BITE OF THE MOMENT: Cozy Up to Turkish Cuisine at Leyla

Fall is legit here now, and we're looking for the kind of hidden-gem eateries where you can hunker down for the night, graze over the best food and drink while engaging in conversation with your partner that you can actually hear. This magical type of restaurant is surprisingly hard to find, especially in the ever-bustling Upper West Side - but Leyla is a different story. Tucked away on quiet, brownstone-and-tree-lined West 74th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, you'd almost miss it if you didn't know what you were looking for, it blends with the surrounding apartment buildings that well. Elegant and warm without being stuffy, and the kind of place you'd want someone to surprise you with for a first date, Leyla delivers in serene, cozy atmosphere, and more importantly, food. Serving up Turkish dishes with Meditterranean influences, the menu is both traditional and inventive, with each dish a beautifully crafted treat.

Small plates are in abundance for sharing, and the Pide is a must-get - little boats filled with melty cheese and assorted other fillings tucked away in a pillowy crust. The Merguez pide, topped with marinara sauce, red onion, and mozzarella, is catapulted to star status with Moroccan lamb sausage meatballs studded throughout the flatbread. Falafel, typically associated with a college kid budget and/or a night you'll probably regret the next day, is a whole different ball game here (pun completely intended), where you get the elevated kind, a small basketful of perfectly crispy-creamy fried chickpea balls served along a lush tahini sauce.

The entree list is small, but focused. For the seafood route, try the raki (anise flavored liquor) infused branzino, with lightly charred skin and tender meat, atop a bed of caramelized onion, pickled za'atar, and green olives. Eriste, a signature dish, featuring hand cut Turkish pasta with spicy diced lamb, walnuts, sumac, cumin, surrounded by a halo of brown butter yogurt sauce. The essence of this dish can only be described as a warm, cozy hug of a meal, and we're loving the major Hamburger Helper vibes - though the much more classed-up adult version.

Cocktails aren't to be missed - the Barbarossa (rum, maraschino, lime, pineapple, ginger, honey) is light and refreshing with a slight kick from the ginger, and the Perfect Istanbul (rye whiskey, Cocchi Americano, Antica, sour cherry) is the kind of drink you want to sip on while lingering in front of the fire.

Grab a group, a date, or even just hang solo - Leyla is our new Upper West Side go-to for a relaxing, leisurely meal.