If you are looking for an upscale, clean and spacious Middle Eastern restaurant in n La Mesa, look no further.

Ney Restaurant on Lake Murray Blvd has beautiful, calm decor with a wall of Middle Eastern geometric mosaics, two antique thrones and a shiny, fully stocked bar.

Where does the name Ney come from?

A ney is an ancient word for “reed”. It is a simple, long flute, usually made from a reed, and the only wind instrument used in Arab art music. It is also known for its deep and soulful tone.

Our waitress informed us that the recipes are Iraqi. Which is rich and flavorful with slight variations on the more traditional Mediterranean fare.

An example is the tzatziki sauce which is very cucumber laden with rich yogurt as opposed to other tzatzikis that are yogurt laden with a bit of cucumber. The salads are the freshest of the fresh. The hummus is silky smooth. The spicy Turkish-style Baba Ganoush of smoked eggplant with red peppers and tomatoes is creamy and flavorful.

Diner Scott Koenig received a recommendation to try Ney from their sister restaurant Oyster and Pearl next door.

“We enjoyed their creamy, flavorful hummus, fresh Greek salad and the incredible Al Muhib mixed grill,” Koenig said. “It includes kebabs of ground lamb, chicken and beef tikka, chicken schnitzel, basmati and saffron rice, cabbage salad, pickles, tahini and garlic sauce. The platter is lined with lavash with which to scoop it all up. One of the best things I’ve eaten this year.”

Ney serves a Masgouf, an Iraqi-style seabass (Branzino), which is roasted whole and served with vegetables, pickles and sauces.

A showstopper on the menu is the Lamb Tashreeb, a slow-braised lamb served with Iraqi bread, tomato sauce and vegetables. Even the Biriyani and Saffron rice will delight your taste buds.

Ney Restaurant is open for dinner Monday through Thursday 4 – 9 p.m. It is open for lunch and dinner Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. -10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. -9 p.m.

Located at 6062 Lake Murray Blvd, La Mesa. You can order takeout at (619) 303-0264.

Find their menu at: neyrestaurant.com.