Pera Expands to New York City's Soho

October 1, 2011
Written by Admin TOA
Published in Businessman

Pera Mediterranean Brasserie, the stylish midtown Manhattan boite, serving New York City's most exciting Eastern Mediterranean cuisine since November 2006, will open a downtown outpost at 54 Thompson this November. Located at the corner of Broome Street, Pera Soho will occupy a 3,000-square foot space bathed in natural light from two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, one of which will overlook the 2,000-square foot garden, slated to open for outdoor dining during spring 2012. While Pera Soho's menu and design will incorporate some of the stylish signature elements of the original restaurant, both will draw inspiration from the chic, energetic vibe of the neighborhood. The kitchen will be overseen by the Turkish / American team of Metin Calisir and Nathan Crouser, whose authentic Eastern Mediterranean preparations are complemented by dishes infused with New York City culinary flare.

Pera Soho will seat 105 inside, between the expansive bar / lounge and dining area. The latter's ingenuous configuration will afford three spaces equally suited to a la carte and private dining. (Pera Soho's access to its building's stunning roof deck will accommodate another 50 for al fresco private events.) DYAMI Architects is the designer, working in close concert with owner Burak Karacam, who was primarily responsible for Pera midtown's smart, much lauded decor.

While Pera Soho will be the second bricks-and-mortar restaurant for the Istanbul-born, Harvard Business School graduate, it is Karacam's fourth food service venture. He has a line of Pera-branded Mediterranean meats sold online and at retail (cited as one of 2009's Best 50 Ideas by Restaurant Business), as well as the celebrated Pera Turkish Tacos food truck, situated at Tavern on the Green since last October.

"The further expansion of the Pera brand with another restaurant has been in the cards for a long time, before the national launch of the products or that of the food truck. But I was very particular about its location and the attributes of it, one of my "musts" being outdoor space given its prevalence for dining across the Mediterranean. I was willing to wait until I could identify the absolutely right site for the second Pera. At the Thompson Street site I found it," enthuses Karacam.

Last modified onSaturday, 06 May 2017 10:07

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