Ambiance/Atmosphere Came here for brunch with a friend on the Upper West Side, and the space set the tone right away. Warm, cozy, and inviting, with a relaxed vibe that made it easy to settle in and linger over the meal. Appetizers We started with a cheese flatbread, boat-shaped and blistered at the edges, the interior molten and gooey with a bright basil leaf on top. Simple but done really well, crisp crust giving way to all that warm cheese. Mains The brunch dishes were the highlight. A sizzling skillet of eggs cooked over spiced sausage came out rich and savory, the yolks just set, perfect for scooping up with the basket of warm bread on the side. The tomato-based baked eggs were equally good, a deep, well-seasoned sauce with a little heat and fresh herbs on top. Comforting, generous, and full of flavor. Drinks The blackberry mocktail was a standout, refreshing and beautifully garnished with a cluster of fresh blackberries. Always great to see a thoughtful non-alcoholic option that feels like more than an afterthought. Service Attentive and warm throughout. The team kept everything moving smoothly without ever feeling rushed. Verdict Five stars. Delicious food, a cozy atmosphere, and a mocktail worth ordering on its own. A fantastic UWS brunch spot that I'd happily return to. read more

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Delicious food, bustling with customers, and a cute interior. Experienced great service at the bar because they were packed on a Thursday evening. All their dips are phenomenal. I love their branzino though I wish the potatoes that came with it were more flavorful and crispier. The muhammura is epic. After coming here twice I had to recreate it at home and it's my new favorite dip. I even made labneh to go with it. Leyla has inspired my cooking at home! I make my friends and family muhammura now, and I can't get enough of Turkish cuisine. Cant wait to come back and try more of their dishes! read more

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Lovely place for a drink and dinner. Drinks were fantastic - strong, flavorful and served by a gracious bartender. We went for happy hour and got the 3 appetizers which were served with two types or bread - great size and deal. I ordered the Izmir kofte for dinner - very flavorful tender kababs, served with rice. I just found the sauce a bit light (watery) but otherwise filling and tasty. read more

Leyla - Drinks at bar - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

Leyla. Got me on my knees, Leyla. Begging darling please, Leyla. 10,000 geriatric millennial points to Ravenclaw if you got that reference. And this one. No? Then you're too young to be on Yelp, anyway. Go out and touch grass. Me, I'll be enjoying memories of the Turkish feast I had on the UWS one chilly night. Our large group had: - Slow Cooked Short Rib Pide: My favorite dish of the night and easily the rock star of their menu. Perfectly crisp flatbread meets melt-in-your-mouth shredded beef loaded with spices and accompanied by a rich eggplant spread and kashar cheese. What's Turkish for yummers? - Lahmacun: I ate my weight in lahmacun when I went Turkey a couple of years ago. This was a nice facsimile, loaded with plenty of minced meat and sumac. - Muhammara: For those who like salty-sweet, you might enjoy this antioxidant-rich dip of pomegranate molasses, walnut, red pepper paste and olive oil. Mmmm - Atom: Another dip, this of charred eggplant puree, roasted garlic, smoked labneh, and cumin topped. Spicy and hot, like Halle Berry in a sombrero. - Erişte: K, I lied. I think *this* was my favorite dish of the night. Think bite-sized pasta, lamb cubes, cumin, and all the sumac your nose can inhale. Carbalicious! - Vegetarian Mantı: More flavorful than many meat-filled manti, probably because of all the charred eggplant puree in smoked yogurt, and mint paprika butter glaze. Hearty! - Izmir Kofte: Surprisingly, the most meh dish of the table. It was fine, but I feel like the sausages could've been way more flavorful, and the veg accompaniment was too watery. Wash it all down with some Turkish Tea, and you've got the recipe for a proper cross-continental meal. Going cold turkey never felt so good--get it, cuz it's winter and we're talking about Turkish food? I'll see myself out. read more

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Was very very disappointed by our dining experience here-I think they're better for happy hour or just drinks, but dinner? That's another story. Parla and Pappardella were both booked with crazy wait times, so we decided to drop in here as a last resort, thinking that the slight crowdedness didn't mean any less of a drop in food/service quality, but instead were proved wrong. We first ordered our appetizer-Kataifi Zucchini Fritters and received it at 7:44PM (according to my iPhone's timestamp). We were waiting around for our main dishes-Leyla Lamb Burger and Grilled Branzino, which came out at 8:15PM. We finished our appetizers quite quick and asked probably two waitstaff to check on our orders twice. Weirdly enough, this couple sitting next to us who came later than us, who ordered similar dishes to us, had all their orders come before ours. Odd timing and order of everyone's food coming out, but I believed the waitstaff knew how long we were waiting, apologized, and gave us Muhammara with bread-a gesture appreciated, yet still a bad dining experience we couldn't get over. We waited so long, just to receive small portioned food that felt more like bar food compared to an actual dinner. Everything across the board was truly an odd experience, and I felt bad for my boyfriend as by the time we finished, our reservation time at Parla was ready for check in.... read more

Leyla - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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Wonderful neighborhood dining This would have been a 5 star review for the food but the kitchen showed down as the restaurant filled and seemingly every table had to wait. The cocktails were unusual and tasty. The small plates were outstanding. The Short Rib Pide was delicious. The Turkish Ice Cream was memorable with the baklava. The service was helpful. read more

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Came at 4:30pm on a Sunday and surprisingly there were people seated already. We asked to sit in the outdoor garden which was cozy and beautiful on a cool summer evening. We got: - HH Meze Trio: Fava Bean, Atom, Spinach Yarma. The favorites were Atom and Spinach Yarma. Free refills of bread if you run out. - HH 3 Cheese Pide: Must get! Was surprisingly good and not heavy. The truffled honey added a nice, sweet touch at the end. - Karides Güveç: Perfect contrast to all the breads and drier dishes, also came with a side of sourdough bread for the sauce - Grilled Branzino: well-seasoned and the skin was crispy Overall, great HH deals even on the weekends, and they have a promotion on their website if you download the app, you get $25 off your bill of $75 or more. read more

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Can't believe it's taken me this long to try Leyla! Beautiful, cozy, romantic vibes with plenty of seating, comfy chairs, and cute decor. Very friendly and quick waitstaff too. They do a fabulous happy hour deal - 3 dips and a drink for $25 Had the spinach yorma, muhammara, and atom - all three were great, but the standout was definitely the muhammara; the atom had a nice kick to it too. Ordered a glass of Turkish red wine as a part of the deal. We also got the 3 Cheese Pide - SO good! Lovely bit of truffle taste, delightful light crunchiness, and the cheese mix was superb. The chicken sandwich was good too, but the fries were excellent. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Great happy hour until 6:30! We got there towards the end of it on a Thursday and were lucky that someone was leaving outside. Happy hour is only at the bar and outside tables. They have quite a few food options which are at reduced prices. I had the lamb burger for $17. I cleaned my plate! The burger and fries were delicious. To drink I would have preferred a beer but they don't offer any for happy hour. We got the passion fruit lemonade mocktail ($7) and added vodka to it for $3. It was a good drink just needed to be better chilled. Overall the restaurant was busy. There was a wait for tables. read more

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Ended up here with some friends who just wanted a last minute dinner, and we were all pleasantly surprised how great they are! We got the 3 Cheese Pide, Slow Cooked Short Rib Pide, Turkish Saksuka, Karides Guvec, Izmir Kofte, and Erste. Everything hit the spot so nicely and we all ate family style so got to try everything. The service was amazing, and they explained everything to us when we weren't sure what to get and even on the house gave the best baklava dessert I ever had state side. The ambiance is modern cozy if that makes sense, so you can come here for anything honestly. And would recommend Leyla to everyone if your in the area or crave Turkish food. read more

Charming place with laidback upscale ambiance. Friendly staff. Food was delicious- shakshuka, labneh, fava bean paste bruschetta and chocolate dessert. Outstanding. read more

Beautiful restaurant with attentive service and a great happy hour! We had the trio of dips from the happy hour menu plus the octopus and the lamb shank, and everything was delicious and flavorful. Definitely recommend for a cozy date night!! read more

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Great food. I had the lamacun which was delicious and large portions - very thin crispy flat bread, flavorful but light ground lamb topping. Dog friendly patio with some heat lamps. Friendly service. Great brunch place. read more

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Had an impromptu Sunday date night with my partner and we decided to give Layla a try since we were both in the mood for some Mediterranean / Turkish food... And we were so fortunate to snag a walk-in spot. We had an AMAZING dinner! Definitely a great spot for a date (beautiful and intimate decor, great indoor and outdoor options), and the food was divine. We ordered three dishes and each one was better than the last (the Atom, cheese pide, and braised lamb) - and a rarity for us, but we would do that same exact order every time! The service was attentive, quick, and friendly as well. Some of the best lamb shank (braised meat in general) I've ever had at a restaurant! We will be back again! And next time try some of their beverage options as well. read more

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I had intended on taking pictures before digging in but it smelled so good I had to start...everything was so delicious and the drinks were amazing! The waitress gave her recommendations and, My God, were we not disappointed. Seasoned, cooked to our taste, and mouth watering delicious! The place is home-y and clean. Nicely decorated. read more

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What extraordinary food! We wanted to try several things on the menu and enjoyed everything we had. Started with 3 Cheese Pide which was wonderful, then had a variety of Mezze. Especially loved the Spinach Yarma and Fava Bean Bruschetta. Then we had the Karides Guvec (shrimp and bell peppers) which was delicious. then we finished it off, with Branzino, perfectly cooked with potatoes that were amazing! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal! The service was outstanding and the wine list is very interesting with a variety of Mediterranean wines. (Ask for suggestions on the wines which will work well with your meal). We'll be back soon! read more

Delicious and thoughtfully prepared Turkish dishes and friendly, dedicated service. Highly recommend!

Food was all delicious! The zucchini fritters were the best but everything was very good, fresh, and well seasoned. The service was attentive and helpful. We ate outside which I like, but it looks fun and lively inside while outside allowed for us to have a slightly quieter time. Highly advise going there and we will be back. read more

Leyla - Zucchini Kataifi Fritters Vegetarian Pride - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

Had a very nice dinner here! The vibe on a Friday night was lovely but you could still have an easy conversation. The Greek salad and branzino were quite good - flavorful and fresh. The cocktails were just ok. They have a really interesting wine by the bottle list, although by the glass options are very limited. The service was very friendly, although a bit slow/forgetful. read more

Leyla - Greek Salad - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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This seems to be a happening spot for Saturday brunch (served until 3). We happened upon this restaurant and did not have a reservation. They were quite busy but we were able to be seated with just a 10 min wait. It was pretty busy and noisy, but overall the service and food were very good. We like to try restaurants that are not chains and offer some unique foods, so this Turkish/Mediterranean spot was a good choice for us! read more

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We had an 8:15 pm reservation, we waited about 25 minutes for our table for 7 people. The manager did bring us 2 complimentary appetizers of hummus & bread. They have Turkish food, which included fish, lamb and lots of vegetarian options. We had the Muhamara appetizer made of walnuts and pomegranates which is amazing. I had a lamb burger that was perfectly cooked, the seasoning was spot on. My friend had the vegetable pasta, which I tasted, it was excellent. The service was very good. They have a small garden area with some outdoor seating. read more

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With a last minute resy, me & 3 other schleped over from a VERY bust cafe luxemborg to try to catch an early dinner. The atmosphere is pleasant but really the food is the star and the bonus was it was happy hour with lots of the star menu items in discount. we tried an assortment of food, but the lamb shank, fava dip and mocktails were our favorite. staff was really attentive to the wide range of food allergies at the table & despite squeezing us in they didn't rush us out. cute neighborhood spot. read more

Delicious food: I had the Atom and the Eriste! The Atom was a smokey eggplant purée with a spicy oil, and fantastic on the pita bread. The hand-cut noodles on the Eriste were interesting. They had a nice wine list as well. Service was attentive and informative. read more

A friend and I spent last weekend in NYC, and we chose to have brunch at Leyla on Sunday as one of our last experiences before heading back home. Leyla is a Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant on the Upper West Side (we brunched here after a visit to the NY Historical Society museum), and we really enjoyed our meal. After a too boozy night, we didn't have any drinks with brunch (although I was tempted by the fact that they offer Turkish wine and beer and by their cocktail offerings as well), but I very much enjoyed a special lemonade they offered. Their brunch menu offers a lot of options: pide (Turkish flatbreads), panini, shakshuka, eggs (lots of ways - from a simple scramble to sunny side up with Turkish sausage, from omelets to a soft scramble with mascarpone), pancakes, falafel, a lamb burger, and more! Where we live (Baltimore), it's pretty rare to find pide (there's a place or two in DC that I can think of, but I can't think of any restaurants in Baltimore that serve it), so we decided to get pide for brunch. My friend got the vegetarian pide (broccoli rabe, bok choy, spinach, leek, charred bell pepper, and halloumi cheese), and I got the breakfast pide (egg, sucuk - Turkish sausage, and kashar and feta cheeses). I looooooved my pide. Devoured. Savored. I would eat another right now as I write this review. The service was good, and the restaurant's decor and vibes were nice - pretty, but understated and comfortable. So, yes, I'd definitely eat at Leyla again! read more

Leyla - Breakfast pide - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

Came back to Leyva for brunch in a group of 6. We made a reservation a few days before for 12:15pm since we were a big group but the restaurant did not appear to be very busy at that time so it's probably okay to just walk in. The ambiance was perfect for the occasion, it felt quiet, and more on the "nice/smart casual" end. They got us a cute little table tucked away in the back which felt very private and gave the impression that we were in our own special room.... It was very nice! Service was super good! Our waiter was attentive of our table and all our needs throughout the meal despite our table being kinda secluded. They offered us both, still and sparkling water (on the house), which felt very fancy and customer-oriented. In addition, we got a bottle of Prosecco for the table which was refreshing and bubbly. For food I tried: 3 Cheese Pide: delicious! I had this last time I was here and I was a big fan of this one again. Very good combination of the three cheeses that is savory without being too salty and was contrasted perfectly by the sweet truffle honey. Divine. It came directly out of the oven so it was hot and fresh. Breakfast Pide: another very delicious flatbread! This felt slightly more like a pizza but with hints of salty feta, spiced Turkish sausage, and a runny sunny side up egg which just added that "breakfast" decadence. I was also a very big fan of this. It was a nice second one to order since the 3 cheese pide is a little bit on the sweet side so this was a solid balance. Hummus: This was good! Came with some side of toasted bread. Not my favorite hummus since it was more chickpea heavy and not as acidic or creamy as I usually like mine but it was garnished with pickled beets which went well with the earthy flavor of the hummus and made it feel a little brighter. The amount of tahini is probably slightly less that I'm used to but I still enjoyed it. Spinach Yarma: This was fantastic! The consistency reminded me of tzatziki but had a slightly more robust flavor profile with the za'atar and black sesame spices. It also had some barley mixed into it which added a very good chewy texture as well as a hint if earthy nuttiness. Pretty bright and was a good second mezze to contrast the hummus. Shakshuka: was not a huge fan of this one. The tomato sauce just felt pretty flat to me and lacked some spice, making it mostly acidic from the tomato. I've definitely had better, more balanced shakshuka in the city. Not sure I would order this again. Could maybe be good if you added a little bit of feta to bring in a little bit more flavor. 3 Cheese Egg White Omelette: first of all, the fact that they had an omelette option on the menu with egg whites where you did not get charged extra for made me so happy! As someone who prefers to stick to egg whites for health reasons, I highly appreciated this now that I often find myself paying an extra $3 to substitute egg whites at other places. This omelette was divine, generously sized, and had the same exquisite combination of cheeses from the pide. I could not believe how good this was! Probably the best egg white omelette I've had at a restaurant. It felt healthy, filling, and not oily. The dish came with a very refreshing side salad which I also loved. Overall, I had a great experience at Leyla for brunch. Their dinner was very good but I'm happy to have discovered that their brunch is also very solid and not too busy! The service was lovely and the ambiance is very peaceful-- perfect for a date or a brunch with family. Will definitely be coming back in the future! read more

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Yummy unique food and a great atmosphere! all the staff members were incredibly nice and patient. we were not rushed to eat or pay; our server even asked us to let her know when to bring out the next course so as to not rush us. not super crowded for brunch on a saturday, and restaurant felt cozy. great place for conversation as it was not too loud. loved the spinach yarma with bread!! wish it came with more bread (but our server gave us some extra because the kitchen accidentally made too much!). the breakfast pide was unique and delicious--especially loved the meat and combination of cheeses as well. salad (arugula and cherry tomatoes) was huge for a side portion! shakshuka was good but not my favorite on the table. read more

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We came here for brunch a few weeks ago. We sat outside which was lovely. We ordered the spinach yarma, the shakshouka and the mushroom omelette. We enjoyed the shakshouka and the omelette very much. The spinach yarma was unique and too yogurty in a cheesy way. We also ordered Turkish coffee which hit the spot. read more

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Amazing food and hospitality and ambiance. Definitely try the Karides Guvec and the Lahmacun. They also have 50% of wine bottles Mondays. read more

Leyla - Lahmacun - so delicious! (Flat bread w/ minced meat, sumac, onion, parsley, tomato) - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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Visited Leyla with my family and had a wonderful time. From the moment we walked in, the staff was attentive and friendly, making us feel welcomed. The prices are reasonable, and their happy hour is the best in the UWS. We enjoyed Shakshuka, Atom, Humus, Fava Bean Bruschetta, and Kataifi Fritters - all of which were delicious! The fresh desserts, including Baklava, maras dondurma (mastic ice cream), and a special treat of profiterol, were a hit. We were impressed with the exceptional service and delicious food. Highly recommend Leyla!!! read more

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Cozy place with outdoors seating at the back. Loved the decor. I didn't imagine such outdoor garden existed. We were fortunate to get a sit right at the middle of the outdoor backyard. The food was delicious and we enjoyed everything we ordered. We ordered: short rib pide, hummus with bettroots, and fava bean bruschetta. They were delish. What I loved the most was the complimentary bread went really well with the hummus. This was the highlight of the place! : ) Looking forward to trying more things on the menu next time we are around : ) read more

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Food was amazing! Got to try a variety of appetizers and desserts, the best baklava I've ever had. I never had Turkish food and I loved it. They were very accommodating to our large table and provided good guidance on wine pairings. It was also a beautiful space :) read more

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A cute little place, especially the outdoor area at the back of the restaurant. Came here pre-concert and ordered small bites to share with friends. Cheese pide came out nice and fresh. The falafel was also fresh straight out of the fryer The eggplant caviar was in a smoked jar, it came out hot and Smokey The octopus was pretty tasty too albeit a bit on the smaller side but ok for sharing Great service, the folks were friendly and welcoming. read more

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My friend and I came dined here for dinner. The interior was elegant and full of pretty lights. I loved the intimate feel and peaceful ambiance of the restaurant. I ordered the Lamb Shank, served with porcini and orzo risotto. Let me tell you, this lamb was incredibly tender... Like, fall off the bone, don't need a knife, tender. The meat was marinated in a wonderfully well seasoned, savory sauce. The accompanying risotto was also quite tasty, with plenty of irresistibly cheese and yummy mushroom taste. For dessert, I selected the Pistachio Mud Heaven, which was truly delectable! It consisted of dried kadaifi, roasted pistachios, topped with Marash Ice Cream, made with goat and cow milk. The Pistachio Cake part was satisfyingly sticky and sweet, with pure taste of pistachio, along with other nuts, which were held together with this lovely syrup. The special ice cream was delightfully delicious, with an aromatic, milky vanilla flavor. It was velvety smooth, with an amazing elastic texture, which made it seem like it would never melt. I was also able to try my friend's dessert, which was Tahini Flatbread, which was topped with Walnuts, Tahini, Sesame, & Turkish Honey. This was really good! The flatbread was nice and crispy, there was plenty of sesame paste and the honey was just oh so mmm! The desserts came with Turkish Tea, which was warm and enjoyable. Service was pretty good and everything came out in a timely manner. We were well taken care of throughout our meal. Prices are on par with places in the neighborhood. I would like to return in order to try the Grilled Branzino, then for dessert, the Baklava, as well as Fistikli Sarma {otherwise known as Pistachio Paste}. read more

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Loved it! Got there in time to enjoy the happy hour menu (on a Saturday night!). Our waitress & all the servers were excellent & we enjoyed our tequila & martini while perusing the fantastic menu - I wanted everything! We grazed on lahmajuns, hummus, falafel, cheese pide, chicken sandwich, & baklava. Everything was great except the hummus was just OK & served w/toast pieces instead of pita which was a little strange. We finished our dinner off with turkish tea. Nice vibe inside & our table had enough privacy which I liked. They have outdoor dining as well - definitely a place I am going back to for sure!!! read more

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I have nothing but only excellent things to say about this super cool restaurant. Each dip was fantastic and fava bean curd was the highlight of our dinner. The ambiance was perfect and the restaurant was pretty quiet and dim lit making it the perfect location for a date night. The icecream/ gelato is so unique and tasted amazing with the tahini flat bread. I highly recommend this restaurant! PS: Great option for vegetarians! read more

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We went to this beautiful , romantic restaurant before a show at the Beacon. We got there by 6 and it was still happy hour. Great food choices and drinks. Great prices. We had two pides and three spreads with the house red. Ice cream and tea for dessert. Everything was delicious, including the wine and dessert. Service was excellent. We're looking forward to returning. read more

My best friend and I had a great experience having dinner at Leyla's. Love the food and atmosphere. Delicious and fresh. The service was great. read more

The lunch specials are worth trying. This employee chatted comfortably with many guests. The recommendations were surprisingly accurate!! Our order allowed everyone to try multiple dishes. I'm delighted with my choice to eat here! read more

Delicious food, pretty standard margarita, and nice staff. A bit warm inside. Came with a small group for my dad's birthday and we enjoyed some appetizers and entrees. All was good, I got the branzino with potatoes. So did almost everyone else I think. My dad got the burger which he really liked. Wish I took food photos. There's also a back area to hang out in! read more

I loved the food!! great options and delicious sauces! The portions are not enormous though so be warned (however, they're not unreasonably priced so) read more