I was invited to Pergola on the night of one of their promotional events, which was meant to both celebrate the onset of summer and announce their launch of the Flora Club in 2016. The concept is a clever one that has become increasingly popular as of late - they have begun providing classes on arranging flower bouquets while serving cocktails and snacks, making for a fun and unique evening out with friends. As Tom, one of the instructors in floral arrangement at the event, said, “The forefront of pop culture is floral design.” The restaurant’s décor certainly reflected their new endeavor, what with the colorful flower arrangements hanging from the ceiling, spread on the tables, and attached to ribbons that doubled as bracelets, necklaces, and hairbands for guests. To top it off, the complimentary mini champagne bottles being handed out were, when finished, turned into impromptu flower vases.Having had the pleasure of eating at Pergola in the past, I was not surprised that the passed hors d'oeuvres were superb. The Manhattan Sideways team sampled a variety of options from the trays - hummus and pita, meatballs, crab cakes, tzatziki, and other mouthwatering Mediterranean dishes. Pergola is definitely a hot spot in the NoMad neighborhood as it has a beautiful, welcoming ambiance - especially when the doors are swung open - and the food is consistently excellent.
