Pergola is a new and sexy dining experience in The Flatiron District (36 West 28th Street) that combines an excellent menu with a party atmosphere — and if you so desire, an extensive hookah tobacco menu, and a great mixology cocktail menu. It’s the perfect place for a large group to get together and be able to indulge in all sorts of fun in one place.
Executive Chef Nestor Moina brings his experience from Remi Restaurant and Nerai in Midtown to Pergola. The Ecuadorian born chef introduces a Mediterranean menu with influences from Greece, Turkey and across the Middle East. The stand out menu at Pergola features Small Plates like Cigars (lamb, chicken and vegetables wrapped in phyllo), Tabbouleh, Falafel Two Ways, and Hummus and Tzatziki. For the main dish I suggest the falafel crusted salmon, which is simply perfect for a pairing of traditional Mediterranean flavors.
After dinner, I chose the “Blue Mist” Hookah which came complete with a pineapple to give it extra flavor. It was a perfect way to relax after dinner. What I liked most about Pergola is that the hookah wasn’t placed on top of the table or seen as something you really had to do. It’s simply placed on the floor in an understated way so that you can relax and enjoy the hookah in a fun atmosphere.
As for the interior, this former flower show is now a multi-level 3, 700 square foot restaurant with an expansive glass exterior lets natural light into Pergola with green accents throughout, paying homage to the venue’s past. The interior design and greenery will change with each season as will the menu. The mezzanine level of Pergola features private seating for 40 in one area and 30 in the other respectively. There is also a 20-foot mixology bar for guests to sit at.
