Perilla

On the eve of Perilla closing, I realized I never left a review. I originally picked this place because I’m a big Top Chef fan. Over six years my boyfriend-​then-​fiancé-​now husband celebrated anniversaries and birthdays here over wonderful meals.
As I write this, my favorite song of all time is playing. We’ll miss you Perilla!

Tonight’s meal was bittersweet: like my previous encounter at Perilla, every morsel was scrumptious and the service was outstanding. However, Perilla is closing this week which means I won’t get to relive the joy-​filled experience of dining here again. I bid adieu to Perilla with a very full and very happy belly. Thanks for the delicious grub and warm memories!

Say it ain’t so. Someone please tell me it isn’t so. He is closing both of his restaurants?!
Perilla was one of the very few restaurants in this city that blew me away with truly good cooking. I remember going the first time after months of pretty bad meals around the city. I am so upset to hear it will be closing by the end of the year. It is terrible what is happening in this city — the raising rents, higher costs on everything, restaurants having trouble making profits and so many new restaurants now being all about the scene and delivering nothing more than average cooking.
This was one chef who got it right and this is one tough business to be in. I wish Harold and his partner the best of luck. I’ll be sure to return before they close (or hopefully by some miracle it stays open. Heck, I’ll offer to help run the place free of charge!)

I cannot stop coming here when I come to New York. Their menu changes by the season. It is small place in West Village. One of their specialties are spicy duck meatballs. I also like the duck breast, In this ocassion, we ordered the farro rissoto which was excellent.

Lapin and I read good things about this restaurant and thought we should give it a try. We originally had reservation for 6pm, but when they called to confirm the day before I asked if we could come around 5:30pm (which online it said it was the opening time — I guess not everything on the internet is true) instead and the lady said that should be fine. When, we got there around 5:30pm, we were told the restaurant which was empty would not be serving dinner until 6pm and we had to wait outside as we could not wait at the bar. We ended up walking around and visiting some small shops. We came back around 6:02pm and there was a good amount of people already seated and have already ordered while drinking cocktails. (45% capacity). Lapin said let it go, but it seemed annoying that if they were going to let people in before 6pm, why did they make us leave only to come right back.
Our waiter was super nice. He was very friendly and engaging. He gave a couple of recommendations on what to get depending on what we liked. I ordered the Grilled Branzino ($ 28) and Lapin got the daily special which was a pan roasted halibut with rice gumbo, fried okra, shisito peppers, bacon and dandelion greens (I believe his was around $ 30-​$ 35). Both entrees were flavorful, delicious, and plated wonderfully. My only qualm was the portions were bit on the smaller side. We also ordered some sparkling wine ($ 15) which was just okay but we wouldn’t get it again. Our server was busy and the woman server, well she was mostly standing in the corner staring out of space. When she took our plates, she asked are we having more food or if that was it. I didn’t even know how to respond to that question. I just repeated our dessert order.
We ordered Kinako Glazed Doughnuts ($ 10) which came with two tiny donuts. They were roughly the size of munchkins. They were gone in one bite. Definitely not worth it. They were accompanied by a couple tiny drops of plum jam, shiso, and toasted rice sauce — did not warrant the high price tag of two regular munchkins. When we asked for the check, our waiter did bring two chocolate caramel thumbprint (they were the size of a US quarter) cookies. They were a bit dry but good especially since they were free. I assumed everyone got them because as soon as paid the bill we left as we were still hungry afterwards. It’s a nice restaurant maybe for a treat as the food was good but the portion sizes just left us wanting more.

I came here during the tail-​end of restaurant week hoping to try out a fancy restaurant for a great value. I am definitely glad for my roommate’s choice of this restaurant and had an amazing dinner for a decent price. The dining room was intimate and cozy and the service was attentive. The food is not fussy, with clean, delicious flavors.
Food: for the appetizer, I ordered the stuffed peppers and they were delightful. The peppers were soft and the filling was flavorful and filling. The light tomato sauce that the peppers are placed on top of perfectly rounded out the flavors of the dish. For entrée, I ordered the Branzino on a bed of wild rice pilaf. The fish was so flaky and juicy with a crispy skin on top. The rice was also cooked very well and was very flavorful. The plate presentation was artful but not over the top. The highlight of the meal for me though was the dessert. I ordered the chocolate soufflé and it was the best soufflé I’ve ever had in my life. The soufflé was fluffy and light with a rich chocolate-​y middle. The accompanying caramel sauce was sweet and wonderful with the chocolate. I will absolutely come back here and order this again.
Overall, I loved how clean all the flavors were and how non-​pretentious the food is. I will absolutely be back for dinner again.

After browsing for the longest time, I finally choose this place for my first restaurant week in NY! And it was great :)
I’d say the venue is medium-​sized. It was pretty quiet when we went around 6:30pm on a Wednesday, but it gets pretty loud by 7:30pm.
For food, my friend and I got different dishes and tried each others. I’d say that I loved the chocolate soufflé the best, although that actually wasn’t on the menu. It was a special for the day that you could swap out for added $ 6 and you have to put that order in at the beginning of the meal. Then again, I’m probably biased to sweets.
Service was great. The waiter was really friendly, and nice.
Overall, would go back again.

Terrible experience here. I’ve eaten at Perilla several times in recent years, and the food and service are always top-​notch. But my latest experience was memorably deplorable. Having made a 7pm reservation days earlier, I arrived with my fiancé and our closest friends who had been visiting from Los Angeles for a low-​key dinner to celebrate our engagement.
We arrived to chaos … no air conditioning, no guests and a hostess, despite the ongoing commotion, sitting distracted with her head in her hands. Nobody greeted me, and I had to learn from my friend, who had sit down at the bar, that the «power and gas had been shut off.» I had to wait several moments to even get the attention of the hostess to get word of the situation and even then, was told there was nothing that could be done to remedy the situation.
No explanation was offered either, and given that the electricity was on and there were still guests eating — something seemed very amiss.
Certainly, sh*t happens. In fact, something similar happened to us last month, when we had reservations at another well-​known restaurant that had a gas leak. They shut off the gas, and immediately began calling people with reservations to encourage them to find a table elsewhere. We were told of the situation an hour before we were scheduled to arrive AND we were offered comp’d drinks next time we came in. To me, that’s a reasonable response to an unforeseen emergency.
However, in this latest case — at Perilla — no such courtesy, or even an ounce of effort or apology, was offered. We were given no options, no apology, no recourse, and nobody even called us.
This was a significant dinner for the three of us and I would have appreciated some kind of notice or apology. I am still waiting… Better late than never…
While I’m sure the food is still impeccable at Perilla, I’m certain, after an experience like this, I will never eat there again and will make sure none of my friends do either.

We came here wanting to try the summer 2015 restaurant week menu… but decided to just get 1 order of the RW menu while my husband had the regular menu.
For the RW menu, I had the cucumber soup, which was way too spicy so I didn’t enjoy it much. But the mackerel was beautifully grilled and the pork fried rice underneath that was really favorable. For dessert, I got the pond cake, while it was good, it was nothing really special. It is good to point out that the dishes on the RW menu were also served on the regular menu.
My husband got the famous spicy duck meatballs as appetizer. Very interesting taste as duck meat is more tender and juicy. It is also a big portion (4 meatballs). His entrée — hanger teak was well executed… we had it as leftover the next day and the meat was still tasty.
The ambience was cute and charming and the servers were very friendly. Definitely adding this place to my regular dine-​out list.

Went for dinner… and wow.
GREAT food. Well executed dishes with unique twists that aren’t gimmicky but actually enhance the flavor.
Service was very genuine and friendly, with excellent recommendations for both food and wine.
Will DEFINITELY go back.

Visited this place for dinner, the space itself is smaller than I expected. We had reservations and was seated right away.
The staff was welcoming and attentive. For the food I had the roasted chicken which was both tender and juicy. For dessert I had the chocolate soufflé which as other have mentioned is delicious and worth it.
Overall experience has been great — I will return

I have been a Top Chef fan since it began so Perilla, the first restaurant opened by Season 1 Top Chef winner Harold Dieterle has long been on my bucket list. On a visit to NYC recently, I was surprised to be able to get a last minute reservation at Perilla. Would it live up to my expectations?
Indeed, Perilla lived up to my expectations with excellent service and mostly exquisite food. The restaurant is in a nondescript building in the West Village. The place has long rectangular shape with a fairly plain modern décor. Here they let the food be the star. Some reviews I had read complained about the service but I found everyone, from the host to the server, to the bus person to be extraordinarily friendly and accommodating. Our server spent lots of time describing items on the menu as well as the wine. He even brought me several glasses of wine to taste even though I was only getting a glass.
Husband and I shared two appetizers and these were my favorite items by far. We just had to order the famous Spicy Duck Meatballs. These had a very unique, hearty, and savory flavor, with just the right amount of heat. Our second appetizer was a special of the day: a homemade tagliatelle with rabbit and diver scallops. This was absolutely fantastic! I mopped up every bit of sauce with bread. The rabbit was so flavorful and the perfectly cooked scallops were absolutely divine. I just wanted more! II really wish I could have had a big bowl of this for my main course.
For my main course I ordered the Roasted Duck Breast since I rarely eat duck. The server said it was prepared in an unusual way and it was. This was not your usual Paillard of Duck L’orange. These were huge slices of duck loin with an orange marmalade and sesame jus. I just found the pieces of duck to be a little thick for my taste. I feel they could have used a bit more of the sweetness of the orange marmalade to offset the gaminess of the meat. The scallion pancake and broccoli rabe on the side were very good. Husband had the Skirt Steak which he thought was wonderful. The server was very accommodating and let him get the fingerling potatoes instead of the sun choke creamed spinach.
Overall, we had a very enjoyable meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a creative menu and a thoughtful chef who truly prepares his food with care.

We always have a little trouble navigating through the west village, but it didn’t stop us from coming to this little restaurant. Boy and I enjoyed our intimate experience and enjoyed our meat-​ful dinner.
We read some reviews and went with the spicy duck meatballs as an appetizer, hanger steak and the pork chop. I highly recommend the duck meatballs; they are tender, juicy, and can be shared with your party. My lamp chop had the crispy outside layer but smooth and salter inside. And how can you go wrong with the hanger steak! The boy devoured that within minutes! We were so full! But decided it made our revisit list, as we both want to try the duck breast and desserts here!

One of the better fish dishes I’ve had in my life. The atmosphere of the place is simple and clean. Great for a small group and perfect ambiance for 2.
The dining experience started with a nice appetizer of mussels in a tarragon sauce. The sauce was very good but not enough of it. The mussels were all tender which was a nice bite and my wife had a simple salad with gala applies. BTW they had tequila Añejo which made me happy. The entrée for me was a Rye Crusted Fluke with bites of steak and small tender potatoes. The fish was delicious. Probably the best fish dish I’ve had in a long time. My wife had the salmon which she enjoyed and trust me, my wife is not easy to please when it comes to salmon.
The service was on point… no gripes here. Needless to say, Perilla is a place I would frequent again.

Amazing experience from beginning to end. Great service, pretty ambiance, pleasant feel all around. I’ve been a fan of chef Harold Dieterle for almost a decade and I’m stoked to have finally made my way to perilla.
RestaurAnt week menu is subperb! Gumbo is delicious, the shrimp was perfectly cooked and the dish was spiced and beautiful. Bf had the pei mussels which were good but the gumbo was better.
Entrée was the eggplant moussaka and bf had the pollack. Both were beautiful! The eggplant was hearty and filling and I was impressed by the depth of flavor which I’ve never experienced with Eggplant! Very hearty! Got the spicy duck meatballs as well thanks to fellow Unilocalers and was not disappointed, I highly recommend them! Subtle spice, not greasy or mealy, perfectly plump, with the mint pasta they were divine!
Dessert was the angel food cake with clove ice cream and the pineapple cake w vanilla ice cream. I loved loved the pineapple cake and I equally loved loved the clove ice cream. So innovative!
I urge anyone who loves food and loves the love of food to try perilla, as the vision behind the food is pure and meaningful. You will sense it upon eating it, the textures ad flavors in eAch dish compliment each other so well and I def will return!

Celebrated our six months wedding «anniversary» here. Came with very high expectations, wanting to try some of the meals made by Harold Dieterle, first season winner of Top Chef. Even on a Monday in the midst of a snowstorm, this restaurant had a good sized crowd. This establishment obviously has a following, we missed seeing VP Joe Biden, who came to the restaurant just two days later. The overall atmosphere is not overtly fancy or romantic, but rather the type of intimate place where you would want to meet a group of friends or a significant other.
The highlights of our meal were:
–The Spicy Duck Meatballs: Everyone says these are great but it’s not a lie. Succulent and non-​greasy (unlike other duck dishes.)
–Grilled Creekstone Hanger Steak: Fantastic! Juicy and tender, melt-​in-​yout-​mouth kind of steak. Best hanger steak in NYC, according to my husband.
–Cauliflower Falafel: So spicy, so tasty! This dish had a very distinct flavor that explodes in your mouth.
–Housemade Tofu Misozuke: The tofu was so soft and tender! I’ve never had tofu like this before. A favorite.
–Cherry and Lavendar Doughnuts: Very creamy and sweet. The restaurant’s top dessert for sure.
Their bar and drink menu is large and impressive, we especially enjoyed some of the aperitifs from the menu. You can also bring along bottle of your favorite wine for a corkage fee of $ 30. I will be back!

I have been a Top Chef addict since season one and my husband & I love going to the different cheftestants’ restaurants. So, of course we always look forward to a meal at Perilla.
The space is really nice. Small, intimate, and romantic. The service is excellent. And the food is delicious!!! We always start off with the spicy duck meatballs– absolutely a must-​try! As far as entrees are concerned, the hanger steak is delicious. My steak was cooked perfectly with a nice char on the outside. So good and full of flavor. We didn’t have dessert during our last stop here but we have had the doughnuts and they were very, very good. The cocktail menu is interesting and the specialty drink, the Perilla 75, is refreshing & tasty. You can always count on a great meal and outstanding service at Perilla.

My friends and I had the meal of a lifetime at Perilla. The chef prepared a custom tasting menu that was delicious, creative and beautiful.
Jamie masterfully coordinated the entire evening with unique, inventive wine pairings. Jamie and her staff offered enthusiastic, knowledgeable service that added to our enjoyment of the evening.
The 9 course tasting menu challenged and rewarded our palates. I intend this as the highest compliment!
I’ll attach the tasting menu details to this review.
I cannot wait to return to Perilla. This wonderful restaurant nestled in a quiet neighborhood on a sleepy street is a new favorite.

I can’t say enough good things about this reatauant. I went there on a Thursday evening and had a reservation at 6:30. Unfortunately my companion was not able to make it on time and they generously extended my reservation to a later point and when he failed to show up on time allowed me to sit at the bar and have a leisurely drink until he showed up. We were seated at a wonderful table of our choice in the back where we could talk. Unlike many restaurants in New York that have amazing food this restaurant is perfect for those that actually want to have a conversation and have a very pleasant setting.
During the course of our meal we had several courses. I opted for the duck meatballs and the duck entrée and also had the soufflé for dessert.
My companion had a fish entrée and we also had the cucumber side dish. The presentation was superb and the tastes were well balanced. In addition the staff was phenomenal and has great recommendations for wine pairings.
Additinally they had a vegetarian tasting menu that looked divine. I will be back with my vegan wife.

My friend and I had dinner here during the summer RW. I’m a fan of Chef Dieterle’s work at both Kin Shop and The Marrow and wanted to see how his first restaurant is. And after visiting all 3 I think my favorite is still Kin Shop as far as the food goes. As far as the atmosphere though, this place is classier and a little fancier. This is for taking out the parents while The Marrow is for a more laid-​back yet impressive date.
The RW menu was alright but not impressive. I had the mussels, the chicken and we shared the desserts. Not one dish really stood out. The food was more of a solid 3 star experience. But the service was on point. Would I come back again? Not sure. I’d probably opt for The Marrow over this.

Restaurant week in NYC. We decided on Harold Dieterle’s (Top Chef Season 1) restaurant in Manhattan. My friends that live here tell me that Restaurant Week is sometimes an event where some restaurantsl really skimp on their customers. That was definitely not the case here. There was a great selection of entrees, apps, and desserts and definitely options that could suit any palate.
Of course, we got the signature duck meatballs. Not on the RW menu, so we ordered it as a shared plate. They really are as good as the masses say! The Duck popcorn was also pretty good.
For the RW menu:
I started with the Bibb salad. It was really delicious (adequate dressing always a fuss of mine). My friends both got the cucumber soup, which I tried and was pretty incredible. It really was unlike anything I’ve really tasted before.
For entrée, two of us got the mushroom/​risotto and one got the chicken. The mushroom/​risotto was really phenomenal. LOVED the vegemite sauce– really favorful. The risotto ws yummy. Perfect portion of everything too. I tried a bite of the chicken and it was perfectly cooked– delicious crust.
For dessert, I got the almond dessert. It was good, but I would recommend upgrading to the soufflé for an additional 6 dollars. My friend upgraded and it really was out of this world.
This place did restaurant week right. We were able to try a few parts of the menu, and are intrigued for more! Isn’t that wat restaurant week is all about? We leave satisfied and that means we are most likely coming back!