AMAZING The food is so delicious and the service is top shelf. Heard they have a spot in Sudbury…read moreneed to check it out !

This place is only take-out. The people on the staff are hospitable. I have been to this place…read moretwice. Twice we had the beef koobideh and twice we were left unimpressed. The koobideh was more eggy than it was beefy. It almost felt like that there was barely any beef in the koobideh. The second time we also had beef soltany, to give another item a try. This item was alright. You could taste the pomegranate molasses in the soltany. While the flavor was pleasant, I was expecting more char from the kebab (especially from the sugars in the pomegranate molasses) and for the meat to be more tender, after the staff hyped up this particular item. I also don't think that the price of $29 for this item was justified.

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.

Great for a tasty Persian lunch or dinner! Highly recommended. The staff is super friendly too…read more Sofia was great. Also check out their store and the greek market on the opposite corner. Fun couple of blocks.

I was genuinely looking forward to trying Cafe Vanak today, especially because I've enjoyed Persian…read morefood for years through close friends and had heard great things about this place. Unfortunately, my first experience did not reflect the many positive reviews. When I walked in, the first thing I was asked was "pickup?" I politely said no, that I wanted to place an order. I had to repeat myself several times, and the older woman at the counter either seemed frustrated, distracted, or maybe just having a rough day. There was little direction given to a first-time customer, and I found myself awkwardly trying to figure out where the menu board was and how the ordering process worked. Eventually, I stepped aside to look over the menu. The older woman continued helping the customers in front of me, which was completely understandable. What confused me was that the younger employee made eye contact with me, nodded toward me as if acknowledging I needed help, then asked if anyone had helped me yet. I explained that the other employee was probably about to, but needed a moment. Before I could even finish, she cut me off and said, "Oh, she can help you then," and immediately went back to scrolling on her phone while I continued standing there waiting. That was the disappointing part for me. If you ask who's next at the register, acknowledge someone is waiting, and another employee is already busy helping others, it creates a poor first impression when the available employee chooses not to assist and instead goes back to their phone. It came across as a lack of urgency and customer service. Maybe it was just an off day. I'm not writing this to attack the business because the food may very well be excellent, and clearly many people love this place. But first impressions matter, especially for new customers walking in excited to try your establishment for the first time. I truly hope the service experience improves because I wanted to like this place a lot more than I did today.

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.

Lucked out with a Resy opening a couple days before for Thursday @ 5:30pm. Arrived a few minutes…read moreearly, and there was a line of people ~8-10 ppl standing by for walk-ins (everyone was seated). Veggie Mezze - Fatteh ($16) - really enjoyed this crunchy mezze! Sounded simple on the menu - Chicory + Herb Salad ($17) - refreshing start with a sweet and savory salad, enjoyed this, flavors all paired very nicely - Halloumi Cheese ($17) - we aren't fanatics over halloumi but wanted to try this. We preferred the other mezze, but not bad Fried Mussels ($17) - this was alright, would skip next time. -Sultan's Delight ($20) - this was soooo tasty, literally fell apart when poked with a fork; not the biggest portion -Lamb Shish ($18) - was good, but on the smaller side, probably wouldn't order again We were celebrating my friend's birthday, and they brought out a couple cookies topped with meringue dipped in chocolate with a candle. Very friendly staff, good selection of food, a nice little splurge.

It was a dreary day, damp and grey. Not much else open here on Sunday. I went in and the first…read morethree things I tried to order were unavailable! Atmosphere/ vibe - extremely unprepossessing. Sort of like your grandma's kitchen? But toasty warm, yes! Service - good, pretty prompt. It took a few minutes to bring the order to the table, which I took as a sign it was made to order, almost. Food - ok, but quite bland. The best thing in the stew was the preserved lemon or lime. Wow! Price/ value - disappointing. Paying 3USD for a hot tea, and then when offered more, it showed up on the bill as 6USD. Really? It comes out of the one tea pot/ diluted with hot water. The side of some pita w/butter was gratis. Would I come back? Not sure. On the check was the name Molana, which was the Persian place in Wtown Sq. The owner wanted to retire, but decided to take over the defunct Shiraz Persian Cuisine. Now it's just opened as Caspian Persian Cuisine. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like Molana took over all Persian restaurants in Wtown. Perhaps my expectations were wrong - I had in mind a sort of kebob/shawarma/souvlaki/gyros menu at really good prices. Maybe with Trumpflation, those days are long since gone

This spot is run by a kind older gentleman. There are about 8 tables. There are huge windows and…read morelots of light. It is table service. The food is cooked to perfection. The chicken is juicy and flavorful. Rice is delicious and the yogurt dip was perfectly seasoned.

OMG. Will 1000% be back. Everything from food and service to atmosphere was 10/10. A group of 7 of…read moreus came here on a Monday evening for dinner and staff at Ariana took great care of us. I ordered the Qabili entree and a shared a side of the lentils. Both so yummy. The lamb shank was tender, moist, and just perfect. I wish I hadn't ordered the lentils to share, because I could've eaten the plate all on my own. Portion sizes were huge as one entree was enough to have a full meal the next day.

Came as a group of four and immediately decided on the Ariana Special. It was the perfect amount…read morefor the four of us, and each type of meat was enjoyable. They also give bread and dipping sauces beforehand and offer free bread refills. Service was friendly throughout and we opted for dessert as well, despite being full from our meal. The rice pudding was my favorite of the two. I would definitely come back!

We spent New Year's Eve at Moona and loved every minute. The host and our server were both…read morefantastic. They were welcoming, attentive, and made the night feel special. For drinks we ordered the Oh, Snap! whcih was super refreshing, while the Saved By The Bell had a nice spicy kick with strong bell pepper flavor. For food, the Hummus Tahini was the best hummus I've ever had (with incredible pita), and the Feta Fritters were AMAZING!!!! easily one of the best appetizers I've had. The Syrian Batersh was good, but would be even better with pita. Great food, great service. The restaurant was small and cute! It was slightly cold near the door/windows but we will definitely be back. And can't wait to try out the new Central Square location!

Good spot for a night out. Cocktails and food were decent, and the service was spot on…read more We came as a group and tried a few different things family style. The mushroom hummus and the lamb hummus was good, but not memorable. The zatar pull apart bread was freshly baked. And the crudo was somewhat refreshing. The baklava was alright, I preferred the olive oil cake. Overall we liked everything, but LOVED nothing.

Update on Sofra! I've been going recently and the new hand-drawn menus are everything! I have been…read moreloving the vibe and the customer service is always on point. I will always be a huge fan of Sofra!

Literally the best lamb shawarma I've EVER had hands down…read moreThe staff are super friendly and helpful The store is clean and beautiful :)

4.5/5! Really…read moreenjoyed the chef's special platter since we got a mix of chicken, beef, and lamb. Meat was tender and flavored well. You also get the option of substituting meats which was nice. My favorite was the chicken. I usually don't eat lamb, but the kabobs did not taste gamey, and I enjoyed it! Special shoutout to the bread they serve. Was probably my favorite part of the dinner!!

I was very pleasantly surprised by the dinner we had at The Helmand! We arrived on a weeknight and…read moreit was very busy, but luckily the staff were able to still seat us right away. Our table was right next to a huge wood-fired oven where we could see the fresh table bread being made which was pretty cool. We ordered 3 items off the menu, 2 appetizers (Aushak and Mantwo) and 1 main dish (lamb kebab). I've never had Afghan food before, so the ingredients and flavors used in each dish were very unique to me, but everything worked very well. The Aushak in particular was the most surprising.. they called it "ravioli", but it was more dumpling-esque to me, which an interesting bolognese-like sauce with yogurt. You wouldn't think those flavors would work together but they really do. The Mantwo also paired very nicely with the Aushak, with more of an earthy taste to it. The lamb kebab was also very tasty, though it wasn't anything super unique. The free bread for the table was also a surprising highlight, as we got to try various different dipping sauces (which we then also used to supplement the kebab). Service was attentive, the ambiance of the restaurant was nice, and overall really enjoyed our dinner here.