Edith Escalon was very kind and helpful! Very clean inside and was offered great service!read more

Amazing store and each and every employee is extremely nice the food is amazing as well! I felt at…read morehome and the place is very peaceful and comfortable to sit down and enjoy your meal

One of my favorite dining experiences all year…read more Service- exceptional. Everyone interacted with was amazing. My server had excellent recommendations and was super knowledgeable about the menu and the popularity of items. Food- we got 5 dinner items and 1 dessert item and that was enough for two. Zaatar Bread- our favorite item. Bread was thick but light. Buttery but not overpowering. And the dip! Wow was the dip so good. Whipped Feta- delicious but could've use 2 more chips as the dip to chip ratio was off. Sultans Delight- my wife's favorite dish. Super tender and extremely flavorful. Lamb Shwarma (special)- so good and I hope they add it to their menu going forward. Mussels- mixed. I enjoyed them but my wife did not like them as much. May have been textural for her, but I enjoyed it. Baked Alaska- a must. From the presentation to the flavors- amazing! Can't wait to come back, they earned their Michelin recognition for sure.

Oh, Oleana! Tucked…read moreaway in Cambridge, Oleana is a cozy Mediterranean restaurant serving small plates. My partner and I managed to snag a last-minute reservation on a Tuesday night, and even at 9 p.m. the restaurant was still lively. Between the beautiful decor and warm atmosphere, it made for a great date night spot, though it was admittedly a bit dim (apologies in advance for the photo quality!) Between the two of us, we ended up ordering quite a few dishes: Whipped Feta (4/5): This was good, though I was hoping for a stronger roasted pepper flavor. Nothing wrong with it, but it didn't quite stand out. Interestingly, we overheard the table next to us mention the same thing, so maybe this one's a bit hit or miss. Spinach Falafel (4/5): Another solid dish. It was bright, colorful, and fresh, though a little messy to eat. Our waiter rather bluntly told us to "just wrap it and bite," which caught us a little off guard, but it was good nonetheless. Fatteh (4.5/5): Our favorite appetizer of the night. The creamy roasted cauliflower paired so well with the crispy pita, and I especially loved the sweetness the onions brought to the dish. Sultan's Delight (5/5): As everyone else says, this is the one to order. The beef was incredibly tender and rich. In hindsight, I almost wish we'd had the potatoes from the Adana Kebab to eat alongside it because they would've been the perfect accompaniment. Vermont Quail Kebab (5/5): Tied with the Sultan's Delight as our favorite entrée. The quail was juicy, well-spiced, and surprisingly easy to eat. I'd absolutely order this again. Adana Kebab (4/5): By this point, I think we were simply getting full. The kebab itself was good, but not nearly as memorable as the other meat dishes. Ironically, the potatoes and peppers that came with it might have been my favorite part--they would've paired perfectly with the Sultan's Delight. Baked Alaska (4.5/5): Delicious. The toasted meringue paired wonderfully with the coconut ice cream, though we were a little mixed on the passionfruit caramel, which came across slightly burnt and more acidic than expected. After a while the meringue did become quite sweet, so we ended up pairing some with the Muhallebi. Dark Chocolate Muhallebi (3.5/5): Yes...we ordered two desserts. I was mostly drawn in by the kaymak ice cream, but the Muhallebi itself was almost completely unsweetened. I'm usually all for desserts that aren't overly sweet, but this one leaned more savory than I expected. We actually ended up adding some leftover meringue from the Baked Alaska to balance it out. Looking back, given both our appetites (and our wallets), I think we would've been perfectly happy just ordering the Baked Alaska. Overall, Oleana was a lovely spot for a date night. While it didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations I'd built up from all the praise, we still had a really enjoyable meal. Our main waiter was kind, and I appreciated that the dishes came out in rounds, giving us plenty of time to eat and chat. The meat dishes were definitely the highlights for us, but overall there's a lot to like here.

A very popular, long-established Greek restaurant in Boston. Last time I walked in and was told…read morethere would be a two-hour wait, but this time I made a reservation and finally got to enjoy a delicious meal! Tiropita Rolls: Very straightforwardly delicious. The bread was warm, soft, and airy, with a rich aroma of butter and cheese; the spread was a rich blend of honey butter, and olives, sweet and delicious, perfect as an appetizer. Tzatziki: A slight disappointment. The cucumber and Greek yogurt spread was surprisingly heavy, a bit cloying, and the pickled kumquats weren't as sweet as I expected, but rather had a slightly bitter taste. The pita bread was thick and soft, probably better suited for dipping in soup--like Bourdeto--than for the spread. Bourdeto: The tomato fish soup was a pleasant surprise. The freshly caught grouper of the day was thick and tender, lightly seared to create a crispy crust. The broth was a vibrant, tangy tomato base, with onions, fennels, and red peppers contributing a sweet, layered flavor. Trahanas, fermented wheat and dairy, added richness and a smooth texture to the soup. The broth also had a slight spiciness, making it incredibly comforting on a chilly autumn day. Portokalopita: The dessert that elevated the entire meal. A traditional Greek orange phyllo, the cake, made from crumbs of phyllo pastry, becomes incredibly soft and moist after being soaked in orange syrup. Every bite was bursting with rich orange sweetness and fragrance, followed by a slightly bitter orange zest--perfectly balanced. Paired with Manouri cheese ice cream, the creamy flavor was incredibly rich and creamy, creating a harmonious and layered flavor profile.

Krasi is a classic, high-end Greek restaurant with an excellent food and drink selection. It was a…read moregreat choice to catch up with friends and celebrate after a difficult med school exam! We chose to sit outside; it was a chilly fall evening when we went last year, but we got some lap blankets which was a nice touch, so brownie points for service. My friend and I split the pastitsio (meat pasta dish), kotopoulo (a chicken dish), louza charcuterie, and tiropita (halloumi rolls). The rolls were stuffed with halloumi and were dense in the best way possible. Coupled with the louza charcuterie, the appetizers were a hit. The two entrees were small but mighty - they were packed with rich meats but also featured microgreens, herbs, and other tangy, bold flavors that really balanced the dishes. We got some glasses of Greek orange wine that I can't remember the name of but it paired excellently with the food per our waitress's recommendation. Overall, a solid Greek option if you're in Back Bay! But definitely make a reservation if you can.

Unfussy little joint with fresh Mediterranean flavors. The rice is pillowy soft. The beef and lamb…read moreschwarma is full of flavor and the side options could be their own stars. Great spot for quick healthy lunch.

Small portion sizes for the price, limited topping options, bland food. Not terrible, but was…read moreexpecting a lot better. CAVA is much better in my opinion. Ordered takeout, so it was quick and convenient, though.

Very good food and attentive service. Menu selection was just right and ambiance was calmread more

First of all the food was mostly excellent and service was too…read more When they say " small plates" they mean it SMALL Hummus was good fairly bland a 4" inch plate $14 Fancier Hummus with mushrooms, better, also small $21 Beef shish, really exc. One skewer , 4 pieces, $25 Half small chicken $38 So overall, food was good, but very expensive for what we got

As if I didn't already get enough quality time with my kid on our Morocco trip. Instead of heading…read morehome to NY after we landed in Boston, I tagged along with her in Cambridge for one more night. That also meant squeezing in one more new restaurant together. Tucked in the corner of a cozy residential neighborhood, Desfina has that laid-back vibe. There's indoor seating if you want to escape the heat and outdoor seating. It was hot as hell- but we picked a table outside anyway. The service is exactly how I like it. Warm, friendly and attentive without someone checking on you every 10 seconds. Everyone was just full of smiles and it made our dinner that much special. Instead of going for big main plates, my daughter and I went for starters. The fried calamari is a must and tasty. The batter is light and crisp and actually stays on the calamari instead of sliding off. The grilled octopus is silky- the kind that melts the second you bite into it. None of that chewiness you get from places that don't know how to make a grilled octopus. This one in Desfina, is how it's supposed to be done! A Greek salad was a given. And the grilled shrimp with lemon potatoes hit the spot too. I'll admit, I was hoping for bigger shrimp(?), but these were juicy and tasty though.

Great spot near my new apartment. Big portion, good ingredients and perfectly cooked…read more Had: Chicken kebab plate

I chose Mistral for my farewell dinner with a few friends before moving out of the area, and I'm…read moreglad I did! I hadn't been here in ages, and the staff made us feel very welcomed. Nastassia was a gracious host and Alejandro was friendly and informative. We were pleased to see they had several non-alcoholic but flavorful options, which is nice to see increasingly at fine dining establishments. Because I am functionally incapable of not ordering French Onion Soup when it's an option--and I like to start meals off with a healthy salad--I ordered both the soup and the Lamb's Lettuce salad, both of which were wonderful. The French Onion Soup featured a bit more puff pastry than I typically see and it was a little less cheesy than I might have preferred, but it was really well balanced. The pecan melba was a great touch on the salad as well. I had the half duck with cranberry gastrique as my entree, and it was cooked perfectly. Overall, we had a lovely time, and it was nice to end my four years in Boston at Mistral, which I discovered years ago while on business travel from DC. The team continues to be excellent, and Mistral continues to be a star of the Boston dining scene.

Mistral might be the best dinner we've had in Boston. We made reservations for 5:30pm and were glad…read morewe did; the place was packed right at opening. We arrived a little early and were escorted to a cozy lounge before being guided to our table, a corner spot right under the restaurant's big windows. From the moment you walk in, you can see how elegant it is, and yet it's not pretentious at all. I spotted people in sneakers and Birkenstocks alongside others who were dressed up which worked out since we'd spent the day sightseeing and were dressed a bit more casual. We started with the escargot, which was delicious, served out of the shell with toasted sourdough. The complimentary bread was also some of the best I've had and I'm not just saying that because it was free. The wine list was extensive but had something for every price range. We picked a delicious Bordeaux for just $80, which was less than I expected to pay at a restaurant of this caliber. My husband ordered the Cornish hen and I had the duck on a bed of risotto. Both were amazing, and the portions were huge. I ended up taking half my duck home which I really wasn't expecting. The duck was delicious but my husband's hen might have been just a bit better; it was so juicy. We also got a side of the horseradish mashed potatoes; divine. I went in expecting small plates and precious portions like most elevated French spots so this was a welcome surprise. We ended with the crème brûlée, it had the most perfect "glassy" top; might be the best I've had. The service was next level throughout. Can't recommend Mistral enough for a special night out in Boston.

The service was exceptional!!!! The food was so so so good. The place was so aesthetic…read more I dropped part of my falafel sandwich on the floor by accident and the server brought me extra falafel. So so so kind!!! Highly recommend.

For nearly $55 for two people I expected better than bad service, pitiful portion sizes, no drinks…read moreand no sides. I am disappointed, from the very start to the end my experience was quite bad. The kitchen did not allow a bread substitution for the sandwich we ordered, they did not do waffles at this location either, and when we got our food the portion sizes were very small. The salmon was very overpriced for how much they offered; $27 for a piece of salmon only a few inches across was insulting, but apparently that is just how it is served there (picture below, you can see the pieces of broccoli are almost as big as the fish!) The other dish we got was the chicken sandwich, which is cut into two halves. The first half was normal but there was basically no chicken on the second half of the sandwich, it was essentially all bread. We brought it up to a manager and they got us a new piece of chicken, which fit entirely alongside the old piece of chicken on the bun because it was so small. On top of that we had to wait around nearly half an hour after finishing and had to flag down a waiter to get our check and go. The service overall was very slow. I will never come back to this restaurant.

My husband and I were walking on Newbury Street in downtown Boston and were hungry for lunch. This…read morewas a random pick and I'm so glad we ended up here. Aceituna Grill is a small, local chain in the Boston area with four locations. The menu has three main Mediterranean options (pita roll-up, rice plate, salad plate) where you can mix and match with different proteins and sides. I ordered a salad plate with falafel for protein. It came with pita bread and two sides so I got hummus and fried cauliflower. Everything was fresh and it was a TON of food for $15ish which you can easily make into two meals. We ordered at the counter and ate in the restaurant. Service was quick and the restaurant was clean. I highly recommend if you're looking for a healthy food option to check out Aceituna Grill!

This is like a Greek chipotle, wasn't expecting super high quality food but everything was pretty…read moresour tasting to me. The beef and lamb, the spicy orange sauce, and the vegetables were all too sour. The fried cauliflower was good but a little cold and soggy. Service was quick and efficient, and there's plenty of indoor seating and a tv like a sports bar if you need a place to chill on Newbury street.

My friend and I just had the most delightful experience dining at the Peregrine bar -- and a lot…read morehad to do with our bartender/server, Franco. It had been a while since both of us had been there, and I'm sure we'll be back again soon to see Franco. ;)

I wasn't even here for 5 minutes. My boyfriend made a reservation for us and we were super excited…read moreto give this a try. We arrive and were greeted by the front desk and went to the bar. We waiting for someone to acknowledge our presence to check in for our reservation. No one even looked at us. The woman at the front desk noticed we were not helped and ran over to help us (shoutout her). When we checked in, we had specifically reserved an outdoor table, which were all given away. Their solution was to put us at a table that was along the major highway outside of the hotel. We sat down, the table was filthy, no one came to take our order, bring us menus, or clean off the table. I would not recommend, and I wouldn't go again to give it a second try.