkinisto but more strongly of tomato. Horiatiki- Greek tomato, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, tomato butter This was probably the best appetizer. There was very fresh tomatoes/feta and the bottom was unique compared to other Horiatiki's, almost like a dakos with some grains in there. Very large. Spanakopita- Individually wrapped parcels with spinach, artichokes, dill and feta cheese served with ouzo yogurt This was a little sourer than other versions (probably due to the light artichoke flavor) but overall it was fine. The portion size was a bit small however. Revithokeftedes- Chickpea fritters served with grilled pita, hummus and harissa For some reason, this was served more like a falafel. The dish was just fine though I would not order it again. Overall the appetizers were good and unexpectedly large for a prix fixe menu. Mains Paidakia sti Skara- (+$6) Lamb chops, honey glazed carrots, dolma, oregano jus I ordered this, rare as usual, and this dish was both massive and delicious. The lamb was super tender and I was surprised there were three large pieces with a prix fixe. The sauce on the bottom was outstanding and the dolma were unique but good. This dish is highly recommended and would be worth it on the main menu as well. Lavraki - Whole grilled loup de mer deboned, fileted and served with oregano, ladolemono and capers This is the dish they are most well known for and it is quite a good tender piece. The sauce is similar to what you find in a lot of Greek fish places and it worked well with the very tender fish. The fish overall was good and the portion was similarly quite large. Solomo- Pan seared ora king salmon, spinach rice, crispy leaks Salmon had a great sear on the outside and was tender in side. The spanikorizo in particular was excellent and I would definitely order it as a side dish. The portion was slightly smaller than expected. Vegetarian Risotto: This was easily the weakest of the three dishes and I consider it to be the only throwaway dish of the main dishes. The cheese was nice but the texture reminded me of mac and cheese more than a fancy dish. I'd much appreciate their interpretation of a briam or something similar (or some mix of spanakorizo and something else.) It was pretty but not super good. Desserts- We were quite full but desserts were next. Kataifi Ekmek- Vanilla custard, chantilly cream, pistachios with mastiha gelato. I ordered this as my dessert. The custard and creme were good. I was a big fan of the gelato which had a slight herbal flavor thanks to the mastiha. This was an interesting solid take on ekmek. Cheese plate with kumquat As with other dishes, there was a nice portion size. The cheese was good and the kumquat reminded me of mostarda which was fine but perhaps a little too strong for the cheese. Saragli- Hand-rolled baklava, tahini parfait, sesame brittle, pistachio gelato The baklava was nice and soft. The tahini and sesame had some nice nuttiness. The gelato was also quite good as well. This was probably the strongest of the desserts. Greek Yogurt Trio- Thyme honey & pecans, quince, sour cherry Sour Cherry: Topping reminds me of Saranti's. Very good Thyme honey/pecans: Light honey, sour yogurt. Good Quince: A bit too strong/bitter. This place is overall excellent and one of the best Greek places I have been to in a long time if not the best in the city. That deal is excellent and you leave quite stuffed. I'd change up the main vegetarian dish but otherwise, top notch food. 4.8. read more

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This place was absolutely divine. In addition to the water and AC combo in the sticky, humid air, I was immediately struck by the decor of the place. Clean and classy but still welcoming. Our server was very friendly and worked fast, periodically checking in with us during our meal. I ordered a chicken plate which came with only 1 skewer worth of chicken which was kind of a bust, especially compared to its delicious beef Patty counterpart which came with 3, but the potato sides & the pita bread were all 10/10. They also have the best falafel I've ever had. Overall would definitely order the bifteki again over the chicken platter, but all of the food was incredible. Definitely will be coming back. read more

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My favorite restaurant in Midtown east. I have been here ~10 times. Good vibe, good food. My favorite dishes to order are lobster pasta and Greek yogurt trio read more

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Great ambiance and service, good food. I enjoyed it but not enough to return. The portions were very small...

First time trying Greek Cuisine and couldn't have picked a better location(said by Greek Friends).Made a reservation and table was ready right away. It's definitely a place to bring your significant other or date spot. We decided to try few appetizers and then 6-course Chef Tasting . Chef Grundman , really out did himself. I truly loved it . FOOD , I can't begin to tell you how good it was . You just have to try it . Ambiance- 10/10 Service - 10/10 WiFi- Not Sure Reservation - recommended Parking - Good Luck read more

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I wish I could give them 4 stars ... due to the hostess's rudeness and unprofessional attitude minus the points. They really should hire better hostess otherwise it just ruin the business. You are not only the restaurant in Manhattan! Food was great and servers were attentive and friendly. Only we had issue about the hostess to assign our seatings... the hostess was rude since beginning which it's totally unacceptable. We were 5 people and made reservation not like we just walk-in, they didn't mention we would only get outside seatings when we made reservation, or we need to be more than 5 people to get inside seatings but they put us at outside seating which today's weather kinda cold in evening that we all didn't prepare for dine at outside with this weather!!! We were feeling cold!!! We asked the hostess 2 times (over an hour) and until I asked again and the manager came then we got a table inside. We felt so much warmer once we got inside. I saw not all tables had 5 ppl or more!!! I don't know if I want to go back again. read more

Last night was my second time dining at Nerai. I don't know if it was 5 star-worthy though, possibly just because I was so enchanted during my first dinner there that this time failed to measure up. Also not sure if they changed chefs between my first and second visit, but I wouldn't be surprised. We went for the 4 course tasting menu and I had: Tuna tartare (starter): possibly one of the smallest tuna tartares I've ever had. That did end up being a blessing later because of the massive size of the main dish. My bigger issue is that it was too citrusy--normally I don't have an issue with that, but this just felt like it was bathed in lemon juice and a bit sour. I think the octopus that my mom had was better. Pastitsada (pasta dish): I would've probably given this full marks except for the fact that it was impeccable the last time I had it and this time, it unfortunately wasn't as good. The braised short rib was done to perfection, just wish there was more of it sprinkled within the pasta. Chicken and lemon gnocchi (main dish): I almost always end up choosing an appetizer as the best of the night whenever I'm having a multicourse serving (about 8 out of 10 times). However, this dish was by far the best of the evening. The gnocchi was ridiculously great. The chicken also was flavorful and tender, I was just sad I couldn't finish it all because by that point, I was already getting really full. Blonde chocolate mousse w/ raspberry (dessert): all's well that ends well. Super solid way to finish off the meal. Not too sweet and with an interesting flavor. I was satisfied. I think I'd try it again to see if the third time matches the first. read more

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Beautiful atmosphere & delicious and sophisticated Greek cuisine! Preparation and presentation on every dish was spot on. Some of the best and most tender octopus I've had! The king salmon was also noteworthy and perfectly cooked medium rare. Portions are on the smaller side but hey I vote quality over quantity any day! Service was attentive and the entire experience was elevated as a whole. Beautiful indoor and outdoor area. On the pricier side, but as expected in this part of town and for this quality. Feel like Nerai doesn't get enough attention relative to some of the trendy Mediterranean spots in NYC but definitely worth a shout out! read more

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I came here with a bunch of friends for a late dinner. We were lucky to grab a reservation at the last minute. Service was extremely friendly and attentive. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast the food was served and how exceptionally fresh everything was. The wine list was also excellent, the waiter chose an excellent medium-bodied Greek wine which was delicious. I definitely intend to come back here. read more

Falling in love doesn't come easy as we age, but just one bite of Nerai's Lobster Squid Ink Linguine Pasta in a metaxa bisque and I was taken. It is rich and its textures and temperature and flavors and the visual are all well orchestrated. It's like a perfect string of words that have been thoughtfully chosen that transforms itself into poetry for the senses. The food language here is real and captivating and addictive. read more

This is a very popular Greek restaurant on Red Book and the most popular entree is the lobster pasta. Indeed their lobster pasta is very special. Tasty, creamy but not greasy. But I don't see what the Greek element in it... to me it's kind of Italian style. I like everything else they had. Tuna tartare was fresh and chickpea fritters used some spice to spice it up! My friends loved their entrees as well and it was kind of surprising looking at the large portion of the lamb chops. I would say their interior design and the chickpea fritters are the only things that are kind of Greek/Mediterranean style, but it's definitely a nice restaurant worth checking out. read more

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Outstanding experience. We had a large group dinner in the upstairs dining room. Everything was perfect. Friendly and attentive staff. Beautiful outdoor seating if you choose. The menu was excellent. All the starters were tasty. Entrees nicely portioned. Extensive wine list. Desserts to make you feel so good. Strong recommendations are Tuna Tartar, Grilled Octopus, Meatballs, Lamb Chops (Wow) six beautiful chops. Tasty fish choices which are fresh and cooked to perfection. Flourless chocolate cake with gelato small portions of yumminess. It so pleasing to see the City coming back to normal following the pandemic year. For some in our party it was their first night out- Nerai is making us all feel better. read more

Came to Nerai on a Friday evening to hang out with friends. The restaurant has really elegant decor and vibes. I ordered the Lobster pasta, which is one of their famous entree on the menu. It was tasty and brings out a distinct flavor. The pricing is definitely positioned at a higher side with its portion ($46) read more

Nerai - Lobster Pasta - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

I reunited with a foodie gal pal after 7 months and she was craving the lobster pasta here. We did outdoor dining. Service was busy. I ordered the scallops with pork belly dish. It was very good. Unfortunately they are no longer serving that dish in the restaurant. The seafood dishes are definitely worth getting. We shared an appetizer of spinach pies which was small. We also dessert and I ordered tea to go and the pot it was served in was pretty and heavy. I would definitely return to try their Santorini Sunday prix fixe menu. read more

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This is a review for Nerei restaurant's takeout dining experience. It's interesting to experience five star restaurants at home, instead of in person. As COVID cases surge again, we are dining at home. So the question is - how much of a "five star" restaurant is ambience versus the food itself ? I really miss sitting down & eating at a restaurant. I love the entire experience of dining out in general. I've heard about Nerai's great food - there are many five star reviews. And they deliver! So I decided to try Nerai - it was delicious! I appreciated the clean & organized packaging. Everything was full of flavor & very fresh. You'd never know there was a pandemic happening. I look forward to supporting New York's great restaurants like Nerai, even if the only option is takeout/delivery. Thanks for the hard work & excellent food ! Great job! read more

Nerai - Delivery from Nerai restaurant NYC - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

We came here for a working lunch with our client. She suggested this place. I have to say how beautiful the decor is. The food was very good especially the appetizers. We got the octopus and the appetizer trio with pita bread. The service was also wonderful. Very attentive and nice. I will definitely come back for dinner. read more

We were struggling to find a lunch spot in midtown that didnt feel like we were in the middle of midtown and Nerai popped up on yelp. We arrive right as they opened and there was a long line of suits. But right as you walk in it is a really nice space. They also have cute areas for outdoor seating. We didn't have a reservation (i would highly recommend at lunch hour) but they sat us at the bar. We really enjoyed their cocktails and wine! The food was just as good. We even got a complimentary plate of prawns from the kitchen. We are not in midtown much but would definitely go back. Loved the ambiance, food and drinks. read more

I came here to celebrate the wedding of a close friend of mine, and the service was excellent. The staff was super attentive and accommodating. To start I had an Espresso Martini (divine!), followed by the delicious Tuna Tartare. For the main course, I ate the Seafood Orzotto which was decent, but quite filling. To end the experience I enjoyed the Sokolatina: the chocolate mousse and chocolate cake. All in all everything was very good. Regarding COVID safety measures, all staff members were wearing masks and everyone's temperature was taken at the entrance of the restaurant. read more

Nerai - The Sokolatina - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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! :-) read more

Went here yesterday to celebrate my birthday - such an ambient restaurant. We decided to sit outside to take advantage of the weather, and it was decorated beautifully. We started with the trio of dips, and the Nerai chips (not pictured). The dips were tinyyyy. I frequently have Mediterranean food and get a trio of dips, and this was by far the smallest portion I have seen. They were good nonetheless. The Nerai chips were so good, just wish they were less oily. For dinner, I had the Lavraki, and the table had the shrimp spaghetti, filet mignon, and salmon. Everybody's food came out steaming hot, besides mine -- maybe because it was made first? But everything was tasty. Overall everything was good, including drinks, but nothing more than the status quo. TLDR: the food is good, but not blow my mind amazing. Nothing was so unique or different than what I have eaten before. Service was a little slow, but I understand some establishments are short staffed these days. read more

Nerai - Traditional Spreads, Persephone (drink) - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm writing this review because the service here was amazing. Mandeer was our server and he made this experience so much better. He explained everything in such detail and helped us order our food. He was especially attentive to our needs and always made sure we were okay. Everything came out in a timely manner and was so delicious. I don't usually like to repeat restaurants, but I'll come back for this experience read more

Nerai - Upstairs tables - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Food was quite good, although expensive. Made a reservation Friday afternoon and was able to dine that evening. Got an outdoor spot which was nice for ventilation but a little too dim and there were some annoying flies. The free bread with a bean spread was delicious. The grilled octopus and the duck were highly recommended, and both were great. The octopus had quite a bit of charred areas but the inside was very tender. The duck was truly outstanding - the best non-Asian duck I've ever had. I'm usually not impressed with duck dishes besides Peking duck, but this was truly superb - very tender and flavorful but not too salty. Also got the lamb which was not bad but not outstanding. read more

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Excellent food. A little pricey but work was paying so who cares. I had the orzo seafood dish and it got heavier as I ate it. The appetizers were my favorite. Pillowy spinach pies, yummy non-chewy octopus and terrific tuna tartare with crunch potato sticks. Beautiful atmosphere as well. I would return. read more

Great service and food. I ordered grilled octopus appetizer which had many different flavors on one plate. Octopus was cooked just right too. I then ordered a side cream rice spinach dish which I taste hint of lemon. Ambiance was also nice. I enjoyed it very much. read more

Nerai - Grilled octopus - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Really good covid dining experience. Tables spaced far apart and great set up/atmosphere- very romantic! We loved the hullomi fig salad. The dips/pita were average- and the oysters were yummy and fresh. The lobster pasta was definitely a must! I was less impressed with the scallops dish. Of the desserts, the best was the yogurt trio. I enjoyed both of my drinks (the tequila drink on the menu and the Persephone). Overall decent experience with good service! read more

Omg why I never ate here before so amazing! The staff all was friendly and the decor my new spot ha ha And will was awesome toga our service the entire crew thank you so much for making my bday special. And very cautious with this whole covid issue. This Resturant is so pretty food is amazing:) read more

Perfect Greek restaurant. I come here as many times as I can find a reason to come. Highly recommended.

We had quite a large party and for appetizers, we started with the Pikilia, Saganaki, Spanakopita and Tuna Tartare as well as a round of drinks. My personal favorite was the Whipped Feta dip, but we ran out of pitas for the different dips and though we requested more, they didn't show up until we finished our entrees (which is a little silly to me). After appetizers were cleared and before entrees arrived, our waiter asked if we wanted to order a second round of drinks which we put in for, but like the pitas, the drinks didn't show up until after entrees were cleared. At that point, we didn't even want them. For my entree, I ordered the Lemon Gnocchi specifically to try the Avgotaraho add-on which I was most excited for. The Avgotaraho was fine, but the quality/cook of the gnocchi was abysmal and unpalatable. Like eating playdoh if I am to be quite honest. I tried a few bites of a friend's Squid Ink Linguine and that was much better, as was the Grilled Lamb Rack, which left me even more disappointed. Our waiter was pretty MIA most of the evening, perhaps they were short staffed or we caught them on a bad night, but some hits and some misses. As for our experience, I'm a little torn on my review. On food quality alone, Nerai is amazing, but pricing and service-wise, I do think it's quite expensive for what you're getting and for that, I don't think I'll be back. read more

Nerai is absolutely wonderful. I had a reservation that I was running a bit behind for and they kindly updated my reservation time to prevent any issues. The service was impeccable. The wait staff were very attentive. I have nothing bad to say about their cocktails. Each one very unique and delicious. My friend and I had Persephone, Anemone, Calypso, and Chios Mojito (this one was a bit earthy/herbal- very interesting!) I apologize for no drink pics. We were too busy drinking it........ Onto the food, Grilled Octopus: So so so tender and expected really nothing less. I wished there was more than just 4 pieces of octopus though! Short Rib Yiouvetsi: The short rib was super tender and moist and deliciously meaty. I wasn't so impressed with the orzo. It was okay. Chicken Lemonato: My friend had this dish but I got a little taste and I rather would've gotten this over the short rib pasta. The chicken was very tender and paired so well with the lemon potato gnocchi. Saragali: I really enjoy baklava and whenever it's on the menu, I always have the need to order it. This Baklava did not disappoint. I could've made do without the tahini parfait but wasn't bad at all. I would definitely come back again and try other items on the menu. I've got my eye on the shrimp santorini spaghettoni and lobster pasta! read more

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My husband and I went here recently for outdoor dining and really enjoyed our food. Everything we ordered (salmon, branzino, fries, and appetizers) was delicious. The atmosphere is also very nice because they have an outdoor courtyard area that is upscale compared to what some restaurants are working with right now during COVID. They even have pretty lights strung in the trees around you, for example. The only issue was that the service was very slow, and there were gaps where no one would check on us. Even though we had not ordered anything else after we finished our entrees, we sat for 15 minutes waiting for the check and failing to successfully flag down a waiter. If not for that, this would have been an even better experience! read more

Wonderful time here! The ambiance is amazing and I had a lovely time. The portions are small and costly, so be aware of that. Don't come here expecting to get full, expect a savory flavor and delicious plates. The "chef doesn't like to change the dishes" is the answer you'll get if you ask to take off onions or something. I found that sooo interesting, it made me question if things were pre-made, since wouldn't you want to please the guest not please the chef? We sat outside and although it was wonderful, I got 6 HUGE bug bites from sitting on their patio. I mean HUGE. There's standing water on their patio, and even though the guy tried to swoosh it away, there were still puddles. read more

Nerai - Flower arch - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Cons: 1) food is so so. Greek salad was tasteless and wasn't fresh. Chicken was ok but nothing special. 2) waiters is not friendly and not welcoming; 3) expensive for such a bad quality of food Pros: 1) great outdoor seats read more

Nerai - Greek Salad was horrible!!!! Not fresh and tasteless - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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Overall solid seafood spot minus the pretension. Friendly service and pretty restaurant conveniently located in midtown. Everything was delicious - the Greek salad was so fresh, the zucchini chips I could have every day, and the whole fish was moist and beautifully seasoned. read more

Very rare to find a restaurant that has 5/5 service and food. Modern Greek cuisine. Indoor and outdoor (seating area) decor transforms you out of the city from the moment you walk in. Service was very on point. Our server was very attentive, gave good recommendations and checked on us every time with a smile. We felt welcomed and not rushed. We got the grilled octopus (tender and flavorful), zucchini chips (delicious and table fave!), fried cheese, Brussel sprouts (this was recommended by our server, this was one of the best Brussel sprouts I've had - next time i come back I'm getting 2), aged steak and lamb were both cooked well and not overcooked. Must leave room for dessert. The yogurt sundae (recommended by server) was our fave. There were a lot of flavors that blended very well together in one bite. The yogurt trio each had a unique taste that was very easy to distinguish. read more

The silver lining of COVID is that we get to enjoy really intimate experiences with many of the great restaurants in our city. Nerai has been one of my favorite so far, with the blend of incredible food, wine pairing and overall ambiance. We stopped by on a Saturday morning for brunch. We started with a trio of dips (tzatziki, hummus and spicy feta). All three had great taste and weren't too filling. Was just enough for two if not starving. The entrees were the star. I got the slow braised chicken breast which was incredible - excellent flavors, well cooked and topped with crunchy onions to bring it together. The gnocci was a nice touch and paired well with the chicken. They have an extensive wine and cocktail list, many of which are also sourced from Greece. Ask for guidance on what pairs well. I hope this restaurant makes it through the COVID "pause" and is around when NYC comes back stronger. I look forward to dining in their cellar and indoors on their two floors. read more

Nerai - Trio of spreads with pita - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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