We ate at Emre on July 4th Dinner. EMRE is easily one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles right now -- and even more impressive considering it only opened about a year ago. Everything about the experience felt polished, intentional, and top notch: the food, the service, the ambiance, the cocktails, and the overall hospitality. The space is beautiful, warm, and stylish, with an open-kitchen energy that makes the whole meal feel alive. You can tell this is not just another hotel restaurant -- it feels like a destination dining experience. The food was the standout. EMRE's Mediterranean-inspired menu brings together bold flavors, beautiful presentation, and fresh Central Coast ingredients. Nothing felt ordinary. You can absolutely feel the Michelin-level influence behind the culinary program -- refined technique, great ingredients, and dishes that are both creative and deeply satisfying. Service was excellent from start to finish: attentive, warm, professional, and never overbearing. The staff knew the menu, made great recommendations, and made the entire evening feel special. The cocktails and wine program were also impressive, which is exactly what you want when dining in Paso Robles wine country. We will absolutely be back. EMRE is a gem -- polished, delicious, beautifully executed, and one of the most exciting dining experiences in Paso Robles. read more

The service at EMRE was excellent, attentive, friendly, and welcoming. The food had good flavor and presentation, but almost every dish was overly salted. It felt like the kitchen had a heavy hand with the seasoning, which overshadowed what could have been really great dishes. There's definitely potential here, and I'd be willing to give it another try next time I'm visiting Paso Robles. read more

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Awesome food and wine. Sommelier suggested great wines that we really enjoyed. Really enjoyed our experience Loved the hummus and bread. Service was top notch as well read more

Emery is located at the Eva hotel if you love Mediterranean food you must stop in for an excellent dining experience. The ambience is incredible. The food was mouthwatering delicious and the service was pretty top-notch. read more

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Would give zero. Many items on the menu were not available. Including fish and wine on a Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Poor planking. Our server Noah was amazing. The rest was awful. The food that was available was way too salty. Maybe chef had a cold?? Will not be back. Ever. read more

We had a wonderful and tasty meal at Emre. We were leaning towards the skewers, but you had to order a minimum of two, at $35 each. That seemed a little steep so we opted for appetizers instead. The Hummus came with two incredible pitas that were fluffy, with with just the right amount of butter. The octopus was a delicious combination of spices and herbs that were so bright and fresh that we cleaned the plate. The wine selection was nice, not surprisingly, but the alcohol free beer choice was limited to Michelob Ultra. Kind of a letdown for me, but there was no shortage of water! read more

Beautiful restaurant on the property of the Ava hotel in Downtown Paso. It took some work to decide what to order, but we did really well! We had the hummus, which came topped with fried garbanzos and has the most delicious pita alongside it. We also enjoyed a grilled artichoke from nearby Watson, and the grilled octopus. Everything was delicious and beautifully prepared. read more

We recently visited EMRE on a Thursday with a 5:30 PM reservation and really liked their vibe! It's on the ground floor of the Ava Hotel in downtown Paso with plenty of street parking nearby, and I'm pretty sure there's hotel parking too, just not sure if it's paid or free. We sat outside in their fenced patio section with our pup and the weather was perfect. Devi was our server and she was attentive without being overwhelming, which made everything feel really relaxed and easy. We ordered the Beef Cheek Tagine, the EMRE Souvlakis with Australian Wagyu and Mighty Cap Mushrooms, the Moroccan Spiced Babe Farm Carrots, the Roasted Baby Beets Salad, the Charred Mediterranean Octopus, and the Crispy Potatoes, plus a bottle of Thatcher Winery Chenin Blanc. Some of the dishes leaned a bit heavy on the salt for us, but overall we enjoyed the food and had a fantastic time lingering over dinner. I'm absolutely coming back, especially to check out Esperanza (the rooftop spot at the hotel) for a drink either before/after dinner. read more

Emre has a modern vibe that is not often seen in Paso but goes with the hotel. Staff is friendly and attentive although some were less familiar with the menu than others, maybe because this restaurant is so new. Food is fresh and delicious. The hummus blew me away and is one of my favorite hummuses ever. It was smooth and creamy with airy crisp chickpeas on top. I don't know what else they put in their hummus or maybe it was the roasted garlic but it was like crack. I would've eaten another order of it. The pita it's served with is a fluffy version. The octopus appetizer was another winner - very tender and flavorful. Keeping with the seafood theme, I had the Etto fettuccine which was a umami bomb with the crab, prawn butter, and bottarga. Highly recommend Emre if you're looking for a restaurant with fresh quality ingredients and flavors. read more

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Absolutely stunning restaurant and the service was impeccable but my friend and I found the food lacking. - pea falafel: a bit sweeter than normal falafel. They must pulverize the peas, run it through a mesh strainer to get the lumps out before forming the balls, but the lumps were missed. Without the lumps, the inside was a very thick/ dense moth sticking paste. - babaganoush: like the peas, super pulverized and felt more like a salty, squishy hummus. This was meh. I wouldn't order it again. The pita that came with this was nice and hot but very oily. - wagyu skewer: This was ok, they didn't ask for a temperature but the pieces were in different sizes so it may not have mattered. I had some well done bites, as well as rare. - pork skewer: the spices on this was different and good, if you're a fan of cardamom. - crispy potatoes: not crispy at all. Disappointing, but a HUGE dish. The server told us we ordered enough for 2. He should've stopped us at 1 side, each side is honestly enough for 3-4 people. - roasted carrots: felt more like a dessert than a side. Tasted like cooked apples with a hint of carrots. I think their entrees are better than their appetizers and sides but what I did have didn't wow enough for a return visit. read more

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Everything was amazing and the tastes were blended so well. The gem salad was a great start - impossibly crisp with a beautiful crunch to every bite. I had the sea beam, the two sauces were quite different but each delighted the palate. The olive cake and the pistachio ice cream were suggested by our server, and were the perfect complement to this outstanding meal! read more

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My wife and I decided to try this fairly new Mediterranean restaurant located in the Ava Hotel after hearing positive things from others. This was to be a surprise early Valentines dinner to avoid the crowds. Here are a few of my observations: Pros and Cons - We were seated promptly by the hostess in a booth by the windows (there were very few people in the restaurant) and were greeted by one of our servers immediately who took our drink orders. After reviewing the menus we observed that the number of entrees was somewhat limited. Our server Daniel was very knowledgeable regarding the menu items and very attentive throughout our meal. We opted for the baba ghanoush appetizer with pita bread which was very good. For our main course we opted for the EMRE Souvlaki which requires 2 entrees so we chose the prawns and Jidore chicken. Both were seasoned well and served on a platter with some small roasted tomatoes and small sides of pickles, tzatziki, zhoug and sangak. What the plate needed was a starch of some kind - rice, potatoes etc. - so we ordered the roasted carrots, which, unfortunately, were undercooked. Finally, for dessert, we ordered the pannecota which we both agreed was very gelatinous and was later substituted by the deconstructed cheesecake, which was very light and good. To repeat, our server Daniel was very accommodating to our needs even when we asked to move to another table since the window tables were very drafty and cold. As previously mentioned, the menu is somewhat limited and the ambiance somewhat sterile. The food was seasoned well but not particularly tasty compared to other Mediterranean restaurants we have visited. I asked for tea with my meal expecting some chai or other Turkish teas and was told they only had two decaffeinated teas. My wife requested decaf coffee and was told there was no brewed decaf coffee so she opted for the powdered (?) decaf which was good. I had chosen EMRE as a surprise early Valentine's dinner although my wife wanted to go to another of our favorite restaurants in Paso. We both agreed that EMRE is a pleasant Mediterranean restaurant but also agreed that it would not be on our list of 'favorites' in Paso. P.S. We are Paso Robles residents. All the wait staff were great - very prompt and attentive. read more

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There were six in our party for my 73rd birthday and the first time for all of us at EMRE. Very clean, spacious and well appointed dining room, we arrived early with a 5:15 appointment (they open at 5:00) with only a few others being seated. We started off with apps: duck liver mousse, hummus, lamb kefta and a special, asparagus toast. All were excellent and easily could be shared main courses. The pita bread with the hummus and the grilled seeded bread with the mousse were exceptional! All were accompanied by select wines (from their growing wine list), both white and red, foreign and domestic and all paired well. For our entrees, we selected the Etto fettuccini with crab and Mediterranean seasonings, the red fish (local catch of the day), the seasonal crudo and the souvlakis (2 wagyu + Mighty Cap Mushrooms). The portions were large with the souvlakis especially being more than enough for two people! All were prepared excellently with the fish being moist, tender and flavorful, the pasta just al dente and the seasoning not overpowering, and the wagyu the perfect medium rare with four different sauces on the side. Again, wines paired well with everything. For dessert, we shared a couple of the deconstructed cheese cakes and they were very creative with pistachio and orange the predominant flavors! Prices were what you expect for a restaurant of this quality but not overbearing. Our server Mimi (and her assistant) were very attentive with exemplary service and answered all questions. Congratulations to General Manager Matt Kleefisch, Director of Food and Beverage Thomas Humphrey and Exec Chef Casey McMinn...you've done a great job on adding another high quality restaurant to Paso and we locals appreciate it!!! read more

EMRE - Souvlakis - Mediterranean Near Me - Paso Robles, California

The restaurant design at EMRE is spectacular, loved being able to see right into the kitchen. The menu has so many great options, it was hard to choose what to order. The standouts were the duck liver mousse, the Moroccan spiced carrots and the Etto Pasta. There were just a few service details that were off. We were here on a Saturday night, and it was strangely empty. Our table had one cocktail menu, one brunch menu, and one dinner menu for a table of two. Service was a bit slow and several times we found it hard to find or connect with our server. read more

My friend took me here for my 78th birthday. I really love Middle Eastern food and make it at home (hummus, tabouli, kufte, lamb kabobs, etc.) Their hummus with crunchy chickpeas on top and bread was good. The Baklava dessert is worth returning for. However the lamb kebab was VERY salty and I could not finish it. The couscous was bland so counteracted the kebab. I would not order either again. Nice ambiance and wines. Next time, I'll stick with vegetable dishes. read more

EMRE is hands down the best restaurant in Paso. A lot of people seem to think of it as a special occasion spot, but it's actually really approachable and fun. The service, food, and drinks are all to die for. Don't wait for a big celebration to come here, it's worth a visit anytime. Pro tip: they do take walk-ins, so don't hesitate to stop by even if you don't have a reservation. read more

While I was visiting a friend in Paso, he heard good things about this new restaurant so he took me here. First of all, I really liked the vibe of Ava hotel, bright clean and modern, fun people hanging out by the lobby bar so we had a cocktail there while waiting till our reservation time came. We walked into the restaurant and got seated immediately. We wanted to start with caviar and a glass of champagne, luckily they had my favorite Veuve by glass so we ordered 2 one for each of us. They were taking a long time to get the caviar out and we were a bit irritated and our champagne were almost gone but the Sommelier came and pour us more and finally caviar dish came. It was different from what we expected but it was still good next we had octopus which was also different from what I expected but it was tasty. Next was hummus that we heard is a "must-try" and OMG it's just hummus but it's not, I've had so many hummus in my life but this is not an ordinary hummus, the flavor is indescribable and there were crunchy thing I'm guessing crunchy chickpeas was so delicious and the pita that's different from everywhere else so fresh warm soft and delicious! Lastly I had to have Wagyu kebab sitting on lavash with roasted tomato's which came with different sauces and fixings, it was so delicious!! And not to forget we forgot to bring our own wine so we ordered a bottle of Laventure which is one of the best wine in Paso... It was a wonderful experience and I had a such an amazing evening that day! I will definitely come back here... read more

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We dined at EMRE when they were only about a week into service. First impressions: decor is lovely. Very bright (almost too bright), very open floor plan and interesting seating configurations. The staff was friendly and the bussers were attentive to refilling water and other needs. Our waitress was new to the restaurant biz and had a lovely and approachable demeanor. Overall, the food was very good. I think that the zaalouk needed a lot more acid/salt. The kefta was as good as it gets. We shared two skewers, one chicken and one prawn. Delicious. While I give EMRE grace for their newness, I will point out that ordering everything at the same time is off-putting and IMO unnecessary. I didn't realize that in the time it took to get our beverages (20+ minutes) that our waitress hadn't even put in our appetizers yet. While we were not in any rush, I thought this concept was strange considering almost every other restaurant I've ever dined at has no problem putting apps and entrees in separately. I think this menu is fabulous for Paso Robles. I was initially worried when I heard about another Mediterranean restaurant coming to come. EMRE is a completely different place. I will return soon, especially for the kefta. read more

Great food. So-so service. LOUD, PULSATING DANCE MUSIC! Asked waiter to turn down the music twice but to no effect. read more

Our friends invited us for Sunday brunch at EMRE and I loved the experience. The decor is fresh and light, our server, Bailey, was attentive and friendly, and the menu had exciting options to consider. Hummus app, kachapuri, and chilaquiles were flavorful and beautifully presented. My favorite item was the soufflé pancake with raspberry butter - fluffy and lightly sweet. Pro-tip - get a side of billionaire bacon to create the perfect sweet/savory bite. For the level of service and culinary offerings, this place is reasonably priced. I definitely want to try their dinner menu next! read more

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We brought my mom tonight for a special treat and our dinner was amazing! I cannot speak highly enough of the dishes. We shared everything and had to do to go boxes. I feel the value and quality of food is better than other high end restaurants. We got some of our favorites like the delicious waygu and iberico souvlaki, hummus (that pita!), and tender grilled octopus. But we got some new dishes that were creative and unique that I'll be thinking about for days. The asparagus with green goddess dressing, radish, cilantro flowers, and sheep feta was possibly the best asparagus dish I've ever had. It was fresh and herbaceous. Plus, stunning plating! Then the pork with a black garlic tahini and pickled green strawberries which was a special. Just wow, I haven't had anything like it and it was delicious. So cool with the strawberries. The steelhead trout tartare with skin chips...again stellar. And we left room, barely, for dessert. I'm a crème brûlée enthusiast and the chocolate crème brûlée was the most memorable brûlée to date...the chocolate with urfa chili and baking spices (anise I know was one). It was decadent, creamy, and hit so many unexpected notes like a hint of spice (not hot). It was its own experience. My husband and mom and I were so impressed. The custard part was more mousse like which I loved. Let me say this, leave room for dessert. We talked about trying to come back soon for their new weekend brunch. So we'll be back, thank you! read more

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Wow. Just what Paso needed a great Mediterranean restaurants. Ambiance crushes. Food crushes not sure why there are any haters in the comments. Service was great. Top notch experience all around. Will go back tomorrow for brunch to try it out.....and OMG the Hummus! Congrats Chef Julian well done! read more

EMRE - Wife Suzanne! - Mediterranean Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Amazing. Trendy and slick. The place lived up to the hype. We tried a variety of things - hummus, babaganoush, potatoes, falafel, crudo, lamb kefta, wagyu and pork skewers.... All of it was excellent. Portions were huge. Can't wait to eat the leftovers. read more

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Went there for the first time after hearing some good things. -The service was good with attentive and friendly servers. -The ambiance was nice and clean. -The food and cooking is where I was disappointed. I don't get the chance to go nice restaurants often so I'm hoping they improve! Everything looked great BUT the souvlakis meat was still raw so the cooked bits were separated and the raw parts were refired - they were just ok. Their crudo is like Nordic gravlax - not so Mediterranean not so raw, and just salmon. The still water is $8/bottle. The condiments and the imported beer choices were great! Overall, for the price tag we should've gotten In N Out then come for the caviar service and a drink. I'll wait a few months and maybe try this spot again once the menu is more refined and the kitchen is more settled in. read more

I don't normally hand out five-star reviews, but I haven't been this wowed by a restaurant in quite some time--outside of a few of our longtime favorites. For a new spot in town, especially one located inside a hotel, I'm sure some people might have their reservations (pun fully intended). That said, this place exceeded every expectation. On a random date night with my wife--no reservation, just walking in--we were greeted by a genuinely sweet and kind hostess. Lately, it feels like the norm is a twenty-something, slightly entitled gatekeeper holding the fate of your evening in her freshly manicured hands. I was incredibly pleased that this was not the case at Emre. The look and vibe of the space were thoughtful and absolutely gorgeous. Bella, the server's assistant (yes, I said what I said), and our server Bailey were phenomenal. They were not only helpful with suggestions, timing, and pacing of the dishes, but they were also warm, kind, and real. The hospitality scene in Paso has shifted a bit over the years, but here we were reminded of a time when you were truly welcomed in for an experience--quality dishes, well-crafted cocktails, and service that felt intentional. I can't stop thinking about the duck liver mousse. It has kept me up at night. It has made me contemplate my life choices. I've considered selling everything I own and spending my entire life savings just to eat that dish on repeat until my heart stops beating. Grassy Bar oysters are never a disappointment, but gurrrrrl... let me tell you about those beef cheeks. Not the kind you clap--the kind that make you wonder, "Is there an orgy happening in my mouth?" How in the hell has this dish eluded me for 44 years? Who are you, and where have you been my whole life? I truly can't say enough about this new spot--not just because the dishes made my eyes well up, but because the service elevated the entire experience. My wife and I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed every moment. For now, I shall dream of you, duck liver mousse, until we meet again. And next time, I'll close my eyes and take it slow--because I've got nowhere to go. I'm just goin' to concentrate on you UUU because, girl, I've got plans to be with you UUUU. Sorry that mousse has me in my feels like a middle school boy losing his first love and dramatically singing boys to men to get through this break up Call me, I miss you duck mousse sincerely, a gracious local read more

The best restaurant in Paso! The atmosphere, food, and service! I highly recommend!

Beautiful ambiance and design, we loved the bar and enjoyed a great espresso martini, wine and shared the hummus and pita which was absolutely incredible and essentially the only reason I'm doing a review, it was the best pita and hummus I've ever had. You must get it. Wish we were more hungry to try other items, will be back for sure next time we're in town. read more

My experience at EMRE was just okay. The servers were attentive but the food was ok for the price. The portions are small, taste ok and expensive. The roasted cabbage was a small wedge with the top portion unedible because it was hard. The hummus and warm pita bread were excellent. The whole grilled branzino was okay. The pasta with crab was ok. The strawberry sorbet was excellent. This restaurant is relatively new and hopefully with age, their food will improve. For the price, I did not get a "wow" feeling. read more

Could easily be a 5...great hummus, pita babaganoush and cocktails. The pork chop is delicious; however...$68 for a pork chop and fancy sauce?? Ditch the salmon eggs and throw in some potatoes and veggies. Also, the shrimp pasta dish was way to rich (and kind of strange) and served in a bowl that's difficult to eat out of. They have some tweaking to do but on a good path. read more

WOW! What a wonderful gastronomic experience! Everything was top notch, food was amazing, service was first class, very attentive and knowledgeable. Ambiance calm, quiet and a very relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely recommend this place and visit often! Thank you for bringing class to Paso! read more

I went to Emre for dinner and drinks on Saturday evening and sat at the bar. Jillian was our bartender and was absolutely amazing. Very detailed with the drinks making sure the taste was great. She also put our food order in very quickly and made sure everything was perfect. The potatoes were AMAZING, I would pay for the recipe if they would let me. We also went for the Sunday brunch which was also great. The Cinnamon roll and eggs benedict were superior. Overall service 10/10. Very fun restaurant, great food and chill vibes. read more

We had Sunday brunch and had a wonderful experience. We started with the Zaalouk, which was a hearty portion, easily served four and came with warm, homemade pita Wagyu burger was cooked perfectly and waffle fries a bonus. The Fattoush salad was large with just the right amount of dressing. The custard French toast could easily serve two and was delicious. The staff was on top of orders, and the vibe of the restaurant was relaxed and very light. I highly recommend brunch at Emre. read more

We went to Emre at The Ava Hotel for the first time last night, New Year's Eve, and had an outstanding experience. All four of us loved everything. (Background note: Both couples moved to Paso over ten years ago specifically for its rural location and the wine country vibe, so this type of restaurant is right in our wheelhouse). Firstly, the hotel and restaurant are beautiful in a elegant and spare style, not fussy or ostentatiously ornate. The large lobby was packed with folks out on the town for New Year's Eve - too bad the rain put a damper on the bonfire in the park. We were quickly seated and our drinks arrived in only moments. We had both a server and an assistant server wait on us. Both were charming and very knowledgeable about the food choices and the amount to order. This was helpful due to the abundance small plates and food for the table that may have otherwise been confusing. Between the four of us we ordered the lamb kefka, the charred octopus, Moroccan carrots, crispy potatoes, whole branzino, and the Souvlakis with beef and prawn skewers. The only thing I didn't personally try was the branzino, but was assured by our friends that it was excellent too. The kefka, octopus, carrots, branzino, and Souvlakis were all grilled over a wood fire giving them a smoky charred flavor. All the items I ate were spicy in both senses of meaning - highly seasoned with wonderful complex Middle Eastern flavors and fairly hot spicy too. This was surprising as I had not experienced hot spicy in Middle Eastern food before. I love how the chef made this rather bold choice in seasoning and hope this trend continues in the future should the menu evolve over time. The background noise and lighting were both spot on. Even though there are lots of hard surfaces to reflect noise, you could describe it as lively and not excessive. All four of us could converse easily. The lighting was similarly dialed in properly - subdued, but no one felt the need to light up a menu with a phone. Emre is an excellent destination for fine dining. Certainly unique in Paso Robles, I'm pretty sure nothing quite like it (food-wise) is available in either San Francisco or LA. If you like different assertive flavors, this is the place for you. read more

The quail last night was over the top. The smoky flavor was so lovely. The tartar was yummy too Let's talk dessert! We had the deconstructed cheese cake, my favorite so delicious and different. Beautiful presentation. My husband really enjoyed the olive oil cake so much I only got a taste. We didn't have room for the octopus so if possible order it. Overall, every dish we've ordered has been delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant. Service is excellent! From walking in the door to being seated every single person is attentive to your every needs. read more

My wife and I had a great time celebrating our friends birthday at EMRE. The vibe is rad. Insane flavors. Every dish was inventive and flavorful. Chef sent out some fun bonus side dishes. The somm, Vince has great wine recs that over delivered and paired great. 10/10. Would highly recommend. read more

My experience at EMRE was higher than 5 star! The service, food and drinks were all on point. The menu is creative and flavors are deep and rich. With an open kitchen, the ambiance is fun and special. A great wine list with tons of local gems. If you are in town this is a must. read more

We just needed a small bite to eat and stopped by the new restaurant in the Ava hotel, bottom floor called Emre. They opened at 5:00pm got right in although you should probably get a reservation, we sat at the open bar seating. This place is designed to be high end and extremely elegant feeling. Our bartender Zack was friendly and helped us with our order. They have local wines which is nice with so many local wineries. We had the baba ghanoush, which was delicious enough for 6 people. We will definitely return for dinner. Shout out to the architect it is perfect. read more

Food was phenomenal. They were prepared and presented like an art. Service crew were attentive and we felt welcomed. The decor was on point. Very stylish and elegant. This is a must stop if you are in the area. read more

We've been eyeballing EMRE since it opened, and finally stopped by on recent date night to give it a try. It was a quiet night for the restaurant, but the ambience was beautifully romantic and the staff friendly and helpful. (Danny was a standout!) The roasted baby beet salad was exceptional, and the wagyu steak divine. Great cocktails and local wines as well. We look forward to trying more of their menu in the future, and would definitely recommend you give them a try. read more

Had a wonderful meal on New Year's Eve here, which is located in The Ava Hotel. It is beautifully decorated, with lovely plants, lighting, and an open kitchen. The food is so good. I am slightly bummed because I ate so much pita bread and dips that I kind of filled up, but that's my problem lol. LOVED the skewers and there were interesting, unique, and delicious cocktails like one with a beet. I also enjoyed the mocktail, which was not too sweet - just right. Our server was attentive and gave us plenty of time to enjoy our meal and each other's company. Thank you, EMRE, for a memorable New Year's Eve dinner! read more