Cute restaurant with a lot of vegetarian options. We tried the zucchini fritters, fava bean bruschetta, and the cheese pide. All of these dishes are really great for sharing! Everything was tasty; my favorite was the cheese pide with scrumptious, oozing melted cheese. My only complaint was that it took a really long time for the pide to come out, like over 45 minutes. If the weather is on your side, I recommend sitting outside in the back of the restaurant. It's tucked away from the noisy street and bordered by plants and bamboo trees, with string lights overhead adding to the vibe. I will be back someday to try some of the meat dishes! read more

Leyla - Fava Bean Bruschetta - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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The food and the ambience & service is really good. We have to try the pide! It's a tiny place so you need to make a reservation in advance. Service is also pretty good. read more

We had a fantastic meal, and Emily our waitress made excellent recommendations. Enjoyed especially the Greek salad, 3 cheese Pide and Lahmacun. The blended wine was also good. Will go back for sure. read more

Lovely spot for brunch on the upper West side. Great outdoor seating that's not on the busy avenue. The pide are outstanding: warm, light and crackly crisp. We loved the veggie and the breakfast versions. The Greek salad is a real winner as well. read more

The lamb shank and Eriste were not very flavorful. Average at best. The dips were good. Our group thought the cocktails again were average. The service was good, the staff was friendly and speedy. I just think the food needs to be better. read more

What a nice little gem in the UWS. The food here is delicious, and it's nice that it has Turkish food as well as other more traditional "Mediterranean" food that we think of. They have lots of vegetarian dishes. Their salads are all quite delicious. This place is also set up to be best to go with a group so you can try several different dishes and share. I've eaten here a couple times, and it is definitely better eating at the restaurant but doing take out is also super yummy. They had this really interesting pasta dish, the sauce was made with yogurt. I've never had anything like that before. Will be back here for sure! read more

The food was çok güzel!! Favorites were the 3 cheese pide and the pistachio mud heaven. The ice cream was some of the best I've ever had. Great ambiance and very sweet waitress. read more

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Some restaurants just make me SO HAPPY. L e y l a WILL EASE your worried mind. From the street its entrance subtly invites the eye. Upon entry the adorable hostess and soothing beige bar say: WELCOME, without saying a word. The lighting inside is soft and calming. We got to sit in the garden which is a real treat. The food was scrumptious, really a notch above most other good Mediterranean places I've been. I recommend the perfectly seasoned branzino crudo. I tasted my friend's octopus...THE BEST I've had anywhere ever. The lamb shank was perfectly done and the waitress was super accommodating about a substitution. She was so sweet, just made you feel like you were in capable caring hands. It's the little hidden gems like Leyla that make Manhattan so special. read more

What is the big deal with Leyla? The falafel was mediocre - dry and tasteless. More expensive and not half as good as Sido's, right around the block. The spinach yarma was similarly blah - how can spinach lack flavor? But it did. The shrimp app was a very nice portion and it was pleasant - thus saving leyla from a 2 star review. The food was all delivery. It's a shame because I am really looking for some good Middle Eastern food on the UWS. read more

I have been here three times since my first reservation! Love the food and the service. One of my favorite places to go for a nice evening out. read more

A terrific variety of food selections, many of which are made of ingredients that are put together in an interesting combination. Had dinner here a month ago. The space is a little tight. Am going back for brunch next week. read more

I would return to this place to try lunch/dinner options. The brunch was pretty good but could have packed a little more of a punch. Food: The brunch menu consisted mostly of cheeses and carbs. We got the breakfast pide, shakshuka, and a side of spicy sausages. Everything was so aesthetically pleasing, especially the plates. Everything also tasted very fresh. I usually like foods that taste light, but the dishes could have been a little saltier. When paired with toasted bread, the Shakshuka had a great balance of ingredients and spices, but it didn't pack a punch like the other Shakshukas I've had in the past. The breakfast pide was the highlight of the meal. The crust was the right amount of crispiness and the chives added an extra layer of freshness. Atmosphere: I really like the ambiance of this place. The sidewalk tables each have their heaters, so sitting outside was enjoyable even in 40 degree weather. The staff is friendly and the service was very quick. Price: This place is decently priced. The Skakshuka is $14 and the breakfast pide is $17, which I think is very reasonable. The plate of spicy sausage was $10, but the drinks (coffee, orange juice) were only $4. The brunch cocktails are also very fairly priced! read more

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Leyla is a very cute restaurant on the upper west side on a pretty residential block. In front of the entrance was a sign for daily happy hour deals that end at 7pm. I was excited to participate, but the happy hour only applies to people who sit at the bar. I'm not going to lie... I hate paying full price when literally sitting somewhere else gives you a deal. Most of the cocktails were 15 dollars. The three we had were all very good! The botanist was so beautiful with shaved cucumbers layering the inner surface of the glass. It was also very light and refreshing. The na ne li and the frappe mezcal sour were really good. I liked that they were not overly sweet. We shared the vegetarian pide, which was delicious though a little pricey for the size of the pide. The fava bean bruschetta is a must. I couldn't believe how good it was. I didn't try the beet salad or the zucchini rolls, but my friends liked them. I got the branzino, which had the perfect amount of crisp to the skin. I wish that it came more with just a tiny tiny portion of salad for 26 dollars. I definitely see myself coming again. I can't seem to find the happy hour menu online, but the next time I come, I'll be sure to sit by the bar! read more

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Cute spot, every dish was delicious. Great service. Loved the Pides and the lamb dishes. Highly recommend this place. Will be back. read more

Leyla - Lamb Shank - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

I'm a big fan of the mezze sampler here - the dips and the pita in particular always taste fresh and clean. The string lights in particular make for a pleasant experience inside. It's a little on the pricey side, but worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood. read more

WOW - Leyla is amazing Turkish/Mediterranean food! I love how it's right near my hood too! It could also be a great dinner date spot! I came here for dinner and there wasn't a wait. Loved the vibe and I'll definitely come back again. Things I ordered: - Slow cooked short rib pide - Beetroot carpaccio salad - Hummus - Kataifi zucchini fritters - Falafel read more

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For some reason, the garden was closed, but we luckily had a reservation for their outdoor "shed." The pancakes were much smaller than expected, albeit delicious. I got the Greek salad, which had no lettuce (traditional Greek salads don't). Tons of fresh veggies, and delicious cheese. I tasted the falafel from my aunt - so yummy. Only downside: my uncle's lamb burger was very undercooked and he had to send it back. Then it took a long time to come back. The service was slow, but we weren't in a rush to get anywhere. The inside looked really nice, so I would be curious to try it for dinner one night. read more

I don't have anything bad to say. The entire meal was SOLID. The atmosphere in the backyard was insanely cozy and romantic. It was a perfect date night spot. We ordered the short rib pide, burger, and the chicken dish. I wasn't over the moon about the pide, but the burger and chicken were delicious. I would definitely order those two items again! Staff was very friendly! read more

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Leyla is a restaurant specializing in Turkish cuisine on the UWS. It's a great neighborhood find, once you find it. The location is on a side street, and there's no real signage. I make this declaration after Sat. evening dinner with a friend at the small bar up front. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. This is not a large place, nor is there a big menu but everything seemed just right; from soft lighting and contemporary decor, to sound level and soundtrack, to informal but attentive service. Two of us split the three cheese pide, lamb shank and pistachio desert. All of it was delicious. read more

Leyla - The pistachio desert ! - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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My wife and I decided we wanted to grab some food at a place we haven't been to in the Upper West Side. Yelping brought up this place, so we decided to give it a go. We made a reservation using RESY for 6:30 pm. When we arrived at the restaurant right before 6:30 pm, they had no problem finding us and seating us right away. The place is a bit narrow and cramped, so you have to be mindful as you walk towards your table. The place itself definitely has a romantic/intimate vibe to it because of the lighting and decor choices. We didn't have to wait long to get water and menus from our server, Francesca. She successfully walked us through the specials for the night, and cajoled us into trying out two of them. The food came out at just right the time. With the exception of the first plate (fennel confit), the other two dishes had flavors and textures we really loved. The manti had a great garlic yogurt sauce and was tender. The lamb shank came easily off the bone, and was beautifully tender and juicy. Throughout the night, the service was on point by constantly taking away plates we finished off and giving us clean utensils to work with. Francesca's customer service was on point as well, with a healthy balance of attentiveness, friendliness, and humor. After we closed out, the manager/owner Murat came by to greet us and take our thoughts about the experience. He was very friendly and happy that we enjoyed our dining experience. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the mood for great tasting Turkish food in an intimate setting. read more

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Such tasty food: Lamb shank: get this! fall-off-the-bone, with a robust flavor. The risotto was decadent. Beet carpaccio: beets were amazing. The goat cheese balls complemented them well. Muhammara: bursting with that roasted pepper flavor. Short rib pide: the brick oven flavor came through on the bread part, but maybe I'll try the cheese one next time Zucchini fritters: probably the most generic-feeling dish. The crust was crispy, but the inner zucchini part didn't stand up to the rest. Nice vibe, with interesting décor (our section had really pretty blankets). Service was really friendly and accommodating read more

Short rib pide tasted like a meaty delicious crispy pizza. A little small but great Lamuchan was also great. Would order again read more

Cute and cozy spot in the upper west side! We ordered the Muhammara, shakshuka, and lamb pide. My favorite was the pide. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the staff was super friendly. It was not too busy for a Sunday brunch. Highly recommend this place! read more

Leyla - Muhammara and shakshuka - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

This place is such a gem. If you're looking for great Mediterranean cuisine in the UWS look no further. The food is Turkish and it was very different from any Turkish food I had experienced before. I started with one of the pides which is basically a rustic flatbread with toppings. I got the vegetarian one which came with leeks and broccoli rabe and it was really fantastic. For my main I got the branzino (whole roast fish) which came with a nice side salad. The fish was incredibly fresh, flaky, and moist. My friend got the falafel appetizer which was delicious - different from your regular falafel recipe. My drink was delicious too. It was bubbly with gin and a sprig of fresh rosemary. The prices were reasonable and I definitely plan on returning soon! read more

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The food was very good and the service was good as well. Very nice ambiance and decorating. The price was extremely reasonable for the quality of the food. read more

I absolutely love this place. My friend ordered the Lamb Shank and I ordered the Ersti (pasta dish with yogurt and this was an absolutely awesome dining experience. The great: - The flavor - wow simply amazing dance of flavor in my mouth. - Ambiance - neighborhood but quaint - Service - super attentive and friendly The not so great - nothing really - but some of the spaces are a bit small Great for: - intimate dates - meeting the parents - If you are a Med cuisine pro - If you never had Med cuisine before Bad for: - people who what tight spaces - break ups - people who don't like anything with some interesting spice (not speaking to intensity though) read more

Good food, pleasant atmosphere, great server, lovely and patient young woman. Mahamara good but pistachio cake and ice cream disappointing

Great place for both vegetarians and non-vegetarian! I went with some of my vegetarian friends and they had a wide variety of veg food. My favorite was the mezze trio and tahini flat bread. Their Lamb shank is also very popular, however I thought it was just ok. read more

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Nice little spot for a date night. Started with the cheese pide - out of this world delicious! The botanist cocktail was refreshing and would be perfect during the summer. I ordered the shaved zucchini and asparagus salad for my entree. It was tasty but a bit too much dressing for my liking. My partner ordered the Parmesan crusted chicken sandwich and he was a huge fan! We'll definitely return for the cocktails and cheese pide. read more

Leyla - Botanist cocktail - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a neighborhood gem in UWS. Their outdoor seating is limited, so it's hard to get a table, but we went before peak dinner time and were fortunately able to be seated. The food was delicious and we enjoyed everything we ordered. * Fava Bean Bruschetta - The photo does not do it justice. This was absolutely delicious, with fava bean spread, dill, arugula and pickled carrots on sourdough bread. * Lamb Shank - This is one of the best lambs I've had. I'm not a huge fan of lamb because of the smell, but this was delicious. It was so soft and had no strong smell. And the porcini and orzo risotto complemented it very nicely. * Grilled Branzino - This is also one of the softest branzinos I've had. It came with potatoes and peppers, which was really nice. * Pistachio Mud Heaven - I was expecting something sweeter, but this dessert tasted like ice cream and honey on granola. I liked the ice cream with its unique hard texture. Looking forward to trying more things on the menu next time :) read more

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Went here for happy hour. Such a cute establishment with great ambiance. Our server was great. We ordered prosecco, red wine, eggplant dip, fried zucchini and the lamb burger. The food was amazing. The wine was average. But overall, great place and I would definitely come back. Their happy hour is definitely a great deal! read more

One of the tastiest lamb burgers I've ever had! You could really taste that it was lamb, and That's not the only thing that was good! The cocktails, pide, truffle fries and salad were all delicious. Next time I'll have to order some Turkish coffee and a dessert, but I'm determined for there to be another time since Leyla was such a hidden gem! read more

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Just a note for management, please note that the lamb burger is topped with cheese as some people don't eat it. I'd also switch up the polenta fries in the same dish. Otherwise, the food here is excellent. After looking for a place in the area for Mother's Day, our group decided to go to this place judging by the glowing reviews and images. The waiter had good suggestions regarding drinks and food and did a great job overall. If you want a short to the point review: Order the eriste (especially if you like manti,) and any of their pide. Their parmesan grilled chicken is unique surprisingly good for a non-Italian place. I personally got the Perfect Istanbul which was good. I think it could have used more sour cherry as it tasted more like a slightly different Manhattan. Two people got The Botanist (with one requesting vodka over gin,) which was nice and herbal. Another person ordered a cocktail with a piece of candied ginger over it which was unique and good. We ordered several meze including Eggplant Caviar, Greek Salad, Lahmacun, and their Vegetarian Pide as well as an order of their bread (which costs an extra dollar and it was fine.) Vegetarian Pide- Broccoli rabe, bok choy, spinach, leek, charred bell pepper: This was much better then I expected. There was good vegetable flavor with the spinach and rabe especially being pronounced. Lahmacun- Flat bread with minced meat (lamb,) sumac, onion, parsley, tomato: These came to two to an order with lemon (to drizzle over) as well as extra parsley/tomato to top. They were as good as other places though I am used to paying less. I preferred the spice here but another person approved them. Greek Salad- Ezine cheese, pomegranate lemon dressing (tomato/cucumber also as expected-) Good fresh salad with no lettuce in sight. Dressing was light but it worked. Eggplant Caviar- Charred onion, bell pepper, garlic, served with roasted sourdough bread. The flavors of this dish was good though it was essentially their take on Baba ghanoush though with a different texture. Main dishes Eriste- Hand cut Turkish pasta, cubed lamb, sumac, cumin, brown butter yogurt sauce: I ordered this judging by the other glowing reviews and it didn't disappoint. The dish reminded me of manti and I highly recommend it. The only thing I'd note is that the yogurt sauce is a bit overpowering (with not much brown butter flavor.) Parmesan crusted chicken- Medley of vegetables: This was much better then I expected. The chicken was moist and there was a good cheese flavor without it being overpowering. Frekeeh risotto: Asparagus, mushroom, string beans, zucchini, parmesan- Only tried a little bit of this. The vegetables/risotto were well cooked and similar to the chicken, the cheese wasn't overpowering. This is currently the only vegetarian option though you could make a (probably better) meal out of some meze/pide. Leyla burger: Batonnet polenta fries and spiced tomato dip- Outside of the very juicy/tasty burger, I wouldn't recommend this much. The polenta fries had way too thick of a batter (it reminded me of a bad version of mozzarella sticks in terms of texture) but the tomato dip was good and that saved them. It was also topped with cheese which wasn't appreciated by the person who ordered. Desserts (both listed by the waiter as there isn't a menu yet.) There's one other one as well. Pistachio/walnut/chopped filo topped with Turkish ice cream- The dish was good and not overpoweringly sweet and it did remind me of baklava as well as some other similar desserts as the waiter noted. They give spoons as it falls apart very easily. I'd recommend this if you want a not super-sweet dessert. Pide topped with walnuts, tahini, honey- If you don't like a very strong sesame/tahini flavor, you probably will hate this. I'm personally neutral so I thought it was good but not amazing. The dish is slightly messy but it makes a good group dessert. Excellent new place with some definite standouts though some dishes could be refined a bit better. 4.1 read more

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3-cheese pide, kofte, and chicken were all really good. The baklava was the best I've ever had. Great cocktails too.

Turkish food has never looked this good! Leyla is a true UWS gem, tucked away on an intimate residential street. Great date spot and even better eats. Enjoyed the Greek salad and smoky eggplant caviar for starters. You can't leave Leyla without ordering at least on of their flatbreads... we tried the short rib pide and it was heavenly - crispy, cheesy and bold yet delicate. Similarly, the zucchini fritters were fried yet light and fluffy. For entree, we split the Eriste, which was a Turkish pasta with lamb cubes, walnuts, and yogurt sauce... definitely a powerful and unique dish and impressive how all the flavors complemented one another. For anyone concerned with COVID and indoor dining, I think Leyla is one of the best restaurants I have seen. They are contact tracing, offering contactless ordering and payment, etc. The cutlery is even rolled in a napkin which is then plastic wrapped. Prices were very reasonable! Service was friendly and the food was served quickly. Will definitely be back at Leyla soon to try the rest of the Pides and extensive menu. read more

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We got here right at opening time and were able to be seated without a reservation. The food was amazing. Everything was perfectly cooked and so flavorful. Portions are small, so I would recommend ordering several dishes to share. The ambience was cozy and intimate. Excited to come back to try more! read more

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Loved our meal! Outstanding service and such flavorful food! We ordered the cheese appetizer, zucchini fritters and the lamb shank. The fritter was a little undercooked (cold inside) so they gladly sent it back and we replaced it with the beet salad and they comped a carrot ginger spread - so good! Cocktails wonderful and the lamb was so moist, we licked up the plates. read more

How this outstanding restaurant has cultivated an impressively delicious menu is beyond belief. Quaint ambiance upon approach and as you arrive into this tucked away treasure, a soft and elegant Mediterranean atmosphere descends upon you. Followed by one delicious dish after another. I can confidently say I will be coming back here as many times as I can. Fantastic. read more

Came here for dinner last month with some girlfriends! We were seated outside and the outdoor seating was quite cute (nice setup with lights, plants, clean). I'm usually not a big outdoor seating person but the indoor portion of the restaurant was quite small so I appreciated having the space Food was excellent! We had the cheese pide, eriste and manti all of which were excellent! I also really enjoyed my papatya Our baklava came out warm which was awesome, I have never had it that fresh before! My one gripe would be the service, we waited a very long time for one of our entrees which did not sour our experience a lot but definitely kept us at the restaurant potentially longer than we would have liked read more

Leyla - Baklava - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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My evening at Leyla last night was pure magic! This quaint and lovely restaurant was tucked away in a little haven. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was impeccable. I recommend highly the 3 cheese pied and the salmon for an entree! Would 100% go again. read more

Leyla - The outdoor of the restaurant - Turkish Near Me - New York, New York

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