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.

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.

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!

The dishes were unique as much as they were delectable! The was the first time visiting Sofra and…read moreit didn't disappoint. I ordered the Turkish breakfast, Arabic coffee, the frosted cinnamon bun, and a Mediterranean dish I can't remember the name of lol. All were really good. Please note that though the portions may appear small, they left me feeling satisfied and not uncomfortably full. The ambiance can be aptly described as industrial meets modern cuisine Shout out to Sasa for her knowledge and expertise on the menu! She was accommodating as well as super-friendly.

The service was really nice and the quality and presentation of the food was very good. The…read moreambience is very cozy and warm as well and has a nice vibe. The food was very good too.

Koshari (8/10): delicious and nutritious. Flavors were well balanced. I loved the fried onions!…read moreSpicy CKN sandwich (8/10): this was surprisingly delicious. The sauce was amazing!! I also loved the fake chicken meat. Bread had very good texture and aroma Kofta sandwich (7/10): bread and meat were also very good. I prefer the spicy CKN sauce over this one, but they're both solid choices. Ambiance is very chill and comfy. Service is good.

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.

Pros: - pleasant, light-filled (full length glass on all…read moresides of dining area) ambiance - outdoor seating, albeit on rather noisy intersection - pretty good service - grape leaves were very good - grilled meats were decently prepared, tender not dry/overcooked Cons: - grilled meats were underseasoned/bland, probably in accordance with local palates - parking is a nightmare, as one would expect for Mass Avenue; non-issue if you live nearby and walk or bike instead of driving - they give you GINORMOUS piles of rice with most dishes, literally 2-3 times what most places give you. This is great if you're a famished carb-fiend; for the rest of us, expect to take most of that rice home. - all the rice made me sleepy so I ordered black coffee which turned out to be horrible: just black water with barely any coffee flavor at all...beware! I've had better instant coffee than that. - both rice and meats were sorely lacking in oil and fat, again likely another reflection of local palates It wasn't the worst "mediterranean" food I've ever had, but hardly the best. Doubt I'll be coming back, especially given the horrendous parking situation.

Corner spot with 10 or so tables. The food is fresh and seasoned perfectly. We loved all the…read moredishes we tried. Our server was kind and food was quick. The kebabs were tender and juicy.

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!

Lavash Grille - Cambridge, MA Total Score: 9/10…read more Lavash Grille in Cambridge delivers a Turkish and Mediterranean dining experience that feels both vibrant and deeply comforting. This is the kind of place that works beautifully for group outings, thanks to the big, long tables that make it easy to settle in, share plates, and actually enjoy the social side of dining. The sampler platters and mixed grill dishes are absolutely the way to go. Portions are generous, the variety is excellent, and everything we tried tasted fresh and well balanced. The hummus and baba ganoush were both standouts, packed with flavor and a great start to the meal. One of the biggest highlights was the manti. These delicate, bite sized dumplings with yogurt sauce were pure comfort food and easily one of the most memorable dishes of the night. The haydari (similar to Tzatziki) was another favorite. Rich, creamy, and incredibly flavorful, it's the kind of dip you keep reaching for long after you're full. For something a little different, the traditional Turkish coffee made with hot sand is such a fun experience and well worth ordering. Ending the meal with coffee and rice pudding felt like the perfect, cozy finish. On a practical note, I was genuinely happy there is some parking here, which is always a welcome bonus in Cambridge. Overall, Lavash Grille is a place I'd gladly return to. Great food, perfect for group settings, and an all around enjoyable dining experience.

It's not easy to find authentic Turkish food near Boston / Cambridge. Found this place on Instagram…read moreand am pleasantly surprised. They have a small parking lot off the side of the restaurant which is free. Inside, there is plenty of space. The service and staff are very nice. We got a lentil soup to share, manti and beef liver as appetizers. Everything tasted amazing. The manti could be a little softer. We also got coffee and tea. The tea was refilled throughout the time we were there which was a nice touch. For my main I got the chicken Adana and my friend got the lamb version. Both were grilled to perfection. Such simple ingredients but the meal was well balanced. The meat came with rice and some grilled/ pickled veggies. The only thing to note is that the bathroom is shared with the building and was out of toilet paper and was in bad condition.

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.

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.