Very good food and atmosphere. The octopus always cooked to perfection! This was our 3rd visit and as the 2 before we were not disappointed. read more

Wonderful experience to say the least . The food was perfect I had the salmon which was pure perfection ! The duck mussaka was absolutely fantastic . We also had cocktails that were perfect but very special due to the unique garnish that included a dark cherry that was filled with liquor a perfect touch in completing the cocktail. Finally the desert was omg heaven will not forget pistachio gelato with crushed pistachios , Greek yogurt , black cherries and small round cookies made of egg whites that literally melt in your mouth! The staff was so accommodating and pleasant that it made our dinner that much better . Wonderful service ! We will visit very soon and highly recommend!!! read more

Still thinking about my meal here- it was delicious! Got the tuna tartare and duck moussaka. Wine suggestions were great (Greek wines) and paired well with the food. Looking forward to returning. read more

The food was AMAZING!!! We did the prix fixe menu that allows you to get a starter, pasta, entree and desert. It's $85 per person. The Greek salad, short rib pasta and filet mignon was some of the most delicious food I've ever had. We also enjoyed a nice bottle of wine from northern Greece, I do not remember the name but William who is a wine expert and bartender recommended it. The service was great and the vibe is nice and intimate. read more

See all

Highly recommend! Great service, food was delicious and good portion size, cool atmosphere. Ask for Christian and Mike - they took great care of us! read more

See all

I'm leaving room for the last star. I was in for a quick lunch on a gorgeous spring day sitting outside. The food is top notch. My friend and I got a fish, octopus, and salad and shared. It's perfect for a light and fulfilling meal at one of the best seafood places in the city. The last star will come after a full meal inside with more menu items on my plate! read more

Best Greek in Manhattan-no question Refined experience, must get the tiger shrimp, and octopus appetizer. Greek wine was tasty, good suggestion from the waiter Sat upstairs, we had a great time. We will be back read more

See all

Wow I don't know why this place is not more popular! My friend and I came for dinner but couldn't eat much since we had a late lunch. We had: - Bread with white bean spread: was free. The bread was warm and the white bean paste was pleasant- nice starter -Ora King Salmon: Amazingly prepared salmon on spanakorizo, topped with crispy leeks. The salmon was cooked like medium rare. The inside basically melted in my mouth with a nice crispy texture on the exterior. Because we didn't have the chance to try much, I decided to come back for breakfast the next day with another friend! We ordered: -Strawberry Greek yogurt parfait and lavender pineapple parfait: very delicious! I couldn't really taste the lavender in the lavender pineapple parfait since the pineapple was stronger. But the creamy Greek yogurt with the honey was surprisingly light. The nuts added a nice crunch. -Applewood bacon on the side: good bacon, on the crispy and thin side. This restaurant doesn't take tip but their service is still fantastic!! read more

See all

Divine...the only words I really have for my dining experience. Everything was on the money. We had the tuna tartar, oysters, squid ink pasta and a house drink. I can't really remember the name but they were awesome. The outdoor dining area was a breath of fresh air. I didn't feel like I was in New York at all. Just a Romanic dinner. I highly recommend his place if your looking for classy eats. Xoxo read more

This restaurant is exquisite! Food, drinks, service and ambience are all incredible. Everything I tried was amazing and you truly get quality food. It was one of the best dinners I've had. Definitely the place to go to for special occasions and if you want to eat like a queen. Drinks tasted great and are strong. I highly recommend the stuffed and dirty martini, excellent! read more

See all

I guess I tend to disagree wit Yelp when it comes to fancy dining. It turns out that I do tend to look at the price tag at the end of the meal. Anyway, the tuna tartar was excellent, I had the duck which was pretty well made as well as the scallops which I wasn't a super fan of I find it quite outrageous that they charge you for a glass of water, really? this has been the first restaurant that I've been in NY where they charged me for it. It's not even like I get a warning for it. If you are going to deviate from the city standard have the decency to inform me The place was OK-ish but with so many good options around I will not be making a trip back read more

Unfortunately I am basing my 1 star review off of the way they handled my reservation and not from any type of dining experience or cuisine. While most of the Food & Beverage establishments are still making a slow peddle to make any kind of profit, Nerai joined in with many of others and offered a deal which was through a company called Puls'd. The deal was absolutely fabulous at $59 for a Dinner for 2. I made my reservation online however noticed immediately after doing so that Puls'd strictly states that a phone call is mandatory or the deal could be rejected the day of your reservation. So, I called and spoke with this incredibly friendly Hostess who assured me having my deal would be no issue and that she looked forward to seeing my guest and I. A few weeks past and 15min before the time of my reservation I receive a call from a Nerai hostess who regretted to let me know that my Puls'd deal wouldn't be accepted and that Puls'd was illegally using the Restaurant without their permission to do so. Obviously surprised, I did chose to cancel my reservation and dine elsewhere however contacted Puls'd only to be told that there is 1 specific Manager at Nerai who is not allowing guests to use their Puls'd deals however it in fact was valid. Now, I know the space is gorgeous, and the owner has done a wonderful job aesthetically, and I have absolutely no doubt that they've employed an amazing Chef whom is making exceptional cuisine however the way that this minor situation was handled has taken away any curiosity or want for me to ever return and dine. It's a shame! And running a Restaurant in the city myself, that Manager should be terminated for aiding in the loss of potentially gained profit that could have gone into the owners pocket, and further more the tips their hardworking staff could have received. read more

Dear Nerai team, Thank you for all the dinners in your place. Your food is simply excellent and tasty. We definitly feel in a good atmosphere when entering in the restaurant. Amability of the team & beautiful place in the 54th Street, NY. Hope to come back soon to enjoy another Octopus house specialy & the amazing Baklavas Thank you ! Thank you ! & Thank you ! read more

My husband and I first dated in this restaurant and we wanted to hold our wedding luncheon here. The service was beyond what I asked for. The event coordinator was very helpful and updated the menu for us, printed pretty menu and seat assignments. I also presented my slideshows with their device and played my music list from Spotify. Overall I can't ask for a better place with the same cost. read more

Fine dining comes to mind when I think about my lunch experience at Nerai. The staff is attentive to a T from coat check to dessert, and every time in between. As for the food, well, that's what we're really here for, and it doesn't disappoint. Lunch is prefix ($36) and you choose three courses. I had the trio of spreads, the salmon, and the portokalopita, or Greek orange dessert cake. The spreads came with warm pita triangles and I devoured the tzatziki above all, though the feta was also a standout. The salmon was one of the best I've ever had and paired nicely with the risotto medley. Finally, the dessert cake was lovely, dense and soaked in orange with a side of intense hazelnut ice cream, or maybe a very cold mousse - hard to tell. Overall, a perfect experience. read more

Amazing COVID 19 outdoor eating. The tables are set to the side of the restaurant, off the street and with individualized heaters above each table. Incredibly cozy and the food was even better. The dover sole, though pricey, was a perfect size for sharing and delicious with the lemon on the side. We also ordered the short rib yiouvetsi. Short rib was perfectly cooked and served with orzo. Must order the zucchini chips + tzatziki (chips nerai) to start - it is out of this world. Too full for dessert, but will be back. read more

Nice decor and great food. The oysters I had were very fresh and delicious. The duck was tasty too. In addition, the waitress was very attentive. We had a great time. read more

Nerai - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Really solid restaurant and delicious food. We ordered: 1.) grilled octopus - best I've had in nyc 2.) tuna tartare - good choice 3.) roasted chicken with gnocchi - delicious and moist. 4.) Salmon - perfectly cooked. Efficient and friendly service. Overall a bit on the pricier side but well worth it - especially on a weekday night where a table for 2 was available on short notice read more

I called Nerai to make a reservation and never got a person however, the recording states they are open for dinner service on Sundays 5-9. We went on Sunday around 6pm, and they were not open. The answering machine needs to be changed. We went back on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. We ordered the Greek salad which to me looked poorly put together, with a few large cut tomatoes and a few small. It looked as though they ran out of one or the other.. the feta was the only thing enjoyable about this tiny $19 Greek salad. I ordered the grilled shrimp skewer which came with four over cooked shrimp(they were hard), sautéed greens with no seasoning (even though it states a mixed green salad) and lemon potatoes that were so tart they were inedible. One of the four shrimp was filthy and not deveined(DISGUSTING) which, is both disappointing and unacceptable in a restaurant charging $26 for four shrimp for a lunch sized portion. I told the waiter about the not deveined shrimp and he brought out a new plate completely, with four cleaned shrimp. The shrimp were all deveined however once again, completely over cooked and this time the dish had a salad, not sautéed greens. To sum it up... this restaurant is very inconsistent and very over rated. read more

Nerai - The first grilled shrimp dish I was served with sautéed greens even though it states a mixed green salad.. - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

The food is average at best and the meal progressively got worse. Meal for two with a glass of wine for each cost $250+. Started with complimentary bread and hummus, which was good. Appetizers were ok, meatballs were good but nothing special, red sauce tasted like something you'd expect from any neighborhood Italian restaurant. Falafel was good, but I've had better. Pasta courses needed help, I had seafood Orzotto, sauce was too thin to eat dish with a fork and the seafood was overcooked. Girlfriend had mushroom risotto which was overcooked, thick, and totally under seasoned. Mains were less than spectacular. My chicken with gnocchi was strange and once again under salted. Bright and acidic lemon sauce on chicken breast and heavy salty red sauce on gnocchi. Separately they were ok, together it was a bitter muddy mess on the palette. Girlfriend had fish with consommé and seasonal vegetables, underwhelming is the best way to describe it. Tasted like steamed fish with boiled potatoes in chicken broth. Desserts were what was expected. Average. Cheesecake was ok, but slightly grainy. Chocolate mouse was good, but needed something bright like berries to round it out. Nothing was bad, but nothing was good. I won't return. read more

Great Greek restaurant. Food and service were fantastic. My wife and so had a very nice late lunch here. Not crazy priced.

Loved the spinach salad topped with shrimp. Outdoor space was huge, covered and with heaters.

Very nice ambience and gracious service, but pricey -- the menu is Greek-unusual, not too many classic Greek restaurant offerings and where there are some, they are created with a different spin (untraditional moussaka with sliced duck). But the food is very good, except for the hummus, which is dry and tasteless. Oh well, maybe not everything can be a winner. All in all, a very good dinner, but we probably wouldn't go back just because of the unusual menu. read more

Fine dining Greek food! Beautiful decor inside and outside, scrumptious food and wonderful service! 4.5 stars coz it's super pricey! Portions are decent size! Our server was also very friendly! read more

See all

Came here with a party of 6 on a Wednesday night, we had reservations, but still had to wait about 20 minutes! The place was pretty packed... I liked the feel of the restaurant, we sat downstairs, so I didn't see what upstairs looked like, but downstairs had classy character. We decided to go with the Prix Fixe dinner, app, entree and dessert. Appetizers: Octopus (extra $10) - was amazing and totally with the extra $10. Perfectly prepared, so tender, all around amazing!!!! Greek Salad - was also amazing, I rarely order salad as I'm always disappointed, but this was very authentic tasting (last time I had a salad this good was in Greece). Vegetables were all very fresh and delicious. Short Rib Meatballs - were okay, of the three appetizers I tried, I liked the meatballs the least ... But they weren't bad. Entree: Whole Lavraki - whole Mediterranean Sea bass, very large portion, very tender and tasty (there are quite a few bones, so be careful!). Comes with head on the plate and fish filleted. Short Rib Yiouvetsi - medium portion of meat over those small noodles (not quite risotto), can't think of what they're called! But flavor was delicious and meat was cooked well, very tender and yummy! Dessert: Greek Yogurt - fancy Greek yogurt with honey, very refreshing, light and delicious! Was my favorite of the three desserts! Portokalopita - cake with chocolate ice cream, very heavy and rich but delicious as well read more

See all

Will was a great waiter. We had great food and wine, and the outdoor seating space was the best in NYC. Will totally be back.

Nicely decorated space. Front area seems to be popular with the after-work crowd for drinks, but surprisingly it doesn't get too loud in the dining area. grilled octopus - was very tasty and tender 5* hamachi crudo - beautifully presented, but not as tasty as the octopus 4* halibut a la poliita - husband said it is 4*, but I can't get anything else out of him scallops skaras - mind boggingly delicious, flavourful, interesting mix of textures - amazing 6*! portokalopita - not particularly beautiful or complex looking, but the flavours together are just fantastic. I could eat this all day long. 5* Would definitely come back for the scallops and portokalopita! The bathrooms are nice, but for some reason when you close the stall door, it is almost pitch black. Not sure if that's part of the ambient lighting, or someone just forgot to turn on all the lights in the bathroom. read more

See all

Such a great ambiance (we sat outdoors) and delicious, beautiful plated food!! A bit expensive, but highly recommend.

I went here for a Yelp Elite dinner and the food absolutely blew me away. It started with a Greek salad which I don't typically like, but this one was amazing. Next I had the grilled octopus. Tasty, but nothing special. Afterwards was the Lobster pasta which was the real show stopper. The next time I come back this is definitely the dish I'm getting. If you like lobster it's a must try. Dinner finished with Lamb Chops which were the biggest surprise of the night. I can't remember the last time I've ordered this type of dish, but the meat was so tender and juicy! For dessert I had the Pavlova and White Chocolate Mousse which was ok. Overall fantastic food and great ambience! read more

First time here! We had an early reservation on a Saturday after a nearby matinee. Nice ambience, kind and attentive service, and amazing food and cocktails. We dined inside but saw plenty of people eating outside in their beautiful outdoor setting even though it was raining. We started with cocktails- I had the aphrodite with gin, strawberry, and lime. Super tasty and sweet but not overpowering. For starters we split the trio of spreads that came with warm, soft, delicious pita bread. The spicy feta definitely had some kick! The tzatziki and hummus were great, too. For entrées I had the squid ink pasta with lobster. This was AMAZING. Pasta and lobster were cooked perfectly and paired with a rich sauce. My partner had the duck moussaka which he raved about. We split a side of Brussel sprouts, and even though I never eat Brussel sprouts, these were good! We saved room for dessert and split a phyllo dish with custard inside. It was the perfect way to end the meal as it wasn't too sweet or heavy. There are so many things on the menu I'd like to try that I'd be happy to come back again! read more

Nerai is definitely an upscale spot, I love that there is no tipping at this restaurant. The seafood is really fresh and clean. Excellent service. Try the octopus! read more

Nerai - Octopus - @EricHoRaw - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent Greek food with very nice ambiance inside. We had a reservation and were seated right away. The service was friendly and quite fast bringing our food. We had the baby lamb chops and some oysters as well as scallops. The salad was also fresh and really tasty. The bread they brought out for the table was also yummy. Recommended. read more

Some of the best Mediterranean food I've had in a long time. The gyro, bread and dips were delicious!

Really enjoyed dining here while on vacation. My husband is Greek so we are always up for new and exciting Greek food. We really enjoyed the vast selection of Greek wines by the bottle. We decided to have only appetizers as we wanted to try a bunch of different items. We had the shrimp loukomades, horiatiki salad, zucchini keftedes and the beets and skordalia salad. All very excellent. For dessert we had kataifi ekmek (loved!). I love the ambiance and the trendy Greek music playing all night. I would highly recommend! read more

Nerai - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I wanted to thank the staff!!! It is hard to find individuals that have manners and amazing. food!!!! I had champagne and a greek salad. I am looking forward to going back! You all are really really lovely!!!! read more

A very solid Greek restaurant in midtown East that offers a beautiful and spacious outdoor dinning area that is warm and inviting. There is also a heating light attached to each umbrella. All tables are socially distanced and are at least 6 feet apart. Be Aware: there are a lot of fruit flies near the shrubbery, hence the tiki lights. They are there for a reason and not just for decorative purposes. Sadly, we were swatting countless fruit flies away from our food and wine all evening. At least 6 fruit flies landed inside one wine glass and they all ended up floating around the vino so our server brought us new glasses and a small plate to cover the top of the wine glass with which did the trick. However, that did not spoil our evening. Standout dishes were the filet mignon $42-cooked to perfection, sokolatina $16 (a very light chocolate mousse dome) and the red 2015 Xinomavro wine $16/glass. We also really enjoyed the grape arugula salad $16, shrimp Santorini spaghettoni $32, and the karidopita $16 (walnut cake with Greek yogurt gelato). They did not skimp on the number of shrimps either. They were very large and cooked perfectly. The complimentary white bean purée with bread was also very tasty. Everything was delicious! There are no physical menus: you scan code on table, takes you straight to the menu, you then order with your server. The staff and manager Michael were all incredibly attentive, so accommodating, and were so lovely. read more

See all

The food was ok. Nothing special. They sat us outside and it was so noisy, that it was interfering with my husband's hearing aids. We asked them to seat us at a more quiet place. They put us in their street seating area, completely isolated from everybody and forgot us there. Btw, this place was bare and ugly. We were very disappointed. read more

What an amazing experience we had Easter Sunday. My daughter, and I made reservation later in the evening, but after walking the entire Central Park, and the Zoo we called to make our reservations earlier. The hostess was so kind, and made us feel at ease to make changes to an earlier time. Once seated the experience got better. The service from Viola, and Joshua was what made the experience even better. We were not rushed, and when we asked for changes to our dishes ( sorry ) they were honored with ease. The food was exceptional, and the pita had a wonderful charred taste that made us have to ask for more. We are major foodies, so we take in all aspects of the dining experience, and this beautiful restaurant surpassed our expectations. We can't wait until our next visit! read more

High-end Greek restaurant that is busy at lunch and dinner. Bread was fresh, with light grill marks on the outside and soft latticing on the inside. Octopus starter was the second-best I've ever had. Uni langoustino pasta was excellent but with only prawn. Fish is fresh and perfectly prepared. Tiny spinach pies very good. Service is attentive, considerate, and highly professional. No-tip format. Only one tiny knock: no retsina choices by the glass. read more

Nerai - Sign outside - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

See all

My husband and I had a few minutes to spare for each other yesterday, and after checking out the million restaurants I have bookmarked, we agreed to meet for lunch at Nerai. Here are my thoughts: Ambiance: Nerai is beautifully decorated - I love the primarily white theme. More importantly, it is spotless! Outdoor seating is nice as well. Service: I have never had better service at a restaurant. Anywhere. This was fine dining on a whole other level. Really impressive. Food: We didn't realize that the only lunch option is the Prix-Fix for $36. So obviously, we went with it. --First course: My husband and I both had salads. My Greek salad was sufficient, although I must admit it wasn't anything memorable. My husband was not a fan of his Grape Arugula salad and barely ate it. --Second course: I had the scallops which were quite tasty. Were they worth an additional $8 supplement? Not really. But the presentation was great. My husband had the chicken skewer and demolished it. He doesn't communicate his thoughts often but I'm going to take this as a good sign. --Third course: My Portokalopita was delicious. I'm not usually one to order desserts but this was pretty phenomenal. My husband had the Greek yogurt and said it was basic yogurt with honey. He ate most of it though so I think he liked it. Overall: The food here isn't mind blowing...for that I think Avra is better and slightly cheaper. But the service and ambiance make this Nerai a good solid 4 stars. I definitely recommend it! read more