First the food: my very favorite cuisine Mediterranean and they do it so well. The crispy eggplant is like nothing else: perfectly fried with a honey feta sauce. The dips and bread so good and the watermelon salad divine. Our server was so nice and perfect and the manager was friendly and accommodating. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a beautiful restaurant with outside seating: fresh, airy, and inviting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I want to come here every week. read more

Ilona is a Mediterranean restaurant in Boston, and my boyfriend and I came here for dinner on the Fourth of July. He had a $100 Resy credit, which ended up covering our entire meal with a little left over. For the quality of the food and the overall experience, it felt surprisingly affordable and very satisfying. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is open, stylish, and inviting, with both booth and table seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated at a corner table, which made the dinner feel relaxed and comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu is mostly tapas-style, so it is a great spot if you want to order several dishes and share. One downside is that the entrées were pretty meat-heavy. The kebabs, for example, were limited to beef, lamb, chicken, and swordfish. I would have loved to see a vegetable or tofu kebab on the menu. That said, I was still able to put together a really satisfying meal from the appetizers, mezze, and salads. We started with a dip assortment that came with Lebanese-style flatbread, or manakish. The dips included a spicy yogurt-based dip, beet hummus, and another grainier orange-colored hummus. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and really enjoyable. The standout dish for me was the crispy eggplant. It came as thin, tempura-style slices of eggplant with a pomegranate yogurt sauce and a honey glaze. It was definitely on the sweeter side, but it was absolutely delicious--honestly, I could have made a meal out of that dish alone. We also ordered the fattoush salad, which had the classic vegetables but felt especially fresh because of the watermelon cubes, cherry tomatoes, sumac vinaigrette, and capers. My boyfriend also tried the oysters, which were a special that day. Overall, Ilona was a great dinner spot: cute atmosphere, central Boston location, shareable plates, and tasty Mediterranean food. I do wish there were more vegetarian-friendly entrée options, but I still had a very satisfying meal and would happily come back. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I've been here a few times across different seasons; summer, winter, it doesn't matter, the vibes are always high.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's such a lovely spot for drinks and appetizers or a full dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music is consistently great, and it gets packed, so definitely make a reservation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd recommend the hummus and the mkhlovani, but honestly, everything is perfectly balanced--beautifully presented and genuinely delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a great first stop for a girls' night out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]One thing to note: it tends to empty out pretty quickly after around 10 p.m.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Highly recommend the fried eggplants and $1 oysters! Freshest $1 oysters I've had! Make sure to get a reservation because it can get packed real quick. Service was quick and attentive! read more

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I came here with friends and was not disappointed. We ordered a variety of tapas and they were all great. My favorite was the octopus and the halloumi. Other great dishes were the pita bread and dips (pikilia), fattoush salad, potatos, kofte and crispy eggplant. The staff were really friendly. I would say this place is not best for walk ins unless you want to sit at the bar which is full service. It's better to make reservations beforehand for a large party or to sit at a table. read more

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My friends and I came to ilona for a birthday dinner, and I genuinely cannot say enough good things about this place. The birthday girl has strict gluten-free and dairy-free dietary needs, and when I called ahead to ask if we could bring special cupcakes for her, the staff couldn't have been kinder or more understanding and immediately said of course. Once we arrived, our waiter went above and beyond. He took the time to go through the entire menu and mark what was gluten-free and dairy-free so the birthday girl could easily decide what she wanted. That alone would've made our night, but the whole experience just kept getting better. The food... oh my gosh. Incredible. It was my first time here, but it's definitely gonna become a go-to spot for bringing friends from out of town. The chicken kebab was amazing, the Brussels sprouts were perfect, and I fell in love with their mejadra- seriously so good!! Just like my mom makes it. We ordered a bunch of small plates to share, and every single one was a hit. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is just as thoughtful as the service: warm mood lighting, options for small booths or tables, and even a coat rack (which was perfect for this cold November night). Everything is intentional and cozy without feeling crowded.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] To top it all off, at the end of the night we ordered espresso and tea, and our waiter brought over the sweetest surprise: he took a dried orange slice, added a candle, and placed it on her espresso so she could blow out a birthday candle. It was such a simple but incredibly thoughtful gesture. Overall, ilona is kind, accommodating, delicious, and truly memorable. I recommend it to everyone!! read more

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The food was phenomenal. Highly recommend the eggplant, bread, lamb pasta, chicken kabob....everything. We found this spot while in town and it didn't disappoint. Great service, great ambiance and great food. My family all said hands down this was one of the best meals we've ever had and we've eaten at some amazing restaurants. read more

I had to come here when I found out it was under the same management of one of my faves, Kava neo-taverna. I forgot to take pics, but loved the eggplant chips with yogurt dip. Very crunchy but light. Fatoush salad was a classic too! Didn't love the ribs because they felt artificially sweet, but didn't hate them either. I'd definitely come back for oysters on a Thursday or weekend in the future! read more

ilona - Fatoush salad - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Lovely restaurant with amazing food and very nice team members that take care of you. What a lovely experience read more

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Came in for $1 oysters on Thursday night! 3 types to choose from. It's getting harder to find these spots! The Mediterranean food is also very yummy. Recc making a rezzy here, I was lucky to snag a table for 2 by the door. I ordered the crispy eggplant (tempura) and lamb skewers(2), very juicy and smoky. Pretty busy and a little bit slow to get the food out. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dark type of restaurant. Noise level is 7/10, hard to hear conversations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant should invest in some boxes to let customers put in their bags/coats.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bathrooms are very nice and clean![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Stopped by Ilona around 5pm on a weekday and was able to walk right in. This might be one of my favorite Mediterranean spots in Boston. The food is consistently fresh and high quality, with a lot of attention to flavor and detail. The service was attentive without feeling rushed, and the whole experience felt relaxed yet elevated. They accidentally brought us the wrong dish but let us keep it, which was a nice touch and much appreciated. The absolute must-order is the eggplant. It is perfectly crispy with a salty and sweet balance that is seriously addictive. I think about it long after I leave. I can't wait to come back and try more. read more

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Food was so good. The service was absolutely 10/10. The waitress and waiters were attentive. Ensuring our water glasses were filled and our orders were placed for food and drinks. Consistently checking in on us during our meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was great. Very loungey.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I came for dinner on a weekday so it was not very busy so that could be why the staff were so attentive or appears so.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

ilona - Tuna Crudo - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We came here on a Saturday evening during their 4-7pm $1 oyster special and it did not disappoint. They were available to be ordered in increments of half dozens up to 2 dozens at a time and had 3 varieties to choose from. They were fresh, delicious, and came out quickly and well-presented. We also ordered some tapas and our favorites were the ribs and the brussels sprouts. I love simultaneously sweet and savory flavors and both of these dishes were well prepared and a perfect balance of both. The patatas bravas had a curry sauce instead of aioli like we were expecting, but they were well-prepared. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, this is a cute spot with good ambiance and a great $1 oyster deal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I just wish our servers didn't keep trying to take away our plates before we were finished eating and that they supported Apple Pay like it says on their Maps listing. read more

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Amazing drinks. Could go just for cocktails! But the food is also amazing! We tried the chicken kebab, brussels sprouts, pikalia, and harissa potatoes. Love them all would get them all again! Brussels sprouts were definitely on the sweeter side. The pikilia came with a crazy feta dip, a beet yogurt dip, and a nut spread. I wish they served more bread - only came with 2 pita rounds so may need more if with more people. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great service but pretty loud in the evenings.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely coming back but if you're on a budget you can find cheaper tapas places! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I'm glad I checked this spot out but it wasn't super memorable as a date night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I think it would be a better experience with a group so you can order more dishes, and in the summer as it seems they open the windows.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] That said, I have no major complaints about anything we ordered. The molisana ribs were very flavorful, but difficult to eat without being messy. The swordfish kebab was tender, but I'm not sure it was worth almost $20. Arugula salad was very basic. Not much to say about the drinks. Service was very attentive, almost too much, but [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant was very clean, bright and airy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Excited to check out the other spots managed but this restaurant group! read more

ilona - Molisana Ribs, Arugula Salad - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We came for the $1 oyster special on Thursday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is super cute with flowery plates and a wall mural.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great place for date nights[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the oysters came out super fast We tried all three types of oysters. The West Island were fresh and briny. The Plumb beach were very plump. The Wellfleet was too fishy. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The reservation was only available the day before. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is beautiful[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and on Thursday, I came for their buck-a-shuck oysters, which were available all night. 3 types of oysters I can't complain since they are only $1 each. My favorite is Island Creek. Crispy Eggplant It was crispy and not too oily IF you cool down a little before eating. Even if it is served with pomegranate yogurt, you can't taste the pomegranate, and they added honey. It tastes like crispy potato since the eggplant is cut thinly and served with yogurt and honey on the side. Molisana Ribs The pork ribs melt in your mouth, but I can't taste any spicy--only three pork ribs. Sauteed Mushrooms Nothing special. It is overseasoned with salt and fried quail eggs on top. read more

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I very much enjoyed Ilona. Everything was perfection. The food was incredible. The drinks were delicious and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere was chic yet cozy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was increíble attentive and was always there at the right moment. We came just for dinner but then was pleasantly surprised that it was $1 oyster night. We ended up getting a dozen and they were fresh and incredible. I was more than impressed by Ilona and I will definitely be retuning. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Chic and buzzy South End eatery Ilona is a delight for Mediterranean Mezze lovers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Standouts included crispy eggplant, spiced batata harra and a scrumptious pikilia platter. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cozy atmosphere is great for intimate dinner accompanied by great cocktails.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was friendly and attentive making it a great experience. read more

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I had a nice dinner at Ilona! On Sunday evenings they seem to have quite a few open tables for walk ins. We went around 7pm and were immediately seated despite not having a reservation. We tried the octopus, arugula salad, and cheesy bread. Everything was very good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was very nice and pink![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall a good dinner. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Was craving shawarma but wanted to go somewhere with nice ambiance. Arrived around 4:10 on a Saturday. They told us they only make shawarma until 4 for dine in guests but they make them all day for delivery customers, which was disappointing and made no sense. Ordered a few different items. The portion sizes are very small- basically tapas. But the prices are more like entree prices. A small side salad was $16. Tiny mocktails were $11 each. And soda water was $6. The food did not live up to my previous experience here. The kebab was tender but not memorable. The octopus was cold and rubbery. The host was not friendly at all. Almost wanted to walk back out as soon as we walked in. The waiter was friendlier and engaged in conversation when we asked questions. I won't be returning unfortunately. The ambiance is cute but not worth it. read more

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Amazing vibes to get some food and a drink in the South End! Loved the plates and decor. Oysters: 8/10 fresh and loved the sauces it came with Crispy eggplant: 6/10 these were a bit oily and tasted like funnel cake Ceviche: 7/10 could have had more seafood in it but the plantains were an interesting combo Ribs: 9/10 my favorite dish. Came right off the bone and had great flavor read more

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margaritas were awesome and service was top tier. the tuna was amazing, potatoes were pretty good, but the crispy eggplant fell short! surprising since i think this is what they're known for. little too thin so didn't have a lot of flavor read more

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Great restaurant! Would recommend and definitely want to come back. Great for all sorts of occasions. Definitely on the pricier side and portions are small plate sharing style. 1. Goulash 4.5/5 - flavor was great and cooked to perfection. 2. Molisana ribs: 4.5/5 - meaty and well flavored. The honey and tzatziki add a amazing freshing flavor. 3. Lamb kabab: 4/5 - honestly for just meat on a stick, it was amazingly cooked and tasted great! Service was kind and attentive, granted the restaurant wasn't busy and the vibes are amazing and felt posh. read more

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Please be aware that this restaurant choses to partake in the policy where they WILL refuse you if your ID is from another state. The manager stated it was "massachusetts law" and mentioned "many restaurants would turn us away" when in reality, this is something a restaurant can willingly take partaken and that their entire restaurant group abides by this. It wasn't until I read up on it in person in front of him that he corrected himself. If you are a person from out of state, please note they will not allow you to be seated at the bar or serve drinks if you have a valid ID from out of state. Please refer to photos the manager showed us. Absolutely disappointed and felt like discrimination when we're 23. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here for a graduation dinner and the place was really cute! There was a set up of someone's post proposal dinner that they were setting up and all the staff was super attentive and kind to the details of it while still quick with our orders! My family and I shared multiple dishes tapas style and got their bread with their absolutely to die for hummus and sauces!! Other notable dishes were the tempura eggplant chips and the lamb pizza pie which was so filling and delicious! Bathroom rating: 5/5 Very sleek, fancy, and beautiful and very much matches the interior of the rest of the restaurant! Love to see the quality of a place through the way they take care of their bathrooms read more

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Had an early dinner with my wife on a Saturday night. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is nice, but a little loud for my taste.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was quick and the waiter was really friendly and attentive. The food was good overall. We really liked the chicken kabobs and chocolate mousse. I didn't like the Imeruli Khachapuri, too salty. read more

ilona - Chocolate mousse - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It was fine but I'm a vegetarian and these small plate places are NOT for us. Just way too expensive for the product of like 2 vegetable plates. These small plates places are not for people with dietary restrictions but I didn't have much of a choice but to go here at the time. If you eat meat it's probably fine but if you have dietary restrictions stay away from these places even though they're everywhere. God help us against the tapas crusade OMG read more

This place was exactly what I was expecting it would be. Great vibes and great food! We came for the dollar oyster special and it did not disappoint. They were fresh and delicious! We also ordered the octopus and the crispy eggplant as recommended by fellow yelpers, and both were fantastic. The octopus was cooked perfectly and the flavor was really tasty. As for the eggplant, you can never go wrong with anything fried. I only wish the eggplant itself was a little thicker because I felt like I was just eating a fried chip or something, but the crispy-ness was perfection and the honey with the sauce underneath really completed the taste. The vibes here are 10/10. Ambiance is super trendy and the decor is very stylish. Service is attentive, they all seem to be working together because it seemed we had 2 different servers. Never had to ask for someone's attention though, and water was always refilled which was nice. I would definitely come back here again, especially for the dollar oyster special, and to try more items on the menu! read more

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I love tapas and this place doesn't disappoint. We went to dinner on Thursday evening, when they offer buck-a-shuck all night. In tonight's menu they offered three different oysters. All were quite good. We were a party of four so tasting their menu was upmost on our mind. Each dish we tried had enough for each of us to try. We started with 3 dozen oysters followed by their mixed olives which were quite interesting and very good. We also had the batata harras which are diced spicy potatos with crispy banana strips. Quite tasty. We also had their Kalamarakia Tiganita which is fried calamari with hot peppers. I'd say Rhode Island style. Also prepared perfectly, tender and flavorful. We then moved on to the scampi buzara, which is shrimp in a tasty spicy tomato sauce with garlic. This was probably my favorite. We also had the grilled octopus and their hibiscus ceviche. Both were out of this world. The ceviche was a red snapper. Our server was quite attentive and quick with our selections. He was quite good. All in all I am looking forward to visiting Ilona again in the near future. read more

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Solid 3.5 stars. Came here on Saturday night at 630 pm with a couple girlfriends and it was busy. Loved the ambiance. We made reservations in advance but my friend arrived early and was able to grab a drink at the bar. The hostess sat us anyway even though we were waiting for another friend which was a nice surprise! Waitstaff was friendly and attentive. We ordered the following: Chicken Kebabs, Crispy Eggplant, Fried Halloumi, arugula salad, seafood risotto, and falafel. We were sad they ran out dollar oysters. Probably need to get there on the earlier side to snag them (dollar oysters all night Saturday and from 4-7 pm Fri/Sat). Chicken kebabs; crispy eggplant; and fried halloumi were delicious! Chicken was tender and flavorful. Fried halloumi was a mix of sweet and savory. I would skip the seafood risotto and falafel. Seafood risotto had mussels that were mushy and not very fresh and the dish was too salty and fishy tasting. The falafel was over fried - dry in the middle and hard on the outside. I had the purple haze mocktail that was on the sweeter side and my friends enjoyed their bottle of wine. Overall great service and ambiance. Food is a hit or miss.. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food was so so good ! We ordered a whole of dishes and the service was quick and every dish was delicious! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat outside as the weather was perfect but indoors is nice too ( a bit loud ).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would go back to try their crispy eggplant , seafood risotto and the different ceviche . read more

one of the best waitstaff experiences I've ever had. My dear friend has some severe allergies, but after an active day we had completely forgotten to eat and just ducked into the nearest restaurant hoping they'd at least have bread options that they could be safe with. Thank goodness we went into Ilona. The staff went above and beyond to accommodate my friend, going as far as to collaborate with the chefs to cross off anything on the menu that would contain allergens. and continued through the meal to check in and make sure cross contamination wasn't an issue. A huge shout out to Ally who originally set this new menu in motion, Ramon who served us throughout the meal and was so kind, and the manager Antonio who personally checked in on my friends allergies as well as made sure I and their partner were just as closely attended to. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough, especially if like me you are just a visitor to Boston and in need of a delicious meal with kind waitstaff read more

Brunch at ilona was so good. Also very underrated as we were the only ones there. * Crispy eggplant: one of my fave things I've eaten in recent memory. Tasted almost like funnel cake. * Khachapuri: yummy cheese-stuffed bread, could use a sauce on the side. * Lamb souvlaki: fine, nothing to write home about but good with the bread. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised. The food is tapas style and I enjoyed everything we ordered. Our server was attentive, the vibes were lively and loud. A great option if you need a last minute dinner spot on a Friday night. The roasted cauliflower was zesty and so flavorful and I think deserves more hype. The potatoes were sometimes crispy/fresh or soggy or grainy. I also recommend trying the Pikilia! read more

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I don't have much experience with Mediterranean cuisine but we were quite happy with our experience here. If you're an oyster person then this place is great as they have $1 oysters from Thursday thru Saturday (Thursday is all night, Friday and Saturday is from 4pm to 7pm). Items we ordered as of 11/2023: - Kalamarakia Tiganita - $17 - This is fried calamari and was quite good. Fresh and perfectly crispy. Would recommend. - Octopus - $19 - The octopus was very tender and the lemon vinaigrette paired really well with it making this a very refreshing dish. We would order this again. - Fattoush salad - $14 - Very refreshing salad. - Beef Shish Kebab - $17 - Well seasoned and cooked beef! Very tender and pairs well with the sauce provided. I would get this again. - Lamb Souvlaki - $17 - Another delicious dish with a delicious Tzatziki sauce. Would also high recommend this one. Overall we were quite happy with our meal and will definitely return in the future! read more

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I was visiting a friend and we decided to come here on a Thursday night. The restaurant is lively with dim lighting and good music, definitely a great choice for a girls dinner. The food was good, but the portions are a bit small and the menu is not all that exciting. Our server was attentive but they really try and sell you on the drinks! Overall, a good spot for apps and drinks with friends! read more

ilona - Pikilia - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Overall: yes. This place is good. This place is cute. This place is reasonably priced. The bad reviews have mostly been about the brunch as there's no way they could be about the dinner service. Food: the crispy eggplant was fried tempura style with such a rich sweet yogurt sauce. You have to order this as everyone else is recommending. Slow roasted lamb? Or was it beef because I couldn't tell as the gaminess was dissipated completely. It was fall off the bone tender and paired with pita and tzatziki sauce. You could tell it wasn't seasoned too much as most of the natural flavors and juices came out. Highly recommend although understandably pricey. Roasted cauliflower is the vegetable of choice. Imagine roasted Brussels sprouts marinaded in yogurt because that's how it tasted. Slightly charred and dressed really well. Ambience/Decor/Service: it was a classy place with a casual vibe. Very comfortable seating (potentially packed) and a cozy setting. You have parties of 4 sitting in booths in the middle and parties of 2 strung around the outer ring. Some larger high tops as well. The decor was nice as the plates themselves were really creative. The service was standard as they let us have the space but still checked semi regularly. read more

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I highly recommend coming here. In search of Greek food we found this gem. It's not classic family dining but has Greek food served tapas style. This allowed us to sample so much of this amazing menu. Everything was wonderful. We ordered falafel, eggplant, branzino, slow braised lamb, Brussel sprouts, chicken kabob and arugula salad. All amazing. Our server was attentive despite being so busy. The indoor and outdoor seating were all full. Definitely make reservations. If you miss your reservation you will be charged a fee. The food is so good you won't miss it. Although the tables are a little close you don't feel claustrophobic. I look forward to coming back. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Best restaurant in Boston! If you can get in you're in for an amazing meal. The lamb pasta was the star of the show but everything was very good. Buck a shuck was a welcome surprise! read more