Peri Ela

1361 Lexington Ave (between 90th and 91st Sts) 
Upper East Side

212-410-4300

Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.

Prices

Average main course: $20. Cash only.

Description 

The dark wood walls, pressed-tin ceiling and Pop Art tableaux picturing the sort of scantily clad women you might find on the beach in Bodrum would make this Carnegie Hill Turkish restaurant feel at home in Istanbul’s most fashionable precincts. Homesick Turks share big meze spreads and Turkish wine from a well-priced menu that covers the usual meyhane (taverna) staples like a rich, creamy cacik, a classic garlic-laced yogurt dip, and a winning combo plate of ground lamb kofta, a lamb chop, and cubes of chicken and lamb kebabs. In keeping with its Euro vibe, instead of thick Turkish coffee, espresso—what hip, young Turks drink—is listed with the sweet, sticky baklava and rolled custard kazandibi.