Pera Bell Food Bar

Went here for Mothers Day with my Aunt. The gluten free selection was small but I can’t really complain because it’s awesome when any restaurant has anything I can eat. I ordered the spinach dip that came with carrots and celery instead of pita chips to make it gf. The dip was delicious but the carrot and celery sticks were not cut up nice and weren’t really fresh looking and just thrown on the plate. Horrible presentation and I obviously didn’t eat them. I feel like a 6 year old could have cut up veggies nicer. I also ordered the baby kale salad and it was good. I am really picky with my salads, meaning I want everything to be fresh and not have to pick out bad lettuce. This salad passed the test. The only thing I would say is, the waitress seemed a little annoyed that I was asking questions about how the food was prepared if it’s marked gluten free, which then annoys me. But overall the experience was ok. The restaurant itself is very nice and they have an outdoor area which looks really nice for the summer. Since I’m not really out east but maybe once a month I probably wouldn’t go back here except maybe for a quick lunch or cocktails.

I am the kind of person that will avoid any restaurant, retail store, town fair, etc. if I believe it to be too crowded and busy. Regardless of how good something is supposed to be, the time and aggravation are not worth it to me. I read reviews of Perabell and people complained about the service, being too crowded, etc. As a former server I can tell you that when it gets busy, the service goes down the tube. It’s not intentional, but servers and staff get overwhelmed just like any normal person would. Not all the time, but it happens. That said, I ventured out to Riverhead on a rainy Saturday afternoon and it was not too busy, service was quick and polite. Food was tasty, prices were reasonable. I had the LI Clam pizza (very good) and the empanadas (good, not excellent). The dining room is medium-​sized (a large party might be hard to accomodate if it’s busy). There is a large outdoor sitting area (it was raining so we didn’t utilize it). The vibe is a kinda rustic and hip at the same time. I would highly recommend this restaurant for lunch so you are not waiting forever, they have classic dishes but a lot of different choices as well that sound exciting and delicious. I really appreciate that they are moderately priced.

Martini had things floating. Sent it back and got wine. Came out warm lol. Experience was very forgettable. Waitress was nice though

The pasta bolognese usually has a cream sauce. Since my husband could not have the cream, the chef was nice enough to make it without it. It was absolutely delicious! Thank you!

They got rid of the carbonara pizza, the best pizza, & despite having everything on the menu to make it, they won’t, not for me anyway. I’m eternally bummed.
Otherwise everything else is still pretty good, they have a bangin’ burger, a super cool cocktail list, dope deserts, and really special specials. The service has always been hit or miss depending who you get.
Today we had the meatball ricotta pie which was awesome despite the crushed red pepper being a little heavy handed. We had some nice wine, great shoestring fries with a perfectly cooked burger.
The two specials of the night were scrumptious! No other way to put it. I got the veal scallopini with roasted asparagus, roasted purple and sweet potato, artichokes, mushrooms, and fresh bean sprout leaves.
This location blows patchogue out the water. Consistently delicious all around.
My old reviews still stand, so click back a step or just below to see those; if the girl Jackie is still there you’ll be lucky to get her.
Enjoy!

This place hits on all cylinders. Great food, Really nice staff and the food rocks! Played golf the other day and stopped in for a bite to eat, white clam pizza, OMG this was the freshest and finest personal pizza I ever ate. Everything else I have ever tried is a 4 start minimum, mostly 5 stars. The mussels marinara is outstanding. The specials are always fresh and wonderful. I don’t write that many 5 star reviews, but this place is 6 Stars all the way!

The burger was incredible but the toppings are a bit overpriced. It is an amazing burger however. The light uniques pizza oven at this location is an awesome addition that the Patchogue location doesnt have but the cost of a pizza is far too overpriced as well.
The food tastes delicious but it is a bit more pricey than other places. Def worth a try though!

My boyfriend and I decided to spend part of our day in Riverhead. After the hour or so drive east (with pit stops along the way), we were fairly hungry and decided to come to PeraBell. I’m pretty sure we had eaten at this location before it became the current restaurant. It had several good reviews but we were fairly disappointed by the food. We ordered the tex-​mex empanadas to start and they were only luke warm when served to us. Following that, my boyfriend had the burger and I ordered the sliders, which came with a side of tater tots. The tater tots were again, barely warm, and the buns the sliders were on, though toasted, seemed harder than they should have been and were difficult to eat. My boy friend felt his burger was a little dry and bland because he did not want to pay extra for toppings that were offered.
Though we did not enjoy the food, the servers and other staff were very attentive.

Best cocktails on Main St, Riverhead. Friendly bartenders & decent beer selection. Love that they change up the cocktail menu to reflect the season.

A very overcrowded spot that isn’t anywhere near as good as it thinks it is. A varied menu with lots of choices makes for many more opportunities for the kitchen to get it wrong. Service is extremely iffy.
Stick with basics like burgers, sandwiches and pizza and you might do well, otherwise, this is just a so-​so experience.

Not so much the food that was not great, but I’ll get to that. When I arrived, the place was pretty empty except for the bar area and 2 tables. There were two of us and I asked for a booth. The two young women at the desk were very busy talking about patrons and it was very uncomfortable. Didn’t seem to be a «boss» around or I would have said something right away. Again, I asked for a booth for 2 and the girls looked at me and then talked between themselves for way too long considering the restaurant was empty. It was rude! Finally, I followed one of the young women to a non-​booth table. I just sat and didn’t say anything else but thought plenty.
Started with the mac and cheese which I had recently read about. It was kind of a mustardy color my husband and I were wondering if that was one of the ingredients. Then, a bus boy starts spraying and cleaning the tables around us. They were probably just vacated from lunch. The smell of the cleaning spray was overwhelming. It reminded me of the old fashioned diners as a child, that would spray that awful ammonia on the tables around you every time a person would leave and then clean under the tables with a dirty, stringy mop. Not a good idea to clean with a product that has an ammonia smell while people are eating!!! Again, I looked for a manager, but no one around. Trader Joes makes a great green cleaning product with no fragrance!
So, the mac and cheese wound up smelling like ammonia unfortunately, but it could have been good. The onion soup had little broth and lots of onions. It had lots of bread and little cheese. The burger was delicious and the fries were just as we had ordered. Then, while we were looking at the dessert menu, along came the guy with the spray cleaner again and we figured it was time to leave.
Front desk young women need to be trained and the smelly cleaner fluid during meals needs to go. Good burger.
As we’ve heard good things about this place, will give it another try to see if any advise was heeded. Hope so!!!

Awesome awesome food. Atmosphere was great. Our server Kerri was very sweet & knowledgable.
Food was different and fun.
Pork chops! Do it.
Shrimp app– do it.
Guinness dessert… DO IT

We are regulars at the Patchogue site, but wanted to try the Riverhead location after a day of outlet shopping. The mussels as usual were amazing!
Menu is basically the same with the addition of the brick oven pizzas. We tried 3 different types. The mushroom with truffle oil was fantastic. The prosciutto and arugula was just as good! The meatball was just eh, kind of lacking in flavor, maybe because the other 2 were so flavorful. Same relaxed vibe as Patchogue. Definitely smaller but we were seated quickly and the service was great.

Place is a homerun.
Burger was off the charts. Fries were awesome. Incredible Mac and CHEESE with bacon, chives. Chicken Milanese was VERY GOOD. nice atmosphere (sports bar meets fine diningesque). Only potential snag is the entry way to the back and bathroom is very narrow. Also did’t like being charged $ 1 for honey mustard. Waitress was extremely friendly. Irish CB sundae was a great way cap off the night with dessert.

What a horrible experience! I have never been more embarrassed in my life than how I was treated at this place! I recently had foot surgery and need to elevate my leg and used a chair that was at the empty table next to me. I was told by a waitress that the manager said they needed that chair and that my foot cannot be on it. Not once did the manager come over to see the situation. It was only when I got up to leave that she approached me. Is this really how you treat your customers? Never have I ever been treated like this. You should be ashamed that you treat your customers like this.

Love going here with friends or with my husband for a nice meal. Their appetizers are so tasty, I’ve had the tuna tartare a few ways here and it is always fresh and delicious, there’s something called the tuna pizza which in no way resembles pizza but tastes amazing. Great beer selection, nice specialty cocktails, wish their wines by the bottle were available by the glass, I don’t mind paying a little more for something a little nicer!

I came in for a late lunch in the midst of grocery/​clothes shopping. I’m pregnant so I had a few questions about pasteurized cheeses on top of many menu questions. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with crispy onions and cheese. The fries were perfect. When I cut into it I wasn’t sure if it was pink from tomatoes or raw because the lighting was dim. The waitress had no problem to go bring it in the back with more lighting to check for me. Then, I ordered the chocolate chip bread pudding after she helped me choose between a great list of desserts. The waitress was very friendly and helpful the whole time. The only two not so good, minor, things was I was charged $ 1 for BBQ sauce without being told and the pickle was a lil mushy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Second time’s a charm! After finishing early at the Supreme Court in Riverhead, I took a rare opportunity to have lunch at Pera Bell Food Bar on 1/7/15.The young hostess, with a pleasant smile, seated me promptly. My server gave me a friendly greeting and the menu. Based upon a recommendation from my server the last time i visited here, I ordered the LI Clam Pie. The luscious six-​slice masterpiece ($ 18.00), laced with clams atop a four cheese blend arrived swiftly. For those who do not know, the restaurant has an authentic pizza oven which turns out exceptional pies in minutes. My server topped the pie with fresh Parmesan and I was off to the races, hitting bottom after four slices and doggie-​bagging two.
The Clam Pie was fantastic, every bit as delicious as those I’ve eaten at Frank Pepes in Connecticut, the iconic pizza joint which invented the clam pie at its original restaurant in New Haven.
Service was also fantastic. My server brought both my Moustache IPA and the pie promptly. It was complex, hoppy, smooth and refreshing. The hostess, understanding that her job does not end after she seats a party, diligently went to each of the tables in the crowded restaurant asking if everyone was satisfied. Lunching here has been a great experience on both of my visits.
Although I live an hour away, I hope I have the opportunity to return soon and try the ten ounce Chophouse Burger.

Great food but absolutely horrible service. People were seated after us and served first, the tables that were seated after us had eaten and LEFT before we were even served. If you have a 3 hour lunch hour this place is for you, if not– diggers is a much better choice.
Months later and my review is its being run by a bunch of kids who don’t give a shit about the longevity of this awesome place…

I am writing and starting this review on the middle of our dinner. All I can say is OMG, I am so glad that I found this place. What a fun place to be, eat and listen to the live music. We came here because out friend is performing tonight (crush duo) and I am so glad we did. Our appetizers were so delicious. We had the fries calamari, tex mex Empanadas and Buffalo wings. They were so perfect and delicious!
I them was reading aprior Unilocal review and saw that they had apizza oven… so I went inside and took pics. WOW!!!
I ordered a margharite pie, we also are getting the lobster sliders and arugula salad. We also ordered the chicken Milanese. I will check back after eating this!!!
Ok. I tried to finish this last eve but Unilocal wouldn’t let me edit my review do soon after posting.
The food was excellent and we enjoyed our night outside on the patio listening to the live music. The apps were delicious and everyone enjoyed their dinners. My pizza was outstanding. See my pics!
There were a couple of negatives that I will mention but it did not deter from my review.
My first pizza came out not hot (probably because they cook so fast in that beautiful oven and it was a waiter timing issue), and the other was that our waiter, who started off excellent, I think got into the party mode a little too fast, and lost focus of our table. Attention seemed to got lost a bit. But again… Nio taking a star away for an easy tweak to fix. My second pizza (I only expected my first one to be heated up, they made me an entire new one) was just as delicious add the first… just hot!
Overall, Perabella was an outstanding 5 star experience full of fun, great pizza and delicious food. What a fun evening!