Per Lei

Upon entering thsi place looks like a good pick. We sat outside and while the services was very slow and at times disorganized, the staff seemed nice enough. We had to flag our waiter down for things like another drink and to please refill our water. I had the scallops app. The scallops were way overcooked and rubbery, the mushrooms on the plate were drenched in oil and the huge pile of mixed greens in the middle were just plain. My husband had the fresh mozz app, which was the best part of the meal. My main was the gnocchi. Again, poorly cooked, didn't taste fresh, and was bland. The gnocchi from the local pizzeria down the street from my house is better. My husband had the goat riccotta cheese ravioli. Below average, unevenly cooked and tasted microwaved. Two drinks, two apps and to dinners was over $120. Not worth it, This meal wasn't even worth $50. Pros: outdoor seating Cons: food wasn't fresh or cooked properly, prices more

I've been to this restaurant numerous times for dinner and always found food good. Visited for brunch for first time recently and it will be my last. Service was terrible on an empty restaurant. The waiter brought us out the wrong orders and didn't bother to offer to redo it or offer a free drink, etc-- was more of a take it or leave it attitude. Basic eggs bendict took 30min to arrive w/out any appetizers and again w/ a empty restaurant. Overall very dissapointing experience. Pros: Struggling to find any these days Cons: Service & Brunch more

I had been to its sister restaurant Baroanda many times, but took a chance and stopped in Per Lei while my parents were in town. Wow! First of all the waitstaff is super nice and attentive. The paintings, color scheme and art-y feel is a great setting for the delicious and inventive menu. Each dish from appetizer to salad to entree and desert is presented almost a beautifully as it tastes! I will definitely not only be back for seconds, but I will recommend this spot to everyone I know in the UES and throughout Manhattan. Pros: The food, the wine list, the cocktails Cons: I eventually got full! more

I've never written a bad review for any restaurant or bar. I've never understood how people find the time to do so, and why it matters to them that much. But I just returned home from a dinner with my girlfriends at Per Lei and I couldn't stop telling my husband about the incredibly rude staff and management. I need to write this. Our reservation was at 7:30. Three of us arrived at 7:35, and the fourth at 7:40. We even ordered wine prior to the fourth getting there so this didn't delay us at all. By 8:45, our plates of food were being taken away (without having finished), one us ordered another glass of wine and was told she'd have to "drink it fast" and then we were told we could have no dessert. There was a table of 15 who needed to be seated where we were. Our bill was over $300 (before tip) and we were expected to be in and out in under 1.5 hours. Unreal. more

I just arrived from Italy 4 years ago, to study/work in America. I came understanding much English. I went to PER LEI, recently, with 2 of my friends from America. As an Italian citizen, I have to say, this restaurant has some of the WORST cuisine I have ever tasted. I am a 28 year old female, who, obviously, speaks Italian fluently. The wait staff likes to speak Italian behind the customers' shoulders. All of the comments are usually negative or inappropriate. PLEASE do not be fooled by smiles, the entire restaurant was extremely rude, and all of the new york people who were customers, had no idea what they were saying. I felt very sad for them. I also did not like to be force to buy expensive wine. My food arrived at the table very quickly, and the waiter tried to make me leave quickly. My first plate was not fresh and my dinner, (second plate), of meat was dry. PER LEI is not authentic MILANESE food, IT IS NOT ORIGINALE. It borrows food from south Italia and mixes it with northern Italian food. PER LEI is also too expensive for the terrible food. I don't even know if there is a chef working at PER LEI...where did he go to school to learn to cook? I think the cook is a just a dish washer.... THe only Italian you can hear is from the staff who is offending you!!! PER LEI is not fun at all, AND NO REAL ITALIAN PERSON, FROM ITALY, WILL ENJOY THE RESTAURANT. Pros: ART IS NOT BAD AT ALL Cons: EVERYTHING ELSE more

I Went for dinner at Per Lei a few times, from the opening till about a week ago, and every time I go i can just notice how this place is going terribly down. My last experience was terrible with the manager trying to sell me the bottle of wine he thought was perfect for me (over $300) instead of my usual 45$ bottle, the food was ok but unfortunally it never taste the same and the service it's always a lottery, I Believe few of the servers still there from a very long time, otherwise you have to deal with someone new that does not know anything about the menu... Drink at the bar? NO THANKS! Pros: Nice paintings! Cons: Bad place! more

THE PLACE IS COOL ,FRIENDLY AND THE VERY,VERY GOOD.THIS GIARDINOITALIANO GUY HAS NO CLUE AND MAYBE NEEDS TO GO AROUND A BIT MORE IN RESTAURANTS AND NOT DINERS,SO I WILL LEARN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO. WE LOVE PER LEI WE GO ONCE A WEEK AND IS ALWAYS GREAT.TO ALL THE FRIENDS OUT THERE YOU SHOULD GO TO THIS PLEASE. Pros: FRIENDLY AND FESTIVE Cons: NONE more

I have tried hard to remain positive about Per Lei. I was there in the very beginning and have returned often. The food is occasionally good, never excellent and varies from chef to chef. This is the heart of my issues INCONSISTENCY...the management is at best unprofessional and can be insulting. Too often good customers are ignored to favor the look alikes from "The Soprano's". There is nothing wrong with an older man dating a young woman, except when the woman is clearly a professional escort and very obvious. It makes for an uncomfortable evening with a date when this kind of atmosphere is encouraged by management. There have been many changes in staff which makes loyality difficult. Just when you find a good waiter and he/she gets to know your needs, they disappear. Getting drinks is a painful experience, it takes forever. This has never improved. When you are on a first date, eating at Per Lei makes your decision process look very uninformed. Definitely not a cool impression! My last meal at Per Lei was last week, I will never go again and I intend to share my impressions with my friends. NYC has too many options. We need not accept this type of experience. Pros: Location Cons: Rude managers and inconsistent food more

This restaurant is by far MY FAVORITE in manhattan. I go there for dinner at least once a week ,and every time i go at per lei i feel iam having dinner with my family.I tell all my friends about thi place ,and i know they will thank me later Pros: like a big family more

The other day me and my girlfrend went for a walk around 5pm,the sun was out and we saw PER LEI we asked one of the waiter at what time the restaurant opened for dinner ,the waiter was very nice and asked us to sit down if we wanted too and said "i will be wuth you in 2 minutes.with in ten minutes the place was almost full.we had a very nice meal and they told us to go back on thursday night for PARTY NIGHT.We had lots of fun and the food is excellent,we told many frends of ours about this place we will for sure go back very soon. Pros: great outdoor seating more

me and few frends went to this place by mistake and we are very pleased that we made this mistake,because we found an amazing restaurant.All the people in this place seamed to have lots of fun, everybody was speaking Italian and that made a beautiful backround noice.we will make a point to go back.Two thumbs up for PER LEI. Pros: overall a great place Cons: to small more

i went to per lei yeasterday for the first time ,i just moved to this area from las vegas,i was impressed with this place .every body was having fun the outdoor seating and the inside restaurant was full but the owner came to get me and promised me that he would seat me in 5 minutes.the food is very good and the workers are super friendly,i feld like i was in ITALY and more important at home .just loved it .MUST GO BACK Pros: super friendly people Cons: cant thing of anything more

this place is the perfect restaurant,the menu very different form the usual italian restaurant,the decor is very colorfull and the service very attentive but not over-powering.our waiter gave us very good suggestions and than sent us the maitre d' to raccomend us some wine .the experience was great could not be better.amezing plus to the UES. Pros: good different Cons: none more

Wow I was so surprised. Usually trendy places lack good food for more decor and atmosphere, But Per Lei had it all! The management and waiter were soooo nice. Really cool low key spot on the Upper East Side. One of the top five Tiramisu's Ive had in this city. Pros: location, good wine list Cons: a little small more

the ambiance at per lei is very freindly the food not the traditional italian one but e very surpricing one love the decor the food and the service. at time a little pricy , but if you are having fun ,thats ok.love it, will be back. Pros: very cool place more

i always eat what the waiter raccomends,at per lei i had the best artichokes ever, thanks to my waiter but also all of my table was very pleased with the food they choose,the orata was very fresh and ligth,we also had cheese cake,also very good.the ambiance is very pleasent .two thumbs up Pros: very modern place more

I WENT TO THIS PLACE LAST WEEK AND I WAS VERY SURPRICED TO SEE THIS PLACE FULL OF PEOPLE AT ALMOST MIDNIGHT .NOT A NORMAL THING ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE,WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND WE MET SO MANY NICE PEOPLE WE WILL GO BACK FOR SURE.GREAT AMBIANCE AND THE FOOD LOOKED GOOD ALSO. Pros: FUN ,FRIENDLY PLACE more

I was extremely impressed when I met a friend at Per Lei last night. The service was exceptional and the food even better. Please order the carciofi (artichoke) cooked roman style. I was hesitant to eat the entire antipasti as I had also ordered a pasta and an entree but I could not resist. The pasta with tuna and olives was prepared as ordered (al dente) and there were many large chunks of fresh tuna. My entree was the braised cornish hen which was cooked to perfection paired with a wonderful risotto. The staff is extremely courteous and cordial. They want you to enjoy the experience which includes an ambience similar to a modern art gallery. I have lived in NYC and the outer boroughs and this is not your "Brooklyn Italian red-sauce joint." Enjoy! more

I WENT TO PER LEI FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SPRING OF 2006 THE PLACE WAS NOT TO BUSY ,THE FOOD WAS AVARAGE AND THE SERVICE WAS FRIENDLY, BUT THE FOOD WAS A LITTLE TO EXPENSIVE FOR MY TASTE.DURING THE HOLIDAY A FRIEND OF MINE INVITED ME TO HER B.DAY PARTY AND I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS PLACE SO BUSY,THIS TIME MY FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE,THE SERVICE VERY PROFESSIONAL ,BUT NOT ONLY ON OUR TABLE IT FELT LIKE THE ALL RESTAURANT WAS A BIG PARTY.EVERY BODY WAS KISSING EVERYBODY THE OWNER SENT US COMPLIMENTARY ITALIAN CHAMPAGNE THAN HE TURNED THE MUSIC UP AND EVERYBODY WAS DANCING,WE DID NOT WANTED TO GO HOME. I HAVE SEEN MANY PLACES GO IN AND OUT IN THAT LOCATION,THIS ONE WILL STAY FOR LONG TIME.I WAS AT PER LEI AGAIN LAST NIGHT AND I HAD NO RESERVATION THE PLACE WAS JAMMED THE OWNER SENT ME A BRUSCETTA AND SAID TO ME "2MINUTES AND I WILL HAVE A NICE TABLE FOR YOU " THAT MADE ME FEEL AT HOME.PER LEI GREAT PLUS FOR THE COMUNITY Pros: SUPER PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE,INCREDIBLY FRIENDLY Cons: A TIME LITTLE PRICY BUT WORTH IT more

MY SISTER WENT TO PER LEI FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST FRIDAY AND SHE DID NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS PLACE,ABOUT ALL THE PAINTINGS OF DIFFERENT MODELS ON THE WALLS ,THE FOOD AND EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE ARE ALL ATTRACTIVE.I HAD TO GO AND SEE FOR MYSELF , I WENT TO PER LEI WITH TWO OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE AND I WAS ALSO IMPRESSED ABOUT THE PLACE, WE MET SOME VERY NICE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE NEXT TO US ,I BELIEVE THEY MUST FREQUENT THAT PLACE OFTEN BECAUSE THEY CALLED EVERY BODY BY THEYR NAME.THEY GAVE US SOME SUGGESTIONS AND WE ORDER EVERYTHING .LET ME TELL FROM THE CALAMARI, TO THE ARTICHOKES,TO THE BUFFALO MUZZARELLA,SPAG WITH THE LOBSTER AND THE BREADED VEAL CHOP ALL SUPERB.OUR SERVER WAS VERY ATTENTIVE AND ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE NEDDED SOMETHING.WE HAD A BLAST WE WILL RACCOMEND THIS PLACE TO MANY PEOPLE A GREAT PLUS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Pros: TWO THUMBS UP FOR SERVICE AND FOOD Cons: LITTLE SMALL more