REYLA

Truly a wonderful experience! My husband and I were due for a date night and we like to try new places and REYLA has been on our list for a while. I decided to make a reservation at the chefs table which was an amazing decision! At first we weren’t sure what this entailed but Chef Anthony helped us along the way on what we should try, he took my gluten allergy seriously and truly an exceptional experience. The level of flavor and creativity in the food was beyond delicious, you could taste the love they put into their meals. We truthfully travel outside of NJ to get this level of flavor and accessibility to allergy friendly restaurants. Majority of their menu is gluten free, they have vegetarian options marked, as well. We cannot wait to come back and enjoy another fantastic meal and experience by Chef Anthony and his team!

Well this is my second review of Reyla and after my previous negative review, Angelo invited myself back after gifting me a gracious giftcard, but it seems, nothing has changed. Previously I had a bad brunch experience and was told I gas lit a bartender, but now it is clear there are even more issues. I will start with a positive that Reyla’s brunch has turned around for the better and is the only thing this restaurant has going for it left. Props to the brunch crew. Two weeks ago I used my giftcard on happy hour at the bar and enjoyed a terrific Salatim and Lamb Burger meal. After such a terrific meal I decided to bring my parents to happy hour on Wednesday 7/24 and had an immensely upsetting & disappointing time. Here’s the issues: 1. There is such a notable up charge in prices and seemingly a decrease in portion size. They are purposefully pushing us locals out. 2. Talking about portion size there is 0 and I mean 0 quality control. As stated I had a lamb burger for happy hour a week ago and today my lamb burger looked NOTHING like previously. It included an entire plate of fries a week ago and today I had a mere handful. What about shareable plates does this place not get. So I expected a meal I previously gushed over and instead was disappointed. 3. The happy hour menu online in no way reflects the one in person. I mean this is just lazy, how hard is it to change a menu online. And I mean truthfully the layover menu is a pitiful happy hour menu. Right next door the Black Swan has M-F happy hour and an all day happy hour on Tuesday that includes 50% off all alc and food deals. RIGHT NEXT DOOR. And it’s packed in there on a Tuesday. 4. The menus were written so lazily the “vegan/gluten free/dairy free” symbols don’t even correctly label what is and isnt. The salatim is missing the V for example and many more. 5. Happy hour inconsistency. I have been here 4/5 times since summer began. I have been told at-least two times that happy hour only applies to the bar, today they told me it applies to tables as well. I have literally left the restaurant because I wanted to get happy hour outside and they said no. Fine by me don’t take my money. 6. Today my 60 yr old father ordered the falafel swarma. Let’s begin with the fact that the price has risen and it has shrunk, literally shrunk. Used to be the best deal on the menu (under 20 if I remember correctly) and now it’s 28 bahaha. It’s a joke. Did they raise these prices for summer? Again pushing out the locals. But that’s not the main issue. It was incredibly spicy, too spicy for him. He was unable to finish. Now that’s fine if you want a spicy dish, but maybe a pepper symbol or something. How does the customer know what Charif is and that it is spicy. You have to educate your customer. We spoke to lovely Kerry the manager who was very patient with our concerns and that we had to send back the food, but was still a little surprised to see it on the bill after not being able to finish it due to the spice. That’s fine though never expect anything to be comped but it was just a waste of money for both of us. 7. Lastly, after literally being embarrassed for taking my parents here and feeling completely defeated (ONCE AGAIN BY REYLA) I wanted a simple dessert to make my day better. There’s two “solid” desserts one being a brownie, but, of-course there’s a but, THEY WERE OUT. At 5:30 pm on a Wednesday they were out. That’s a joke where’s Gordon Ramsey when you need him. Overall I am embarrassed and disappointed for Reyla. Embarrassed because I keep giving this place a try when all they do is let me down. It’s frustrating. The management has failed. There is 0 quality control.