Pasha Turkish Restaurant

Refined Turkish cuisine in a luxurious Upper West Side milieu.

(212) 579-8751

70 W 71st St (Columbus Avenue and Central Park West)
New York, NY 10023 40.7762 -73.9785

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Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Midtown

pashanewyork.com

Hours:

Mon-Thu 5pm-11pm

Fri-Sat 5pm-1130pm

Sun 4pm-10:30pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 10.29.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Quiet, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Lunch Spot

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern

What People Are Saying About Pasha Turkish Restaurant

The Owner

Pasha Turkish Restaurant

Owner

Pasha Turkish Restaurant is a New York City gem located in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Since 1997, it has amassed a loyal retinue of Upper West Siders, tourists, and pre-theater Lincoln Center patrons. The dining room is modern yet sensuous, with vibrant red walls and banquettes, beige fabric wall hangings, and festive, decorative plates. A skylight, recessed lighting, and candles set a romantic mood. Pasha is perfect for an intimate dinner with friends, an impressive dinner for the family, or pre & post Lincoln Center meals. Pasha is perfect for private parties and private events as they…

Provided by CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Pasha offers highly rated Turkish cooking in a handsome, elaborately decorated setting close to Lincoln Center. Sidewalk seating at a handful of tables offers a view of the passing scene. The entrees offered include grilled lamb chops; cornmeal-crusted grilled brook trout; and grilled lamb slices topped with yogurt, as well as a vegetarian casserole. Appetizers range from shepherd's salad through grilled octopus to mint and lamb dumplings. Dessert choices include a baked apple with pistachio ice cream.

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Very good food, very good & friendly service, and very attractive atmosphere.”
  2. “The decor and ambience is perfect but what a shame.”
  3. “The decor in this Upper West Side Turkish "brassiere" was nice, relaxing and a great environment to dine.”
  4. “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!”
  5. “It was a really nice atmosphere, good service, and delicious food.”
  6. “Decor is very comfortable and fits the Turkish theme.”
  7. “The food was really good and the atmosphere was really relaxing and intimate.”
  8. “The service was outstanding, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable.”
  9. “Pasha has excellent service and food and has good ambience and is very good value.”
  10. “found it to be a very romantic place.”
  11. “They have great food, excellent and friendly service, very good cozy place, and very good looking men.”
  12. “Everything--the ambiance, waiting staff, fellow dinners, and of course the food was superb.”
  13. “Romantic atmosphere and excellent food !”
  14. “If you like cozy places this is a place to go.”
  15. “This restaurant envelops you into a warm and exotic atmosphere the minute you walk through the door.”
  16. “The atmosphere was great: it reminded me of several upscale restaurnats in Turkey.”
  17. “The atmosphere was great, the service was exceptional, and most importantly, the meal was exquisite.”
  18. “Big bold turkish flavors in a comfortable environment.”
  19. “Loved the decor.”
  20. “The service was good, but I just did not feel a welcomed atmosphere.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Yogurt lamb was fabulous, as well as apricot dessert.”
  2. “The desert was similarly wonderful.”
  3. “The desserts are very good and of course I recommend the Baklava.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “They have a nice bar upfront that may be a good setting for cocktails/drinks even if you don't decide to eat there.”
  2. “All three of us ordered the pre-fixed, shared a bottle of wine, and enjoyed this fantastic meal for $130 including tip!”
  3. “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!”
  4. “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.”
food quality
88.54000091552734% positive
  1. “Very good food, very good & friendly service, and very attractive atmosphere.”
  2. “The food was really good and the atmosphere was really relaxing and intimate.”
  3. “Romantic atmosphere and excellent food !”
  4. “highly recommend any lamb dish, especially the grilled baby lamb chops.”
  5. “All this combined with exquisetly prepared and presented food works well to create a wonderful dining experince.”
  6. “The lamb pieces were dry (maybe the lamb chop is better) and the fish was fresh but boring and watch out for the bones.”
  7. “The service was outstanding, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable.”
  8. “had the best meal and service.”
  9. “The food is not bad, I would say just below average for the price.”
  10. “non waiting,the best welcomed and food.”
  11. “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”
  12. “And main courses cubes of lamb over eggplant puree and chicken breast with stuffed special rice are super delicious.”
  13. “real turkish food,chef and workers are cool.”
  14. “They have great food, excellent and friendly service, very good cozy place, and very good looking men.”
  15. “Everything--the ambiance, waiting staff, fellow dinners, and of course the food was superb.”
  16. “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.”
  17. “Awful food, the appetizers were cold as if they just serve it right from the fridge.”
  18. “All three of us ordered the pre-fixed, shared a bottle of wine, and enjoyed this fantastic meal for $130 including tip!”
  19. “Good food, mediocre service”
  20. “In addition to the food, I really liked the setting.”
  21. “Loved the food.”
  22. “And the food was absolutely superb and the snorkeling out”
  23. “We started with artichoke hearts and lamb dumplings in yogurt sauce wich were very delicious!”
  24. “It was a really nice atmosphere, good service, and delicious food.”
  25. “If you do want to be addicted to any food in your life do not order MANTI or you will be.”
  26. “I've been to Pasha on several occassions and while the service is sometimes uneven, the food has been consistently good and satisfying.”
  27. “They have very good lamb dishes.”
  28. “The food was excellent however the service was really bad.”
  29. “For great lamb or chicken, I still think the food stand on 6th and 53rd is the best in Manhattan.”
  30. “Yogurt lamb was fabulous, as well as apricot dessert.”
  31. “We had to wait to order our food, wait for a glass of water and even wait for our check.”
  32. “And the calamari is absolutely best in the city, very tender and tasty.”
  33. “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.”
  34. “If you like lamb, you'll love Pasha”
  35. “Pasha has excellent service and food and has good ambience and is very good value.”
  36. “These 2 dishes are very very very delicious.”
  37. “best deal and good food”
  38. “Good food but "Crappy waiters”
  39. “Great Turkish food, almost everything we tried was delicious.”
  40. “try couple time food always good”
  41. “ordered the lamb shank which was not that impressive.”
  42. “Great pre-fixed menu, decent service, great food.”
  43. “First of all food is unrealisticly good.”
  44. “For three people to get a very tasty three course meal that offered a variety of (choice of salads, hummus.”
  45. “If you want good food and friendly service GO TO PASHA.”
  46. “The atmosphere was great, the service was exceptional, and most importantly, the meal was exquisite.”
  47. “Great food great and frindly service.”
  48. “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 cra”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Great pre-fixed menu, decent service, great food.”
  2. “For three people to get a very tasty three course meal that offered a variety of (choice of salads, hummus.”
  3. “Secure a table in the well-decorated lounge area and order off the main menu.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “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 cra”
  2. “was taken here over the weekend for a date and I have to say that this is a really great restaurant.”
  3. “They have great food, excellent and friendly service, very good cozy place, and very good looking men.”
  4. “Please stop Salsa music at this great place.”
service
93.94000053405762% positive
  1. “Great pre-fixed menu, decent service, great food.”
  2. “For three people to get a very tasty three course meal that offered a variety of (choice of salads, hummus.”
  3. “Good food, mediocre service”
  4. “Everything--the ambiance, waiting staff, fellow dinners, and of course the food was superb.”
  5. “The manager were friendly and let us in pretty fast.”
  6. “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.”
  7. “Our favorite waiter Edu is a doll, very attentive and friendly (and cute too).”
  8. “Pasha has excellent service and food and has good ambience and is very good value.”
  9. “The service was outstanding, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable.”
  10. “The waitstaff is generally friendly but needs more polishing.”
  11. “Right after my last visit to Pasha I decided to write this comment down because I can't take waiter's nasty manners anymore.”
  12. “Service is mediocre: our server was always away, instead the busboy was reluctantly handling our requests.”
  13. “They have great food, excellent and friendly service, very good cozy place, and very good looking men.”
  14. “The food was excellent however the service was really bad.”
  15. “Service was very attentive.”
  16. “We had a great corner table and the server seemed very nice.”
  17. “The service is excellent-our server was a very charming young Turk, who was very attentive to our requests.”
  18. “It was a really nice atmosphere, good service, and delicious food.”
  19. “Outstanding service-even for large groups.”
  20. “Great food great and frindly service.”
  21. “Good food but "Crappy waiters”
  22. “Very good food, very good & friendly service, and very attractive atmosphere.”
  23. “The service was good, but I just did not feel a welcomed atmosphere.”
  24. “The waiters have good recommendations.”
  25. “best staff,best manti and baklava”
  26. “The atmosphere was great, the service was exceptional, and most importantly, the meal was exquisite.”
  27. “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.”
  28. “As soon as we got in, we were greeted by friendly staff.”
  29. “had the best meal and service.”
  30. “If you want good food and friendly service GO TO PASHA.”
  31. “Waiters are so kind and friendly ,You must make reservation ;otherwise you can wait at the door, but weekdays are the best”
  32. “Everyone , manager, hostess, waiters and buspeople great you with big smile and make you feel like you are Sultan.”
  33. “I've been to Pasha on several occassions and while the service is sometimes uneven, the food has been consistently good and satisfying.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Pasha has excellent service and food and has good ambience and is very good value.”
  2. “pasha is overrated and for the price not a good value.”
  3. “The food is not bad, I would say just below average for the price.”
  4. “The prices are very, very reasonable with entrees generally under $20.”
  5. “And you get all this with very reasonable price.”
  6. “Good value.”
  7. “The prices were very affordable ($6-9 for an appetizer and $13-19 for a main course).”
  8. “For the level of quality and given it was sold at a restaurant, I thought the price was reasonable for the bottle.”
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “This restaurant envelops you into a warm and exotic atmosphere the minute you walk through the door.”
  2. “But Service was terrible, Very slow.”
  3. “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.”
3 Star Rating: Average

02/25/11

better than decent

by stevenmeyman at Citysearch

The food was good, fresh, but nothing to rave about. The flavors were a little on the weak side, but certain items like the lamb chops held their own. The service was great, and the ambience was welcoming and enjoyable. Not sure with the plethora of amazing restaurants in NY, that I will be returning very soon.

3 Star Rating: Average

02/07/11

Food was just average

by TheTripChick at Citysearch

We were searching for a place to meet friends who were also visiting New York City. A good in-between spot appeared in the form of Pasha. We were all up for Turkish, so we made a reservation and hit the subway northward.

First course, the Coban Salata (Shepherd's salad): chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, tender long green peppers, red onions and parsley tossed with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar. It was nice and refreshing, and whetted our appetites for the main course to come.

For the main, I chose Tavuk Gogsu Sarmasi, which was a marinated chicken breast stuffed with rice, pistachios and currants, served on a bed of sauteed spinach with white wine tarragon sauce. The chicken was good, but not knock-you-on-your-arse, need-to-lick-the-plate-good. It was a little dry but the tarragon sauce helped with the dryness. Overall decent, but not really something that made me want to come back and try Pasha again.

Our table split a dessert, the Kaymakli Kayisi (Poached apricots filled with creme fraiche, sprinkled with pistachios). I make this dessert often at home, and I am definitely biased but I prefer my own version of this dish.

Our server was pleasant and helpful but the food wasn't good enough to warrant a return trip with all the other amazing options that are available in the city.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/08/09

hospitable employees. yikesss!!!!

by luckiestman at Citysearch

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…

  • Pros: friendship, service, attention
  • Cons: small dishes
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/25/09

SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!!

by oceanblue99 at Citysearch

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.

  • Pros: the best Turkish food
2 Star Rating: Below Average

07/14/09

Beautiful Decor

by UpWest132 at Citysearch

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.

  • Pros: Food, The lamb was excellent
  • Cons: Service

The Details on Pasha Turkish Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good great turkish food
  • friendly service
  • great attractive atmosphere
  • cozy place
  • beautiful people
  • highly recommend greek restaurant
  • loved decor
  • nice fantastic meal
  • very reasonable price
  • best baklava
  • good value
  • very attentive charming young turk
  • very good lamb dish
  • really liked setting
  • very attentive doll
  • fabulous yogurt lamb
  • awful appetizers
  • great dining experience
  • comfortable environment
  • relaxing ambiance
  • good ambience
  • boring fish
  • friendly staff
  • great dining experince
  • very tender calamari

Message from Pasha Turkish Restaurant

  • Separate Private Party Room
  • Turkish & Mediterranean Food
  • Tapas, Wine Bar & Mezzes

Pasha Turkish Restaurant is a New York City gem located in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Since 1997, it has amassed a loyal retinue of Upper West Siders, tourists, and pre-theater Lincoln Center patrons. The dining room is modern yet sensuous, with vibrant red walls and banquettes, beige fabric wall hangings, and festive, decorative plates. A skylight, recessed lighting, and candles set a romantic mood. Pasha is perfect for an intimate dinner with friends, an impressive dinner for the family, or pre & post Lincoln Center meals. Pasha is perfect for private parties and private events as they have a separate private party room within the restaurant. "You'll have the feeling you've journeyed to Turkey when you dine at Pasha's. This spot is a critic's dream with good service, reasonable prices, a warm attractive atmosphere, and some of the most unique dishes you have ever tasted."

Pasha Turkish Restaurant