Periyali Restaurant

I dined here with my husband and a friend on a Saturday night. I had made reservations through opentable. We were seated promptly. The service was excellent, the waiter and staff were quick and attentive and made great recommendations. The food was very good and seasoned well. We were even given a complimentary glass of dessert wine. Overall, it was a very nice experience and we would return.

Had dinner yesterday and of couse it was a Saturday. Restaurant was very crowed but we got seated right away. Anyone that has to nerve to say that this is the best Greek around does not know what they are eatting. Every item was fresh but dull. And I mean dull. It was a complete disapointment .No attention was paid to the table and you had to try and grab a waiter and or bus boy for various articles that ere missing frolm the table. It took me 15 years to get there and frankly another 15 to go back.

My family and i have been attending periyali for over 15 years. Fore every anniversary, birthday or special occasion, we insist on returning. The staff is extaordinary and attends to every need. Their grilled octopus and their sweet breads have been on the menu forever and i coninuously order them, they are truly sensational. Fish is amazing there as well as all their lamb dishes. Greek food is hard to find in new york especially good authentic and gourmet greek, but periyali is the place to find it. And for desserts, their galaktumburako is incredible yet only made on saturday nights, you will never have any thing like it again. Its filo dough with an amazing custard and sweet filling in between the layers, periyali is a must.

Dined here for the first time last night, five of us celebrating a friend's birthday over dinner. We ordered off the restaurant week menu. Because I live around the block, I was excited to try Periyali and find somewhere to return frequently - this was NOT the case. First, my friend whose birthday we were celebrating called earlier to confirm reservations and was treated very rudely, an attitude continued throughout the night. We were seated at a small table which might as well have been in the kitchen (I will clarify that we were five attractive, professional women, so this was especially surprising). Our appetizers varied - the octopus was good, though small, and the portion of salad was generous though not anything special. I did, however, have a bone to pick with the "spanakopita" etc appetizer - it consisted of a three small bites which looked - and tasted - like they were straight out of a bag of frozen appetizers. Completely unacceptable for a restaurant of this caliber. Our main courses were good, not great, and there was certainly no innovation or thought put into the plating. No one informed us what the dessert du jour was, nor did we have a choice (as is provided by many other restaurants on their restaurant week menus). Instead, a small slice of syrupy honey cake was thrown in front of each one of us - it was disgustingly sweet and doused in syrup to the point of falling apart. The only garnish was a small strawberry. Overall, I was disappointed. Aside from the poor service, the majority of the food was disappointing. As was the fact that the line list is lacking and the seating was insulting. There are way too many fantastic restaurants - especially Greek ones - to waste time and considerable money at Periyali. Not recommended

We went for restaurant week lunch. I was blown away by how fresh and delicious the food was. It was one of the best meals I have had in a restaurant in a long while. I left full and happy, wanting to come back again at dinner with friends which I plan to do soon. The service was a tad reserved but efficient, would be my only complaint, however they were quite busy that day. Can't wait to try more cuisine here.

Went here for restaurant week and was happy with the food- but the service was probably one of the worst I have had in NYC. I was in a group of three waiting for a fourth- the very rude host told us that he would have to move us to another table because we didn't have a fourth person- even though we had ordered already! And what other table could you give three people besides a four person table??! On top of it, there were five empty tables and they rushed us through our meal only to leave us sitting for a half hour after we finished with our tea. They also tried taking away my dessert even though I was only half done and obviously still eating it.....in all, just a very strange experience- almost as if they were trying to kick out all the people who had signed up for restaurant week. The waiter even threw the bill on our table at the end....again, not sure what their problem was but I don't think they should do restaurant week anymore- they don't seem to appreciate the customers. I had been here before and would have gone back again if it wasn't for the lousy treatment last night. Restaurant Week Menu was also not worth it here- their most expensive entre was $27- go somewhere else.

A small Greek gem in Chelsea/Flatiron area. I usually go with whatever fish is fresh since they treat fish with great care and minimal fuss and it is always delicious. The service is friendly and the long narrow room is airy at lunchtime and cosy at night. Not cheap.