We had a really great time here. It is probably the best Turkish/Mediterranean food in the area. Really fabulous kebab, hummus, falafel and baklava.Lots of good options on the menu without being overwhelming. The staff is happy to answer any questions.The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable with many well cushioned seating areas.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pita, Mediterranean, Falafel
Isis Latham
Loved the Pera Sampler so much that we returned the next day for another before leaving town.The Falafel is divine!Vegetarian options: Perfect selection for vegetarian and vegan.Dietary restrictions: Easily navigate this menu for a non dairy diet.
Small, local Mediterranean restaurant with excellent food. Alas, they appear to be understaffed, so wait times for food can be a bit long.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Philip M.
We really enjoyed our lunch at Pera. The food was very good, and it was all freshly made. The dip and pita portion was the standout. They make a dip, muhammara, with peppers and chilis that was excellent, and the hummus was also very good. The falafel was tasty, although it was a bit soft in the middle, as if it should have cooked a bit more. The potato borek was yummy. I believe it was fried, which surprised me. The place is cute and clean. The service was good. We were a bit surprised when we realized that our server was also our cook! We asked and he was short of help. We were impressed with how he handled it all. One small disappointment was that they were out of dolmas, which we were looking forward to. I'd go back if I was in the area. If you like this type of food, give it a try.
Rob Ouzounian
I was pleasantly surprised with every aspect of Pera Bistro. Carefully prepared dishes made with high quality ingredients and thoughtfulness. Larger then expected portions on appetizers and main courses. Warm and inviting dining area with just the kindest, most patient wait staff, who were more then accommodating when I informed them of my dairy allergy. It did take slightly longer then usual for the food to come out, but it didn't really matter since it was so cozy and relaxing in the dining room, and I'd rather have the kitchen take their time and cook with care. Drinks from the bar were also delightful and priced right. Really a lovely experience all around, and priced very fairly for the level of quality received. Looking forward to eating here in the future!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Pakman
The food here is about 3-. Nothing is GREAT and nothing is TERRIBLE, it's about what you would expect at a Mediterranean restaurant in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Unfortunately the vibe and service are ATROCIOUS.We went in for lunch, it wasn't particularly busy but it was mostly full, a sort of normal lunch situation. It took 15 minutes to get our menus. Then it took 15 more minutes to be able to order. Then it took over ONE HOUR to get our food. In the midst of all this, we were politely asking about our food's whereabouts, and clearly other patrons were also asking.All of a sudden, in a situation reminiscent of a scene from a movie, the sort of casual din of the conversation is interrupted by INSANE SCREAMING from the owner in the kitchen yelling at kitchen staff and waitstaff just out of the view of the dining room, echoing throughout the entire restaurant. The entire restaurant went silent in shock. We were horribly embarrassed for the owner and felt terribly for the waitstaff.
Aileen Hamerton
We stopped for a coffee & and chocolate cake. Great service and the cake was super delicious. We will definitely come back to this place for dinner ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patricia Vouzikas
Arrived @1:30 for lunch. No other diners for the entire time we were there. 1 waiter, who couldn't get the order correct - found it more important to stand around & chat up the female "hostest"! We asked for root beer were brought real beer, my coffee came Luke warm, saucer filled with coffee & no spoon! I ordered Pera salad and requested bread, my brother ordered the Norwegian salmon. My salad arrived quickly with a dish of toasted pita - not bread - useless to say anything! I finished my salad & We waited. Waiter continued to chat away with the hostess! I noticed the cook popped out & asked if he was going to pick up his order! He still continued chatting, he finally came over & asked if I was ready for my entree. I responded I had told you I was only having salad & the salmon was for the gentleman! He cleared my plate, and eventually brought out the salmon-Luke warm! This was by far the worst dining experience I've had at Pera - where we have been dining for years! Very disappointing- we shall NEVER go back!! Don't understand - are there new owners, is the owner away in Turkey, or what!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Nancy
I will say, we enjoyed the food and the young man who served us was delightful (great service in that sense). However, the owner is extremely unprofessional. He was rude, crabby, and completely ruined our experience here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Flatbread, Baklava
Carol J S
The food was....exquisite. Fresh, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. I had Norwegian salmon with wonderful accompanying sides...STILL thinking about the lemony potatoes. The waitstaff was amazing, we felt totally catered to. I only wish I lived closer to this wonderful restaurant ( came up for the weekend - primiarly for MASS MoCA - I live 3+ hours away) !
We wanted to eat here but it was closed on a Thursday morning.
Theresa Sloan
Oh my lord! BEST authentic turkish food I have had in America.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patrick Rooney
Okay where do I start. If you're a fan of Mediterranean food, Greek food in particular. If you've ever had Greek food from a lunch truck and enjoyed it. Then this is not the place for you. It touts itself as being traditional. I ordered a simple gyro platter It took a while to prepare So in the meantime we asked for appetizer order of hummus. This was the start of the concern about the meal. The hummus was served with very little pita bread relative to two people eating it. The hummus itself was incredibly bland It seemed to have been prepared with navy beans as opposed to chickpeas. The coloring was very much off bright orange instead of yellow. The flavor was incredibly bland no taste of garlic or salt, and it had been drenched in an olive oil that was incredibly bitter which took that much more away from the plate. And our meals were served. I was immediately disappointed. I'd asked for tzatziki sauce on the side and what I got was sour cream with a few chives in it. The same was ladled into the gyro. The gyro was constructed of commercially prepped meat strips that were either cold or overdone. There was a smattering of greens, a few pieces of onion and two or three pieces of sliced plum tomatoes. Trying to overcome my initial disappointment in the appearance alone I tasted it and was equally disappointed. I chose not to eat the meal and asked to return it. The waiter was stunned at my request and returned with who was either the chef or the owner / chef who proceeded to berate me for not understanding what quality Greek food was about. He challenged me on many concepts of his product. My point was that I didn't like what he had served and he took great offense to that. I am no novice to Mediterranean food Greek food I love it I've had many incredible experiences at some of the highest end and most modest restaurants in the country. So my understanding of what I expected was pretty clear. Once he realized I was not going to budge on his product he offered me a different item I accepted it. I was not going to get into any more of a disagreement with the man about the restaurant. I was brought a lamb kabob which was lamb chunks grilled and put in a pita I ate the lamb pieces and left the rest. Unfortunately my wife had less of an incident but the platter that she had ordered was a salad with grilled shrimp and that was actually returned for a similar condition where the shrimp was not properly cooked It was only half cooked and again bringing it to attention and asking him for it to be corrected. They took the plate away took the shrimp off the plate regrilled the same items and put them back on the same plate. It was not remade this in itself was a disastrous experience. All in all Pera Bistro must be depending on the ignorance of the areas clientele to support such quality of product. So, for me I would pass on the Pera Bistro if you are in the area. If you are walking down the hill " Walk on by" there are several very nice places to eat nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Pulaski Street
Excellent! Highly recommend. Solo traveler that walked in and immediately felt welcome. Food excellent. Service attentive. Place spotless. Owners cordial. Had an awesome dining experience. Will be back next time in Williamstown!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Kebab
Natasha Khavich
It is a nice place. Very pleasant atmosphere, great food and friendly
We had a really great time here. It is probably the best Turkish/Mediterranean food in the area. Really fabulous kebab, hummus, falafel and baklava.Lots of good options on the menu without being overwhelming. The staff is happy to answer any questions.The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable with many well cushioned seating areas.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pita, Mediterranean, Falafel
Loved the Pera Sampler so much that we returned the next day for another before leaving town.The Falafel is divine!Vegetarian options: Perfect selection for vegetarian and vegan.Dietary restrictions: Easily navigate this menu for a non dairy diet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pera Sampler, Hummus, Dolmades, Sample, Mediterranean
Small, local Mediterranean restaurant with excellent food. Alas, they appear to be understaffed, so wait times for food can be a bit long.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
We really enjoyed our lunch at Pera. The food was very good, and it was all freshly made. The dip and pita portion was the standout. They make a dip, muhammara, with peppers and chilis that was excellent, and the hummus was also very good. The falafel was tasty, although it was a bit soft in the middle, as if it should have cooked a bit more. The potato borek was yummy. I believe it was fried, which surprised me. The place is cute and clean. The service was good. We were a bit surprised when we realized that our server was also our cook! We asked and he was short of help. We were impressed with how he handled it all. One small disappointment was that they were out of dolmas, which we were looking forward to. I'd go back if I was in the area. If you like this type of food, give it a try.
I was pleasantly surprised with every aspect of Pera Bistro. Carefully prepared dishes made with high quality ingredients and thoughtfulness. Larger then expected portions on appetizers and main courses. Warm and inviting dining area with just the kindest, most patient wait staff, who were more then accommodating when I informed them of my dairy allergy. It did take slightly longer then usual for the food to come out, but it didn't really matter since it was so cozy and relaxing in the dining room, and I'd rather have the kitchen take their time and cook with care. Drinks from the bar were also delightful and priced right. Really a lovely experience all around, and priced very fairly for the level of quality received. Looking forward to eating here in the future!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food here is about 3-. Nothing is GREAT and nothing is TERRIBLE, it's about what you would expect at a Mediterranean restaurant in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Unfortunately the vibe and service are ATROCIOUS.We went in for lunch, it wasn't particularly busy but it was mostly full, a sort of normal lunch situation. It took 15 minutes to get our menus. Then it took 15 more minutes to be able to order. Then it took over ONE HOUR to get our food. In the midst of all this, we were politely asking about our food's whereabouts, and clearly other patrons were also asking.All of a sudden, in a situation reminiscent of a scene from a movie, the sort of casual din of the conversation is interrupted by INSANE SCREAMING from the owner in the kitchen yelling at kitchen staff and waitstaff just out of the view of the dining room, echoing throughout the entire restaurant. The entire restaurant went silent in shock. We were horribly embarrassed for the owner and felt terribly for the waitstaff.
We stopped for a coffee & and chocolate cake. Great service and the cake was super delicious. We will definitely come back to this place for dinner ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arrived @1:30 for lunch. No other diners for the entire time we were there. 1 waiter, who couldn't get the order correct - found it more important to stand around & chat up the female "hostest"! We asked for root beer were brought real beer, my coffee came Luke warm, saucer filled with coffee & no spoon! I ordered Pera salad and requested bread, my brother ordered the Norwegian salmon. My salad arrived quickly with a dish of toasted pita - not bread - useless to say anything! I finished my salad & We waited. Waiter continued to chat away with the hostess! I noticed the cook popped out & asked if he was going to pick up his order! He still continued chatting, he finally came over & asked if I was ready for my entree. I responded I had told you I was only having salad & the salmon was for the gentleman! He cleared my plate, and eventually brought out the salmon-Luke warm! This was by far the worst dining experience I've had at Pera - where we have been dining for years! Very disappointing- we shall NEVER go back!! Don't understand - are there new owners, is the owner away in Turkey, or what!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
I will say, we enjoyed the food and the young man who served us was delightful (great service in that sense). However, the owner is extremely unprofessional. He was rude, crabby, and completely ruined our experience here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Flatbread, Baklava
The food was....exquisite. Fresh, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. I had Norwegian salmon with wonderful accompanying sides...STILL thinking about the lemony potatoes. The waitstaff was amazing, we felt totally catered to. I only wish I lived closer to this wonderful restaurant ( came up for the weekend - primiarly for MASS MoCA - I live 3+ hours away) !
Restaurantji Recommends
We wanted to eat here but it was closed on a Thursday morning.
Oh my lord! BEST authentic turkish food I have had in America.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Okay where do I start. If you're a fan of Mediterranean food, Greek food in particular. If you've ever had Greek food from a lunch truck and enjoyed it. Then this is not the place for you. It touts itself as being traditional. I ordered a simple gyro platter It took a while to prepare So in the meantime we asked for appetizer order of hummus. This was the start of the concern about the meal. The hummus was served with very little pita bread relative to two people eating it. The hummus itself was incredibly bland It seemed to have been prepared with navy beans as opposed to chickpeas. The coloring was very much off bright orange instead of yellow. The flavor was incredibly bland no taste of garlic or salt, and it had been drenched in an olive oil that was incredibly bitter which took that much more away from the plate. And our meals were served. I was immediately disappointed. I'd asked for tzatziki sauce on the side and what I got was sour cream with a few chives in it. The same was ladled into the gyro. The gyro was constructed of commercially prepped meat strips that were either cold or overdone. There was a smattering of greens, a few pieces of onion and two or three pieces of sliced plum tomatoes. Trying to overcome my initial disappointment in the appearance alone I tasted it and was equally disappointed. I chose not to eat the meal and asked to return it. The waiter was stunned at my request and returned with who was either the chef or the owner / chef who proceeded to berate me for not understanding what quality Greek food was about. He challenged me on many concepts of his product. My point was that I didn't like what he had served and he took great offense to that. I am no novice to Mediterranean food Greek food I love it I've had many incredible experiences at some of the highest end and most modest restaurants in the country. So my understanding of what I expected was pretty clear. Once he realized I was not going to budge on his product he offered me a different item I accepted it. I was not going to get into any more of a disagreement with the man about the restaurant. I was brought a lamb kabob which was lamb chunks grilled and put in a pita I ate the lamb pieces and left the rest. Unfortunately my wife had less of an incident but the platter that she had ordered was a salad with grilled shrimp and that was actually returned for a similar condition where the shrimp was not properly cooked It was only half cooked and again bringing it to attention and asking him for it to be corrected. They took the plate away took the shrimp off the plate regrilled the same items and put them back on the same plate. It was not remade this in itself was a disastrous experience. All in all Pera Bistro must be depending on the ignorance of the areas clientele to support such quality of product. So, for me I would pass on the Pera Bistro if you are in the area. If you are walking down the hill " Walk on by" there are several very nice places to eat nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Excellent! Highly recommend. Solo traveler that walked in and immediately felt welcome. Food excellent. Service attentive. Place spotless. Owners cordial. Had an awesome dining experience. Will be back next time in Williamstown!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Kebab
It is a nice place. Very pleasant atmosphere, great food and friendly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5