Awesome! The octopus was succulent and the fig prosciutto salad was delicious. I had the short rib with orzo. It was melt in your mouth. Hubby had the lamb chops. The best. Top it off. Lava cake. read more

Nerai - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Updates 2017 - still good, but diminished quality and service over time. Octopus is not as good as it used to be. Everything is good, not great. Incredibly fresh, high quality food. Fantastic combinations, similar to food we found in Barcelona. The restaurant is not cheap, but the location, food, decor and service are all commensurate with the price. We will be eating here regularly! We had Octopus, Tuna Tartare, Saganaki sticks, Greek Salad and Grape Arugula salad. All of it was terrific. It was all extremely fresh and healthy (except Saganaki sticks, but they were very tasty!). Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes healthy food with fine (but not uptight) dining. read more

Not worth the cost for lunch! The salmon burger is disgusting and tasted frozen. The fries were cheap, not handmade and I didn't understand how you could charge $26 for something that was clearly not well made. The arugula salad ($19) with shrimp (additional $12) is a bed of leaves tossed in some olive oil, and three pieces of shrimp. Not worth the $31. Surprisingly this place was packed and tables were all full. Not sure why /how people think it's worth it for the price, but I have had food that was a fraction of the cost for a much better taste. Save your $100 lunch meal for two and go somewhere else instead!!! read more

Good food, especially the lobster pasta. Service is okay. Beef ball is fine but not highly recommended.

Celebrated my birthday here. Fabulous dinner- atmosphere was so nice but more importantly the food was incredible. My husband and I are foodies and often scrutinize dishes and how they are made. - all was delightful. Octopus and crudo were so different and unique. I loved the grilled fish as it was amazing and cooked well and my husband totally enjoyed the lobster with ink pasta. Service was also great. Definitely recommend. read more

Delicious food with impeccable service! The restaurant is a no-tip restaurant, however, the service is better than most of the restaurants that actually mandates tips. How funny! The service definitely makes a huge difference to the entire dining experience. The waiter was so helpful and I really appreciated his help. I loved the seafood tower, absolutely fresh and delicious! Yum!! That's probably the highlight of meal. The saragli (baklava) was so special too. Normally, they are sickly sweet.. Here, they are hand rolled and delicious, not as sweet. read more

Horrible service every time! I used to book a lot of business meetings here because it was close to the offices but will never come back here. The last time I attempted to make a reservation last minute, the lady on the phone cut me off while I was talking and placed me on hold then hung up, twice! Please train you staff to have better hospitality in such a high profile area. read more

The food is delicious. The manager Michael and sommelier Will are fantastic.

'Food of the gods' is what my father always called Greek food. I love great Greek food and so happy to have found this beautiful new restaurant that is a great place for lunch in midtown! Lunch is a funny thing in New York and ask a local where to eat and it's likely they'll stare at you blankly. Most are too busy to enjoy the many sit down lunch options that are at their fingertips. The St. Regis happened to recommend Nerai and I am so glad they did. It was a beautiful summers day and we decided to start our meal at the bar and wait for a table to be ready outside. They have a nice pre-fixe lunch for $36. We sampled a few things and everything was of the highest quality. To start we shared the trio of dips. Their pita was grilled and came with tzatziki, hummus and spicy feta spread. The feta spread was my favorite! The Hamachi crudo was recommended by the server and it was definitely a highlight. Marinated cucumbers, olive juice and yogurt foam make this dish sound fussy but it was delicate, beautiful and our favorite. Grilled Octopus is a $10 supplement to the pre-fixe but totally worth it. They braise it in red wine and then massage it to make it incredibly tender. Chickpeas, onion, capers, red pepper and latholemono was refreshing. The greek salad had really fresh ingredients but with all the other interesting items on the menu, I'd skip this one. The organic chicken skewer was roasted and had a lot of flavor. Loved that it came with tzatziki. Overall a great spot in midtown for a Greek lunch. I'll return! read more

Wonderful, light Mediterranean fare. The food was fresh, the serving sizes were perfect. Highly recommend for a sit down lunch in the city. The fig and prosciutto salad was to die for. read more

Nerai - Fig and prosciutto salad - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

I recently had dinner at Nerai for my sister's bachelorette party (and no, not a cheesy bachelorette party). They were able to accommodate our party of 8 - which can be difficult to find in the city. Everything about this place exceeded my expectations. The decor, atmosphere, cocktails, food and service was phenomenal. We ordered 3 appetizers (zucchini chips, the duck appetizer and lobster crab cakes) - all were amazing! The majority our group ordered the Cod, one got the short ribs and another got the vegetarian option (something with tomato I believe). I'm not even a huge fan of fish, but the Cod was great. We were all extremely happy with our meals. "The Date" cocktail is a must. And be sure to order the baklava for dessert - probably the best you'll ever have. Overall, Nerai is a very cool, chic fairly new place. It would make for a great date spot if you really want to impress! read more

Veni : Vidi : Loved It : Yelped It :) Beautiful ambience, amazing cocktails, impeccable service. A great place for a client meeting or a date. Stopped by for a drink after work with a girl friend of mine and ended up staying much longer than planned. Bartenders were great with suggestions and were able to accomodate (and greatly impress) my vegan friend which made me very happy!! We stayed by the bar this time but will definitely be back for a dinner soon. Mediterranean food at it's finest! Loved it. Yes, it is not cheap but the experience is totally worth it. Highly recommended! read more

Outstandingly fantastic grilled octopus salad! Perfectly done whole fish (lavraki), and some kick-ass cocktails to boost. Will come here any chance I get. Btw, the place is absolutely spotless. Not even a single water spot on the plates or glasses. I like! read more

AMAZING! I've been here three times now and every time, I am in awe of the the service, the food (holy cow) and the atmosphere. I love it here and plan to come back again and again and again! read more

Nerai is a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood, bringing unique Greek flair to the table! Hands down perfect for a tasteful business lunch and worth the trip for a grown up dinner. The cocktails are mixology-level, featuring a variety of not-so-common fruit and spices. How often do you sip on rum infused with pear, fig and lime?! Or gin under a veil of Crème de Violette? Ah! We were not too hungry on our visit, so just shared a bunch of appetizers. Now, this is greek cuisine with a modern twist and rightfully so, since even the ordinary greek salad tasted new and exciting. Chips Nerai were delicious paper-thin slices of zucchini lightly battered and coupled with tzaziki, which turned out to be a weightless mousse - so light and delicious! And then there was the octopus.. Grilled perfection surrounded by few smart perks like chickpeas and capers! I have a feeling this octopus will get famous soon.. For my inevitable sweet tooth I got the baklava and that was heavy and sweet just as I like. For something of less guilt the lavender mousse sounded very intriguing! Perfect for my more serious next time! Btw, the bar area is great too for a more relaxed, but still classy after work meeting. It is spacious and nicely separated from the dining room creating a lively unwinding vibe. read more

I'm not a sit down lunch guy. Like many New Yorkers who work in midtown, I head for salad bars, fill my plastic take out container with items from the buffet and head back to the office. The other day, I walked past Nerai, as I have done countless times before. This time I decided to go in and take a seat at the bar and have lunch. Three tables were set up out front at the sidewalk, and I think the food on their plates acted as a lure that drew me in. The staff greeting me at the entrance could not have been more welcoming, making me feel that they were glad I chose to come in. The bartender was very patient in helping me navigate the drink menu, and seemingly relaxed at the busiest time of day. I looked at the raw bar options (jumbo tiger shrimp cocktail-$18; 1/2 dz oysters on the half shell-$22; one half of a 1 1/2 lobster cocktail-$24) but went for a selection of starters. As follows, they were: tzatziki, spicy feta, and hummus spreads with grilled pita--$18; crispy calamari with red pepper marinara-$18; char-grilled octopus over a refreshing chickpea salad-$28. It seemed that almost everyone around me was having the octopus. The space is tastefully done and larger than it looks from the street. Everything was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. I left feeling full and as if I'd been on a mini-vacation--even though my office was just a few blocks away. I go to Greek restaurants a lot, because I like seafood done simply and I like Mediterranean items like hummus and tsaziki. The dining experience here as good as any I've had in a NYC Greek restaurant. That's why I'm taking the time to write this review. By the way, this is a no tipping restaurant, so if some of the items look expensive, remember that it does include service. When you get the bill, you just sign. read more

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What a gorgeous Chic ,Romantic atmosphere the food was Phenomenal! read more

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Absolutely gorgeous space with food to match. Creative spins on traditional Greek food and lots of whole fish options made it the best Greek food I've had in manhattan. Think tzatsiki foam, marinated yogurt balls, sweet/crunchy/toasted hazelnuts on salad, ouzo flavored yogurt (!!) - side by side with classics. DON'T LEAVE without dessert. Even if you're full, you must try the lavender mousse. It's absolutely unreal. We didn't have cocktails but our bottle of Greek white was light delicious and priced right. If you don't get seated upstairs it's worth a peek. The stairs open up into a gauzy bright "tented" space with a seperate dining room...I wonder if they hold events. I'll be back for more apps, super fresh fish and that lavender mousse! read more

I was here the second time for a group dinner. 12 people. We had a huge table in a private room upstairs, Beautiful Own separate bar. great service. Food was great. They had prepared a separate menu for the group. a great wine selection. A fantastic place for a group dinner. read more

Nerai - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

Had my daughter's baptism celebration upstairs for a party of 50. Katrina, the events manager made it a seamless process. She was a pleasure to work with, was very responsive over email, talked through different menu and seating options with my wife and I, and even allowed for us to drop off decorations in advance of the party. The food and service here is exceptional. My wife and I had the opportunity to meet the chef who was very accommodating with those with dietary restrictions (gluten/soy/diary). I highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion whether that be a romantic night out, casual brunch, or a special private event celebration. I will be back there soon! read more

First impression, an invitingly Mediterranean restaurant with authentic touches bringing in the coastal feel of Greece blended with chic urban feel. Considering its location, once you step through the indoor/outdoor entrance, you immediately forget that you are situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan (save for a few power suits). I had dinner with a group of 5 friends, and we sat comfortably in the main dining room on the ground floor, but be sure to take a peek upstairs and downstairs to get a feel of the entire restaurant. With regards to the food, couple highlights: Appetizers Octopus is a must try, complimentary olives and yogurt "mozz" balls surprisingly tasty, Tzatziki and Hummus are on-point and staples of a Mediterranean restaurant. Entrees Seafood is the highlight, nothing says Greece more than a piece of delicately grilled fish, server did a good job of sizing the fish to accommodate our party (2lbs of snapper; 1.5lbs of Lavraki). For meat lovers, the short ribs is a must-try. Dessert Not typically a fan of Mediterranean desserts, but Nerai hits it spot on with creative selections, a must try is the lavender custard. Overall A fantastic atmosphere for a night out with creative yet authentic Greek food. Prices are on the high side (spent about $90/pax including wine & cocktails; w/o seafood likely closer to $50-60/pax) but comparable to Midtown Manhattan and other fresh seafood alternatives. read more

I have been back a few times since my first visit. Maybe enough times for them to start recognizing me. Either that or the are just so pleasant that it feels that way. I used to head to bice after work but nerai has replaced that wit a more updated version of the cocktail bar. They have a negroni and a syrah that i love. What i really like about the place is the food. Well executed greek mediterranean food presented in an up to date refined form. Although it appears pricey I feel like i am getting twice the quality at half the cost of milos. And the ambience is so much better. Sorry milos the 80s are over. I have recently had the amazing duck moussaka and they made me a short rib orzo that was incredible. But the branzino might be the best fish in the city. Making the choice the toughest part if the night. Each time i return it seems to be better than the last time. Soon i wont be going anywhere else. read more

I can't say enough good things about Nerai but I need to point out that it's NOT traditional Greek food. I'm Greek and I didn't know that going in initially so I had very different expectations at first, but if you go in open minded, their spin on Greek food is incredible. I'm not one to spend a lot of money on an entree but the moussaka (A MUST.) was one of the best meals I've ever had anywhere. Never would have thought to try it with duck and now I can't imagine it any other way. Anything else I've tried has also been delicious. The staff is extremely attentive and friendly (it's a no tip restaurant and they made us genuinely WANT to tip) I love the decor and the vibe. Highly recommend for a nice dinner. read more

I agree with Lollie. Excellent service and the food is the "star". I agree with Monica: "must get the tiger shrimp". I was at this restaurant 3 times already, really really excellent . The veggies, the fish, the salads, the desserts, all is special. The ambient is really special, in a refine way, and not in the often "screamed new york way" (so many restaurants are like this). We dine downstairs and upstairs, downstairs if very open, airy, chic. The upstairs is even more relaxing and intimate, definitely a good choice for romantic dates or family dinners in which you want to have a serene vibration around you. read more

While meeting business colleagues for dinner here, I arrived first and headed to the bar. I wanted a glassful wine, but I'm unfamiliar with the Greek varietals. The bartender guided me to two, and a gave me a small tasting of each. Nice service. My colleagues arrived and we sat down to dinner. I had an octopus starter and a whole fish, similar to a barundi, as my main. Both were excellently prepared, with a light touch on the seasoning. The fish was huge, though, more than one person could easily finish, though I made a good showing. The Brussels sprout side was great, as well. I would go back... read more

Came for lunch with a colleague, with all the great reviews it sounded like a winner. We were seated quickly, the decor is very nice here along with 5 star service. The spread appetizer was excellent, highly recommend. It comes with three spreads each of which are tasty. The bread was decent, but nothing to write home about. The Chips Nerai were suggested by the server, they were not that impressive. We ended up ordering a small salad each. For the price of the salads (I think my greek salad was about $20), and drinking water a business lunch was still over $80 for the two of us. The prices are a bit high considering the portion sizes here, the quality is spot on. read more

What a great place. We had drinks at the bar before dinner. Bartenders were super nice and attentive. Dinner service was spectacular and the food was perfection. Love this place ! read more

I came back here for dinner finally and really enjoyed my experience. We came around 8pm on a Friday evening and found the place comfortably full. I arrived a little before my reservation at 8pm, but our table wasn't ready until closer to 8:20pm or so. The ambiance here is upscale and sets a good tone for intimate conversations without any disruptions. Getting to the food, we did the octopus (cooked tender and had some nice flavors on a bed of chic peas) to start. For our mains, we did the halibut (cooked well however it was lacking a touch of seasoning but good overall) and the branzino (prepared very simply and done well). Overall, all the fish we had was enjoyable. To finish the meal off, I had an single espresso ($6??) that wasn't worth it and wish I hadn't bothered which left a bad taste in my mouth. With that said, after a nice bottle of white during dinner and tax and tip, the bill came out to about $100/person which I thought was expensive but in line with the seafood that we ate. If you are looking for a low-key seafood spot in midtown, this is a good place to check out if you aren't worrying about your credit card. Buon appetito. read more

My new favorite Greek food in NYC!! Service is one of kind! Food is to die for there is not one thing on this menu that you would complain about. Thank you for the wonderful experience!! read more

Nerai - Kalamata olives and goat cheese. Yum!!! - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

I came here with a friend to celebrate my birthday. We had been wanting to do a tasting menu somewhere, and liked the idea of a seafood-centric prix fixe menu with wine pairings. The interior is really cute. We were running a few minutes late and called, and they were accommodating. When we sat down, and a waiter came over after a bit to tell us the specials. We listened, and then mentioned that we'd come in to do the chef's menu with the pairing. Our server may have been new, or filling in for the night, or something, but he was very confused and kept asking us to choose our first course. We let him know that we'd made sure to research ahead of time, and there was a chef's menu that was prix fixe and pre-chosen, and we wanted to do that. He said he'd look into it for us. Instead he went to wait on a table who had sat after us, and we watched him helping them, getting them drinks, etc. Minutes and minutes went by. That other table received their drinks and then their appetizers. We had been there first, and were ready to spend a lot of money on their tasting menu, and hadn't even been brought drinks or helped at this point. My friend was getting pretty upset, and I was trying to get someone's attention. Finally he came back and told us that we could put that order in, and we were brought some bread. When the dishes came out, the runners were able to tell us a lot more about the food than our server could, and the individual pouring the wines (I'm not sure if he was actually a sommelier for them, but he was clearly in charge of the wine pairings) was able to add a lot more detail. Honestly he saved the experience for us, since our waiter couldn't tell us anything about the food. The food itself was really, really good, and the wine pairings were great. There was another long wait at the end for the check, but at that point we minded less. I think we just were unlucky with the waiter we had that evening, so I would still recommend this place overall. read more

Very good food. Certainly more modern than traditional Mediterranean food, but some good flavors. What I tasted: Stuffed calamari (B) - great cheese filling, only okay calamari Cod (A-) - light and tasty Stuffed Tomatoes (A) - very good flavor, excellent compliment of stuffed peppers on the side, only wish they had a non-vegetarian variation Starter veggies (A) - very pleased with how they catered to GF diet, simple yet tasty, way better than run-of-the-mill bread basket to start, and the oil-soaked olives and cheese were a very nice touch Service was decent, but a little slow. Atmosphere was nice, but not my favorite. Just a little over-priced. read more

Absolutely gorgeous dining room with fantastic food, and a very charming Chris Nerai definitely tried really hard to do marketing right online. They have an appealing website, lots of photos on Yelp are obviously taken professionally by the company. Maybe that's also why there are many Asian clients since Asians are big on yelp and writing reviews. As a marketing student I have to say good job there. Price is a little surprise though. On the menu looks like a normal brunch restaurant, the bill ends like 200 (without tips) for two. We had an octopus, fish as main dish and two drinks. Have to say the ROI is not very high there. Never the less, still a great place to hang out :) read more

This was our first stop In NYC. We had a dinner reservation at 8pm at Porterhouse so had appetizers here at 5pm. The best was the tuna tataki, one of the best I ever have tried. The place is nice, the service was ok. Not our favorite for Greek in the city but enjoyed our food. read more

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So delicious. Such a cool room. Good staff. Great food. If you're in this area then don't even think twice. Go. It's very yummy. Do yourself a favor and order the lamb. Omg it's exquisite. read more

I've never had fine-dining greek fare before and wow was it absolutely amazing?! We were seated outside the front (it's really great outside, especially on a beautiful evening, but I don't think this area receives as good a service as the rest of the restaurant). The dips (spicy feta & hummus) with warm pita bread were delicious. The calamari with stuffed feta and prawn is possibly the nicest calamari dish I've ever eaten. Tuna tartare and bbq octopus both really tasty too. Mains- the duck 'baklava' was delightful and the scallops enjoyable. Dessert we couldn't go past the baklava and glad we didn't. The food was truly exceptional. Decor and ambience very cool too. Expensive but worth it read more

Another great addition to the other 5 star Greek restaurants in the nabe and a gorgeous venue. Dined here with friends last night and was able to sample a variety of items. Great selection of wines by the glass. Our apps of dips, Greek salad, spinach pies and stuffed calamari were delish. Entrees of scallops and pork, rack of lamb, and lobster risotto were flavorful too. Very pricey special occasion or expense account restaurant. The only reason I didn't give Nerai 5 stars is because we were waiting for our 4th dinner guest and we felt we were being rushed to order wine and apps. Once the 3 of us ordered a glass of wine the server removed the wine list. I told him we were waiting for a 4th guest. They kept on asking us what we wanted to order and my husband remarked he was still waiting for his drink. We wanted to dine at leisure with our wine and just order apps. At 6:30 PM we didn't need to be rushed as there were no parties waiting for our table. Luckily we could sit with our friends until 9 PM. I hate when I feel the staff is hovering. Just a note to point out to the management. read more

Great atmosphere and food! We had our friends wedding at this place and everything was organized very well. Highly recommended!

Just rounds up to a 4. This place is relatively new, but I was still surprised at how empty it was. Guess that's what happens on the weekends in midtown east. The meal started with warm bread and olive oil with balls of super thick Greek yogurt and olives. We ordered an extra fava spread that was good, but not quite $12-good. The grilled octopus appetizer was really tender, I'd recommend. For mains, we had the pink snapper for two. It was on the milder side, so I appreciated the capers. We ended with a dessert of cream and shredded phyllo. I forget what it's called, but I liked that it wasn't too sweet. This place definitely on the pricier side. I really like their selection of fresh seafood that's simply prepared. Service is pretty attentive. There's a cute nautical ambiance with pervasive white and cushions attached by rope. read more

Anything that has duck baklava on the menu calls to me. Themis call did not let me down. I sat at the bar as I was in NY for business. Right away the bar tender was a super personable and friendly guy. He asked me what I'd have to drink and I told him to surprised me with his speciality. He did. It was great. For food I noshed on some beautifully grilled octopus as an app. It was perfect. Not too rubbery. For my main meal I had the duck baklava which was perfectly done and even had a sweet honey glaze. Amazing. I finished my meal with a bump if espresso and I enjoyed every minute of my stay. Highly recommend it. read more

Loved this adorable little place! Waitstaff was so accommodating and sweet. It's also so close to my work and I've been looking for new places to try out with my friends. Decor is really clean but beautiful, food was prompt and so was the service. We had the chips and some cheese dish for apps...I'll edit the names later but they were delish. For dinner we had beet and Greek salads, they were Devine but FYI not your traditional salad!! Not really much lettuce. Dessert we had baklava and Greek coffee. It was soooo scrumptious ! I will definitely be back and you must try this little gem!! read more

Nerai - Amazing salads at Nerai! Beet and Greek! Noms - Greek Near Me - New York, New York

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