Francela

Came here to grab lunch on the go due to the great Unilocal reviews
Pros:
— Amazing service — I ordered something and realized I ordered it incorrectly when the server already placed the food in the package. Owner was super nice and told me it was fine to change it! Most places will give you a big NO and a shrug
— The eggplant salad was very good BUT it is very filling so the 8oz is more than enough and it doesn’t come with carbs so you might want to order something with it b/​c it’s more like a dip than a salad
— The spinach pie was so good and the portion size is great aka one is filling but if you’re aiming for two than two it is
— Beautiful décor inside — simple and clean
— Also seemed like a great place to grab a cup of tea and chat with your friends

Very nice place.
Great food, professional staff.
Fresh food, kind staff.
A hidden gem in the Upper East Side.

Had a great first experience here;the second time around, not so much. Some solid vegan options but pricey for the portions. Woman working the register gave effort but came off a bit abrasive. Would not return.

I live around the corner and to me this place is like getting a home cooked meal! I have never tasted anything that was not delicious. The meatballs on rice is so good, I could eat it every day… but there are things you must try: the baklava, the eggplant salad, and the salty fish roe pâté on toast. the spinach… artichoke with beans. Today I also got the Turkish string beans and they are so perfectly cooked. They have ala carte dishes and meals… and a lot of items are vegan, but I enjoy the meatballs over rice, and anything lamb the most. Eat in or take out… the staff is lovely and it will quickly become a go to place. even if it’s just for a little desert and a coffee… you will always feel safe feeding your family from this bistro. Only down side is they are not open late!

Incredible healthy Turkish food. I ordered a platter of various mezzes and loved the green beans and all the bean dishes. So tasty and fresh. Beautiful simple décor, comfortable space. Nice staff. The baklava is the best I’ve ever had… like butter melts in your mouth. Bravo and can’t wait to come back!

Love this place. Friendly & Helpful Staff. A little pricey but consistently very solid. Octopus, Tarama, Grape Leaves, spinach pie… wish they’d make more cheese bread… but great choices none the less.

This review is about the FOOD. Two nights ago, my husband and I were really craving Greek food, so we ordered from Francela. It was our first time. The woman who initially answered the phone was pleasant, but not very helpful. The gentleman who took over was very friendly, helpful, and pleasant. We ordered five grape leaves (they come by the piece), six «grilled» shrimp (also by the piece), and two zucchini pancakes. Our total was $ 39 and change. Everything came very neatly packed and appeared to be full of flavor (except for the «boiled» shrimp). Unfortunately, the grape leaves were very soggy, the one on the bottom was inedible. The zucchini pancakes were square, not round, and tasted more like a frittata — very eggy. Saving the worst for last, the shrimp (that were supposed to be «grilled») were BOILED and had NO FLAVOR at all. I’m so sorry, Francela, but you missed this one. Guess we’ll just kiss that $ 40 goodbye

I actually exclaimed «omg yes» after sipping on this lentil soup. So freaking good, and just what I wanted.

Stumbled upon this place, and really happy we did. Very attentive staff, everything is very fresh and tasty (though a bit less salt would be great). Tried the tomato soup, red lentil soup, zucchini pancake. We’ll come back!

Really tasty lunch. Was looking for a healthy fast casual spot on the UES (don’t know if we’re allowed to name other restaurants in these things but you know the one with the long lines at lunch time that serves hot plates of food with grain/​meat/​vegetables). I have to say this place was better than I was looking. A healthy amount of variety on the menu, but not so much they can’t focus on doing things well. Awesome staff; nice relaxed atmosphere.

Francela is top notch. I was just trying to kill time before meeting with a friend, so I wandered in & slowly window shopped. The man behind the counter (I wish I had gotten his name) was very friendly. I told him I had never been in before, and he walked me through the entire menu, the best sellers, and his personal favorites. I honestly didn’t eat too much during my visit (just the eggplant salad) but it was bangin’. Really, the 5 stars goes to the service. I have been to so many market-​style small restaurants in this city, and this man had more passion for Francela’s business than the 50+ competitors’ combined. He was incredibly accommodating, knowledgeable, and kind. I was left with a fantastic impression & I will think of this beautiful little restaurant whenever I’m in the UES!

They added more tables for dining and seem to be open later. This food is always fresh and healthy. Can’t go wrong here.

Francela makes the kind of food I like to eat: Turkish, mainly vegetarian cuisine. This restaurant is unusual in that it is a hybrid take-​out/​eat-​in café. Most of the dishes a pre-​prepared. The sleek, minimalist gourmet shop/​restaurant serves two of my favorite dishes: stuffed eggplant and vegetarian moussaka. The braised artichoke is also a must. Most items are vegan, but friends have enjoyed the meatballs, octopus and lamb. Conventional Turkish dishes like baba ghanoush and hummus and stuffed grape leaves are there. The marinated black olives are great as well. Finish with baklava and lemonade. They don’t serve alcohol, but allow BYOB. Dinner for two runs about $ 50.

Francela is my favorite restaurant in NYC. On my last business trip I ate her every day for lunch and dinner. Having lived in Istanbul the restaurant is done in the fast-​casual style so popular on the Bosphorus.
The soups are fantastic across the board: lentil and tomato are my favorites.
The lentils, octopus, and burek are top notch.

I live across the corner, and have gotten take out from their food bar many times — to the point that the man behind the counter (i need to learn his name!) now recognizes that I only eat vegetarian food. And he always makes great recommendations given that I am not as familiar with this cuisine, has never led me wrong!
Their hummus, babaganoush, cacik are all amazing. I also love the muhammara (i don’t remember the exact spelling) and the artichokes braised with dill. They make great bread as well.
I love beyoglu which is just next door, but when I want to bring food home, this is where i go. Keep up the good work!

FYI
ONLY rating for the coffee, service, comfort and appeal of this destination.
This hidden Turkish spot is tucked in next to beyoglu and offers a warm and friendly getaway from the bustle of 3^rd avenue.
Look forward to trying the food next!

Just the perfect spot, I was craving healthy, delish food — luckily landed here.
I had a plate of octopus salad, season vegies and eggplant salad. Topped off with thick Turkish yogurt. Attentive staff, clearly want to please.
Sitting limited. Left feeling so satisfied on a cold winters night.

Sorry to burst the bubble. But this place is overrated. I ordered delivery today — hummus, artichoke, spinach, red lentil salad, cacik, rice pilaf, tomato salad, eggplant salad.
The hummus and the artichoke were way too salty. So was the cacik.
The spinach was ok.
The tomato salad was good.
I like the variety of the menu here. But I would rather do Beyoglu for the taste and price!

I walked inside to this charcuterie and found all the foods that comforts my digestive system. There is just enough variety of all in season vegetables. The month of September brings forth vegetable dishes like athichoke hearts stuffed with fava beans, a great favorite of Orhan Yegen, a restauranteur of fame of Turkish dishes.
There are stuffed cabbage, stuffed grape leaves, off course, a Turkish staple. The red bean pilaki, elephant beans, fava beans and green beans. There is braised leeks, sauteed spinach, eggplant salad and eggplant with tomatoes. The stuffed baby eggplant is outstanding. There is a braised celery root dish that you wont find in many places, it melts in your mouth. The tarama, the cacik, the humus are all great.
There are a variety of salads, Greek, Shepperd, mixed greens, and chopped tomato .
There are a variety of seafood dishes like, octopus salad, mussels in mustard sauce.
There is also the grilled dishes of filet of salmon, grilled octopus, my favorite. There’s also grilled sea bass. For those meat eaters
There’s grilled meatballs, grilled chicken
And grilled Adana platters.
The desserts: delicious 32 layered baklava, the Kemal pasa, and the baked rice pudding, almond pudding and the halvah.
And top it all of with a cup of Turkish coffee or a glass of traditional Turkish tea.
You can also shop for Turkish cheeses and olives, olive oil, and pastirma just to name a few.
I can go on and on.
This charcuterie, open only about 6 months is going to be a neighborhood favorite.

When I saw all their choice of food on the counter, I wanted to try everything. So I had 2 plates :
Artichoke with fava beans, stuffed cabbage, stuffed eggplant.
Eggplant salad, hummus, spicy red lentils, tomatoes with eggplant.
All these items are vegan and low in salt. However, their desserts are not low in sugar. I liked everything. The dishes above are served cold which makes a perfect summer meal.
It’s a small place, only a few seating. The service is friendly and they let you taste before ordering.