Insider Pages Reviews for Pasha Turkish Restaurant

5 Stars: hospitable employees. yikesss!!!! (by luckiestman)

luckiestman — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Pasha? I love Pasha restaurant. You can easily discover how Turkish hospitability is in there. So far I have dated 3 Turkish ladies from Pasha, and they really knew how to make people ?happy?. Besides food and service is fantabulous. You will never forget?

5 Stars: SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!! (by oceanblue99)

oceanblue99 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

You cannot say that you've had Turkish food unless you've made a stop at Pasha. We started with artichoke hearts and lamb dumplings in yogurt sauce wich were very delicious! All of the meat, including the yogurt kebab, was fresh and tasty. They had a pretty reasonable wine list too. The service is excellent-our server was a very charming young Turk, who was very attentive to our requests. He was very knowledgeable about Turkish food and very fun to talk with. Well, worth trying out. Note:if you are really hungry be sure to order an app.

2 Stars: Beautiful Decor (by UpWest132)

UpWest132 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Not wanting to travel far, I took my wife to this little restaurant because it was conveniently located just a few blocks from our house.
The food was excellent however the service was really bad. Our waiter seemed more interested in the party of ten (10) seated in the middle of the restaurant. He only came over once during our entire meal and that exchange consisted of a quick "Everything O.K?" without even waiting for a reply. We had to wait to order our food, wait for a glass of water and even wait for our check. Now I know why we passed this restaurant by all these years.

1 Stars: Good food but "Crappy waiters" (by Goldman)

Goldman — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Right after my last visit to Pasha I decided to write this comment down because I can't take waiter's nasty manners anymore. I don't usually write comments about restaurants in internet however the last straw pushed me to do this. Whenever I go to this restaurant waiters come to the table and talk like a robot without smiling and with a frown face.Besides every question I asked them make them angry and grouchy as if I don't have the right to ask questions about dishes on the menu. These incidents happen to me every saturday night I know it is the busiest day of the week but we don't deserve to get treated like animals. I guess due to my slight German accent lead them to add 18% gratuity on my check without asking. My attempts to talk to the boss or the manager prevented by these Turkish waiters.

3 Stars: Good food, mediocre service (by xilonic)

xilonic — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Great Turkish food, almost everything we tried was delicious. Ambiance is pleasant and relaxing. Portions are somewhat small however quality is high. Service is mediocre: our server was always away, instead the busboy was reluctantly handling our requests. We had to ask twice for a change of plates and another dish to order.

4 Stars: Oops - I rated the wrong establishment (by tybi2008)

tybi2008 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:00:00 GMT

THIS REVIEW WAS MEANT FOR PASHA THE NIGHTCLUB.

Very fun place to dance. Wish the crowd was hotter and less "greasy" but otherwise a very fun night that ran into the morning.

5 Stars: Great Dinner Date (by DrinkingupNYC)

DrinkingupNYC — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I was taken here over the weekend for a date and I have to say that this is a really great restaurant. The food was really good and the atmosphere was really relaxing and intimate. I had some crazy chicken dish with a name that i cannot prenounce and my date had fish that he seemed to really enjoy. Everything on a whole was terrific. Will definitely return

5 Stars: Very very good. Great lamb dishes. (by barbara0123)

barbara0123 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

This side street restaurant is one of the best on upper west side. They have very good lamb dishes. Hunkar
begndi is one of them which is my favorite. Cubes of braised lamb over eggplant puree, very delicious.
Other must have at this restaurant is Manti, little lamb dumplings with yogurt. Great place with very friendly and genuine stuff. Everyone , manager, hostess, waiters and buspeople great you with big smile and make you feel like you are Sultan. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a great dining experience.

3 Stars: Not great, not bad (by bullensign)

bullensign — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The decor in this Upper West Side Turkish "brassiere" was nice, relaxing and a great environment to dine. We had a great corner table and the server seemed very nice. However, he didn't know too much about the Turkish wine we ordered, though he did say it was close to the taste of a Pinot Noir, which, in fact, it was. I was impressed with the wine and it was only $54. It was a 2004 Kavaklidere. There were other wines similar to a Bordeaux for about $34. For the level of quality and given it was sold at a restaurant, I thought the price was reasonable for the bottle. I ordered the lamb shank which was not that impressive. It was not as tender as I had expected, I was looking for a texture similar to an Oso Buco. The eggplant appetizer was a puree, again not expected, and it have the texture or the flavors I expected. The yogurt lamb was fanatastic and would recommend it over the shank. The grilled eggplant was cooked to perfection that accompanied my shank. The highlight of the evening was the baklava with whipped cream. This was truly the best baklava I've ever had. It was not as sweet as most baklavas and had great balance of nuts and honey. Texture was perfect. I'd go back just for that. The Turkish coffee is made in a machine and not made in the traditional "gizvit", which lent to a blander flavor. The prices are very, very reasonable with entrees generally under $20. Not a hip and young foodie crowd, most of the patrons much older than I had expected which lends me to believe that this restaurant had been serving good food for a while and it's not a fly by night trendy place that will vanish after the current food craze is over. Overall, not terribly impressed but impressed enough to go back if I have a craving for grilled lamb or chicken. For great lamb or chicken, I still think the food stand on 6th and 53rd is the best in Manhattan. And for the money ($5), you'll get more flavors and food than you expect.

5 Stars: Great, but why do they play spanish music (by nancybe)

nancybe — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I love this restaurant very much. They have great food, excellent and friendly service, very good cozy place, and very good looking men. One thing that I do not like and do not understand why the hell do they play Spanish music. It's a Turkish restaurant after all. I would even understand lounge or english music but not Spanish. Please stop Salsa music at this great place.

5 Stars: Outstanding service-even for large groups. (by kathrynkoonce)

kathrynkoonce — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

We held a work event there with over 20 people. We didn't have a final head count until the last minute and they were very relaxed and accommodating about this. We felt as if we had our own wait staff. We never had to ask for anything-they always seemed to be there with water, more bread and wine. The service was outstanding, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. Everyone had a fantastic time-and didn't want to go home! I never write reviews but feel Pasha deserves the highest recommendation!

5 Stars: Very Good (by pamela777)

pamela777 — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I love this restaurant for few reasons. Very good food, very good & friendly service, and very attractive atmosphere. And you get all this with very reasonable price. One more thing, attractive people at the door. ;)

3 Stars: best staff,best manti and baklava (by enfs)

enfs — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I have been at Pasha 2 times and never get regret.The first time was on Saturday,it was so busy we were be waited at the door for a while but when we sat and got the Manti , forgat all our long waiting time.The second time was on Tuesday ,it was the best time , not so crowded ,we were seated at the best table by pretty Turkish girl who has the greatest smile I have ever seen . Waiters are so kind and friendly ,You must make reservation ;otherwise you can wait at the door, but weekdays are the best .non waiting,the best welcomed and food.I will be there next wednesday and try tavuk gosu kablama and kaskul .

4 Stars: Dependable Turkish Restaurant on the Upper West Side (by asommelier)

asommelier — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I've been to Pasha on several occassions and while the service is sometimes uneven, the food has been consistently good and satisfying. I've had the chicken stuffed with pistachios (?) and some of their lamb dishes. The desserts are very good and of course I recommend the Baklava. The wine list is decent (not the best) but it works. The waitstaff is generally friendly but needs more polishing. Please don't get me wrong, they are not rude in any way, but there are moments when they seem to rush in between courses and can't wait to take that plate away from you. They have a nice bar upfront that may be a good setting for cocktails/drinks even if you don't decide to eat there.

5 Stars: Romantic atmosphere and excellent food !! (by lila2000)

lila2000 — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

This restaurant envelops you into a warm and exotic atmosphere the minute you walk through the door. You feel as if you are no longer in NYC and have been transported to Istanbul. The staff are well versed on the offerings and extremely attentive. All this combined with exquisetly prepared and presented food works well to create a wonderful dining experince. I highly recommend this restaurant.

1 Stars: avoid it by any means (by mwe)

mwe — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

as long time resident of the west side , i wanted to try this restaurant with 2 of my friends visiting from LA on a friday night.The whole nightmare started the moment we walked in .There
was no one at the door to greet and seat us , as i was trying to see if anyone can help us to seat , a middle eastern looking man with a thick 5 o'clock shadow came up to the front ,without a smile or saying hi, grabbed some menus and seated us .When i asked for a different table than the one we had been seated , he came back with the biggest attitude ,reluctant to give us an other table although the restaurant was empty.Since it was our first experience with this cuisine , i asked for some recommendations from our waiter .First he showed no interest in telling us a little bit about the dishes then, he pointed out a few of his favorite ones .As i was ordering my food , i asked a few questions about the wine list ; boy had no clue !!! Not only had he lack of english ,he didnt know anything about the turkish wines they serve at all!!!
The last straw on the camel's back was the little mickey m-ice we all saw peeking at us around the corner by the flowers in the main dining room.By that time i had already made up my mind that i wasnt going to stick around for dessert.Even though it took more than 10 minutes to get my waiter's attention to get the check ,we were finally out of this place and I AM NEVER GOING BACK!!! if you are smart , you would do the same

5 Stars: Great pre-fixed menu, decent service, great food. Attractive decor, intimate setting (by ayris)

ayris — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Went here on a lazy Sat afternoon looking for a place to have lunch. We checked out other restaurant menus along the way, but wanted to go somewhere we could sit outside w/o being in a high traffic environment.

Service was pleasant enough and got what we needed.

What was fantastic was the food. It was served promptly on cute clay dishes, though some were chipped it just added to the rustic feel. All three of us ordered the pre-fixed, shared a bottle of wine, and enjoyed this fantastic meal for $130 including tip! For three people to get a very tasty three course meal that offered a variety of (choice of salads, hummus...etc. for apps and different types of chicken, lamb or fish as entrees) options, it was a great deal. The portions were just right and I didn't feel hungry or overwhelmed by meal.

In addition to the food, I really liked the setting. When you walk in, there is a dimly lit bar that leads to another room. It felt like you walked into someone' livingroom. It was great catching up with my girlfriends over a nice meal, a good bottle of wine, in a setting where it wasn't noisy, we weren't rushed, and had a chance to enjoy the sun w/o all the sidewalk traffic. This is nice for a small group, but do not recommend for groups over 4. The outdoor terrace will not accomodate.

4 Stars: Worth the price any day! (by msschecter)

msschecter — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I discovered Pasha several months ago with a friend and we have gone almost weekly except during the summer. We LOVE the food, expecially the Menti, calamari and the baby lamb chops are to die for. Our favorite waiter Edu is a doll, very attentive and friendly (and cute too). We've tried a few others but keep going back to Pasha.

2 Stars: Food is ok (by tonynyc01)

tonynyc01 — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I like Turkish Food.
This my first time at Pasha. Food not great but its ok. But Service was terrible, Very slow.
And price is over value for two persons dinner $ 90 ...?

5 Stars: Very Good Food and Very Good Service (by markrovr)

markrovr — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I moved to upper west side 2 years ago, but I have discovered this lovely place only 2 weeks ago.
I took 3 of my friends there 2 weeks ago.We all loved it. What a perfect experience we had. We had that appetizer called "menti" little dumlings with ground lamb in creamy yogurt sauce is die for. And the calamari is absolutely best in the city, very tender and tasty. And main courses cubes of lamb over eggplant puree and chicken breast with stuffed special rice are super delicious. And last but not least all the people who work there are very good looking and very very friendly, they were always smiling and gave us a great service. And the bar area is very attractive. I will go back there again and again.

P.S. Review before this made me laugh a little. I know that greeks do not get along with Turks but it is kind of funny to write a review about Turkish restaurant and recommend a Greek restaurant around just the corner.

5 Stars: Very Worth It (by mangle)

mangle — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Living near Chelsea, getting to this restaurant is quite a hike for me. But after trying it, I'd say I'd go back again in a heartbeat. We went on a Monday night, the restaurant was filled but not overcrowded and not noisy. Service was very attentive. Decor is very comfortable and fits the Turkish theme. Food was excellent. I don't remember the turkish names but there's a cold appetiser made of thumb-sized dumplings stuffed with a bit of minced meat and served with a tangy, creamy sauce, and there's a main course that's minced chicken meat reformed into a kebab and grilled, served with yellow rice. These 2 dishes are very very very delicious.

3 Stars: Okay. (by jason_d)

jason_d — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

This place is average compared to the other turkish restaurants I have visited. The food is not bad, I would say just below average for the price. The service was good, but I just did not feel a welcomed atmosphere.

5 Stars: Delicious and unpretentious (by jzderf)

jzderf — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

It can get a little crowded, but its worth the wait. Big bold turkish flavors in a comfortable environment. Def. make reservations.

4 Stars: If you like lamb, you'll love Pasha (by kipdynamite)

kipdynamite — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

A large group and I went to Pasha for the first time this past Saturday night. It's not often that everybody in the group is completely satisfied, let alone estatic about their meals. However, everybody loved Pasha. The atmosphere was great, the service was exceptional, and most importantly, the meal was exquisite. I highly recommend any lamb dish, especially the grilled baby lamb chops. Also, try the bakalva for dessert. You'll be pleased...Just remember to make reservations.

5 Stars: Fabulous! (by nyc81)

nyc81 — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Some friends recommended we try this place, and even though we'd neevr had Turkish food before, we thought we'd give it a try. It was fabulous! Everything--the ambiance, waiting staff, fellow dinners, and of course the food was superb. I now crave Turkish food at least once a week. A must try!!

5 Stars: Great Restaurant (by deloni)

deloni — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I never write on web sites like this but I have to write about Pasha...
What a beautiful night I had there with my girlfriend last week there...
I had the best meal and service.. and I feel like I made new friens and they are Turkish.
They are very polite, smart and fun.. Manager made us feel so comfortable that we felt like we've been here hundreds of times.. We have decided with my GF that we will be regulars at Pasha.

5 Stars: Superb Turkish Cousine (by xmena)

xmena — Sat, 14 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Went there last night (Friday, may 13) with three of my girlfriends. Got there at 9:30, a bit of a wait at the door. The manager were friendly and let us in pretty fast. As soon as we got in, we were greeted by friendly staff. We walked into a very intimate restauran's lounge with amazing house music playing.The wine and the ambient was better then most lounges serve and the layout and decor were so comfy and swank at the same time! And the food was absolutely superb and the snorkeling out
of this world :)

1 Stars: you are better off with McDonalds (by skforce)

skforce — Thu, 05 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Went there last night . Awful food, the appetizers were cold as if they just serve it right from the fridge. The food is served like a "Fast Food Restaurant" killing the entire ambience. The decor and ambience is perfect but what a shame.
The manager had a chip on his shoulder as if he is Commander of the ship and everyone else was at his disposal.

5 Stars: Great... (by nishum45)

nishum45 — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

What I great place to dine or hang out. I had great experince at pasha last week. We had dinner in the main dinning room and hang out at the bar area. Great food great and frindly service. I can not believe they have been here almost 8 years and I have just discovered it.
If you want good food and friendly service GO TO PASHA. and thank me later.

5 Stars: amazing (by morena121)

morena121 — Tue, 18 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

First of all food is unrealisticly good. If you do want to be addicted to any food in your life do not order MANTI or you will be. If you like cozy places this is a place to go. try to sit in the front room or the laounge area. And one last thing forget all the bad things you heard about turkish people I think they are the most frienly, beautiful,handsome,kind and intelligent people. If you go there you will have new friends and a place to hang out as confortable as your home...

5 Stars: Excellent (by st2047)

st2047 — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I went to Pasha last night for a special celebration. The atmosphere was great: it reminded me of several upscale restaurnats in Turkey. The prices were very affordable ($6-9 for an appetizer and $13-19 for a main course). I found it to be a very romantic place. Yogurt lamb was fabulous, as well as apricot dessert.

5 Stars: Great Turkish Food (by nyc245)

nyc245 — Fri, 05 Dec 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Loved the food. Loved the decor. Great place for a quiet dinner on the upper west side.

5 Stars: One of the Best on the Upper West Side (by discerningdiner888)

discerningdiner888 — Sat, 22 Nov 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Pasha has excellent service and food and has good ambience and is very good value. Secure a table in the well-decorated lounge area and order off the main menu. The waiters have good recommendations. Pasha is a fave not only of me, but of several Upper West Side friends of mine.

3 Stars: Overrated (by hegle)

hegle — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 02:00:00 GMT

I think that although not a bad choice, this place lacks anything special. The lamb pieces were dry (maybe the lamb chop is better) and the fish was fresh but boring and watch out for the bones. At least the calamari was tender, but the main dishes are nothing to get excited about.

5 Stars: very good (by jambolaya)

jambolaya — Thu, 26 Jun 2003 02:00:00 GMT

I would recommend this place to anyone. It was a really nice atmosphere, good service, and delicious food. Not expensive either. Dinner for four with 3 glasses of wine was $150. Good value. We showed up late for our reservation (But we called to say we would be late) and they were really nice and accomodating even though it was crowded.

4 Stars: try turkuaz instead (by lotsanivanh)

lotsanivanh — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

i was not terribly impressed with pasha and having gone to turkuaz prior to, i definitely have to say that turkuaz is better for food, ambience, service and value. pasha is overrated and for the price not a good value. the service is so efficient that i was in and out the door within 20minutes when i went for dinner with a friend, which is almost ridiculous when dining out should be made more enjoyable. to say the least, i do not plan on going back again.

5 Stars: A great Middle Eastern experience (by shushana)

shushana — Wed, 15 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

As an Armenian, I was hesitant to visit a Turkish restaurant (check your history). Despite this, I proceeded to this highly-rated destination. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the service and tastiness of the cuisine. Although the wait staff is slightly less than perfect, they aim to please, and are very accessable. For the food: the appetizers were delicious (you must try the hummus and grape leaves), and the Chicken Kebobs were the most tender and tasty chicken I have had in a long time...simply perfect! The desert was similarly wonderful. I spoke with the manager who is gracious, courteous, and generous. This is a true gem in the West Side of Manhattan.

5 Stars: best deal and good food (by masada)

masada — Sat, 09 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

real turkish food,chef and workers are cool..i try couple time food always good ..i recommend it