Dining at Sarma was a delightful experience. We came on a Tuesday at 6pm and luckily got seated at…read morea countertop within 30 mins. I would recommend calling beforehand to ask about the wait. Although we commuted from Cambridge, this meal was worth it. For two people, we got: - Black Seed Cornbread: it's soft, sweet yet savory. I've never had cornbread like this, and the first bite into this was unforgettable. You must get this. - Honey Nut Hummus: this was honestly fine and I'd probably try a different dip next time. - Warm Gyro bread: well seasoned and great to share between two. I normally don't like gyro but I enjoyed this. - Lamb al pastor: this was a favorite. It was sweet and the lamb was tender. We were really impressed with the sauce. - Brussel sprout bravas: this was okay. I liked the crunchy nuts and the star of this dish was once again the sauce/seasoning rather than the brussel sprouts. With all of these dishes, we ordered enough for two, with a few bites leftover. If you have a smaller appetite, you could get away with ordering a plate less. Overall, I loved the dining experience here. Even though I'm not typically a small plates mediterranean person, I appreciated Sarma - from its beautiful interior space and open kitchen concept, to the liveliness of the restaurant on a random weekday night. Definitely come here if you're in the area (or even if you're not!)

I had been looking forward to checking out Sarma for quite some time. Unfortunately, the experience…read moredidn't live up to the expectations. The food was overly salty, and the portions were very small.... even for tapas style dining. The flavor profiles just weren't there. The only thing that I would say tasted good was the cornbread and lamb skewer (which was definitely overpriced still). The cornbread was impressive and the ingredients made for a unique flavor. Service was also underwhelming. While the staff did their job, there wasn't much warmth or attentiveness and we didn't feel welcomed. We left feeling pretty disappointed given the hype and effort it took to get a reservation.

Heard really great things about this spot but unfortunately it was a little bit underwhelming…read more Ordered the Arabi Chicken Shawarma wrap-- there were a lot of fries and they were fine, and the chicken wrap was just chicken and sauce in a wrap that tasted too greasy and salty for my liking. Service was pretty quick, but there's not a ton of places to sit because it's so small.

Mannnn the falafel wrap and za'atar are straight BUSSIN! This really hit the spot especially as a…read morepicky vegan. Ordered Togo no left overs made it out of the restaurant, nearly re ordered the same exact order to actually eat at home the 2nd time. FIRE!

Excellent and knowledgeable staff Food odd the charitable…read morefresh and delicious Ordered FATTOUSH and loved it

Anoush'ella generously donated to the nearby elementary school for our annual cultural event this…read moreyear - they are a huge supporter of the local community. The food is delicious - highly recommend the hummus and labne!

Food was really authentic and fantastic. They knew real hospitality and took good care of us…read more I will go to Ali Baba whenever I visit Boston. Highly recommended! Great!

Ordered this at work, and ... I wasn't really feeling it. My review is purely based off my UberEats…read moreorder, so maybe dining in would be a different story. That being said ... I can't really review ambiance. Not only were the portions kind of "meh" for the price, they just didn't look at all like the menu photos. That alone turned me off, as I chose a lot of the items based off the photos. The taste was also very mediocre for me. I know this place has some really good reviews, so I'm not opposed to re-trying it. However, to be completely honest, it was very lackluster.

Top class people and restaurant! When my company made a mistake on a catering order, Naya fixed it…read morewith no issues and super quickly. Would highly recommend this restaurant, and the customer service is top notch! Cheers to them

Don't be put off by the line, went at lunch time with a line out the door but was through in about…read more5 minutes. Overall the food is solid, in a world where chipotle bowls aren't quite the same anymore I was happy with the the portions and the flavor. All that being said there's a lot of competition in the space and something like Amba in the galleria is a step above but for bowls on Boylston this is among the best.

Great meal, fun atmosphere...esp if you're limber enough to use the floor seating. We got the…read moregarlic yogurt appetizer, along with the spicy rice and chicken and the veggy stew entree. Both were delicious, as was the homemade pita that came with the stew. Lots of food - probably could've shared one entree between the two of us. Friendly suggestion to restaurant- the veggy stew was piping hot (heat, not spice). Even after letting it sit for 10', was still crazy hot. Maybe don't need to cook it to that temp. But was really delicious!

I do think much of the experience depends on if you are seated upstairs or downstairs here…read more Unfortunately for me, I was seated downstairs which took a big hit on the service front. I came here for lunch and ordered the foul al-shams, chicken vegetable stew, and a side of rice. Unfortunately the stew appeared without chicken and foul al-shams was so delayed that we told them to cancel it. The chicken vegetable stew was piping hot and full of flavor. The shredded chicken was tender and the stew did not feel too heavy to feel bogged down. The bread that came with it was also big and crisp but still soft inside. Together the two made a complementary meal that was satisfying. Despite how hard it was to track down our waiter, we still enjoyed the part of the meal we had. The upstairs definitely feels like the waiters are more on top of it and there is a more airy ambiance. The downstairs wasnt the most ideal and while good for big groups, youre still very aware of dining in a basement.

For my own birthday this year, I chose Oleana, supposedly one of Boston's best Mediterranean…read morerestaurants, and reservations are almost a month in advance. Overall, I was satisfied. Fatteh: The presentation was beautiful, with a delightful array of layers. Between two layers of crispy chips laid the chewy texture of fried mushrooms, the sweetness of cauliflower, the nutty aroma of pine nuts, and the refreshing sweet and sour taste of yogurt--a random combination that offered a different experience with every bite. The cauliflower, in particular, was crisp yet not tough, with a naturally gentle sweetness--a first for me. However, towards the end, the crispy chips became very slightly oily. Sultan's Delight: Perfect as a main course. The beef was stewed to perfection, incredibly tender and flavorful, almost falling apart the moment it touched the knife. It required absolutely no effort, reminiscent of a master butcher skillfully carving up an ox in Zhuangzi莊子, who kept his knife like new over nineteen years. The tamarind brought a slightly fermented, tangy aroma, while the smoked eggplant puree, likely babaganoush, was smooth and creamy with a mild, pleasant smokiness. The lemon juice, however, adds a refreshing touch, creating an interesting layering of acidity. It looked small, but it was surprisingly satisfying. The only downsides were the beef was slightly over-salty and the basil leaves, which seem to serve only a decorative purpose. Baked Alaska: A signature dessert, very popular on social media. Frankly, I came specifically for this, but after eating it, all I can say is, "Who's promoting this?"... The presentation was truly stunning, and the first few bites were quite good. The meringue was was torched to create a thin, burnt crust, resulting in a delicate and light texture, while the coconut ice cream blended with the bitter aroma of coffee. However, the base, a nut tart similar to a five-nut mooncake五仁月餅 filling, was too dense and heavy; the passion fruit syrup was excessively sweet and acidic, even a small amount was cloying, making it a torture by the end. The restaurant tables were a bit uneven and hopefully they will be repaired soon.

I've heard the name Oleana numerous times over the years. heard it was fetching and provided a…read morelevel of quality and excellence unparalleled. and yet was never intrigued enough to go. Something seemed off, in-authentic, shallow. just read a few reviews many of which seem to validate this burnished image and reputation. finally last Saturday night it was no longer an option to avoid an experience. There was an event to celebrate and I was invited. the propitious moment was hoisted upon me. would it measure up or be a mirage in the desert? Having never dined there I had no real experience to compare it with but for a Turkish-Mediterranean place it felt like all sizzle, no steak. While there are too many things to take issue with the most obvious is the wide discrepancy between the quality and quantity of portions relative to price. Under any circumstances the food was uniformly entirely unexceptional outside the fact it was consistently mediocre to poor. Tasteless, unimaginative, inappropriate cooked, greasy, ,lacking authentic spicing, and decidedly NOT presented for purposes of sharing. It is a deceptive approach to call it Tapas like and the predominant theme from our "primary waiter" was spend more money. The commercialization based on its reputation was frankly embarrassing and reason to cross it off a "must visit" list. Reminded me of a visit to Eastern Standard a few years ago. I have to imagine refined diners must have a wistful "used to be good attitude". My one and only trip made me feel like I was swindled at a Casablanca bazzar.

Tl;dr Amazing food with large portions. The triple mix platter is a great value and perfect for…read moresharing. The food here is amazing. We shared the triple mix platter for two people, and the portion size was already pretty good. The meat was super flavorful, and I really liked the lamb specifically. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. We sat at the bar and the service was excellent. We asked the server a lot of questions, and they were very friendly and took the time to answer all of them. I would love to come back and try the family plate with more people in the future. The combination of the great service and the generous portions makes this a standout spot for Mediterranean.

Quick service and great food! I would definitely come back to this spot. It was open later too…read morewhich was really convient as we arrived around 9pm.

Absolutely the best !!!! Food was so fresh, The best . Definitely going back!!!10 best pie,…read morespinach pie hummus bread was so fresh!!! The absolute best tabbouleh ever!!!

Delicious food and lovely staff! This is a family run establishment and the love and care they pour…read moreinto their food shows. The son of the owner took the time to review the menu with me and thanks to his recommendations, I went home with the most incredible pastries. Almost all of their desserts are made on site, and are very fairly priced for the quality and quantity. They have some of the best baclava I have ever had! We got falafels as our main dish and they were well seasoned and had good texture (not dry). Can't wait to come back and dine in.

Good food, tasty and healthy. Quick. Doesn't disappoint. The lemon dill beans are a sleeper here.read more

Easy place to stop by between stores on Newbury St for Greek fare. Food comes out pretty quickly…read moreand they have a great set of choices. Only thing to keep in mind is there's not much sitting space inside or outside, so on a busy day it might be better to plan to get take out and eat elsewhere. What mildly annoyed me was there were some people who were clearly not eating food from Greco sitting in the outdoor seating, but in such a busy area, seating comes at a premium.