We hadn't gotten around to trying Sarma before quarantine, but just found out they are still doing takeout. It's been a mixed bag with various restaurants we've tried for the take out option, but we were delighted to find that we can still get a fantastic meal from Sarma. It was easily our favorite of those we've tried thus far. Everything we ordered was excellent (the Black Sea cornbread was a particular standout), and the flavors mixed perfectly such that it all felt part of a cohesive meal rather than a bunch of different things. Their on site order pick up structure was also very clear and safe, which we appreciated. If we have any special occasions or really just want a delicious meal, we will now have our quarantine go-to, and we can't wait to stop by in person once things open again! read more

Sarma - Black Sea Corn Bread, Brussels Sprout Bravas, Shrimp Saganaki, and Sesame Fried Chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Amazing. This is the kind of food you want to eat when you go out- you really can't make anything here at home. The cornbread is my favorite. I was worried takeout during COVID-19 wouldn't be as good as eating in (just because I live in Southie and would be driving 20 ish minutes), but I was wrong!!! As a side note, I saw one review where a woman was mad a Sarma employee asked her to pull her mask up. Come on people. Sometimes a deadly pandemic takes precedence over absolute politeness. Thank you, Sarma, for all your hard work! read more

Excellent , creative menu in a lively little off beat location. Getting in with a reservation is a challenge!!

Everyone and their cousin loves Sarma, but rarely is hype so well-deserved as is the case for this Somerville gem. It is so far removed from that vaguely-culturally-influenced-but-mediocre-small-plates kinda place you find everywhere these days. These chefs really know their stuff. Each plate is an explosion of flavors you do not expect to go so well until the first bite, and you're left wondering how anything can possibly taste that incredible. They've even considered varying textural elements in the dishes. Be careful with the cornbread and carrot hummus--the pairing is so addictingly delicious that you'll want to finish both the minute they arrive at the table, but you must save space for the rest of the equally breathtaking meal. Post-COVID it's entirely prix fixe, 10 plates plus dessert which, despite appearances, is a ton of food. But they'll gladly box any leftovers and you can continue savoring the rest for brunch the next day. Even the cocktails are phenomenal. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Pros: - Nice atmospheric lighting - Great bar for bringing a first date - Cozy decor - very 'gram friendly establishment - certain dishes were quite beautiful. - Decent cocktails Cons: - Menu is largely overpriced for tapas or mezze, even farm to table. - Some ingredients clearly not local organic if you know what you're looking at. - Dishes are priced at similar pricepoints with wildly different levels of preparation. - Takes reservations up through their "kitchen closing" time, which is bad for atmosphere (kitchen sent through some suspiciously quick plates, i.e. already plated and dying, waiting for somebody to order). - Recommendation of 5-6 plates per person (overheard at other tables as well) is a wild overestimate. (I'm a large person, my date and I were 'satisfied' after sharing 6 plates). - Another place with mandatory "5% kitchen appreciation fee" TLDR: If you have your heart set on going here for some reason, skip being seated at the 'restaurant' and just order from the bar. You will not be missing anything in not being 'waited on' at this establishment. read more

Great service at the bar. Black-seed cornbread and a unique blend of drinks and flavors. I would recommend Sarma

Just yummy, so yummy. Expensive but everything we had was delicious and that's few and far between these days.

The best restaurant in the Boston area! The menu changes frequently and it never disappoints. Don't forget to try the cornbread!

Amazing dinner! Everything we had was delicious and they were extremely accommodating and careful to those with allergies (celiac in our case). It was greatly appreciated and we had an absolutely lovely experience! read more

The best meal I've had in years. Can't recommend highly enough. It can be hard to get a reservation but it's worth it - they also apparently take walk ins at the bar. read more

Fantastic food! We got the brisket schwarma, the harissa BBQ duck, Persian scallops, and pork belly biscuits. The brisket and the pork belly were tied as my favorites with Persian scallops being a close second. I wasn't a huge fan of the almonds on the Harissa BBQ duck, but the dish overall was good. 4 dishes and a desert is a good amount for 2 people! For desert, we got the loukamades. Delicious! They aren't made the traditional way though. Instead of honey coating them, it's powdered sugar. We got a sea salt caramel on the side with it! I felt that the service was a little slow when we went. We had a reservation for 8:30pm on a week night and the restaurant was still packed! Each dish came out one by one with a good 15-20 minutes between each dish. We also had to flag down our waitress a few times to ask for the desert menu and the check. Overall though, I would definitely come back! read more

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The hype is real and the accolades are deserved. Anniversaries and birthdays are made special thanks to the staff. Food? Chef's kiss. Everything you've heard is true, and you should definitely come here ***IF and ONLY IF you have a reservation.*** After 6 years of flawless experiences at Sarma with a reservation, I tried showing up for bar seats upon opening on a Saturday in January. There was a line at 4:45pm for 5pm bar open, which I wasn't anticipating yet wasn't surprised by - it's difficult to get reservations and it's nice that the restaurant allows walk-ins. Their sister restaurant does the same, yet the experience was COMPLETELY different. At the sister restaurant, upon opening, the line is moved in an orderly fashion and walk-ins are sat by the host first come, first served. When Sarma opened it was a free-for-all: no line, no hosts, just an open door and a mass of 30+ humans left to sort themselves out at the bar. My group of 3 ended up getting squeezed out of our seats and subsequently waited two hours to eat. Meanwhile, 50% of the restaurant's reserved tables were empty until 6:45pm (literal observation, not hyperbolic). Again, the food is great, and the service is generally wonderful. The walk-in system will leave you with low blood sugar (tip to diabetics: bring glucose tablets unless you line up Texas BBQ-style an hour before opening). Moral of the story: don't go unless you have a reservation (booked 30 days in advance). read more

One of Boston metro's finest eats and toughest tables to reserve. Creative, delicious, seasonally rotating Middle Eastern tapas. Pricey of course but worth it for a special occasion. All the food was amazing. Only complaint is why there is only froyo and doughnuts for dessert. Is it impossible for them to hire a good pastry chef? read more

Many amazing gluten free options with a dedicated menu. The staff was extreme gracious and helped mark off more options for eggs as well. Did not leave feeling hungry at all. The space is rather large and open and in the winter can get chilly so bring a jacket. Highly recommend for dinner when the in-laws are in town or for a nice date night with a partner or friends! read more

We made a reservation for 5:30 and we arrived on time, we were seated promptly. This was my first time at Sarmas but certainly not my last. Every we ordered had terrific flavor and our waitress have us suggestions.. I love how they come around with additional items you are able to add to your meal and my favorite dish was the Brussel sprout dish.. If we didn't have a fussy baby with us .. We would still be there, within walking distance of my sisters house and everything we had was yummy !! You must try this place!! Went back again tonight and just as delicious as the first time we went read more

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Sarma is a must-have if you're interested in tasting menus, Mediterranean inspired fare, and good food. Tasting is a tad pricey, but will leave you quite full with 10 dishes and 4 desserts. Plus, you can take whatever you don't eat home with you. I'd recommend taking only small bites of each item because you won't enjoy the later dishes as much as they deserve to be enjoyed if you're too full when you get to them. My favorite was the octopus puttanesca because the octopus was tender beyond belief. The beet muhummara paired with goat cheese and soft bread started off the tasting well for me. The baklava bark was the standout dessert, though I will say it does not taste as good the next day, so eat it all while you're in the restaurant! read more

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Good food. Pretty bad service. We had a good experience food wise. Ordered avocado muhumarra, cauliflower fatteh, ramen, chicken shawarma and cornbread. We really liked everything we ordered The service we got was subpar. Our server seemed very uninterested. read more

I completely understand all of the hype around this place, but if it's accurate is it even hype? Get the chicken fritters if they come around with them. Every bite was to die for, despite being busy the restaurant was not too loud, the service was at a great pace for small plates/tapas too and the servers were very knowledgeable about the menu. read more

I have had some of the best food of my entire life at Sarma! They ALWAYS treat us like a part of their family!

Sarma is hands down one of the best restaurants in the Boston Area. My family and I have been frequenting this restaurant for all special occasions for years now. They're service is impeccable, as is their plating. This all secondary, of course, to their thoughtfully curated small plates that burst with flavor, innovation, and care. This is also an excellent spot for vegetarians! The only (minor) shortcoming of Sarma is their dessert menu, which in contrast to their divine meals, appears pale and average. While their menu changes seasonally, some must haves include the brussel sprout bravas, the Black Sea corn bread, and the cauliflower fatteh. If dining in, make sure to order a bit less than you want, since they come around with nightly "chefs creations" that are sure to impress your tastebuds! read more

Sarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This place is amazing I would absolutely go again. The service was great, drinks, and food. The place itself is very casual. They have what is called surprise dishes that come around which is a great addition. The menu in itself is huge and has a lot of options. We tried the the slider, 2 of the surprise dishes, the quail, and the fattoush and they were all delishes. read more

Sarma - Inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Love, this place very cool spot!!! Super inviting place with a cool staff I've been coming here for so long that it's awesome to see them still push the envelope with creativity. read more

Best food in town by far. Great date night vibes. Drinks are solid too. It's pricey, but honestly you don't have to get that many plates, the portions aren't bad. Def get the fried chicken when it comes around & the Black Sea cornbread. read more

soooooooooooooo yummy. get the pork belly biscuits!!! through out the meal we kept saying this is so good

I've loved this place since it opened. I ordered during early Covid in the hopes it would stay in business. As soon as they opened, I made a reservation. Every meal is amazing! My favorite is the fried chicken that they offer off menu. Some other favorites: black sea cornbread, the cauliflower dish, the brussels sprouts. It's got a great atmosphere. I lived around the block from Oleana for 10 years and enjoyed it. But Sarma is truly special. read more

One of the best Boston restaurants for a reason. Sarma delights your senses with its taste and aesthetic. I had a chance to try it out this past summer and was not disappointed. We made reservations on open table for an early dinner. Food: I recall trying out all the vegetarian options and they were all delicious. I did have to ask for hot sauce because the food wasn't too spicy. It was all flavorful. Ambiance: the decor is lovely. I'm a sucker for the Moroccan lamps that are hung from the ceiling. There's also plenty of seating but it may be hard to come in as a large party without reservations. The service was great. We were allowed to wait at the bar until the tables were ready. All the food arrived fairly quickly. Parking: ton of parking right outside the restaurant along the street. While this was a great meal I took off a star because it wasn't as memorable as it could have been. read more

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Used to be fabulous. But prices have gotten out of control, and, for me, the quality has slipped a little of late. Cocktails still da bomb, though! read more

This isn't middle eastern food not even close. This restaurant using middle eastern recipe for thier menu. Food is super salty and not tasty at all. This Also their music is so bad. Metal and rock music in the middle east restaurant ?? Big disappointment read more

Sarma - Feel like im at Chipotle - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I've eaten here twice and it doesn't miss. Definitely have the challah bread. And don't be discouraged if there's no tables/reservations. If you're patient enough you can eat at the bar read more

We've been coming to this place for years now. The quality if the food is still excellent, however, the price has increased up to 30% on some items, such as the harissa duck. Also the cocktails are now more expensive than in many New York restaurants, ~17$. On top of this there's a service appreciation tip added to the bill. Seriously? Come on guys. We want to keep coming and bringing friends and family to your place but this is getting absurd. read more

I've given several 4-star reviews for delicious food, but 5-star reviews have to have something extra. For Sarma, it's the people. Our food was delicious, flavorful, unique, and authentic--one Armenian dish reminded our guest of her childhood (!)--but what made our experience here extra special was the top notch service. Our party made a reservation ahead of time for a special occasion and we later needed to add two guests to the reservation...not an easy ask for a restaurant so busy you can only try to reserve a spot 2 weeks in advance. We assumed we would have to go somewhere else, but the maître d' found a way to squeeze us in because she knew how excited we were to dine here and bring our guests. Cannot recommend enough. read more

An awesome addition the Somerville. The Pork rib special ($14) was smoky and sweet. An order of Salmon tuna ceviche with sweet potato chips saw crisp chips to plunge into mounds of silken, rich tuna. The Apple radish slaw cleansed our palates. Charred Brussel sprouts highlight the intricacies provided by simple salt and pepper and olive oil. Charred shishito peppers are spicy and subtle. Apple keftedes are an interesting take on a classic dish. Lamb kofte sliders are slightly dry but extremely rich in flavor. Monkfish paella is rich and bright with ocean flavor. Harissa duck BBQ is earthy and tender. Excellent service excellent food. read more

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Great place for dinner any night of the week! The small plates are meals in themselves, the variety and flavor are abundant for any diet and craving. Not only is the plenty on the menu, but the dim sum style table side offering of chef special plates means theres always another dish that can catch your eye. I sat at the bar with 2 friends where the bartenders helped us find the right wine pairing for our meal. We then proceeded to order what seemed like half the menu. The Kibbeh, Cauliflower, Fried Chicken, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Cornbread, Octopus Brik were most of what we ordered and are musts for anyone visiting. So much food in each serving and each with its own rich taste. Ambiance is great with the dim lighting and appropriate music choice, great for a date or a casual dinner with friends. High on my list for a revisit on my next trip! read more

I never write yelp reviews but this gets my one post a year! The food is amazing, Cynthia is a fantastic waitress, and the atmosphere is nothing short of delightful. I can't recommend this place more! read more

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Where to begin... I desperately wanted to fall head over heels but it just wasn't meant to be last night. Almost every dish was over salted to the extent that my tongue was nearly raw after finishing dinner. Sometimes it's hard to tell heavily seasoned with exotic herbs or too salty but unfortunately it was the latter. The inventive small dishes had all the makings for a delicious dish had it been for that small but critical element that is supposed to enhance flavor. We had a wide range of dishes too...and the sentiment rang true for a majority of them. My friend who has frequented the restaurant agreed that it was off night ... maybe a change in prep staff? I don't know what gives... Special - crispy chicken wings with a spicy green sauce; heavily charred - you either like it or you don't - crispy with tender meat and a hint of spiciness. The lamb sliders and short rib tacos were delicious; the small garnish of pickled veggies and salsa slaw helped cut the richness of the meats. The lamb wasn't gamey at all. The dip was also good but not really anything special. Luckily this was as expected and easy to consume. The gnocchi was the worst culprit. From the gnocchi themselves to the mashed olive/ chickpea purée... absolute salt bricks! Ditto for the octopus dish as well. Every dish on the menu and those specials that were brought around looked amazing! I'll be back to give the restaurant another shot. I want to be blown away like so many others! read more

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Decor is exciting and vibrant. Food had its perks but mostly fell short Service was pleasant. What was confusing is the server wandering around with plates for sale. read more

I live a 5 minute walk from Sarma and I've heard lots of people rave about it, so I decided to check it out! We went at 6 pm and didn't have to wait to get a high table spot. However, the high table area was very poorly lit. It's difficult to see the menu or even the person sitting across from you. Note that plates here are SMALL, which is why this restaurant is listed with $$$. You'd need to order at least 2 plates per person, if you're not super hungry. We got the lamb kofte, which was my favorite. It was flavorful and tender. I just wish each sandwich was bigger! I would also recommend the cauliflower fatteh. I would NOT recommend the pork belly biscuit... The biscuit was too dense, the flavor of the sauces clash, and the pork belly was overcooked and not the melt in your mouth texture that pork belly is supposed to be. All in all, Sarma is a great restaurant to check out, but a bit pricey for the amount and quality of the food you would get. read more

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Sarma is a Mediterranean small plates restaurant located in Somerville, was the best meal we had while visiting Boston. It is not often that you take bites that instill pure joy, I wish I could consistently feel as happy as I did the moment I tasted these delectable peanut butter krembos. Each dish on the restaurant's expansive menu was unique and made us wish we had brought a small army of diners with us such that we could have tried the whole menu. Standouts from what we were able to try included the Black Sea cornbread (which we were informed people love so much it is often also ordered as a dessert), the seven layer baked hummus, the tender pork belly biscuits, steak tartare and the harissa bbq duck. This venue is certainly out of the way but it's still consistently booked out, and for good reason. Sarma is an ideal spot for a special meal and is worth the trek. We look forward to dining here again soon read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. Every single dish is "stop-talking-and-pay-attention" delicious, the ambiance is lively and fun, and the staff is always hospitable. I take every single person from out of town to Sarma. It now has a cult following among my friends and family - a rite of passage when they visit me. Don't miss: - pork belly biscuits (seriously life changing) - fried chicken - black eyed pea cornbread - broccoli This is a culinary experience from a badass lady chef that you just can't miss. read more

A pretty decent dining experience - although we had a reservation for 8:15pm last Friday evening and were seating at 8:45pm, they were very apologetic and gave us a round of drinks on the house to make up for seating us late. We ordered the Black Sea cornbread (SO good!!!) Brussel sprouts bravas, the avocado muhummara, harissa bbq duck, and the ricotta loukamades for dessert. The cornbread is absolutely worth ordering, as well as the Brussel sprouts! The duck was good, but a bit underwhelming for $30. I'd say I will for sure be back eventually, but I'm not absolutely dying to dine there again in the next few months. The host was very friendly and our waitress was also fun and personable, so added a star for the atmosphere/vibe! read more

Sarma - Harissa Bbq Duck - Middle Eastern Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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