Sarma
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Why so salty? Everything on the menu sounded so amazing on paper! I was prepared to love this place, especially after trying the cornbread as an appetizer, but my husband and I both left feeling a bit disillusioned. The cornbread was phenomenal!!! Hands down, one of the best things I have tasted, period. It's crunchy, creamy, sweet, salty, savory, amazing in every way. The restaurant is worth a try for the cornbread alone. Unfortunately, everything else we tried was way over-salted, and I usually love salt! It was so salty that none of the other flavors stood out. The duck was cooked well, but a bit challenging to slice with the butter knife provided. The carrot puree was quite tasty, and everything was very beautiful and appetizing based on appearances. Such a shame that the flavors fell short, this place could be truly amazing if they dialed in the seasoning a bit. I will return, but just for drinks and cornbread next time. The cornbread truly is spectacular! Deducting another star for service as our waitress was a bit short with us. She seemed to be spread a bit thin so I understand being in a hurry, but for a meal over $100 (not even including drinks) we are used to more attentive service.
I've heard so many great things about Sarma, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately my expectations were not met, but I will need to go back and check other things out on their menu. My takeaway is that they do too much with so many different ingredients on the menu that it doesn't do the dish much justice. That's just based on what I ordered. It was overall good though. The drinks were okayish to good. I'll need to go back and try some of their other items. I sat at the bar so didn't soak in much of the ambiance in the main dining areas was the place did seem like a vibe. I do like what Sarma does and as I mentioned, I'll need to return and give it one more chance. I have also been to Oleana and same story there for me.
4/5 stars because the food was delicious, so many good flavors but definitely very expensive. Service was good but nothing exceptional. Last minute walked in on a holiday and they had an open table. High top but would have Been more comfortable on lower table or the bar even. Pictures don't do the food justice.
2026 Boston. Dinner review. Mediterranean. (Highlight - Best) BLACK SEA CORNBREAD jalapeno, feta, honey, sesame 19 DEVILED EGG DIP shakshuka-style, zhug, harissa potato chips 17 HONEY ROASTED FIGS red pepper, tabbouleh, arugula, walnuts 25 ARTICHOKES OREGANATA goat cheese polenta, tomato, orange, chiles 24 (Highlight) CAULIFLOWER ZAALOUK chermoula, dates, preserved lemon yogurt 23 MERGUEZ MANTI grilled corn, yogurt, red pepper butter, poached egg 34 (Highlight) HARISSA BBQ DUCK* carrot brown butter, orange blossom, fried almonds 38 Overall, the black sea cornbread is just incredible. Could eat many of these. "As good as it gets."
Wow! flavors like these will make your mouth happy! Every dish was unique, creative, and packed with flavor. It's easy to see why reservations are so hard to get. The menu changes often, which makes me wish I lived closer so I could visit regularly. We ordered quite a few dishes, and the portions were perfect for sharing. The fresh bread was an amazing start to the meal, and the sugar snap peas were a standout. Since the menu is always evolving, my recommendation is to ask your server what the chef is most excited about and order it. You really can't go wrong. This was a memorable dining experience, and I hope my next visit won't be too far away.
After seeing this place on social, we were lucky to grab a reservation on a Tues night at 5:30. We got seated right at our reservation time. All street parking and we had to circle around to find a spot so plan ahead. We got a red wine and the flawless victory cocktail. I got to try a couple wines before committing to a glass. My partner loved his cocktail. Super well balanced and really unique combo of flavors. Both drinks paired well with all our food too. Zucchini pancakes (2/5) - the only miss. The pancakes were not crispy at all and ate very mushy. The carrot curry was delish but all the flavors together with the raita didn't really do it for me. White bean hummus (4/5) - amazing flavor and the little sesame ring it comes with was yummy. The texture of the hummus could have been smoother though. Sugar snaps (5/5) - perfect sweet and salty balance and really great texture from the quinoa. Good creaminess too. Octopus souvlaki (5/5) - well charred octopus and tender. The flavors were rich in flavor. Yellow split pea was a nice creamy base. Revani snack cake (5/5) - we almost didn't get dessert but glad we did! It a citrus pound cake with a pineapple glaze and a spiced macadamia crunchy topping. Served chilled. Very yummy and not too heavy. Overall very happy we tried this place. It's pricey for what you get but nice for a special occasion.
A friend told me that the cornbread at Sarma was life changing so we had to make a stop here during our Boston trip. Reservations were already fully booked for the next month out, so we decided to take our chance and see if we could get bar seating around opening time. It was already pretty packed 10 minutes after opening, and the host told us that bar seating would open up in about an hour, but we would have to wait at the restaurant. Meanwhile, the wait for a table would be almost 2 hours, but we would be notified when our table is ready so we put ourselves down on the table waitlist and went elsewhere in the mean time. We came back after 2 hours, and the table was ready exactly then! I ordered some sort of Mango Mocktail and then my friend and I shared the Black Sea Cornbread and Roasted Sunchokes. Food is very unique with creative twists on all their dishes. The cornbread was delicious - it basically melted in my mouth and I liked how it actually had a kick to it. Very tasty, but just a tad bit salty. I have never had Sunchokes before but they were delicious! Very colorful presentation. A lot of the sauce was at the bottom so it could have been mixed more evenly. Mango mocktail was sweet and refreshing! Overall, Sarma has great, flavorful food and plenty of vegetarian options. Very difficult to get reservations so either plan well in advance or arrive right at opening time
Still my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. We try to come here at least once a year for special occasions! The menu is always rotating, so I'm adding some new dishes we tried. Matbucha (6.5/10): Too heavy for me. The pita chips it came with were super good, but there weren't enough. Flavors were all very strong, and I think they could be toned down a bit. Subtler flavors paired along with the pita chips would have been amazing. Eggplant Fries (7.5/10): I loved the eggplant fries. Super crispy. The flavors in the sauce were a little too heavy, though. Really would appreciate more subtlety. And not enough eggplant fries to eat the sauce with. Asian Pear Shirazi (7/10): Super creative dish. Asian pear was very juicy. The chili crisp paired so well with it. The walnuts were very nicely roasted. Garlicky Broccolini (8/10): Super tender broccolini. Sauce was amazing. Mozzarella really brought the dish together. I usually don't like pinenuts, but the flavor in this wasn't too overbearing. Tahini Chocolate Date Chunk Cookies (7/10): A very solid chocolate cookie. The date paired so well with it. I think the cookies themselves were fine, but the date really elevated it. Revani Snack Cake (9.5/10): Holy CRAP this was good. We were already feeling full, but I'm so glad we got dessert. The cake was so freaking flavorful. Kind of mindblown. Service was fantastic.
Dining at Sarma was a delightful experience. We came on a Tuesday at 6pm and luckily got seated at a 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!)
Amazing dining experience with incredible food! I showed up at 4:15 without a reservation to wait in line when the restaurant opens at 5. My son and I were promptly seated at the bar. The restaurant trendy but inviting and I love the warm woods and large bar area. Loved everything we ordered. The Mediterranean fusion dishes were unique and delicious. My favorites were the Black Sea cornbread, snap peas and the lamb sliders. I also enjoyed the sweet Halva bites to end our meal. Outstanding flavors and combinations of textures. Highly recommend a visit to Sarma!
I had the most wonderful dining experience with this Mediterranean Mezz cuisine!!! my husband, and I stumbled here and were walk-ins so we put our names down for a table and the bar whatever came first. We were very delighted when we started out with a couple of good beers and checked out the ambience which was very nice non-pretentious urban chique, lofty scene. I loved it. Especially the Turkish chandeliers had a very nice touch. We finally sat down at the bar and was delighted to have the zucchini fitters, which was amazing with the presentation... never had them in that form. The octopus was divine! This is a way a grilled octopus should taste like tender, moist with perfect vegetable accompaniment. We love the fried chicken that came around like dim sum style so we had to have it! Absolutely delicious. The tuna tartare was amazing and it was easily devoured . What amazed me was lamb kofta sliders. They were simply perfect and fresh. I loved the spice spices and the bouncy bun. That's what I call an impressive slider. The eggplant was delicious. In the end, we tried the blueberry custard which was delicious and sampled the raspberry softy. It was so good with the chocolate halva bites. Let me tell you. I am definitely coming back here again because I haven't tried half the menu, but it was definitely filling love our server at the bar. I had a really good time.
YUM. This was hands down our best meal in Boston. The flavor profiles are simple, yet complex and tongue tantalizing. Tye Black Sea Cornbread and Tunisian Brik Tacos were incredible. We could have ordered another cornbread and eaten for dessert - so delicious! The also enjoyed the Sugarsnaps, Lemon Pepper Scallops, Lamb Kofte Sliders, and for dessert the Malheb Froyo with cardamom marshmallow sauce and the Spiced Pumpkin Boureka. The desserts were ok. The froyo is quite tart and overwhelmed the marshmallow sauce. Good, but not great. Our server is as lovely and suggested some really great dishes. I wish we lived nearby and could make this a regular date night stop!
The cornbread and lamb sliders were soooo good. The cornbread was so soft and cheesy tasting, the lamb sliders were tender and flavorful. They were definitely my favorite of the dishes! The menu was super helpful to have a little glossary on the side to consult on food we didn't recognize. I wish all restaurants had this! Service was phenomenal, shoutout to our waitress Halie L. !!!
15 days ago
Having heard from several people that I needed to go to Sarma, I was so glad to have snagged a reservation! When making one, be sure to go online as soon as reservations open at 10AM for reservations 30 days in advance. As expected, the food was some of the best I have ever had in my life. Everything had amazing textures and flavors; some of our favorites were the squash fritters and the octopus Slovaki. In terms of ambiance, Sarma is a beautifully decorated space with lovely, kind staff. I also appreciated that they nicely spaced the dishes so we could spend time enjoying the food and each other's company. Therefore, Sarma is a must-try; I know I will be back many times! read more
Simply divine and excellent, no words honestly. Just minutes away from Gilman Square is Sarma, which holds some of the best Turkish and Mediterranean style food that I've had in my life. They do a unique, fusion-y variety of small plates that are great to share with friends and family. Service is wonderful. Their menu often changes, but there are a few things that are consistent. Their infamous black sea cornbread deserves all the hype. The avocado muhammara is excellent and creamy, paired well with the burrata. Love their harissa barbecue duck skewer. The fried chicken that comes around during the night is also solid. Other dishes that I love that I'm not sure are year-round: Asian pear salad, scallop crisp, and lentil nachos. I think Sarma can be a bit inconsistent at times. I've had very salty brussels sprouts and pastitsio before. read more
Sarma is a very popular tapas style restaurant located in Somerville, MA. The restaurant is booked far out by about a month. I kept checking daily for cancelations and signing up and after a few missed opening, I was lucky to snatch a reservation that opened up due to cancellation. This was a restaurant that my husband had wanted to try so I was diligently checking for cancelation before his surgery. We were so lucky to go just before he had surgery with the children. The restaurant does not have parking, however there is street parking. The vibe was lively and the staff were amazing during our visit. We tried a number of dishes but hands down my two favorite was the Black Sea cornbread and the fried chicken. I would totally order these again in a subsequent visit. You can let the waitress who serve you know that you want the fried chicken as it is not on the menu for ordering. The children enjoyed their lamb kothe sliders. We tried the warm gyro bread and the avocado muhummara. I think for a first time, it was worth getting. If visiting a second time, I would try something else though. Same for the octopus souvlaki, would try only once. The Tunisian brik tacos, which has tuna, was slightly on the salty side. We actually didn't finish this as well as the Brussels sprout bravas. Key takeaway, book a reservation but also check back for cancellations because they do turn up and you can sign up for emails to be notified of cancellations. Service and atmosphere are great. The cornbread and fried chicken are musts!!! See my pictures. read more
2 months ago
Why so salty? Everything on the menu sounded so amazing on paper! I was prepared to love this place, especially after trying the cornbread as an appetizer, but my husband and I both left feeling a bit disillusioned. The cornbread was phenomenal!!! Hands down, one of the best things I have tasted, period. It's crunchy, creamy, sweet, salty, savory, amazing in every way. The restaurant is worth a try for the cornbread alone. Unfortunately, everything else we tried was way over-salted, and I usually love salt! It was so salty that none of the other flavors stood out. The duck was cooked well, but a bit challenging to slice with the butter knife provided. The carrot puree was quite tasty, and everything was very beautiful and appetizing based on appearances. Such a shame that the flavors fell short, this place could be truly amazing if they dialed in the seasoning a bit. I will return, but just for drinks and cornbread next time. The cornbread truly is spectacular! Deducting another star for service as our waitress was a bit short with us. She seemed to be spread a bit thin so I understand being in a hurry, but for a meal over $100 (not even including drinks) we are used to more attentive service. read more
I've heard so many great things about Sarma, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately my expectations were not met, but I will need to go back and check other things out on their menu. My takeaway is that they do too much with so many different ingredients on the menu that it doesn't do the dish much justice. That's just based on what I ordered. It was overall good though. The drinks were okayish to good. I'll need to go back and try some of their other items. I sat at the bar so didn't soak in much of the ambiance in the main dining areas was the place did seem like a vibe. I do like what Sarma does and as I mentioned, I'll need to return and give it one more chance. I have also been to Oleana and same story there for me. read more
4/5 stars because the food was delicious, so many good flavors but definitely very expensive. Service was good but nothing exceptional. Last minute walked in on a holiday and they had an open table. High top but would have Been more comfortable on lower table or the bar even. Pictures don't do the food justice. read more
2026 Boston. Dinner review. Mediterranean. (Highlight - Best) BLACK SEA CORNBREAD jalapeno, feta, honey, sesame 19 DEVILED EGG DIP shakshuka-style, zhug, harissa potato chips 17 HONEY ROASTED FIGS red pepper, tabbouleh, arugula, walnuts 25 ARTICHOKES OREGANATA goat cheese polenta, tomato, orange, chiles 24 (Highlight) CAULIFLOWER ZAALOUK chermoula, dates, preserved lemon yogurt 23 MERGUEZ MANTI grilled corn, yogurt, red pepper butter, poached egg 34 (Highlight) HARISSA BBQ DUCK* carrot brown butter, orange blossom, fried almonds 38 Overall, the black sea cornbread is just incredible. Could eat many of these. "As good as it gets." read more
5 months ago
Wow! flavors like these will make your mouth happy! Every dish was unique, creative, and packed with flavor. It's easy to see why reservations are so hard to get. The menu changes often, which makes me wish I lived closer so I could visit regularly. We ordered quite a few dishes, and the portions were perfect for sharing. The fresh bread was an amazing start to the meal, and the sugar snap peas were a standout. Since the menu is always evolving, my recommendation is to ask your server what the chef is most excited about and order it. You really can't go wrong. This was a memorable dining experience, and I hope my next visit won't be too far away. read more
4 months ago
After seeing this place on social, we were lucky to grab a reservation on a Tues night at 5:30. We got seated right at our reservation time. All street parking and we had to circle around to find a spot so plan ahead. We got a red wine and the flawless victory cocktail. I got to try a couple wines before committing to a glass. My partner loved his cocktail. Super well balanced and really unique combo of flavors. Both drinks paired well with all our food too. Zucchini pancakes (2/5) - the only miss. The pancakes were not crispy at all and ate very mushy. The carrot curry was delish but all the flavors together with the raita didn't really do it for me. White bean hummus (4/5) - amazing flavor and the little sesame ring it comes with was yummy. The texture of the hummus could have been smoother though. Sugar snaps (5/5) - perfect sweet and salty balance and really great texture from the quinoa. Good creaminess too. Octopus souvlaki (5/5) - well charred octopus and tender. The flavors were rich in flavor. Yellow split pea was a nice creamy base. Revani snack cake (5/5) - we almost didn't get dessert but glad we did! It a citrus pound cake with a pineapple glaze and a spiced macadamia crunchy topping. Served chilled. Very yummy and not too heavy. Overall very happy we tried this place. It's pricey for what you get but nice for a special occasion. read more
A friend told me that the cornbread at Sarma was life changing so we had to make a stop here during our Boston trip. Reservations were already fully booked for the next month out, so we decided to take our chance and see if we could get bar seating around opening time. It was already pretty packed 10 minutes after opening, and the host told us that bar seating would open up in about an hour, but we would have to wait at the restaurant. Meanwhile, the wait for a table would be almost 2 hours, but we would be notified when our table is ready so we put ourselves down on the table waitlist and went elsewhere in the mean time. We came back after 2 hours, and the table was ready exactly then! I ordered some sort of Mango Mocktail and then my friend and I shared the Black Sea Cornbread and Roasted Sunchokes. Food is very unique with creative twists on all their dishes. The cornbread was delicious - it basically melted in my mouth and I liked how it actually had a kick to it. Very tasty, but just a tad bit salty. I have never had Sunchokes before but they were delicious! Very colorful presentation. A lot of the sauce was at the bottom so it could have been mixed more evenly. Mango mocktail was sweet and refreshing! Overall, Sarma has great, flavorful food and plenty of vegetarian options. Very difficult to get reservations so either plan well in advance or arrive right at opening time read more
Still my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. We try to come here at least once a year for special occasions! The menu is always rotating, so I'm adding some new dishes we tried. Matbucha (6.5/10): Too heavy for me. The pita chips it came with were super good, but there weren't enough. Flavors were all very strong, and I think they could be toned down a bit. Subtler flavors paired along with the pita chips would have been amazing. Eggplant Fries (7.5/10): I loved the eggplant fries. Super crispy. The flavors in the sauce were a little too heavy, though. Really would appreciate more subtlety. And not enough eggplant fries to eat the sauce with. Asian Pear Shirazi (7/10): Super creative dish. Asian pear was very juicy. The chili crisp paired so well with it. The walnuts were very nicely roasted. Garlicky Broccolini (8/10): Super tender broccolini. Sauce was amazing. Mozzarella really brought the dish together. I usually don't like pinenuts, but the flavor in this wasn't too overbearing. Tahini Chocolate Date Chunk Cookies (7/10): A very solid chocolate cookie. The date paired so well with it. I think the cookies themselves were fine, but the date really elevated it. Revani Snack Cake (9.5/10): Holy CRAP this was good. We were already feeling full, but I'm so glad we got dessert. The cake was so freaking flavorful. Kind of mindblown. Service was fantastic. read more
6 months ago
Dining at Sarma was a delightful experience. We came on a Tuesday at 6pm and luckily got seated at a 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!) read more
4 months ago
Amazing dining experience with incredible food! I showed up at 4:15 without a reservation to wait in line when the restaurant opens at 5. My son and I were promptly seated at the bar. The restaurant trendy but inviting and I love the warm woods and large bar area. Loved everything we ordered. The Mediterranean fusion dishes were unique and delicious. My favorites were the Black Sea cornbread, snap peas and the lamb sliders. I also enjoyed the sweet Halva bites to end our meal. Outstanding flavors and combinations of textures. Highly recommend a visit to Sarma! read more
I had the most wonderful dining experience with this Mediterranean Mezz cuisine!!! my husband, and I stumbled here and were walk-ins so we put our names down for a table and the bar whatever came first. We were very delighted when we started out with a couple of good beers and checked out the ambience which was very nice non-pretentious urban chique, lofty scene. I loved it. Especially the Turkish chandeliers had a very nice touch. We finally sat down at the bar and was delighted to have the zucchini fitters, which was amazing with the presentation... never had them in that form. The octopus was divine! This is a way a grilled octopus should taste like tender, moist with perfect vegetable accompaniment. We love the fried chicken that came around like dim sum style so we had to have it! Absolutely delicious. The tuna tartare was amazing and it was easily devoured . What amazed me was lamb kofta sliders. They were simply perfect and fresh. I loved the spice spices and the bouncy bun. That's what I call an impressive slider. The eggplant was delicious. In the end, we tried the blueberry custard which was delicious and sampled the raspberry softy. It was so good with the chocolate halva bites. Let me tell you. I am definitely coming back here again because I haven't tried half the menu, but it was definitely filling love our server at the bar. I had a really good time. read more
7 days ago
YUM. This was hands down our best meal in Boston. The flavor profiles are simple, yet complex and tongue tantalizing. Tye Black Sea Cornbread and Tunisian Brik Tacos were incredible. We could have ordered another cornbread and eaten for dessert - so delicious! The also enjoyed the Sugarsnaps, Lemon Pepper Scallops, Lamb Kofte Sliders, and for dessert the Malheb Froyo with cardamom marshmallow sauce and the Spiced Pumpkin Boureka. The desserts were ok. The froyo is quite tart and overwhelmed the marshmallow sauce. Good, but not great. Our server is as lovely and suggested some really great dishes. I wish we lived nearby and could make this a regular date night stop! read more
The cornbread and lamb sliders were soooo good. The cornbread was so soft and cheesy tasting, the lamb sliders were tender and flavorful. They were definitely my favorite of the dishes! The menu was super helpful to have a little glossary on the side to consult on food we didn't recognize. I wish all restaurants had this! Service was phenomenal, shoutout to our waitress Halie L. !!! read more
Arrived 6:45 on Thursday and waited 15 min for 3 stools at the bar. Great basque party wine (white) to start along with zucchini fritter. I should mention we had GF eater so we ordered mainly from GF menu. Avocado M was a big hit. Lots of soft texture foods with nuts and berries for crunch. We got a side of veggies to dip but I think the bread is where it's at. Shrimp OK. BBQ duck was excellent. Also order of beets and peaches. Finished off with chocko bites and the bartender honored us with some banana yogurt and caramel. A touch of salt. Yum. Enjoyed the experience. I'm a young boomer and while I enjoy shared small plates I keep thinking of what I would get if I went back by myself. Check out sarma even if it's just a glass of wine, one plate and some dessert. read more
Even before we moved to Boston, people were saying to try Sarma as one of the relatively few bright spots in an otherwise middling dining scene. It took a long time to snatch a prime reservation (sorry but the days of eating at 9 are long past me, hello indigestion) and it was so, so unbelievably worth it. We came as a party of two and did our best to try as many dishes as possible. Highlights: 1. Black sea cornbread - Hmm, you might be thinking to yourself. How incredible could cornbread that's almost $20 be? I'm here to tell you this cornbread is absolutely transcendent. It's more the texture of a cheesy quiche than traditional cornbread. Had to exercise some serious self-restraint to not eat more of this. 2. Asian pear shirazi - One of those rare salad dishes where every ingredient works magically together and apart, from the crisp juiciness of the pear to the cranberry chai to the toasted walnut crisp scattered on top. I could eat this every day. 3. Steak shawarma - Very unfortunately, this was the last dish to come out so I could only manage one bite but that one bite was stellar. Every dish is crafted so beautifully, with attention and care paid to the individual components. 4. Mushroom delight with poached egg - The combo of textures and flavors is better than meat. Again, could eat this every day. The one (not even) downside to the dishes was that they were definitely on the salty side, so much so that I was guzzling water for the rest of the night. Very much worth it, however. Our waitress was also incredible - warm, funny, kind, full of extensive recommendations. She made our first time at Sarma so special. Parking - we found several open 2-hour spots along Broadway. Definitely get here early if you're driving because most of the surrounding area is permit-only. Oh, Sarma. Would love to eat here more often. read more
5 months ago
I heard this is one of the hardest spots to gain reservation so I tried. The Mediterranean cuisine is healthy and flavorful. The interior design is simple but cultural. Overall service was good but felt kinda rush and less hospitable, TBH. read more
I've been hearing about Sarma so much recently and finally got a reservation on the books (on my second attempt). With how difficult it was to even get a table, my expectations were quite high. I'm happy to report that Sarma absolutely blew me away and surpassed all expectations I had. The food was creative, fresh, flavorful, and full of unexpected delights. Every first bite had my eyes popping open in disbelief that foods could even taste like that - especially the Black Sea cornbread (nothing like any cornbread I've ever had before). Other favorites were the spinach artichoke dip and banana froyo with the Turkish coffee shot poured over. If I win the lottery I'm coming back and ordering everything on the menu. Loved it! read more
This was my favorite restaurant while visiting Boston! I was able to snag a resy on the same day at 9pm for a party of 3. We ordered - black sea cornbread 10/10 - asian pear salad 9/10 - chicken wings 9/10 - garlicky broccoli 7.5/10 - steak shawarma 9/10 - harissa bbq duck 9.5/10 - lamb lion chop 9/10 Everything was delicious and fresh. My favorite was the Black sea cornbread, the additional of the maple syrup is perfect. Chicken wings had a great sauce on top. Harissa bbq duck was a favorite as well. Staff were friendly and quick to take our orders. They remembered and provided a chocolate dessert for the birthday boy. read more
1 year ago
I truly believe all the praise Sarma receives is super well deserved. Our expectations were dangerously high going in and Sarma exceeded on all fronts! The food, drinks, and service were all exceptional! Food: All the plates we ordered were all so unique and flavorful and it was such a treat exploring them. If only we had the stomachs and wallets to try everything on the menu. Our favorites were definitely the cornbread, the brussel sprouts, and the Cajun lamb kebabs. The first bite of every dish always got us perked up and excited to try more! Also the drinks we tried were a hit with everyone! Service: This was a perfect service experience! The staff checked in frequently and effectively, always quick to deliver on requests. The plates came and went so smoothly allowing you to focus on the food and the people you're with. Atmosphere: The energy felt so celebratory! The decor and lightly immersed you in the dining experience giving you so many interesting and beautiful things to yet your eyes wonder on. Though there was constant chatter, we could easily hear everyone in our 5 person party because of the quieter background music and the spacing of the seating. read more
Finally made it to Sarma after hearing so much about it! Overall I will say the food was quite delicious. As someone who usually hates the gaminess of lamb, I really enjoyed the lamb sliders. The cornbread was great and we were satisfied with every dish we ordered. My only slightly negative comments are: - I wish they could make modifications. Usually with my nut allergy, I can still enjoy a few dishes since they just remove the nuts. I understand that for some dishes that's hard to do since nuts may already be deeply incorporated into a part of the dish but at Sarma, no modifications are allowed. Not the end of the world but just a bit disappointing. - Sarma is also quite pricey. While I enjoyed my meal, the price makes me think twice before considering another visit. read more
1 year ago
The meal I had at Sarma was actually heavenly. The hype is real, and everything is truly delicious! Tucked away in a more residential area of Somerville, Sarma serves up impressive dishes that are flavorful yet unique. I booked quite far out (maybe like two or three weeks out?) for a 9:15pm slot and ended up being lucky and being able to change it at the last minute to an early reservation at 8pm! I would highly recommend booking a reservation even though they take walk ins at the bar. The place was packed literally the entire time. What we got: - Black Sea Cornbread: this is easily a must-try. It was so soft and delicious with the perfect balance of sweet and salty. I was thinking about this for days. - Brussel Sprout Bravas: this was probs my least favorite but it was well-cooked and flavorful. - Lamb Sliders: The lamb was SO juicy. So delicious and tender. The onions paired so well with the lamb and sauce. - Fried Chicken Special: If you see someone walking around with the fried chicken... you better get it. This was some of the best fried chicken ever. So juicy yet crispy! - Greek Style Shrimp Larb: the shrimp was so fresh and I was a big fan of the cucumber tzatziki! - Halva and Passionfruit Posset for dessert was great as well! Overall, everything was amazing. The restaurant had nice decor but the star of the show was the food. Service was alright as well, but the food was truly terrific. We enjoyed the meal so much! read more
Sarma is a place that needs no reviews as everyone's likely already heard about it, but it feels wrong to not add to the hype. This is the type of restaurant that Boston needs more of: off the beaten path, decently priced, and exploding with flavor. What we ordered (for 2): - Brussels sprouts bravas: scrumptious, must get - Black Sea cornbread: it was delicious for sure, was maybe a lot for just two people (not that I'm complaining about more food) - Duck leg confit: wasn't super memorable, the bruleed pineapple at the top was a nice touch - Squash blossom: wasn't as flavorful as the others but still yummy, would've been good as a first dish to ease our way into the others - Chickpea fritters: shockingly, my favorite of the night. Each bite was a little flavor pack, and the spices worked so beautifully with the creaminess of the fritter. The texture surprised me, almost mousse-like. - Fried chicken: I think this is one of the dishes they're known for, and don't get me wrong, it was amazing, but I'm not sure I would get it again since there's so many other things on their menu We probably could've done with one fewer dish b/c I basically had to be rolled out of the restaurant by the time we were done. Would I go back? Yes definitely as the dishes truly feel one of a kind. read more
6 months ago
Sarma is hands down the best restaurant in the greater Boston area. Everything on the menu is a 10/10. Incredibly flavorful and complex dishes, extremely attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly servers and an eclectic yet understated ambience makes Sarma a must-try restaurant for anyone in the area. read more
Being local to Somerville for about a year now, we knew it was time to try out Sarma, we had only heard good reviews. The ambience was the perfect mix of casual and high end-- servers wore tshirts, patrons wore jeans and sweatshirts, and the decor felt wonderfully eclectic. My husband and I hawked down peoples plates to see what they were getting, and everything looked delicious. Reservations were booked out for a month, so we decided to take our chances with walking in-- they reserve 5 tables for walk ins and there is a 20-seat bar with food service. We waited about 45 minutes and got seated at a table. While we waited, they served us drinks and a small snack menu. For the food-- we were flabbergasted at how amazing every dish was. As non-connoisseurs of high-end plates, we felt everything was well balanced and flavorful. I'm not sure if I have had so much food that was so good. The drinks were fantastic as well! Each one a twist on a more familiar drink. My favorite was the retrograde, but they were all good. The one thing we felt more ambivalent about was the grape froyo. It was significantly better than expected (I couldnt get the thought out of my mind of grape-soda-flavored ice cream), and had a lighter grape flavor and felt very fresh. But when we return, it won't be fighting for a spot on out order list. read more
I've been to Sarma before, and have been blown away. When I found the opportunity to go dine with them through Capital One venture X, I jumped at the opportunity because I expected the same quality service and quality food that I've received before. This is not necessarily what I got. The Capital One deal was: $50 off the bill including tax and tip on it, and one free drink. It cost 50$ a seat, so we did it. At the end of the evening, we realized we had not yet hit that $50 per person cost, and did not want to leave food or money on the table, so we were hit with a conundrum and felt like we had no other option than to force ourselves to eat to get our moneys worth. Otherwise, we would not have spent this much or eaten this much. The food came out very slowly , and came out not in the order that it was listed on the menu, which has been my experience in the past. Based on the staff description, it was also the order in which the food was meant to be enjoyed. The black sea cornbread was normally not burnt and absolutely incredible, but this came out nearly dead last before the ice cream, and was not at all what I remembered it to be. Ultimately, the reason I will not be going back to Sarma anytime soon is because of the staff. Anytime we tried to ask a question our waitress would just leave, she seemed disinterested in the food she was serving and very overworked. It was almost like she knew she wasn't working for a tip, because supposedly, that had already been paid by Capital One to them. We barely knew what we were ordering, couldn't follow up with anyone when our food didn't arrive, and I think only spoke with her twice throughout two hours. read more
We had been excited for this reservation for a long time, and it did not disappoint! We arrived early, and they had a nice area for us to stand and wait by the bar while our table got ready. We loved how creative and delicious everything we ordered was! Here were my rankings: 1. Asian Pear Shirazi Salad: One of the most unique salads I have ever had. Very tart, sweet, and savory. Was a great fresh break in the middle of our rich meal. 2. Eggplant: We got the asin inspired eggplant and loved it!! I could have drank the sauce. It did take around 20 min to come out because they were cooking it fresh, so I would be sure to order it towards the beginning of the meal 3. Cornbread: definitely lived up to the hype! Very rich and savory. 4: Lentils Nachos: super creative dish and all the flavors and textures worked together very well. It was on the saltier side, but we did not mind much! 5. Parsnip Fritters: also delicious, but the portion was smaller than we were expecting. Overall, we had a wonderful meal at Sarma! read more
Came here with my daughter without a reservation (because you need to call a month ahead to the minute according to friends we ran into!) but we're seated at the bar in about 15 -20 minutes. The service was incredibly attentive without being at all overbearing. We pretty much ordered what she recommended! Food was delicious on the whole. Cornbread's like a pudding, fava bean pate like a very tasty dense soft tofu, salad was an explosion in the mouth! Tuna was slightly fishy-couldn't tell if it's because they put fish sauce in it or if tuna was a little old. Donuts were piping hot. Altogether a great place. read more
Wow, the food is incredible and delicious. The hype for this restaurant is incredibly on point and the food is extremely flavorful, presented beautifully, and perfectly cooked. The waiters were all extremely kind, attentive, and willing to give you their recommendations. The restaurant has a cute interior, nothing too out there but I did like the dim lighting. Highly recommend, one of the best spots in Massachusetts. read more
Upon booking my work trip for the Boston area, I looked up restaurants to see what food might pique my interest. Sarma came up on my list, as it happened to be near the hotel I was staying at. I saw that it was noted as one of Boston's best restaurants, so I knew I just had to come by to try their food. Getting a reservation about a week out was near impossible, so I hoped to get bar seating. I showed up on a Mon evening at 5:30 pm, and I was able to quickly get a seat at the bar with no waiting. One of the waiters came by to explain how ordering at Sarma works and asked if we had food allergies. The group next to me had someone with shellfish allergies, so they switched out her menu with a menu that's tailored for shellfish allergies! He mentioned they try to accommodate patrons who have various food allergies with these alternative menus, which I thought was really cool! I ended up ordering the Black Sea Cornbread, the Duck Leg Confit, and their non-alcoholic Seasonal Doogh drink. The Seasonal Doogh came out first, and the drink absolutely surprised me! The flavors not only blended well with each other, but it felt like you were drinking curry. The Black Sea Cornbread was absolutely divine. The interior of the cornbread was more creamy than coarse, but the sweetness complimented the saltiness of the sea salt very well. I loved it so much, and I wish I'm able to bring some back home to CA to share! The Duck Leg Confit had tender duck meat, and the sweetness of the caramelized pineapple added a nice little Hawaiian flare to this dish. I'm super glad I got to swing by here. The service was great all around, and while the food can be a little pricey (came out to ~$60-ish for 2 dishes + drink before tip), the quality of the food makes the price well worth it. read more
8 months ago
Was lucky to snag a reservation for 2 here on a weeknight. I've heard so many things about this spot that I had to come try it. We ordered 4 dishes for the 2 of us and that was plenty to fill us up. The cornbread is their must try and I thought it was pretty tasty. It somehow smelled like fresh cookies (even the table next to us thought we got a dessert) and the middle was so moist and gooey. The next favorite is the Branzino and then the Babaganoush. I think ordering a plate of flatbread would've been the best way to go as the dishes were a tad salty on its own. The wings were good but I enjoyed the sauces on the wings more. Overall it seems like a great date/casual celebration spot! read more
This is the best meal I've had since I've moved to Boston! The dishes are so creative and layered with bold flavors. Every single plate we ordered was a hit. I was most impressed by the lentil nachos and the cornbread! The server was also incredibly helpful in deciding what to order! Just make sure you reserve a table in advance! This place is busy and booked out for a while! read more
The black sea cornbread absolutely lived up to the hype... the leftovers even reheated beautifully the next day. That dish in itself was a 10/10 experience. I really loved my experience and the ambience of the restaurant is great. The food is complex and tasty. I showed up before open on a rainy Thursday and there was already a line beginning to wrap around the building!! I think for such a line, I lowkey expected better service. Overall a really lovely experience and worth a try. I will be going back eventually. read more
All the rumors are true ... Sarma is as delicious and fun as people say!! My BF and I decided on a whim to come here on a Friday we both had free. Reservations require planning in advance, but we had heard that you could show up and likely still get a bar seat! We arrived around 4:45pm and there was already a line of probably 10-15 people. Major props to the Sarma staff for how they manage the popularity of the restaurant! A staff member came outside about 5 minutes to 5pm to tell us that we could sit at the bar or get a table (recommended for larger parties). When doors opened, we were seated immediately at the bar. The staff started serving drinks and collected our orders about 15 minutes in. For people that couldn't be seated immediately, the staff served them drinks and directed them to wait in spaces around the restaurant. They have a great drink menu too! My BF got an NA beer and I got a mocktail that I WISH I could remember the name of but it had pineapple, cardamom, and amchoor. Incredibly unique and tasty. We checked out the menu and also asked for recommendations from our server. We ended up getting: - the Black Sea cornbread - avocado muhummara - mole carrots - chickpea fritters - fried chicken There were no misses for us!! They offer a few speciality items which come around as they're made and you choose those as they're available. We had heard the fried chicken was quite good so we stuck out for it. We did really like the fried chicken (well seasoned, crispy, juicy), but we did think it was comparatively plain to the rest of the dishes (which had a lot more flavor fireworks going on). Highlights for me was prob the avocado muhummara or the cornbread, and my BF really liked the chickpea fritters. The All of our food (except for the carrots) came out basically at once. The cornbread is one of their signature dishes and really fabulous, so I wouldn't miss out on that. It's quite big and filling so we ended up taking 2/3 home. The one thing that would've been nice is to have either all the food come out at once or to have more distribution in the courses, because we ate 4/5 of our dishes and then waited 10 mins before our carrot finale came out. Truly not a big deal but the poor carrots got a bit upstaged since we were so full at that point! Sitting at a bar may not seem like an ideal dinner setting, but there's plenty of space and you still feel appropriately private from other parties around you. The servers are super nice, attentive, and helpful as you choose your meal. Overall, I'd HIGHLY recommend walking in, especially if you can get there early!! We definitely want to go back and try the menu again as it rotates. read more
Absolutely incredible. Coming from NYC I have very high standards for food - Mediterranean especially - when I tell you this was by far the best meal I had in Boston, and one of the best in recent memory I am not kidding. Quite literally every single thing we had was incredible. We had the Warm Gyro Bread, Black Sea Cornbread, Beet Tahini, Eggplant Manti, Harissa BBQ Duck and Haloumi Saganaki. Each dish was phenomenal with the Eggplant Manti Harissa BBQ Duck and Haloumi Saganaki being the biggest stand outs. The service was wonderful and we could not have been treated better. The ambiance is very casual and provided the perfect setting for a wonderful relaxed meal. I highly recommend Sarma to anyone visiting Boston and will 100% be back on my next visit. read more
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Ask the Community - Sarma
How early should i get in line for a walk-up table at the bar/high-tops if I am OK to eat right when they open at 5:00 pm? Do I need to get there at 4:30?
On a weekday 4:30pm will do just fine. On the weekend people start lining up at 4-4:15pm. Though the bar opens at 5pm, the kitchen does not open until 5:30pm so you can't order right away.
Kid friendly restaurant? We have a 20m old and want to make sure he's ok to come.
I'd say that it's not especially kid friendly.
Is their meat Halal, or not? I would appreciate an answer from the owner/chef.
How is it getting seated at the high-top tables/bar (no reservations)? Is there always a wait?
Yes, depending on the time you go. If you go early enough you might not have to wait but you can always call ahead and ask them
Any chance any of the meat halal?
I don't think so, although I never explicitly asked. Their sister restaurant Oleana does not serve halal meat.
I have a shellfish allergy? How easy will it be to eat there?
I agree with the other posters who suggest you call the restaurant on cooking techniques. I am a vegetarian and had complete comfort in the wide selection of options that had no meat nor were cooked in beef tallow. Don't pass on this one -- it's…
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